-Chapter Twenty Six-

The Aftermath

Anya looked around the shop, it looked even more like it had been hit by an earthquake and yet it had been hit something much worse. And yet the earth was not shaking, it's stopped. "Giles?" Anya said shaking the unconscious Giles, "we're alive."

"Willow has been stopped," Giles replied weakly.

"So, she's..." Anya asked sheepishly.

"No, she's alive," Giles croaked, "The magic she took from me did what I wanted it to do... it tapped into her humanity helping her to feel again. It allowed Xander to reach out to her."

"Xander?" Anya exclaimed surprised.

"Yes, he saved us all," Giles replied smiling weakly.

Anya looked at him shocked. Pride suddenly bumbled into her and at that moment she couldn't help but smile. That idiot finally did something right, she thought.

"I think it's over," Dawn said looking around as Buffy walked slowly through the hole looking around. Buffy leant against a coffin sticking out of the wall of the hole, shaking. Dawn turned to find her sobbing, "sorry to disappoint you," she added sarcastically. Buffy turned scowling at her, "wait, are those happy tears."

"Of course they're happy tears you dummy," Buffy snapped tearfully a lump in her throat. "Like I'd want the world to end."

"Well don't you?" Dawn replied with uncertainly.

Buffy looked up at her eyes stained with tears. She looked at her sister with dismay realising what she had done all this year, pushing everyone away, making her feel unwanted. In away Willow going off the deep end had been her fault, maybe she'd thought someone was there for her she would have coped better. "I'm sorry," Buffy sniffed wiping the tears from her eyes sighing with relief, "things have really sucked lately, I've felt so down all this year trying to find ways to feel like I was alive..."

"Yeah don't need to see you and Spike together thank you," Dawn cringed.

"Me neither," Buffy cringed also at the thought of Spike. She stood up blocking any thoughts of the perocide prick, "but I should have realised the only thing that I should make me feel alive is seeing you grow up."

Dawn swallowed trying to hold back tears as her sister moved closer. "Jeez, what's with the hallmark stuff," Dawn joked.

"I could be moody again if you want," Buffy warned jokingly.

"What's the difference?" Dawn quipped looking around the hole, "can we leave the hug for a more homey look?"

"Right," Buffy croaked tearily chuckling, "I'll make non-double meat food."

"Good," Dawn chuckled wiping a tear from her eye, "one question: How are we going to get out of here?"

"Maybe, I can help?" came a voice from above them. The two girls looked up to see something they never thought they'd see and by god they were glad to see it. Clark floated down the hole looking a little worse for wear like them, his hair was messed up as though he'd been sat by a fan all day most of it being sizzled, a large burn hole could be seen on his blue t-shirt, the cuffs of his red jacket were burn and tattered matching his hands that although no longer had the blistered look it did before was still rough and burnt though healing slowly. He dropped lightly to the ground looking at the two of them who stared at him open mouthed.

"Since when could you fly?" Dawn exclaimed looking at him awestruck.

"About half an hour ago," Clark replied.

"Is this some strange alien thing?" Dawn asked anxiously.

"No, I think you can do it as well," Clark replied sarcastically.

Dawn opened her mouth to retort a snarky comeback was interrupted by Buffy throwing her arms around him and kissing him intently, pressing her lips hard into his. Clark's eyes widened with surprise unable to realise what she was doing, his hands involuntarily moving to her waist as he held her close, closing his eyes as he kissed her back.

"Oh yeah don't mind me," Dawn groaned with mocked disgust. "Can we go now?"

Buffy parted from Clark looking sheepish as she did, embarrassed, but unlike you-know-who; it wasn't mixed with disgust more happiness. She was glad. Clark glanced at her smiling she could sense him trying not to make it broader than he wanted. Buffy nudged him, "come on Superman. Let's fly."

"Okay," Clark said chuckling lightly at the 'Superman' comment, "grab hold of me."

"Oh like you weren't looking forward to that," Dawn mumbled sarcastically as Buffy into grab hold of Clark.

"Erm... is this safe?" Buffy asked nervously moving her arms away from Clark's neck.

"Yeah," Clark said grabbing hold of the two of them, "I mean I fell once, but don't worry I won't be going more than a hundred feet up."

"Oh well that's a relief," Dawn squeaked as they ascended upwards leaving the ground. Clark smiled gripping Buffy tighter as he saw her grab closer as they left the ground. She looked up at him to see him give her a reassuring smile; she nodded weakly holding tight looking at Dawn who gave a scrutinising look, which disappeared as soon as Clark picked up speed shooting up into the sky. Both girls screamed.

"Sorry," Clark stuttered as he stood at least fifty feet above the graveyard, "I'm still getting used to the speed thing. I'll drop you off at the Magic box?"

"Don't say drop," Buffy snapped fearfully as she took a chance and looked down at the ground. Clark kicked off flying gently through the Sunnydale sky, holding both girls close with both of them gripping his neck tightly. He'll have to work on carrying people, he thought to himself.

Lex stood in his mansion staring out through the stain glass window of his study. The red and purple colours shone against him as the sun shone through the panes, it baptised him. He had nearly died. He had nearly died again. He now knew why he had been brought back. That earthquake, it had shook the entire world, something was attacking them. Something was warning them. He saw it fiery its explosions up in the air, watching as people cry out for help and leaving them to die. He had seen it, he had known it. He thought of it as a friend once. He was wrong. It had always stood there self righteous and in the end it was just as ruthless as the rest of them.

"Lex," came his father's voice from the door. He rolled his eyes noting his father's 'mocked' concern. He turned to face his father. "I heard you discharged yourself."

"Come to make sure I was in one piece," Lex replied snidely.

"Wouldn't be your father if I didn't," Lionel chuckled back walking towards him.

"Actually you would," Lex replied, smiling coldly, "was there something you want?"

"Well, I was hoping that due to your recent attack you maybe discontinuing your 33.1 experiments," Lionel said his arms behind his back as he poked at the fire not looking at Lex.

"No, my recent attack has made me see just how important it is to be ready for these threats," Lex said with a fierce determined look in his eyes.

"And was Lana a threat?" Lionel asked sternly standing up and looking at Lex closely.

"The police have caught my wife's killer," Lex said walking around his desk, "a disgruntled employee whom was fired a year ago."

"Yes, quite the corporate statement," Lionel replied harshly, "it reeks of heartbreak and love."

"Like you at mom's funeral," Lex replied coldly, "surrounded by all your friends and family with a little corner of the friends who still remained. Guess I learnt from the best."

"I loved your mother very much," Lionel snapped coldly.

"And I loved Lana," Lex cried, "didn't stop you forcing her to leave me as well."

"You're mother didn't leave you lex?" Lionel cried.

Lex ignored him. "Have you seen Clark?"

"Clark? He's in Sunnydale visiting friends I believe," Lionel replied with uncertainity. "Why?"

"That 'fireball' that attacked the hospital," Lex began.

"Yes, some sort of failed missile was diverted at the last minute," Lionel replied nodding surveying Lex Luthor.

"So the papers have speculated," Lex said disbelieving.

"I suppose you have a rousing suspicion," Lionel replied sarcastically.

"Yes, I do," Lex said walking towards the door passing Lionel, "make sure to tell Clark I hope he enjoyed his trip."