"The 798 train from New York to Los Angeles has now arrived. Please enjoy your stay in the wonderful city of lost Angels."

The woman, now dressed in tight black pants, boots and a black turtleneck sweater, stepped out onto the platform. She looked around her and hefted her canvas bag and the rolled bag that held her sword. She grinned as she saw a small man leaning against a post, eating an apple.

"Long time no see, Whistler." She walked up to him and smiled. "I see your sense of style hasn't gotten any better." The demon was dressed in purple slacks, a green dress shirt, brown jacket and his signature hat.

"Have to say the same for yours…Buffy." Whistler grinned at the young woman and took her canvas bag from her. "How was your trip?" The two started to walk out of the station.

"Good. I went to see Master Quoi San. He was helpful."

"That's what I like to hear." The two walked along the streets of L.A. "Are you ready to go back?"

"Yeah." Buffy's eyes went ebony black. "It's been way too long. I can't let this keep me from the people I love."

"You know, a lot has changed since you left."

"I know." Buffy sighed. "Then again, so have I."

Whistler examined Buffy as they walked. Her hair was longer, more full, streaked with black from the Change. Her body was more toned, harder, as if pushed past its limit. Her face was full of pain and despair. She had seen too much. He could hardly look her in the eyes anymore since the Change. They were fully black now, something she had never tried to reverse.

"So have you decided how you're going to do it?" He watched her as she answered. Somehow he sensed she had been planning this for a while.

"Well, I've always been a fan of the dramatics." She laughed and Whistler found himself missing that sound. He hadn't heard it in a long time.

"When?"

"Soon." Buffy drifted in her own thoughts as Whistler went on to explain about something that had happened to him while he had been in Mexico.

It had been almost five years since she had left Sunnydale. She had left after she had sent Angel to hell and never looked back. That wasn't true, she had looked back, many times actually. Over the years, she had felt the longing to go back, to find her friends, to repair what she broke. Only, every time she got to the airport or train station, a sinking feeling built up in her stomach. She couldn't breathe and her feet felt glued to the floor.

The Change had sealed the deal. After it happened she couldn't go back, it was impossible. She spent years, healing, perfecting her skill, training, learning, saving. Now, after almost five years, she had come back. It hadn't been her idea, she viewed it as being forced. In secret, she was overjoyed.

"…And so I said, why don't you go stick a Gangnrl demon up your ass." Whistler smirked at his own joke and Buffy smiled. She had missed him. She would never tell him that, but she had missed him.

Five Years Earlier;

"Do you think she'll ever come back?" Dawn Summers was curled up in her mother's arms. Around them sat the scoobies. Giles, Xander, Cordelia, Willow and Oz.

"I…don't know." Giles took his glasses off and began to clean them. "Her note left no indication of her planning too."

"She will." Everyone turned to look at Joyce. She had tears running down her face and her hands shook as she held Dawn. "She has too. She has her friends and family and slaying." Joyce broke into sobs and held Dawn tighter.

"Don't cry, mommy." Dawn turned in her mother's arms and did her best to sooth Joyce.

"Why don't we give them some space." Giles ushered the teens out of the room and into the kitchen. He busied himself putting on the teakettle while they settled around the island.

"She's not coming back."

Giles slammed down the kettle and turned to glare at Willow.

"Don't you ever say that again." The teens recoiled in fear as Giles shook with rage and his eyes burned with anger and pain. After a moment, he seemed to notice their faces and the red drained out of his. He looked like the sad old man he had minutes before his explosion. "Oh dear, I'm sorry." He turned away and took off his glasses, rubbing them furiously.

"Giles…" Willow's voice was shaky as she touched him on the shoulder. She could feel him shaking as well. "I'm sorry I said that. It's just so hard…not having her here. I know the police have found nothing and there is a search for her…I just don't think…well, it's hard." Silent tears fell down her face.

"It's hard for all of us." Xander linked hands with Cordelia. "We all miss her, but it was her choice to leave."

"Xander!" Willow looked shocked at her best friend. "How can you say that?"

"We don't know what happened after you got Giles away from the mansion." Cordelia looked around at the group. "All we know is that Angelus is gone for good and Buffy needed time to herself."

"Cordy's right." Oz went to Willow. "Buffy just needs time, we owe her that much."

"All I'm saying is that you have to be more careful when you use magic." Willow stood in the lobby of the hotel, glaring at Dawn. "Magic is not a toy, Dawn. You of all people should know that."

"Stop treating me like a little kid." Dawn stomped away from the red headed Wicca. "I've been asking you to teach me for years and you keep saying no. I am ready to learn…I know I am ."

"Just teach the Nibblit before she goes off and blows someone up." Spike walked down the stairs and sat on the lower ones. "She's helped before, and she has talent. We all know it."

Willow sighed. Dawn had been asking her for magic lessons since after Buffy disappeared. Willow had declined at first because of her grief at the loss of her best friend. She had continued to discourage Dawn, for many years, always finding an excuse. But now there wasn't one. Dawn had proved herself able in both physical and mental areas of strength for magic. Willow knew the girl had a natural gift for witchcraft, and yet something always held her back.

"I'll think about it…maybe." Willow half-smiled as Dawn squealed and hugged her. "I said maybe."

"Maybe means yes!" Dawn grinned as she danced up the stairs and out of sight.

"It'll mean a lot to her." Spike smiled at Willow as she sighed and sat down beside her. "She wants to be a part of the team."

"She is."

"I know. She just can't see it." Spike studied Willow as she rubbed her temples. "How are you holding up, Red?"

Willow was about to say her usual 'fine', when she stopped. Spike had always been a silent supporter of hers ever since he had started to work with them.

"Better than I was a week ago. It's still hard I know I should have moved on. After all it's been five years, but…things just keep bringing up memories. Now, with the new prophecy…it's hard."

"It's okay to miss her…Buffy, I mean." Spike laid a hand on Willow's shoulder. "I know she's a hard person to forget."

"Maybe that's because she put you in a wheelchair." Smiled Willow.

"Right." Spike agreed but knew inside that wasn't the reason.

"Thanks, Spike." Willow stood up. "Talking to you, helped. Are you coming on the big patrol tonight."

"Wouldn't miss it for the world." Spike watched as Willow exited the room, leaving him alone. He took a piece of paper out of his pocket. It was the same one that had come with the ring. He looked at the scrawled note. It read exactly what he had told the scoobies and something else.

August 12th. The Docks. Everyone.

Those words had haunted him for the past week. Whoever had sent him the ring knew about his friends, about what they did. It could be a trap, but Spike felt in his gut that it wasn't. He had told the scoobies that he had heard of a big bad around that area and scheduled a group patrol for August 12th. Tonight.

Spike sighed and played with the ring on his ring finger. Whoever had sent it to him, had wanted him to have it…its powers. Who would have wanted him more powerful?

"So, tonight's the night?" Whistler lent against Buffy's bedroom door in the small loft she had rented in LA. Buffy stood behind a Chinese screen, getting dressed.

"Yeah." Buffy stepped into his view in black pants, a black leather corset and black boots. She adjusted her corset and looked at her friend. "Spike should have taken the bait. After what you told me about the last time he had the ring, he would have shoved that thing on his hand faster than you can say 'vampire'."

"He's changed, Buffy." Whistler handed her, her long black hooded-cape and watched as she picked up her crossbow and sword.

"A soul doesn't make you a good person." Buffy strapped the sword onto her back and hefted the crossbow in her arms.

"You seemed to think so when it came to Angel." Whistler watched as Buffy's shoulders slumped in defeat. After he had told her about Angel and Cordy and then about their son, she had broken down. When Buffy had left Sunnydale, she had just sent Angel to hell. To find out that he had come back and chose someone else and gotten a real life with them…that was harsh.

"You're right…things…people change." She looked up at Whistler. He shivered, as the black in her eyes seemed to shimmer. "It's part of life. It's what tonight is about. Tonight is a night for change."

She smiled briefly and left him alone in the room. Not long after, he heard the loft door slam closed. Whistler took a deep breath and raised his head skyward.

"It's really too bad you guys can't mess this one up." He chuckled and put on his hat. He turned off the lights and followed Buffy.