Chapter one

Buffy the vampire slayer...Series 8

Lightning crashed towards the cemetery, slicing the air like a knife, eventually stumbling over the dead soil, Buffy found herself trapped between two familiar statues. One was an angel holding a ring, which was engraved with the symbol of light, the other statue was a lost man, holding what Buffy believed to be a soul which was imprisoned in a golden heart, covered in blood. The desire to run away from the sudden crash of thunder was almost unbearable, but there was a stinging pain crawling up Buffy's body from her waist. Each time the pain reached closer upwards, it sent out what felt like an electric shock, mingling in every vain of Buffy's stomach. Just as Buffy was about to give up completely, reality descended over her in a blanket of confusion, doubt and heart break...

It didn't take long to get from Sunnydale to Bath. Even though no one was against the idea of living with Giles, no one knew exactually what they were doing there, after all – they had just saved the world.

It was quite messy for his standards, but once you had chance for a detailed look around you could just make out the dusty abused covers of old English books. So far, only Willow had managed to unpack and make herself at home, the others were still very shocked by their ordeal. For Willow the experience of saving the world just by enhancing great powers of pure, blessed magic had basically been a blast for her, unfortunately not so great for her friends. Buffy could only gaze upon the lonely eyes of her sister – Dawn, and even that was a struggle. Although Xander had the courage to give a smile there and then, deep inside you could see his pain and deep sorrow for his now passed away lover, Anya. Giles, being a simple man had simply kept his emotions cut short too a calm, casual smile as though nothing had happened. No one had the courage to speak, at least not until they were all assembled inside Gile's front room. "Shall I sort out your rooms or shall you be ok by yourselves?" Giles had bravely asked, but just as calm and kind as he always had. The atmosphere could have been cut with a knife, not one person had acknowledged the thought of settling down for the night. Buffy was sat upright in the far corner on the clearly abandoned armchair, it was as if she was waiting for something, Xander had realised this and did the one thing he does best – compromise. "Of course we can manage that, but just in case, does anyone need help?" Xander glared around the room meeting briefly with each pair of eyes in turn, waiting for a response.

Dawn was clearly confused; she'd always done what her older sister Buffy had told her, well almost. Now she could only wonder whether Buffy was even up to giving anyone orders. Willow waved a comb through her red hair and quickly ventured towards the bottom of the stairs, Xander had only just managed to catch up with her, "willow, we should talk..." He suggested while gently taking her arm and leading her to the new dining room of Giles small apartment. Xander hadn't been sure of what he was going to say exactually, but somehow his unspoken words were stolen from his mouth by Willow who knew perfectly what he was thinking, "I'm worried about them, I'm worried about us. I'm not sure how long it's going to take to get back to normal, especially for -" she was cut off by the sudden appearance of a shadowed body waiting in the hall way. "Buffy?"

Xander wondered into the blackness, stumbling around for the light switch. All it tuck was two words from the stranger to solve the problem regarding the sudden coal blanket being thrown upon them. "Power cut," it was Buffy who was standing in the hallway – she was staring out the condensed window towards the orange pastel smudge of a street lamp across the road. "What perfect timing," She remarked. Xander could just make out the concern of Willow's expression and the look of regret. Spike: they were all worried about how Buffy's coping with Spike's death. Xander couldn't understand why Buffy had ever taken comfort in him, but she had and that's the only reason he had repelled from harming him or at least making some sly comment on his death – no, he would never understand what she felt for him, but then again; neither would she.

Once again the atmosphere had become dry, Buffy was insisting on ignoring human comfort and continuing to gaze at the street lamp. With a glance of disappointment Xander and Willow adventured upstairs to embark on the nightime. Buffy was left immerged in darkness. Suddenly a beam of golden light beamed from the front room; lighting up the hallway. The light was slowly followed by the short sigh of an ex-librarian. "It's getting late, is Dawn in bed?" Giles wondered over to her side, once he saw what she was so intrigued by, he became puzzled. "Are you ok? This may seem strange at first but you'll get used to it, it's what you've always wanted isn't it?" Giles quizzed her due to his sudden concern, "I think Dawn is upstairs already actually, I think we'll have to take a look at your injury at the hospital tomorrow, but then we have the rest of the day for some well deserved rest" He suggested. Buffy had been stabbed right in the middle of the battle, no one understands quite how Buffy had managed to continue, but she had. Buffy had always wanted a normal life instead of a childhood full of fighting demons, vampires, monsters and sometimes her closest friends. Swiftly swaying from side to side in the breeze, the palm plant by the front door was dipped in a pool of torchlight which all of a sudden disappeared into the darkness, the batteries had given up. "Guess that's me done" was all the slayer could say before she strode up the stairs to follow her friends.

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Chapter two