Chapter 18

Final Farewells

The next morning, Buffy was still reeling from the information Sirius and Giles had given her. She was still unsure what to do...however the decision was soon made for her.

"Buffy?" Giles entered her room. "Faith just called. She and Robin Wood arrived in Cleveland with a few others a few days ago…and there's a lot of trouble. Vampires running loose...they're asking for us again."

Buffy nodded silently.

"OK…we'll go. We'll go home."

A few minutes after Giles had left, there was another knock at her door. Looking up she saw Remus gazing in nervously.

"Hello Buffy…I just passed Giles…you...you're leaving?" he frowned softly, "Are you allright?"

Buffy shook her head.

"Sirius…he said that Spike…"

"Spike?"

Buffy proceeded to explain to Remus about what had happened all that time ago. As she did, she felt herself letting go of the demons that haunted her…Spike. Remus listened patiently. Than he took her hand.

"Buffy…you don't have to do anything you don't want. You know that."

"But…he saved us all."

"You saved us all. And we're so thankful. You have no idea…" he trailed off, itching his still bandaged hand, "but...we don't expect you to do anything else...you don't have to go...you don't have to stay. Do what you will. It's your decision."

"Yeah…" muttered Buffy.

After a few moments, Remus saw her eyes become more focused.

"What do you want to do now then?" he finally asked.

Buffy turned to him sadly.

"I want to…live."

"Then live."

Buffy, Willow, Xander, Giles, Dawn and Andrew stood in the doorway of number twelve Grimmauld Place. It was decided. They were going to Cleveland. To live.

"It's been wonderful meeting you…" Dawn hugged Harry, Ron, Hermione, Fred, George and Ginny, "I'll write to you at Hogwarts…OK?" They each nodded before hugging once more. A final goodbye.

"Thank you ever so much dears…" Mrs. Weasley hugged each of the Scoobies, Mr. Weasley and Bill shaking their hands. Andrew lingered when he got to Arthur Weasley, for the man had been so kind to him...

"Erm…Mr. Weasley…here…" Andrew handed Mr. Weasley his prized GameBoy, which he'd kept hidden from all. Mr. Weasley looked dumbfounded, but couldn't stop thanking Andrew. Fred and George stepped forward.

"Sorry about the elf head Andy…"

"Yeah…you can take it home if you want…"

"George! Fred!"

"Sorry Mum…"

"Just a suggestion."

Xander stood a little way off with Tonks. He smiled warmly at her.

"It's been so great…thanks for everything…" he gulped. When did saying goodbye ever get this hard?

"Yeah…"

Without thinking, Xander leant forward and kissed her softly on her lips. Stunned…the two kissed for a few seconds before breaking away grinning sheepishly.

"Keep in touch?" she asked.

"Definitely."

Harry turned to Willow, smiling.

"Thank you." He mouthed at her silently. Smiling back, Willow just shook her head.

"No problem."

The last two to say goodbye were Remus and Sirius.

"You're all…we can't thank you enough. Ever. If you ever need anything…"

"We'll give you a call…" Buffy interrupted Remus and they grinned, hugging goodbye.

Hugging Buffy, Sirius whispered into her ear…

"I hope you find what you're looking for."

Buffy stepped away, gulped, and nodded to him.

Willow hugged Lupin tightly...

"Thank you so much Willow. For everything you did."

"No. Thank you Remus. It was nothing. Really."

Finally, the readheaded Wicca turned to Sirius Black, who smiled at her. A hug was all they needed to translate the mutual bond that they would always have.

The Scoobies headed outside to where Bill was waiting in a car with Moody to take them to the airport again. It was as if time was replaying itself, only backwards. The group drove off into the morning sunlight…ready to head to where they would next call home…the hellmouth in Cleveland…

Buffy looked back frowning…for something did not feel right…

It was then she realised it was because she had no real mission anymore. She'd always had a goal…she recognised the feeling from when she had stood over the crater that was now Sunnydale…she was free…to live.

Willow closed her eyes as they sped through the streets of London. She was also free. Free of the ghosts that haunted her past. Tara had helped her. She'd decided not to divulge this information, and she knew that Sirius would not say anything. Tara had said it didn't matter. What she'd done...she said she loved her. Because of Sirius Black, Willow knew that she'd managed to do one thing, which she had been denied last time…to say her final farewell to Tara.