Just when Buffy was Dawn a kiss after her speech, she saw Spike limping toward them.

"Big sis' is right, Bit. Living is the hardest thing there is. And since you, Summers women are bloody strong, you both will keep on living."

Buffy looked at his eyes, realizing that somehow, he knew. And Spike's eyes showed such determination and… peace, at the same time.

"Spike…"

"It has to be me, Slayer."

Dawn was looking at them, confused and scared.

"When did you figure it out?", Buffy asked him calmly

Spike chuckled.

"On the way here and you told me the allergy story. It just clicked. Now it seems very obvious. Feel like a right wanker for not figuring it out earlier."

"You don't have to do this just because of that, Spike"

"I am not doing this because of the newsflash, pet. It just made me realize I am capable of doing what I wanted and swore to do – protect the Nibblet and you, make sure you both live. Till the end of the world, even if it happens to be tonight."

Buffy found herself tearing up. Dawn was crying and telling Spike over and over she can't let him do this. He stroked her hair and spoke to her calmly.

"Be there for your sis, Bit. She needs you more than you realize. You are amazing in your own way and I love you, never doubt that. It has nothing to do with your sis, it is all you. I want you to promise me one thing – you will live, you will grab from life with full hands and follow your heart."

He hated seeing her beautiful blue eyes crying, let alone for him. But he knew she would be alright.

"I promise, Spike. And I love you too."

Spike kissed the top of Dawn's head and went to Buffy. God, she was so beautiful. He wished… He wished he had more time, but he didn't, so he had to tell her. He cupped her face with his hand, and she let him. If it was out of pity, he didn't care right now.

"I know you could never love me, Buffy, and it's alright. I understand it. I know I don't deserve you; I would never be worthy of you. But I am asking, begging you actually, for one thing. Know and remember that I truly love you and it has been the most real thing in my life and my unlife, all sodding hundred plus years."

Buffy placed her hand on top of the one cupping her face, gave him a reassuring squeeze and smiled gently through her tears.

"I know. And I will remember. Always."

Spike smiled at her and kissed the top of her head. He then pulled away, just to look at her one last time. He wanted Buffy's face to be the last thing he looked at.

"You will be alright. Make sure the Bit remembers too."

With those last words, he ran toward the end of the platform and jumped.

As Buffy and Dawn made their way down, they saw Spike, lying on the ground, so still, and his face was so peaceful, he looked like he was sleeping. Buffy found herself wishing she could go to him, shake him and wake him up. But the sun rose, and soon all that was left of Spike were ashes the wind blew away.

Somehow, with group efforts, some Valerian and Benadryl, they had managed to put Dawn to sleep.

After that, all of them sat in the living room, not saying anything at first. Buffy wanted to tell them to just leave and let her be. She couldn't believe it herself, even a month ago if someone had told her she would feel the way she was feeling now, she would've sent them to the nearest psych ward – but now, Buffy wanted to grieve for Spike in peace. But she knew her friends, and she knew they wanted answers.

Giles was the first one to speak.

"I know you will disapprove, but Glory had to be stopped. And I did it the only possible way I saw – I killed Ben."

Buffy wasn't surprised. She figured out someone must have taken care of Glory, and since none of her friends had the supernatural strength required, it had to have happened by killing the human host. To her surprise, she didn't feel as bad about it as she felt she was supposed to.

"I thought killing humans was the bleached menace's gig."

Buffy could not believe Xander.

"How can you say that, after what went down tonight?!"

"Come on, Buff. Spike was an evil, soulless monster and…"

"NO!"

She was having none of that. Her friends looked at her in shock, but she didn't care.

"Yes, Spike used to be a killer, and he didn't have his soul. But even then, he helped me when Angelus was about to end the world. He helped us with Adam. You may say he did it for himself. Fine! What about what he did for Tara when her family came? What about when Glory tortured him and still kept Dawn's secret? What about his support when mom told me she was sick? I had just treated him like dirt mere hours ago, and he sat with me, let me cry about it, listened to me and comforted me? What about the fact that he was there for Dawn more than any of us these last few months? He did all that without a freaking soul, Xander! And without a soul, he gave his life and he saved Dawn, and me, and the whole damn world! Spike didn't have a soul, yeah. But – newsflash, Xander – people, humans with souls murder and rape and torture and make terrorist attacks. He may not have had a soul, but Spike's heart was in the right place, and he loved more selflessly and fiercely than anyone I know. And I won't let you talk about him that way, when he is the reason, you are still alive. You, me – the whole freaking world owes him!"

Xander seemed to have decided not to say anything. Buffy knew him well and she knew he wanted to bite back, but at least he was smart enough to realize it was not the time.

After her outburst, both Xander and Anya and Willow and Tara left to go to the hospital to get checked out. Buffy was grateful. But Giles stayed. Somehow, she knew he would. He looked at her, sighed and asked her when she figured it out.

"A while ago. Before mom died. I came home and mom, Spike and Dawn were sitting on the couch, watching Passions and drinking hot cocoa. I observed them and it suddenly hit me, it was crystal clear. What about you?"

"Shortly after learning the monks made Down from you. If they had used just you, she would be like your clone. They had to have used someone else. And Spike seemed like the logical choice."

Buffy stayed silent. It now seemed so obvious. And she could see so much of Spike in Dawn.

Somehow, it made it better and worse at the same time.