Chapter 1- Gone
Buffy gazed at the gaping crater that used to be Sunnydale. The tears were
streaming down her face in silent waves. 'Buffy we won" Faiths voice echoed
happily from behind her. Buffy turned to face her former enemy and now ally.
The oldest and most powerful Slayer's face was grim and reflected in grief. 'But
at what cost" her voice said savagely the overwhelming pain she was in came to
surface in her eyes. 'A handful of disillusioned girls" remembering those new
slayers who had died. She turned to Xander and her face softened 'Anya". Her
body sifted back to stare at the remains of Sunnydale. 'Buffy" Willow said softly
coming forward to stand by her friend. 'We still won and its over" her face
glowed with a new confidence and control. Buffy's eyes wandered into the
distance. Her voice started to crack as she whispered 'Spike didn't make it out.
I told him it was finished, I told him I loved him, and I held his hand as he
started to burn up." At the end of her speech she started to cry. Dawn was
crying hysterically while Faith and Andrew tried to comfort her. Willow and
Xander wrapped their arms around Buffy in a tight hug. They better than
anyone understood what it was like to lose someone you loved completely.