Eternity

"You're sure of this, Diego?" Eron asked.

"Yes, sir. The news is everywhere. It seems she isn't as unstoppable as we had first assumed," Diego answered.

Eron paced the musty room, a wicked grin on his face. Maybe things weren't as bad as he had first thought. "When can it be done?"

"Soon, very soon. I have men working on it right now," Diego answered.

"Can we be certain that nothing and no one will interfere with our little plan?" Eron asked. He gazed at his servant, his eyes narrowing to slits.

Diego flinched under Eron's gaze. "For the moment, nothing can harm us. We are in complete control of the Hellmouth."

"For the moment?" Eron raged, "It should be under our control for more than just 'the moment'. I need to have assurance that we will be able to…" A thought entered his mind. "We may need some help with this. I think I'm going to call in a little favor of mine."

"F-f-favor?"

"Yes, a little insurance. Something to keep the little Slayers occupied for a while," Eron said.

"What about their leader?"

"She will not be a problem. I know how to keep her from meddling in things beyond her control," Eron said.

"Not to be impertinent, but can't she upset things for us?"

"There is always a possibility of failure at the hands of another. That's what makes this whole thing so exciting. A true battle."

"Eron, you need to hear this," a woman said as she entered the room.

"What is it, Vonda?" Eron inquired.

"Looks to me like your little friend over here didn't exactly do all of his homework. Our favorite girl isn't alone in this fight. Even if she was alone in this fight, there is no way to destroy her," Vonda explained.

"You assured me that our plans would continue as scheduled, Diego. I am deeply ashamed of you. We can not afford for careless mistakes this close to the end. Too much hangs in the balance. I can not allow you to fail me," Eron said calmly.

Diego cowered under Eron's even gaze.

"What am I going to do about your error? There are so many options, I just hate to limit myself. I could always cut you into tiny pieces to feed to a more loyal servant. Or better yet, I could send you away without your horn. What would you be then, Diego?" Eron said.

Diego sobbed in the corner of the room.

"That's exactly the point. You'd be nothing. However, I am in need of servants. I will be forgiving this once. You must not fail me again," Eron said.

"Tell me what I must do," Diego said. He straightened himself, not wanting to seem disrespectful in front of Eron and Vonda.

"If I may, lover, I have a task for this wretch," Vonda said.

"He is yours to command, my dear," Eron answered.


"What are you talking about, Faith?" Kennedy asked.

"Chill, nothing's been decided. I told you all before, I'm not your leader. Not exactly the leader type. That's B's thing, not mine. You just need to get over your little thing with her," Faith said.

"You've been doing the 'leader thing' since Sunnydale, and everything's been fine. What's different now?" Kennedy challenged.

"Buffy's back now. I can take backseat, go along for the ride," Faith answered.

"Why are you so quick to give up all of this?" Kennedy asked.

"I don't want – " Faith paused and shook her head, "Look, I'm not discussing this. I don't have to explain myself. Take a pill or something, just deal."

"We don't even get a say in this do we," Kennedy said softly.

"It ain't exactly your choice. When are you going to move on, Kennedy?"

"When are you going to step up?" Kennedy said.

Faith inhaled sharply.

"Yeah, that's what I thought," Kennedy said as she left.

"And the reason Kennedy tried to run through me…" Buffy asked as she walked into the room.

"Just letting off a little steam," Faith said with a shake of her head.

"Why steam?" Buffy asked.

"She's not exactly down with ya, B. Told her about you possibly taking over, and she went psycho," Faith explained.

"I don't have to take over, Faith. It's totally cool if you want to keep it up, you've been doing a great job with the girls," Buffy said.

"Damn, never exactly thought I'd hear that. Last time I took care of the girls, you gave me a pretty nasty right hook," Faith said.

"Would that help now? Because if you're looking for a repeat…" Buffy teased.

"I think I'm good now, but I'll keep the offer in mind," Faith replied.

"So, what are we going to do about the girls?" Buffy asked.

"We?"

"Yeah, I see no reason why only one of us has to make the decisions. I do remember that occasionally our individual ideas aren't exactly good as far as ideas go," Buffy said.

"You think we could do it? Even with the Buffy/Faith history?"

"Unless you'd just like to go Coma Girl again."

"I'd so kick your ass, B. 'Sides, you were all fight because of Angel. You'd have no edge."

"Somehow, I think I'd manage."

Faith laughed. It was good to have another experienced Slayer. Until recently, Faith had never really understood what being the only Slayer had meant. It was amazing that Buffy had only died three times. The pressure and the job just…damn. Sure it was all fun to fight, but when it came to being the good guy, Faith was a little behind. Taking care of all the little Slayers, that was just a nightmare. Faith was beginning to understand all the pressure that Buffy had been under in Sunnydale. Didn't really change her mind about how things went down, but it did add perspective.

"So, let's do this joint leader thing. Still got a few things to learn about being the good guy," Faith said.

Buffy nodded. Noise from the other room caught her attention. The two girls walked toward the ruckus and stopped short of the door to listen.

"I don't care how many times she's died," Kennedy yelled.

"Then what in the bloody hell do you care about?" Spike yelled back.

"Spike," Willow said softly.

"What? You going to just coddle to your girlfriend, Red? Did we all go to the same Hellmouth? See, the one I was at ended with the world still intact, thanks to Buffy and Faith," Spike said.

"No credit for you? You just going to say that it was all Buffy? Buffy, savior of the world, too good for herself?" Kennedy spat.

"No, there's credit for me in there, but nothing compared to Buffy. You just won't give it up, will you? One bad thing happens and you just run with it. Jealousy is not a good trait for you, luv," Spike said.

"Jealous? Of Buffy? Am I the only one who remembers nearly dying?" Kennedy asked.

"You think that's a bitch, remember dying…oh, wait, you can't do that. All you can do is play judge. When are you going to grow up and get over yourself?" Spike asked.

"You're always defending her, and she's always defending you…it's like nothing anyone else says about either of you makes a difference, you'll always agree with her, and she'll always agree with you," Kennedy said.

"See anyone else to do that, pet? Look, you've been a Slayer for a whole of three months, bagged maybe a dozen baddies, and had an army of people to help you. Buffy's been the Slayer for seven years, killed more nasties than I can count, died in more apocalypses than you've seen…alone, and yet you think that you know everything there is to know about being the Slayer. You're a piece of work. Harris is the only one of you lot that has room to call Buffy on anything, but notice him keeping his yap shut…take a lesson," Spike said.

"You are amazing. This is just what I was talking about. It's a blind spot," Kennedy raged.

"Kennedy," Willow said, "Spike has a point."

"You're against me too, Wil?"

"I have to be against you to be for Buffy?"

"All right, Kennedy. I've had enough of this from you. You got something to say to me, say it," Buffy said as she walked into the room.

"Don't think it really matters. You're back. What the rest of us think isn't important," Kennedy said.

"Hey, over reacting girl, what 'us'?" Xander asked.

Kennedy blinked at Xander.

"Not to add to the problem, but you seem to be the only one in here with a problem," Dawn said.

"Of course you'd side with her, she's your sister," Kennedy said.

"And I remember kicking my sister out of my house last time I thought she was um…off," Dawn said.

"I'm done with this," Kennedy said.

The group watched as the girl stormed out of the room. Willow stood to follow, but stopped when she decided that it would be best to give her girlfriend some space.


"That was quite the interesting night," Spike said casually.

"Yeah, interesting," Buffy said. She paced the basement, her eyes narrowed in concentration.

"What's wrong, pet?" Spike asked.

Buffy ignored him and continued to pace the room. Her thoughts were muddled, beyond muddled, and she really didn't want to talk about any of it. She knew she was shutting down when she shouldn't, and Spike was really the only person that she could tell all of this to, but something kept holding her back forcing her to deal…alone. That word, it kept plaguing her…did it have to?

"You know, loneliness, being alone it's really overrated," Buffy said flippantly.

"So I've heard."

"What's so great about being alone anyway? I mean it doesn't really mean anything, it doesn't help people to deal…so why do it? Why am I always making myself be alone? Why can't I just stop being all lonely like?" Buffy asked.

Those eyes would be the death of him. There she was staring up at him with her crystal green orbs, begging for comfort, for answers. There was something about her, always had been, it called to him. Dru had been the first to see it. The spark, the connection between the Slayer and the vampire. It's like a fairytale, with out all the happy parts. Enemies destined to be something else, something greater. He was her champion. And now she was expecting him to help her.

"I don't know, pet. You've carried the weight of the world for so many years, that I don't think you know how to let it go. In fact, I think part of you actually wants to keep it," Spike said.

"Why would I want to keep it?" Buffy gritted out.

"Don't get your knickers in a twist, I've seen that look before. It's not bad. You are the original Slayer. You had to grow up faster than any other person here, dead or alive. You've faced horror after horror, and you faced them alone. Sure you had the Scoobies, and for a while you had Angel, but in the end, you faced them alone. You didn't have the luxury these new girls do. You didn't have a Buffy to look to for help, or assistance. They don't realize how easy they've got it, pet," Spike said.

"So what am I so afraid of?" Buffy asked.

"Failing."

Buffy stared at the vampire in front of her. He had always known what was going on inside her head. When she had come back and had to dig herself free, he'd known. When she and Angel and tried to be "just friends", he'd known. He always knew her heart. It was amazing to her that she hadn't seen, really seen, him sooner. She was terrified to admit how much she needed him. That was why it was so hard for her to admit her feelings to him. Sure they'd had a few rounds in the crypt, but nothing emotional was there. She couldn't let him in, and he was right. She was afraid that if she let someone in, they'd fail.

"I don't want to be alone anymore," Buffy whispered. She blinked back the tears that stung her eyes. Just because she didn't want to be alone didn't mean she was ready to be weak.

"Shhh, pet," Spike soothed. He walked over and wrapped her up in his arms. "You're not alone. I'm here. I've got your back, always will."

"Forever?" she mumbled into his shoulder.

"For all eternity."

Spike swept Buffy into his arms and carried her over to the bed. He had found it rather odd that of all the places in the new complex to be completed first, they would choose the basement. Looking down at the blonde beauty in his arms, he silently thanked whoever was responsible for that decision. He felt Buffy curl up into his arms, and she snaked her arms around his neck. Spike laid her down and heard her soft moan of complaint when he stood up. She pouted up at him as he turned off the light and removed his t-shirt. "That lip's going to be the death of me." As soon as he hit the mattress, Buffy was in his arms.

"I don't want to wake them, they look peaceful like," Willow whispered.

"We've got to. She needs to know," Xander replied.

"What do I need to know?" Buffy mumbled from somewhere in Spike's chest.

Willow chewed on her lip nervously, "Kennedy, she never came back. She's missing."

Buffy sat up, "Missing, or not wanting to be found?"

"What?" Willow asked.

"Look, Wil, I'm all with the searching if she's missing, but if she doesn't want to be found, she won't be. She took it pretty hard last night, maybe she just wants to disappear for a while, clear her head. Why don't we give her until tonight and if she's a no show, Spike and I will go find her," Buffy offered.

"Um, ok, but are you sure that um, you two are the best to go and find her?" Willow asked.

"Will's got a point, Buff. Kennedy was anti-Buffy and Spike last night. Maybe it wouldn't be a good idea for the two of you to go looking for her," Xander said.

"I tend to agree with the Whelp on this one," Spike said, "Red and Faith would have a better chance at finding the girl."

"I'll go talk to Faith. That ok with you, Wil?" Buffy asked.

"Yeah. Buffy, I just want her to be safe," Willow said.

"I know, so do I. Don't look at me like that. Just because I don't wear a fan club pin doesn't mean I want her to get hurt," Buffy said.

Buffy stood up and walked up to see Faith.

"Troops tell you about our no show?" Faith asked.

"Yeah, that's actually what I wanted to talk to you about. Willow's really concerned, and I'd like for you to take her out tonight…to look for Kennedy," Buffy said.

"That's really what you want, B?"

"I want Willow to be happy, and I want Kennedy to be safe."

"All right, but why me? I mean, aren't you the rescue guru?"

"I don't exactly think that Kennedy wants to be found, especially not by me."

"That's it then. I'll take Willow with me tonight, and we'll go Slayer hunting."

"Thanks," Buffy said as she turned to leave, "Hey, about last night, after the whole blow out…we cool?"

"Five by five, B."

"Good."


"This is a very serious matter, Buffy," Giles said.

"Why?"

"The Powers aren't inclined to taking requests. Your comfort is far from their list of priorities," Giles said.

"Nothing comes without a price," Buffy mumbled.

"What was that?" Giles asked

Buffy looked up from the table, "Nothing, just something Spike told me in L.A."

"Speaking of L.A., I've been doing some research on the amulet. The reappearance of you and Spike, while welcome, is far from a normal occurrence," Giles explained.

"Unless of course you're me, then it kinda happens a little too often, like a tradition," Buffy said flippantly.

"You see, this is just the sort of attitude that you can't afford to have right now. Something big is coming, this I'm sure of. You would not have been sent back if things were normal," Giles said.

"You do remember that this is a Hellmouth, right? Not exactly know for being Normal City," Buffy retorted.

Giles pinched the bridge of his nose. There were so many things that he needed to make his Slayer understand, things that were going to be difficult for her. Even with all of her experiences, he feared that this would be unbearable for her. He would protect her from the truth for as long as he could, she deserved a chance to settle into living again, but sooner than he'd like, she'd have to know.

"You're right, things are never normal on a Hellmouth. That really isn't the point, though," Giles said.

"Then what is the point, Giles? Stop with the cryptic," Buffy said.

"The amulet is said to not only assist the Champion, but hold the Champion until they are needed again. The problem is…you went with Spike. The texts are clear on what happens to the Champion, but there are no texts on what happens when two are involved. You must understand the severity of this," Giles said.

Buffy stood up and paced around the tiny room. "This is just great Giles. The balance, that's what you're worried about. I've gone and upset it again. Better off dead in the eternal way."

"Buffy," Giles breathed, "That's not what I meant at all. You cannot possibly think that I don't want you here, that I'm not elated to have you back."

"Why would I think that, Giles? Ever since I've been back, it's been the same thing. The balance. It's my fault, Giles. I've changed my fate too many times," Buffy said.

"Who else has said this to you?"

"No one, it's just the dreams. I dream of limbo every night, and the Powers always tell me the same thing: Balance…Your Fault…Big Mess…Unfixable," Buffy explained.

"What about Spike?"

"He's the one that's supposed to be here, immortal and stuff. I'm supposed to be normal, Slayer Buffy, not immortal Slayer Buffy."

"I see."

"What am I going to do, Giles?"


Here it is folks. Hope you enjoy. Please Review!

chiefhow - Lonliness is kind of a Buffy theme. LOL, But this is more about how she will deal with whatever happens.