Title: Saying Goodbye
Author: Knife Hand
Feedback: Constructive feedback appreciated, flames unappreciated
Spoilers: None
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: Buffy The Vampire Slayer is not mine.
Summary: Years after Buffy's death, Xander finally gets to say goodbye.
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A man in his mid forties stood staring out across the Great Rift Valley on the edge of the great continent of Africa. You could have been forgiven for mistaking the man for a carrier soldier in some elite military unit, as the only indication that he might not be was a delicate sliver cross that hung around his neck and few elite military men find or keep religion. The cross was essential in the battle that the man had fought for most of his life. He had never been in the military, except for one strange Halloween night many years previously.
"I finally made it, Buff. Shame you are not here." Xander said as he stared at the majesty that nature displayed.
~Almost twenty-five years before~
"Ok, Buff. You're turn. The one place in the world that you would either love to see or want to be buried." Xander said.
"We are morbid, aren't we?" Buffy asked, sarcastically.
"Yep. Now spill." Willow said.
"I would love to see the Great Rift Valley in Africa. It always looked spectacular on the documentaries. I would leave something behind, a way to stay connected to the land. Does that sound stupid?" Buffy said.
"Not at all." Both Willow and Xander replied.
~Back to the Present~
Xander stood watching as the sun slowly sank towards the horizon, feeling as if Buffy was with him in spirit. At dusk, Xander removed the necklace and carefully wrapped it around a rocky outcropping.
"You never knew the impact you had on this world, Buff. You were the world's greatest hero and almost no one knew your name. The Mother Earth is glad to be bonded to you memory. I helped them, I helped those who followed you, I only hope I did enough to redeem myself." Xander said sadly as he turned and walked off into the deepening night.
~Twenty-three years prior~
Buffy lay bleeding on the ground, her stomach ripped open. She had saved the world again, but had paid a terrible price. One of her arms was shattered and she was bleeding internally. The world was safe and no one would ever know; no one would know the danger so long as they won, and if they lost, the world would die before it realised what happened.
"Xand, do me a favour." Buffy croaked.
"What is it Buff. I'll do anything." Xander replied.
"Firstly, take this. Leave it where I said two years ago, I know you remember." Buffy said, handing Xander her cross.
"OK." Xander said weakly.
"Secondly, remember me. Make the next Slayer remember, teach them what the council fears to tell them." Buffy body wracked with a coughing fit, and Xander hastily nodded. "Good. And finally, I want you to end it."
"End what?" Xander asked, fearing the answer.
"The pain. Please, I'm dead anyway, my lung is punctured. Please end the pain." Buffy begged.
"Alright. I promise I will take this," Xander held up the cross, "and leave it where you wished it to go."
"Thank you Xand." Buffy whispered.
Xander pulled out the pistol he had brought for the fight, not that it had been any good, took aim at Buffy's heart, closed his eyes and fired.
~The Present - Heaven~
"Don't worry Xander. Your redemption was assured long ago. I'll see you soon." Buffy muttered, looking down on her sorrow filled friend.
The End
Author: Knife Hand
Feedback: Constructive feedback appreciated, flames unappreciated
Spoilers: None
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: Buffy The Vampire Slayer is not mine.
Summary: Years after Buffy's death, Xander finally gets to say goodbye.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A man in his mid forties stood staring out across the Great Rift Valley on the edge of the great continent of Africa. You could have been forgiven for mistaking the man for a carrier soldier in some elite military unit, as the only indication that he might not be was a delicate sliver cross that hung around his neck and few elite military men find or keep religion. The cross was essential in the battle that the man had fought for most of his life. He had never been in the military, except for one strange Halloween night many years previously.
"I finally made it, Buff. Shame you are not here." Xander said as he stared at the majesty that nature displayed.
~Almost twenty-five years before~
"Ok, Buff. You're turn. The one place in the world that you would either love to see or want to be buried." Xander said.
"We are morbid, aren't we?" Buffy asked, sarcastically.
"Yep. Now spill." Willow said.
"I would love to see the Great Rift Valley in Africa. It always looked spectacular on the documentaries. I would leave something behind, a way to stay connected to the land. Does that sound stupid?" Buffy said.
"Not at all." Both Willow and Xander replied.
~Back to the Present~
Xander stood watching as the sun slowly sank towards the horizon, feeling as if Buffy was with him in spirit. At dusk, Xander removed the necklace and carefully wrapped it around a rocky outcropping.
"You never knew the impact you had on this world, Buff. You were the world's greatest hero and almost no one knew your name. The Mother Earth is glad to be bonded to you memory. I helped them, I helped those who followed you, I only hope I did enough to redeem myself." Xander said sadly as he turned and walked off into the deepening night.
~Twenty-three years prior~
Buffy lay bleeding on the ground, her stomach ripped open. She had saved the world again, but had paid a terrible price. One of her arms was shattered and she was bleeding internally. The world was safe and no one would ever know; no one would know the danger so long as they won, and if they lost, the world would die before it realised what happened.
"Xand, do me a favour." Buffy croaked.
"What is it Buff. I'll do anything." Xander replied.
"Firstly, take this. Leave it where I said two years ago, I know you remember." Buffy said, handing Xander her cross.
"OK." Xander said weakly.
"Secondly, remember me. Make the next Slayer remember, teach them what the council fears to tell them." Buffy body wracked with a coughing fit, and Xander hastily nodded. "Good. And finally, I want you to end it."
"End what?" Xander asked, fearing the answer.
"The pain. Please, I'm dead anyway, my lung is punctured. Please end the pain." Buffy begged.
"Alright. I promise I will take this," Xander held up the cross, "and leave it where you wished it to go."
"Thank you Xand." Buffy whispered.
Xander pulled out the pistol he had brought for the fight, not that it had been any good, took aim at Buffy's heart, closed his eyes and fired.
~The Present - Heaven~
"Don't worry Xander. Your redemption was assured long ago. I'll see you soon." Buffy muttered, looking down on her sorrow filled friend.
The End