Things Change
Chapter Eighteen: Epilogue

"Thanks for coming," Buffy said.

"That's ok," Angel shrugged. "Y'know we're always happy to help."

"But thanks anyway, if you guys hadn't been here -"

"You would have been fine," Angel cut in with a smile.

"Well, we didn't have to find out, so that's all right."

She hugged him quickly, muttering another thanks into his jacket. She smiled at Connor.

"You too. You were great," she grinned.

"It's what I do," he shrugged, suppressing a smile and hugged her back when she held him tightly.

"It's like their hobby or something," Cordy smiled, hugging Buffy. "It's ok. You don't have to say thanks. It was fun being in your head. Weird, but fun."

Buffy laughed. In a way, she sorta missed Cordy.

"Bye then, Wes," she said, smiling at Wes in concern. "How's the leg?"

"Fine, I'm sure I'll get the feeling back in no time."

She laughed again. "So, do we hug?"

He smiled a little and leaned forward on the walking stick and hugged her briefly with one arm.

"I think I can put my great British reserve to one side for a moment," he replied dryly.

"Thanks for all the researching help."

"It was a pleasure."

"You bloody Watcher types," Spike said, coming down the halll, extending his hand. Wesley gripped it, then Spike turned to Angel, then Connor. Cordy noted his offering of a handshake with raised eyebrows and grabbed him in a huge hug.

"Don't forget to visit," she whispered.

"Yeah," he shrugged, running his hands over his hair in embarrassement. "Thanks, you lot. Hate to say it, but this soul of mine reckons it's polite."

"Wow, it's hugs apolooza!" Willow cried, coming into the living room from the kitchen with Xander, Anya, Dawn, Josh, Chrissy, Todd and Giles.

"Thanks, you guys," Willow said, grabbing them all together in a tight group hug as the rest of the Scoobies descended on the LA gang.

Hugs apolooza, Spike thought, watching from a safe distance. You said it, Red, he added as Chrissy dragged him into the hug fest.

"We hurt each other, Spike."

He froze, then looked up from the book he was reading and saw her, leaning against the doorframe in a skimpy nightdress.

"Yeah, we did, pet."

"Can't change it," she continued. "Can't go back. Can't take back the things we said to each other, did to each other. "

"I know. I'm sorry… You'll never know how sorry I am for what I did… I can't ever change it and I know I don't deserve to be trusted by you, but I -"

"I think that I've never needed you like this before," Buffy interupted. "Part of me hates it. I shouldn't need anyone this much. But I do. I need you, Spike. That isn't going to change. I love you, that isn't going to change either. We have to forget what happened in the past if we can move on. I've forgiven you, Spike, I trust you. But if I forget, if we start over, this has to be forever. You and me, we have to be forever. We have children, it isn't just us that will get hurt if it goes wrong this time. It has to last."

"I want it to. I want to be with you. We can make it last."

"Can we?" she asked, sitting on the end of the bed. "Sure?"

"Yeah. I know we can."

"All right then," she nodded. "Then I've forgotton. Every bad thing we ever did, every nasty thing we ever said. It's over. I'm not blaming you, you're not blaming me, we're not blaming us. New life, starts here, got it?"

"Got it," he smiled and leaned forward.

"Hey, you two, you coming down to watch this video?" Chrissy called from halfway up the stairs. "Mom, Aunt Dawn's getting testy!"

"Ok, Chrissy, I'm coming!" she called back. "Better go calm Dawn down. It's a big day tomorrow."

"Weddings. Haven't been to one in years."

"Should be fun. Dancing, food, happiness. It's all good."

"Yeah."

She kissed him quickly on the lips and started to leave the door.

"Buffy?"

She paused in the doorway.

"Yeah?" she asked, turning.

"Can I have the first dance?"

She smiled widely.

"Always."

The End.