The final chapter...yay! Well, read on and review, please. The usual disclaimers apply here...

Slowly stepping forward, Buffy glares at Doc. Doc takes another step forward...and another...and another... Finally, Buffy gives Doc a tiny push back and Doc falls off the bridge, landing near Spike. Buffy looks at Dawn, scowling. Dawn looks down at her wounds. Blood is gushing heavily out of her cuts, running down her legs. A short while later, Buffy is at Dawn's side, untying the ropes. However, Buffy is taking her time at it as proven by the growing sphere of glowing energy. Dawn keeps sending the portal frantic glances.

Dawn: Umm, Buffy, hurry!

Buffy: Hold...on...I'm...almost...done...

Dawn: Buffy!

Buffy: I'm...done...let's...go...Dawnie...!

They run forward, Buffy lagging behind Dawn.

Dawn: It's started!

Buffy glances over her shoulder, seeing the portal. Dawn starts to run past Buffy. Buffy grabs Dawn by her shoulders, angry.

Buffy: Dawn...what...are...you...doing...?

The portal continues to grow, now the size of a small football field. Blue lightening shoots out of it, making contact with the ground below and various buildings, turning them into unspeakable hellish images. A dragon, no, two dragons fly out of the portal, their wings creating heavy tailwind. Buffy and Dawn nearly fall off the bridge but luckily they're holding on the beams for support.

Dawn: It has to have blood. Once the blood, like, starts flowing, the portal won't, like, close until the blood, like, stops flowing. I have to go...

It has to have blood...

Buffy's mind flashbacks to various scenes, the hospital, the monks, and the First Slayer...

We're Summers. Our blood is the same. The monks made her out of me. Death is your gift.

The words running through Buffy's mind, she turns around. Her blonde hair slowly rippling in the wind, tears welling up in her tears. The sun is rising in the background, making for a very cliché scene. Buffy turns back to Dawn, calmness can be seen on her face.

Dawn: Buffy, no! You're not supposed to die! It's my scene and I'm supposed to, like, die a heroic death! This is just like you, always having to have the, like, spotlight on you... Not fair. (stomps feet)

Buffy: Dawnie...I...have...to...

A beam of bright white light suddenly appears behind Buffy. A visage of smiling Joyce, dressed in white robes, a golden halo above her head, slowly appears. A heavenly choir can be heard playing.

Joyce: Dawnie, I love you, but things are--

Buffy: Moooooom...! Not...until...season...seven...!

Joyce: Oh dear. I'm sorry, dears... (snaps her fingers)

The heavenly choir begins to quiet down as Joyce starts to vanish but then she reappears. The heavenly choir begins to play again. She frowns, puzzled. She takes out a remote control and presses the red button on it. Her body suddenly jerks forward, as if she's being pulled upwards, which she is. The rope tied around Joyce's torso is dragging her upwards. Soon, Joyce is gone along with the heavenly choir.

Buffy: (turns back to Dawn) ...it's...my...job...

Dawnie: (crying non-stop) No...

Buffy: Tell...Giles...I...figured...it...out...

The camera backs away from the sisters, their conversation unheard. After a while, the camera closes up on Buffy. Buffy kisses Dawn's forehead one last time before turning around. Time seemed to have slowed down to a snail's pace as Buffy starts toward the portal, her pert hair bouncing along with her body. The portal grows bigger, pulsating with immeasurable energy.

Dawn: (mouth forming words) Buffyyyyyyy, nooooooooooo...loooook ooouuut foooorrrr thaaaatttt....

Just before Buffy takes her last step off the bridge, her foot lands on a crushed soda can and...she is sent spiraling off the edge, her limbs wildly flailing.

Dawn: ...soda can.

Buffy misses the portal, landing on the construction ground below, with a thud. Willow rolls her eyes and she levitates off the ground, her eyes and red hair turning black. She raises her arms toward the sky, shouting at the top of her lungs.

Willow: Osiris, hear me speak! Bring this woman back to life! I command thee!

Buffy slowly gets back on her feet, shaking her head.

Buffy: Thanks...Willow...! Is...it...too...late...?

Willow sends Buffy a withering glare. Atop the Glory's Tower, Dawn is running to the end of the bridge, picking up the soda can and tossing it over the bridge.

Spike: 'urry up, will ya? Ow! (rubs his head, bending down to pick up the soda can) Where'd this come from? (looks up)

Willow sighs heavily and closes her eyes, willing Buffy to blink out of this plane and blink back on the bridge above. The portal continues to grow... Buffy appears on the bridge, dazed.

Dawn: You're here! Hurry! (pointing at the portal over Buffy's shoulder)

Buffy: (looking back) Oh...

Buffy turns around and once again, she starts toward the glowing portal. Her pert hair bouncing in the air along with her body, her graceful legs pumping slowly. A giant ogre falls out of the portal, landing next to Spike. Buffy reaches the end of the bridge and swan-dives off it. Just before Buffy lands inside the portal, everything stops...Buffy is floating in the air, midway above the portal.

Buffy: Gotta...check...my...hair...and...everything...else...!

Buffy takes out a hand mirror, opening it to check her make-up. She touches up her lipstick a bit and then she opens her mouth to rub the lipstick off her teeth. With a snap, Buffy closes the make-up mirror and puts it back in her pocket. She runs her fingers through her silky hair, fluffing it a bit. She lifts her arms, sniffing her armpits. With a sigh, Buffy adjusts her bra's straps, pushing her breasts up a bit.

Buffy: Perfect...

Everything is back to normal again and Buffy finally lands into the portal. A blindingly white light starts to spread out from the portal, enveloping Buffy and the portal. A voice-over of Buffy's words begin...

Dawn...I...love...you... But...this...is...my...job... The...hardest...thing...to...do...

The Scooby Gang is gathering around something... Giles is staring at something ahead of him. Anya stays still in Xander's arms. Spike is sipping on his bottled Evian water. Willow is making out with Tara, again.

...on...this...world...is...live...in...it... Be...brave...

The camera starts to back away, revealing something.

Live...

The still body of Buffy Anne Summers lay on a pile of bricks, a gentle smile on her face. Even in death and after having all of her blood drained away, Buffy looks great. Her make-up is perfect, her clothes is spotlessly clean, her skin tanned and supple, and her body is in a good condition considering she has fallen over 20 feet from the tower.

For...me...

Joss: James, cue the waterworks!

Spike: (stops drinking from his bottled water and starts to cry uncontrollably)

Behind him, Dawn is walking off the staircase, tears in her eyes.

Joss: Alyson!

Willow: (cries uncontrollably)

Joss: Tony!

Giles: (uses an eyedropper to wet his eyes)

Joss: Nick!

Xander: (stays silent, unable to cry)

Anya: Ach-ooo! (makes a sudden movement in Xander's arms)

Joss: Aha! Numfar do the dance of joy! (does a wild jig) I saw you, saw you! Two more seasons for you!

Anya: Dammit!

Joss: Cut! That's a wrap...

A shot of Buffy's gravestone...Buffy Anne Summers. 1981-2001. She saved the world a lot. See you in October, W. Rosenberg.

Thank you for taking the time to read my parody of "The Gift." I hope you've enjoyed reading it as I've writing it... Reviews are appreciated.