Thanks a bunch to Beckii, uskohakuchan (I typed that from memory – go me) and RabidReject! I love you people. In answer to your questions, Vampire!Buffy is going to be just like she was in Nightmares – still Buffy, but a little unstable. She has all the weaknesses –sunlight, crosses, stakes – of a normal vampire, but she's stronger than Slayer!Buffy.

Of course I own nothing, blah blah blah.

This chapter is also going to be longer than the last one. Enjoy!

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Giles leant over Buffy's corpse, examining her like an interesting book. He knew that it would be obvious to everyone watching that his indifference was a façade, but he kept it up nonetheless. He needed it to stop himself from breaking down completely. He straightened up and began to clean his glasses. Willow gazed after him for a moment as he walked away from Buffy's body without a word, but all except Angel kept their eyes on Buffy.

Angel sat away from the others, seeming to exude shame. He stared at the floor, silent, trying desperately not to think. The time seemed to pass more slowly than it ever had before in his unlife. When Buffy woke, they would know.

They would know whether to let her live, or let her die.

-

Buffy stirred in the velvet armchair. Someone was behind her, brushing her hair.

"Hold still, sister dearest. I can't make you pretty if you squirm." The voice was familiar, and despite the fear she felt it should incite, she was strangely comforted. She stared ahead, but the wall before her was blank. Marks suggested that a mirror had been there once, but now it was just fading wallpaper. The brush continued to pull rhythmically through her hair.

Soft, distant voices were calling her. She pulled forwards and the brushing stopped.

"I have to go." She twisted on the chair and looked into Drusilla's smiling face.

"No, sister, some things are our choices. And they can't see the things we see. All the pretty shapes the stars make in the sky. Can you hear them singing?" Buffy cocked her head to the side, and heard a strange, beautiful, twinkling music. She looked up, and saw that the room they were in had no ceiling. She stood, and studied her dress. She wondered for a moment whether it had been a doll's before she had worn it. That would have been ridiculous – she wasn't that small. Smoothing the pink satin, raising a hand to the ringlets that bounced around her head, she stood from the armchair.

Drusilla was still standing behind the chair, brush in hand.

"Poor little things, they never change. Always the same, over and over." Buffy frowned.

"I don't understand." Drusilla turned and began to twirl.

"Dance with me, little Buffy." Buffy looked down at the ground. There were worms crawling around her patent leather shoes.

"I have to go back to my friends. I have to…save the world." Drusilla paused, her dark hair swinging around her white face.

"Again? A habit, we must get rid of it." She clapped. "They won't change, you won't change, all the nasty little things you fight…" She stepped forwards, her hands outstretched. "They won't change." Buffy looked down, and the worms had gone. She was in Faith's apartment.

Faith stood with her back to the window. Everything was bright. The knife was still in Buffy's hand, covered in Faith's blood.

"Human weakness, B." Buffy looked up.

"Is that what Drusilla meant?" Faith laughed.

"That doesn't matter any more… all that matters is you." She turned to face Buffy. "Do the right thing B, it's what you're best at." Buffy smiled.

"Still?" Faith walked towards her.

"Always. Are you ready?" Faith raised her hand to stroke Buffy's cheek, and there was a brilliant, blinding light.

-

Buffy made a small groaning noise, and twisted on the library table, her hands clenching and unclenching. Her eyes snapped open. She gasped.

"I… can't breathe!" Despite himself, Angel rushed towards her, taking her hand in his and kissing her forehead.

"Buffy! Oh God, I'm so sorry." She squeezed his hand and moved closer to him.

"Did you… turn me?" Her tone was inquisitive, not accusing, and she looked him straight in the eyes as she had just before she died. He couldn't quite get the words out, but he knew his eyes told her the answer. She didn't pull her hand away from his, however, or look betrayed. She leaned in, slowly, and kissed him.

Their kiss lasted less than a minute, but seemed to last an eternity. In that time, Angel realised that he couldn't possibly leave her now, when she needed him most. She turned half away from him for a moment, and looked at the others.

"Guys, I know this is really, really hard for you. I'm all… changed, and the Mayor's about to ascend. We need to stay together, especially now." Giles sighed and stood up.

"We have no idea how to defeat the Mayor; all we know is that the last time a creature like this appeared in this dimension…" He trailed off, and Xander cut in.

"It took a volcano to take it out." There was a moment of silence, and then Buffy stood up shakily.

"I have a plan."

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I think I might have gone a little OTT on the dream… but tell me what you think. I'm also slightly worried about the sappiness… unless people are into that (if so… review and tell me!). I will try to update again ASAP.

Review!!!!!!!!!!!! I will love you forever!!!!!!