Thank you Norsk. I hope this chapter clears stuff up for you.

Kirsten: Thank you!!

LexiaRein: hehehehe. That made me giggle! You made me giggle!! I'm STILL giggling!

Thanks Cazy again, for the insanity.
sglanton: Willow set him up in the sun thing too – sorry it wasn't clear – I tried to make it clearer here. Thanks!
(): Thank you! Don't feel stupid! You made me v.v.v.v happy!

Sheri: Thank you!! *feeling tingly*

Kelso: Yup, I am planning on having more B/S history. Thanks 4 reviewing!!

Chip: Thank you for the nice review!!

Song in this episode is 'Goodbye to you' Michelle Branch!   

Lyrics are between these lines: ----  

~~~~~

--Of all the things
I've believed in
I just want to
Get it over with--

Buffy growled at the tears falling down her face, thrashing her hand across her cheek in an attempt to stop them. The bag was nearly full and she rapidly glanced round the room for anything that she hadn't packed. When she was convinced she had packed all she wanted to take she zipped the big sports bag up. Determined to stop her lip shaking, she calmly grabbed the 'Slayer' bag full of her stakes and holy water. Without a second glance she left the room with a door-banging echo.

Then 3 minutes later she opened it again.

The Slayer picked up the photo frame that rested on her bedside table. The picture was of her and the blond vampire. She smiled. She opened the drawer a few feet away and picked out a photo album that she shared with Spike. There were pictures of happy days. Spike and Buffy, fighting together, Willow and Spike at the Wicca/vamp meeting where Spike got rid of some of the disadvantages of unlife, Spike in the sun mock-posing disgust at a bloodbag (right after the meeting!), Buffy, Willow and Tara covered in face mud and painting their nails, Dawn, Spike dragging Buffy to the Sunnydale Uni student registration centre, Buffy smiling just outside the centre when she got Spike to join as well, Willow and Spike at the magic shop with Anya harassing a customer, Spike dancing to Madonna's 'Vogue' (the picture had been taken without his knowledge or consent), Anya and Xander when she convinced him to take a short course at the university, Buffy, Anya and Spike eating burgers, Giles and Spike playing chess, Giles and Spike in Oxford from two years ago when Spike visited the former-Watcher, Willow and Giles in the computer lab when Giles visited them, Buffy and Spike seeing the sights of Oxford with Giles, Xander, Willow and Dawn trailing in the background with Anya spewing off historical commentaries and Tara quietly observing everything….

--Tears form behind my eyes
But I do not cry--

Buffy stifled the tears that wanted to spill. She remembered Oxford well. The blond had loved it. The spires and cobbled streets had warmed her to the city quickly. Spike had known his way round from previous experience and had showed her around.  Dawn had loved it, enjoying the Covered Market and how small the Clarendon Centre was in comparison to a Sunnydale mall.

Sunnydale didn't need a Slayer that desperately. Willow, Tara, Xander, Spike and Anya could handle it without her if she asked Angel to move back or at least commute…Buffy wanted to go back to England. Spend sometime with Giles. That's where she would go. To Oxford.

…………………………………………………………………………………………

"Yes. Of course, Yes!"

Spike felt his heart soar and with trembling hands, he slipped the ring onto the hand of the beautiful woman in front of him.

Sara smiled and they kissed. And the world faded away. Demons, Evil, Pain…nothing made sense or mattered. And the world seemed right for once.

…………………………………………………………………………………………..

"Giles?"

"Buffy! What a surprise…How did…I mean… What…"

"He's engaged."

"Oh, my."

"To Sara."

"Ye-Yes, Buffy I'm sorry."

"Giles, I think I'm going to come to Oxford."

"Yes, I think you need a holiday."

"No. I mean…I think I'm going to move."

"Buffy, really--"

"No, Giles, I've been thinking and Dawn needs a change just as much as I do. I just want to start new. It's not just Spike."

What a lie.

"Buffy…"

"Whatever you say…I'm doing it. I can rent out the house to get myself some money until I can work there. Willow won't mind checking that the tenants are good guys and…please Giles. I need you."

"Very well Buffy, How will you tell Spike?"

"I won't."

"Surely you want to finish university?"

"It'll take until graduation to sort out the house and Dawns school. I have enough money to do this…if we could stay with you for just a few weeks…"

"Buffy. You…you and Dawn are like my own children. I understand if you want your independence…but I would love your company here. This is a big house, it needs some more life in it."

"Thank you Giles. That sounds nice…safe."

"Is there anything I can do to make it easier for you?"

"I don't expect you to stop talking to Spike…but I don't want him to know where I am. I'll tell the others…but I don't want him coming to see me…just…please don't mention where I am…pretend that you don't know."

"Are you sure you're doing the right thing?"

"Yes."

…………………………………………………………………………………………..

--Counting the days
That pass me by--


From there, Buffy slowly set about her tasks. Giles was going to come for their graduation and then go back to England with Buffy right after the ceremony. Angel decided to send a crime-fighting couple from LA to stay in Sunnydale. Gunn and Fred.  They would stay at the Summer's residence and pay rent to Buffy. Angel made sure that no one would mention Buffy's plan to anyone…ever. One by one, each of Buffy's friends excepting Spike was informed. Finally, a week before the graduation, Buffy went for her final meeting with Dean Restrepo.

"Ah, hello Buffy, come in."

"I understand you wanted to see me."

"Yes, I would like to change the forwarding address on my forms, so that I can still receive leavers-stuff and any offers sent for me."

"Oh, I didn't realise you were moving house. A better location in Sunnydale?"

"No, Sir. I'll be leaving for England after graduation."

The Dean looked deeply into the woman before him whose eyes were crying tearlessly.

"I have an idea why you are leaving."

"I'm sure you do."

"He cares very much for you."

"I have no resentment for Sara or Spike. It's just…. Sir…."

The old man sighed. "Sara hasn't mentioned this."

"That's because she doesn't know. Neither does Spike, and I hope I can trust you not to mention it. I don't want Spike to know where I am…you know that he is a…"

"Vampire, yes. Sara, William and myself had a long discussion about this…and you are…"

"The Slayer, yes. Well, he can easily find me if he sets out to it. I've had Willow do a spell network stopping his demon world sources providing him with information about where I am going…. You are the only other person that needed to know and the only one I need assurance from that you will not tell Spike or Sara or anyone where I am going and when…and why. They don't know."

"Buffy, do reconsider…"

"My mind is made, Dean Restrepo."

"Very Well, Buffy. Where are you going?"

"Oxford, Sir."

 ………………………………………………………………………………………….

--I've been searching
Deep down in my soul--

Giles smiled proudly as he watched, the children he had watched grow up into adults, gain a university education. William, Buffy, Xander, Willow, Tara…. they all smiled…happiness they had not felt for a long time shining through.

The Watcher frowned slightly as Spike kissed Sara…since the others had been told of Buffy's feelings…they all looked uncomfortable to say the least.

Once the ceremony was over, Giles joined the graduates near the food tables.

"Giles!"

"G-man!"

"You don't want the shop do you?"

"Watcher!"

"Hello."

Everyone fell silent when they heard Sara's word of greeting. Spike visibly shone and pulled his fiancée forward.

"Rupert, meet my fiancée, Sara."

Giles took in the girl's nervous expression and hopeful eyes. He could see that she loved Spike very much and wanted to be accepted by the man Spike looked up to as a father.

"It's very nice to meet you, Sara."

And with that the talking began again. Spike had recently begun to see the Watcher as almost a role-model figure and having his acceptance was very important.

"When are you going back to England, mate?"

"I shall be taking a flight in two hours actually."

"That reminds me Spike," Buffy jumped in animatedly, "You won't be able to see him off, you and Sara have to stay here for the Dean's speech!"

…………………………………………………………………………………………

Dawn smiled at another memory that flooded into her mind. The house was bare of Summer's memorabilia now, only furniture remained since everything was at this moment on its way to England.

"When will our stuff get to Giles' house?" Dawn asked.

"Well, we should get to Heathrow airport at about 7pm, UK time and then Giles says it takes about an hour to get to Oxford by bus, from there, we get his car from where he parked it – ready for us – and it should only take 15 or so minutes to get to his house…hopefully we'll be there by 8:30pm, provided nothing bad happens…that means we can call for our stuff and have it there in two hours…they'll probably leave it till early the next morning I guess."

Dawn nodded and sighed at all she was leaving behind. A part of her would miss Sunnydale, this house…but a large part of her needed this...cleansing…going to a new place…trying to start with a fresh slate. Buffy would still have to be the Slayer, but her duties would be a lot lighter and maybe their lives would be semi-normal.

Giles entered the room and cleared his throat. "Buffy, Dawn, Xander's here to take us to the airport. It's time to go."

Buffy nodded and stood, reaching her hand out to Dawn. They held hands and picked up their hand luggage. Stopping only to smile at the house for a moment, Buffy closed the door on Sunnydale and walked into the sunlight with Dawn.

…………………………………………………………………………………………

--Words that I'm hearing
Are starting to get old---

"I'm gonna miss you so much."

"I'm gonna miss you too."

"I'll just be calling you like everyDAY!"

"Watch the phone bill!"

"I am going to miss you more than anything!"

~~~"This is an announcement for passengers flying to Chicago on BA459. Boarding will begin in 45 minutes. Until then, feel free to wait at Gate 16."~~~

The gang were at Gate 16, since Buffy, Dawn and Giles had planned to catch another plane at Chicago to get to London – in case Spike checked. Xander, Anya, Willow, Tara, Angel and even Cordelia were all present, each talking privately with the departers.

Buffy took Angel aside for a moment.

"Here, these are the keys and papers that Gunn and Fred will need for the house."

"I'll make sure they get them."

"Thank you."

They were silent for a moment and then Angel did something unexpected, he lifted Buffy's wrist to his mouth and bit into it. Buffy was startled at the gesture but was even more surprised that Angel seemed to be giving her blood instead of taking it. Suddenly an aching sadness settled over her heart and she felt more lifeless than she had been feeling. "An-Angel…what did you…do?"

"I'm giving you a few moments of what Spike will feel forever if you leave without any explanation."

"He won't feel this, Angel. He is too happy…"

"He does love you Buffy, he cares about you. That hasn't all disappeared."

"I know Angel, maybe I'll call him or something…he will forget, eventually."

…………………………………………………………………………………………

While they talked, Giles was also whispering to Willow.

"Could you telephone Spike and let him know, he could still get here in time."

"Giles…Buffy doesn't want…"

"He won't know where she is going…but he will at least see her knowing it will be the last time he will do so."

…………………………………………………………………………………………

Spike smiled before pulling aside to answer his phone.

"Spike here, the one and only, fiancée bearing, kick-ass vamp around."

"Spike, I need you to come to the airport right now."

"What? Why, Red?"

"Buffy's moving away Spike, she didn't want to tell you, she doesn't know I'm calling…but I think you should come and say goodbye…"

…………………………………………………………………………………………

--It feels like
I'm starting all over again--

~~~ "Boarding seat 23 through to 34 please. Passengers please go to the nearest boarding door."~~~

"That's not us just yet." Giles whispered.

"Oh, Buffy, I wish you weren't leaving." Willow sighed.

"Me too." Spike's voice seemed to echo as Buffy's eyes widened almost comically had the situation not been so sombre.

"Spike…"

"Slayer."

Everyone stepped away, Sara having come with Spike, also slid away, leaving the two friends together.

"What's happened, Slayer? One day I'm the happiest bloke on this bleedin' globe and now you're leaving me. Why are you leaving me, pet?"

Buffy's heart started aching painfully and silent tears began to shed.

"I have to do this Spike and I can't tell you why, it's better this way."

--The last three years
Were just pretend--

Spike didn't understand how things had changed so suddenly. It was insane…they had been together for so long, shared everything and now at the most important point in his unlife…she was leaving. All those years, slowly bringing her back to life, slowly becoming friends, slowly becoming soul mates. Life had been harsh and cruel but good, good because they had each other. And she was leaving. It was insane. He just didn't understand.

"Where are you going, pet?"

"I can't tell you that Spike…I don't want you to try and find me."

Spike's head shot up and he grabbed Buffy's shoulders. His eyes glowed golden and he forced down his urge to vamp out.

"So, this is meant to be it, FOREVER, Slayer?"

--And I said
Goodbye to you--

"Yes."

The simple word shattered Spike's being to his core. She was serious. All the years they had spent together, the memories assaulted his mind viciously as he fought to understand that he would never see her again.

--Goodbye to everything
I thought I knew--

The whole world seemed to tilt, everything she had understood and her simple routines were all meaningless, shattered and unimportant. But it had to be done. That was simply the way.

~~~ "Would all the remaining passengers for BA459 please board now."~~~

"That's me."

"Don't go." Spike pleaded, his voice pitiful.

"Goodbye, Spike."

- Touch noses

- Bump right shoulders.

- Hold an invisible stake to own heart and stake twice.
- Hug.

"I love you." Buffy whispered into his shoulder.

"I love you too, Slayer."

She felt his tears on her shoulder and she pulled back from the hug. Walking towards Sara, Buffy pulled out a box.

"I'll be missing the wedding, so I figured I should give you something now. It's not anything…but it's yours. Look after it."

Sara smiled, and then frowned slightly. There was something, not quite right about the Slayer. And then. She knew. Buffy was in love with Spike.

"Goodbye, Buffy. I promise to look after him."

The blonde nodded and again faced Spike. "Bye, Blondie."

Mute, the vampire could do little, he protested, pulling her away from the gate, refusing to let her leave.

"I'm leaving Spike."

"NO!"

Buffy hit him across the face and ran towards the boarding door. "Angel, take care of him, please." She called back as she joined Giles and Dawn.

Angel held Spike back from stopping Buffy, but he could not stop Spike yelling one final sentiment.

"SLAYER!"

Buffy paused but did not turn to face him.

"You're my sunlight, pet. Don't go."

"Goodbye, Spike." she choked out, tears falling freely now. Silently, she waved to the Scoobies and walked onto the plane.

--You were the one I loved
The one thing that
I tried to hold on to--

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~~**~~**~*~*~~*~*~*~*~*~~**~~*~**~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
TBC

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