Chapter Ten

The mid part of the day found the house quiet. Xander and Robin had walked the kids down to the beach to gather seashells and play in the waves, Dawn and Angela had gone shopping for dinner because they had something special planned for everyone. Giles and Willow had retreated to their rooms to read and rest and Oz was meditating in the backyard.

Buffy was lying in the arms of her dead lover as he fingered the ends of her golden hair.

"I need a trim." She told.

"Your hair has always been beautiful to me." Spike assured her still holding the hair as if it were gold.

Buffy relaxed and sighed. She had started to feel uncomfortably hot after breakfast and she relished in the way his porcelain skin cooled her down. If her cheeks were still flushed and damp with perspiration, Spike didn't let on and she appreciated the fact that he appeared unfazed.

"Everything about you is beautiful to me." He whispered.

Buffy's insides tingled and glowed. "Really?" She piped up. "Even now?"

"Especially now." Spike drew her head up to meet his lips and they lingered there before moving on to other languid and lovely activities.

It was in the relishing moments after that Buffy had the dream that she would change her life. She was aware that she was curled up in an exhausted heap next to Spike in his bed. Her body still glowed and the heat on her skin wasn't from her illness. She was also aware that she wasn't breathing and there was a light that poured in from all sides and touched the sleeping vampire but did not burn him nor wake him up. She wasn't afraid and when she started to float towards the ceiling; she was filled with peace. Buffy smiled warmly and saw Spike unmoving and unharmed beneath her. She continued to rise warmly like baking bread and she knew she didn't want this feeling to go away.

The current blew her out of the house and past the yard. She flew over the gang returning from the beach and she smiled at the children's' brightly colored buckets and smiles on all faces but they gave no indication that they could see her. She flew past a coyote hunting mice in the tall grasses and it tensed then relaxed as it sensed her but also knew she wouldn't hurt him.

Soon, she was lowered into a clearing but she felt neither chill or discomfort. The sheet she had been wrapped up in after her tousle with Spike still clung to her naked skin. Buffy smiled and thought again of her untrimmed hair; running her fingers over it. She was not alone.

There was a figure washed in a glow that descended upon her with a warm smile and outstretched arms.

"Mom?" Buffy whispered feeling the first stirrings of a sob.

Her mother hugged her softly and smelled of lemons and sandalwood just like she used to.

"Buffy." Joyce said. "Is it time?"

"Huh?" Buffy asked.

"Is it time?" Joyce repeated.

"I've missed you." Buffy told her mom. She was almost afraid to look her in the face for fear the mirage would fade away. She clung ferociously to her mother and nuzzled her shoulder.

"Honey." Joyce replied. "I've always been with you."

"I know." Buffy told her. "But it's not the same."

"Is it supposed to be?" Her mother asked. "Nothing ever stays the same."

Her mother stood and took her with her. "Is it time?" Joyce asked her again.

Suddenly, another figure approached them from the sea. "Hey, B."

Buffy's eyes widened in surprise and she took in the long, cascading dark hair, the half smile and the shining eyes. "Faith!"

Faith's smile grew a little bit more as she threw her a knowing smile.

Buffy felt crimson stain her cheeks but she kept her cool and hugged Faith because she was really glad to see her again.

"Your going out in style." Faith told her. "I'm impressed."

Faith gave her the once over and Buffy was glad that going to the other side didn't mean you lost your personality. She smiled at Faith and the two clasped hands.

"Your family is beautiful." She told the other slayer.

"Thanks," Faith sighed. "I love them."

"Are you ready"? Joyce asked Buffy.

"No, not yet." The question was answered by another female voice and Buffy knew who it belonged to.

"Tara!" Buffy unstuck herself from Faith and her mother and turned back to hug the friend who still had eyes that mirrored her heart.

"Tara." Buffy closed her eyes and relished in the sight and sound of her long lost friend.

Tara kissed her cheeks gently and touched her face. Faith and Joyce joined them and they enclosed her in a circle of smiles and power.

The circle grew and increased in speed as Anya appeared in human form and Cordelia came to join in the celebration of a life greatly lived.

"You've really aged." Anya told her.

"Thanks." Buffy grinned. How had she survived without Anya's perspective and critic?

Cordy only smiled at her. They didn't have anything to say to each other but Buffy was happy that she chose to be there.

"Love is forever, Buffy." Anya told her. "Xander should know that I wait for him."

"Okay." Buffy replied.

"Dawn only married him because I was killed."

Faith gave Anya a disapproving look and she rolled her eyes but motioned that she would zip her lips.

Buffy choked back a laugh because she didn't want to ruin the solemnity of the moment.

Ms. Calendar was the last to join the circle. "There is power in this." She told her. She briefly touched her face.

Buffy's eyes rested on each and every one. They looked as they had in life: beautiful, vibrant and she was honored that they chose to appear to help her on her way.

"You mean so much to me." She told them all.

"Are you ready, B?" Faith asked her. "Are you ready?"

Buffy thought she was. She felt sure that she was but there was still something nagging her brain that she couldn't hide away…

"Not quite." She told them all.

"I told you guys this would happen." Anya said pointedly.

Faith tried to silence her with a look.

Anya shrugged. "I mean…oh forget it." Anya looked at her and snapped her fingers.

Suddenly, Buffy awoke next to Spike to the sounds of her own screams.

I'm really sorry that I haven't updated in awhile, but I'm really glad that I was finally able to add this chapter. Hope that you all enjoyed!