"And that is the life of Buffy Summers," said Buffy as she finished off her cappuccino. She didn't know why she was sitting here talking about her life with the pale dark haired Goth woman.
The woman gave Buffy a smile before reaching for the empty mug. "Somehow I think there is more to the story than that," said the woman. "Its okay if you don't want to tell me though, after all everyone has secrets."
Wait did she know about the Slayer stuff? Maybe she was trying to kill her or capture her, but she seems so nice. If she really wasn't evil then there should be no trouble with me leaving.
"I'm sorry, but I really have to go. If you would just show me where the door is," said Buffy hoping she was wrong about the other woman.
"Sorry Buffy, you can't leave just yet," said the woman even as the pit of Buffys stomach fell out, her worst fears confirmed.
Quickly moving into a fighting stance Buffy tried the more direct route, "Listen, um, woman that I just realized never told me her name, I could force you to tell me if I wanted to. Just tell me so I don't have to hurt you."
The woman who was simply way to calm for Buffy at the moment let out a sigh. "Buffy, what is the last thing you remember before you started talking to me?"
"What does that have to do with anything! Just show me the door; I really don't want to hurt you."
"Buffy, pleas calm down, your Slayer abilities won't help you here. Just trust me, if you remember what happened just before you came here everything will make more sense."
What was she talking about? Right before she came here she was, well she was fighting Glory. Wait, that wasn't right, she was on the tower, the portal had opened, and to close it she had to…
"Oh God," whispered Buffy as she slid to the floor. "Does this mean, am I?"
"Dead?" asked the woman. At Buffys nod she continued. "Yeah, you are."
"Then who are you, and what kind of afterlife it this?"
"Well this isn't an afterlife, this is just my place. As to who I am, well I'm Death."
After Death finished the last sentence Buffy began to giggle. Slightly confused but happy about Buffys reaction Death said, "Not the reaction I usually get. Got to admit that it's better than how I expected you to act."
Calming herself down Buffy tried to explain her reaction, even though her voice indicated that she may start giggling again at any moment, "I'm sorry but you just can't be death. Death is some skeleton in a black cloak that carries a scythe, not, well, you."
Death let out a groan as she ran her fingers through her hair and said, "I dress up for a party one time, a billion years before your sun even ignited, and everything still believes that's what I look like! Really, I have very little to do with skeletons. Someone higher up than me decided that you would have them, and it's not my fault that they last the longest."
Buffy cringed at Deaths rant; after all she had similar things happen to her in life. "Sorry about that. I guess I can relate though. Everyone expect me to be this large mega fighter just because I'm the Slayer. They are usually surprised when they find an excheerleader, that is slightly vertically challenged, but not short."
"Never short," said Death with a smile on her face.
"Darn tooten," replied Buffy, more relaxed than she was moments ago.
After a few moments of relaxed silence Buffy asked a question that had been on her mind, "If I'm dead, can I see my mom?"
"No, I'm sorry, but you can't."
"Why not, if this is some kind of afterlife shouldn't I be able to be with my mom?"
"Like I said before Buffy, this isn't the afterlife," said Death. "Let me see if I can explain this right, you have heard of the light at the end of the tunnel haven't you? Okay, this isn't the light at the end, it's the tunnel it self. This is the dark before the light, the sunless lands, me."
"Then why don't you take me to the afterlife," responded Buffy.
"Normally I would but you are a special case," said Death, her grey eyes conveying just how serious this situation was. "As we speak your friend Xander is on a quest that will determine if you come with me now, or if you will live some more first."
"I don't get it, what can Xander do? I fell from a tower, into a mystical portal, and fell on a pile of bricks. Somehow I don't think CPR will work this time."
"He isn't using CPR. I made a deal with him, if he could convince five of my brothers and sisters that you should be brought back then I'll bring you back. He has already convinced my brothers Destiny and Dream, so he is off to a good start."
"Wait, how do you know that, you have been with me the entire time?"
"I'm with you, but I'm also with the infant that was just killed in china because her parents wanted a boy. I'm with the old homeless man in that just passed on from exposure, and at the same time I'm across your galaxy with Q'Lar as her energy escapes from her crystal skin. I'm where ever I need to be."
"Don't you think its odd being in more than one place at the same time?"
"Nope, it's perfectly natural," said Death.
"So what are we supposed to do now, just sit and wait for Xander to finish his quest?"
"Well I've always wanted to play Monopoly but no one has ever stayed long enough for a good game. If that isn't to your liking I'm sure we can find something else, I'm kind of a pack rat so there is a lot to choose from."
Buffy simply smiled and said, "I call Top Hat!"
Death smiled as she set up the board, picking the racecar for herself. It was a bit incontinent keeping a bit of herself here, especially with that galaxy imploding, but it was worth it.
