The Kahimi turns back to us, standing in the construction site. "There can be only one," she calls to me. I glance at everyone else, confused.
"What do you mean?" I say to her.
She walks to me. "You know."
And I do. I think I've known all along. Buffy is the Slayer. I'm sorta an accident. I nod.
"What does she mean?" Xander asks me.
"There can be only one," I tell him.
"One? One Slayer? What does that mean?" Willow asks.
The Kahimi looks at each of us. "Faith must give up her power."
They're stunned. "No," Buffy says quietly.
I turn to her. She's still in Giles' arms, weak, confused. Walking to her, I touch her cheek. "S'ok, B. I think I knew this was going to happen somewhere down the line. Two Slayers…two callings…it can't be. Not supposed to."
"But…it did happen. It was a mistake, no one's fault," Willow says.
Angel's still standing in the distance. I look at him over her head. "But sometimes…you have to do things for the people you love."
"So Angel has to give up his life, you have to give up yours?" Dawn asks, clutching at Buffy's legs.
"Wait, please," Buffy says, groggily, struggling a bit in Giles' arms.
The Kahimi takes my cut hand, which is just now closing up. She takes Buffy's hand and slices it with a fingernail. Placing them together she says "Entwine." It's electric, but this time I feel drained when it's over. I can't stand…Spike helps me to stay on my feet, cradles me in his arms. Now I feel groggy…thick.
And Buffy's on her feet, revived. She rushes to me. "No," she says again. "No." She looks up at the Kahimi. "Why?" Before the Kahimi can answer she looks past her to where Angel is standing. "Why?" she says angrily, and walks quickly to Angel. Stopping in front of him, she takes his hand. "What's going on?"
He hangs his head, caresses her hand. "I have to."
"Why?" she says, tenderly.
"To bring you back."
She looks panicked. "Angel, you can't die for me. I wouldn't let you once before, I won't let you now," she turns back to the Kahimi before he can answer. "Why are you doing this? Who are you?"
The Kahimi smiles at her, touches her cheek. Buffy jerks back. "I am the Kahimi, child," she says. "I am the founder of the Watchers Council."
"But you're a vampire," Buffy says.
The Kahimi raises her eyebrow. "Ah…your skills and senses are returning quickly. Yes, I am a vampire, and a goddess."
"Oh, good. Another god. You gals dig construction sites, don't you?" Buffy says. I think she got a bit of my attitude when she got my powers.
The Kahimi is not offended though. "My father was a god, my mother a vampire. But now is not the time for stories. Your friends love you very much. So much that they are willing to give up themselves, who they are, to see you restored."
"What about what I want?" Buffy asks angrily.
"You wish to be dead?" The Kahimi asks.
Buffy hesitates, glances at Dawn, then me, then Angel. "I—no. I don't, but I did what I had to do. Don't punish them."
"This is no punishment, child. It is what should be. There is to be only one Slayer."
"And Angel?" Buffy asks softly.
The Kahimi glances at Angel, standing off to the side. "Angelus is needed in my court."
"Your court?"
The Kahimi nods. "He is a great warrior, he will serve me well for one hundred years, then he will be released."
Buffy's eyes fly open. "A hundred years?!" she cries. "No, I forbid it. I can't let you do this, Angel," she says, turning to him. "Please." She flies around and looks at me. "Or you, Faith."
I give her a wobbly smile. "I think it's done, B."
"But, you're a Slayer," she says.
I try to shrug it off. "I'm not supposed to be here. It's okay, really," I say, choking on the words.
"Buffy…." Dawn says, her voice so small. Buffy turns and finally sees her, really sees her. "Dawnie," she says softly, and rushes into the arms of her sister. "Oh God, Dawnie, Dawnie," she says, stroking her sister's hair, fresh tears streaming down her face.
"See?" Angel says softly. "We have to." He turns and walks away, the Kahimi following him.
"Luv," Spike whispers to me, "Can you walk?"
I nod, slowly. I'm not the Slayer anymore. I don't have any powers, no super-speed, no lightening-quick reflexes. I'm nothing. I'm a nobody, again.
I glance at Buffy and Dawn, still hugging. So much love there. And I feel better about it.
They break apart, and she turns to her friends, who engulf her is this huge hug, and I think she's lucky she's got Slayer strength again 'cause that hug'd kill her otherwise. There are tears and laughing, and I find myself smiling like an idiot. I glance at Angel, who's turned to watch, and I think he's happy for them, too. And then…he nods at me and begins to walk away again.
I turn back to the Scoobies; Spike and I just watching them off to the side. "It's great, isn't it?" I say to him softly.
He watches them for a moment before answering me. "You did a good thing. You knew, didn't you?"
I shrug, not taking my eyes off them. "In a way, I had an idea."
"And you gave it up, for her."
"Look what she was going to give up," I say, nodding towards the group.
Sloan comes up to me and puts an arm around my shoulder. "Guess you're not going to need me any more," he says.
I smile sadly up at him. "I'm sorry," I say.
"Don't be. Sunnydale gets the best Slayers," he says, "I'm very, very proud."
"So am I," Buffy says, walking towards me. She doesn't even hesitate, given all our history. She just reaches for me and hugs me so hard, I think I hear ribs cracking. "Faith, how could you?" she says, tearfully.
"I had to, B. You need this more."
She shakes her head without letting me go. "We both need it."
I can't say anything to that.
"You got a second chance, a second calling," she whispers, her voice full of emotion.
"So did you," I remind her.
"Third, if you want to get technical," she laughs despite the tears. Pulling back she looks in my eyes. "I can't thank you enough."
I nod, and see her gaze shift past me to where Angel and the Watchers disappeared. "Angel?" she calls, looking around. "Angel?!" She turns back to me, her eyes full of pain. "He's…he's gone."
I nod, regretfully.
A tear slips down her face and she swallows hard, staring at the spot he was standing just a moment earlier. "We never get to say goodbye."
Everyone is silent for a moment, then Buffy turns to us, wiping her tears and trying to smile.
Sloan clears his throat. "Ms. Summers, it's a pleasure," he says, sticking out his hand.
Buffy looks him over, then glances at me. "New Watcher?"
I smile. "And not even evil."
She shakes Sloan's hand. And notices Spike. "Spike," she says.
He smiles at her gently. "Hey cutie," he says, and I know he'll always love her. She smiles at him gratefully. "I didn't leave her side," he tells Buffy, indicating Dawn.
"He didn't, Buffy, except to sleep," Dawn says quickly, defending Spike.
Buffy stares at him for a moment, then nods. "No, I expect he didn't." She faces the rest of the group. "Can we go home now? I'm starving."
They laugh and we all turn to head off to the Magic Box. I pause for just a moment, watching them walk ahead of me. And I smile.
"You did good," Spike says, coming up behind me.
I don't look at him. "Yeah, I think I did. Who woulda thought?"
He clears his throat. "Look, what the Watcher chick said…about us an' seeds and all that…"
My eyes move to the ground. "Spike, it's okay. I know you love her."
He's quiet for a moment. "Yeah, I do."
"And I'm not the Slayer anymore…I'm sure that had some sort of appeal to you."
"You're probably right," he agrees.
"So, don't worry about it, okay?" I look up at him. "Besides, we've only known each other for a little while."
He steps up to me, lifts my chin with his finger and kisses me. "Then how come all I can think about is doing this?" he says, and kisses me some more. I'm stunned, so at first I don't react…then I can't do anything else but react. It's like a buzz, a high, being kissed by him.
"Spike…" I whisper.
"Yeah?" he says, eyes closed, concentrating kisses on my neck and shoulder.
"Why?"
He stops and looks at me. "Why what?"
"You love Buffy."
He gives me this evil grin. "Yeah, I do. The little brat's grown on me. But…you've done something to me. Made me realize…I think with the Slayer…it was all in my head. Since you burst on the scene, there's no room up here for anyone else," he says, tapping on his head.
I gaze at him for a moment. "Don't play with me…You're not just sayin' that?"
He kisses me again. "I'm not just sayin' that," he says softly.
I kiss him back.