A/N: I know last note I said there were going to be two more parts before the epilogue. I lied. This is only going to have 4 acts, not 5. On the good side, that means you're seeing the end now, instead of having to wait who knows how long while I plug away.

Act IV

Daniel and Buffy continued to sit at the table, not looking at each other as the awkwardness of his last statement hangs in the air.

Buffy opened her mouth, speaking softly. "I'm worried about my friends. They're trying to fight my battles without me, and I don't want to see anyone else die because of me."

"In a war, people die. You can't save everyone."

"They're only involved because they met me."

Daniel gave a closed-lipped smile, and then raised his coffee cup, looking into it. "That's usually how it works. Whether you try to keep them out or tell the truth, if what you're working towards is a just goal, people will join you."

"You're all Giles-y when you say that."

"If you think you should go back, do it, Anne. You're the one who can make the right choices, just like your friends did."

"Thanks." Buffy rose to her feet, and walked over to the drink station, beginning a circuit around the diner with fresh coffee.

In the corner, an argument is going on between Jim and Oma, and everyone in the diner is working very hard to pretend they can't hear it. Daniel, on the other hand, is straining to catch the words, but can't quite make anything out. While he watches, Daniel pours heaps of sugar into his coffee absently. Finally, Oma walks off in a huff, and Daniel, picking up his coffee mug, moves over to Jim, smiling slightly.

"Hey," Daniel said.

The older man turned around, saying, "Hey, Daniel! How's it going?"

"Do we know each other? I feel like I know you," Daniel commented.

"Call me Jim. We ran into each other the last time you were ascended."

"Ah. Nice to meet you . . . again," Daniel said politely, offering his hand.

"Still haven't made up your mind, huh? Death – or everlasting enlightenment. I don't really see the choice myself."

"Of course I don't want to be dead – it's just that, uh . . ." Daniel pauses, sighing. "Listen, the reason I came over here was to ask you – why are you talking to me?"

Jim looks puzzled for a moment, then glanced around the diner, gesturing. "Oh, you mean because the other snobs won't even look at you? Well, I'm different, like Oma."

At that comment, Buffy came over, and slammed a cup of coffee in front of Jim. "Listen, creep, you aren't at all like Oma. You can't even decide whether you want to play by the rules!" she said, scowling at Jim. "Now drink your coffee and get out of here, before I decide to break a few of my own."

Jim ignores Buffy, looking at Daniel. "Did you read the latest headline?" he asked, handing over the paper.

Shooting another death glare at Jim, Buffy rounds the table, and, grabbing Daniel's arm, she leads him back to his table. "I don't know how you can stomach that guy. He reeks."

"I'm not sure I understand," Daniel said.

"What's to understand? He's, like, evil."

"I thought you had to be pure of heart to ascend."

"Don't ask me, I took the express route. But seriously, that guy is bad news, and he's playing with you," Buffy said, tension in her voice. "I just wish I knew what he was up to so I could stop him."

"What is it between Jim and Oma?"

Buffy shook her head. "Why don't you ask her?"

Buffy left the diner for a while to clear her head, wanting to get away from the wiggy feelings Jim gave her, Oma's escapism, and Daniel's curiosity. She had a lot to think about. She hadn't known she could go home if she wanted to. Buffy wondered what it would be like to forget everything, and whether she'd still be the same person after dying a second time. On the other hand, she knew her friends had relied on her, and she thought maybe she could be more help as a Slayer than some guardian angel with a non-involvement pact. In an odd fit of nostalgia, she decided to ghost around at the Bronze. To her surprise, the Dingoes were playing, and she lost herself in thought and the music, barely noticing Willow, Xander and Cordy up by the stage.

She also didn't notice when a loudly clothed man walked over to her until he spoke. "Slayer," the man, well, demon, said amicably.

"Give it a rest, Whistler, it's over," Buffy half-growled. "Besides, don't you have better things to do than talk to an invisible ghost girl?"

"Not invisible, sweetheart. Just outside the normal realm of existence," the demon replied, grinning. "Let's take a walk."

"The last time I listened to you, I ended up sending my boyfriend to hell," she snapped.

"Which, if you recall, wouldn't have happened if you hadn't helped him lose his soul."

"Whatever. Say what you have to say, and get out."

"We want you to take your old job back."

"We meaning . . ."

"The Powers."

"As I understand it, I can come back whenever I want."

"Not exactly. You could descend, like your pal Dr. Jackson, but you wouldn't be the Slayer anymore. We're offering the whole package."

"And the reason I would take you up on this is . . .? It's not like there's a great Slayer Retirement Package."

"You'll have backup. The other Slayer."

"What about Faith?" Buffy asked, going instantly on the defensive. "You assholes going to ruin her life, too?"

"We just want you back in action. Doing what you do best. No prophecies, no interference, just a ticket back to the good fight."

Buffy nodded at her friends up by the stage. "They don't need superpowers for that."

"All you have to do is say yes. Deal's open if you want it. Two Slayers, working side by side against the darkness."

"What do you get out of it?"

"Peace of mind." With that cryptic comment, the balance demon strode off.

Unable to bring herself to return to the diner with the news, Buffy instead went to visit Faith, this time finding the dark Slayer in one of Boston's cemeteries.

"What do you want this time?" Faith asked, annoyed.

"The Powers offered me my job back. To be a Slayer again."

"That mean I get to put up my stake?"

"You wish. No way to get all unchosen. I would have found it if there was."

"Then why you bothering me?"

"I suppose I thought, maybe, we could, y'know, hang, if I decided to come back."

"You and me against the world? Like the sound of that, yo."

"I'd have to stay on the hellmouth," Buffy said, remembering her responsibility.

"Maybe I'll end up in your neck of the woods someday. Better than talking to a dead girl."

"I may be dead, but I saved your ass that one time!"

"I could have gotten him!"

The two slayers continued ribbing each other for a while, then, as the vampire Faith was waiting to rise fell to dust, Buffy decided it was time to head back. She ought to at least say goodbye to her friends on this plane of existence.

When Buffy finally returned to the diner, she was surprised to find Oma missing.

"Hey, Frank, where's the old lady?" she asked.

"She got herself a new job," the cook replied.

"What?" Buffy said, intelligently.

"I think what he's trying to tell you is that Oma finally did what she should have done a long time ago. She's taking care of her mistakes," Daniel said, frowning slightly.

"Creepy guy?" Buffy asked.

"Locked in combat for eternity," the archaeologist said, rather glumly.

"That sucks," Buffy said. "I . . . was coming to say goodbye."

"Goodbye?" Daniel replied, confused.

"I'm going home. It was a mistake to even leave."

"I understand what you mean, Anne. I was going to return myself. I can do more on Earth than I ever could from here."

Buffy held out her hand, and shook Daniel's firmly. "Even if I never remember a thing that happened here, I'm still glad I met you, Dr. Jackson."

Daniel looked at her, and then down. "If you do remember, maybe you could do me this. When you have a chance when things are going right, when you win this good fight of yours, get out. Find a real life before it eats you alive."

"I'll do what I can."

"You two heroes gonna keep talking?" Frank interrupted. "Get out of here. Go save the world."

End Act IV