From the Desk of Lizzy Rebel

Omigod! Omigod! Last chapter! Last chapter:does the last chapter dance: We're almost at an end. Final battles, some happily ever-afters, and some angst. But most of all: THE END!

Read on! Read on!

Chapter Forty Two- Ghost of a Hope

Sidney knelt in front of Lord Deltoramina. His beady black eyes, however, were not on her but the Slayer who was leaning against her lover in exhaustion.

Oh God, Sidney thought in terror as she clasped her hands together and concentrated all of her power on the demon king moving towards her in a slow motion. All she had to do was wait for Jack, Ann and Eve to make their move.

Then she heard it. Deltoramina was screaming in rage. Sidney raised her head and watched as Jack lunged forward, grabbing Deltoramina's neck. Eve and Ann moved around his side and grabbed the demon's talon-like hands. Together they used all their combined strength and pushed him to the ground. The Earth shook as the heavy body was pressed into the earth.

"NO! You cannot do this to me! I am LORD DELTORAMINA!" the demon king shouted but Sidney didn't listen. Her whole being was concentrated on what had to be done.

She saw the door to Oblivion in her mind's eyes. It was in a gray area surrounded by mist. The door itself was a silver mixed with purple. It was almost translucent. There was an odd Celtic symbol on it that Sidney didn't recognize but she knew it was to warn those about the fate that came to souls who entered. It curved at the top and was a least five times as big as Sidney. Around the door was gossamer strings that kept the door shut. The door to Oblivion was something not meant to be opened. It was the highest of punishments. Only the purest of evil was sent there. In Oblivion there was nothing. There was no life, no death, and no emotion. Beyond the mist and the silver-purple door was the worst emptiness imaginable. Sidney almost shuddered as she thought about what would happen to the poor souls that would enter it.

Her poor souls…

Shaking her head, Sidney used imaginary hands formed by her mind to grab the strings. The picture of the silver-purple door disappeared, replaced by the scene in the crypt. Deltoramina was still struggling against Jack, Ann and Eve but their hold did not waver. Their faces were grim with determination.

Using her invisible hands, she wrapped the gossamer strings around Deltoramina and the three ghosts. If she didn't place the strings around all four of those beings then as she tried to send his soul to Oblivion the demon could break free of her hold and return to his own body which would allow him to overpower the three ghosts.

As she muttered the incantations needed she thought back to the day before. When Buffy had come to her with the accursed plan.

Buffy sat across from Sidney in the library of the Institute. Her eyes were very weary as she said, "Sidney what would you be willing to do to save the world?"

"Anything," was Sidney's answer. Hadn't she answered that already?

"Then I'll you the plan. You're not going to like it," Buffy said quickly and then sighed. "I had a vision. I think it was given to me by a powerful being but… that's not important. What is important is that I now know how to defeat Lord Deltoramina."

"What is it? Tell me."

"Sidney what I'm asking you to do is make the greatest sacrifice of all." Buffy looked away, towards Colossus. "I'm asking you to give up your ghosts…"

"Wha… what?"

"In my vision I saw that the only way to defeat Lord Deltoramina was to send him to a place called Oblivion. You know that right?" When Sidney nodded numbly the Slayer continued, "Well, you know that Lord Deltoramina is very powerful. During the time it takes for you to convert his body over to Oblivion he could escape your hold and return to his body. What I've come to realize is that we need something to hold him… or someone. In my vision I saw your Jack and Ann and Eve holding Deltoramina down and keeping him locked in your hold. I also saw them leaving with him as he went to Oblivion, trying to keep him from breaking free. You see, Sidney, if they don't go to Oblivion with him he'll escape from your hold and return to his body. The only way for us to send him to Oblivion is if your ghosts go with him…"

"That's the plan…"

"No," was all Sidney could manage.

Tears streamed down Sidney's face and used all the power she could muster to throw open the door to Oblivion. Then she grabbed the gossamer strings with her imaginary hands and pulled them hard.

"I'm sorry," she whispered to Jack, Ann and Eve. They looked at her then, feeling the cords tightening on their own bodies, and smiled at her. "I'm sorry!"

Deltoramina howled in rage as his spirit was ripped from his body and dragged to the door. His tails and legs thrashed to try to bring his soul back into his body, but it was futile. The forms of Jack, Ann and Eve dragged Deltoramina into the invisible portal Sidney had opened for them. Their forms now were truly ghostly, pale and translucent. They were nothing more then souls.

"NO! NOOOOOOOOOOOO!" Deltoramina screamed in his last breath.

"Oh yes," Jack's eerie voice screamed.

"DIE! DIE YOU SONOFABITCH!" Eve shouted.

"Pay back!" Ann cried.

Further away Jean and Kitty gasped and Colossus's eyes widened. They saw Jack, Ann and Eve carrying Deltoramina's soul away from his body. The ghosts were in their purest form— their souls— and everyone who was in the room could see them. Buffy watched them with a grim face for she had seen it before.

And then Sidney watched in his mind's eyes as the three ghosts dragged the demon king to the door to Oblivion. Sidney watched them sadly and her fingers itched to reach out and drag them back to Earth, but she knew that if she did that she would only be sucked into the door.

And she had so much to live for…

Jack smiled at her weakly as he began to fall into the door. Sidney cried out and reached for him, but Jack pushed her hand away. He winked at her and whispered her name one last time.

And then he was gone…

Then there was Death, in his innocent form, staring down at her with a not-so-innocent smile. He waved his glaive and pushed the doors to Oblivion shut with a load slam. He turned back to her and shook his head.

"You sacrificed a lot, Sidney. Your friends, your lover… but it is not enough. Because you opened the door of Oblivion— a most evil sin— I get to take your powers." Then he reached out and pressed a pale hand into her bosom. Then his face twisted and he yanked.

Sidney screamed in pain as her powers were ripped from her very being. She collapsed against the ground and withered in agony. She watched as the Grim Reaper removed his hand with a glowing gold orb in it. It was her power. He had taken it from her… forever.

"Goodbye, Sidney," Death said and smiled down at her. Then he disappeared, never to be seen by her again.

Sidney's head was pounding as she felt someone grab her arm. She was hauled up to her feet. Weakly, painfully, she raised her head and looked into Kitty's eyes.

"Are you like okay? You were screaming so badly… I thought Deltoramina had gotten to you," Kitty said, worriedly. Sidney saw that Kitty had dozens of cuts on her face and her leg looked a little out of whack. Other then that she looked fine.

Sidney smiled at her and pushed Kitty away lightly. "It's okay, Kitty. When I do a big spell like that I always scream." Kitty nodded but looked like she was going to press her more. Then Buffy was calling her over to help Jean stand.

Sidney turned away and looked over at Deltoramina's limp body. Where Jack, Ann and Eve had last stood before they were sent to Oblivion.

Oblivion… where they were nothing but air. She held back tears as she thought of them being nothing.

But then something gold glittering at the corner of her eyes. Gasping she turned and hurried over to it. As she neared the gold shimmer it took the form of a body. The body, though familiar, was shrouded in a holy gold light.

Jack…

"Jack…" Sidney whispered, reaching out for him. Jack smiled his Jack smile and took her in his strong, capable, ghostly arms. "But how…? You're in Oblivion and I… I lost my powers…"

"I had to see you one more time, Sidney, if only for a few seconds," Jack said in a voice that was his but somehow stronger, filled with power. He caressed her hands. "We only have a few seconds left, but I had to tell you you're so brave. What you did— I don't know if I could've. I want you to be happy and know that I love you."

"Jack, there's something I need to tell you. Something I didn't get to tell you before," Sidney opened her mouth to tell him what she had kept from him so he could save the world. What was her greatest sacrifice of all, but then she shook her head. "I love you, Jack. There will be only you."

"Goodbye, Sidney," Jack said and tears formed in Sidney's eyes. His body began to sparkle with the gold light and he was getting pale, dissolving.

"Jack—" Sidney began but her words were cut off by his lips. He cupped her chin and pressed his lips lightly against hers in a bittersweet goodbye. Jack's own tears fell from his eyes and dropped onto her cheeks. Sidney gave a small sob as she leaned into the kiss. She closed her eyes and her arms came up to encircle his shoulders.

But he had already disappeared.

Sidney opened her eyes and tears flowed down her cheeks as she stared at the place where her one and only love had been. "Goodbye, Jack. I love you and I shall cherish what we have together." Then she slumped to her knees.

Further off, Buffy pulled away from Colossus and looked into his big eyes. Without saying anything, Colossus leaned down and pressed his lips against hers. Buffy moaned softly and pressed herself up against him.

When the broke, Buffy smiled up at him and said, "You know something, you're the first boyfriend I've had that doesn't work for the military… or isn't a vampire… or isn't rebound."

"Thank you… I think…"

"I love you," she said, moving by the feeling of it. The certainty. "It happened so fast, so wild, but I love you. I love you and your tallness."

"That's nice." An actual smile came on Colossus's lips. "Because I love you, too. I love everything about you… even your shortness."

They laughed at one another and then leaned in to kiss against. Being in love was good, Buffy decided as they broke. Especially if you loved a man named Colossus—or better yet Peter.

Buffy pulled away from him and picked up her scythe. Together, the Slayer and her love made their way to the dead body of Lord Deltoramina. Buffy looked down at the demon king's beady black eyes and glowered at him. Then her eyes feel on the gold jewel in his forehead.

"I don't think you're gonna need this anymore," Buffy muttered and raised her scythe… well tried to anyway. She cursed and lowered her arm. It throbbed in pain. She looked down at it and saw the blood and felt the broken bones.

"Need some help?" Colossus asked and cupped her hand in his big one. Buffy smiled at him and together they raised her scythe.

"Why thank you," Buffy said as they brought the scythe down on Deltoramina's jeweled forehead.

As the scythe cracked the jewel open white light flew out of it. Buffy and Colossus were sent flying backward. The white light washed over the room and Buffy felt a sharp pain in her arm and heard a snap. For a moment her eyes were blinded by the light. Then she blinked and saw that the light had floated to the surface.

--&--

Above them Buffy's team— Willow, Xander, Ana, Nicola, Hannah, Dana Bridget, Ori, Andrew and Faith— stood with the X-Men— Scott, Evan, Logan, Tabitha and Rogue— and the Brotherhood— Gambit, Lance and Pyro— and the late Shibita's half-demon army as the Tora-Kone moved in on them.

But just as they lunged a white light sprung forth from the ground and covered the graveyard. The Tora-Kone screamed in pain as the light washed over them. Their bodies turned to dust as if the sunlight had hit them.

Rogue, who still had Gambit's head in her lap, was crying silently as Gambit drew in one last shaky breath before laying still and dead. She lowered her head and screamed, her fingers digging into the thick trench coat covering Gambit's body.

And then… and then she felt a warm light touching her cheek and she raised her head. The white light was now falling to ground like snow. It slid over Gambit and touched his wound. The blood still coming forth from the wound turned white and the bleeding, gaping hole healed so quickly it looked like someone had rewound time so that it had never happened.

Gambit blinked and rose off of Rogue's lap. He touched his stomach where the wound had once been and said in a confused voice, "Well, dat was weird." He turned to Rogue who was looking at him with wide eyes. "W'at's wrong, chere? Did you—hrmphh!" His words were cut off as Rogue jumped onto to him. They fell to the floor with Rogue

pressing kisses to his face and Gambit looking very happy.

Ori was blinking. She held out her hand and allowed the white light to touch her hand. The cut she had there disappeared. "Ah, cool! It heals stuff!" She turned to Pyro and saw that he had his head titled to the sky and his mouth open so that he could catch the white light on his tongue.

Ori chucked and said, "You know, I taste better." Pyro grinned and turned to her.

"I bet you do," he said and reached out for her. She went willingly into his arms and he lowered his head so he could test the theory.

Tabitha was grinning as the warmth slid down her body. She turned to Xander and saw that he seemed to staring off in the distance. Worriedly, she reached a hand out to him but then Xander's good eye rolled to the back of his head and he collapsed to the ground.

"XANDER!" Tabitha cried and lunged at him. She pressed her hands against his chest and was relieved to feel the strong and steady beating of his heart. Xander groaned and sat up. He turned his head to Tabitha who was looking at him with concern.

"That didn't feel too good," Xander muttered and rubbed his chin and then blinked his good eye before it finally widened. "Sweet Jesus on a cross." He said and reached for his eye patch.

Tabitha gasped as Xander removed the eye patch and saw another dark eye was in the socket. "Omigod! Xander, you have two eyes!"

Xander grinned a wicked-happy grin and caught Tabitha as she threw herself into his arms. "Yeah, baby, two-eyed-Xander is back in action! One-Eyed-Man has left the building!"

Logan was looking at the half-demons of the dead Shibita. Her right hand demon, a scaly green creature, stepped forward. Logan held out the sword he had clutched tightly in his hand a few moments ago. The demon accepted it.

"She died bravely," Logan told them and sensed their pride in their leader coming off in waves. "She died making sure everyone got away safely."

The half-demon nodded and brought the sword to his chest in recognition of a great leader. "She will be remembered for all of eternity. Never forgotten. The half-demon kind will sing songs about her for years to come."

Logan nodded and turned back to his own kind.

Dana, Bridget, Nicola, Ana, and Hannah were not celebrating. Their eyes, young though no longer innocent, were on the graveyard battlefield.

"We lost Charlotte and May," Bridget said sadly. "Without them we wouldn't have made it this far. We cannot forget them."

Dana was sitting on the ground, looking lost and confused. "Charlotte…" she said softly, "died because of me. I… I'll try to be as good… as she… had been." Her face was and pale and very, very cold.

"I caught it all on tape," Andrew whispered giddily. "The battle, the curse, the gift. It's all here." He raised his camera and saw that the white light had melted the area where the tape had been, ruining it. "Why God? Why?"

Willow smiled softly and looked skyward. She saw the dark clouds were breaking and that the moon had returned to its pale form. "Cool…" she sighed.

Scott glanced at Evan and Lance and said, "What about Jean? What about Buffy? Why aren't they coming up from the ground?"

"I hope Kitty's okay," Lance admitted softly.

"Man, I hope they're all okay," Evan retorted grimly.

--&--

"Cool beans…" Buffy muttered and stood. Her arm was healed, the bones snapped back in place. The cuts on Colossus's face were gone and so where Sidney's and Kitty's.

"I can walk by myself, Kitty," Jean said, smiling at Kitty. Then she turned to Buffy and asked, "Why were we all healed?"

"I think…" Buffy said slowly, considering it. Then she shrugged. "I think… maybe that jewel on Deltoramina's head was… was where he stored all… all the powers he stole from the Slayers."

Sidney moved over to Buffy and Colossus. Her eyes were tired and she looked so very thin. "Shouldn't we be leaving here? I mean, the others are probably worrying."

"Wait!" Kitty protested as everyone moved to the stairs. "What about the like Brotherhood? I saw them down here when I was kidnapped. We need to go look at them."

"Wow. What we miss?" said a new voice and they turned to see that Pietro, Wanda, Fred and Todd were making there way towards them. They had a few cuts and scarps on their faces but other than that they were unharmed.

Buffy blinked at them. "How did you guys get here?" she asked.

"We woke up in a weird stone room and followed this weird white light here," Pietro explained and then looked around. "Ah… I guess we picked the wrong side to fight on, huh?"

"Oh no, just the evil one," came Buffy's smarmy answer.

"I'm hungry," Fred said rubbing his large stomach. "It feels like I haven't eaten in weeks which is something I DON'T do."

"You haven't eaten weeks," Colossus replied with a smile. "You've been unconscious for weeks. Come on and we'll feed you." Fred grinned and moved over to Buffy as did Pietro.

The girl with dark hair streaked with red crossed her arms and glared at Buffy. "Who are you?" she demanded and Buffy almost laughed at her. "And how does my stupid brother know you?"

The green-skinned boy stood next to her and nodded, "Who are you people, yo?"

Pietro groaned and hit his head with his hand, "Wanda… Todd maybe now we shouldn't be arguing, okay?"

Buffy smiled and said, "Well Wanda, Todd— not to brag or anything— but I'm the reason you're standing there alive. See that evil, big thing over there? Yeah, I killed it." As the two teenagers' eyes widened she laughed.

Together, they turned and walked up the stairs leaving the bloodied, headless body of Jake and the dead one of Deltoramina behind. Buffy thought that it seemed to take longer to get up to the top of the steps then it had going down, but that could be just because she was so very tired…

Finally they made it into the graveyard. Buffy saw that the night sky had returned to its normal black-blue colour. Buffy drew in a deep breath of the air and grinned. It felt good to have that back in her lungs.

Jean grinned at Scott and rushed forward, calling his name. Scott's face broke into a smile and he moved forward. Jean jumped into his awaiting arms and pressed hasty kisses to his cheeks and then lips.

Kitty smiled at Lance and they embraced tenderly. Kitty buried her head in Lance's chest and Lance pressed a kiss to her hair. They looked up into each other eyes for a moment before they leaned in to kiss.

Buffy chuckled and turned to the four members of the Brotherhood who were watching the scene with wide eyes. "What the hell happened, right? I'll tell you guys all in the Institute." She turned back to Willow and Xander and Faith with a weary smile. "Come on guys, let's go."

They looped their arms together and walked into the night, forever changed. The half-demons looked at one another before shrugging and following the Slayer.

But…

"XANDER!" Buffy screamed a few feet away, "You have two eyes again! What happened?"

AN: yes. It's over. It is over. Well, we still have an epilogue for some loose strings, but this was the last chapter. I gave Xander his eye back. I like Xander with two eyes. So sue me. Anyway, see you at the epilogue!

Reviews

Bubbles: yeah… okay… Oo

Hellmouth2: I was sad for a little while. But this fic has been going on for over two years now. It's time for it to… rest… yes… sleep… sooo… sleepy.