Thank you to all those who were so very kind to read, and write reviews. It was an extremely interesting experience writing this story and sharing it with you all. I only hope my disinterest in this story didn't mean I made it suck.

So HUGE MASSIVE thanks to you all! You are what makes so awesome!

Now, go and read the final chapter, the Epilogue and I hope you truly enjoy.


It wasn't quite as simple as that of course. The Council needed some serious restructuring so the Aurelian Vampires and Faith and Buffy stayed to help. Willow spent a lot of her time clutching her head and screaming in her room and Whistler just shrugged his shoulders and told Buffy that the witch was gonna struggle to learn this lesson and to move on from their destroyed friendship. Spike translated that into "Red won't learn and it's best if we bugger off quick" to which the hatted messenger just struggled. Buffy couldn't find it within her to care overly much to be honest.

Giles took his new lifestyle just as hard. A number of screaming headaches signified that he was not as accommodating as he pretended and caused many a soulful sigh from his reluctant babysitter.

Buffy and Spike didn't find that they actually had much to do with the old heads of the Watchers Council. Instead, they found themselves more involved with the actual overseeing of the Slayers themselves.

Those slayers that had gone up against the four heroes, now found themselves with half the strength and power they had had originally. While still stronger than ordinary humans, they were definitely at a lesser degree than they had been when first called by the spell. This meant that training was revised for all the newly weakened slayers. Most of these slayers had at some point, approached Buffy to express their apologies for their actions that day, something that Buffy couldn't hold against them at all. It's hard to go against something that had had your back from the first second.

Those slayers that hadn't been present for the final confrontation had in fact snuck off with Dawn. When the slayers had been informed that Buffy had gone rogue and was coming back to extract revenge, many of the girls couldn't bring themselves to believe it. Rumours had spread whilst she had been gone and with Dawn there to continually show a Summer's presence, many had gone to the willowy teen and sought her version. Many of the Sunnydale Slayers had been in the group that refused to think badly of the Original slayer - "been there, done that, got the tshirt" Amanda, one of the Sunnydale Slayers, had been heard saying. Dawn hadn't known until they had shown up en masse at the Hyperion only an hour before the battle had commenced.

These Slayers were now the voting heads of the council, and as far as Buffy and Spike could see, a new council, a healthier council was well on its way to being born.

Finally, it was time for the four heroes to leave.

Dawn was now voted onto the Council Board and had opted to stay and help direct the Council. Many tears were shed as the two sisters said their goodbyes.

Angel was headed off to parts unknown, all Buffy knew was that Whistler and Angel had spent a few nights shut away talking and when Angel had emerged, seemed more at peace than she had seen him in a long time.

Faith had been in negotiation with the Cleveland Free Ranger Slayers and the new council and was headed back to Cleveland to be the liaison between the two. Faith was maintaining that the Free Rangers were staying separate, but that she was going to see how this new council ran before committing to anything more than an exchange of information and training the younger slayers if needed.

As for Buffy and Spike, they were set to travel.

Spike was indeed 'sunproofed' as Whistler had revealed and had spent an entire day lazing in the sun with his mate by his side. They planned to see the world now that they were no longer confined to night-time travel with occasional visits back to the compound and helping out with slaying when needed.

They had spent days in bed following the battle, connecting and exploring their new bond. They could now hear each other when they concentrated and Whistler shared that their gifts would only strengthen with time.

He had also been right in that the information that had earlier been crammed into Buffy's head to painful confusion point would face away. Since then, it had settled down and only occasionally now a bit of information would drift through. Even the memory flashbacks had ceased and Buffy was now back to remembering as all humans did.

They had the truck packed and ready to go, goodbyes had been said and hugs given and received. Now Spike and Buffy stood at the sweeping front doors of the Council Compound, staring out into the LA morning.

"Ready Slayer?" Came the question, as cool arms slid around her and loving lips placed a kiss on her shoulder. She leant back into the hug and smiled.

"For the first time in a very long time Spike, I think I really am."