Title: The Choice 2/3 Rating: PG Spoilers: Season Finale Feedback: Yes, please

Chapter 2

Buffy could not remember the last time she had been so tired. She felt like she hadn't slept in years. And that long bus ride sure hadn't helped any.

Giles had taken over the driving since Wood was in no shape to continue. Faith cradled Wood in her arms, and many of the potentials held each other on the long drive to LA. It had been decided by all to take the bus to Angel's hotel. They all needed to regroup, rest, and get well. No one remembered who's idea it was to go to Angel, but none argued. It seemed the most logical place. By the time they had arrived it was evening, and three more potentials had died. Wood was not in great shape either. Giles drove the bus straight to the emergency room at the first hospital he could find.

Angel had been more than relieved when Buffy had phoned with their victory news, but the celebration was tempered in taking care of the injured. After the injured were safe and sound in their hospital rooms, everyone else arrived at the hotel. They all had been assigned their own room, and the telling of the battle and blood loss would be saved for the morning. Right now they all needed sleep. Buffy was out before her head even hit the pillow.

She saw Spike in her dream. She was sitting at the fountain in the sunshine behind Giles' old apartment. She moved her fingers in the water, swirling little funnels around it's surface. It was peaceful and quiet, and she was enjoying the lazy summer afternoon. It seemed perfectly natural for Spike to come and sit beside her.

"Hello, luv." He smiled at her. She returned his smile, content in her water play.

"Buffy, I have something for you." She turned and smiled at him again. "What is it?" she asked him.

"I get to grant you one wish. Any wish." He looked so sincere. She took her hand out of the water and held her fingers over his face, dripping water onto his nose. She laughed as he batted her hand away.

"I'm serious, Slayer. Listen to me for once."

"A wish? Any wish?" She chuckled at his joke, until she realized he was quite serious.

He reached out and held both her hands gently between them. "Buffy, I'm here to give you the choice.The Powers that Be have granted me this. You get to change one thing in your life. A time when you made the wrong choice, you can now make it right."

She looked at him, perplexed. "Spike, have you been drinking?" She leaned in to smell his breath, but he pushed her back, exasperated by her.

He held her tightly to him. "Buffy, I'm gone, remember? But they've sent me back to you in your dream, so I can ask you to choose. Please, listen to me, and think. If you could change one thing in your life in the last few years, what would you change?"

He studied her face intently as she thought. There were so many things she could choose. She could change so many things to prevent hurting her friends, and her family. She could have never been with Angel. That would have prevented him from turning into Angelus. Looking back, she could have changed something in her dealings with Glory, to avoid having to climb that tower, and die. She looked into Spike's face, and he saw her considering how she could have changed ever being with him. He did not drop his unwavering gaze however. It was her choice to make.

Then she thought of her mom. Was there something she could have done to prevent her death? She thought of all the people that had died when she had failed, especially in the last few months. Xander's eye, Anya's death, Willow's delving into the black magics. Slamming the door in her Watcher's face. Is there anything she could have done to have prevented so much pain?

Lastly she remembered Kendra and thought of Faith. She had done so many things she now regretted when it came to her relationship with Faith. Thinking of them is what made her decision come to light. This choice would not take away a lot of pain, nor death. Some dark roads would still be traveled. But the ending could be so much better for her family, for her friends, and for herself.

Spike saw the decision in her face. "You've decided then?"

"Yes," she answered.

The Powers that Be echoed in their heads as one. "It is done."