This Chapter contains spoilers for the entire series of both Charmed and BTVS.
Ok, this is a pretty long chapter and it covers a lot of time, but I needed to get this out of the way do I could continue the storyline along. Basically it covers the rest of the seasons of the shows. It may be a little choppy and confusing, sorry but, I wanted to get through it quickly. The italicized stuff is show transcripts from BTVS. It belongs to Mutant Enemy and Josh Whedon. And are from the site the hell?" She asked as the world around her including the elders froze. "Who are you?"
"I'm the Angel of Destiny." He replied.
"And what do you want with me?" She asked.
"I take it you've heard of me." He replied smiling.
"You offered the Charmed ones a chance to change their destiny, to stop being witches." She replied. "Are you here with a similar offer for me?"
"No, not really. The Charmed ones fulfilled their destiny, you on the other hand have changed your already." He explained.
"What do you mean?" She asked confused.
"Last summer You were on a bus, you were meant to go to LA but, at the last minute you changed your mind." He began.
"I went to San Francisco instead." She finished for him. "But how does that change my destiny?"
"Destiny is a complex thing, hard to explain. Each action we take however small or large molds it. Not only our own but others as well, and not just the people directly tied to our lives, your destiny effects so many others." He explained.
"I know, sacred duty and all, but I went to LA I took care of the demon factory." She replied.
"I know, but When Christopher came back to change his brother's destiny I don't believe he knew how many others would be affected including your own." He replied.
"So he's the reason I didn't go to LA." Buffy said softly.
"Yes, you weren't drawn to San Francisco, but instead to him." He explained.
"Why?" She asked.
"That is a question that I can not answer, perhaps you knew him in a past life, or were meant to meet him in a future one but, All I do know is you weren't meant to find him in this one." He began. "We were afraid it would unbalance everything but, you have returning to the path you were meant to."
"So, then why are you here? I'm doing what I'm supposed to." She asked confused.
"You may think 'we' sit up there doing nothing and don't care what happens to you. But you would be very wrong. Your destiny is a very special one, even for a slayer. One many still are unsure you will be able to fulfil. But, I have faith in you Miss Summers, you prove time and again to be more than capable. And while I wish I could spare you the future pain your destiny will bring you, there is noone else to carry on for you if we were to allow you out of it. I however am here to offer you a very unique opportunity." He explained.
"And that would be?" She asked.
"To not change your own destiny, but to change another's." He replied.
"Ok, I'm confused." She began unsurely. "Why would I want to change someone else's destiny?"
"You may not understand now, but you will in the very near future." He explained. "I must warn you though, be careful in your decision for as I have explained each person's destiny effects many other."
"So, I don't have to decide now?" She asked.
"No, when you are ready I will find you." He replied. "But, be warned, you can only change the destiny of the living." He added cryptically before disappearing.
"Ah, I see the Angel of Destiny has left." One of the Elders commented as the world unfroze. "We to must be going."
"Good luck." Another added as the disappeared.
San Francisco A few months later:
"Are we sure about this?" Paige asked nervously.
"We talked about it, it's the only way." Phoebe replied.
"I know." Paige replied.
"So, let's get it over with." Piper declared nervously.
Sunnydale the next morning:
Buffy flopped down on a chair annoyed. "I'm bored.' She pouted.
"Buffy please, I need to finish these invoices." Giles said not even looking up from his work.
"Fine, ignore me." She grumbled glancing down at the newspaper spread on the table. "Oh god no." She said softly reading the headline. Beloved columnist and her sisters die in bazaar explosion at home. San Francisco's beloved local advice columnist Phoebe Halliwell, Club owner Piper Halliwell and their half sister former social worker Paige Mathews all died at home yesterday in a unexplained explosion. Although no bodies were found police are positive the Sister's were all inside when the explosion happened. Piper Halliwell's husband Leo Wyatt is also presumed dead. Leaving behind there two small children who were in the care of their grandfather Victor Bennett at the time. She dropped the paper as if it had burned abruptly standing.
"Is everything alright?" Giles asked glancing up from his paperwork.
"Yeah, um I just remembered I have to be somewhere." She replied rushing out the door.
"Kyle!" She screamed once she had reached the Hell mouths limits. After a few weeks of testing they had discovered exactly how close he could orb and found a somewhat secluded place for their meetings.
"You heard." he said sadly orbing in.
"So it's true then." She said dejectedly. She'd ran over hopping the whole way it had been a trick, that the paper had been wrong.
"Yes." He said sadly.
"How?" She asked.
"Zankou, they died stopping him from taking over the nexus, they had to destroy it and themselves in the process." He explained.
"What's going to happen to Chris and Wyatt?" She asked struggling to keep her tears at bay.
"We're not sure, noone was prepared for this." He replied. "The funeral's are tomorrow, I wont be going, I can't it's just to..." he trailed.
"I know." She replied sympathetically. She knew he still loved Paige. be warned, you can only change the destiny of the living. The angel of destiny's words rang in her head. "He said I would know, but I never saw it coming." She said furiously.
"None of us did." Kyle said unsteadily, I have to get back, things have been crazy since the news broke." She nodded not really paying attention anymore. She failed him, She promised she'd make sure Chris's future was better but, she'd let him lose his entire family.
Funeral at the Manor:
"This is a little to strange for me." Victor said quietly after another guest came over to console him.
"Try to act a little sadder dad." Phoebe whispered. "Your daughters are supposed to be dead, you should be grieving."
"It's hard to grieve for them when their throwing their own funeral." he whispered back.
"Try, we don't want to blow it now." Piper pleaded. "Where are the boys." Phoebe nodded her head in their direction.
"It's been hard on them,. There pretty confused." She said regretfully.
"I know, but it's for their own good to." Piper said determinedly. "I'm going to go find Leo." She said walking away.
"Remember act sad." Phoebe coached as she noticed someone else making their way over.
"You must be Victor." She said holding out her hand as he nodded. "I'm sorry for your loss."
"Thank you." he replied. "If you don't mind my asking, how did you know my girls?'
"Let's just say we had similar jobs." She replied her eyes wandering over the room until they found the boys. She smiled softly watching them.
"Who's that with your dad?" Paige asked glancing out of the kitchen.
"I don't know." Phoebe said straining to get a better look.
"Oh god, It's Buffy." Paige realized.
"What, where?" Piper asked shoving them aside so she could look. They all Ducked back into the kitchen when she glanced their way before making her way over to the boys.
Buffy had a nagging feeling in her gut that something wasn't right. She paused reaching the boys. Kneeling down to their level.
"Hey Wyatt." She smiled. "Remember me?" He smiled back at her. Leo shifted uncomfortable beside them with Chris in his arms as he gently rocked him trying to stop his crying.
"Hey little man, what do you have to be so sad about?" She asked standing and placing a gentle hand on his face. She smiled as he calmed down. "See, every things ok, your Daddy's just nervous that I'm gona figure out his little secret." She added quietly. She looked up meeting leo's startled gaze. "If I wasn't so happy your all alive I'd be kicking your asses right now." She said quietly.
"Buffy, I'm sorry we just didn't..." He began regretfully.
"Yeah well next time you fake your deaths just give a girl a little warning." She replied. "Don't worry your secrets safe with me. Oh yeah, you may want to know the guy talking to your father in law isn't human." She added turning and walking away. She paused as she passed the kitchen smiling at the girls who had been trying to discreetly watch her. "Piper, Phoebe, Paige." She greeted in a whisper before continuing out the door.
A few months later SF:
"What do you mean death is after Leo?" Phoebe asked with disbelief.
"And why would he warn us?" Paige asked confused.
"I don't know, but we have to stop him." Piper replied distraught.
"How?" Paige asked.
"I don't know, Phoebe you help Billie we'll deal with this." Piper ordered.
Just outside Sunnydale:
"So what's the big?" Buffy asked as Kyle orbed in.
"It's Leo," He began hurriedly. "Death is after him."
"Death, what is that? Wait do I even want to know?" She asked confused. "How do I stop it?"
"You can't stop it, the Angel of Death isn't evil, or good for that matter. It's probably the only completely neutral being." He explained.
"How is killing people not evil?" She demanded.
"He doesn't kill them, he knows when they will die though. He helps the persons soul move on after they die." He explained.
"So there's no way to stop him?" She asked defeatedly.
"Not really, the sisters are working on it though." He replied.
"You still haven't told her you've been watching them." She asked smiling softly.
'You make me sound like a stalker. But, no I haven't, you know I can't. It's against the rules, witches and white lighters aren't allowed to be together." He replied.
"Tell that to Paige, Wyatt and, Chris." Buffy said rolling her eyes. "Sometimes you just need to break a few rules...wait, that gives me and Idea."
San Francisco:
"Just read the spell." Piper demanded.
"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Phoebe asked concerned.
"No, but what else am I supposed to do? Just let death take my husband?" Piper asked near tears.
:We wont let him sweetie." Paige reassured her.
"Ok, let's do this." Phoebe declared determined.
Hospital:
"He's going into surgery soon." Kyle whispered replacing the chart in it's holder.
"Do you think this is the right thing to do?" Buffy asked nervously.
"It's a bit late for second thoughts." He replied.
"I know, I'll be right out." She said slipping through the door as Kyle stood outside keeping watch. "Leo." She called softly approaching his bed.
"Buffy." He said opening his eyes confused. "What are you doing here?"
"Well, you stayed with me when I died, thought I'd return the favor." She replied nervously.
"You heard." Leo said drowsily.
"It'll be ok, I don't even think it's going to hurt." She said comfortingly. "This is sort of my fault. If it wasn't for me you might not even be mortal."
"What do you mean, the elders did that." Leo replied confused.
"Well, I heard they were gona punish you, for the whole avatar thing and I sort of made a bet with them. You see I still had that dagger, the one with Gideon's powers in it. I casually mentioned how bad it could be if it fell into the wrong hands, well anyways I bet them if they gave you a choice that you'd choose Piper and your boys over them. They didn't think you would. Anyways you did and I won, though I gave them the dagger anyways. But that's another story." She rambled.
"Thank you, but this still isn't your fault." Leo replied struggling to stay awake.
"Maybe not, but what happens next definitely is." She replied ignoring his look of confusion. "Do you trust me?"
"Of course I do." He replied groggily.
"Your going into surgery any minute now, and you will die on the table. Don't fight it." She insisted.
"What do you mean?" He asked confused. They both turned hearing a soft knocking on the door.
"There coming, I gotta get out of here, I'm not technically allowed to be in here." She explained. "Remember, don't fight it." She added hurrying out the door."
Manor:
"What do you mean we can't stop his death?" Piper asked furiously.
"It's not up to me anymore." The angel explained.
"You're a fricken Angel of Destiny, what do you mean it's not up to you?" Piper demanded.
"The decision has already been made." She replied. "It's happening now, as we speak."
"Oh god Leo." Piper exclaimed as Paige orbed them to the hospital.
Hospital:
"Mrs Halliwell?" The Surgeon asked approaching the group. Piper stood with Phoebe and Paige's help, bracing herself for the worst. "It was touch and go for a while, we lost him for a few minutes but, we brought him back and he appears to be recovering nicely. It's to early to say but, I believe he'll make a full recovery."
"Thank god, can I see him?" Piper asked relived.
"Once he's out of recovery we'll bring him back to his room and then you can visit for a few minutes. I'll have a nurse come get you." He replied before walking away.
"How?" Paige asked.
"Who care's, Leo's gona make it." Phoebe said triumphantly.
Leo's room:
"I know you not asleep." Buffy said quietly sitting on the edge of his bed.
"I still don't understand how this all happened." Leo said sitting up. Buffy explained the Angel of Destiny's offer to her.
"I realized I could use it to save you." She explained. "I realized I could stop your death and then I thought why stop it, so I had the Angel make you a white lighter again, and I traded the dagger to the elders in return for making the Charmed ones and you son's the only charges your responsible for. This way you get to stay with your family and protect your sons. Sorry for taking away your normal life though."
"Somehow I don't think I'll miss it." Leo replied laughing.
"So, your just gona have to pretend to be all hurt and in pain until you get out of here." Buffy explained. "Even though your not, to the staff here you appear to be hurt still, a nice little spell the elders cooked up, you know gotta keep magic all secret."
"I think I can handle that." Leo replied.
Sunnydale two years later:
"Buffy." Zander called concerned shaking her slightly.
"It's no use Zan, she's been like that since Glory took Dawnie." Willow said sadly. "I'm trying to find a spell to help her."
"Any luck?" Giles asked hopefully.
"Not yet." She said sadly returning to the book she was flipping through.
Inside Buffy's mind:
She failed her, Glory had taken her sister and now she watched a never ending loop of herself promising to protect her.
"What are you doing here?" A voice called from behind her. She spun around shocked.
"Chris." She gasped. "Your not real." She realized.
"No more than this is." Chris replied moving to stand beside her.
"I failed her, just like I failed you." She said sadly.
"You didn't fail anyone, not yet anyways." He replied placing a hand on her shoulder.
"What do you know, your just a figment of my imagination." She said defeatedly.
"So is all this, it never happened." He shot back.
"I couldn't save her and now Glory will kill her." She continued sadly. "Death is my gift, or so I've been told."
"You can still save her, but not if you stay here." He replied.
"I can't go back, I can't lose her too." She sobbed. He wrapped his arms around her. "Everyone I love eventually dies or leaves me. My mom, Angel, you and now Dawn. I'm sick of being alone."
"Hey, you didn't lose me, you can't remember." He said soothingly. "Your never alone because, I'm always with you."
"It's not the same, I miss you so much." She sobbed.
"I know, but you can't stay here forever. Eventually you have to leave and then what?" He asked. "If you go now you still have a chance. You can still save her."
"What if I can't?" She asked desperately.
"What if you can?" He countered. "Come on, you need to get going. You know what you have to do." She nodded as he gently brushed the tears from her cheeks. "I hate it when you cry. You ready to go?" She nodded hesitantly wishing she could stay here wrapped safely in his embrace forever.
"How?" She began but he placed a finger to her lips silencing her.
"Close your eyes." He commanded she did as he placed a gentle kiss on her lips.
"Do you think it's working?" Zander asked staring at Buffy.
"I'm not sure." Willow began as Buffy awoke gasping.
San Francisco:
"What's wrong Phoebes?" Piper asked as Phoebe stared distractedly into space.
"I had this strange premonition this morning, it was girl on a tower being cut. I'm trying to figure out what it means." Phoebe replied.
"Did you ask Leo?" Piper asked.
"Yeah, he went to see the elders." Phoebe replied. "I'm going to pick Mel up from daycare, call me when he gets back."
Sunnydale:
DAWN: Buffy ... no!
BUFFY: Dawnie, I have to.
DAWN: No!
BUFFY: Listen to me. Please, there's not a lot of time, listen.
The camera pulls out on the two of them. Buffy holds Dawn by the upper arms and continues talking to her, although we don't hear the words. Dawn begins to cry. Lightning continues to crackle behind them.
Cut back to close shot of Buffy. She strokes the side of Dawn's face, then kisses her on the cheek. Dawn continues to cry.
Buffy turns. In slow-motion, she runs down the platform as Dawn stays there crying.
Buffy swan-dives off the end of the platform and into the portal.
Dawn watches, sobbing.
Buffy falls into the portal and hangs there motionless, making expressions of pain.
Long shot from below of the portal writhing and spitting.
Shot of Buffy's face inside the portal.
Begin a lengthy voiceover of Buffy's final words to Dawn.
BUFFY VOICEOVER: Dawn, listen to me. Listen.
Shot of Dawn still crying on the platform.
BUFFY VOICEOVER: I love you. I will always love you.
Shot of Buffy in the portal.
BUFFY VOICEOVER: But this is the work that I have to do.
Long shot of the portal as it shrinks to nothingness and disappears. The sun begins to rise.
Cut to below. Willow and Tara, holding each other up, walk forward. Behind them we can see Giles coming forward too, and Xander holding Anya in his arms. They all walk forward, staring at something we can't see.
BUFFY VOICEOVER: Tell Giles ... tell Giles I figured it out. And, and I'm okay.
The camera pulls back and we see they're all looking at Buffy's lifeless body lying amid the debris. In the background we see Spike trying to come forward, falling to the ground as the sunlight hits him.
Cut to closer shot of Spike, his face bloodied.
Cut to closer shot of Willow and Tara as Willow begins to cry.
BUFFY VOICEOVER: And give my love to my friends.
Shot of Xander and Anya looking sadly at Buffy. Anya lowers her head to Xander's shoulder.
BUFFY VOICEOVER: You have to take care of them now.
Shot of Giles looking sad.
BUFFY VOICEOVER: You have to take care of each other.
Giles begins to cry. Cut to Spike with his hands over his face, sobbing.
BUFFY VOICEOVER: You have to be strong.
Cut to Dawn coming slowly down the stairs, holding her sides, spotting the others.
BUFFY VOICEOVER: Dawn, the hardest thing in this world ... is to live in it.
Dawn begins to cry again.
Cut to Buffy giving her speech to Dawn a few minutes ago.
BUFFY: Be brave. Live.
Cut back to Dawn on the stairs.
BUFFY VOICEOVER: For me.
San Francisco:
"What's wrong?" Piper asked concerned as Leo orbed in.
"Kyle?" Paige said shocked as he orbed in after him.
"Where's Phoebe?" Leo asked.
"Right here." She said walking into the living room. "Kyle? What's going on? Did you find out about my premonition?"
"Yes, but is wasn't something you were supposed to stop." Leo began sadly.
"What's going on?" Piper demanded.
"It's Buffy, she died a half hour ago." Kyle stated emotionally.
Cut to: graveyard, day. It's sunny and pretty with lots of trees and grass. Zoom in slowly on a headstone. A small bunch of flowers lies on the grass in front of it.
The headstone reads:
BUFFY ANNE SUMMERS
1981-2001
BELOVED SISTER
DEVOTED FRIEND
SHE SAVED THE WORLD
A LOT
Two years Later:
BUFFY
(to the girls) Keep the line together! Drive them to the edge! We can't let them do—
Buffy looks down to see that a Turok-Han has stabbed her with a sword from behind, piercing her abdomen. She stumbles forward and collapses to the ground, face-first.
FAITH
Buffy! (goes to Buffy's side)
BUFFY
(leans up on her elbows, weakly) Hold the line. (hands the scythe to Faith)
Faith takes the scythe and goes back into the battle as Buffy stays in place on the floor, grunting in pain.
The first comes over in her form laughing as Buffy tries to block out the pain.
"Big bad slayers not so tough now." It laughed Changing forms. "You failed again Buffy." She looked up seeing the form she'd been dreading it would take.
"Chris." She whispered quietly trying not to let it affect her.
"What's the matter, aren't you glad to see me?" It laughed. "Maybe not, you did let me die, just like your letting them die."
"Your not him." She declared gathering her strength.
BUFFY
(through gritted teeth) I want you... (sits up) to get out of my face. (stands)
Rona sees Buffy standing and throws the scythe to Buffy. Buffy catches it and swings it with a mighty force, knocking three Turok-Han off the cliff at once. Faith find renewed strength and kicks her assailants off of her as well. Faith takes out a few Turok-Han, as does another slayer. Vi takes out one after another after another. Kennedy disarms one and dusts another. Buffy knocks one off the cliff and kills one with the scythe. Spike gasps and stumbles backward away from the fight as he clutches his chest, then his burned hand.
SPIKE
Oh, bollocks.
A bright blue light shoots up from the amulet, knocking a hole in the ceiling, going up through the floor of the Principal's office past Willow and through to the open sky. The light turns a warm orange color.
SPIKE
Buffy!
BUFFY
Spike!
Before Buffy can go to his side, the amulet refracts the orange light out into the hellmouth like rays of sunshine—but with concentrated intensity like a laser. Buffy stares at Spike. As the amulet works its magic, the Turok-Han are dusting throughout the hellmouth. The ground starts shaking. Faith calls out to the others.
FAITH
Everybody out, now!
Outside the crater formally known as Sunnydale:
"What do we do now?" Faith asked turning to Buffy.
"First we reverse the spell." She put up a hand before anyone could protest.
"But, I don't know how." Willow began.
"Don't worry, I have that part covered." She replied "Kyle!" She called.
"Um B?" Faith asked confused startled as a man appeared in shimmering blue lights.
"Tell them it's time." She said he nodded leaving without a word. "Don't ask." She said looking at their puzzled faces.
"So, we turn mini slayers back into mini potentials then what?" Faith asked.
"Why are you asking me?" Buffy said turning to Faith. "You're the slayer now."
"What do you mean?" Faith asked confused.
"I'm done, I fulfilled my destiny and then some, it's up to you to save the world now." She replied.
They stayed with Angel in LA for a while. Faith eventually took of for Cleveland, to take care of the new active hell mouth, Willow went with her as her watcher. Zander went with Giles to England to help scrounge up any resources the council had left there. Things were tense for Buffy and Angel neither really knowing how to act around the other. Buffy had Kyle use memory dust on Dawn making her forget about her and the life she'd once led, finding her a family somewhere safe where she could be a normal teenage girl. That was the hardest decision she'd ever made. Noone had understood, except Angel. Soon after that she left the Hotel, LA and her friends quietly one night, never to be heard from again.