Disclaimer: I don't own anything, and I'm really jealous that I don't, but oh well. Now, don't sue me because I would cry, a lot. Joss is God, but you all knew that.


The Seal of Danthalzar

"Buffy!" Spike hollered. He could feel the trinket around his neck beginning to work its mojo.

Buffy turned and looked at Spike as she dusted a vampire. The amulet was glowing, and Spike's face was lit up. Suddenly, the ground began to shake and a bright light shot out from Spike's chest where the amulet was hanging. Instantly, the thousands of vampires turned to dust. The Slayers looked around in awe. The ground began to shake more violently, and pieces of the cave began to crash to the ground.

"Everyone out of her. Now!" Faith yelled as she ushered the girls toward the stairs.

Buffy ran over to Spike.

"I can feel it, Buffy," Spike said with awe.

"What?"

Spike looked down at her warmly, "My soul. It's really there. Kind of stings."

Everyone had made it safely out of the Hellmouth, only Spike and Buffy remained.

"Go on then," Spike told her.

"No. No, you've done enough. You could still – "

"No, you've beat them back. It's for me to do the cleanup."

"Buffy, come on," Faith yelled from the stairs.

Buffy looked up at Faith. Faith shook her head and dashed up the stairs.

"Gotta move, lamb. I think it's fair to say school's out for bloody summer."

Buffy looked up at him with worry etched into her features, "Spike!"

"I mean it. I gotta do this," Spike said as he held out his hand to stop her. He looked away.

Buffy laced her fingers through his. Spike looked warmly down on the blonde next to him. A flame erupted once their hands met. Buffy knew at that moment, more than another that she had to stay with him, no matter what he said.

"Buffy, luv, you need to go, now," Spike said with desperation. He had a feeling that Buffy wasn't going to leave him, and he couldn't let her die – again.

"No. I'm exactly where I'm supposed to be. I understand it now. I'm done being cookie dough. I want to open up, to be un-alone…with you. I love you, Spike. I have for a long time, but I wasn't ready to admit it to anyone, not even myself. But, I see it now. I can't live without you, and more importantly, I don't want to live without you. Besides, I'd like to see what the end looks like," Buffy said.

Spike closed his eyes tightly as the words Buffy had spoken sunk into his brain. She loved him, after all these years, she finally loved him. Seemed fitting. The world was ending just as they finally came to terms with their feelings. Buffy moved around in front of him and wrapped her arms tightly around him. Spike moved his own down to her hips. There was not going to be any changing the mind of his Slayer. "Might as well hold her while I still can." Buffy and Spike yelled as they both began to combust. The flame began in Spike's chest where the amulet was and quickly jumped to Buffy. They both burst into flame as the cave crumbled around them.

Faith ran out of the school as it fell into the Hellmouth. As she reached the bus, she looked over her shoulder and smiled. Buffy had done it again, this time with help from her champion; the world would never be the same. Faith jumped onto the bus as it sped away from Sunnydale High and out of town.

"Ease off. We're clear," Faith told Robin.

Dawn fought back tears as she jumped out of the bus. Buffy wasn't on the bus. The others began to make their way out of the bus and stared in awe at the crater that was once Sunnydale, California.

"I don't understand. Who did this?" Giles asked.

"Spike," Faith said.

Giles looked at the Slayer with wide eyes. Part of him couldn't believe it. Spike saved the world. He had to admit that he'd never seen that one coming.

"Where's Buffy?" Dawn asked, holding on to the last bit of strength she possessed.

Faith looked at Dawn, tears on the edge of her eyes, "She stayed with Spike. She saved the world, again."

"You just said that Spike saved the world. So, why did Buffy need to save it too?" Xander asked.

"She didn't. She needed to stay with him," Faith said. She closed her eyes and remembered the look on Buffy's face. Faith knew that Buffy was happy, truly in love with the souled vampire. "Look, I know I've been out of the loop for a while, but I know what I saw. B wanted to stay; the chick is tough."

Giles hung his head. His Slayer was truly gone this time. No magic spell, no CPR would bring her back this time. Buffy was finally at peace.

"So, she died happy?" Dawn asked with a weak smile. Tears stained her face. Her sister was gone, again.

Faith nodded, "Yeah. She's happy."

Willow sobbed into Kennedy's arms. Her best friend was gone for good this time. She wasn't just mourning for the loss, she was mourning for all the losses. Buffy had died for good this time. Like Tara, Buffy was gone forever. No magic spells could fix this, and part of her was glad; glad that Buffy could finally find peace, back in heaven where she was truly happy.

"Why didn't I die?" Andrew whispered to no one.

Xander walked over to Andrew, "So, did you see?"

Andrew couldn't look at Xnader, he was too ashamed. He was the one that was supposed to be dead, he was the villain. "I-I was scared. I'm sorry."

"Did you see what happened? I mean, was she –"

Andrew forced himself to look up at Xander, "She was incredible. She died saving my life."

Xander nodded, "That's my girl. Always doing the stupid thing."

Andrew smiled a little as Xnader put his arm around his shoulder.

The group stared at the crater of Sunnydale; none of them quite ready to put it all behind them. They had spent seven years helping Buffy to save the world, and in the end all she'd needed was Spike. Her mortal enemy for years was the one person she turned to in the end.

"Looks like the Hellmouth is officially closed for business," Faith said. The tension of the group was heavy. They all needed to be able to move on, to heal.

"There's another one in Cleveland," Giles said, "Not to ruin the moment."

"We saved the world," Xnader said.

"We changed the world. I can feel them. All over. Slayers awakening everywhere," Willow said.

"We'll have to find them," Dawn said, "Buffy would want us to."

"We will," Willow said confidently.

"Yes, because the mall was actually in Sunnydale, so there's no hope of going there tomorrow," Giles said.

Dawn looked up at him with wide eyes, "We destroyed the mall? I fought on the wrong side."

"All those shops gone. The Gap, Starbucks, Toys "R" Us. Who will remember all those landmarks unless we tell the world about them?" Xander said.

"We have a lot of work ahead of us," Giles said.

Faith looked at Willow, "Can I push him in?"

"You've got my vote," Willow answered.

Faith looked at Giles, "I just want to sleep, yo, for like a week."

"I guess we all could if we wanted to," Dawn said.

"Yeah," the group said in unison.


"What do you mean we're the second front?" Wesley asked.

"If Buffy and Spike fail, it's up to us. The fate of the world," Angel said.

"I thought the amulet was going to save the world, end all of this," Wesley said.

"Buffy wanted Spike to be her champion," Angel said bitterly.

"Spike? How? The bearer must have a soul," Wesley said.

Angel looked at Wesley. Wesley's mouth formed an 'o'. Spike had gotten himself a soul. Wesley now understood why Angel was so upset. She had chosen Spike over Angel. Spike was going to attempt to save the world. That was sure a twist.

"I'm confused. Didn't this Spike guy try to kill Buffy, like more than once?" Gunn asked.

"Yes," Angel answered.

"We must keep in mind that Angel also tried to kill Buffy. Her feelings make her overlook those things. She is driven by her heart, she always has been," Wesley said.

"When did you become so insightful?" Angel asked with a smirk.

"I've been around you for a while. It's not hard to pick up on emotion. Loren isn't the only one who can read emotions, you know," Wesley said.

"Angel," Fred said as she entered the room, "Willow is on the phone."

Angel looked hopeful. Buffy had saved the world. He followed Fred into the office.

"Willow? What's going on?" Angel asked.

"There's something you should know," Willow said.

"What is it?" Angel didn't like the sound of Willow's voice. Something was wrong, very wrong.

"You won't have to actually be the second front. Buffy and Spike died saving the world," Willow said. She had spent a good hour trying to find an easy way to tell Angel about Buffy's death. She hated being the one to call him every time she died.

"They saved the world. Spike and Buffy saved the world…together. Damn, never saw that happening. How are all of you?" Angel asked.

"We'll recover. We're going to Cleveland. Giles says there's another Hellmouth there. Since all the Slayers have been called, we're going to set up a training facility. It's what Buffy would want us to do. She'd want you to go on, Angel. You can't go turning all dusty on us. We need you," Willow said.

"I'll be here," Angel said, "Take care, Wil."

Angel walked back into the conference room. "No action for us today. Buffy and Spike saved the world."

"Then why do you look like that?" Gunn asked.

"They died saving the world. We are all safe because they died," Angel said.

"Damn," Gunn said.


Please review. Hope you enjoyed the it, I promise the other chapters will be longer, but I had to get this part over with first.