Six years had passed since I gave up being the slayer. That final battle took so much out of me, and I saw things that no one should even have nightmares about. And it wasn't just me. It was my friends, Dawn, Giles, and the potentials. A lot of people died that night, including most of the potentials, except two. Kennedy was so disturbed by what she saw, that she had to go into therapy for a couple years. Her parents were disgusted at this "lifestyle" of killing things; they did not want her anywhere near them. So I opened up my house to her, and she has been staying here since. Rona, the strongest of the potentials, became the new slayer. I trained her, schooled her, and then she was ready. Ready to be the "chosen one". She lives with us also, but we barely see her with school, work, and slayer stuff.

It has been six years since I saw Giles, my watcher, my friend, my father figure. After that battle, he went back to England for good. I hear from him sometimes, mostly on holidays and birthdays. I asked him to be Rona's watcher, but he declined. He resigned his position to watcher, he wanted to live a normal life, and he deserved to.like we all did.

Xander and Anya took the plunge and got married for real five years ago. They were meant for each other, and together they have a little girl, Joyce Anne Harris. She is the spunkiest little girl ever, with her brown hair and blue eyes; she has her father's quirkiness and her mother's straightforwardness. It is funny to be around her, because when she opens her mouth we all hold our breath, not knowing what she is gonna ask or what she is gonna say.

Then there is Willow and Tara. They haven't gotten married yet, but it is assumed by all of their friends. They live on the next block, and last year they adopted a little boy, Alan Rupert Mclkay-Rosenberg. We all pick on Willow and Tara that Alan is going to grow up and marry Joyce. Willow gave up all of the magic, it reminded her too much of our pasts.

Dawn's crush on Spike became love, especially after Spike started to return her feelings. At first I was disgusted with it, and Dawn didn't talk to me for almost a year. She thought I was still hung up on him, but I just didn't want my sister to be hurt. When Dawn asked me if they could come back and live in the house, I was put off, but still I agreed.

"He has a soul now, Buffy. And it isn't cursed, no matter what.he can't hurt anyone anymore." Her eyes showed how much she loved him.

I snapped out of my trance when I heard the phone ring. I stood up and walked to my door, just as Dawn called up the stairs.

"Buffy! It's Josh!"

I picked up the phone and held it to my ear.

"Hey." "Hey Buff, listen I'm gonna be a little late tonight. This case is kicking my ass, so, uh don't wait up." His voice sounded very breathy, like he had just run a mile, but I didn't really think too much of it.

"Oh, ok. Well, be careful on the way home. I love you." I said staring blankly at the walls.

"Yea, me too. You seem distant..are you ok Buffy?"

"I'm fine, I just miss you. I love you, do good work."

"OK, well..uhm bye."

"Bye."

I looked too my bed and at the address book again, there was his name. This always happened, I was fine until I saw his name or found something that slipped under the cracks when I was throwing away everything that reminded me of him. I hadn't seen him in eight years, hadn't talked to him in eight years. But I could still feel his breath on my face. I didn't want him to have an invitation to my wedding, I didn't need him there. I didn't need a reason to doubt what I was doing. He was a security blanket, he was there at my best times, and there at my worst. He held me all night when my mother died, but then like always he was gone.

I stood up and walked back down stairs, it was already evening and Spike was in the living room.

"Slay..Buffy, what are you up to this fine evening, pet?" He flipped through the channels on the TV as he talked.

"Don't call me that."

"Touchy, touchy."

I walked into the kitchen and Kennedy turned around to face me.

"Buffy, I am sooooo sorry; I didn't know.I was just doing what you said."

"It's okay Ken, it wasn't your fault."

She breathed a sigh of relief, and continued cooking dinner. I heard Dawn giggling in the living room with Spike, and I turned to go back up the stairs. I entered my room and crossed to my bed; I picked up the address book and ripped out the page with Angel's address on it. I threw the paper in the trash and lay on my bed. Before I knew it, I was asleep.