Epilogue:
Chad hiked as far as the near outskirts of town before he was able to flag a ride. A beat up old Desoto came to a stop and rolled the side windows down.
"Chad?" a familiar British accent asked.
"Spike?" Chad couldn't believe it!
In one swift movement, the vampire was out of the car and staring at the young man as if he were a ghost. Still not believing his eyes, he poked the young shadow master in the ribs.
"Hey!" Chad said, wincing. "Watch it!"
"You're real! You're alive!"
"Of course I'm real and alive!" Chad said, exasperated. Then he noticed a piece of luggage on the backseat. "Where the hell are you going?"
"Had to get out of town for a while." Spike answered, "I just wanna figure out who I am for now before the Slayer and I can go further. If there is any further than this."
"What about Buffy? I sorta know you care for her a great deal."
"She knows I'll be back. I always will. You?"
"Heading out again." Chad said, facing the road in the distance. "There's one place I wanna see before I decide on the next possible course of action. But I have go to L.A. first to drop something off for a friend I met a while back in the east coast."
"What about Dawn? She knows you're all right? You leaving and all?" Spike asked, "You know she likes you."
"Maybe." Chad chuckled, "But like you, I'll be back here soon enough."
"Glad we got an understanding on that one. So, you want a lift to L.A.?"
"Sure." Chad replied, slinging his backpack into the backseat of the car. "Why the hell not."
They got in and drove off, tires squealing into the night.
"Change the radio or touch any music I play and I break your arms." A British voice was heard saying as the car tore through the Sunnydale sign on the way out town.
Above them, someone was watching.
Watching the Slayer.
Watching the key.
Watching the Scooby Gang.
Watching the Earth.
And that someone approved.
And smiled.
And that someone spoke to stars that were his home, pride showing in his voice.
In every universe, even to a cosmic being who watches them, there are some constants that would remain in most of them – though a few details would change. The Spike of your Sunnydale did leave to find himself. Willow and Tara had a falling out soon enough. Buffy sank into her own private hell. And when Tara was accidentally shot and killed, Willow turned to dark sorcery. All these; with and without the appearance of the young stranger, happened – in more ways than one. And sometimes – just sometimes – something different would happen.
But that's not my tale to tell this time. It's funny how some small pieces affect a multi-universal timeline, causing it to diverge and twist in on itself. It was what this young man had done that intrigued me to try helping them when I was only supposed to watch – to never interfere with the natural course of time in this dimension. You see; Chad is my counterpart in this universe. And why I so selfishly saved him was for my own ironic amusement. Sure, the name and face was a little different – but that single cosmic strand which proves that he is my counterpart in this reality is something I could clearly see even from a universe away. A little bit different from who and what I am, but I'm not surprised. He wasn't born human, unlike I was. Here, he is just like Dawn. Only that his background wasn't based in energy as timeless as the key's; it was based on a world that compliments the night of this and every other universe I know – the world of shadows.
But how he came to his state of humanity is still a mystery – even to one who watches the multiverse.
But it doesn't matter as long as he fights the good fight.
It's something we both do very easily.
Time moves on, and so do we.
And I'll keep on watching.
Can I find the words to tell you
How I live between the walls of steel and stone
How I close my eyes to find some kind of rapture
In a world where you can feel so all alone
Inside I'm full of light and laughter
There's a flame that burns in me
I need a way to set it free
When you find love in your heart
You can believe from the start
Dreams they come true
It all comes to you, oh all at once
If you believe
In human touch
I see the wanting in your eyes
And I wonder will
I always think of you
Do we simply find ourselves
Awakening
As angels touched the heartstrings of our souls
We can find a way
To break the madness
Take my hand and come with me
To a place where we can feel
When you find love in your heart
The light in your eyes is a star
Change that you feel
Helps you to heal from all the rest
If you believe
In human touch
Tell me that your love
Will live forever
Take your hand and touch my face
Oh, the warmth of your sweet embrace
When you find love in your heart
Nothing can tear it apart
Not man or steel
Nothing is real except for love
If you believe
In human touch
If you believe
In human touch
Both vampire and shadow master knew that they would see their respective loves again someday soon – just as both the Slayer and key knew that one day, they won't be alone anymore either. They all know that the road they've chosen won't be an easy one.
But some things are worth it.
THE END