Buffy and Cordelia
"Season 6"
Disclaimer: I don't own it!
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Chapter 28: Bargaining I & II
Cemetery
Here they where, hunting, fighting the good fight, in place of her…the champion that is no more. The one that saved the world not for herself, but for her friends and family, and for people who don't even know her. As far as any of her friends are concerned the ones that didn't know her where at a great loss…because she was one of a kind. There will never be another slayer like her…and that was definite.
Spike looked around at the group of people that had banded together to help in the fight against evil, the fight that Buffy started and they had to finish. They were loyal to her and that was a rare thing to find in a group of people like this. The two witches, Tara and Willow; the watcher, Giles; the slayer, Faith; the human, Xander; the ex-demon, Anya; and then there was him, the vampire, Spike. They would finish the fight for her…if not anyone else.
Right now they were running down a vampire that had someone got away from them. Willow was doing her mind control thing that she had been working on before Buffy died, she figured it might have helped her but she hadn't gotten around to perfecting it yet.
Yet it seemed to Spike that she had sometime or another perfected it because he could get her out of his mind and it was driving him crazy. It was bad enough having to be around the Scoobies, the group that always spoiled his evil plans, but know he was helping them and he didn't even know why. Before he knew because before he thought that might have had a chance with Buffy, but he soon found of that she was way too in love with Cordelia to notice anyone else let alone him. Then he fell for Faith, who also turned out to be in love with the blonde slayer…what was up with that?
"Spike…the vampire is over by the mausoleum with the gargoyle." Willow said into his head and he sighed. He was never going to be able to get her voice out of his head. "Go quickly," she said with urgency.
"Bullocks…stay out of my mind." He said as he ran toward the vampire.
"Wait, he is turning back around toward you guys," Willow said.
Just then Spike saw the vampire running toward them and he had wicked smile on his face. He could have laughed at the surprised look on the vamps face when he hit the ground. "You know…we just wanted to talk, but you had to go an make things difficult." A voice said as a person stepped out from behind a tombstone. The next thing the vamp knew he was dust in the wind.
"Faith…we were wondering when you were going to show," Giles said as he walked up to her all out of breath followed by Tara.
"Why don't you guys leave the vamps to me and Blondie?" she asked as she watched them trying to catch their breath. "After all we could be a lot more successful without you guys around to look after," she added.
"What is that supposed to mean!" Tara asked outraged.
"Guys stop arguing…Xander and Anya need your help," Willow said.
"And I rest my case," Faith said as she took off in the direction that Xander and Anya were. She had no idea how Buffy always out up with this, always fighting vamps yet keeping all her friends alive…she had to give the senior slayer credit, it was hard and she had lone been doing it for a few month, Buffy had did it for years. Man she missed Buffy more than anyone, except Queen C of course, but Willow and everyone she had beat. Sure they had been her friends for years and years but Buffy was her slayer sister. The one person in the entire world that had the slightest idea at what the hell is was she was going through. And man did she miss their constant fighting about nothing at all important and most of all she missed those eyes.
Buffy's eyes had always been so full of life. She remembered when they would fight and Buffy's eyes would get so angry. It was always easy to tell what Buffy was feeling because, just like Angel had said one time, she wear her heart on her sleeve for anyone to see. And it scared Faith that one day someone would come along and break it…just like it had scared Angel. It was funny how much they actually had in common.
When they found Anya and Xander they were fighting for their lives with just one vamp. Xander was on the ground and they got there just in time to see Anya being thrown to the ground. The vamp was closing in on them when someone came up from behind the vamp and staked him right before she was about to bite them, and drain them dry.
"I thought we got rid of that thing," Xander said as he turned to Faith and Spike.
"What…I thought it could come in handy," Faith said as she shrugged her shoulders. She walked over to the Buffybot and patted her on her back. "Nice one B," she said as if it were really Buffy standing there.
"Thanks Faith," the Buffybot said.
They all shock their heads and walked away from Faith and the Buffybot. Sure it did come in handy when the Council came around looking for Buffy, or when Dawn needed someone to go to school with her…but one thing still held true. That it wasn't Buffy…no one or anything could take her place in their hearts.
Summers residence
The morning had been the hardest for them all to adapt to since Buffy died. Buffy had always seemed to take care of things after Joyce's death…her and Cordelia were the ones that people went to when they needed to talk to someone and now neither one of them were around. Cordelia was off in L.A. not talking to anyone and Buffy was in the ground.
Willow never did understand how Buffy did all that after her mother's death. She took care of Dawn, made sure to save the world when it needed to be saved, and she still found time to pay the bills. She had to give Buffy more credit now than she ever did.
Willow walked down the hall looked for a pair of shoes that she had lost. Tara told her that Dawn might have borrowed them…so Willow made her way to Dawn's room. As she did she passed Buffy's room. They left it all the same, her bed, her clothes still on the floor with Cordelia's, her pictures still on the mirror, and her bed still un-made from the last time she had slept in it. She never did like to make her bed…she said she didn't see the point when she would end up un-making it when she went to bed that night. Willow smiled at the memory as she continued to walk down the hall.
She reached the bathroom, which was where she found Dawn brushing her teeth and getting ready for school. Willow sighed as she thought about how much Buffy would have wanted to see this…to watch Dawn getting ready for school. She would never admit it of course, that's just the way she was. It was what made her Buffy.
"Dawnie?" Willow called out as she looked at the youngest Summers.
"Yeah?" Dawn said looking at her.
"You wouldn't happen to know about a pair of missing shoes now would ya?" Willow asked with a smile as Dawn had the toothbrush ticking out of her mouth as she thought about it.
"I don't have your shoes," she said as she turned back to the mirror.
Willow sighed as she walked back down the hallway toward her room. If Dawn didn't have them and she didn't know where they were than maybe there really was a shoe-eating monster…no that would be impossible. She saw Tara just coming out of the bathroom all ready for the day and she walked over to her girlfriend and took her into a nice long hug.
"What was that for?" Tara asked when they pulled away from each other and made their way downstairs to start the day. "Not that I am complaining or anything," she said with a smile as they came to the bottom of the stairs.
"I just wanted to say 'hey' in a different way," Willow said as they rounded the corner and came into the kitchen just as Xander was walking in. The Buffybot was making peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and Dawn was coming down from her room ready for some breakfast. "Ready for school?" she asked when Dawn took a seat on one of the stools.
"As ready as I will ever be to sit in a boring class and learn about stuff that I will forget by the time I make it home," she said with a smile as she watched Willow wince. Willow's gets real excited about school and she gets mad every time someone talks bad about it. "I am just kidding Will…I can't wait to do learn things," she said as she watched the red head relax.
"Yo…is anyone home or awake?" A voice came from the front door as they all heard it close.
"In here Faith," Xander called out. He didn't like having her around because at any moment she could decided to go all evil again and start killing them. But for her credit she has made a big improvement to the not being evil portion of her life.
"Hey Red, Xander, Dawn," Faith said as she entered the kitchen. "Oh…sandwiches," she said as she grabbed one and started eating. "So today is the big day huh?" Faith asked as she looked at Dawn. "Parent teacher day?" she asked. "Right?"
"Oh yeah…you can come can't you?" Dawn asked worried.
Faith almost chocked on her food. "What…me? Why not use the Buffybot?" Faith said as she put the sandwich down.
"But she doesn't know that much…and she is more outspoken that you." She paused. "She doesn't know how to not say embarrassing things," Dawn said. "Plus I don't think she is ready for that," she added.
"I think is ready…more than ready in fact, Red?" Faith asked pleading but then Dawn gave her the look. The look that Buffy always gave her when she needed something. The big bad Summers pouty face…it was a legend. "What is that face embedded in the Summers DNA?" Faith asked and then she gave Dawn another look. "Fine…I'll go." She sighed as she took another bite of her sandwich.
Xander looked at the scene before him and smiled. Faith had grown more attached to Dawn since Buffy died; almost like thinking that since Buffy wasn't around anymore she had to be the one that needed to take care of her. Almost like something help make amends for all the things she did to Buffy and her friends.
Xander looked over at Willow and she looked away from him. He didn't know if what they where going to do tonight was something that really needed to be done. Maybe the world is better now that she is gone…because they had a chance to now someone great and they missed out of it…what would happen if the did bring her back and she came back wrong? Would they be able to do what had to be done?
"Okay ladies…what needs fixing?" he asked as he put his toolbox on the counter.
"The sink," Tara said as she entered the room and grabbed her bag. She walked over to Willow and gave her a kiss. "I am off to class…I'll be home in a couple of hours," She said as she walked out of the room. "Bye guys," she said over her shoulder.
Faith smiled at Willow and then looked at the clock behind Xander's head. "Okay Dawn…I guess we are off to fight with the teachers." She said with a smile. Just as they were walking out the door the phone rang and they all froze.
"I'll get it!" the Buffybot said.
"No!" Willow said as she grabbed the phone. "This is the Summers residence both Summers' women are out at the moment is there anything I can do for you?" Willow said. "Oh hey Giles…what's up?" she asked as she sighed a long sigh of relief. She waved to Faith and Dawn telling them that it is okay so the left. "Your what?" she asked. "But…you can't." she said. "We need you," she finished. "So your not right away but you are going to eventually?" she asked. "Okay I guess," she said. "Bye."
"What is it Will?" Xander asked as he looked at his best friend.
"Giles is going back to England in a few hours," she said. "Right in time when we are…"
"Going to bring her back," he said and she nodded. "Speaking of bringing her back…are you sure about this?" he asked. "I mean we don't know where she is," he added as he looked at her.
"She is in a hell dimension," Willow said. "Plus we need her…Cordelia needs her." She added.
"No she doesn't," Xander said. "Cordy would eventually move on…"
"When was the last time you talked to her?" Willow asked and her didn't answer. "The last time I talk to her was at the funeral…and all I said was that I am sorry." He paused. "The fact is that we lost Cordelia when Buffy died, Buffy was the reason she stayed around her with us…because before she hooked up with Buffy she never even spoke to us," she added. "I am afraid to admit this but I miss her," Willow said. "I miss them both," she added.
"So do I will but…"
"You see this face…you know what it means," she said pointing her resolve face. "I am scared to Xander…but we need her," Willow finished.
"Okay…so the sink," he said changing the subject.
He still didn't know if it was a good idea or not but it was something that they had to do. Willow made it very clear to all of them that Buffy is suffering in a hell dimension because she saved the world and they need to get her out of there before it is too late. The one question that lingered in his mind still was, what would that do is Buffy was to come back wrong?
Magic Box
Xander walked into the Magic Box with a box of books that Giles had asked him to pick up on his way over to the shop…when he entered the place where the box where he came to the conclusion that he was never going to pick anything up foe Giles again, except donuts. Anya was standing near Giles when he entered and it looked at if they were fighting, which would not be that big of a surprise.
Giles was packing a box full of his stuff because he was moving back to England and Anya was fighting with him about weather or not he could take the stuff he wanted. Giles had given the shop to Anya and he was going to be an overseas partners…but the shop was hers to run as she saw fit. Xander thanked Giles for that because now it would make his life a lot easier, because Anya was a person that loved money so much that nothing else really mattered.
But she did tell him once that no amount of money would ever come close to how much she loved him…and that was the reason he asked her to marry him…because there was no way on this earth that he was going to give her up to someone else. He loved her more than life itself…and he wanted everyone to know that he was in love with Anya…the former ex-demon.
"Xander!" Anya called to him breaking the little trance he was in. That always happened to him when he was thinking about Anya…he got lost in thought. "Tell Giles that he can not take the stapler…that is a Magic Box stapler…not a Giles stapler!" she said as she raised her hands above her head thinking that he would solve everything.
"Anya…honey, I will buy you a new stapler." He said as he walked past her and over to the table where he set the boxes down and started to go through them.
"That's not the point Xander!" she shouted as she walked over to him leaving Giles alone with the stapler. "I own this shop now…and he thinks he can take anything he wants…tell him that he can't take anything he wants!" she yelled.
"Anya…this is still his shop, you guys are partners." He tried to reason with her. "If you make him mad he could possibly take anything he wants…and he can even take the shop from you and give it to someone else." He finished.
"You always take his side!" she shouted as she walked away from him and toward the back of the shop. "If you like Giles so much why don't you marry him," she said loud enough for only him to hear. "Because obviously you don't want to marry me," she said in a lower voice.
"What would make you say that?" he asked as he looked down at her.
"I don't like keeping this secrete," she said as she looked down at the floor. Just as he was about to say something she looked back up at him. "I want everyone to know that your may Xander…and that no one can have you." She added. "I want them all to know," she said.
"I we will let them know…just as soon…" he paused not sure how to say it.
Anya understanding where he was going looked back down at the floor. "Just as soon as she comes back," he nodded. "What makes you think she wont come back wrong? I mean does Willow really understand what she is dealing with?" she paused as she moved closer to Xander. "I mean…Xander, this is life and death we're talking about. That isn't something that the higher powers take wholeheartedly…people playing with life and death," she added. "I'm scared."
"So am I," he said as he took her in his arms. "But I promise that I will not let anything happen to you," he added. "I promise."
Summers residence
Every night for the past month Spike had to be the one to sit in the Summers house and watch over Dawn, just because Willow and Tara wanted to go over to Xander to talk about something that Dawn was too young to hear. He knew for a fact that Faith was there too because when they came home he could smell Faith all over them…and once she even brought them home. Just to make sure that there got there safely.
He didn't mind hanging out with Dawn. Over the one-month they had so far spent together they had started to get along great. He told her stuff that he had never told anyone and she told him things that she wasn't ready to tell anyone. He even read her some poetry that he still rights from time to time.
She could tell that mostly all of his poetry was about Buffy and what affect she had on him over the years. How she had made him switch side, to fight the good fight instead of the bad fight. Buffy is who actually made his undead life worth living.
"So Spike…what do you want to do tonight?" Dawn asked as she broke the silence that had fallen over them. She love hanging out with Spike and all but I mean the guy never talks, at least not about anything important or interesting. He was kind of boring…unless of course he was killing things, than he was fun to be around. She had a crush and she knew it.
"I don't know, Niblit…we have all night," he said as he took the remote of the coffee table in front of him. "I say we watch some TV," he said with a smirk.
"Hello Spike, it's Friday night." She said and looked at her with a face that 'am I supposed to be impresses?' "God when you become a vampire do you lose you social life?" she asked him and he shrugged and turned back to the TV. "Friday night is the night that everyone goes out and parties…so why are we not parting?" she asked. He turned to look at her again and again he shrugged. "Men!" she yelled as she got up of the couch and went up to her room.
"Whatever," Spike said as he continued to look through the channels on the TV. He looked toward the stairs as he saw her coming back down to join him. "I thought you were sulking?" he asked as he looked at her.
"I got bored of it," she said.
"Listen Dawn, I know you want to go out and have a good time like all the normal kids do." He paused. "But I promised your sister that I would protect you…I wont be able to do that if we are in a house that is why to over crowed with horny teenagers." He said. "Maybe some other time," he added and she smiles. He turned back to the TV. "So what is up with Riley?" he asked wondering where soldier boy had run of to.
"I don't know…I haven't seen him since the fight with Glory," she said. "I think he left town or something." She added.
"Sorry," he said knowing that she had feelings for him. Sometimes he just didn't understand men…why would he run out on Buffy, who in Spike's mind is the hottest women he has ever seen, and then run out of Dawn, who isn't that bad looking wither. Sometime men are just stupid.
"No need to be sorry…I've moved on, found someone new," she said with a smirk.
He nodded his understand and then went back to watching TV. They sat there in silence for the rest of the night both thinking their own thoughts about something or other. Neither one of them knowing the danger that was headed their way.
Some alleyway
It was something they did, the creatures of the night, something they learned to love. The hunt, stalking your pray, learning their every move so it made the kill that much more easy. They enjoyed it even more when they could smell the fear coming from the human and they tried to get further and further away not knowing that there was no where they could go where they would be safe. It was like a drug.
But then you got those stupid vamps that think it is all about the strength. The one that don't treat their kill like poetry in motion. As a the vamp that sired these stupid ones you prey that they will learn to be more conning, more fancy, than just going up to someone and sucking their life out of them. Because if you go around do that to every one of your victims it tends to become boring.
As the vamp walked behind his prey he started to advance on her until she turned around. When she did so he quickly ducked behind a trashcan. When she turned back around and continued walked he came out from his hiding spot and this time instead of stalking his prey he simply went up to her grabbed her and dragged her into the alley. She tried to get away but it wasn't doing much.
He pulled her up against the wall and titled her head so he would have easier access. Just as he was about to take a big bite out of her neck a voice interrupted him. A voice that struck fear into every undead things heart…if they had a heart. The slayers voice.
"You know that is not a nice way to treat a lady," she said as she stepped out of the shadows. Before he knew she was attacking him. She threw him to the ground but he quickly got up and started to attack her. They threw punch after punch at each other, some landing and some not even coming close. Until finally she landed a good one on him and he went down. But this time when he came back up he had a broken bottle in his hand and he hit her across the head cutting her forehead. "Hey!" He saw the sparks coming form her head and her realized that she isn't real…she was a robot. "Got to find Willow," she said as she started walking away just to end up walking into a wall.
Xander's apartment
Willow, Tara, Anya, Xander, and Faith were all sitting in Xander's living room. They had just received the last item they needed to complete the ritual they were going to do to bring Buffy back. They all knew what they were doing and the consequence that this type of spell could have…yet none of them seemed to care.
They all wanted Buffy back, they all wanted to see her smiling face again. Faith was the one that had come to them with the idea, she had told everyone that she had researched about hell dimensions, and after everyone got over the initial shock of Faith researching, they all decided that they needed to get to work before it was too late.
Tara was the only one that really needed convince. She said that it was not right for them to be messing around with life and death. She had told them that what happened had happened for a reason and they should leave it alone…but Willow had convinced her that the world would be a better place with Buffy in it.
It hadn't been easy for the Scooby gang since Buffy died. Having to fight against evil with only a psycho slayer and a vampire was not all it chalked up to be. Yeah Faith is a slayer and everything but she is no Buffy. You always know that Buffy would do what it takes to save someone or the world, yet Faith…well she is just a lose cannon and you never really know what she is going to do. You never know if she is going to show up when she is needed for some world ending battle…while Buffy, you always knew she would be there till the end.
"Okay so let's get do to business," Anya said. "I have more important things to do tonight and some of them involve Xander so if you don't mind I would like to hurry this up," she said and she noticed that everyone was looking at her. "What?"
"Moving on to a subject that does not involve my sex life please," Xander said looking at Willow and Tara pointedly.
Willow nodded and looked at Tara. "We're all set for tomorrow night," she said. "I got what we needed and we are ready to bring Buffy back," she stated flatly.
"You got the blood?" Tara asked and Willow nodded. "Honey that could have been dangerous you should have let me come with you," she added as she looked at Willow.
"I did what had to be done," Willow said. "I did what none of you wanted to do," she added. "The blood was a key ingredient that needed to be taken care of…" she trailed off. "I was safe." She added and Tara looked away. "Okay so let's be clear, tomorrow night we are bringing Buffy back…no question asked." She said and they all nodded. "Good."
"Wait," Xander said standing up. "I am having doubt Will," he said. "I mean this is life and death," he said.
"Don't think I understand that…but it is Buffy and she is probably suffering in some hell dimension while we sit around arguing about weather or not we should bring her back!" she shouted. "I doing it, with or without your help," she added.
"I miss her too Will but come on…do you really know where she is." He paused. "As far as we know she could be in heaven." He added.
"Guys," Faith said from where she was sitting next to Tara. "This is the Hellmouth we live on…what are the chances that Buffy went to heaven. I mean she jumped into a vortex that just happened to be created to open a whole to a demon dimension," Faith said as if it explained everything.
"Exactly," Willow said.
"Well not all demon dimensions are bad pleases," Anya said. They all looked at her. "Some of them are a lot nicer than this place that you call home," she added.
"Okay whatever," Faith said. "All I am saying is that if we don't want to bring her back for ourselves than at least try for Queen C…because as much as it pains me to say this I kinda miss her," Faith added. "If any of you repeat what I just said I will kill you," she said with a smirk.
"Okay say this all happens without a hitch…what would happen if Buffy did come back wrong?" Xander asked.
"Than we would have to kill her," Tara said bluntly. "There is a possibility that Buffy could come back as something completely different than what she was…and if that happen we have to take away the life we created," she added as an after thought.
They all remained silent as they thought about what Tara had just told them. Of course Willow knew what had to be done of Buffy did come back as something other than Buffy but she wasn't ready to tell everyone because she needed their support. But one thing that they all had in the back of their minds was were they really ready to do what had to be done if she came back wrong? Could they kill Buffy…the person that saved their lives so many times?
Magic Box
Giles was training with the Buffybot as if it where actually the real Buffy. As if nothing had changed between them, it was kind of unnerving when you think about it. It was almost like the Buffybot was Buffy substitute…like a replacement. The only thing that the Buffybot doesn't have that the really Buffy had is Cordelia. Cordelia wont go anywhere near the Buffybot.
He was teaching her everything that he used to teach Buffy when she was first starting out. It wasn't like her couldn't tell the difference between them…it was just that he didn't want to. Because every time he did he would have to remember that Buffy was gone…and that she wasn't coming back.
"You have to breathe…like a human person…" he trailed off as Anya walked into the training room. "Yes Anya?" he asked already annoyed and she hadn't even said anything yet.
"You're teaching her to breathe?" she asked and he looked away. "She isn't a descendent of warriors," he looked at her. "She is a descendent of a toaster-oven," she finished. "As much as you want to make her like Buffy, Giles I am sorry to be the one to tell you but…she isn't Buffy," she said.
"Don't you think I know that!" he asked irritated.
"Than start acting like it," she said before she turned and walked away from the two of them and back into the main shop.
"What was her problem?" Buffybot asked.
Giles looked toward the door and then back at the Buffybot and sighed. "Nothing…she is just being Anya," he paused. "I think we're done for today," he said as he grabbed the towel off of the mates and whipped his face off. As he did this he noticed that the Buffybot once again was not breathing and Anya words rung in his head. She isn't Buffy.
Some demon bar
Vampires were and are the lowest demon of the food chain. They are highly disrespected anywhere they good, all but a few…some a highly respected, but not many. The vampire that sat at the bar, the one that had the run in with the Buffybot, sat there with a drink in his hand…he was not respected at all…not even a little bit. The demons in the bar were looking at him as if he was crazy because not a single vamp dared to come into this bar…but he was different, crazy, but different.
A demon walked over to the vamp and tapped him on the shoulder. When the vamp turned around them demon grabbed him by the collar and lifted him up off the ground. "What the hell do you think your doing her vampire?" he snarled.
"I-I have some information on the slayer that I thought you guys would like to know…something that is important," he said as he was now staring the man in the face that could possibly take his undead life away. "It is something that you would really, really, like to know." He said.
"Tell me," the demon said. "I will decided on if it is important enough to tell the boss." He added.
The vampire nodded and told the demon in front of him what he had found out about the slayer. At first this demon didn't believe him but then he somehow, and somewhat grateful, convinced him that what he was saying was true. The demon took his over to his boss, who was some ugly looking demon that could scare a human just by looking at them. The vamp told him what he had told the other demon and this time the head demon wasn't surprised.
He said that he had heard something about the slayer dieing but everyone he sent to get prove never came back so he just assumed it was a rumor. But know this vampire came into his bar and told him that the slayer was died and they had a robot in her place told him that the rumors were true. He smiled and evil smile and then he looked over at the vamp and saw him smiling as well and this just made the demon smile even more.
He stuck his hand out and watched as the vamps eyes bugged out and then he smiled even more when he ripped the head off the vamp and he turned to dust. "Let's ride boys…we got us a party at the Hellmouth," he said as all his minions walked out of the bar and got on their bike. It was time for them to have some fun.
Airport
Giles sat at the airport, by himself, just thinking about all the things that had happened to him in Sunnydale. He fell in love for the first time, really in love, not his plain passion he had whenever Oliva came to town. With Jenny it was so much more…they were and always would be in love, even thought she was died.
He had met and trained his first slayer. She wasn't like what they taught you at the Watcher Council…no class could teach you what your slayer would be like. Buffy was unlike anything he had every dreamed. She was outgoing, caring, strong, and she always thought about others before herself. She was always willing to give up her life before she let some innocent person die…that way just who she was.
Another thing that was different about her was that she had friends. Every watcher before him had kept his slayer broken off from the world…but Buffy was aloud to have a life. Okay so she wasn't aloud, she was going to have one even if Giles told her not to. Yet her having friends and family by her side all the time is what made her just that much stronger than the slayers before her.
Her friends had become like a family to him. He cared about them as if they were his own, that is if he had children. They all stood up for what they believe was right, and they all stood before Buffy when they thought she was wrong. Which in his opinion is a very brave thing to do, because getting in front of a very pissed off slayer, well lets just say it isn't the smartest idea. And then there was Faith. She had a rough road to get to where she is today but he had no doubt that she would make him proud in the end…just like Buffy did.
"Did you think you were going to be able to leave with a goodbye?" a voice said from behind him and when he turned around he saw Willow and the rest of them standing there. "What did you think we were going to embarrass you?" she assed as she took a sigh out form behind her back that had 'GOODBYE GILES' written in big bold letters. "What would have made you think that?"
He smiled as he stood up and walked over to where they were and the first one to approach him was Dawn. "I made this for you," she said as she handed him a yellow envelope. He opened it and saw a picture of him, Buffy, and Dawn…they were researching something. "Have a nice flight," she said as she gave him a hug.
The next person to come toward him was Tara. "Here I got you this so you wouldn't forget us," she said handing him a plastic demon. She gave him a hug and then moved out of the way for Anya.
Anya didn't know what to say, he was her boss…but other than that he was just Giles. She walked up to him and gave him a hug. "Thanks for the shop…I promise to take care of all the money," she said. In her own little way that was her way of saying goodbye and Giles really appreciated it.
The next in line was Faith; she just smiled at him as he brought her in for a hug. "Thanks for always believing in me G-man," she said and he smiled as he released her.
Next in line way Xander. "I didn't bring you nothing…I hopped that I was enough," he said as the hugged, a manly hug.
"It was always enough," he said and it had a deeper meaning and Xander knew that.
If you want to
I can save you
I can take you away from here
So lonely inside
So busy out there
And all you wanted was somebody who cares
Willow was the next one her had to say goodbye too…and she was the hardest. He remembered her from the first time her saw her as the nerdy little girl that first walked into his library asking for a math book.
All you wanted was somebody who cares
If you need me you know I'll be there
Oh, yeah
And then she turned into this woman right before his eyes, and he was proud of the women she had become. Without her it was possible that he and Buffy would have solved have the mysteries they solved.
If you want to
I can save you
I can take you away from here
So lonely inside
So busy out there
And all you wanted was somebody who cares
Than she took on witchcraft…and helped in more ways than even she knew. She helped save the world on many occasions. Without her a lot of people would be dead
Please can you tell me
So I can finally see
Where you go when you're gone.
"I told myself that I wasn't going to cry. That I was going to be the strong one and know that you would come back whenever we needed you." She said as a tear fell down her face. "I told myself that you weren't that far away," she added as she looked up at him.
"I am only a phone call away," he said as he took her in his arms. "I am going to miss you Willow," he said as he released her and looked at everyone. "I am going to miss you all…you guys are and always will be my family," he said as he turned and walked toward the plane. Before he boarded the plane he took one more look at them…his family. It was going to be tough without them around but like he told Willow…he was only a phone call away…that a long, long plane ride.
He sighed and boarded the plane leaving his old life behind to find a new one.
Cemetery (later that night)
Xander, Anya, Tara, and Willow all sat in a circle around Buffy's grave. Faith was walked, watching, keeping guard, from the woods that surrounded them. They were asking for their champion, the savior back, they couldn't have Faith in the circle cause as far as the higher powers are concerned she is now their champion.
All three of them sat and watched as Willow said stuff in some foreign language that not even Tara understood. The watched as she put her fingers into the vase that held the blood that she had collected and put it on her face…there was defiantly an ick factor.
Xander looked over at Tara and she just shrugged and than at Anya who wore a grossed out face and he couldn't help but smile. But when he turned back to Willow she was surrounded by this light and he didn't know if they should help her.
Just than she stuck her hands out and she received dead lashes in her arms and she cried out in pain. "We need to help her!" Xander shouted and Tara shuck her head no. "Why the hell not!" he asked.
"She told me that she was going to have to go through some t-test." Tara explained. "This is just a test." He said trying to convince Xander and herself.
They all looked back at Willow and saw that the deep lashes were leaving her skin but than something was crawling up her arms. And they all knew that she could feel it because she looked down at her arm and pain was clearly written all over her face. As the thing in her arm ran up her arm and than up her neck the gang became more and more worried for their friend.
They thought they were all worried out when the next thing they knew Faith came running toward them. "We have trouble guys…we have to get out of here," she said and they could hear the sound of motorcycles in the background.
Meanwhile…
Back at the Summers house Spike was once again watching Dawn when he heard motorcycles being revved up. He got up and looked out of window and saw something that he didn't want to see. He turned around and saw Dawn coming down the stairs.
"Spike what is that noise?" she asked.
"Demons that are big on destroying towns that don't have anyone to protect them," he explained as he walked over to her and grabbed her wrist bringing her to the ground. "This is not good because that means that…" he let his sentences trail off.
"That they know that Buffy is gone," Dawn finished for him. Sunnydale was in trouble.
Meanwhile…
The Buffybot walked the streets of Sunnydale when something grabbed her from behind and took her away.
Meanwhile…
The gang was still sitting in the circle listen to the sound of motorcycles when suddenly one came crashing through the trees and right in front of Willow. They all held their breaths praying that the bikers wouldn't hit Willow. Luckily he didn't but he didn't happen to smash that vase that was holding the blood, which was rare that they were rarely going to find another. Which meant that if the spell didn't work than Buffy was gone forever.
"No!" Willow cried out as she fell to the ground. As a biker was coming toward her Faith quickly picked her up and looked at Xander.
"Xan go with Anya and Tara, get to the Magic Box and call Spike and Dawn and tell them to get there too. We will met you there," Faith said as she, with Willow in her arms, ran off into the woods leaving Xander, Tara, and Anya to run for themselves. And it was easy to say that they weren't far behind.
As they were all running scared for their lives, with the demons in hot pursuit, they all failed to see the hand shoot out to the ground and grasp the grass as the body beneath the ground slowly pulled itself back to the surface…a place the soul in the body thought that it would never see again.
Just as the first hand shoot out the second hand shoot out and soon there was a head breathing for air as if the person had breathed air in a long time, in fact the person hadn't…because they had been dead and in a town like Sunnydale staying dead is harder than staying alive.
The body soon was all the way up from the ground and looking around scared for it's life. And it is easy to tell that the body, which in fact just happens to be Buffy Anne Summers, does not want to be back to the land of the living.
Magic Box
Xander, Anya, and Tara all entered the Magic Box all out of breath. Tara quickly went in and looked around and when she came back she had a horrified look on her face. As if she had just seen a dead body or a ghost. Anya looked at her horrified also as if she had just seen that her shop was destroyed beyond repair…it was a horrible feeling for a shopkeeper…especially since she had just gotten the shop all to herself.
"What is it Tara?" Xander asked.
"Is it my shop?" Anya asked as she received a glare from Xander. "What?"
"I-it's Willow and F-faith…they aren't here," Tara said.
"Don't worry, I am sure they are one their way. Willow is in safe hands…she has a slayer with her." Xander said trying both to convince Tara and himself that his long time best friend was indeed okay. Because if something had happened to Willow and Faith he didn't think he would ever be able to forgive himself for leaving them alone like that. Even if Faith was a slayer, he was a man and it is his job to protect the women in the family.
Xander eyes shot open in shock. When did he start thinking of Faith as family?
Woods
Faith set a still unconscious Willow down on the ground. They had been walking for a good half an hour and still they where in the woods. Which didn't make much since to Faith since it took her just about a half in hour to run the town of Sunnydale, with slayer spend of course. But the woods could be that big, she looked at Willow and then she looked back out into the darkness.
She had to admit something that she swore to herself that she was never going to admit. She was lost and she hopped to god that Willow would wake up soon so she could help her find her way out of these woods. Plus she knew for a fact that those demons were still on their tail.
"Your lost aren't you?" Willow said and Faith looked down at her and smiles. "Just keep going straight…there has to be an end somewhere," Willow said.
"Can you walk?" Faith asked and soon Willow was on her feet, yet still a little wobbly. "Here put your arm around my shoulder, I'll support you."
"Geez Faith I never knew you were so caring," Willow joked.
"Don't get used to it Red," she said as they continued walking.
Magic Box
Tara was pacing, she could believe that they weren't back yet. They should have been back a while ago, but no they were still out there with those demons. Xander couldn't get a hold of Spike and Dawn either and that just made Tara worry even more. As she was worrying she couldn't help but think if this was how Joyce felt every time Buffy went out and risked the possibility of not coming home.
She looked up as Xander and Anya came walking back into the room. He hung his head and Tara increased her pace. Than she looked up so fast that both Xander and Anya jumped and they were surprised that she didn't get whiplash. "I know this spell I can do…it will track them down and show them the way out." She said as she climbed onto the table.
"And you're just thinking about this now?" Anya asked. Tara glared at her but said nothing as she did the spell and Xander went back to the phone to one again try Spike and Dawn.
Woods
Willow leaned up against a tree and Faith bent over trying to catch her breath, they had just had a close call with a group of demons looking to party. Faith looked over at Willow and she saw that Willow looked worn out, from both the spell and the running away from the demons.
She had not idea how or when Willow had become so powerful. All she remembered was the red headed nerd that used to hang around with Buffy all the time. She never knew that Willow, nerdy Willow, would become so powerful that she could bring someone back from the dead.
"Hey Red…you alright?" Faith asked as she closely at Willow and saw that she had been crying.
"No," she whimpered. She looked up at Faith and smiled, Faith had changed so much since high school that it was shocking. "I failed," Willow said looking away. "I failed Buffy and Dawn…and Cordelia…I couldn't bring Buffy back," she said.
"We can try again," Faith said.
"No we can't…we are never going to be able to find the vase again, it was one of a kind," Willow said as she stood up straighter as she saw something in the distance.
"Never say never when I am around," Faith said as she looked where Willow was looking and then back at Willow. "What are you looking at?" Faith asked as she once again looked in the direction of where Willow was looking.
"It's Tara," Willow said. "She found us," she added.
"Huh?" Faith asked confused. Just then a little blue light came up to them and started buzzing around their heads. "Okay, is there something you need to tell me?" Faith asked as she swatted the blue light away yet it didn't go anywhere. Than Willow started to follow the light after it started to leave. "After you," Faith said as she followed the red head.
Somewhere in Sunnydale
Buffy walked around in a daze…almost like she didn't know where she was going, which she didn't but still. She was walking around like a lost little child. She had her eyes squinted as if even the darkness hurt her eyes. Her hair was a mess like she just crawled out of the ground, which she did. She didn't want to be back here, she wanted be with her mother in Heaven where she thought she had been before she was pulled out.
She walked around burning cars, and little firs that had been set in the street. This place was worse than hell, not that she had ever been to hell but she did remember Angel talking about it…and this was defiantly worse. He thoughts where all confused and she didn't know what to make of anything. She was trying to find her way home but she didn't really know if home was where she should go.
They say that home is where the heart is right? So in that case wouldn't her home be in L.A. with Cordelia?
Summers house
Spike and Dawn had made it out of the back of the Summers house just as they heard Xander voice on the answering machine. Dawn wanted to answer the phone but he told her no, he told her that they needed to leave. He had no doubt in his mind that they where all at the Magic Box…so he was headed that way.
Dawn came up behind him and saw the smile on his face as he watched demons tear apart house after house and she just shuck her head. Men, she would never understand them. Then she saw him turn to look at her and his face softened, he knew he had to get her out of here.
"Stay here," he said as he walked away from her. He could feel her grabbing at him but he ignored the urge to go back to her. He walked out into the road and he stared down a demon that was coming full speed at him on a motorcycle…he just smiled his evil smile. Once the demon got close enough he kicked and the demon went flying. He got on the bike and looked back toward where Dawn was. "Let's fly pigeon," he yelled and she came running out of her hiding spot.
Magic Box
Tara and Anya where standing by the back door as Xander stood by the front window watching to male sure that nothing came near the shop. If it did they where going to have to run for their lives again and he really, really didn't want to do that. Tara was still pacing worried that Willow and Faith would end up meeting with some demons on their way here, but Xander kept assuring her that if they did Faith wouldn't let anything happen to Willow.
Just as Xander about to take another look put the window a knock came at the door where Tara and Anya where standing. They looked at him scared, not sure if they should open it or just pretend that they aren't there. "Open it," he said and they looked at his confused. "Demons wouldn't knock," he explained. And when they opened the door Faith stood there with Willow in her arms.
"She passed out on the way here," Faith explained as she brought her into the shop and set her in a chair. "Where is Dawn and Spike?" she asked as she looked around and didn't see them.
"We couldn't get a hold of them," Anya explained.
"We have to get out of here," Willow said as she looked at them. "They will destroy this shop and anyone left inside…we have to leave." She said as she stood up. She almost fell to the floor as her legs gave away but Faith caught her.
"You sure about this Red?" she asked.
"Positive," Willow said as she pushed away from Faith. "I'm fine," she added. "We need to leave to find Dawn and Spike," she explained and that was enough to convince them to leave the shop behind…even Anya didn't argue.
Sunnydale streets
Buffy continued to walk around lost, even more so that before. She came to a house that had a car in the driveway that hadn't been lit on fire so she walked up to it and leaned on it and as soon as she did a loud siren went off. She covered her ears to block out the sound to little success. Then the lights came on and she tried to block the light as well as trying to block the sound…she was having a really hard time and at that moment she wished she were still in the ground.
"Hey! Get away…go somewhere else," a man said and when she looked toward the door she saw him standing there with a gun in his hand. She didn't understand why everyone was so mean. She pushed away from the car and walked away from the house and into further confusion.
She walked along the street and as she looked up ahead she could see a group of people standing there…well at least fro where she was standing they looked like people. As she walked closer it became clear to her that they where not people at all…for from being people, yet she still approached.
After a couple for feet she saw someone tied up in the middle of the group…and the person looked like her or at least she thought it did. She didn't understand how that was possible that she was standing her yet there was someone else that looked just like her standing over there. Then it hit her…it was the Buffybot. Faith's Buffybot, they must have kept her around so the Watcher Council didn't think she was dead. And as she looked around she saw that she was tied to three motorcycles.
Before she knew they demons had started they engines and drove away pulling the Buffybot in three different directions. Pulling her to pieces. She could hear herself screaming but she could stop before they all turned to look at her. "Oh look another one," one of them said and soon they where all running after her.
Back alleyway
Xander, Anya, Tara, Willow, and Faith where all walking the back alleys hopping to find Spike with Dawn in one of his many hangouts…but so far they where having no luck. As they where walking along they could still hear the sound of the motorcycles and glass is broken and it was not a comforting sound.
Xander was in the back with Anya, while Willow and Tara where in the middle, and Faith was up in front. Faith looked like she was in her own little world and Tara and Willow were talking about the spell and Tara was trying ton convince Willow that they could find another vase and that they would be able to try and bring Buffy back again.
Anya was going on and on in Xander's ear about telling everyone right now that they where going to get married. Her reasoning was that it was a tough time in their lives right now and it would help to cheer everyone up…he just ignored as he kept his eyes forward.
Just as they where about to round a corner someone fell in front of them after this person jumped the fence. Faith went to attack but Willow yelled to her not too, and Faith remembered the time that Buffy had yelled to her not to stack but that time she was too late, this time she was grateful that she stopped. When the person stood at full height they could see that it was Buffy…or the Buffybot.
"Will, I think you should program this thing to find the nearest gas station when it is hurt not you," Xander said as he looked at the Buffybot and then he noticed something. "Is she…"
"She's breathing," Faith said. "It's Buffy," she added.
Streets of Sunnydale
Spike and Dawn where just riding along when he saw a big bomb fire a little ways away. His curiously getting the best of him once again he and Dawn rode over there once again to check it out. As he walked around he couldn't help but remember all the times him, Darla, Dru and even Angelus used to do this exact same thing. Except them would eat the people instead of ripping them to pieces.
He walked up to the center of the circle that was made out of broken thing, bent metals, and just a whole bunch of junk. He saw the Buffybot lying there in a few different pieces and he couldn't help but think that there was no way that Willow was going to be able to fix the Buffybot again this time. She sighed as he thought about not having a reminder of Buffy around the house.
Dawn walked up to where he was standing and he put his hand on her shoulder, "It was just a machine Dawn, it isn't real," he said.
"Yeah but she was real for some time," Dawn said as she kneeled down in front of the Buffybot and Spike went of into the distance to continuing to look around.
Just than the Buffybot looked at Dawn and smile and Dawn wanted to cry. "Where did I go?" it asked and Dawn looked at her confused. "I was here and now I am gone." She paused. "No me, me the other me," she said as she looked at Dawn. "I was hereeeee," she died out.
Dawn thought about it for a minute and then she took off running to the only place she knew she had a chance at finding Buffy. "Dawn!" she heard Spike said behind her but there was no way that he was going to able to stop her if she had a chance at seeing her sister again.
Alleyway
Buffy looked at the group of people that had followed her into the alleyway. She couldn't barely remember who the were but as each one would say something to her she would get flashes of memories and she would start to remember more and more about that person.
But the one person that she didn't have all the memories of wasn't there. This person was the only person that she really wanted to see at the moment as she was nowhere in sight…Cordelia. The only memories and no one to put the memories to.
They had been talking to her ever since they arrived in the alleyway after her but she couldn't hear, or maybe she didn't want to hear, what they were saying. But one thing did register. The dark haired boy, the one she remembered as Xander had something about them being stupid. About bring her back exactly where they had left her…in her coffin.
That smile fact seemed to bring tears to everyone's eyes and she didn't understand why. Just than something came up behind them. One of the demons that had been chasing her was now standing behind them with an evil smile on his, or it's, face.
"Well, well, well look at what we have here," he said as he clasped his hands together. "Which on of you wants to be first…you see we are going to kill you," he said as he approached them. Willow took and step forward and so did Xander. Faith was circling around trying to get a good advantage point. "What are you going to do?" he asked looking at Willow.
"You don't want to mess with us," she said as he looked at her but said nothing. "I am a very powerful witch," she said with confidence that Xander never remembered her having.
"Oh really, and what your going to pull a rabbit out of your hat," he asked.
"Why would she do that?" Anya asked panicked.
Before Willow could say anything else her and Xander were sent flying through the air and before Faith could advance on him he sent her flying as well. Juts than Buffy came to her feet as she kept her eyes on Willow and Xander. "I was hopping you would join the fun," he said as he looked at her but she never took her eyes off Willow. He went to take a swing at her because she wasn't paying any attention to him but she caught his fist and he looked at her confused.
Before he knew he was sent flying to the wall. Faith was just know coming too and she stood up and took care of the demon that was approaching Buffy from the back. Buffy turned around just in time to see Faith snapping his neck. "Just like old times huh B?" Faith asked but there was no reaction from Buffy. Buffy bent down and grabbed the axe that was lying on the ground and without looking threw it behind her towards Faith. Faith didn't even have time to move but luckily it didn't hit her, it embedded itself in the skull of a demon that was coming up behind Buffy.
Buffy turned back around and saw three demons advancing her and she saw the leader demon coming to his feet. She looked around on the ground and saw that there was nothing. One of the demons that swung at her had a baseball bat and instead of ducking out of the way she grabbed hold of it, hit the guy that was holding the bath which caused him to let go and then she swung it at the demon behind her so hard that his skull broke open. She took time to look back at Faith and saw that she was taking care of herself.
Buffy looked in front of her and saw the leader standing there looking really pissed off. "B!" Faith called and she turned just in time to see the axe coming her way. She grabbed it out of the air without effort and embedded it in the demons skull and he went down. Faith took care of the ones that she had and then looked at Buffy. "B?"
Buffy looked from her Willow than to Xander but she didn't say anything. She just took off running and this time they didn't bother following her.
The spot (from the scene at the end of "The Gift")
Buffy had found her way back to the place that had ended her life, but this is where she wanted to be? Should she be upset that she wants to end her life all over again? Should it fell weird that she doesn't want to live in this world anymore? As Buffy lookout over they place where the vortex had been those were the thoughts going through her mind.
Flashback
It was dark up on the tower and she felt bad for Dawn having to stand up there all night but it was time to bring her home. She had defeated Glory and they could all go home safe and sound. These thought running through Buffy's head were false she knew it because she could smell Dawn blood as it flowed from her body…you have to love slayer senses.
When she got to the final platform she saw someone standing near Dawn, she knew he had said something to her but she didn't seem to care, as she walked toward Dawn he walked toward her. But with little effort she pushed him off the platform and he fell to the ground below. She went over and untied Dawn and walked her back to a safe distance away from the edge.
End flashback
Buffy shuck her head of the thoughts that where running through her head.
Flashback
Dawn pushed away from her and Buffy took a step back. She didn't understand why in hell Dawn would still want to be up here but then she looked behind her and she saw that the vortex had indeed opened. She looked back at Dawn and she instantly knew that Dawn knew what she was thinking.
"Buffy no," she said.
End flashback
The voice in her memory had sounded real so when she turned around to see Dawn standing there id wasn't that big of a surprise. Dawn looked at her sister as she stood there in the clothes that they had buried her in. "Buffy no," Dawn said again. "You can't do this to me again," she added. "I know you told me to be strong and to take care of everyone but I can't. I tried I really did but I couldn't…not without you around." She said.
Buffy looked away. "I need you in my life Buffy, without you nothing seems worth because believe it or not all my life I always want to make you proud of me. Because you were all that really mattered to me," Dawn said. "Please," she pleaded. Just then the tower started to move. "Buffy!" Dawn yelled and Buffy turned to look at her. "Buffy, please!" she yelled again.
Buffy ran toward her sister and took her in her arms just in time because the moving of the tower became so frantic that she had to jump off and grab hold of the chain that hang there while keeping a hold on her sister. Just then the chain started to move and Buffy could hear Dawn screaming in her ear. Just then the chain stopped and Buffy looked up and saw that it was about to break. And when it did Buffy made sure that she hit the ground first.
When they hit the ground Buffy saw that the tower was falling down around them so she got up and grabbed Dawn and took her away from harm. They went out side the fence and sat on the ground. Buffy was looking at Dawn and Dawn was looking at Buffy with a big smile on her face. "I'm so glad your back," she said as a tear slipped down her face and she took Buffy into a hug. When Dawn pulled away she looked at Buffy. "What's wrong?" she asked.
"What is Cordelia's address?" Buffy asked.
Bus
Buffy sat on the bus all nice a clean. Dawn had convinced her that she should go home and get cleaned up before she went to see her girlfriend that thought she was dead. Dawn gave her the address and then she went into Buffy's room and came back out with something that Buffy thought she would never see again…her engagement ring.
She thanked Dawn and told her to Willow and everyone where she had went and that she would be back in a few days and that they shouldn't worry. She still wasn't one hundred percent Buffy but she had a felling that seeing Cordelia would help her get back to normal.
One thing she noticed about the address is that it was Angel office of investigation…that would mean that Cordelia was now working for Angel…instead of that law firm. That thought alone maybe Buffy smile because that meant the Cordelia continued with the good fight even though she wasn't around anymore.
Man she couldn't wait to see her girl. Buffy looked out the window at the Welcome to L.A. sign and smiled.
……………………………………
AN: I hope you like it! It took a really long time to write…I forgot that this episode was a two-hour episode.
Song lyrics belongs to Michelle Branch's "Goodybye to You"