A/N: Alright guys, here it is, the final chapter. A little longer than the others but I just couldn't find a place to end that would leave me with enough to say for another chapter.

Time to give shout outs to the few reviews I got. Thank you blue blonde and noturbaby, I'm glad you guys like the story, it's pretty much mine and Copper's favorite.

Mmooch- I'm glad you loved the story. I never felt it was right the way the Scoobies treated Buffy after she came back, they took her for granted, even after they knew where she'd been.

Kay, enjoy and feel free to review, reviews are ALWAYS welcome, some weeks I'm soo broke it's the only pay Copper gets for being my muse.

"Seriously guys." I yell at Dawn and Sam still in my old room as I make my way down the stairs. "If you keep jumping on the bed Sam wont have anywhere to sleep tonight and then I'm gonna make both of you sleep outside." I pause for a second to listen to Dawn squeal before I realize my mistake. "No, I'll make you two sleep in the basement! You two would get taken if I let you sleep outside" I smile to myself as Dawn's groan makes it's way to my sensitive ears and I reach the landing in front of the door to let Spike in. I can't help but grin as he looks at me, his hair once again soaking wet from the rain outside, he looks so innocent standing there with water dripping off of him. He shakes his head, displacing water all over my front door offering me a smirk before stepping inside, closing the door behind him and proceeding to drip water all over the carpet.

"Evening Love." He greets me, his smirk never leaving his face even though he knows it's driving me nuts that he's getting water everywhere.

"Must you?" I ask him, my annoyance evident in my voice, gesturing at the mud that's starting to pool beneath his boots.

He looks down, as though he's just noticing the mess he's purposely making. "Ya know," he says, looking back up at me. "I think I must. You know me Pet, anything to get a reaction out of you."

I can't help but smile at his answer and I shake my head again. "Wait here and I'll go get my jacket. Do Not! Move from that spot!" I tell him, pointing to where his feet are currently planted. His only answer is to grin at me, shift his weight from one foot to the other and nod his head. Grumbling to myself I make my way back upstairs to put on my black hoodie, the same one as the night before and stuff a couple of stakes in the front pocket. I stop at the door to my old room leaning in to look at Sam and Dawn still bouncing on the bed tossing pillows back and forth at each other and Dean sitting in an old rocking chair in the corner silently watching them with a look of pure amusement on his face. "Guys." I say, getting their attention and causing the two on the bed to stop mid jump trying to look as virtuous as they can. "I'm headed out on patrol, be back in a couple of hours. Dean, don't let Dawn convince you that she can cook dinner, she really can't. Just order pizza and don't let them break my bed.

He smiles at me and nods his head. "Have a pleasant patrol."

"Have fun babysitting these two." I tell him, pointing at Dawn and Sam still standing on the bed trying their hardest to look as innocent as humanly possible. "She's only gotten more rambunctious since I was brought back, so enjoy." His smiles slips from his lips and he groans. I laugh at him and head back down the stairs, noticing that the bed springs start to creak again as they start jumping as soon as I'm out of sight. I reach Spike standing exactly where I left him looking at me expectantly. "Ready?"

"If you are Love." He answers me.

"Lets go. The sooner we leave the sooner I can come home to a broken bed and three people who will claim to have no idea how it happened." I tell him, reaching around him to open the door and gesture for him to step out. I follow him out, pulling the hood up over my head and looking out at the dark wet night. "You think this rain is ever going to stop?" I ask Spike conversationally still standing on the porch under the relative safety of the small roof.

"Hope so." He answers, standing next to me and putting his hands in his pockets, staring out at the street. "It's no fun sleeping under ground when it rains. Makes things muddy, and it's a bloody pain to wash muddy cloths all the time."

We stand there looking out into the dark night in a comfortable silence for several minutes before I speak again. "Alright, enough procrastinating, lets go." With a sigh, we step off the porch into the warm rain and start a slow silent walk to the nearest cemetery.

"So Pet." Spike speaks up almost two hours later. "You and Dean huh?"

"Dean and I what?" I ask him, pretty sure at what he's hinting at, but I'm going to make him come out and say it. He's one of the few people I know who wont walk around on eggshells or bullshit me, so I refuse to let him get by with half questions.

"You and him have a lot of history?" He asks, grinning at me because he knows I knew what he was getting at. "Or is it present?"

I breath deeply and turn my face to the sky, with my eyes closed I let the rain run down my face and my hair starts getting drenched as my hood falls from my head. "Both I guess. I don't really know. He's the guy I run to when everything goes bad and he makes it all better, and I suppose I've always been in love with him, way before Angel even. But it could never work out between us, not with him always on the move. The longest span of time we've ever gotten to spend together was the summer I ran away and even that was sporadic at times with him having to occasionally disappear for one of his Dad's cases. Our relationship has always been one more complicated than either of us likes to let on. We've both dated other people, no reason not to, but the few times we met up and we were both single, it was always amazing and I'm telling you way more than you asked for." I say, suddenly opening my eyes to look at him standing in front of me watching me with his head cocked to the right. "Sorry."

"No worries Pet." He assures me, never moving his eyes from my own. "I don't mind hearing about you being in love with some other bloke, so long as you're talking to me I could care less what you're telling me." He pauses for a second before adding. "And no telling me about Captain Hairgel. I don't think my ego can take that." He grins, letting me no he's only teasing me.

I blush slightly and break his gaze to stare down at my feet for a second before I look back up at him. "Thank you Spike." I say and he raises his right eyebrow in a question. "Thank you for taking care of Dawn, for not leaving this summer, for keeping your promise, for being here for me. Thank you for listening when I need to talk and for just sitting in silence with me when I don't." I shrug at him slightly. "Just thank you for everything."

This time its him that breaks our eye contact to look at his shoes and I know that if he could be, he would be blushing right now as well. "S'nothing Pet. Just what you do for the ones you care about, and you and Dawn," He looks back up me, his sharp features made more pronounced by the rain glistening off his pale skin. "you two mean the world to me. Don't matter I can't call you mine, cause I'm yours."

I feel tears prickle at the backs of my eyelids and I know if I were to let them fall he could smell the salt in the air despite the rain so I sniffle, pulling them back. "We are yours Spike, maybe not in the way you wish we were, but we are your family and you're a part of our family." I step forward and place my hand on his shoulder, squeezing gently. "Don't ever think that we aren't yours. We have been for a while. Granted, Dawn may have jumped on the train a little sooner than I did, but I'm riding right there along side her. As is Tara and so was Mom, even Anya occasionally hops on for a go around" Letting my hand drop from his shoulder I grin up at him. "Your train is getting pretty full."

He smiles at me and shakes his head. "You lot and your bloody analogies. Am I at least driving this train?"

"Of course you are." I say grinning widely at him. "Only the most insane are allowed to drive the crazy train."

He chuckles before reaching forward suddenly and pulling me into a tight hug. "Thank you." He whispers into my hair as I wrap my arms around his waist hugging him back.

Several hours later we stumble up onto the front porch again, this time we're both covered head to toe in mud and soaked through to the bone. Still glaring at him playfully I open the front door and we all but fall into the warm dry area closing the door behind us. "I can't believe you pushed me into another even bigger puddle." I pout at him while I peel off my hoodie and kick my shoes at the welcome mat.

"It was just too good of a chance to pass up." He tells me. "Had to see if it was as much fun tonight as it was last night."

"And was it?" I ask him, my hands on my hips my socked foot tapping on the wet floor.

He looks me up and down and nods his head. "It was more fun than last night was."

I huff at him. "So it was more fun than last night even though now you're covered in mud too?"

He glances down at himself, mud covering every inch of his leather coat and his usually bright blonde hair is a dirty brown. "It was worth it. Do it again in a heart beat Pet."

I just shake my head at him as Dawn and Dean finally meet us at the door. Dawn immediately starts laughing when she sees Spike and Dean chuckles at my own drowned rat look. He opens his mouth to say something but I cut him off pointing my finger at him. "Tread lightly mister." He throws his arms up in the universal sign of surrender. "That's what I thought." I smile lightly at Dawn who's recovering from her round of giggles and is wiping tears from her cheeks. "Dawnie, go grab Spike some towels will you?"

She nods before running up the stairs. "Okay, you," I point at Spike. "stay here until she gets back with towels. I'm gonna go change and take a quick shower. And then you." I point at Dean now. "are gonna help me make hot chocolate." With that I turn and follow Dawn's earlier trail upstairs, passing her as she comes out of the bathroom holding several towels and smiles widely at me as she heads back down the stairs.

Half an hour later I make my way downstairs, still pulling my wet hair up into a messy bun and dressed in sweats and an old Hemery High t-shirt, to find Sam, Dawn, and Spike sitting on the couch watching some old made for TV movie. I stop at the doorway and watch the three of them. Dawn's curled up against Spike's side, his arm around her shoulders, and her feet are on Sam's lap where he occasionally tickles her and she tries to kick him without taking her eyes off the screen. I smile to myself before heading into the kitchen where I assume Dean is. I find him sitting at the island, staring down at his hands intensely. Silently I move behind him to wrap my arms around his chest and rest my head on his shoulder. "Stop thinking so hard, it'll fry your brain. And while you are mostly just good looks, you occasionally have to remember who you're impersonating that day." I tell him quietly, and I have to smile when he chuckles at me. He turns his head slightly to give me a kiss of the cheek. "You wanna talk?" I ask him softly, not wanting to push, just wanting him to know that he can if he needs to.

"I don't know how to talk about it." He tells me, just as softly. "It scares me the things I did down there. And even though I know you saw all or most of it, I don't want you thinking less of me."

I sigh and rest my temple against his, feeling his pulse point pounding against my own. "Dean, no matter what you've done, I could never think less of you. I mean, you met Anya right?" He nods his head against mine. "She's over eleven hundred years old, and she spent all of that time finding new and creative ways to torture and kill unfaithful men, and not once has she felt bad about any of it. She will tell you stories until the end of time with a smile on her face. And Spike, well, lets just say he earned his nick-name and he also enjoyed every minute of it. Neither of them regret the horrors they inflicted on others, but both of them are trying to be better now and they're two of my closest friends. So believe me when I tell you, there's nothing you can do that will make me disown you or think horribly of you. And if you don't want to talk about it then by all means don't feel like you have to, but if you do, it might be easier with someone who knows what to expect."

He nods his head again before he reaches around and pulls me down to sit across his lap, my head resting on his chest with his arms around me holding me tightly to him. "When I'm ready to talk, I always know where to find you." I nod my head, bumping his chin lightly.

"You ready to help me with the hot cocoa now?" I tease him and grin as his chest vibrates against my face with his chuckle.

"I guess I can help." He says, helping me off his lap and standing with me, taking my hand in his. "Just tell me what to do boss lady." I laugh at him before I pull him around the counter and start bossing him around.

Ten minutes later we walk out into the living room with Dean carrying a tray of hot chocolate with mini marshmallows for everyone to have. After passing them all out, Dean sits down in the chair next to the couch and I get comfortable on the floor between his legs. Together the five us watch the end of the lame movie Dawn had picked out before we start one of the few we picked up from the video store on the way home earlier. Several movies later I'm the only one still awake and I can't help but look around the room at my family with a smile on my face. Spike's managed to fall asleep with his head against the back of the couch, Dawn's head in his lap with Sam mirroring him at the other end. We're all really truly messed up beyond repair, but at least we'll always have each other.

The next morning we all get up, with the exception of Spike, whom after making sure all the blinds where securely in place continues to sleep on the couch, and after getting dressed and made slightly presentable for public viewing head to the Dunkin Doughnuts to get breakfast before going to the Magic Box. Dawn and Sam rush in ahead of us, both their arms filled with doughnutie goodness and coffee, Dean and I make a much more subtle entrance, my arms wrapped around his waist and his slung over my shoulder. "Morning Giles." I greet Giles sitting at the table all of the food is being deposited onto. "Hey Anya." I smile at her behind the counter and she waves at me absentmindedly counting the register. I laugh quietly to myself before Dean and I separate to take seats at the table, effectively surrounding Giles.

"Buffy," Giles says my name, gaining my attention. "Do you mind if you and I talk for a bit, in the back?" He asks me, almost sounding nervous.

I nod my head before getting up from the table and following him into the training room. "What is it Giles?" I ask him.

He looks at me with sad eyes and I have to resist the urge to hug him. "Why didn't you tell me you were in heaven?" His voice cracks with emotion and I realize that he hadn't been present the day before, someone else must have filled him in, most likely Anya.

"It was too hard to think about," I tell him, tears pooling in my eyes. "let alone talk about. If Dean and Sam hadn't shown up I'm not sure I would have ever let you guys know."

"Oh Buffy." Giles wraps me in his arms, holding me tightly to his chest. "I wish I could undo everything Willow has put you through. They were such foolish children, I am so sorry you must suffer their consequences." He tells me quietly.

"It's not your fault Giles." I reassure him. "I know you never would have let them go through with it."

"I should have known better than to leave them here unattended." He says, disagreeing with me.

"Giles." I say his name sternly pulling out of his arms and taking hold of his shoulders. "They are grown adults, you could have told them no all you wanted they were mourning and they wouldn't have listened to a word you said. So don't even try to blame yourself, you've taught us all plenty enough over the years that they knew what they were doing was wrong, they just didn't care."

He shakes his head at me before offering a small smile. "Of course your right, they did know better. But I still can't help but to feel responsible for their actions. They, like yourself, are very much like my own children and any parent always feels as though their children's mistakes are the parents as well. You can't fault me for that."

I just smile at him and pull him into another hug. "No I suppose I can't, but I can kick your butt if you keep feeling like this is all your fault." He chuckles a little and we pull away from the hug, both of us smiling. "Now come on, you still have to meet Dean and Sam."

"Oh joy." He deadpans, following me back into the main part of the store where Anya is now dusting shelves and watching Dean, Sam and Dawn to make sure they don't drip jelly onto any of the merchandise. I honestly don't know how she manages to live with messy Xander.

"Hey guys." I say, getting the attention of the three of them. "Dean, Sam I want you to meet my watcher Giles. Giles I would like you to meet Dean and Sam Winchester."

"Good lord did you say Winchester?" Giles asks, his voice filled with curiosity and awe, something that doesn't happen often.

"Uh yeah." Dean answers him, his posture becoming defensive as he moves to stand slightly in front of Sam. "Why?"

"I knew your father." Giles explains, not failing to notice the protective stance. "He was an excellent man and a great hunter. I was sorry to hear of his death."

Sam moves around Dean to get closer to Giles. "You knew Dad? How?"

"We met through a contact we shared years ago, back when Buffy was still being trained by Merrick." Giles tells him. "In fact if I remember correctly, he had actually left you two with Merrick for a while the first time we met." He gets a far away look on his face for a second before he's back with us. "I was very interested in his having met a slayer and he was interested in some demon he had been tracking."

"You knew John?" I ask him.

"Yes." He answers me, looking at me oddly. "Why?"

"Why didn't you ever tell me you'd heard about me before we met? Why didn't you ever mention him?" I ask him, leaving him no room to answer one question before I ask the next. "Why have you never mention hunters to me? Didn't you think as the slayer I should know about them?"

"Buffy, if I'm not mistaken, you do know about them" He tells me, looking pointedly at Dean and Sam.

"You didn't know I knew. And you still should have said something to me. And if you knew John knew me, why didn't you say something when he died?"

"I didn't realize you'd been that close to him." Giles says, his voice softening. "If I had known I would have discussed it with you. And I never mentioned hunters because I knew that Merrick had gone over them with you and it would have been pointless for me to bring them up again."

I take a couple of deep breaths, calming myself again. "Sorry, Johns just a sensitive subject for me, and if I'd known you knew who he was I would have confided in you when he died."

"I apologize for not telling you I knew. I didn't like bringing up your time before Sunnydale." He says gently, his eyes soft and understanding. "I know how difficult it was for you to loose Merrick and I didn't like making you relive that time."

I smile at him wiping the tears that had started to pool in my eyes and I open my mouth to say something but I stop when I'm over come with such a feeling of pure joy and relief that I immediately forget what I was going to say. I recognize this feeling, this was how I had felt every time I was with... "Cas." I whisper, closing my eyes to simply enjoy the feeling his presence creates for me before opening my eyes to see him standing behind Sam and Dean looking at me with an expression filled with surprise.

"Buffy." His voice is deeper in this body than his real voice, but my soul would recognize him anywhere and I lunge at him, wrapping my arms around him as tightly as I can unafraid of hurting him and I sigh in contentment when he returns the hug, just as enthusiastically.

"I've missed you Cas." I tell him, my voice barely above a whisper.

"I have missed you as well Buffy." He tells me, his voice at a more normal level.

"Umm, Buff." I hear Xander's voice from behind where Castiel and I are hugging and I realize he must have just come in without me hearing him. "What is it with you and hugging men I've never met?" I can hear the joking tone in his voice so I'm not worried that he's angry, but I pull away from Castiel anyway, stepping back to look at him more fully. He looks like any normal Joe you'd find on the street except for the all knowing look in his eyes and the trench coat he's wearing in the middle of a California afternoon.

"What are you doing here Cas?" I ask him without answering Xander's question. If I know anything I know that he wont be here long and I can explain things later.

"I'm here to see Dean." He tells me, never taking his eyes off me.

I nod my head, understanding more than I'm supposed to. He's here to tell Dean about another seal he has to protect. Dean had never told me what he'd been "assigned" to do to earn his resurrection, but I'd known from the beginning. I'd known since he'd unknowingly broken the first seal in Hell, but I'd never told Dean that. He didn't need to know that he was what had started The Apocalypse. We stare at each other in silence for a couple more minutes before I speak up again. "How's Mikey?" I ask him, remembering Michael. He was the other angel I'd gotten close to during my time in "The Waiting Room". He hadn't had any charges at the time so he squandered away most of his time with Castiel and me.

"He's bored. Doesn't have anyone to bother with you gone." He tells me, his stoic face smiling down at me. "He misses you, almost as much as I do."

"Ahh Cas." I say, blushing slightly. "I miss you guys too."

"Cas, what are you doing here?" Dean asks from behind me, his patience apparently having run out. With one last look, Castiel looks up to take in the rest of the room, his eyes focusing on Dean.

"There is a seal, in Tulsa, Arizona." Castiel informs him, his voice returning to it's unemotional baritone. "You must leave tonight to make it in time."

Dean huffs a little, putting his hands in the pocket of his worn out jeans. "And what is this seal I have to protect?"

"I cannot tell you here." Castiel says, his eyes glancing around the room. "The Hellmouth has many ears."

"Hey!" Anya objects from behind the counter where her and Xander have been observing quietly.

"He doesn't mean you An" I tell her smiling reassuringly at her causing her to smile back. It was a little weird to have Anya as a friend rather than just as Xander's girlfriend. "He's referring to any number of demons, corporeal and non, that could be listening in on this. " I say, looking to Castiel for back up and my smile widens slightly when he nods in affirmation. I'm glad he didn't mean he couldn't trust my friends. Not that I've been to fond of them as of late myself, but even with all my anger towards them, I know I can still trust them with secrets.

"If it's such an important seal," Dean asks, bringing everyone's attention back to him. "why are you just getting around to telling us about it now?" His irritation showing quite clearly in not only his voice, but also in his stance. His shoulders have gotten even more tense since Castiel arrived and his voice is filled with malice. For a man who spent most of his life taking orders from his father, he really had issues with people telling him what to do.

"We just found out about it." Castiel tells him, his stance now matching Dean's. Castiel had problems with others doubting and questioning, him or any other Angel.

With a sigh I place my hand on Castiel's chest, causing him to look down at me, his face loosing it's impatience as soon as he see's the pleading in my eyes. He of all people (or angels for that matter) knows just how important Dean and Sam are to me, and how much I hate to watch Dean getting pushed around. He knew that I hated the entire deal between him and Heaven, but he also knew that it was this or Hell for the rest of all eternity and I couldn't take him being stuck in Hell while I watched from Heaven. He nods his head slightly at me, and a small smile appears on his borrowed lips before he looks back up at Dean. "Dean, we need you to protect this seal, as we need you to protect as many of them as you can. Lilith has already started on this one, we need you there as soon as possible. Please leave tonight or I will be forced to take you there myself." With a grunt, Dean nods his head before slumping down into a chair at the table, Sam following suit. They both look exhausted and I feel horrible that this wasn't anywhere near ending for them.

Castiel returns his eyes to mine before placing his hand gently on my cheek. Without thinking I close my eyes and lean into his hand. His touch brings back more memory of the peace that had been almost Heaven and it's hard for me to pull away from him, but I know I have to, Cas never stays in one place to long. If he's not Home he can't stand to be anywhere. After a moment I feel him slowly drop his hand and I open my eyes to see him staring intently down at me. "I must go." He whispers to me and I can hear the sorrow in his voice. I nod my head and reluctantly step away from him. Before I can get away he pulls me back to him, wrapping his arms around me again and I relax into this hug, savoring it as much as I can, knowing that I most likely wont see him again until my next demise.

"I miss you Cas." I whisper to him, feeling the tears well up in my eyes.

"I miss you as well Buffy." He tells me, his voice rough with emotion. "If you weren't undetectable to angels I would visit." He says, his voice taking on a slightly teasing nature. I'd been told in Almost Heaven that being the slayer had made it impossible for angels to know where I was until I was near death, and by near death they meant I'd stopped breathing.

"No you wouldn't." I tell him, slowly pulling out of his arms to look him in the eye again. "But it's a pretty thought." He smiles down at me, his eyes gentle and loving, and I can't help but feel a little better knowing that he is trying to make me feel better.

He steps away from me completely after a moment before glancing behind me to Dean sitting at the table. "Leave soon, please." And when I blink, he's gone.

I just shake my head and smile. Angels and their dramatic exits, always with the disappearing. "Damn angels." Dean mumbles and I can't help but giggle at him, causing him to offer me a small smile. "They love to give orders and disappear don't they?"

I nod, moving across the room to sit down at the table next to him, Sam and Dawn across from us. "They do indeed." I agree with him. "But you should meet Mikey, he's got a thing for making even more dramatic entrances. He likes to show off his huge wings and make sure that everyone around him knows that they're in the presence of not only an angel, but also The Angel."

"Mikey?" Sam asks me. "Who's Mikey?"

I smile at him gently, wiping the unshed tears from my eyes. "Mikey, or Michael as most people know him, is the angel that cast Lucifer from Heaven in the final battle."

"God Buff." Xander says from his spot next to Anya. "Is there anyone you don't know?" His voice still has it's teasing tone to it and I can't help but wonder if he's trying to get back on my good side. He might have finally noticed how cold and distant I've been lately.

"I never did meet God." I say, smiling reassuringly at him and I can't help but feel a little better when I see the tension he's had since Dean and Sam showed up ease from his shoulders as his smile became a genuine one.

"Bummer." He jokes. "You'd think that the slayer would get to meet the big guy."

I simply shrug at him, my smile still gracing my lips. "Meh, Mikey and Cas kept me company. I certainly can't complain."

He chuckles lightly. "I suppose not."

After a moment of silence, Xander and Anya go back to straightening up the shop, or should I say Anya goes back to straightening and Xander is following her around pretending to be helpful. I look across the table at Dawn and Sam talking quietly to each other and notice that they're holding hands, their fingers are entwined and it's looks so natural that I wonder if they even know they're doing it. Glancing at Dean he's staring at me intently and he tilts his head to the side slightly indicating the door to the training room. I nod and stand from the table, leading him back into the training room, but instead of stopping I continue on out to the alley way behind the shop, I suddenly feel the need to be outside in the sun.

We stand in silence for a minute, leaning against the building next to each other our sides touching only faintly before I speak up. "So I guess you'll be leaving." I hate that my voice catches towards the end revealing my emotion. I've always known that he wouldn't be here long, he never is, but it still hurts every time.

"I guess." He says, his voice hoarse with emotion as well and I can't help but feel relieved that I'm not the only one who hates it when he leaves. "But I'll be back," He continues, surprising me a little. "as soon as I can. After this seal if it's possible." I look over at him and he stands up straight from the wall and runs his hands through his hair before standing in front of me placing his hands on either side of my head effectively giving the illusion of trapping me, not that I'd want to move away from him. "I think I'm done looking for trouble. I think from now on, I'm going to be staying in one place. Let trouble come and find me." He lets out a long sigh and finally looks me in the eye. "I'm done leaving you." His voice is low and if I weren't the slayer I would have had to strain to hear him. "I don't think I can do it anymore. You," he sighs moving his right hand from beside my head to run his thumb across my cheek. "you're everything to me. You, Dawn and Sam are all I have left and I'm pretty sure that if you die again and I'm not here to try and save you or to stop your stupid friends from trying to bring you back again I will never forgive myself."

I stare at him in silence, his confession stunning me, running his words on loop through my head. He wanted to come back. To Sunnydale. To me? My brain was having some serious issues comprehending his statement. I must have been silent for too long because he dropped his hand from my face and made to move away. Instinctively I grabbed him by his shirt, keeping him where he is. "Only if you want me to." He tells me, breaking my silence, refusing to look me in the eye now.

I let go of his shirt with one hand to gently tug his chin up, forcing him to look me in the eye. "Of course I want you to. I've always wanted you here with me." I say, my voice even more shaky now. "Always." I whisper, tears threatening to spill. "But what about Sam? And the Seals?" I take a deep breath, I don't want to bring up all these questions, I just want to be able to tell him to stay with me, but I know he can't. As happy as it would make me to wake up everyday knowing I'll be able to see him I can't let him give up his entire life, everything he'd known, out of some need to make sure nothing happens to me again. "Hunting is in your blood, it's in your bones. One month here and you would be restless as hell and eventually you would resent me. I cant take that."

He looks back down at the ground and sighs heavily. He knows I'm right, doesn't mean he's happy to hear it. "Why do you have to be so rational all the time?" He asks, still staring intently at anything but me.

I shrug. "I blame Merrick and your dad. They drilled it into me to think everything through completely. I hate it sometimes, but it usually turns out for the best."

"Damn them." His voice is still heavy with emotion, but I know he's trying to lighten the mood.

"You know, that doesn't mean I don't want you to come back and visit like, soon." I tell him, pulling his face up again to meet mine. "If you want, you and Sam can start calling this place home base. Dawn and I would both love it if you guys came here to recharge after missions. If I'm not mistaken, I'm pretty sure Sam wont complain." I wink at him and he groans.

"Please don't say it, I'm trying to ignore the fact that those two have started actually flirting now. I hate that Dawn's legal." He leans his forehead against mine and rubs his nose gently back and forth against my own. "Okay, we'll be back after this seal. And after every seal and every hunt and every call for help." He closes his eyes, his body now leaning deliciously into my own, pushing me back against the wall. "And so long as it's okay with you and Dawn, we'll call your house home." I don't miss the fact that he leaves of the "base" part and I can't help but grin.

"Good." I tell him before moving forward ever so slightly and gently pressing my lips against his. Electricity runs through my body at the simple touch, as it always has, and takes my breath away immediately, leaving me craving more, but I know that more can't happen right now. Not if he has to leave soon, so I pull back before he can try to deepen the chaste kiss and wrap my arms around his waist, resting my head on his broad chest as his hands rub up and down my sides and he buries his face in my hair, kissing the top of my head.

"Come on." His voice is deep and quiet breaking the silence yet again. "I've got to go get Sam and we need to head out. The sooner we leave the sooner we'll be back." I nod against his chest and he pulls out of my arms to take my hand and lead me back inside.

An hour later I'm standing in front of him as he leans against the Impala, his bag is on the back seat and the engine is idling ready to go. I look at him, trying to take in as much of him as I can before he leaves, not trying to mask the tears that are running silently down my face.

"You know I hate it when you cry." He tells me quietly so that Dawn and Sam can't hear us from the other side of the car where they're saying their goodbyes.

"Yeah." I sniffle, giving him a watery smile. "But you'll live."

He just shakes his head at me before pulling me into his arms. "I'm gonna miss you Buffy."

"I always miss you Dean." I tell him. "Just make sure to come back and it'll be okay."

"I always come back baby."

"I know." With that I pull out of his arms completely, give him a kiss on the cheek and back away from the car so he can get in.

"Come on Bitch, we gotta go!" He yells half heartedly at Sam

"I'm coming, Jerk." Sam answers him before hugging Dawn quickly and climbing into the car.

Dawn comes to stand next to me on the lawn and I put my arm around her shoulders, pulling her into my side as we watch the Winchesters back out of our drive way and drive away from us. I hear Dawn sniffle and I kiss her on the top of her head before resting my cheek against hers. "They'll be back." I tell her, trying to offer comfort.

"I know." She tells me. "They always come back."

THE END