Chapter 12:

"Okay Spike, I think she's ready for the last part." Willow nudged him gently, trying to get him to wake back up. His head was leaning on Buffy's foot where he had fallen asleep.

"What do we have to do?"

"This is the easiest part. She's almost back to us and she just needs a guide to wake all the way up." She smiled at him, "when was the last time you saw a 'Sleeping Beauty'?"

"Never, you should know that!" He grimaced at the thought of chick flicks.

"Ha! You lie. I know you snuck down that one time Buffy and I were watching it. You sat at the bottom of the stairs to watch it because Mom wouldn't let you ruin our slumber party!"

"Fine, I've seen it once," Twenty times really, it was a favorite of Buffy's, "big deal."

"Well, do you remember how Prince Charming woke her up?"

"Yeah, beat back a bloody big dragon and kissed her. Oh. That's all?" Willow nodded. He leaned over Buffy.

"Alright, Sleeping Beauty, time to wake up," he whispered. His lips touched hers briefly then he heard her gasp and pulled away. "Buffy? Luv?" Buffy's eyes flew open and she sat bolt upright sending the monitors into a frenzy.

When the nurse on duty got to the bed she almost fainted. The girl had a tumor the size of a golf ball, there was no way she could be awake. But here she was, hugging her husband and trying not to cry herself to death. Spike and Willow were ordered out so that the doctors could look Buffy over and administer drugs.

"Joyce! Giles! Tara, Xander, Anya!" Spike and Willow raced down the hall screaming for their friends. They didn't even need to tell them that Buffy was awake, their smiles gave it away. The whole family hugged then sat down to await the doctor's prognosis. Time seemed to stop again as they waited. Minutes turned into hours and their excited talk quieted as they wondered if Buffy was still okay.

Finally, Buffy's doctor came for Giles, Joyce, and Spike. He led them to where Buffy had been moved. She no longer needed the ICU and was in a private room sitting up waiting for them. She broke into tears when she saw Spike. He ran to her and they spent the rest of the time holding onto each other. Joyce and Giles sat down on Buffy's other side to listen to Dr. Finn.

"I've already explained to Buffy about the coma and she is waiting patiently for Dawn to wake up so that she can see her." He smiled at Spike, "she's a beautiful little girl, congratulations.

"Now, about her mother. We've scanned her several times with various pieces of equipment and there isn't even a trace of tumor. I am, to say the least, mystified. We will keep Buffy for another two days, which is normal for all new mothers and their infants, but after that we will release her. I would like to see her back for scans in another week and then a month after that. If she gets a clean bill of health I hope to never see her again." Spike glared, "in a good way, I assure you!" At that he left them so the nurses could bring in Dawn, who had woken up and wanted to be fed. Joyce and Giles each gave a quick kiss on the forehead then left so the new family could spend some quality time together.

Epilogue: Two years later

After two years tumor free Buffy's cancer was declared to be in remission. The tumor that had almost killed her had disappeared without a trace. Medically, there was no way to explain it, so most doctors declared her to be a fluke. While the doctors might be clueless Buffy and her family knew exactly what had stopped her death. Every year on Dawn's birthday they had celebrated her birth and Buffy's life. This years party was being held at the park where Buffy and Spike had their wedding.

The party included everyone in Buffy's ever expanding family. The group had grown by X. Xander and Anya now had twin boys who were little demons that never sat still for more than thirty seconds. Willow and Tara had officially 'adopted' Oz. They couldn't both marry him so they settled with just all living in on big house. Willow had a little girl from him and Tara had a little boy. They had finally opened their herb counter in the Magic Box and Oz played stay at home Daddy, although most days he could be found at the Magic Box with the kids. Buffy and Spike of course had Dawn who was their pride and joy. Sadly, she would be their only child, Buffy had become sterile from the spell. It was a nasty side effect but Buffy and Spike were content with Dawn, who was a handful.

As hot dogs cooked on the grills everyone grabbed a cup of punch and gathered for a toast. Glasses were raised, everyone chanted "to fate, to hope", and they all smiled as they drank to the toast.