Chapter 2: Off We Go

The next morning dawned bright and much too soon for Buffy. It felt as if she had just dosed off when she heard the raucous coming from downstairs. She slowly stretched out in her bed, and was surprised to realize that she wasn't all stiff and tense anymore. Giles' idea of displacing her unsettling memories really did help. She slept better last night than she had in months, and she felt much better for it. With rejuvenated energy she climbed out of bed and walked to her closet to get ready. In a few short seconds she was cleaned, dressed, and ready to face the day. . It felt good. Really good. She smiled a true smile and headed down the stairs. She headed for the kitchen with a light step and a high spirit. "What the..." Buffy stumbled slightly to keep from falling on her face, and pushed herself into the wall instead. Regaining her balance, she turned around and saw a massive pile of bags and suitcases lying in the middle of the hallway, just in to the side of the front door. She frowned at it confusingly before turning the corner and entering the kitchen, where she could hear the anxious voices of the others that had already gathered there.

"What is with the pile in the hallway? I almost tripped over them coming around the corner." Buffy said in a whiny voice. She plopped down on the stool at the breakfast bar. She could already taste the bacon and eggs that Andrew was cooking and it made her mouth start to water. It had been a long time since she last ate a decent meal and she was surprised to realize that she was actually hungry for one. She looked around the small kitchen at everyone gathered around. "Well, does any one care to explain the huge mess or are you just going to leave me to guess?"

"It's the girls stuff. Most of them are flying out this morning and the ones that aren't, are flying out this afternoon." Dawn said raising a plate to ask her if she wanted some breakfast.

Buffy nodded her head in response and Andrew started piling a load of eggs and bacon and toast onto the plate. Dawn sat the plate down in front of Buffy and went to the cabinet to get a cup out; she poured some milk into it and placed that down next to the plate. Willow came around and took the stool next to Buffy.

"Where is everyone going? What of the ones that don't have family left?" Buffy asked Willow quietly. She was sure that Giles and Willow had already worked things out but she wanted to know what was to become of all the girls she had grown so attached to lately.

"Well the ones that left family to come to Sunnydale are going back to their families. And for the ones that didn't have family left are headed to England. The council, while not completely regrouped, has set up a temporary facility to house all the girls coming in from all around the world. They are developing a boarding school to house them all in the future." Willow seemed pleased with the idea.

Buffy had to admit that it was a good idea, one that would be best for everyone involved. The girls would be safe and get some much-needed training before being sent out into the field. "So who all is staying here?"

"Uh, well actually I don't know. All we really know right now is that all the girls are leaving." Willow said looking around at the older members of the group.

"Even Kennedy?" Buffy asked quietly.

"Yes, even Kennedy. She's going to be an instructor at the school, what with her experience and what have you. We both decided that it would be for the best of both of us. I'm sure that we'll catch up again later." Willow said. She sounded happy about the idea, but it was a little forced.

Buffy knew that Willow and Kennedy had grown close, but she figured it was more a convenient thing to help get them through. They would both move on once they got settled into their new lives. Buffy nodded her head at nothing particular and then gave her full attention to the fantastic smelling food in front of her. Everyone had quieted down around her and was also concentrated on eating their breakfast.

-----

The airport was crowded, and loud, and Buffy hated it. And she still had all day here to look forward to. Her sanity was kept in tact by the thought that at least her house wouldn't seem like this anymore. Although she would miss the girls, she wouldn't miss the lines outside the bathroom in the morning, nor coming down last to breakfast only to find that there was barely any left. She glanced over at Willow standing ridged as the next flight was announced. It was Kennedy's flight back home. Buffy was not sure exactly what had passed between the two before they came to the mutual decision that she should go to England, but she sensed that it wasn't all bad. Tears stung the back of her eyes as Willow and Kennedy gave each other a last kiss. Her thoughts were interrupted by a loud sigh from her left. The remaining girls, including Dawn, were staring at the two of them, and the sigh, as Buffy had originally thought, was not in aggravation. It was more of an "Ah, they're so cute" sigh, and Buffy agreed with them.

Giles and Xander stood away from the group, staring at the two openly embracing women. Being the only men to come to the airport, they did not feel the same about the public display as the girls did. Xander scratched his head nervously, and found many small, unnoticeable specks to pick off his sleeve. Giles stood wiping his glasses, and when he could do that no longer, without looking like a fool, went over to check the departure board.

Giles appeared to be the only one to hear the final call for Kennedy, and coughed loudly. When that did nothing he approached Buffy. "Uh, she really must be going now, I don't think she'll want to miss her flight." He told her, uncomfortably.

"You're right." Was all Buffy said in response, and it took her a moment more to walk the few steps to where Willow and Kennedy still embraced each other. She lightly tapped Willow on the shoulder, and pointed to the gate, where a stewardess stood staring at them. "She's going to miss it." She said, with a weak smile on her face.

She waited for Willow to let Kennedy to go, before stepping forward and giving her a strong hug of her own, and then took a step back to allow the others to do so. They all waved at Kennedy one last time before she boarded, and the girls giving the usual shouted promise of keeping in touch.

And so the day went on, each girl boarding after many hugs, a few tears, and an arm-tiring amount of waves. It was almost five o'clock in the evening before the final two girls boarded their flights. The gang had just plopped down in seats to watch the last plane take off when Robin and Faith approached them, both carrying plane tickets of their own. Buffy looked up at them with a quizzical look. "You two are leaving as well?"

Robin smiled and fanned himself with his ticket. "I'm in the mood for travel." He said with a smile. "I think I might set out and do some freelance demon killing of my own. And Faith here decided to tag along. I hope it's not too heartbreaking to have to give us up."

"Of course it is, but I think that you two will enjoy yourselves."

Robin and Faith were catching a red eye flight back to LA, were they were to be greeted by Angel and his crew before heading out to where ever else they wanted to go. The farewell was brief, for everyone was tired, and Buffy and Faith shared a last hug.

"We'll call when we get in B. I promise. And I'll send you many souvenirs from our trips." She added, with a large smile.

"You better because I don't see myself getting out much. I think I might actually have to find a real job." She said with her own smile, and then a frown. She hugged Faith one last time, and walked with them to the gate. "Take care you two. And don't forget to call the moment you land."

They walked silently through the airport, heading back to the parking lot, that is, until Dawn spook up and said, "Hey, Buff, can I get a gyro?"