Brave New World
Chapter Three

Wesley had grown up. He thought this had occurred immediately after Graduation. He remembered Buffy dragging him to his feet and screaming at him to get Oz and Willow to safety. He remembered the horror in her voice, the pain in her eyes, the tremour in her hands.

He should have known when she spoke that they had lost, but he hadn't believed it. Then he looked around, saw the bodies of the students, saw vampires bearing down on Angel and Willow, the only two still fighting. He saw the bodies tossed toward the Mayor. He saw that they had lost. So he pushed himself over to Oz, grabbing hold of his shoulders to hoist him up and drag him away. He remembered thinking that there was still a chance. If Buffy and Angel were still standing, there was a chance that they could still stop the Mayor.

It wasn't until they were back at the mansion that everything truly hit him. Willow was inconsolable. Her sobs were gut wrenching as she held Oz's hand, while Wesley found Angel's First Aid kit and tended to the cut on Oz's head. He could barely make out Willow's words. Most of them anyway.

"Oh, God," she had choked. "Oh God. They're all dead. Xander's dead, Xander's gone. Cordelia too, oh God, Cordelia's dead!"

He felt the bottom fall out of his stomach, his hand faltering over Oz's head. He couldn't quite believe it. When Buffy returned with Dawn and announced grimly that they had lost, that she, Dawn, Willow, Oz and himself were the only ones left, he still didn't believe it.

"Angel?" he had asked. "Giles? Xander?"

He couldn't bring himself to ask about Cordelia. He was barely able to comprehend that Angel had not survived, he couldn't bear the thought of losing Cordelia. But Buffy's next words broke his heart.

"All gone," she whispered. "Cordelia too. The Mayor wins."

He had returned his attentions to Dawn, who was seated in a chair in white-faced, shivering shock. He fought tears, fought the pain in his chest that made him want to scream. Dawn's hand had curled around his and she clung to it tightly, as her eyes welled with tears.

He remembered feeling terrible in those next few days. He watched Buffy and Dawn mourn the loss of their mother and the entire group mourn the loss of their friends. He had barely known them and though their deaths upset him, he was the only one who did not sit in stony silence, he was the only one who didn't break down and scream.

He was the one that grew up suddenly and did all he could. He made meals from the food Buffy stole, he checked they all ate, he checked to make sure Oz did not have concussion and made sure Dawn's shock passed.

But it was Buffy that scared him the most. She cried only once, after returning with Dawn, she had sank to the floor and sobbed. After that, she settled into silence. Barely speaking and hardly eating. He worried about her.

He thought that was when he and Buffy started to become friends. After days of tip toeing around her and the others, she finally spoke to him.

"Thank you," she said, as he handed her a plate. "For everything. I know it's not been easy. But I'm grateful. We all are."

It was three weeks before Buffy pulled herself out of her sea of despair and announced that they were the resistance. He could not remember being so happy as when she said that. For a moment, he saw the Slayer he had first met and for a while, he didn't care if she treated him with the utmost contempt if she finally came back to life.

From then on, he didn't feel so much of an outsider. Buffy trained them all as a group and he was part of that team. For the first time in a long while, he felt part of something. He wished Cordelia could see him now. God, he missed her.

"Wesley, man."

Wesley turned and faced Doyle, who lounged in the doorway of his room.

"Hello, Doyle," Wesley said, offering the half demon a slight smile.

"You been thinking about that girl again?" he asked, entering the room with his hands jammed in his pockets. "Seems everyone likes to remember the bad times."

"People they've lost more than the bad times themselves," Wesley said.

"You've gotta move on," Doyle told him.

"I have," Wesley shrugged. "I just like to remember sometimes. Otherwise, it's like none of them ever existed."

"Well, if you ever want to talk..." Doyle offered.

"I know, much appreciated, Doyle. I suppose you've come to tell me training's started?"

"Yeah, Anya's charging around with a sword and having a right go at that Andrew kid. And Spike's working with Willow, Dawn and Tara. Thought you might wanna spar with me."

"Oh, right. Come one then. Wait, where's Buffy?"

"She went out."

"She went out?" Wesley echoed in disbelief. "Without back up?"

"She's the Slayer, man," Doyle shrugged. "She'll be fine."

"I suppose you're right," Wesley sighed. "I suppose I worry too much."

"Hey, you said it."

She felt uncomfortable in her skin. The denim jeans and cotton shirt felt heavy. In fact, her entire body felt heavy, but alive at the same time. She wanted to get out and work out her kinks, to fight again.

But first she wanted answers.

"What happened?" she asked, sitting down opposite him.

"A lot, Faith," the Mayor smiled. "A lot. We won!"

"So I figured," Faith said, relaxing slightly at his familiar smile. "So what happened?"

"Well, after that bitch put you in a coma, she tried to take me down," the Mayor's voice took on an edge and his fingers dug into the arms of his chair. "But it didn't work."

"She's dead?" Faith asked, feeling her stomach flip flop at the thought. "They're all dead?"

"Oh no," The Mayor picked up a file from the table beside him and flicked through it. "She's very much alive. But most of the rest didn't survive."

"Angel? Willow, Oz? Xander, Cordelia?" Faith asked urgently.

"The red head's still alive," the Mayor scanned the file. "And the Watcher."

"Giles?"

"The other one."

"Wesley?"

"I thought that'd amuse you," he grinned. "The Slayer's sister's still alive and a few others showed up. Another witch, a half-demon, an ex-demon. Oh, and Spike. A vampire. He's working with them. Some military people showed up about the same time he did and neutered him. All in all, they're quite the motley crew."

"The military?" Faith raised her eyebrows. "Bet you had fun with them."

"Oh yeah, but gristly, y'know?" he shuddered slightly.

"So, how did it go down? The change?"

"You'll have to wait and see," he grinned. "But for now, it's just me, Faith," he stood up, opening his arms wide. "Now, c'mere."

She stood up and sank into his embrace. It felt good to be home.