Epilogue to part Two

"Ah, the post-fumigation party." Xander sighed.

The four of us (Xander, Willow, Buffy and myself) moved slowly through the ever-dense crowd in the Bronze of youthful figures thrashing about to loud noises called 'music'.

The loud noise didn't hurt my head as much as I had thought it would, thankfully. But I still couldn't help but wince as whoever was playing the guitar made it shriek like some poor little creature in agony.

"Okay," Buffy said, "so what's how's this different from the pre-fumigation party?" she asked.

I only hoped it didn't involve smashing the remaining roaches for free drinks again.

"Much hardier cockroaches." Xander answered. He had a cheeky smile on his face.

I chuckled and unconsciously rubbed my injured shoulder.

"You okay, Margery?" Willow asked, seeing me rubbing the whole in my jacket. I quickly withdrew my hand and nodded with a smile of reassurance.

"Never better." I told her.

"Does it still hurt?"

"It's just a dull ache. The hole is completely closed and the bullet got pushed out during the healing process, so I'm fine." I answered.

I'd only been at Giles' home for maybe half an hour before Buffy returned with a blood pack she managed to procure from the hospital. I knew it went against all of what she'd been taught to do that, so the fact that she did it just to heal me…well, it meant a great deal.

Giles was the one who had the brilliant idea to squeeze it into a mug and microwave it, and then, since I was still unconscious, Willow spoon-fed me the warmed-up blood while Xander held my head up.

After about the third taste of actually warm blood I woke up and quickly downed the whole thing.

The healing process took place immediately, as my head stopped throbbing and soon afterward the bullet was pushed out.

By the next morning the hole was nearly closed, and that evening, which was when we went to the Bronze, it was gone completely.

I'd never thought of warming up the blood to drink it. You may think me rather thick to have never thought of it, but keep in mind most of the places I call home don't have electricity, and I've never owned a microwave in my entire life.

In the future, I'd have to reconsider my living quarters, perhaps.

I smiled at my young companions and dipped my head.

"Thank you all for your assistance," I said, "I'm not sure my recovery would have been as swift had you not been there to help."

"Hey, it's the least we could do." Willow murmured with her lovely, soft smile.

"Yeah, especially you played the knight in shining armor," Xander quipped, "coming to our defense." He smiled mischievously. "You know she missed us by a mile, right?"

"I was more worried about ricochets." I answered, "The bullet could have hit a metal rafter and struck anyone. I wasn't going to risk that."

"Well, thanks for having my back." Buffy said.

I shrugged and dipped my head again.

"It's the least I could do." I told her sincerely.

"So," Willow said, turning to Buffy, "no word from Angel?"

Buffy shook her head sadly, but put on a brave face nonetheless.

"Nah." She said, "In a way though, I feel like he's still watching me. Watching over me."

I smirked as a now familiar scent wafted its way toward me, and a figure moved into view ahead of us. I lifted my head and looked at Angel.

He looked not unlike a shy, bashful little boy. He had his hands embedded in his pockets, and he kept his head hanging low, but his eyes fixed on Buffy in a hopeful, pleading gaze. She hadn't noticed him yet.

I briefly thought about steering her away, but…Angel had saved Buffy last night, and, by extension, me and my little companions.

I owed him a little benefit of the doubt.

Perhaps he really did have honorable intentions?

And he had a soul, so…I suppose I couldn't judge him as harshly as I could other fellow-monsters. The group had accepted me, after all, and I had a demon in me too. Who was I to deny him a potential place with us? With Buffy?

And besides that, Buffy was her own person. I shouldn't try and make her decisions for her. Especially in matters of the heart. I couldn't control her feelings, and…I remembered when someone had tried to make those kind of decisions for me as well. I knew how much that could hurt.

"I believe someone awaits you." I murmured to Buffy. She looked sharply at me, and I nodded to Angel.

She turned, and I saw her stiffen slightly, but she gave an excited intake of breath. And then in a flash she forced herself to relax and appear indifferent. She gave us a look that didn't do anything to veil her excitement, and then she started to move away from us.

As she did, the music changed and became a soft, slow waltz.

How very well timed.

"Oh boy," Xander moaned, watching her leave. He lifted his chin determinedly and shook his finger at Buffy as she joined Angel.

"I don't need to watch," he said, "I don't. Because…I'm not threatened. I'm just going to look this way." He turned around and faced the other way. Willow and I rolled our eyes at each other.

Oh, adolescent boys. Your hormones are God.

I glanced back to watch Buffy and Angel. They were dancing together. Slowly, with ease. It was…rather sweet, actually.

They murmured to each other, no doubt discussing where to go from here. I saw Angel's body subtly adapting to the situation, and I knew what was going to happen next, so I averted my eyes to give them some privacy.

"You'll need a new jacket." Willow said when I turned away.

"Why?" I asked.

"Because there's a pretty obvious bullet hole in it." Xander said, an implied 'Duh' in his voice.

I shrugged. I could sew it up, if need be. Even though I was rather lacking in my needlework skills.

"Also your shirt probably has one in it, too." Willow pointed at. "And…you kind of where the same two things all the time. Don't you want to have a little variety?"

"Not especially." I answered slowly, but I had a feeling I wasn't going to argue my way out of this one.

"We'll look for you a little something else," she assured me, "after school tomorrow."

"That's really not necessary-"

"We'll go for books afterwards." She interrupted me.

I stopped short and narrowed my eyes at her.

"You vixen." I hissed playfully. "Bribing me with books. How cruel."

She laughed happily and gave me a nudge.

"It'll be fun, you'll see." She told me.

Xander and Willow started arguing about how shopping was or was not fun, while I planted myself on a seat and chanced one last look back at Buffy.

As expected, she and Angel were kissing.

I smiled a little and lowered my eyes, remembering my last kiss…a whole lifetime ago it felt like. No point in dwelling on what's past, but still…it was a lonely feeling.

But there were far more important things to think about now.

The Master, for one thing. Darla had been under his employ, and if she was in the Master's Court, then that clearly meant that she had been a favorite, and probably an important asset to him and his plans. Her death was quite a blow, which was cause for celebration, but it also meant there would be retribution for it.

We would have to be doubly cautious now. As ever.

I sighed and rubbed the back of my head, but came out of my reverie when I saw Willow and Xander still playfully arguing, and Buffy and Angel still dancing.

There would be troubles ahead, certainly. Perhaps in the next few hours, even. But for now, we had survived, we had won, and for the time being, that was enough.