Chapter 14—When All Is Said And Done

BEACHFRONT BONFIRE—NIGHT

Most of the gang is sitting around a large campfire smiling and laughing. Buffy and Faith walk up hand in hand with big smiles.

WILLOW

Well well, look who finally showed up?

BUFFY

Ha ha Will…lost track of time a little is all. (they sit together on a log as Faith puts her arm around Buffy)

KENNEDY

Super powers for hot chicks wins out again! (her and Billie high five and give Faith their thumbs up making her look down with an almost shy smile)

FAITH

Thanks guys. (she looks to them with a sincere smile) Really.

BILLIE

(she matches Faith smile) Anytime Slayer.

XANDER

So! (he claps his hands together) This curse thing? We good now?

BILLIE

Awe, but we never got our cheesy love song.

LANDON

Nope, I did. (he winks at Billie who shakes her head at him and laughs)

DAWN

(she holds up the CD carefully, as if it were about to explode) Here's the CD, kinda nervous holding it.

WILLOW

Lemme see. (Dawn tosses it to her. She holds it and shuts her eyes, it starts glowing yellow violently knocking her backwards off the log to the sand) Ahhhh!

KENNEDY

(she's to Willow's side in an instant) Will! (she cradles her up to a sitting position) You okay?

WILLOW

(she shakes her head clear and looks at the CD) That thing is seriously magically juiced.

FAITH

(she picks it up) Doesn't look so tough. (she moves to snap it but Buffy stops her)

BUFFY

Careful Faith, you saw what that thing did to Willow.

KRYSTAL

So, what do we do with it then?

WILLOW

(she sits back on the log dusting herself off) Way I see it…we need to break it while it's vulnerable.

BILLIE

It's a CD…when is it vulnerable?

LANDON

While it's working it's magic.

KENNEDY

So…we gotta sing? Any volunteers? (everyone groans and looks away)

XANDER

I'll do it. (he takes the CD with a smile as Billie raises her eyebrow) I've gotten off easy so far, can't have that now can we?

WILLOW

You big lug! (she smiles) Taking the hit for us, when did you grow up to stand up for all of us with super powers?

XANDER

Hey I've stood up for you guys before! It…maybe ended with an eyepatch last time…

BUFFY

(she smiles) These musical things are too much sometimes.

XANDER

But…aren't they always worth it in the end?

FAITH

Let's see…(she counts off on her fingers) Turns us into Drama Queens, embarassing, dorky, uncontrollable, need I go on?

XANDER

And here you sit with your arm around Buffy…(Buffy smiles and squeezes Faith's hand) Kennedy and Will over there made a big decision to figure out their destinies…(Kennedy kisses Willow sweetly with a smile) And me and Billie are headin' to Ireland for the rest of summer to figure out her past. (he smiles) Way I see it…we got our happy endings.

KRYSTAL

Don't forget Dawn had a date with a hot beach stud (she smiles as Dawn smacks her teasingly)

BUFFY

Watch it Krystal…

XANDER

Come on guys…We've handled apocalypses. We totally had this musical handled all along. (his eyes glow yellow followed by his body. The glow spreads around the campfire as everyone sarcastically rolls their eyes with smiles as the music starts around them. Xander sings to the simple tune with his arm around Billie)

Here's to us one more toast and Giles will pay the bill

[The gang chuckles at the thought and hold up their drinks]

Deep inside both of us can feel the autumn chill
Birds of passage, you and me, we fly instinctively
When the summer's over and the dark clouds hide the sun
Neither you nor I'm to blame when all is said and done

[Everyone smiles sweetly]

It's been there in my dreams the scene I see unfold
Who at last flesh and blood to cherish and hold
Jealous fools will suffer yes I know and I confess
once i lost my way when something good had just began
lesson learned its history all is said and done

[Billie smiles and joins in with him for the next few lines as he looks into her eyes with a twinkle in his eye]

XANDER/BILLIE (singing)
In our lives we have walked some strange and lonely treks
Slightly worn but dignified and not too old for sex
We're still striving for the sky
No taste for humble pie
Thanks for all your generous love and thanks for all the fun
Neither you nor I'm to blame when all is said and done

[Xander kisses her cheek with a smile and goes back to singing to the group solo. Faith has pulled out her Zippo and is swaying it with a smirk]

XANDER (singing)
It's so strange when you're down and lying on the floor
How you rise, shake your head, get up and ask for more
Clear-headed and open-eyed
With nothing left to try
Standing calmly at the crossroads,no desire to run
There's no hurry any more when all is said and done

[The entire group joins in softly at Xander's final declaration]

EVERYONE (singing)
Standing calmly at the crossroads,no desire to run
There's no hurry any more when all is said and done

[Xander snaps the CD, causing it to dissolve in his hands in little yellow dust bits. The group around the fire glows yellow and it fades away as the music ends]

DAWN

Well? Are we free?

WILLOW

I don't think so…it's gonna take a while to fade away. If we do break into song though, it'll probably only be once or twice more.

KENNEDY

Hallealujah! No offense guys…but we can all agree that Billie's the only one who should be singing, right? (everyone voices their agreement)