She awoke to her sister shaking her gently by the shoulder and rubbed her eyes blearily as she struggled for focus. The seatbelt light was on, and it was dark.
"We're landing," Dawn told her unnecessarily. Buffy nodded. "Is this Adam guy meeting us in the airport?"
"Yea, he should be near the baggage claim." Buffy told her, feeling her spirits suddenly pick up as she realized that she would soon be seeing Methos for the first time in five years. She allowed herself that excitement, and a slight bit of nervousness as the large group exited the plane.
Her heart dropped slightly however, as she reached the baggage claim and did not see him. The others had already begun grabbing for their luggage and Giles was desperately trying to make sure that all the girls got their bags without fighting over whose was whose. Buffy smiled at that, but felt a bit anxious as she looked around and saw no trace of Methos. Maybe he had forgotten? Or gotten the time wrong?
"Where's your friend?" Willow was suddenly at her side and Buffy was forced to shrug.
"I'm not sure." She picked up her cell phone and was about to dial his number, when a feeling coursed through her that she hadn't felt in five years. The 'buzz' that signaled another immortal's presence. She had acquired it having passed through the veil of death when she died the first time, however having since died once more the buzz was stronger now, almost knocking her back a foot or two.
"What is it?" Willow asked, noticing how shaken she must look. She recovered herself and smiled, her heart soaring.
"Nothing. He's here."
And sure enough, as she turned, she could see his familiar frame walking towards her. Her palms were suddenly unnervingly sweaty and as he came into view, she felt her heart almost stop completely. Her memory of him hadn't done him justice.
His tall lithe, frame weaved through the crowd with expert grace and deftness that only centuries of practice could achieve. He wore a warm, inviting smile and as he got closer his hazel eyes twinkled with affection. She felt her heart skip a beat.
He was wearing one of his trademark fisherman's sweaters and a snug fitting pair of blue jeans. Beside her, Willow whispered softly under her breath.
"Wow, if I wasn't dating a girl…" She looked over at Buffy. "How come you didn't mention he was a total hottie?"
Buffy had no answer for her. She couldn't remember ever finding him this attractive. She remembered that he had been handsome, but not to this degree. And as if spurred on by some other force, she stepped forward into his welcoming arms for one of the tightest bear hugs outside of anybody that didn't have slayer strength.
"I'm so glad to see you," he whispered, the warm Welsh accent tickling her ear. "I can't believe you're actually here."
She pulled back, unable to help the ear-to-ear grin that now spread over her face.
"I'm glad to be here," she replied, suddenly shy. "I missed you."
She stepped back and he looked her over, taking in the changes that had occurred in her since he last saw her.
She was older, that much was obvious to him. She was also much thinner, but it wasn't an unhealthy look. Her body was leaner, more muscular, more like that of a warrior's. He liked it. Her hair was long, and silky and her green eyes glowed with both weariness and triumph. It was a look he remembered seeing after she had defeated the immortal vampire Klossen and he felt his heart swell with pride just as it had then. She had truly made it. The young girl was gone and in her place was a seasoned warrior-a slayer who had defied convention and changed the world.
She had been a young girl when he had known her, frightened and determined to escape. Now he found himself looking at the woman she had become and felt all the feelings for her rush back to him, magnified ten-fold. She was magnificent.
He was about to tell her as much when the sound of someone clearing their throat behind her, brought the two of them out of their own private reunion. A group of people were standing behind the slayer. They were obviously the people she had mentioned.
The first person he noticed was a thin, striking red head standing next to the slayer. She had a feeling about her, that made him shiver. It wasn't the feeling he got when coming into contact with an immortal, but it was power of a sort. She was different. She held the hand of another girl, who stood with confidence and grace. Behind her, stood a young girl, only about seventeen in age, but taller than Buffy. Her hair was straight, brown and silky and she stared at the slayer in a way that spoke of extreme familiarity.
A young man stood next to the dark haired girl, wearing an eye patch and a flannel shirt. Methos wondered if the eye patch was a fashion statement, or necessity but didn't ask him. The look on the young man's face suggested he might not like the answer.
To the left of Buffy stood an older man, probably in his late forties with a jacket made of soft leather and blue jeans. Methos assumed he was Buffy's Watcher. He suppressed the urge to go up to the man and shake his hand to tell him what an amazing slayer he had raised.
Beside the man, stood an incredibly attractive dark haired girl in revealing clothes and heavy makeup. Despite the bold outfit, her entire being seemed to vibrate with insecurity and fear. The tall, black man at her side seemed to sense that, but looked at a loss as to what to do about it.
"Is he the 'contact' you spoke of?" A hesitant voice asked from behind the dark haired girl. A young blond man stepped forward and looked at him, then nodded as if in approval. "He does indeed have a certain Han Solo-esque feel about him."
"I should introduce everyone." Buffy was saying, her cheeks reddening slightly as she realized her error. Behind her, a small group of girls was approaching, each carrying their bags.
"This is Willow," she said pointing to the red head. She smiled shyly and Methos decided he liked her, despite the power that prickled at his skin as if in warning. Buffy continued the introductions, pointing to each person as she did so. "And this is my sister Dawn. This is Xander, my Watcher Giles, Willow's girlfriend Kennedy, Faith, Robin Wood, and Andrew. Behind me, are the group of girls I mentioned. I know this will sound strange, but they are all slayers."
That caused him to blink in surprise as he looked once more at the girls. Almost like magic, he saw the truth of what she had just told him. The way they stood, the way they moved told him they were indeed slayers. Some of them were new-very new, but slayers nonetheless. Warriors. There can be only one. The phrase didn't just apply to immortals. He opened his mouth to ask how this could possibly have happened, but Buffy cut him off, anticipating the question.
"I will explain it all later, I promise." She assured him. "And don't worry, they're not all coming back with us. In fact Giles is taking them to England with him on a connecting flight tonight. I wanted you to meet them all though, cause they're part of something I did and I needed you to see it for yourself."
"You made this happen?" He questioned, awed by the enormity of what he was looking at.
"Yea, kind of." She shrugged. "I destroyed a town too y'know. It's been a busy couple of days."
He laughed richly and she smiled revealing a fraction of her weariness.
"Guys, this is Adam Pierson." She turned to her friends. "Sorry I didn't do the intro thing. I'm really exhausted."
"We all are Buffy," Giles told her gently. "And I hate to leave so soon, but…"
She got the hint. They would miss their flight if they stood in the lobby too much longer. Methos seemed to get the hint as well, as he moved back to allow Buffy to say good bye to those who were leaving.
Buffy looked at Willow, Giles, and the others and sighed heavily. She wasn't sure when she would see them all again and that saddened her a great deal. For the first time in seven years the group she had fought alongside would be broken up and scattered throughout Europe. She knew they had to go on their separate paths, but the thought of losing her best friend and her watcher after the ordeal they had already gone through caused a lump to form in her throat. She was suddenly very glad that Xander and Dawn were staying with her.
"I'm really gonna miss you Buffy." Willow was saying to her. She looked like she was about to cry too. "We've been best friends for so long and now…"
She trailed off, but she didn't need to finish. Buffy understood. Seven years of fighting the forces of darkness and now they would be separated. Who knew for how long? She reached out and hugged her friend tightly, promising to call her the moment they were settled.
She moved back from Willow and turned to Giles who was smiling at her, tired but proud. She smiled back, allowing the previous tension to be forgotten. She was saying good bye to him again and she would not let that be ruined by their disagreements in the field. What was done was done for now.
"I shall miss you greatly as well Buffy," Giles told her warmly. "You know how proud of you I am."
"Thanks," she said hoarsely. "Take care of them Giles…please? I feel like I'm abandoning them."
"You're trying to help them." He said firmly. "They know that. And I swear to you that I will not let your trust be misplaced."
"Giles…" she began to tell him that what had happened before with Spike was forgotten, but found herself unable to get the words out. It wasn't and it never could be. She did trust him, that much was true. But it wasn't the same thing. She was able to forgive, but not forget. She would always know that a darkness lay inside her watcher that she had never thought to exist before. And that hurt. Luckily he saved her from her inability to reassure him, by interrupting her.
"You don't have to say anything Buffy." He sighed. "I know you miss him. And I'm sorry."
At the mention of Spike, a fresh flood of tears threatened to overwhelm her, so much so that all she could do was nod and turn to the next person waiting to say good bye to her. It was Faith. She suddenly felt awkward.
"I'll see you around?" She offered it hesitatingly, still not quite sure where she stood with the other slayer. Faith smiled at her, and she found herself relaxing. She didn't know if they could ever exist in the same world together, but at least they had reached a kind of peace.
"You bet B," Faith said, trying to keep it casual. She gestured to Methos and grinned suddenly. "And damn is that one tasty! Don't let him slip."
She laughed slightly and was about to tell Faith they were just friends, but decided that was a longer conversation and they didn't have that much time. Instead, she simply nodded.
She didn't say good bye to Robin or Kennedy formally, but both of them smiled at her and nodded their heads allowing the words to be exchanged silently. Andrew was the last and he looked at her hopefully.
"Bye Andrew." She said, with surprising affection for the little nerd. He brightened instantly and then quickly re-arranged his expression to a more serious one. He raised his hand.
"Good bye, slayer of the vampyres." He intoned solemnly. "Always remember to use the force."
"Err, I'll do that." She replied, unsure of how to respond.
Looking at all the girls standing there, the slayers that had survived, Buffy was suddenly at a loss. She didn't know them well enough for individual good byes. Some of them, she wasn't even sure of their names. Off hand, she knew of Vi and Rona, but the others….
With some chagrin, she realized that Faith had been right about her treatment of the young girls. She felt guilty for not knowing them better. She could send them out to die, but she couldn't offer them a proper farewell.
Thankfully she was saved by Giles looking at his watch and announcing they had to leave. She looked back at the girls and managed a wave, before they began to file after him. She turned to where Xander and Dawn were standing only to see Xander and Willow locked in a fierce embrace. She swallowed tightly. She had forgotten that as hard as it would be for her to be apart from those she loved, it was ten times harder for Willow to say good bye to Xander. They had been best friends since childhood.
She stepped backwards, almost bumping into Methos in the process and allowed for the two of them to say their good byes. They hugged once more before Willow ran to catch up with Giles and the others.
As she watched her best friend, watcher and slayers walk away from her she felt a deep and profound sadness descend on her. A chapter in her life had been closed and from now on, nothing would ever be the same. She looked over at Dawn and Xander and saw that they too understood perfectly how she was feeling. Silently, they embraced one another, hugging each other and sharing their pain, just as they always had until they finally pulled back. Looking over her shoulder, she saw Methos watching them, empathy written all over his face. If anybody knew what it was like to lose one's family it was the world's oldest man.
Without a word, he reached out a hand to Buffy and she took it, allowing him to lead the remaining group out of the airport and towards their new life.