Buffy marched purposefully out into the rains, which immediately began beating down on her, soaking through her clothes. The sodden ground caught her feet with each step and made sickening noises each time she yanked them free. Spike stepped hesitantly through the door and followed after her, hands shoved deep into his pockets, seeming to shiver slightly under the meteorological assault. Which, Buffy thought irritably, was ridiculous. Spike was always cold. Why should a little rain bother him?

"So how does this work? Is Willow gonna open up a portal or something?"

She looked around, half expecting to see a glowing blue portal hanging in the air somewhere. But all she saw was the vast expanse of gray.

"Er, that's the thing, Buffy. It doesn't work quite like that. This place is hideously difficult to open a portal into, and impossible to open a portal out of. The portal I came in through vanished pretty much the moment I was clear. Besides, it opened somewhere up there."

He gestured vaguely upwards.

"Wouldn't exactly be easy to clamber back in even if it was still open. Far as I know, there's only one way out of here, and you're standing in it."

Buffy sighed in frustration and kicked angrily at the mud. A fat glob of it went flying, only to land with a heavy squelch several feet away.

"The rains. Yeah. Everyone back there says it's the rains. They carry you away or something. But I don't get it. I come out here at least once a week and stand in the stupid rains, but all they ever do is get me all soaking wet and ruin my mood."

She shot an accusatory look at the matte gray sky and its liquid barrage, but the rain continued to fall as usual, oblivious to reproach.

Spike stepped closer, putting a hand on her shoulder. It rested so lightly she could barely feel it – as if he was afraid that she would flinch away from his touch at any moment.

"Look, from what I heard, you've gotta just sort of… accept it. Close your eyes and let them take you."

"Do you think I haven't tried?"

Buffy did pull away from Spike's touch, stomping off a few paces to gaze disconsolately at the endless monotony ahead of her.

"You know, I really thought that you'd have a better plan for getting us out of here, though I guess you're not exactly know for your stellar planning, are you?"

"Well, I'm sorry to disappoint," Spike said, his voice prickly, "but really there is no other way. Look, let's just try, OK?"

"Fine." She huffed out a heavy sigh. "Maybe with you here it'll work differently or something."

Buffy closed her eyes and thought about home. She thought about how it would be really nice if a certain somewhat overrepresented weather phenomena would finally do something useful with its existence and take her back to her friends. How she would be just super accepting of that.

Nothing. Buffy stood in silence for as long as she could tolerate, till her skin got cold and her teeth started to chatter.

"Buffy... Uh, maybe we should get you back in, luv."

Buffy let out a groan of frustration.

"Arrgh! It's just so unfair! I mean, you show up and I'm all excited about the possibility of getting home and seeing everyone again and going back to my life and I'm supposed to what… think of nothing? Just wait for these stupid rains to take their sweet-ass time getting me home? I'm ready! Just take me already!"

The last bit she shouted at the skies, which ignored her completely.

"Look pet, let's just go in, warm up for a little while and then try again, yeah?"

Buffy crossed her arms over her chest.

"Fine."

She gave the sky one last "this isn't over" look, before storming back to Schraz' in a very foul mood.

All eyes were on her as she pushed open the door and squelched angrily to her favorite corner booth underneath the creased posters of James Dean and Marilyn Monroe. She noted with a hint of guilt, that Yavis was busily mopping up the mess from the frozen yogurt machine: she'd forgotten about it completely. But far from looking angry, he gave Buffy a rueful little smile. He knew as much as any how hard a failed trip out could be.

Spike slid into the booth across from her, anxiously drumming his fingers on its surface. His nails were unpolished, Buffy realized. Given the general roughness of his appearance, she guessed that this was not so much a personal choice as it was yet another little thing that had been edged out of his life lately.

Schraz approached them, smiling, a little notepad in his hand. Buffy tried not to sigh. The last thing she needed was his perennially cheerful attitude.

"So, you couldn't leave." He shrugged philosophically. "Shame. Maybe later you will. For now, I'm happy to have the chance to get to know your mysterious friend here." He turned to Spike, his eyes eager. "You are also from Earth?"

"That obvious, eh?"

Schraz put a finger to the side of his pitted nose.

"I can always tell. I'm a bit of what you might call an Earth-ophile myself. My cousin Shelzin left for Earth long time ago. When he comes back to visit, he brings these." He gestured at the posters on the wall. "He tells me all about Earth life and about Hollywood movies. Since then, I know I have to go see. Maybe even make movies. Become big star. Who knows? But, when I try to get to Earth I wind up here. Oh well. I build this place and make the best of it. But we will have plenty of time to discuss this. Now, what can I make for you?"

Spike cast Buffy a sheepish look, speaking with uncharacteristic hesitancy.

"You wouldn't happen to have any blood would you?"

"Oh! A vampire, are you? My cousin tells me all about this. And of course, I see vampire movies, on the television. But Shelzin says that they are not accurate. Vampires don't come here, usually. They only live on Earth and don't like to travel. Is shame. Hmm... Blood is not on our normal menu, but I see what I can do. Human, I assume? I am correct in understanding that human blood is a vampire's favorite meal?"

Spike glanced at Buffy, looking profoundly uncomfortable. Buffy just shrugged, kind of enjoying watching him squirm.

"Uh, you're not wrong, mate. But where do you get your blood?"

"Oh, I have knack for transmutation. Everything here was created using raw materials available to me."

Spike looked at him in confusion and Schraz gestured expansively at the world beyond the windows.

"The mud of course! But it will not taste like mud, I promise!"

"Uh, alright then. I'll try it."

"And for the lovely Miss Summers?"

"Oh, just a water. Thanks, Schraz."

Schraz nodded and smiled before hurrying off into the kitchen. Buffy watched him go, smiling bemusedly. If they did get stuck here, Buffy would have the small consolation of watching Schraz utterly drown Spike in questions.

When she turned back she saw that Spike was watching her with his own little grin.

"What?"

"Oh, it's just kind of funny. You, the Slayer, being all pally with demons."

"Well, it's not like I have much choice. Besides they're not all bad. Schraz is alright, if a bit weird. And Yavis, that's the cook, he's downright nice. You know, he used to be some kind of big-time gladiator back in his home dimension. He jumped into a portal hoping to find the ultimate battle and wound up here instead. He and I spar now and then. It helps keep me from going totally stir-crazy."

She stared thoughtfully out at the assorted crowd.

"I guess one thing I've learned being here is that most of these demons, back in their home dimensions, they're not demons. They're just people. I mean, there are definitely still plenty of evil demons out there, and when I get home I'm prepared to go right back into the slaying. It's just, not everyone fits into the same neat boxes anymore."

Just as she finished that thought, Schraz hustled over with a broad grin on his face and a mug of steaming blood in his hand.

He set the mug down in front of Spike with a flourish.

"Try it. Let me know what you think."

Spike hesitantly took a sip. He made a slight face of surprise or disgust but quickly suppressed it.

"Ah. Good, mate. Thanks."

"Not a problem! I am glad you enjoy it. And don't think I've forgotten about you." He winked at Buffy in a friendly manner. "I'll be right back."

He returned a moment later with a glass of ice water, setting it down on the table and then lingering, hovering over the booth, clearly hoping to be invited to sit down.

"Thank you," Buffy said. "But, um... Spike and I have a lot to catch up on, so..."

"Oh! No need to say anymore! I will leave the two of you. But later I expect to hear everything!"

He gave them a jovial smile and wandered off. Buffy noticed that he quickly found an excuse to sit with the two Verglos demons by the window, allowing him to stay close enough that he'd probably catch at least snippets of their conversation.

Spike seemed to notice this too. He cocked an amused eyebrow at her. The familiarity of the gesture made her heart skip.

He took a sip of his blood and made a face.

"Well, he was right. It doesn't taste like mud. Not really sure what it does taste like. Still... it's all I've had in days now."

They sat for a long moment in silence. Spike to another sip and then set the mug down, staring into it, his brow creased.

"I, uh… I reckon I'm not exactly your first choice of rescuers."

Buffy paused, thinking seriously about his words.

"I don't know. Maybe not my very first choice, though I'm not sure who that would be. Definitely not my last. Spike, I am glad to see you. I... God, I can't even tell you how good it is to see a familiar face. But, I've gotta ask, why…"

"Why me? Or why did it take me so long?"

"Uh, yeah. Both I guess. And Dawn!" She exclaimed, her voice suddenly accusatory. "You said you'd protect her!"

"And I did. I made a promise to you and I wasn't going to break it. But when Dawn went off to college…"

College?

"Wait! Wait! What? How long have I been gone?"

"Five years. Five years three months and twenty-two days, to be precise. How long has it been for you?"

"I-I don't know. Time doesn't really seem to pass here. Not in the normal way. It's so hard to tell but... God, five years. I… I didn't think it'd been that long. Dawn... All this time I wasn't there for her."

Buffy clenched her hands tightly under the table, trying desperately not to cry. She couldn't meet Spike's eyes, his pity and guilt and compassion were all too much.

"We never stopped looking for you, you know. All of us. For all our failings, in our own ways, we all kept trying to get you back.

"What with protecting Dawn, there was only so much I could do. I couldn't go too far or stay away too long. But then Dawn was all grown up and going to school outside the Hellmouth. The last time I saw her... It's kind of funny, really. She actually thanked me for protecting her all those years."

Spike laughed bitterly.

"I told her if I'd done it right the first time she wouldn't have needed me. 'Cause she would have had you. But then, I never could quite convince her to blame me for your jumping. For what it's worth, Buffy, I'm sorry. If I'd been just a little faster, smarter..."

Spike was gripping his mug so tightly that Buffy could tell it was in imminent danger of shattering.

"Spike." He looked up at her. "Dawn was right. It wasn't your fault."

He shook his head slightly, clearly not believing her.

"Nice to hear you say so, luv."

His voice was soft, choked. And she could tell that despite not believing her words, he really meant his. Her simple statement seemed to have moved him profoundly. He shook his head again as if to clear it, continuing his narrative.

"Well, the Bit knew that I'd been itching to go look for you for years. My promise to you and my love of her were the only things that could ever have held me back. But she told me that she was safe now, at least in relative terms. And she made me make another promise. That I would find you. No matter what. Because, we both knew that I would do whatever it took. Even if it meant ripping my way through every hell dimension to find you."

He took a deep, shuddering breath.

"I had to dive deep into some of the seediest parts of the demon world, looking for anyone who could help. 'Cause, of all the Scoobies, I'm the only one who'd ever think to ask there, or who stood any chance of success if he did.

"It's funny, I used to be completely at home in those kinds of places. I was always pretty confident in my ability to be the baddest bastard in any given room. Or at least make sure everyone thought I was. But this time... It just felt kind of... off. Like I was putting on the Big Bad mask, but it didn't really fit anymore, you know?

"Anyway, there were a lot of false starts. I'd find a demon who could scry across dimensions or who thought they could figure out where the portal had been open to the moment you jumped in. But they were all dead ends. Eventually, I heard about this place. A pocket dimension that sort of nabs folks as they're traveling between dimensions. Not all the time. Far as anyone could tell, it's random. There was no guarantee that you'd be here. But there was a chance that either you were here or you'd passed through. And any kind of chance was better than anything I'd had in a long while.

"Problem was, no one intentionally comes here. Even if you want to, it doesn't exactly have a fixed location in the multiverse. So opening a portal's no small matter. Finally, I found a Legros demon who claimed he could do it. But Legros... well, they're not exactly evil, but they drive a hard bargain and they never take anything on credit. Money doesn't mean much to them – 'least, not the kind of money that I had – and threats are useless since if you do anything to hurt them they'll just transfer their consciousness to one of the bloody pod-people clones they've got stashed away. So I had to work for him. I had to do some things I'm not exactly proud of…"

Buffy felt a stab of apprehension.

"But you didn't kill anyone, right? I mean, you can't with the chip?"

Spike suddenly looked profoundly nervous.

"Ah, yeah, about that. Thing is... thing is, chip burned out three years ago. Nearly fried my brains out with it. God, it was agony. I couldn't move, 'cept for the thrashing around, couldn't speak, could barely think. Eventually, your little sis managed to find some hack doctor crazy enough to operate for cash under the table and take the damned thing out."

Buffy half-jumped out of her seat.

"So you..."

"Didn't go on a killing spree or anything. Just 'cause I can doesn't mean I do. I don't know if I'll ever convince you, but I'm not the same vamp I used to be. Being in love with you made me want to be better. And then, Dawn. All the time I spent with her... Just imagining what she'd think of me if she ever found out I'd gone back to killing... Either she'd never forgive me, or she'd forgive me just so she wouldn't have to lose me. Only that'd be kind of worse, wouldn't it?

"So no. I didn't kill anyone. I don't kill anyone."

Buffy settled back into her seat, looking carefully at Spike. It was a lot to process, but he did seem utterly sincere. If he'd come here to kill her she'd have known by now. And if she ever found out that he'd lied and he was killing again... well, she'd do what she had to.

"Oh. Well if you didn't kill anyone then what…?"

"Well, the bastard had me in a bind and he knew it. I'd shown him my weakness, I'd do anything to get you back. For six bloody weeks he ran me ragged, piling me with so much shite that I barely had enough time for a couple hours of kip and a few swigs of blood and whiskey each night. It was petty grunt work, more grueling and degrading than anything else. Overseeing shady trade-offs in dark allies, threatening minions, fighting some really nasty beasties to get ingredients for his black-market demon-parts business... And then the bastard kept stalling for time. Saying he wasn't ready, he needed more ingredients, more time to prepare. Would've strung me along indefinitely if he could. But, ultimately the joke was on him. 'Cause I found his stash of clones. Told him I'd off the whole lot of them if he didn't open the portal."

Spike shifted uncomfortably under Buffy's intent gaze.

"They're just empty shells."

"Oh. It wasn't that, actually. I mean, I can't say I'm thrilled with the idea of you working for some lowlife. But knowing why you did and everything you went through... To be honest, I'm kind of flattered."

"And I'd do it a hundred times over and still count myself lucky if it meant sitting here with you."

"Spike…" Buffy found herself reaching out across the table, grabbing one of Spike's hands and holding it gently in her own. "Thanks."

There was a long moment of silence in which they were each locked in the other's gaze, neither knowing what to say. Buffy broke first, pulling her hand back and reaching for her glass of water. Cool streams of condensation ran down the glass and onto her fingers as she took a deep sip. When she looked up, Spike was fishing around in his coat's inner pockets, hunting for a pack of cigarettes. The pack he pulled out was damp and crumpled, mostly empty. Spike shook out a soggy cigarette and put it in his mouth with shaky fingers.

There was something in the gesture of Spike flipping open his Zippo that was strangely comforting in its familiarity. But that familiarity brought her mind back to her memories of Sunnydale, of the Scoobies in those last desperate days of their struggle against Glory. Everything she needed to get back to. Her friends. Her sister. Her calling.

"So, this, uh, Legolas demon gave you a way to get here. But you didn't have any way to get back? What was your plan?"

"Legros," Spike corrected absently. "And the plan was to get to you and figure the rest out later. Look, Buffy, we can try our luck out there again in a little while. Might work better if you've had a little rest or something."

Buffy shook her head.

"It doesn't work like that. Besides, I've had more than enough time to rest here. I... I just want to get back home."

Spike sighed heavily.

"About that. I, uh… I need you to know that even if we get back to Sunnydale, things won't be like they were when you left. A lot has changed. I just… I just want you to know that."

Buffy waited for him to supply more information, but he seemed reluctant to continue.

"OK… I know things will have changed. I'm not stupid, Spike. It's been five years. God, Dawn's in college. I mean, in my head she's been a fourteen-year-old girl this whole time. So what else? Is everyone OK?"

There was a long pause and when Spike spoke again his voice was low.

"No."

"Wait, is anyone..."

"No, no one's dead. But... thing is, you have to understand that you being gone…

"I'm not sure if any of us ever really recovered from losing you. And, while we kept up your work, protecting the Hellmouth an' all that, it was all just harder without you."

He sighed and took a deep puff from his cigarette, eyes drifting to the rain-streaked windows.

"So let's see..."

Spike lifted a hand, ticking off her friends on his fingers.

"Willow got injured, badly. Less than six months after you left. Her magic got used up in the fight and the leader of a gang of two-bit demon losers broke her back.

"Seeing her learn that she'd probably never walk again…

"And Tara was pouring her own magics into Willow, trying to heal her. In her shoes, I suppose would have done much the same. But she was draining herself in the process. And Willow dug deep into some very dark magics. First to ease the pain and feel some kind of power again. Then because she liked it. I think we all could see the warning signs, but no one wanted to admit it. Because Willow was walking again. And because she was the most powerful tool we had. But dark magics don't really heal, they don't make things better. And Willow wasn't better. Not by a long shot.

"Eventually… she crossed a few lines. Did some things she may never forgive herself for. After that, she and Tara went into a sort of magic rehab program with a coven in England. Willow to learn to live with her limitations instead of overpowering them with magic, Tara to find herself again after she'd spent so long pouring herself into Willow. They're still there now. Doin' a lot better, so I hear.

"Giles left for England, even before Red got injured. I think being in Sunny-D was too painful with you gone. Losing you... it seemed to age him about ten years. Break him somehow. But he never quit researching, trying to find a way to bring you back."

"Xander and Anya eventually announced that they were engaged. Apparently, they got engaged the night before you… well. But they didn't tell the rest of us until the day Willow first walked again. Xander said he'd been waiting for the right moment.

"The wedding never happened. Xander kept pushing the date back. Saying he couldn't see getting married without you there. If you ask me though, he was just scared. Not sure how he'd measure up. He had a hell of a role model in the form of that father of his. And with the stress of losing you and then of seeing everything that happened to Willow… He was overeating and over-drinking to cope. Not that I blame him. There were, God, so many times after you vanished that I was tempted to throw myself into a bottle and never climb out.

"Eventually, Xander and Anya had a gigantic blow-out in front of everyone. Anya came right out and asked if he was ever planning on actually marrying her. And Xander just looked at her and said he didn't think he could. Tosser. Anya stormed off. I haven't seen her since. Think she may have got back into the vengeance game, but I'm not sure. She never did curse Xander though."

Spike sighed heavily and re-lit his damp cigarette, which had gone out on him.

"So, no. Everyone's not alright. And things aren't going to be as you left them when you get back. I just needed you to know that."

Buffy was crying openly now, tears mingling with rain on her face. She was aware that Schraz and the patrons were shooting frequent glances their way, but she didn't care. She didn't care about anything except the friends she'd left behind. The lives she'd ruined.

"God, it's all my fault."

"And how do you figure that?"

"If I'd been there…"

"Then awful, bleendin' unfair stuff would have still happened," Spike said firmly. "Life's like that. Bad things happen to good people. I should know, I've been the cause of the bad more than a few time myself. Yes, it was hard to lose you. But it wasn't your fault. You did what you had to, to save the world and your sister. No one blames you for anything that happened after.

"'Sides, I've been telling you the worst of it, because I needed to prepare you. But it wasn't all bad, really.

"Dawn had her rough patches, and it was certainly hard for her to grow up without her mum or big sister. But she did grow up. And now she's living with your watcher in London. I think having her around is actually doing the old boy some good. At least now he can't just mope about all day.

"Oh, or take Xander. After a while, he stopped feeling quite so sorry for himself and started drinking less. He's actually the only one of the original crew still left in Sunnydale now that Dawn's gone. Unless you count Faith."

"Faith?!"

"Yeah. She got out of jail a few years back. She's a lot better than she was, or so I understand. Tryin' to make up for the bad things she's done and such. She and Xander actually make kind of a cute couple. Pretty obvious who wears the pants in that relationship, if you know what I mean."

"Wait! Faith and Xander?"

Spike was grinning mischievously now.

"Yeah, thought that might surprise ya."

"God, Xander has the worst taste in women. Not that I can judge. OK. So now you've warned me that it won't be like I remember. My friends are scattered to the four corners of the world. Willow's a recovering magic junkie, Xander's a recovering alcoholic, who also happens to be dating my former mortal enemy…"

Spike grinned slyly, taking another puff at his cigarette.

"Yeah, but they don't always turn out to be so bad, do they? Mortal enemies?"

Buffy couldn't help giving him a small smile back.

"Yeah, I guess they don't."

Buffy found her gaze drifting once again to the windows as she tried to fit this information into her picture of the world she'd left behind. Suddenly a realization came to her.

"God… There's really nothing for me in Sunnydale anymore, is there? I mean, most of my friends are gone. And a Slayer's protecting it. I want to see Xander again, of course. But as a place to live...? Oh! My house is it still...?"

Spike shook his head slowly, his eyes lowered.

"I'm sorry pet. We couldn't afford to keep it. For a while there, Willow and Tara were staying and paying rent. But then they fell apart and no one could afford the mortgage. We got an apartment together, Dawn and Xander and I. An unlikely group of roommates if ever there was one. I got a job and paid rent and everything."

"You? Got a job. You got a job?"

"Yeah. Someone had to pay the bills. Giles sent money every month but his watcher's retirement was only so generous and didn't leave him with much to share. Xander chipped in as he could, but as I said, he was having issues of his own. Got laid off for a while. So I slung beer at Willy's. Not the most glamorous of jobs, but it let me work nights and bring home a little dosh for me and the Bit."

"You really did take care of her, didn't you?"

"I know I was no replacement. And having no legal identity and a bit of a wonky moral code were both a bit of a hindrance at times, though Xander helped with those things. Don't tell him I said this, but he's actually not so bad, that one. So, yes. I did my best."

"Thank you, Spike."

She stared out the window again.

"So it's really gone. Home. Huh, I never imagined."

"For what it's worth, I always thought that home was more about the people you were with than the place you happened to be. Maybe your home's not gone, just scattered."

Suddenly a broad, boyish grin flashed across his face.

"Hey, whaddya say we give those rains another go?"

"Huh? Now?"

"Yeah. Now. Come on, Slayer! Don't you want to get out of here?"

His grin was infectious and Buffy rose, a smile creeping across her mouth.

"Yeah. I do."

Schraz got to his feet, looking at them with a quizzical smile.

"Trying again so soon?"

Buffy nodded.

"OK. Well, maybe I see you again. Maybe I don't."

He gave a philosophical half-shrug. On a sudden impulse, Buffy threw her arm around him in a quick hug.

Normally, no one said goodbye, or even acknowledged that they might be gone out of fear that they wouldn't. But that seemed silly now.

"Thanks." She said. "It's been... Well, it's been a lot better than it could have been."

Yavis was leaning on the kitchen door, looking bemused.

Buffy walked up to him and he wrapped her, briefly yet firmly, in his huge arms and then pushed her back enough to peer into her face.

"Think you'll make it this time?"

"I'm not sure. But I think I'll be OK."

And then Buffy turned and followed Spike through the door.

The rain soaked even more quickly through her already damp clothes, but it didn't bother her so much this time. Droplets beat a steady rhythm, cool and soothing, against her skin.

Spike walked beside her, his eyes darting from her to the murky horizon, his expression determined. She reached out and grasped his hand firmly in her own.

He looked at her in surprise but said nothing. They walked in silence for a long while. Every now and then, less often than usual, she looked over her shoulder. The building slowly disappeared, leaving only the glowing red of the sign. Then that too was smudged out.

Eventually, they stopped and Spike addressed her, thoughtfully.

"You know that the rains could take us anywhere, right? Not just back to Sunnydale, or even back to Earth?"

"Yeah. I think I've always suspected. I guess I just always thought I could sort of will them into taking me home."

"If it was possible, I'm sure you would have done it by now. I don't know if there's anyone in all the universes more bleedin' stubborn than you."

"Well, except maybe you."

Buffy let her eyes drift across the impressionistically blurred horizon, the expanse of shifting shades of lead and silver. There was a weird sort of beauty to it that she'd never really noticed before.

"That's why I was stuck here, isn't it? All this time. Focusing so hard on home as I remember it... But the rains can take you anywhere. And you have to be OK with that."

Buffy took a deep shuddering breath and turned back to Spike.

His eyes on her were thoughtful, intent.

"As long as we go together, I don't much care where we wind up. But, wherever it is, I'll find a way, someone who can open a portal, something. I'll get you back. I made a promise to a lady."

"Yeah. I know."

Buffy stood for a long moment, not thinking of much at all. She watched the water roll off the flattened curls of his hair and travel along the sharp planes of his face.

Before she could overthink it, Buffy leaned forward and kissed him softly. She could taste the ionized water on his lips. His eyes widened in wonder and she gave him a small smile in return.

Buffy wondered if she could ever love him and realized that she wasn't sure. But she'd been wrong about so many things before and, right now, she was okay with not knowing. She wondered how long it would take them to get back and, once they did, whether she'd find a place for herself, as a Slayer or in the lives of her friends. Would she go back to college? Find a career? She didn't know. She grabbed Spike's hand and stood by his side, fingers laced lightly through his.

She closed her eyes and tilted her head back, letting the rain fall on her face. Buffy wasn't sure how long she stood like that, but, slowly, the rain stopped.

Buffy smiled and opened her eyes.