Chapter 40:

It had been hours and Buffy was staring into the distance. She hadn't moved since she watched her sister be taken away by Glory. Saffron was pacing. She was worried about both of her cousins. She could barely feel Buffy's emotions, it was as if they were very far away from her and she was getting worried. Panicked.

"Buff? Buffy? Please come back to us, Buff" She pleaded again, kneeling in front of her and taking Buffy's hand in hers. She winced as it stung her hand, but she wouldn't let go, "I need you back Buffy. I can't do this alone, it's all of us. The three of us are only strong when we're together… I know you felt it in the RV too" She tried again. Buffy stayed, unblinking as the others discussed what was best to do for her. Saffron got up and started to pace again in silence as the others tried to figure out whether to move her or keep her where she was. Spike walked up to Saff, pulling her towards the back of the room to stand with him as everyone started to debate more urgently. He whispered several reassurances, telling her she was strong, too good for any of this and that they would find Dawn and sort the Slayer out. Each reassurance was punctuated with a kiss. He was with her for the long haul and he was comforting her the best way he knew how. His eyes widened as he had an idea. Spike stalked over to Buffy, grabbed her by the shoulders and shook her violently.

"Buffy!" He shouted, "Oi, rise and bloody shine Slayer!" He shouted before landing a hard strike across Buffy's face. But instead of Buffy reacting, Spike clutched his head in pain because she's human. Saffron's eyes widened and pulled him back, shaking her head, but sent a wave of pain relief over him so his headache would subside. She didn't chastise him, she knew he was desperate to help, but Xander couldn't feel intentions like she could.

"Are you insane!? We could be dealing with neurological damage here. You want to kill her?"

"We have to bloody do something! I can't just sit here watching. You waste time with kid gloves. I'm willing to wager, when all is said and done, Buffy likes it rough… much like her cousin" Spike couldn't help adding, a glint in his eye. He was riling Xander up. What had happened to the understanding they'd had only several hours earlier?

"Spike! Shut up!" Saffron shouted, giving him a look. This so wasn't the time. This was when Xander landed a punch on the side of Spike's face. They started grapple with each other in the middle of the room. Saff jumped in to try to separate them, "Will you both bloody cool it!?" she shouted, but instead got Xander's elbow in her eye for the trouble. As she cried out, Willow had had enough. She took charge.

"Separate" An unseen force pushed Spike, Xander and Saff apart to separate corners of the room. The whole room stared at Willow in surprise as she gave them a determined glare, "Buffy's out. Glory has Dawn. Sometime real soon, she's gonna use Dawn to tear down the barrier between every dimension there is. So, if you wanna fight, do it after the world ends, okay?" Spike glared at Xander while he went over to apologise to Saff. It had been an accident. She shook her head in understanding as Xander walked to stand with Anya and Spike took his place by Saff's side. Tara started to chant again and Saff clutched her head, trying not to bring attention to how much pain and confusion she felt. It would only upset Willow to know it was coming from Tara.

"Uh... Will?" Spike asked as Willow looked at him as if telling him to spit it out, "Now, uh, don't turn me into a horned toad for asking, but... what if we come across Ben?" Spike asked, keeping one eye on his girl as he asked. She seemed to be in pain and he wasn't sure how much more she could take.

"I-I don't think a doctor's what Buffy needs right now" Willow decided.

"Well, yeah, especially not one who also happens to be Glory" Spike added, looking at the room where everyone seemed confused beyond words.

"What?!"

"Right here, before your very eyes. Ben came, turned into Glory, snatched the kid and vanished, remember? You do remember?" Spike explained, frowning at the group before turning to Saff, "Tell them, love!"

"Tell them what?" Saff said, clearly as confused as the rest of the room, "I already told you, I just can't feel anything from him, it could mean anything"

"For someone that has access to everyone's emotions on a whim, you are a bloody horrible judge of character, Honeysuckle" Spike groaned, exasperated at his girl. Saff stuck her two fingers up at him as he tried to find at least someone else in the room that had seen Ben turn into Glory. Everyone else echoed Saffron's confusion at his words which made him roll his head back in annoyance before speaking up again, "Is everyone here very stoned? Ben. Glory. He's a doctor, she's the Beast. Two entirely separate entities sharing one body. It's like a bloody sitcom. Surely you remember?"

"So you're saying Ben and Glory... have a connection?"

"Yes, obviously, but what kind?"

"He likes to wear dresses too? I suppose he has the legs for it" Saff said, as if deep in thought about Ben's legs. Spike started speaking, but paused and looked back at her, a frown clear on his face. When had she been bloody looking?

"No, love, listen carefully" He started speaking very slowly, turning to her, clearly frustrated. She swatted at him, annoyed that he was acting as if she was stupid, "Ben is Glory"

"Ben knows Glory? It doesn't make any sense, he came to help us…" She scrunched her forehead up, trying to comprehend what he was saying.

"Now really had to be the moment your seventh-bleeding-sense started going on the blink?" he said, tapping her head as if he was checking if her powers were on, he rolled his eyes clasping his hand in hers to show her his memory of the last hour.

"Ben is Glory!?" She shouted, as if it had been the first time the revelation had occurred. Spike rolled his eyes. Finally.

Eventually, they decided that Xander and Spike would go to the hospital to take Giles and then go to Glory's house to check things out. Willow was going to do a spell to help Buffy while Saff was going to go with Anya to help set the spell up and take care of Tara.

"Can't you come with us, pet? I'll go round the bloody bend if I'm stuck with Harris" Spike asked, checking Saff's eye out that was slowly bruising.

"I don't fancy getting another black eye for my collection, I've already fucked both my hands up!" She explained holding her hands up as evidence, "Besides, I'd only slow you down. No super-strength to speak of here"

"So why am I being stuck with the whelp?"

"Man-power, babe" She winked at Spike, letting Xander, who was listening in, puff his chest out despite the pressure the gang was under.

Willow left Tara in the capable hands of Saffron and Anya. She was going to explore Buffy's mind and try to help get her out of her catatonic state. Saff hugged her friend and wished her luck before turning back to the women still in the kitchen. There was a silence as they all worried about their individual thoughts, the only sound was Tara babbling every so often. Anya frowned at her and looked as if she was trying to make up her mind about something.

"Should we make her some food? Will she be hungry?" Anya asked, looking from Tara to Saff.

"I think you'd be a really good mother, An" She smiled at her friend who beamed at her and nodded. In fact, Saff knew she would be a good mother. She had seen it.

"Yes, I am probably the perfect temperament" Anya bobbed her head.

"Let's make a PB&J and see if she'll have it" Saff suggested, looking around the cabinets for the ingredients and passing them to Anya.

"Yes! The food of the apocalypse!" An shouted, "Would you like one?" she inquired as Saff sat down on the breakfast stool in the ex-vengeance demon's shared apartment. Tara started to spin slowly on the stool next to her.

"Thanks for asking, but, uh, no. I'm too nervous I don't think I could keep anything down" Saff said, twisting the silver ring on her index finger.

"Yes, Xander told me I should offer but I'm glad you said no because it would mean more work for me"

"Anya, if anyone ever tells you that you're not meant to be here, don't listen to them. You're a good friend and a good person" Saff said genuinely as Anya's face lit up. Saff was still staring down at her hands, now trying to seriously think about what fish-features' words had meant. She was missing something.

"You believe I'm like a human person?" Anya stopped spreading peanut butter to look up with a smile. Most people brushed her off for not acting human enough, she had secretly been insecure about it but Saffron could tell.

"You are a human person, Anya! Now give T the sandwich"

"I see! You were flattering me so I would do the grunt work! Well I'm not easily fooled! I've inflicted vengeance for less!" Anya exclaimed but still cut the crusts off the sandwich and set the plate in front of Tara.

Throughout the afternoon, the two women tried their best to distract Tara from trying to leave and making a fuss while Willow explored Buffy's mind. Spike had called Saffron from a payphone, explaining that Giles was improving when they left him at the hospital but nothing was left in Glory's place when they went. He promised he would be back with her as soon as he could ditch the whelp back at the hospital.

xoxoxo

Buffy was back with them again thanks to a little magic and Willow's friendship. Everyone had met in the Magic Box for one of their infamous before-the-apocalypse pep talks. Except the mood this time wasn't so enthusiastic for this fight. The worry about Dawn was blanketing the room. It was so strong it was almost suffocating Saffron. Giles was reading from a book that detailed the ritual out loud as she tried to compose herself, "And now the key is human, is Dawn, 'The blood flows, the gates will open. The gates will close when it flows no more'... when Dawn is dead"

"Why blood? Why Dawn's blood? I mean, why couldn't it be a lymph ritual?"

"Cos it's always got to be blood" Spike said, and Saff put her less-damaged hand on his back comfortingly. His words were profound and she wanted to show he could carry on, even despite Xander's put-downs. When the blood is drawn there will be no time to mourn...

"We're not discussing dinner right now"

"Blood is life, lackbrain. Why do you think we eat it? It's what keeps you going. Makes you warm. Makes you hard. Makes you other than dead. Course it's her blood" Saff could feel that Spike was angry that it was Dawn that was being targeted. He was fond of the bit. He felt helpless and she tried her best to soothe him, keep in contact to absorb his worry. Show she was right there next to him as she knew he was next to her. Giles started to say something and his emotions had peaked Saff's attention.

"I don't wanna hear it." Buffy had cut Giles off, knowing he wanted to sacrifice Dawn for the greater good.

"I understand that…"

"No, you really don't fucking get it do you?" Saffron shouted, "We're connected to her. The three of us, we're all connected" The Key, The Chosen and The Sight...

"We are not talking about this" Buffy glared at Giles and started to turn away, with Saff and Spike about to follow her.

"Yes, we bloody well are! If Glory begins the ritual, if we can't stop her…"

"Come on. Say it. We're bloody well talking about this. Tell me to kill my sister!" Buffy shouted and Saffron started to struggle with the tension in the room. It was suffocating her.

"She's not your sister. Or your cousin"

"She fucking is!" Saffron shouted through her pain at his words, rounding on Giles. Spike held her back, pulling her against his side. He stroked the side of her face softly, trying to help calm her down. He was always in awe of how she could go from normal to ready for a fight in seconds. Buffy looked over to Saffron, knowing her cousin would support her.

"No. She's not" Buffy said, "She's more than that. She's me"

"She's us" Saffron managed to agree, letting Buffy speak to the room. Spike continued to show his support through his embrace, keeping her firmly against his side.

"If the ritual starts, every living creature in this and every other dimension imaginable will suffer unbearable torment and death. Including Dawn" Giles cut through Buffy's speech.

"We have a choice" Saffron said. A phrase she had heard many times in the past year. She only really got it now. This was it.

"Yes and this is the bloody choice you need to make. For the good of everyone"

"No, G. It's something else. It's Buffy's choice"

"My choice is the last thing she'll see is me protecting her. I'm sorry. I love you all, but I'm sorry"

"The chosen, the sight and the key. I have to protect Dawn above anything. The chosen must choose, I have to support her... to protect Dawn. And besides, I think she's right" Saff spoke firmly from somewhere within.

After confirming, again, the plan they had all gathered back in the magic box later that day. They had collected all the weapons they could find. They had discussed each element, some arguments still played out as they walked out of the door. What they were attempting was dangerous and they may not all survive. But they were willing. For Dawn. Spike started to stalk out after the others but Saffron pulled him back, crashing her lips into his, kissing him quickly without warning.

"I know the adrenaline's rushing to your… head, love, but I don't think it's the time…" He tailed off as she met his lips again. A single kiss before she explained herself.

"Look, I think it's my job to protect her. If I'm ever not able to protect her properly…" Saff tailed off, before willing herself to continue. She had to, "I can trust you. Just you. Would you- would you promise me you'll protect her?"

"Always, love. You don't need to ask" He shrugged, turning to leave, his hand now in her (only slightly) less hurt one. But Saff paused, unmoving.

"Please promise, it's important" She looked up at him, willing him to feel how serious this was. He looked back, searching her grey eyes. He nodded once.

"Promise" He whispered, pressing another soft kiss to her lips. Sealed with a kiss.

xoxoxo

They followed Tara closely, stopping in the part of Sunnydale that had the massive metal crane-like structure in the middle of the Industrial buildings. How come they had never noticed it before? Oh right, it was another pop-up demon shop. As they said a few last words of encouragement to each other, they stared up at the looming metal structure. This was it. The battle was now.

Saff was almost knocked off her feet as she stared up with the others. A message. All she could see were quick flashes of words and scenes. But it was all so clear. The truth. The roles. It was as if it was something inside her. That she had known all along. The final piece.

A Key.

A sacrifice.

A protector.

Make the choice. It is the gift.

Saff snapped out of it, steadying herself against Spike, who quickly took on her weight with no question. He wished the powers would leave his girl alone. She moved out of his hold slowly, still clutching her head as she kissed him softly on the cheek. She then turned to Buffy, grabbing her attention and pulling her away from the others as she spoke, "Buff, I need to talk to you. In private" she held both of her cousin's hands, showing her the vision. They knew what must be done. The first slayer had told Buffy that death is the gift. Saff's eyes welled with tears, but Buffy seemed determined. It was as if it had been obvious the entire time. The feeling was within them both. They knew it. It had to go this way. For Dawn. Buffy nodded, she squeezed her cousin's hand before asking if she was sure she wanted to come with her to try the plan they had discussed earlier to defeat Glory. Buffy was worried about how this could go. Saffron nodded, it was dangerous but she had to try. Willow left to do the spell to bring Tara back to her which weakened the Hell-God and luckily brought Tara's mind back with ease. Glory recovered and beat the Buffy bot to the ground, Willow had managed to get her hands on Warren's blueprints and made one of their own for their plan. The real Buffy ran off to go and face Glory as the others tried to fight against the others on the ground. Saffron followed her, trying to calm her breathing, hoping beyond everything she could do this.

"You're not the brightest God in the heavens are you?" Buffy said, hitting Glory from behind as the God stared at the Buffybot. She stumbled back towards Saffron. Saff took the chance while the God was distracted and grabbed her wrist faltering slightly at what she was supposed to do. Glory swatted her off like a bug but Saffron quickly took both of her wrists, not hesitating to influence her this time. She closed her eyes and felt pain. Unimaginable pain. Glory started screaming and falling to the floor. Saffron started to stumble, letting go of the Hell-God. She'd never attempted anything like this and it was weakening her fast. Buffy ran and held Saff up as Glory sunk to her knees.

"I have had enough of you magic bitches with your ugly, unmanicured fingernails trying to take away my beauty and strength and most importantly my key!" She whined from the floor.

"Get fucked you annoying, whiny little twat!" Saff rolled her eyes as Glory got to her feet shakily. This was her small way of protecting Dawn. She wished she could help Buffy drop-kick her into next week but it wasn't her role.

"I am a God!" Glory shrieked, throwing a tantrum as Buffy hit her again from behind, gaining her attention.

"Oh, I see you for what you are, fuck off!" Saffron flipped her off with her nicely painted black fingernails before walking away to the others. Buffy nodded a thank you to her cousin as she continued to fight the weakened Hell-God, landing a well-executed roundhouse kick knocking her down once more. Saffron stumbled to where the others were in time to see a brick bounce off Spike's head. Saff was by his side in the blink of an eye, rubbing his head and taking the pain from him the best she could. She knelt down with the others, trying to shelter herself from the ongoing battle.

The fight was hard and they appeared to be being pushed back by Glory's minions. Spike had recovered quickly from the brick to his head and Saffron was still a little bit shaky after her run-in with Glory. Saffron could feel that it was nearly time and she could tell both Buffy and Dawn felt it too. Saffron got to her feet at the same time as Spike, she turned to him as they both stared into each other's eyes. He took her cheek in his hand, crashing his lips to hers. She reached, her hands sliding up his back as their kissed deepened. Their kiss was intense and meaningful in ways they didn't understand. They moved against each other, clinging desperately to their love. Their kiss. For a brief moment, they were the only ones in the world, there was no battle raging around them, there was only them and their love for each other. Tears rolled down Saff's face as she knew what may happen at the end of this fight and Spike felt it too. This made the kiss deepen further, Spike moving a hand into her hair at the base of her skull as she balled his t-shirt in one hand slipping her hand under his shirt needing to feel his skin under her hands. They broke apart, breathless as they were snapped back into reality. They needed to fight.

Saffron knew that what was coming next would change everything. The sacrifice had to be made and all three of them would have to be together before it did. The vision had said that-

Saffron couldn't finish her thought. She had blacked out, almost smacking her head against the crates they were hiding behind but Spike held her up and slowly lowered her to the ground, leaning her against the crates, glad she hadn't had a hit to her head along with the black eye. She collapsed; her strength may be promising but she had just tried to inflict unimaginable pain on a Hell-God. Something she would have to feel as well. No human pain tolerance could live up to that of a God. Could it?

He couldn't care less about the fight anymore, she was hurt. He tried her best to wake her up, make her comfortable. But he didn't have much chance to look after her as Willow's voice was suddenly echoing around his head.

"Someone's up there with Dawn" Willow's voice said and when he looked up from his unconscious girlfriend's face, he saw that this was true, someone was up there with the bit, "You need to get up there"

"Saff's out cold. I can't leave her"

"You're the only one strong enough, Spike. We trust you" Willow spoke on behalf of herself and Tara. He looked at the crowd blocking his path and then at Saffron. He didn't want to leave her side, but then he remembered. Their conversation in the magic box before they left. As if Willow had read Spike's mind, knowing he was ready to protect Dawn, she shouted "Go!" and somehow managed to part all the people like the red sea, giving him a direct path up to Dawn.

xoxoxo

Dawn was tied up at the edge of the structure, a dress she would never be seen dead in hung on her frame loosely. She was scared, she trusted her sisters, but she was scared. Her heart quickened when she saw Spike, hope sparking back in her chest. When Spike made it to the top he ran straight towards Dawn and started to untie her. Doc creeped towards them and he was waving a knife. Spike stood defensively in front of Dawn, ready to protect her with all the strength at his disposal.

"You don't come near the girl, Doc" He stated, the conviction behind his words were unmistakeable.

"There's not a soul anywhere on you. Why do you even care?" he asked, genuinely confused.

"I made a promise to a lady" Spike said throwing himself at Doc, willing to fight until the last. For Dawn and his girl.

Spike had dropped down with a sickening thud, having been thrown over by Doc, but he rushed to his feet in time to meet Saffron's eyes. She was awake and her cheeks were rosy and full of colour. It was the first time he had seen her full of such life. Her skin was perfect, not a mark on her. Seeing her walking towards him made him smile. He stared until the corners of his eyes started to go fuzzy, imprinting this picture of her in his mind. She rushed to his side, holding him up.

"I always knew you were a good man, Spike" She said, a proud smile on her face. His heart swelled and he almost felt… human. She continued, "You did that for our family…" The look was back. He forgot the carnage around them as he savoured the glow of the proud look on her face. It was precious to him.

"Our family?" He asked, looking at her wide-eyed.

"You, me, Dawn… everyone here. Family, they're yours as much as they are mine" She whispered, looking into his eyes to stop him arguing. He wasn't going to. He felt it. She looked behind her as she saw Buffy fighting her way to the top of the structure. Shit. It's now. "I have to go!" She said, starting to pull away and run towards the tower as Buffy threw Doc over the side easily. Spike still had hold of her wrist and pulled her back, looking into her eyes deeply as he said, "Careful, love"

"I'm not the one that just fell from the Sunnydale's answer to the Eiffel tower" she shot back, smiling that smile he loved. The one that said everything's going to be okay. He helped hold off the people attacking them as she rushed to reach Buffy. Her face changed; she was scared. But she knew what had to happen. She climbed to the top of the structure with ease, using her hands for leverage. She made it. Just in time.

The scoobies, and Spike, all stopped dead. They were all staring up at the three girls at the top of the structure. The glowing green portal started to expand as they realised Dawn's blood must have been spilt. It all went quiet at the bottom of the structure, all any of them could do was watch in a cold silence. It was as if the whole scene was running in slow motion. They saw the two older girls talking animatedly before Saffron moved to bring Dawn away from the very edge. The three girls spoke together, not even Spike could hear what they were saying. They were pulled into a hug by Buffy. All three of them felt a cold chill of the wind as they stood balancing on the platform. Buffy started to launch herself towards the edge, an earth-shattering scream rang out from the top of the structure as Saffron started to drop shortly after her. Buffy braced herself as she fell towards the portal, but something in the corner of her eye made her glance to her left. Saff. She reached with her left hand to take Saff's. Both the sacrifice and the protector. They gripped each other's hands tightly. They plummeted together, reaching the green portal and closing it, purple and silver light crackling through the air like electricity. Their sacrifice for Dawn. For the world.

All the others could do was watch. The horror reflected on each of their faces as their eyes were fixed on the girls as they closed the portal and came tumbling to the ground with a nauseating thud. Their hands were still clasped together as they lay side by side as the sky continued to crackle with the three strands of electricity lighting up the darkness. The only sound that could be heard now were the desperate clunk of footprints as Dawn sprinted down the metal structure to the ground towards the others. Her cheeks were already stained with tears as she knelt in front of them, fresh tears still flooding from her eyes. They sacrificed themselves so she could live.

Anya hid her face in Xander's chest, and all Xander could do was stare at their faces. His best friends. Their eyes were closed but they didn't look like they were sleeping. He could see Dawn's shoulders as she continued to sob for her family. Her sisters.

Tara held Willow close to her as she stared at the women she hadn't known two years before, but were now her family. The grief was unbearable and she understood more than ever how Saff had been feeling earlier that year. Grief never got easier. It got worse. Willow's heart ached, the girls had been with her through everything. She couldn't face waking up tomorrow without them being there. A desperate loss flowed through everyone as Willow's powers were so strong that they shuddered through the town. The whole of Sunnydale could feel an unshakable loss.

Giles' face was unreadable as he stared at the girls he saw as daughters. Both were ripped from his heart, leaving a desperate hole there. He had only just made amends with Saffron and that hurt. All that time he had missed by being stubborn when she had needed him to be comforting or firm but fair. He had acted like a stranger, to himself even. It was his biggest regret, perhaps second only to not being able to protect them both. He stood motionless as he watched their limp forms, he couldn't look away. Not even to clean his glasses.

Spike dropped to his knees at the sight of his love and collapsed into gut-wrenching sobs. She was the only one that had ever had that belief in him, a love that could equal his own for her. Neither of them were perfect, but that never stopped their love. He was inconsolable in a way that he had never been before. The profound feeling of a loss of a soul, all over again. She was the love of all of his lives. He couldn't bear to look at her like that as he collapsed into another wave of sobs, his shoulders shuddered with emotion.

She's gone.