Epilogue

"Hi baby." Elizabeth kneeled on the grass and touched the cold tomb stones. "It's mommy." She put the bouquet of daisies in the plastic vase next to the smaller stone and looked at the inscription.

Connor Liam Summers

Our little angel

1996-1998

There was a teddybear next to the text. She hadn't seen the stones before, having still been in a coma on the day of the funeral. When she woke up, it had seemed too painful to go to the cemetery. Angel's parents had taken care of all the funeral arrangements.

"I'm sorry I haven't been to see you before. I was in New York; you know where they have all those yellow taxis." Connor had had a model of a New York taxi; it had been his favorite toy. Elizabeth smiled through the tears at the memory.

"I miss you baby. Every day. And I promise I will come and see you a lot more, OK? We're gonna live here now, so I'll see you every day, OK?"

She turned her attention to the larger stone.

Liam 'Angel' O'Connor

Darling son

Beloved husband and father

1976-1998

"Hi." She whispered. "It's me. It's been six years today. I'm OK, happy. I'm with someone now; I know you would want that. I'm finally able to live again."

Spike watched from a small distance, not wanting to disturb her. He heard every word she said, and at the last sentence, he smiled.

Elizabeth had decided it was time for her to face her past. When his father revealed that he had just bought a diner in Sunnydale, Spike took the job as manager. They had come down a week before Christmas so that Elizabeth could go to the cemetery on the day of the accident. They were moving into the old Summers mansion, leaving almost everything behind in New York. He knew that Elizabeth needed this to be able to move on, and he didn't have anything against the town. In fact, he had found that, the last few weeks before the move, he didn't feel comfortable in New York anymore. The city felt too big, with too many people and too much noise. So he was happy with the move.

"Buffy?" Elizabeth looked up at the sound, and Spike followed her eyes. A few feet away a red headed woman was standing, a bouquet of white roses in her hand. "Is it really you?"

"Willow?" Elizabeth got off the ground and threw herself into the arms of her friend who hugged her back just as desperately. After a few moments they pulled back.

"Is it you?" Willow asked again, not quite believing her eyes. Elizabeth nodded.

"It's me. I'm so sorry I didn't... I just had to..." Willow saw her friend's tears and pulled her back into an embrace.

"It's OK sweetie, I understand." She stroked Elizabeth's hair, joining in her tears. "We all do."

"Xander?" Elizabeth got out through the sobs.

"He's fine, everyone's fine." Willow pulled away a little, putting an arm around Elizabeth's shoulder and leading her away from the graves. Spike quietly nodded at the woman, who smiled a greeting. He led the way to a table he'd seen earlier, and Elizabeth and Willow sat down.

"How are you?" Willow examined Elizabeth's tear streaked face.

"I'm good." At Willow's doubtful face, she smiled. "Really. I'm good, very good." She looked at Spike, who was leaning against the table next to her. He took one of her hands in his and gave it an encouraging squeeze. "This is Spike, my fiancée. Spike, Willow." She introduced.

"Really? That's great, I'm so happy for you." Willow gave her friend another hug. "How long have you been together?"

"Only about a year. We're getting married in June." Elizabeth smiled at her best friend. "Here. And I would be so happy if you would be my maid of honor."

"I'd love to!" Willow said excitedly. "Does that mean you're moving back here?"

"Yeah, we are..."

Spike decided to leave the two old friends alone, and wandered back through the cemetery, stopping in front of the gravestones they had left a few minutes earlier.

"I'll do everything to make her happy, mate. I promise."