"But it was long ago and it was far away Oh God it feels so very far And if life if just a highway- then the soul is just a car And objects in the rearview mirror may appear closer than they are" -Meatloaf

A year later

"I'm afraid I have some bad news," Giles said as he entered the library.

"What is it?" Willow asked.

"I got a call last night," Giles said. "From the Council. They want me to return to England."

"Go back to England?" Willow asked. "But why?"

"Well Buffy is gone," he said. "Kendra and her watcher are here so Sunnydale is safe. I'm just not needed here any longer." Willow looked down obviously fighting off tears. "I have a flight booked for tomorrow afternoon."

"Already?" Xander asked in shock.

"They said as soon as possible," Giles said. "So yes, by this time tomorrow, I will be gone. I won't be coming in tomorrow, in fact I only came in today to say goodbye."

"This is just too much," Willow said softly.

"Well I still need to pack," Giles told them. He and Oz shook hands. Then Cordelia seeming a little awkward at first hugged him.

"I guess I'll see you later G-man," Xander said hugging Giles.

"I told you before Xander, don't call me that," Giles said but could feel a ghost of a smile come to his lips.

"Giles, I never told you this but you've always been like a father to me," Willow said as she took her turn hugging the librarian.

"Yes, well, you were all like my children," Giles admitted to the group around him. Oz as the quiet intelligent son, Xander the loud sometimes annoying one but always with good intentions. Cordelia the materialistic daughter with a heart of gold, and finally Willow the sweetest and gentlest of all of them. He suddenly found it hard to swallow. Willow pulled away and he could see the tears in her eyes. "I'll call as soon as I get settled."

"And I'll write you," Willow promised.

Giles cleared his throat. "I should be going." They followed him out waving as he drove away.

"Giles is gone," Willow said quietly. Oz slipped his arm around her leading the others inside.

"You'll never find your gold on a sandy beach You'll never drill for oil on a city street I know you're looking for a ruby in a mountain of rocks But there ain't no Coup de Ville Hiding at the bottom of a Cracker Jack box" -Meatloaf

In London

"Now see this is a real city," Spike said as they walked off of the cargo ship and onto land.

"I hate London," Angel growled. "At least in Ireland we had a mansion to stay in."

"Would you two stop fighting for five minutes?" Buffy demanded. The two exchanged glances.

"No," Angel said.

"I don't see that happening," Spike said. "Come on, let's go ahead to the hotel." They walked to a large hotel. They quickly checked in and went to their rooms. Buffy looked around at the room she shared with Angel with wide eyes.

"Wow," she said looking at the size of the bathtub. "I've never stayed in a place this nice. Actually I've never stayed in a hotel."

"Really?" he asked lying down.

"I guess that's kind of strange to you," she said softly.

"Not really," he said then considered thoughtfully. "Well maybe a little." She laughed softly.

"I'm going to go check out the sites," she told him. She kissed him on the cheek and walked out. She ran into Spike on the way out of the hotel. "Hey."

"Where are you going?" he asked.

"I want to check out the city," she said.

He fell into step with her. "I'll go with you," he said. "I haven't been here for over fifty years." They walked down the streets of London and Spike showed her the sites. Spike paused outside of a building.

"What?" she asked.

"This is the center of Watcher's Council," Spike told her. She looked up at the building. Giles, she thought. They began to walk home after a few moments.

"Pet," Spike said. "How are things with Angel?"

"Pretty good," she said. "He's been faithful as far as I know why?"

"Just looking for conversation," he said.

"Right," she said nonplused. "How about you and Dru?"

"What me and Dru?" Spike asked staring into the distance. "I can't remember the last time that she slept in my bed." She wrinkled up her nose. "What?"

"I so don't want to hear about your sex life," she told him.

"Jealous?" he asked.

"As if!" she exclaimed

"What exactly is that supposed to mean anyhow?" he asked looking at her.

"Oh shut up," she said leading him into the hotel.