Disclaimer: I claim no rights over the characters from Buffy the Vampire Slayer portrayed in the
piece of fiction. All rights of the series Buffy the Vampire Slayer is reserved by Mutant Enemy,
Sandollar, Kuzui Enterprises, Fox and(or) WB TV. This piece of fiction is not to be reproduced
anywhere or edited without the express consent of the author as named above.

Warning: This piece of literature contains scenes with violence, strong language and religious
references that may be considered offensive. Parental disgression should be applied.

Note: This story takes place just before Surprise during the 2nd
season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. It represents an alternative storyline, which moves away
from the BtVS story arc as represented in the series for the purpose of the story I want to tell.

Epilogue:
Joyce walked heavily towards the wooden door of Giles' apartment. She had dutifully waited
until everyone had recovered from their mysterious wounds, then summoned them here. She
wanted the truth, and this time she was going to get it. She knocked, and Giles opened for her.
Everyone had already arrived. Willow still bandaged around her head. Cordelia with her broken
arm. Xander, Giles and Oz who seemed all right. Jenny Calendar, whom Joyce didn't know very
well. And strangely in the corner the mysterious older man Buffy had brought home a few years
ago Angel, she believed his name was.

"Welcome Joyce", Giles said and sat heavily in an unoccupied chair. "I talked to someone last
week, whom I presumed was Buffy. She told me that you had her diary and could explain
everything to me", she said. "I know. I talked to her as well. Joyce I must tell you Buffy is...",
Giles began, but Joyce cut him off: "Dead. Yes, I'm her mother. I know. I still don't understand. I
need to know the rest".

"Well. I'll start at the beginning. Willow, Xander and Angel will fill in the blanks as we go along.
Please if you have any questions ask later", Giles said and took up a cup of tea: "As far as my
predescesor's notes tell me, it all started like this...".

"But I think she was sent back to help us as something very different from her previous form",
Angel sighed and looked out the windows. The sun would come up in a few hours. "If you hadn't
proven it to me, I would never have believed you. But I can't dispute the evidence. Even if I don't
understand it all yet", Joyce said.

"Here", Giles said and gave her the diary. "Buffy always tried to keep her life a secret from you,
so we took this to keep her secret. I guess that's redundant now", Giles said ruefully. Joyce held
the precious book to her chest. "Ooohhh, I just wish she didn't have to die. She was...", Joyce
was overcome with emotions. "Yes, we know. We all think, she was special as well", Willow
said.

In a place filled with light. She floated in the amazing Song, she heard them all again. "Can I rest
now?", she asked hopefully. The voice replied. "Yes. Your part in this is over now. Destiny is
still unbalanced, but we think it will work out for now". And the Light beamed beautifully as
Buffy once again joined it.

---THE END---
to be continued in The Seraph, part 2: Never Ever.