Note: Extended Version. Why? Because I left something out.
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Chapter 31
Family
(former title: Brethren)
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The sky darkened as the sun slipped below the horizon.
In the valley below, Harry Potter watched as a helicopter descended quickly onto the grassy surface a few hundred feet away. He saw that many Slayers and Watchers were moving quickly towards them, cheering.
"Another apocalypse diverted," a voice said happily at his elbow. He turned to smile at Cho, who giggled and moved happily forward.
But the moment the doors opened and bodies started spilling out, the cheers were suddenly cut off. Spike found his way through the crowds and stopped dead when he saw Faith gently pulling Willow out of the cabin. "What?" he asked, dazed.
Giles stepped forward, looking remorseful as he closed the door. As one, they all turned to glance at the mountain, still burning from within. Even at this distance, they could still hear the screams of the demons. Faith pulled away, trying not to think about what had happened inside. It was all Willow could do not to pass out.
"Wil! Willow!" a voice shrieked as Tara disengaged herself from the crowd and drew Willow into a tight, crushing hug.
Slowly, the noise level built up again as the confusion melted away. They didn't notice that one person was still missing from the group.
Spike noticed she was gone. He turned immediately to Rupert, his eyes narrowed. "Where is she?"
"It was the bravest thing I ever saw," Angel said quietly from behind Giles. "I don't know where it came from, but it was brilliant."
Spike turned back to the mountain, shielding his eyes against the haze of smoke and ash drifting through the valley. "Buffy," he whispered. He should have known. The girl wasn't all keen about others taking the glory and honor of a good, satisfying death away from her. He should certainly have known from the moment she had asked him to stay behind that she was planning on dying, not forcing Willow to deal with a decision driven by the fate of a simple straw.
Willow was still falling apart as Tara gently set her on the ground. Large tears rolled down her face and her language was indistinguishable from common babble as she sobbed uncontrollably. Tara gently wrapped her arms around her, holding her close. It was then she noticed a small silver cross necklace in Willow's right hand. She gently removed it and held it up to the little light that remained. As it caught the light, Angel turned to stare at it.
And a brilliant smile flickered across his face.
"She certainly knew what she was doing," Angel said, touching the delicate chain. "Do you know what this means?"
"We can bring her back," Tara breathed, turning quickly to Giles, who approached with Harry and his friends, along with Xander and another group of Watchers.
"I'm assuming that because Buffy's missing she's done something stupid like jump into another portal," Xander said roughly.
Willow slowly lifted her head. "Would it make you feel any better if you knew she knocked me out?" she asked in a ragged, breathy tone.
"No," Xander said, bending down to her and hugging her with the last ounce of energy he possessed, "but it helps."
Willow brushed away her tears as Xander and Tara helped her to her feet. She still felt numb and cold, as though ripped from a reality that had Buffy in it. She glanced at all the lost faces as reality started to sink in. Not everyone had made it from the mountain. Not everyone had survived.
And the guilt was the worst part of all.
"Where is she?"
Dawn. She was standing with Draco, limping slightly as he helped her down the hill. Her eyes were on Willow and there was nothing short than a blizzard of emotions spread across her young face. "Where is my sister?"
"She's gone," Willow said, her lower lip trembling.
Dawn froze, her eyes wide. "It's true?" she whispered. It was all beginning to make sense.
"It is," Willow assured her, not smiling. In fact, she looked as though she were about to burst into tears again. "Buffy's gone."
"But... but we can bring her back, right?" Dawn insisted. "I mean... can't we?"
"I don't have any magic," Willow said sadly. "I cannot help you."
"But perhaps I can."
There was a collective gasp as Irina floated into the valley, pulling with her another witch who'd been slightly injured. "I believe you remember Amy Madison. She and I will perform the counterspell to restore Willow's powers. Unfortunately, Dawn, they'll drain yours."
"I understand," Dawn said, turning back to Willow. "And then you'll bring her back, right?"
Willow nodded shakily as she stepped forward.
"Both of you, will you please follow me," Irina said, leading Dawn and Willow away from the crowds. After a half hour, they both returned, looking weak but alive.
The group had dispersed since night was coming on. The rest of the Ministry representatives had arrived, led by Percy Weasley and Remus Lupin. Wesley was also there, looking slightly put out that another Slayer had sacrificed her life for an Apocalypse.
As Dawn walked back into the light of a few bonfires that had been set, Draco ran over and pulled her into his arms. As she felt the comfort, she closed her eyes and suddenly, she was transported far away.
It was a beautiful, white garden and it looked somewhat familiar. She saw Buffy sitting by the fountain, reading. As she moved to her sister, she saw Buffy smile as she gazed at the steady waters. Dawn moved behind her to read what her sister was reading. It was a poem, and it described the most wonderful things. As Buffy turned the page, though, Dawn read the final line and gasped. It was written there in a shiny red ink that looked suspiciously like blood that the hardest part about living in the world is to be alive in it. After she finished reading that line, another line appeared. This one read that the easiest part of the then-after was knowing that your life had been fulfilled.
Dawn blinked, ripped from that reality and back into a cold reality where her sister was dead, again. Draco released her as Willow approached. Dawn lifted Joy into her arms and turned toward her sister's best friend.
"I'm ready to begin the spell when you are," she announced.
Remus, who'd been warming his hands by the fire, eyed her strangely. "What is it that you intend to do?" he asked, concerned.
"I'm going to bring Buffy back," Willow said strongly. "She died because I was too stupid to not protect myself from her."
"No," Dawn said, realizing, "you're not. You're not going to perform any more spells. No incantations. You're not going to bring her back."
"Dawnie!" Tara gasped, coming up behind Willow. "This is your only chance--"
"Don't you think I know that?" she asked, her voice sharp. "Don't you think I realize that my sister is dead? You've known her for maybe a decade, but I've known her my whole life! She died because she knew she was after something. Do you remember what she said all those years ago when we brought her back for the second time? She was in Heaven. She was happy, she was whole. And she was complete. I'm not going to take that away from her. Not again. And we have no right to decide. If she wanted to contact us, she'd find a way. She has enough allies from this world to wherever she is now. But I think it's time to do the hardest thing I can... and let her go."
Dawn was visibly crying now.
At long last, Willow nodded. "It seems wrong to bring her back, especially when she was so angry about being brought back the last time."
Tara smiled. "I'm glad you thought this one through, Dawnie."
"What about the necklace?" Angel asked.
"It opened a box in her desk," Willow replied, holding it up to firelight. "I'm thinking that she had another use for it. Instead of using it to bring her back, it was supposed to be used to help us move on."
Angel crossed his arms and sighed. "It just seems so permanent."
"Nothing is," Tara said quietly as she gently pulled the silver jewel from Willow's hand. "A simple piece of silver can have a thousand meanings. But I think in the end, it's the simplest meaning which means the most."
Dawn gently cradled Joy and stepped toward them. "Thank you for understanding."
"It's more than understanding," Willow replied, pocketing the necklace. "It's life. She's lived hers. And now it's our turn to make her proud."
- - - - -
The group arrived back at the Academy the day after. As the wounded were gently brought inside, Willow quickly made her way to the office and unlocked Buffy's desk, pulling out the polished box. Cradling it, she pressed the necklace into the top and opened it.
There were two objects inside. One was a CD. The other was a letter. Willow opened it and began to read.
Once she'd finished, she set it down, trying to fight away another wave of tears. Giles and Tara entered the office, both looking deeply concerned.
She'd been planning for it all along. It was almost as if Buffy's voice echoed inside her head. With a heavy sigh, she handed the letter to Giles and Tara to read.
Dear Giles, Willow, Xander, everyone:
The end is here. I can feel it... everything that I am is about to be made pure. I have trained the Slayers to take my place and fight for all that they believe in... just as I have done and all others have died doing. The world is a pure, spiritual, living being. We have always had the power to change the world, to save it. Let this be my legacy to the Slayers. Let this be their final lesson as Faith takes them onto a new world. Let this be their test, the last test, before reality begins.
I'm not sure how to say this. I'm not sure I can. But I think you already know. And I'm all right. You'll be all right. You'll carry each other through because that's what families do.
I saved the world and together we changed it... now it's yours. Take it, live it, and love it. Life is too short to watch it go. The hardest thing in this world is to live in it. Now it's up to you to decide.
I love you all and I always will. I'll miss what you'll all become. But I'll be seeing you, someday. And I'll always be here to watch over you. We'll be together again.
Always,
Buffy.
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The night before Buffy's funeral, her closest friends gathered in the woods behind the Campus for a bonfire. This was to ensure that Spike and Angel could speak their own words before the regular funeral that would be attended by the Ministry representatives the following day.
Dawn joined them, feeling almost uneasily to see their faces reflected in the same aura that had ripped her sister from this world.
"Hey, Dawn!" Xander said, moving around to hug her.
Dawn put on a brave face and began accepting hugs. She noticed that Principal Wood stood next to Faith, and that both Tara and Willow were present. Kennedy wasn't, but Dawn wasn't all that surprised. Kennedy and Willow had barely said two words to each other since they'd gotten back nearly a week ago.
"What's going on?" Dawn asked lightly as Giles arrived, carrying a small grey box in his arms.
"We decided that the best way to remember Buffy would be to bury this capsule," Willow replied, moving to Dawn's side and threading her arm through hers. "Where's your significant other?"
"He was sleeping with Joy the last time I saw him," Dawn replied softly as Giles set down the box and stepped back.
"All right," he said, gesturing for the others to follow. They moved away from the fire to a windy patch of grass where the box sat, open and empty. "I believe I requested you bring something of significant importance to you to bury."
"Right," Spike said, detaching himself from the shadows and stepping forward. "I'll start." He bent down, removing his jacket and dropped it into the box. "This jacket was very significant to me and to another person here," he said, ignoring the almost shocked look on Robin's face. "But it makes sense to put it here. It feels right." A somber look passed over his face as he lifted a handfull of dirt. "I loved her. She was something more than just a person to love. There was something about her..."
He finally brushed the dirt away and stood up. He seemed to be fighting his emotions. Some part of whatever he'd been fighting won out and he backed away, almost hesitantly.
"I guess I'll go next," Angel said quietly, walking past Spike and setting a tiny object inside the box. It was a very ornate ring, something that confused Dawn. "I gave this to her for her seventeenth birthday, which seems like so very long ago. It meant a lot to me then... and..." An odd flicker of emotions crossed his face as he stood up again. "It means a lot to me now. That's why it'll remain here, buried."
"Why are we even doing this?" Faith asked uneasily as Angel returned to her side. "I mean, we're all going to be here to open this... when?"
"I don't know when we'll all be together the next time," Giles replied. "Spike and Angel are returning to Los Angeles and I do believe you have a plan on where to go next. And Dawn still may return to England."
"Right," said Faith, her face hidden in the shadows. "Right."
"I guess I'll go," Dawn said, releasing Willow's arm and stepping forward.
She walked over to the box and set a picture inside. It was one of the few belongings Buffy had taken from Sunnydale before the city had been destroyed. It was a gift she'd given her for her twentieth birthday. A small picture with a shell-encrusted frame. She gently set it down on Spike's leather coat next to Angel's odd little ring. "I think you know what she meant to me," Dawn said, trying in vain to keep her voice steady. She'd cried way too many tears this week. "I was made from her... she's still a part of me. She took me in and gave her life to protect me, even though I...I... wasn't real. The truth is, she gave me a life. And twice I've been forced to take that life away. I'm beginning to think there can't be room enough in this world for both of us... it's... so hard..." She quickly wiped her eyes and stood up. "But she's given me something I never thought I'd have again when Mom died. She gave me a family."
Willow walked over and wrapped a comforting arm around Dawn's shoulders.
"I never thought I'd feel as loved as I do, but I do. I feel whole because her friends have become my guardians. And I know that you'll always be there to watch over me."
"Always, Dawnie," Willow said, shaking her slightly as she pulled her away from the capsule.
Everyone stood there a moment, just staring at the box holding three objects. As much as they longed to fill it with items of importance and items of remembrance, it made sense to just watch the open box.
One by one, the rest of the group stepped forward, placing an item into the capsule and saying a quick series of words. Finally, Giles stepped forward with a small black book he claimed was the Slayer's Handbook he'd originally received for her training. He'd never used it, because he realized that Buffy was not just any nominal Slayer.
After he tucked everything inside, he closed the box.
When he closed the box, Dawn felt as though a piece of her life had finally come to an end. She hugged herself as he locked the box and stepped back. "Willow?"
Willow placed a permanent sealing charm on the box, leaving it sitting there on the grassy patch. "What do we do with it now?"
"We bury it," Giles replied, handing Willow a shovel. "Let's go."
Dawn held back as Willow and Giles toted the box away, followed by the gang. Except for Spike, who moved to Dawn's side. "Are you feeling all right, Dawn?" he asked, awkwardly patting her shoulder.
She nodded. "I'll be okay... just give me some time."
"I remember how bad it was the last time," Spike said, blinking, "and how brave you were. You don't always have to be so brave, Dawnie. I promised the last time I wouldn't let anything happen to you, and you know that I wouldn't let her down."
"I know," Dawn said quietly. "Thank you."
"I think it's harder for those of us who've been there," Spike said, noticing the almost pensive look on her face. "We know what it's like to die time and time again, to wake up and not know where we are. The last time I died, I was in a place... well, we'll just say, it wasn't any Heavenly dimension I've heard of. But I know your sister. She was a good woman. She was an extraordinary woman."
"She was, wasn't she?" Dawn asked with a sly smile. "I mean, aside from all the fighting and bickering..."
"You're sisters," he said, patting her back again. "Of course you're going to remember that. Just remember what I said. You're always welcome in L.A..." He paused and stood up. "You coming?"
"Go ahead," Dawn said, watching as Spike disappeared into the darkness to join the others. He'd given her a lot to think about. She had so many choices on what she could do now, if only she could decide.
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Buffy's funeral took place on a cool Sunday a week after the Slayers had arrived back at the Academy. It was held so that other members of the British Ministry would have a chance to say goodbye to the Slayers before departing back to England.
For Dawn, the week had passed by in a blur. Willow had given Dawn the CD and she had slipped it into the familiar laptop, watching her sister talk to her. It felt disconnected, but it was pleasant to see her sister again. She never really had the chance to say goodbye.
She felt at peace for doing what she did. Buffy was in Heaven, or wherever she was, she was happy and complete. It took away a bit of the heartwrenching guilt she felt. For the second time in her life, her sister died for her.
The funeral had been beautiful. It had been a touching memory to someone who had contributed and saved so many lives. Dawn had been asked to speak but had declined, wanting instead to hear about how Buffy had touched so many lives.
Harry spoke first. In his speech, he talked about how Buffy had been one of the most intruiging professors he'd ever had. Most of those who'd gone to Hogwarts, Dawn included, agreed.
Cho was second. Her speech was shorter and it basically thanked Buffy for giving her the chance of a lifetime, to be a hero. Cho pledged her life to do all that Buffy had taught and sat down again, wiping her eyes as Xander took her hand to console her.
Willow was trembling from head to toe as she stood up. As she talked, she started crying. It was so difficult for her to talk about the eleven years they'd been together, fighting evil side by side. Xander watched her in amazement, knowing how hard it was for her to talk about someone who had sacrificed her life to save Wil's.
Lastly, it was Giles' turn. He didn't have words. All he could do was stand there and smile at everyone. His only words as he left the podium was to say that she saved the world, a lot.
And that was the end of things.
No body had ever been found.
Dawn moved to the window, wrapping her arms tightly around her robe. It was the morning after the funeral. Many of the guests of the British Ministry were packing to return to England the following day. In the past week, Dawn had been deep in thought.
A small cry brought her thoughts back to the present. She turned and saw Joy, wrapped in a towel, gurgling happily on her bed. Dawn moved and lifted her daughter into her arms, drying off her tiny arms and legs.
A knock sounded behind her.
"Come in," Dawn said, trying to add a bit of emotion into her voice.
Draco stuck his head in. "Are you ready? The meeting starts in ten minutes."
"I will be," Dawn said, rising and handing Joy over to him. "Can you get her dressed? I really should get ready as well."
He nodded and smiled at her before disappearing back into the hallway. Dawn quickly readied and was downstairs before Draco returned. He happily gave Joy back to her and the three walked into the Library.
Everyone was there. Faith and the older Slayers, the Watchers, Harry and his friends, and the representatives of the British Ministry which included Wesley, Percy Weasley, Remus and to Dawn's surprise, Severus.
Draco greeted Severus like an old friend as they took their seats.
Faith stood up, almost uneasily, nodding at a large envelope at the table. "Thank you for coming," she said shortly. "I wanted you all to be here when I opened Buffy's will. It was a living will, so it was never finished, but after the last time... she thought it'd be best to create one."
Without another word, Faith bent down and opened the envelope, pulling out the better. After a few seconds, she turned it over to Giles, who began to read it out loud.
"Faith and the more experienced Slayers will set up at the other American hellmouth in Cleveland. There will be two Watchers accompanying them. The rest will remain at the Academy to accept other students who will be called in future generations. We will be hiring others to find the new Slayers." Giles glanced down and flipped the paper over, reading the back. "All of the trusts and the estate will be turned over to the Watchers, but the personal funds will be handed over to Dawn."
He paused and glanced at Dawn. "There's a bit of a note here for you. Would you care for me to read it? Or should I let you?"
"Just read it," Dawn said quietly.
Giles cleared his throat and turned back to the paper. "I am including this note for my sister, Dawn. I know that she has been a part of operations here ever since I started Slaying. Although I have tried to protect from the forces of darkness, I decided it would be best for her to live through them. She needs to know she has to protect herself. She's my everything and I want her to live in a world without darkness. I am going to request that once the final battle is over, she return to England to live out her life in happiness and peace."
Dawn was tearing up again and looked down. Joy reached up and touched her mother's face, giggling. "Mama."
Dawn closed her eyes and closed her fingers around the tiny hand. She glanced up at Giles, who didn't look surprised by her reaction at all.
"Buffy set up a significant trust fund for both you and your children, Dawn. It will be handed over to you once you leave for England tomorrow."
It was so much easier when someone had made the decision for her. She had been torn about going back when there was so much to be down here. But Buffy was right. They were okay without them. If Buffy thought she deserved better, who was she to argue?
"Thank you," Dawn mouthed to Giles, who set down that slip of paper and lifted another, continuing to read.
The following day was even harder, Dawn thought as she glanced around her empty room. All of her belongings had fit into two cardboard boxes. She crossed the room, smiling at the group gathered down below. There were six large black vans pulling into the driveway.
"This is it," Dawn said, gathering the baby bags and moving downstairs and into the brilliant sunlight. The first person who saw her and moved to her was Tara.
"Oh, Dawnie, Dawnie... you are so lucky," Tara said, squeezing Dawn tightly. "You have the opportunity of a lifetime now. You've got to live life now. How does it feel?"
"It feels nice," Dawn said, her eyes spilling over for the hundredth time that week. She turned next to Willow, who just held her silently. After Willow was Xander. It was going to be so hard...
He just held her for a long moment before kissing her forehead. "Take care of yourself, Dawn. You and the little bit."
Just then, Dawn realized that Spike and Angel weren't there. They had been such huge parts of her sister's life, it made sense for them to be there. Yet, they weren't.
As Giles hugged her goodbye, he explained the look on her face. "It's sunlight now. I informed them of Buffy's decision last night. They're both very supportive and they can't wait to visit you in London."
Dawn grinned as she stepped back. "Thank you, Giles."
Faith was last. As Dawn stepped for her, Faith hugged her gingerly. "I hope you find what you're looking for."
"I will," Dawn said softly. "And Faith? Buffy's proud of you. I know it. I feel it. This is what she wanted. She knew you could do this. Their lives are yours now."
"That's the fourth time I've heard that," Faith teased as Dawn walked away. "But I appreciate the gesture."
Dawn joined Draco, Harry and Ginny near the vans. The members of the Ministry, Ron and Hermione were already getting inside. "I'm going to miss this place," Dawn said, brushing her tears away.
"You'll be back someday," Draco said with a firm nod, reaching for her hand. "All right?"
Dawn nodded and turned to Harry. "I hope you enjoyed your month-long vacation in California."
"I guess, all in all, I'd really have to say it wasn't bad," Harry teased as the four turned and walked to the vans, arguing and laughing, enjoying their last few moments in the California sunlight.
- - - - -
In the dark remains of the American Ministry, a sole figure walked on stilettos around the remains of the once grand gold walls. She bent down when she saw a human body.
"The Slayer," Lilah's voice cut through. She noticed her old body, ripped to shreds. As she touched Buffy's cold, charred remains, she could sense the power still within her.
"Rest now, my sweet, rest now. For you will soon return."
- - - - -
Epilogue to follow.