A/N: Well, the end is finally here! :-D Hope you all think it was worth the wait. I did a lot of tweaking on this last chapter.

Thanks to everyone who read, favorited, and followed this story. And a special shout out to everyone who reviewed: Hercules8, RKF22, SlayerDaniWho, zoe, bowlingforvampires, SpaztasticalMaiden13, spike'smate, ginar369, mandigrrl, BabygirlandFin, mrs marsters, truedelenafire, randyzoopurple, mrs pratt, ericslover1, gottaloveva, San Juanita Eva, Caskett93, San Juanita Hermandez, 1katiemariee, ReginaSerpentes, SanHernandez, ElizabethTARDIS, BaDWolF89, Trainee Hero. You guys rock!

(Note: Some dialog taken directly from the episode.)

Disclaimer: Buffy the Vampire Slayer and its characters are the property of Joss Whedon.

I could change the world

I would be the sunlight in your universe

You would think my love was really something good

Baby, if I could change the world

-Eric Clapton, "Change the World"

There was a roar of pure rage and Angel was violently yanked away from the startled Slayer and hurled across the room. Angel immediately jumped to his feet to find himself confronting a snarling, vamped-out Spike.

"Bloody wanker," the blonde vampire spat, "You stay the hell away from her! She's mine!"

He lunged at his grandsire and the two vampires' bodies collided with a collection of dusty urns, sending pieces of shattered crockery skittering across the floor.

"Spike!" Buffy tried to find a way to break up the fight, but the enraged vamps were so entangled, she was hard-pressed to discern one from the other in this situation. She was still waiting for some kind of an opening when a heavy cat statuette swung in seemingly from nowhere and bludgeoned the side of first Angel's head, then Spike's, and sent the two of them sprawling. Buffy jerked back in surprise to see Caleb standing before her. The mortally wounded preacher swayed on his feet, a black substance oozing from his eyes, nose, and mouth.

"Are you ready to finish this, bitch?" he rasped. He swung the statue at her before she could come up with a witty response. Buffy managed to dodge his first swing, but the backswing caught her by surprise and she staggered back from the impact.

"Okay," she huffed, "How many times do I have to kill you? Ballpark figure?"

"You understand nothing."

Buffy swung the Scythe at him. He caught the handle, punched her with his other hand, then he grabbed her by the front of her belt and lifted her over his head until her body mashed against the ceiling. He then abruptly let her drop and the impact caused the Scythe to slip from her grasp and go skidding across the floor. The preacher bent down to pick her up by the throat. "You think you have power over me?" he snarled.

Buffy pushed her arms up between his and knocked them away from her throat. She sent Caleb reeling with a flying spin-kick.

"Stupid girl!" the preacher growled, picking himself up just as Buffy snatched up the fallen Scythe, "You'll never stop me. You don't have the—"

Buffy's upward swing caught the preacher right in the crotch. She smirked at his bulging eyes. "Who does nowadays?"

With a powerful upthrust, the Scythe's blade tore through Caleb's body. Its neatly divided halves fell to either side with a cartoonish splat. Buffy grimaced, "Ew!"

The previously stunned vampires recovered themselves and stood. Spike moved to stand with Buffy while Angel glared around the room.

"Okay, now I'm pissed. Where is he?" Angel's gaze fell on the preacher's remains and his mouth fell open.

Buffy couldn't resist. "He had to split."

She and Spike shared a look, and the two of them began to snicker like a couple of mischievous kids. Angel stared at them, utterly baffled.

As soon as she was done indulging in her childishness, Buffy put a hand on Spike's arm to ensure he stayed beside her and turned to ask Angel what exactly he was doing here.

A deep frown marred Angel's broad forehead. He didn't like the intimacy he saw between her and Spike. "Not saving the damsel in distress, that's for sure," he replied, almost absently.

Buffy tried to lighten the moment, "Well, you know me. Not much with the damseling."

Angel decided to focus on the subject at hand, deal with the Spike issue later. "Got your share of distress, though."

"You heard?"

"I got coverage on the whole thing." He went to retrieve a portfolio from where he'd stashed it behind one of the pillars. Inside it were documents provided by Wolfram & Hart detailing the current happenings in Sunnydale, as well as a possible solution. "It's the First, right? The First Evil? The power that tried to convince me to kill myself?"

"Yeah. It's gotten a little more ambitious since then. It's raising an army." Buffy took the portfolio from Angel. "I'll have the guys go through that, see if there's anything new. Reliable source?"

Angel shook his head, his expression sardonic. "Not remotely."

Spike casually rested his arm around Buffy's shoulders. "Well, any port in an apocalypse," he drawled.

After throwing a quick glare at the other vampire, Angel drew something from his jacket pocket. "I, uh, brought somethin' else as well."

Buffy regarded the object he held up. It was a necklace of some kind with a large, gaudy gemstone. It looked like costume jewelry to her. Something her matronly grandmother would wear, maybe. "I can already tell you I have nothing that goes with that."

"It's not for you."

"Aw, Peaches!" Spike grinned, "You shouldn't have." He made to take the necklace, but Angel snatched it away.

"It's not for you, either!" the dark-haired vampire snapped.

"Spike," Buffy barely stifled a weary sigh, "Why don't you head back to the house? Let everybody know what we found out."

Spike quirked an eyebrow, realizing she just wanted to get some distance between him and Angel before things inevitably escalated into another smackdown. He was tempted to stick around anyway, mainly because he bloody well didn't want to leave her alone with Captain Forehead. But Buffy was silently pleading with him, and he couldn't refuse her, especially when he knew she was right. He did need to get away from Angel.

Spike nodded and, just for good measure, leaned in for a kiss. It was briefer than he would've liked, but the glower on Angel's face was priceless.

Buffy watched the peroxide blonde saunter out of the tomb. Heaving a sigh, she turned her attention back to Angel. "Okay, this necklace thing. Explainy."

Angel gritted his teeth and once again forced himself to stick to the more important subject. "I don't know everything. It's very powerful and probably very dangerous. It bestows strength to the right person who wears it."

"And the right person is?"

"Someone ensouled, but stronger than human," he stated solemnly, "A champion. As in me."

"Or me," Buffy suggested.

"No," Angel instantly denied, "I don't know nearly enough about this to risk you wearing it. Besides, you got that real cool axe thing goin' for you." He pointed to the Scythe in her hand.

"So, you're gonna be with me in this?" she asked, sounding less than certain.

The vampire flashed his most charming grin. "Shoulder to shoulder. I'm yours."

Buffy pondered this for a moment, then shook her head. "No."

A puzzled frown appeared. "No, what?"

"No, you're not gonna be in this fight," the Slayer stated firmly.

"Why the hell not?" Angel blurted.

"Because, if I lose," Buffy explained, her tone urgent, "if this thing gets past Sunnydale, then it's days, maybe hours, before the rest of the world goes. I need a second front and I need you to run it."

Angel nodded, crossed his arms. "Okay. That's one reason. What's the other?"

Buffy frowned. "What d'you mean?"

"Is it Spike?" he asked bluntly, "Is he your boyfriend?"

The petite blonde made an irritated noise and headed for the tomb's exit. "Is that your business?"

Angel followed at her heels. "You in love with him?" he called out as they stepped outside and started cutting through the cemetery.

Buffy didn't respond, but the stiff way she walked revealed her growing annoyance.

"Okay, maybe I'm out of line," Angel conceded, "but this is kind of a curve ball for me. I mean, we are talkin' about Spike, here."

Buffy came to a halt and spun around. "It's different. He's different," she paused, then forged ahead, "He has a soul now."

It took a moment for that to sink in. Angel blinked, blinked again, then he stuffed his hands in his pockets and looked away. "Oh, well... That's great," he muttered, "Everyone's got a soul now."

Is he pouting? Buffy watched her ex in dismay.

"You know, I started it," Angel grumbled, "The whole 'having a soul.' Before it was all the cool new thing."

Buffy shook her head at the man's petulance. "Oh, my god! Are you twelve?"

"I'm gettin' the brush-off for Captain Peroxide! It doesn't necessarily bring out the champion in me," he protested.

"You're not getting the brush-off," Buffy countered, "We had our time, and it ended. What's between me and Spike has nothing to do with you."

Angel immediately pounced on the most telling detail, "So, there is something between you two."

Buffy let out a frustrated laugh. "Yeah! Okay? Yes, there's something between us. I've moved on, Angel. Maybe you should try it."

"I get moving on," Angel argued, "But Spike? What the hell are you thinking, Buffy?"

"I'm thinking," Buffy sighed, searching for the right words, "that he's in my heart."

Her ex snorted, "That'll end well."

He wandered over to a nearby tombstone and sat down on it. Buffy went to join him. "And what was the highlight of our relationship?" she asked, "When you broke up with me, or when I killed you? I'm well aware of my stellar history with guys. I always figured there was something wrong with me, y'know, because I couldn't make it work. But now I think maybe I wasn't supposed to."

Angel looked at her in sympathy. "Because you're the Slayer."

"Because..." she struggled for a way to make him understand, "Okay, I was cookie dough."

Angel's brow wrinkled.

"I wasn't done baking," Buffy soldiered on, "I wasn't finished becoming whoever the hell it is I was gonna turn out to be. I had to make it though this thing, and the next thing, and the next thing, and...then one day I turned around and realized I was ready. I'm cookies. And I realized I wasn't the right kind of cookie for you, after all. You thought you were getting, I dunno, wholesome oatmeal raisin, and it turns out I'm really chocolate chip."

Her former boyfriend didn't look too thrilled with the explanation. "So, instead, Spike's the one who gets to enjoy warm, delicious..." he winced, "Do I have to go with the cookie analogy?"

"A lot's happened since we stopped being together," Buffy told him, "We've both gone through changes. What I'm saying is, we're not the same people we used to be. Not even Spike."

Angel gazed at her, eyes sad and wistful. "Do you love him?"

The blonde woman nodded. "And he loves me."

"He bit you."

Buffy's hand went to the mark on her neck. "Well, I bit him back." Her smirk hinted there was more to it than she was telling him.

The vampire glowered. He slowly let out a long, unnecessary breath, nodded, then gave her a serious look. "If he hurts you in any way..."

"He won't," Buffy assured him, "But thanks for caring enough to threaten." She smiled.

Angel mustered a faint smile in return, then handed her the amulet. "I'll go start working on the second front. Make sure I don't have to use it."

With that, he stood and walked out into the night without a backwards glance. Buffy watched his familiar silhouette vanish into the dark, feeling only the slightest pang for what might have been. Then she headed for home.

An angry Dawn was waiting for her when she stepped through the front door. Considering the teen should have been miles from town by now, Buffy was more than a little startled. She glanced into the dining room and saw Xander sitting in a chair, looking a bit worse for wear. Anya stood behind him gently rubbing his shoulders.

Dawn got her attention by kicking her in the shin. "Ow," Buffy said, more startled than hurt.

"Dumbass," her sister growled.

Buffy turned to Xander for an explanation.

"Don't look at me," he groaned, "This is a Summers thing. It's all very violent."

Buffy saw the familiar stubbornness in her sister's stoic expression and resigned herself to the inevitable. "If you get killed, I'm telling."

The sisters walked into the dining room where the rest of the Scoobies were gathered.

"Did you find out anything about the Scythe?" Willow asked.

Buffy frowned. "Didn't Spike say anything?" She knew he was back; she sensed him nearby.

Willow shook her head. "No, he just stomped past us and went into the basement."

The Slayer rolled her eyes, then held up the Scythe. "Well, it slices, dices, and makes julienne preacher."

Giles tensed. "Caleb?"

"I cut him in half," Buffy answered matter-of-factly.

That news certainly lightened the mood.

"Hey, party in my eye socket, and everyone's invited!" Xander declared. At everyone's stares, he slumped and muttered, "Sometimes I shouldn't say words."

Anya patted his head in sympathy.

Buffy broke away from the group a little while later and went down into the basement to see Spike. She found the platinum blonde whaling on the punching bag. He stopped when he noticed her approach. "So, where's tall, dark, and forehead?"

"He's gone," she answered simply.

"Oh, just popped by for a quickie, then?"

"Good! Good," she sighed, "I haven't had quite enough jealous vampire crap for one night."

"He wears lifts, you know," Spike added childishly, walking over to where he'd draped his coat over the foot of the cot to dig out a pack of smokes.

Buffy paused beside the swaying punching bag and noticed a piece of paper taped to it. It had a simple cartoonish drawing of a vampire with X's for eyes and hair standing straight up; a caricature of Angel, apparently. She rolled her eyes in exasperation. "Y'know, one of these days, I'm just gonna put you two in a room and let you rassle it out."

"No problem at this end." Spike scowled when he discovered the pack was empty. He crumpled it and tossed it aside.

"Hmm," Buffy grinned at a thought, "There could be oil of some kind involved."

"Where's the trinket?" the vampire suddenly asked.

She blinked, thrown off by the change of subject. "The who-ket?"

"The pretty necklace your sweetie-bear gave you," he smirked, "The one with all the power. I believe it's mine now." He held out his hand for it.

Buffy glanced down at the amulet in her grasp. "How d'you figure?"

"Someone with a soul, but more than human," Spike paraphrased, "Angel meant to wear it. That means I'm the qualified party." His hand was still outstretched.

Buffy chewed her lip. "It's volatile."

"You'll be needing someone strong to bear it, then," he quirked an eyebrow, "You plannin' on givin' it to Andrew?"

After another moment's hesitation, Buffy came to a decision. "Angel said the amulet was meant to be worn by a champion." She approached the blonde vampire and placed the amulet into his open palm, gently closing his fingers around it.

An almost embarrassed smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. "Been called a lot of things in my time."

Buffy glanced towards the cot, met his eyes. "Faith still has our room."

"Well," Spike grinned, "Least it's private down here."

Buffy went upstairs briefly to change into a pair of sleep pants and a cami. Spike merely kicked off his shoes. The cot was only a single, which meant they had to cozy up to lie in it together. This was fine with them, of course. They usually slept while cuddling anyway.

Spike fell asleep right away, the link quietly humming with his slumbering thoughts. Buffy dozed in his arms for a while, but her mind was in too much turmoil to relax. She finally gave up and rose from the bed, careful not to wake the vampire. Her bare toes curled on the cold basement floor as she padded quietly towards the row of windows set high up on the out-facing wall. Thanks to the lack of light pollution, she was able to gaze straight through the windows into the clearest night sky she'd ever seen. She never realized there were so many stars up there.

"Pretty, ain't it?" said a familiar southern drawl.

Buffy didn't turn, even when she saw the preacher's tall figure emerge from the darkness in her periphery. "You're not him."

"No, you killed him, right and proper," the First agreed, "Terrible loss. This man was my good right arm. Course, it don't pain me too much. Don't need an arm." It grinned. "Got an army."

"An army of vampires." Buffy's eyes widened in mock-terror. "However will I fight—"

"Every day our numbers swell," Not-Caleb interjected, "But then you do have an army of your own. Some thirty-odd pimply-faced girls, don't know the pointy end of a stake." It put on an exaggerated worried expression. "Maybe I should call this off!"

Buffy glared, determined not to let the malevolent being get to her. "You ever considered a cool name? I mean, since you're incorporeal and basically powerless. How 'bout the Taunter? Strikes fear in the heart of—"

"I will overrun this earth," the First proclaimed, "And when my army outnumbers the humans on this earth, the scales will tip, and I will be made flesh."

"Talk on," she challenged, "I'm not afraid of you."

"Then why aren't you asleep in your dead lover's arms?"

Buffy's gaze unwillingly fell on Spike, sleeping peacefully.

"'Cause he can't help you," Not-Caleb continued, "Nor Faith. Nor your friends. Certainly not your wanna-slay brigade. None of those girlies will ever know real power unless you're dead. Now, you know the drill." The First transformed, and Buffy was suddenly looking at herself. "Into every generation, a Slayer is born. One girl in all the world. She alone will have the strength and skill to—" Buffy's doppelganger cocked its head, "There's that word again. What you are. How you'll die. Alone." The creature smiled at the Slayer's lack of response. "Where's your snappy comeback?"

Buffy's gaze was faraway when she murmured, "You're right."

The First hmm-ed in thought. "Not your best."

Spike suddenly started thrashing in the cot. "I'm drowning in footwear!"

Startled by the outburst, Buffy turned to him. When she looked away a second later, the First was gone.

Spike sat up, blinking as the room came into focus. "Weird dream," he muttered. He noticed the petite blonde standing some distance away, seemingly lost in thought. "Buffy. Is there something wrong?"

"No. Yeah!" she looked at him, "I just realized something. Something that really never occurred to me before." She looked so amazed by this revelation, Spike wondered what it could be. A tentative smile made its way across Buffy's face. "We're gonna win."

First thing when morning arrived, Buffy called a meeting with the Scoobies and Faith. They all gathered in Buffy's room where she proceeded to tell them her idea. It made a weird sort of sense; all the little hints the First Good and the Guardian let drop. But it was the First Evil's words down in the basement that made it all click together.

The Scythe was more than just a weapon. It was connected to the Slayer, to all Slayers. Even, she suspected, to the Potentials, though they weren't able to sense anything. Their powers were dormant, but with the Scythe as a key, Buffy believed their latent abilities could be awakened. All of them, all at once. An army of Slayers.

When Buffy finished her explanation, everyone was gobsmacked. Giles worded their reactions best when he cried, "Buffy, what you said, i-it flies in the face of everything we've ever—every generation has ever done in the fight against evil!" Then his face split into a wide grin and he declared, "I think it's bloody brilliant."

Buffy was relieved to have them all on board, including Willow, who was more than a little ambivalent about her role in the plan. But the witch was the linchpin to the whole endeavor; without her, they couldn't get it done. So they researched, and they prepared, and by day's end, they finally decided they were as ready as they'd ever be.

They and all the Potentials convened in the overcrowded living room. Many of the girls were bandaged, some wore splints or had their arms in slings. All of them were scared, yet looking to Buffy in hope. They'd all heard about her success at the vineyard, and her killing Caleb with the Scythe. They were willing to listen to her this time around.

Another speech, Buffy thought ruefully. Her gaze immediately went to Spike, standing amidst the crowd with his hands in his coat pockets. Their eyes met, and Buffy drew strength from the confidence he had in her. The Slayer took a deep breath and spoke, "I hate this. I hate being here. I hate that you have to be here. I hate that there's evil, and that I was chosen to fight it. I wish a whole lot of the time that I hadn't been." Her eyes settled on Kennedy for a moment. "I know a lot of you wish I hadn't been, either."

Kennedy looked away, somewhat abashed.

Buffy continued, "This isn't about wishes. This is about choices. I believe we can beat this evil. Not when it comes. Not when its army is ready. Now. Tomorrow morning, I'm opening the seal. I'm going down into the Hellmouth, and I am finishing this once and for all."

A ripple of consternation ran through the Potentials, but for now they remained silent. Buffy pushed on to stall any protests, "Right now, you're asking yourself, what makes this different? What makes us anything more than a bunch of girls being picked off one by one? It's true. None of you have the power that Faith and I do." She drew herself up. This was it, the instant where she either convinced them she was insane, or inspired them to follow her.

"So, here's the part where you make a choice. What if you could have that power? Now? In every generation, one Slayer is born, because a bunch of men who died thousands of years ago made up that rule. They were powerful men. This woman," she pointed at a nervous Willow, "is more powerful than all of them combined. So, I say we change the rule. I say my power should be our power. Tomorrow, Willow will use the essence of the Scythe to change our destiny. From now on, every girl in the world who might be a Slayer, will be a Slayer. Every girl who could have the power, will have the power. Can stand up, will stand up. Slayers, every one of us. Make your choice. Are you ready to be strong?"

A sea of wide eyes and gawping mouths confronted her. Nobody said a word for the longest time. Then, just as Buffy was starting to worry, the normally timid Vi got to her feet and declared with only the faintest tremor in her voice, "I'm ready."

Kennedy, not to be outdone, immediately followed suit, "I'm ready."

"I'm ready!" another girl said.

"I'm ready." "I'm ready!" "I'm ready..."

Only Spike was aware of the surge of relief that went through Buffy as every Potential stood up and added her voice. Pretty soon, all the girls proclaimed themselves ready. Buffy smiled proudly at them.

"Get as much rest as you can tonight," she instructed, "Tomorrow morning, we fight."

Buffy marched out of the living room in a rather dramatic exit. Spike immediately followed her, the edge of his coat swirling behind him. The two of them climbed the steps to the second floor and entered their room. As soon as the door shut behind them, Buffy dropped her confident façade and shakily sat herself down on the bed, her fingers digging into the comforter until her knuckles turned white.

Spike sat down beside her and put his arm around her shoulders. "You were brilliant, luv."

"Yeah, brilliant," she rasped dully. She turned her head to look at him, her eyes shining with fear and doubt. "I just talked a bunch of teenaged girls into attacking the Hellmouth."

"Well, when Red works her mojo, they'll be a bunch of Slayers," Spike encouraged, "That'll even the odds out a bit."

"Assuming it works," Buffy couldn't help but point out, "I mean, I don't know that it's gonna work. This could be just some crazy idea I came up with because I was desperate."

"It's gonna work," the vampire stated without hesitation, "You said it yourself, luv. We're gonna win."

Buffy let out an unsteady laugh. "Yeah, well, now that everybody's lives are on the line, I'm not so sure about that."

Spike pressed a kiss to her temple. "Whatever happens, I'm with you."

She cupped her hand to the side of his face and drew him in for a deeper kiss. Their foreheads touched when their lips finally parted.

"I need some air," Buffy murmured, eyes closed.

Spike nodded, "'Kay." He didn't try to follow when she stood and left the room. He knew she needed some time alone with her thoughts.

Buffy slowly descended the stairs and made her way to the front door. The house was dimly lit with numerous candles, and she heard a few voices murmuring in different rooms. Many of the Potentials had chosen to take advantage of all the empty houses by sleeping in a couple of the neighboring buildings. It gave everyone a chance at some privacy on what could be their last night on earth.

The Slayer leaned against the porch rail and stared out at the deceptively peaceful night. She didn't kid herself; whatever tomorrow's outcome, people were going to die. Some of the girls, certainly. Her closest friends, probably. Dawn, Giles, Spike... Her throat tightened. If Spike died, Buffy knew she'd die with him. There was a strange sort of comfort in that. Would Spike be allowed into Heaven with her? Buffy hoped so. She didn't see any point to Heaven if he wasn't with her.

"So, you figured it out."

The unexpected voice startled Buffy from her reverie. Her eyes darted to the foot of the porch steps where a familiar girl stood. "You're saying my plan's gonna work?"

The First Good climbed the steps onto the porch, pretended to lean against a support pillar. "Using the essence of the Scythe to awaken the essence of the Slayer in every Potential?" she grinned, "Sure. That's what the Scythe was made for. Other than slicing and dicing demons, of course."

"Why the hell couldn't you just tell me?" Buffy asked, her frustration obvious, "Why all the vague clues and cryptic hints?"

"'Cause finding the answers was just as important as the answers themselves," the First replied, "All the crap you had to go through, every doubt and worry and second-guess, it's forced you to find those inner reserves you didn't even know you had. And it also taught you," a mischievous grin, "that the Slayer doesn't have to go it alone."

"You mean Spike." Buffy thought about the strength he'd given her when she wasn't sure she wanted to go on.

"I mean the Claim," the First Good clarified, "Before you two hooked up, Slayers have always been alone. Which means they always died alone, and way too soon. Doesn't matter how strong they were, how skilled they were at fighting, they always died young and alone. And worse, they thought that's how it was supposed to be. Even you thought so."

Buffy chewed her lip, eyes down. The First's words were hitting close to home. It was true; she'd always taken it as a given that she'd never live past her twenties. Even after she and Spike Claimed each other, part of her continued to believe this, because part of her still thought of herself as alone. But now, she suddenly realized, she didn't feel that way anymore. She could imagine herself living beyond the next handful of years. Seeing Dawn grow up. Seeing her friends get older. Having a life beyond slayage and duty. Because she would always have Spike at her side.

The First Good seemed to sense Buffy having this epiphany, because the girl chose that moment to flash a knowing smile.

"Now, I got a question for you."

Buffy cocked her head in curiosity.

"Why are you out here brooding when you could be doing some major life-affirming with a certain hot blonde vampire up in your room?"

The Slayer laughed. It felt good. But then she thought the girl had a point; why was she wasting what could very well be her last night on earth alone (more or less) on the porch?

She looked at the incorporeal being beside her and found herself unable to hold back the one question she swore she wouldn't ask, "Are we gonna win?"

The First Good smiled. "Well, I can't give you a solid yes or no answer, but..." She held her arms out, inviting Buffy to scrutinize her. "This girl I'm wearing won't be born for many years. She doesn't exist. But she will," the First stressed, "Otherwise I wouldn't be able to wear her image. Her life is a promise, the kind that can't ever be broken."

"Is she human?" Buffy asked.

The girl shrugged. "More or less."

Buffy smiled, a sense of peace coming over her. "Thank you."

"You're welcome. Now, go on," the First shooed her, "Get to the life-affirming!"

Chuckling, Buffy trotted into the house to rejoin her lover.

Spike had shucked his duster, toed off his boots, and now lounged on the bed, staring at the amulet as it dangled from his hand. He found it hard to believe this garish piece of jewelry could be the key to their success in the coming battle. He didn't get any sense of the supposed power the thing held. It was just...there.

Maybe he was wrong to think that he was the one to wear it. It was meant for a champion, after all. Right now, Spike didn't feel like much of a champion.

The bedroom door opened and Buffy slipped in, shutting it behind her. She leaned back against the door and gazed at him, a smile that could only be described as serene gracing her face.

Spike placed the amulet on the bedside table and stood. Wordlessly, they closed the distance between them. Buffy's hand rose to cup the vampire's cheek. Spike's hands settled at her waist, fingertips teasing the hem of her shirt. Buffy raised her arms and her shirt slid off her. She then reached over and removed Spike's shirt, tossing it aside. Their arms went around each other, and she sighed at the feel of his cool skin against hers. Her eyes slid shut. They moved towards the bed together almost like a slow dance, until Buffy felt herself gently lowered onto the comforter. Spike's hands worked to undo her jeans and slide them off, along with her underwear. Buffy removed her bra and flung it away from her, then reached down to unbutton Spike's fly. Soon they were both naked, and Spike joined her on the bed.

For a while they simply caressed each other as they gazed into each other's eyes. There were no words, no declarations of love and eternal fidelity. They already knew everything that needed to be said.

Buffy pushed Spike onto his back and straddled him. She leaned down, her long hair forming a golden curtain around their heads as she took his lips in a languid kiss. Spike's hands glided over her skin, caressing her back, her hips and thighs, traveled up her sides and tenderly cupped her breasts. Buffy's mouth left his and she trailed kisses over his face, his eyelids, the tip of his nose, his chin. His head tilted back as she followed the column of his throat. Her hands roamed over his chest and abs, making him shiver. Finally, she reached down to steady his straining erection and lowered herself onto him.

They both moaned quietly as their bodies joined. Spike sat up, wrapped Buffy's legs around his waist, and guided her movements with his hands on her bottom. He stared at her beautiful face with half-lidded eyes. Buffy's eyes were closed, her kiss-swollen lips parted in silent gasps. Her head fell back, exposing her slender throat. Spike resisted the urge to let his demon rise. Not yet. Instead, he kissed the soft skin of her neck and scraped his blunt human teeth over her Claim mark. Buffy trembled, her inner walls clenching around him. Spike grunted and felt the bones of his face shift.

Buffy smiled at the sight of his gameface, so beautiful and primal. She kissed him, the tip of her tongue exploring the points of his predatory fangs. A deep rumble reverberated through him. Buffy tilted her head to the side, baring the scar of the Claim to him. His fangs slid into her, just as her teeth sank into his own mark. The swirl of emotions shared by their link reached a crescendo as they both climaxed in the same instant.

This was Heaven, Buffy realized, right here. Whatever happened tomorrow, they would always have this. They needed no other comfort.

They all rode to the high school in a school bus driven by Robin Wood. Spike had to slouch low in his seat with his duster pulled over his head to shield him from the morning rays. Buffy sat beside him, her hands clenching and unclenching around the handle of the Scythe. Everyone was dealing with the strain of their short journey in their own way. Some checked their weapons, some stared out of the bus's windows, some prayed. Nobody talked. Any conversation would have been forced. None of them had the stomach for that.

It was something of a relief when the high school came into sight. Robin parked the bus as close to the main doors as he could and everyone piled out. Spike kept his coat draped over his head until they stepped through the doors, then he let it settle back on his shoulders.

"Welcome to Sunnydale High," the former principal announced as he marched at the head of the group, "There's no running in the halls, no yelling, no gum chewing. Apart from that, there's only one rule." They came to a halt in the main lobby and Wood turned to face them. "If they move, kill them."

Buffy pointed down one of the halls. "Okay, Potentials in the basement. Follow Faith and Spike."

As the girls followed the vampire and the Slayer, Xander called after them, "If you have to go to the bathroom, it's to your left. If you don't have to go to the bathroom, picture what you're about to face. Better to go now."

Robin addressed the witches, "Willow, Tara, my office is straight through there."

"It's right over the seal," Buffy told them.

"I'll start getting us set up." Tara accepted the supplies from her girlfriend and headed for the office. Kennedy went with her; once the spell was done, it was up to her to deliver the Scythe back to Buffy.

As for the others, they were needed to guard the three entry points any Turok-Han who managed to escape the Hellmouth could use to enter the sewers. Giles and Robin decided to take the lounge, Xander and Dawn the atrium, and Anya and Adrew would take the north hall. Hopefully, they wouldn't have too many übervamps to contend with.

"I'm gonna check out our field of engagement," Dawn said, heading towards the atrium.

Buffy started after her. "Dawn—"

"No," the girl turned to face her, too solemn for her years, "Anything you say is gonna sound like goodbye."

Buffy nodded and watched her sister walk away. She hoped it wouldn't be the last time she saw her.

Everyone else was in place. Only Buffy and the core Scoobies—Willow, Xander, and Giles—remained. Buffy's life in Sunnydale started with just the four of them. It felt appropriate that it was just the four of them now. She smiled and approached the small group, a wave of nostalgia bringing tears to her eyes.

"So," she said, keeping her tone light, "what do you guys wanna do tomorrow?"

"Nothing strenuous," Willow replied.

Xander shrugged, "Well, mini-golf is always the first thing that comes to mind."

"I think we can do better than that," Giles responded.

"I was thinking about shopping," Buffy stated, "as per usual."

"Oh! There's an Arden B. in the new mall," Willow suggested.

"I could use a few items," Xander nodded.

Giles looked on in dismay. "Are we gonna discuss this? Save the world or go to the mall?"

"I'm having a wicked shoe craving," Buffy confessed.

The Watcher sighed as the others continued chattering. "Here I am, invisible to the eye."

"See, I need a new look," Xander said as he and the girls started down one of the halls, "It's this whole eye patch thing."

"You could go with the full black secret-agent look," Buffy enthused.

Giles turned away and headed for the lounge, shaking his head. "The earth is definitely doomed."

The three friends walked side-by-side down the long hallway. Willow broke away from them when they reached the door to the principal's office. The other two smiled at her as she disappeared through the door. When the hall leading to the atrium branched off from the main hallway, Xander reached out and squeezed Buffy's hand before leaving to join Dawn. Buffy continued alone with the sense of having come full circle. Everything started for her in Sunnydale High, and now, one way or another, it was going to end there as well.

She entered the basement and negotiated the maze of tunnels until she found the others gathered around the Seal of Danzalthar. Faith had a knife in her hand; the same blade Andrew had used to kill Jonathan. She held it out to Buffy. "You first, B."

Buffy accepted the knife and used it to cut her left hand. Faith did the same, then the girl beside her, then the next girl, until everyone around the circle had used the knife. As one, they held out their injured hands and let their blood fall onto the seal. Within moments the seal folded back on itself and sank down, leaving behind a deep hole with a spiral staircase at its outer edge. Buffy led the procession down into the Hellmouth.

They found themselves in a nondescript cavern. So far, there was no sign of the Turok-Han army.

Spike walked up to Buffy, holding up the amulet he was wearing. "Not to be a buzzkill, luv, but my fabulous accessory isn't exactly tingling with power."

"I'm not worried," the tension in her voice belied that statement. She wandered towards a sheer drop, her dread growing as she neared the edge.

"I'm getting zero juice here," the vampire complained, "And I look like Elizabeth Taylor."

"Cheer up, Liz," Faith retorted, "If Willow's big spell doesn't work, it won't matter what you wear."

"I'm not worried." Buffy reached the edge of the drop, the others beside her. They peered down into an enormous cavern, and saw its floor seething with hundreds upon hundreds of snarling, eager Turok-Han. They'd found the First's army.

"I'm not worried," Buffy repeated in a higher voice.

"Really?" Rona gulped, clutching her stake like a lifeline, "'Cause I'm flashing back to Xander's whole bathroom speech."

Buffy forced herself to sound more confident, "I'm not worried. Long as Willow can work her spell before they..."

The army's collective noise abruptly silenced as thousands of eyes turned up towards the huddled girls.

"...see us."

With a deafening roar, the Turok-Han surged forward and began to climb the cavern walls towards them like a mass of giant insects. The Potentials looked ready to panic as they clutched their weapons and waited for the enemy to reach them.

Come on, Willow, Buffy silently urged. Her left hand unconsciously reached for Spike's, their fingers squeezing each other for reassurance.

Then it happened. A surge of energy, like a breath of wind. The Potentials' eyes widened and their mouths opened as they exhaled together. Their terror slipped away and broad smiles stretched across their faces.

"These guys are dust," Vi declared with an eager grin.

The first wave of Turok-Han reached them, and the Slayers surged forward to meet them. Weapons clashed, vamp-dust flew, screams and battle cries filled the air.

Kennedy came running down the spiral stairs, the Scythe in her hand. "Buffy! Catch!"

Buffy caught the weapon Kennedy threw to her and immediately used it to stake an übervamp behind her. She whirled and beheaded another, then another. The blade sang in her grasp.

Spike stumbled as a wave of—something—came over him. He reached down to touch the amulet hanging from his neck and hissed when the gemstone burned his fingers. "Buffy! Look at this thing, now. I think it's—" He cried out, feeling as if his nerve endings were on fire.

Buffy couldn't let herself be distracted, even though she sensed his pain. She continued to shout out orders. "Keep the line together! Drive them to the edge! We can't let them—"

An unseen Turok came up behind her and ran her through with its sword. Buffy gaped down at the blade protruding from her stomach, then collapsed as it was abruptly withdrawn. Faith saw what happened and rushed to her side. Buffy weakly raised her head. With a trembling hand, she lifted the Scythe towards the other Slayer. "Hold the line."

Grim-faced, Faith nodded and took the weapon. She wielded the Scythe with the same instinctive skill as Buffy, slaughtering übervamps right and left. But more kept coming. Pretty soon, Faith was being overwhelmed. She managed to throw the Scythe to Rona just before she disappeared under a writhing pile of Turok-Han.

Lying helpless on the ground, Buffy saw one girl after another fall prey to the vampires. Most of them she didn't remember their names, but she saw Amanda fall, her bloodied stake clattering to the floor beside her. Buffy squeezed her eyes shut in pain.

"Oh, no. Ow!" a sarcastic voice reached her ears. Buffy opened her eyes to see her doppelganger, complete with bleeding stab wound, standing over her.

"Mommy," the First pouted, "this mortal wound is all itchy." It knelt down in front of the wounded Slayer, a malicious smile on its borrowed face. "You pulled a nice trick. You came pretty close to smacking me down. What more do you want?"

Buffy's pain was being replaced with rage. She pushed herself up on her arms and snarled at the apparition, "I want you...to get out of my face."

The First reared back in surprise as Buffy slowly got to her feet. New strength rose up in her, familiar somehow. If she could have seen her own reflection, Buffy would have discovered that her eyes had turned yellow. Spike's demon had risen up in her, lending its strength to hers.

Rona saw Buffy was back in the fight and threw the Scythe to her. Buffy caught it and immediately sliced through a row of Turok-Han in front of her, sending their bodies tumbling into the chasm.

Meanwhile, Faith successfully fought her way free of the mob and the rest of the new Slayers began to rally. What had looked like certain victory for the enemy suddenly became less so as the girls started to push their forces back. But even so, the numbers favored the Turok-Han. Thirty-odd Slayers weren't enough to hold back the tide forever. All they could do was buy some time. Time, as it turned out, for the amulet to build up enough of a charge.

Spike gasped, "Oh, bollocks."

A blazing column of light erupted from him, punching through the ceiling into the high school, through that into the open sky, drawing down the sun's energy straight into the amulet and its wearer. Spike stood in the light, unable to move. "Buffy!"

"Spike!" Buffy started to run towards him.

Beams of concentrated sunlight radiated from the amulet. They scoured the entire massive cavern, vaporizing the entire vampiric army within seconds. The beams were also powerful enough to cause the cavern walls to start crumbling. Huge stones began to rain down from the ceiling.

Faith started herding the girls towards the stairs. "Everybody out! Now!"

While the others were escaping, Buffy hurried to Spike's side. She staggered, her earlier preternatural strength drained. Her eyes were back to their natural hazel-green. She pressed a hand to her stomach and felt blood seeping between her fingers.

"I can feel it, Buffy."

She blinked at the vampire, struggling to focus. "What?"

"Our soul," he smiled in wonder, "It's really there. Kinda stings."

Buffy laughed weakly.

The last of the girls disappeared up the stairs. Faith ran over and grabbed Buffy's arm. "Come on!"

"No," Buffy refused calmly. She shared a look with Spike, and Faith saw something pass between them.

The vampire spoke to Faith, "Go on, then. You've beat them back. It's for me to do the cleanup."

"But Buffy—"

"I'm not leaving him." She smiled ruefully, indicating her wound, "Even if I was in any shape to go anywhere."

The chamber was collapsing. The Hellmouth imploding on itself.

"Gotta move, lamb," Spike admonished, grinning, "Think it's fair to say, school's out for bloody summer."

Faith shook her head, torn between saving herself and trying to help them. "Guys—"

"He's gotta do this." Buffy held the Scythe out to her. "Take it."

Faith met the Slayer's eyes, saw only peaceful acceptance in them. She accepted the Scythe and, with a final nod, ran up the stairs.

Buffy turned to Spike, reached up to lace her fingers with his. Flames burst around their joined hands, but there was no pain. Spike smiled, "I wanna see how it ends."

"I already know how it ends," Buffy said, "I think you're gonna like it."

She leaned in and met his lips with hers. For a moment, their bodies were engulfed by the flames, and Buffy was sure this was it. The link between them flared, and in that instant, their thoughts and emotions merged into a single being. The amulet flared, blinding white, then it abruptly flickered and died. Buffy gasped and her legs gave out. Spike caught her, scooped her up in his arms. He didn't pause to wonder what happened. He just ran. Up the stairs, into the high school to find the doors blocks by fallen rubble. He raced for the stairs leading to the roof. When he reached the door, he kicked it open with enough force to break it from its hinges. Morning sunlight poured over him as he raced out onto the roof.

"Spike!" Buffy cried.

The vampire either ignored her warning or didn't hear. Far below, he saw the school bus racing down the street. He could feel the building crumbling under him and immediately leapt onto the closest neighboring roof. And not a moment too soon; the high school collapsed into the imploding Hellmouth, leaving a deep pit that grew outward like a gigantic maw, consuming everything around it. Spike barely kept ahead of the devastation, leaping from rooftop to rooftop as he chased after the retreating bus. Finally, there were no more buildings ahead of him.

"Hold on, luv."

Buffy's arms tightened around his neck.

He only had one chance. Spike didn't hesitate. He put everything he had into one final, powerful jump. As he and Buffy arced through the air, the school bus appeared below them, right in their path. Spike prayed the landing didn't hurt the Slayer any further.

Their bodies slammed onto the top of the bus, and they somehow managed to keep from sliding off. The bus drove on until it came to a groaning halt outside the city limits. Or rather, what used to be the city limits. Spike lifted his head to see nothing but a massive sunken pit where Sunnydale once stood. As he watched, the WELCOME TO SUNNYDALE sign teetered on the edge and then toppled into the crater.

"Spike..."

He turned his head to look at Buffy. The Slayer was smiling in awe. "Spike, you're okay."

"Yeah. Little shook up, but—" His eyes widened at the realization that he was lying in the open, in the sunlight, and he wasn't burning. "Bloody hell..."

"Buffy! Spike!" Dawn's voice called up to them.

Spike quickly jumped down from the bus and helped the wounded Slayer to the ground. Buffy wobbled unsteadily, but kept her feet. Her wound seemed to have stopped bleeding.

Dawn rushed over to give her sister a hug. Everyone else was exiting the bus, their amazed stares shifting between the huge crater and the decidedly non-crispy vampire standing in their midst.

"I don't understand," Giles's voice was faint with shock, "What did this?"

"Amulet destroyed the Hellmouth," Spike replied, removing the chain from his neck, "Took down the whole bloody town while it was at it." He gazed down at the oversized gemstone. Where before it had been clear and sparkling, now it was clouded and dull. "Looks like it was a one time only deal," he mused. With a shrug, Spike drew back his arm and chucked the amulet into the crater.

"B-But how come you're not burning?" Dawn stammered.

The vampire shrugged. "Dunno. Could be the Claim. Could've been the amulet. Could be both."

"One thing's for sure," Faith remarked, "looks like the Hellmouth is officially closed for business."

"There's another one in Cleveland," Giles muttered, "not to spoil the moment."

"We saved the world," Xander declared, amazed they'd actually done it.

"We changed the world," Willow clarified, an awed smile on her face, "I can feel them, Buffy. All over. Slayers are awakening everywhere."

Not just the Slayers. All over the world, Intendeds were Called. Most male, some female, most vampire, some other demons, and all suddenly experiencing emotions and longings they'd never had before and didn't understand. But they would, once they and the Slayers started to find each other.

"We have a lot of work ahead of us," Giles declared.

Faith laughed, "I just wanna sleep, yo! For, like, a week!"

"Guess we could, now. If we wanted to," Dawn pointed out.

Spike smiled down at the petite blonde in his arms. In the bright sunlight, her hair looked more golden than ever. He never imagined anything could be so gorgeous.

"You're not the only Slayer in the world, now," he told her.

Buffy blinked in surprise. He was right. It didn't all fall to her to save the world anymore. She could actually have a life. She could even quit if she wanted to! A whole world of possibilities suddenly opened up before her.

"So," Spike grinned, "what do you wanna do, luv?"

Buffy's answering smile rivaled the sun in its brightness.

EPILOGUE:

Down in the wreckage that was once the Hellmouth, beneath the remains of the town of Sunnydale, the First Evil stood in defeat. It wore the image of Buffy as she'd looked at the end; cut over the left eye, bleeding stomach wound.

The First Good appeared beside her twin. The siblings stood together, gazing out over the devastation.

"I'm sorry it turned out this way," the girl said.

Not-Buffy snorted in derision, "You can't even gloat. God, you're pathetic."

The girl sighed. Gloating was what ultimately defeated her twin. Not that she was going to rub it in by saying so. Instead, she said, "The Hellmouth's gone. Your army's wiped out. The Bringers are all dead."

"You're saying I'm alone," the First Evil muttered bitterly.

The First Good shook her head. "No. You've still got me."

"It was that amulet. I would have won if it wasn't for that damned thing." Not-Buffy scowled at the girl. "It was supposed to be lost."

"Not lost," the girl corrected, "Just kept someplace for safekeeping 'til it was needed."

"You had it hidden inside the vaults of an evil multidimensional corporation," the First Evil scoffed, shook its head, "I gotta admit, that's the last place I ever would've looked."

"That was the idea."

The two of them stood in silence for a moment.

"So, what now?" the First Evil asked.

"Now?" the girl shrugged, "We wait until the Powers That Be decide you've learned your lesson and let you go."

"When will that be, I wonder."

The First Good looked at her twin. "When you finally accept things the way they are."

"You mean like you?" The First Evil's borrowed face contorted in disgust. "Even the lowest mortal has more power over the world than we do. We're the First. We're the source of all reality, and we can't do anything to affect it. How is that fair? How can I ever accept that?"

"Someday you will," the First Good promised.

"I hate you," Buffy's doppelganger hissed.

"I know," it's twin answered calmly, "But I'll always love you."