Don't own anything, don't sue me unless you are suing for custody of my debts!!! Here is the first part of the rest of the story.

Chapter 7

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Whistler sighed and walked around Buffy and Richie and sat down in one of the empty chairs. He looked up at Duncan and shook his head sadly.

"Ya know, Mac, the time is coming; what Connor always thought. The Gathering is coming and you will lose many of your friends" Whistler said.

MacLeod sighed, sat down heavily and covered his face with his hand. Brian, Methos, Willow and Richie all cursed and did the same.

"The worst part of it for you may be that Amanda is starting it right now" said Whistler.

At this MacLeod jumped up and grabbed Whistler by his lapels and threw him on the table.

"Where is she and who is it?" he growled just inches away from the balance demon's face.

"Relax, she'll be fine," started the demon. MacLeod just leaned closer and growled again.

Whistler sighed and said "It's Kate, your ex. And she's in Europe where you can't get to her. Kate challenged her and will most likely lose. Dumb broad never learned how to fight."

The demon got up after MacLeod released him in frustration and straightened his jacket up.

"Now, this is how this will play out. In a matter of months the Game will come to an end and there will be one left standing, which is the whole point. The prize is something imaginable and differs depending on who wins. I'm rooting for you MacLeod because the Powers have a good idea what the Prize would be and they like that option."

As for the others, fight the fight and try to win. Even the Powers don't know the future of this one. In the end, there can be only one."

"You Immortals may not realize this, but all of life on this earth depends on this one thing. No one, not even the Slayer can stop this one. No one will be allowed to."

Whistler finished dispersing all of the information and walked out the door without any hindrance.



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Across the world from Sunnydale, somewhere in France

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The two fighters circled each other warily. The one with the platinum blonde hair was shaking her head at the stupidity of the other woman.

"You stupid bitch, you know we don't have to do this," Amanda said while studying her opponent.

"It was you he ran to when I left, it's your fault," Kate spat back while trying to breathe. Mentally she cursed her stupidity for never learning how to fight properly after Duncan took Kell's head.

"Whatever," declared Amanda and feinted for Kate's head. Kate responded by clumsily trying to block with a sword oversized for her abilities and stumbled forward. Amanda sidestepped and chopped down with her right hand as Kate passed by.

The force of the Quickening knocked Amanda to the ground and pinned her there. As she screamed in agony as well as ecstasy she knew in all parts of her being that it had really and truly started. The Gathering had begun and it was going to end in Sunnydale, California. She had felt the call.

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All the Immortals in the room jumped up as if stung. They looked at each other and sighed. They had felt the call.

Buffy ran up to Richie and grabbed his arm, "What is it?"

"It's begun," he said quietly. Buffy gasped and pulled him into a tight embrace.

Methos stood up and said, "We should all go our separate ways and live life to the fullest until it finds us. I am going to Bora Bora and will be back when I am needed to help end it."

MacLeod nodded and stood, "I will settle in here and help Buffy while I can. Amanda just called and said she was coming."

Brian just said, "I will stay and help as well" and then he turned and walked out the door.

"Guess it's time for that vacation, huh Buff?" Richie asked quietly then he looked at the floor. "I should've done this long ago," he said as he got down on one knee and pulled a small velvet box out of his pocket.



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Two months later

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Richie waited with his head in his hands. The room was fairly empty except for himself and Dawn.

"She's the Slayer, she can't be sick," he thought with worry.

He jumped to his feet as the door opened to reveal Buffy walking towards them with a wide smile.

"I'm pregnant"











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