He could feel the sunrise fast approaching. Fortunately, her house was well shrouded. She had all of the windows covered with shades and curtains of heavy, dark fabric. And she didn't look like she could even think of sleeping until she told him everything.

"Even in the silence, I had to listen hard," she told him. "They wanted to make sure that they had my full, undivided attention. And they did."

"What did they tell you, Pet?" he asked softly as he released her wrists. She immediately drew the shirt sleeves back down over them and wadded up the excess material in her small hands.

"They told me that I was ungrateful. Ungrateful! Can you believe the nerve?" she asked, her eyes just as astonished as the moment that the Powers had told her that she was given a gift and she didn't appreciate it. "They told me that all who participated in that final battle were greatly rewarded. And I practically spat at them. Or I would have if I could make them out as anything solid."

She brought her legs up under her and leaned forward with her elbows resting on her knees.

"I mean, how was everyone rewarded? I just didn't get that. Anya had died. You had died." She shook her head and corrected herself. "I thought you had died. But, the others... the potentials who lost their lives before they'd even been given a chance? Xander's world was taken away from him. His eye..."

"If there's one thing I've learned about those Powers blokes, it's not always immediately apparent what their intentions are. Like to do things in a roundabout way, they do."

Yes. She was definately beginning to get that.

"They told me that my reward was eternal life and eternal happiness. I guess I just missed the part about when all that would begin," she grinned.

Just like the Powers to give a blessing that was also a curse. She gets to live forever. She gets to watch her friends and family die off one by one. She gets to watch as nations crumble; As volcanoes erupt; as oceans dry up, one by one, until there's nothing left but her. There had to be some sort of opt-out, he thought.

"And what about when you're ready for it all to be over, Pet?" he asked carefully.

"Wh-what do you mean?" she asked, not following him.

"When it's all done, Pet. When everyone else is gone... then what?"

That was a good question. A very good question. She tried to remember everything that the Powers had told her. Was there a safe word? Was there a secret code that she could use to let them know that it was all done? No. There was a key. A key, a key, a key... She turned the memory over in her mind. Dawn! Dawn was her way out!

"Dawn," she told him. "Dawn is the way out. When it's time. She'll be my way out."

"But that would mean--"

"Goddamn Powers!" she suddenly yelled, jumping to her feet. Her fists were balled up at her sides as she shouted for them. "Show your glowy asses!" she shouted. "Come on! Show them! You owe us some explanations!"

"Love, Buffy," he tried to soothe. "Please, Love. You need to calm--"

And then they were both spiralling into darkness. Spike reached out to her and tried to grab her hands unsuccessfully. It seemed like hours as they spiralled deeper into an abyss. And then they landed with a soft thud, cloaked in complete darkness.

"Bloody Hell!" She heard him mutter. She reached out until she found him.

"Great," she sighed. "This again."