Chapter Twelve: It's Okay

(Sorry it's been awhile. I've been busy. Like scary-busy. I don't think I've slept in three days and now I'm sitting here at Midnight because inspiration struck and I finally figured out how to finish a major part of the story. Oh, and I have two endings. One very, sappy, lovey-dovey and Spuffy and one very angst-y, sad and not so Spuffy. Tell me which you prefer. I can post both or post the more popular and send the other to whoever wants it. Review please.)


Faith leaned up again the frame of the door. She watched as the blonde slayer emptied out her meager underwear drawer into a small suitcase. "Lemme guess, you saved the world and now you're going to Disneyland."

Buffy didn't even turn around. She heard her sister slayer approaching before. Faith squeaky new boots gave her away. "Yeah, you want something?"

Faith stepped over Buffy's mess and stretched herself out on the bed. "Bring me back some of those Micky Mouse ears." Buffy nodded and continued with her packing. Faith rolled her eyes and sighed irritably. "What's up B? What's with the quiet?"

"Nothing," Buffy replied. She picked up a blue shirt off the floor, smelled it and tossed it in.

Faith sat straight up. "Okay, now I know something's up."

"What?"

"You just picked up a shirt and and threw it into your bag. Now, I know I've been away for awhile, but I like to think I know you pretty well. And if memory serves, you were kind of pro good hygiene." Faith crossed her arms, waiting for an answer.

Buffy looked at the shirt in her bag. The cadet blue color, until her vision was was blurred by overwhelming tears. She picked up the shirt and threw it back onto the floor. She collapsed next to the bed. Faith crawled over to her, shoving the suitcase aside. She leaned over the side of the bed, where Buffy sat head down crying.

"It's all right, B," let it out," she soothed.

Buffy shook her head," Not it's not. It's not all right for me to be crying like this. God what's wrong with me?"

Faith cocked an eyebrow, "You really wanna open that can of worms?" Buffy giggled despite herself. "See," Faith nudged her, "it's all right."

"But it's not. He's alive, why didn't he come and find me?"

"Beats the hell out of me. What does it matter anyways, you should go to him, he's the one who died."

Buffy held her head in her hands. "Maybe I shouldn't go. Maybe he doesn't want to see me though, that's why he hasn't come."

"And maybe he's sprouted wings and is a freakin' cherub. Come on, girlfriend, where's ball busting, my-shit-don't-stink-'cause-I'm-the-greatest-slayer Buffy?"

"She died in that cave with Spike," Buffy grumbled.

"Then you should go get her back now, because I don't know if I can take anymore of this new Buffy. She's a crybaby," Faith told her. Buffy leaned her head back and Faith sighed, "Listen, the way I see it, B, you've been given this great opporotunity. Everyone that has left in your life, has never come back. Don't give me that look, you know I'm right," Faith said after getting a death glare from the weepy one on the floor. "And now, someone that you obviously care about and I know you love, has come back. So, you have two choices," she sat up. "Choice one, go to L.A, and actually have a chance at happy or plain don't. But since I don't think I can handle Weepy Buffy, I'll knock your ass out and drag you onto the plane. So go. Go see him, go be happy. And I mean really happy, yo. Not fake happy either. You deserve this."

Buffy looked at the dark-haired slayer, well, dark with highlights-haired slayer. "Thank you."

"No sweat."

"Hey, Faith. Why didn't you write a letter?"

Faith shrugged and stretched back out on the bed. "I didn't have anyone to write to really. Besides, I knew we were all gonna make it. C'mon, it's you, B. It's always you."

"No," Buffy shook her head. "It was us.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Andrew stood at the head of the dinner table, Xander had purchased at a yard sale and fixed up. The blond, jumpy young man proudly surveyed the people in front of him. Dawn, Amanda and Willow chattered about some chick flick while Xander was pretending not to be interested as he rolled his eyes, Giles cleaned his glasses trying to ignore them. Faith walked in and pulled up a chair next to an empty one reserved for Buffy.

"Can we eat now?" Dawn asked.
"Yeah, Andrew. The food smells great," Willow told him.

"Just a minute," Andrew said taking out a stack of 3x5 notecards.

Xander groaned audibly. "I knew this dinner had a catch."

Andrew ignored him and cleared his throat, "Ahem," he started reading slowly, "Before we begin, I just wanted to say a few words," he looked up. "Where's Buffy?"

"Oh, uh, she had to catch a plane," Faith spoke up.

"A plane? Where is she going?" Dawn asked worried.

"L.A," Faith replied.

"Why didn't she say anything?" Xander asked.

Faith shrugged, "I dunno. But Andrew was talking so, shut up." Buffy had said not to say anything until she got back. Faith met Giles' eyes and he nodded slightly.

Andrew sighed, "Well, I had this whole speech prepared for her, but I guess it can wait."

"Yes!" Xander exclaimed. He reached for a piece of garlic bread.

"But, I can tell you all the rest," Andrew continued. Xander sat back and crossed his arms over his chest, mumbling something about his stomach. "Ahem," Andrew cleared his throat again. "I just wanted to say a few words. First off, I didn't write I good-bye letter to anyone. Mainly because I was certain I was going to die and no one would care much." Everyone looked down at their empty plates embarrassed. "But it's okay and now that I'm still here, I'm able to thank you all for everything. Buffy, well, she's not here, but I wanted to tell her that I'm really glad she's the slayer and she's so cool and beautiful and to thank her for taking pity on lowly me. And Mr. Giles, thank you for always being nice to me. Dawn, you're a very sweet and sometimes scary girl." At this point the door bell rang but Andrew kept reading. "Xander, I'm so so so sorry about Anya. I still wish it was me instead of her." "Willow, for not killing me and then for being really cool. I also wanted to thank Spike," the doorbell rang again," he was" doorbell "a true" doorbell, "champ-" doorbell doorbell doorbell. "Will someone get the door?!"

Dawn sprung up and ran to the door to stop the persistent ringer. "Could you..." She started angrily but stopped dead. Her eyes were the size of plates and all color had drained from her face.

"Dawn, who is it?" Willow called to the sister's little sister. "Dawn? Dawnie?" Willow came up behind her and gasped. The group stood up as a whole and rushed to the door.

The person at the door smirked. "Hey, all. You miss me?"

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~