Thanks to everyone who reviewed, most of you had the same thought about a Buffy/Snape pairing.  *shudder*.  Shizuka Slytherin Tsukino:  Sorry about that, but if you haven't noticed (and if you haven't you will soon) I love torturing my characters.  Makes a story more interesting, but I am also a fan of happy endings, so don't think my story will be all angst and torture.  Only bits ;)

Anyway, on with the story!

Chapter 25.  Aftermath.

Buffy sighed happily as she sat down on a chair in the hospital wing.  It was crowded with people from the Order, and Madam Pomfrey was busy tending to cuts and bruises, mumbling to herself on her way and muttering about 'damn apocalypses and vampires'. 

Buffy smiled at Faith, even though she hated the fact that she had not been able to save Aaron.  "Success?"  She asked, and Faith nodded.

"Success.  Seems odd though.  Without the gang."  Faith said sadly.  Buffy nodded in agreement.

"I miss Xand."  Willow said, coming to sit next to Buffy.

"And Spike."  Buffy added.

"Gunn."  Faith said.

"Angel."

"Cor."

"Fred."

"Giles.

"Wes."

"Anya."

"Tara."  Buffy and Faith looked at Willow sad face, and Buffy placed a hand on Willow's knee.

"She'll come back to you Will."  Buffy reassured, and Willow nodded, but Buffy knew deep down, that Willow did not seem to believe Buffy.

"Maybe if I go to LA-"

"No."  Faith interrupted.  "She comes to you, she sees what you've achieved and she'll be yours to do the dirty with."  Faith said.  The three friends sat in silence for a while, watching the rest talk and reminiscing about their times as a Scooby.

"Willow?  Are you all right?"  Lupin asked, walking up to the red head and looking at the deep cut on Willow's arm.  Willow nodded and smiled at Lupin.

"No biggie.  Thanks for having my back today, Remus."  She said, and Lupin smiled.

Faith snorted.  "What is it with Red and werewolves, huh?"  Faith asked, and Buffy laughed at Lupin's shocked expression.

"My last boyfriend was a werewolf."  Willow explained, and Lupin raised his eyebrows.

"But I thought you were…um…"

"Red switched teams.  She bats for the other side now."  Faith explained, and Willow grinned.

"It was more the person, not the sex."

"But the sex is good, right Will?"  Buffy teased, and Willow and Lupin blushed. 

"Speaking of men, what's up with you and dog-boy Buff?"  Faith asked, looking over to Sirius who was in a deep conversation with Moody.  It was now Buffy's turn to blush.

"Sirius was majorly worried when you were gone."  Willow supplied.

"I dunno.  We had a moment before but…"

"What happened?"

"Snape got bit.  I had to save him."  Buffy explained, and the four cracked up in laughter.

"I bet he loved that."  Faith said, glancing over at Snape who stood in a corner, glaring. 

***

Buffy stood in front of her mirror in her room, slowly brushing out the knots in her wet hair.  She had just taken a shower, getting rid of all the mud and blood on her body.  She was dressed for bed, and she was absolutely exhausted.  It had been a hectic couple of days, but everything had turned out well.  The apocalypse had been averted and there were no major casualties.  Buffy yawned loudly.

"Tired?"  A voice behind her said and she whirled around dropping into a defensive stance.  She breathed a sigh of relief when she saw who it was though and she placed her brush back on her desk.

"Sirius, that is a really good way to get your ass kicked." 

Sirius grinned boyishly and Buffy felt butterflies flying in her stomach.  She was suddenly very conscious that was wearing a large sweater and trousers and she was getting very warm.

"What's up?"  She breathed, as Sirius walked closer to her.

"I just wanted to see you."  He said, his body inches from her.  Buffy gulped and moved towards her bed, away from Sirius.

"So, you've seen me.  Goodnight."  She said hurriedly, and Sirius' eyebrow's furrowed.

"Are you all right?"  He asked and Buffy nodded hurriedly.  Then she shook her head negatively.

"Ok, things are really wiggy here.  I mean, things I haven't felt in a long time are feeling now and I'm worried, y'know?  'Cos I've known you for like, forever, and I raised you from the dead and you were my brother-in-laws best friend and some might say that's very complicated and I'm one of that some and Faith and Willow and Lupin say to go for it but it'd be weird 'cos I'm a slayer and you're a wizard and a dog, literally, and my nephew's godfather-"

Buffy was cut off from her rambling by Sirius' soft lips meeting hers.  Sirius' hand lay on the small of her back, and Buffy's hands raised themselves up into Sirius' long hair as their kiss deepened.  But then Buffy pressed her hands to Sirius' chest and pushed him firmly away.

"What are you doing?"  Buffy asked, her breathing ragged.

"Shutting you up."  Sirius replied, with a smirk.  Buffy glared at him.

"That's not a nice way to shut me up."  She said.

"But I think so."  Sirius replied, kissing Buffy once again.

It was more passionate this time, before it had been gentle and caring, but now it was desperate as they kissed, hands all over each other's body.  Sirius' lips were soft, his hands rough, and it seemed absolutely perfect to Buffy.  She did not care if this was just a way to shut her up, but deep down, she knew it wasn't.  She could tell he wanted this as much as she did, the way he kissed her…god!  He knew what he was doing!  She sighed pleasurably as he kissed the pulse point on her neck, and trailed kisses around her neck and face.  This was heaven.  Pure heaven.

*Grins*.  About time huh?  Please review and tell me what you think!