Sparks Fly
Summary: Set 10 years post Chosen. Buffy is finally settled into 'normal' life when a face from her past shows up to rock the boat.
Chapter One
*Energy from the amulet pulsed and swept through the cavern, destroying every Turok-Han that its rays touched. Buffy heard the screams from the vampires as they are burnt to ashes. Buffy ran to Spike's side as the cavern around them began to shake and tremble. Chunks of rock tumbled from the ceiling as the ground shook beneath their feet.
"Everybody out now!" Buffy heard Faith yell
The newly christened Slayers followed Faith's lead and ran up the stairs and into the school basement. Faith stayed behind, helping the injured to safety as Buffy stood before Spike who is was pinned in place, illuminated by a yellow glow.
"I can feel it, Buffy" he told her
"What?"
"My soul. It's really there. It kind of stings" he said softly
Buffy looked around desperately as the last of the Slayers climbed up and out of the Hellmouth.
"Go on, then" he yelled at her
"No! No, you've done enough! You could still—"
"No, you've beaten them back. It's for me to do the cleanup" he told her
"Buffy, come on!" Faith called down frantically from the top of the stairs near the Seal.
Faith took one last desperate look at Buffy, then leapt up into the school above.
"Gotta move, lamb. I think it's fair to say, school's out for bloody summer" said Spike
"Spike!" Buffy begged him
"I mean it! I gotta do this" he put his hands out in protest
Buffy reached out and took Spike's hand in hers, their fingers entwined. They stared at each other for a moment before their hands burst into flame.
Buffy ignored the fire and held his gaze with her own. "I love you" she said softly with tears in her eyes
Spike looked at her, if his heart could beat it would've definitely broke his chest in that moment "No, you don't. But thanks for saying it" he said barely above a whisper
They shared one last look before the ground beneath their feet began to shake and chunks of rocks slam around them
"Now go!" He ordered her
Buffy let go of Spike's hand and ran up through the Seal*
Buffy woke with a start. She sighed heavily; she dreamt of him often. Even more around this time of year; it was coming up to the tenth anniversary of the closing of the Hellmouth and her life had changed so dramatically.
In the following the destruction of Sunnydale she was on autopilot. They had a lot of work to do locating new Slayers and setting up a new Watchers council. She hardly had a moment to process what had just been through and who she had lost.
It took a deep conversation with Dawn to make her realise that she was bottling her feelings up about Spike's passing. She cried for days and then day by day it got a little easier.
It didn't get easier for Xander, his guilt over leaving Anya at the alter and then her death in that final battle of Sunnydale left him bereft. He tried to put on a brave face but after six months he told the Scoobies he was leaving to find himself. He ended up settling in South America.
The thought of leaving intrigued Buffy, she'd promised to show Dawn the world and so far she had only showed her Cleveland, Ohio. Buffy and Dawn spoke about it at length and they decided to leave to see the world together before Dawn went off to college.
They travelled across Europe and ended up settling in York, England. Buffy and Dawn fell in love with the city with its amazing architecture from medieval times, its magnificent Georgian town houses. Giles had managed to secure the insurance money from the blast that destroyed the original Watchers Council which allowed Dawn to attend the University of York and set up home for the Summers sisters.
They had called York home for the past 9 years, Buffy had managed to get herself a job at a bar in the city centre. Dawn had long since graduated university and got herself a job as a digital marketer working in one of the most popular marketing companies in the City.
Willow decided a move to Devon would be best for her. Unfortunately it wasn't the best for her relationship with Kennedy, that soon fizzled out when Kennedy did not want to move to England and instead opted to head up operations in New York. Willow stuck to her word and she joined the women of the coven. Soon she began taking in Witches who like her had abused the magicks and wanted help. Willow felt like she had a purpose again.
Giles was enjoying his retirement from all things mystical and retreated to his home in Bath, England.
The Scoobies were spread out across the globe but every year they came together at Giles' home in Bath to mark the anniversary of Sunnydale being closed for business.
Buffy thought about the years that had past. As she sat in her bed contemplating how lucky she was that she was freed from her duties as a Slayer. Although sometimes she still got the itch to go kill things, and she would patrol occasionally. You can't take the girl out of Sunnydale but you can't take Sunnydale out of the girl.
She stretched her limbs and decided to get out of bed. Giles had managed to give Buffy enough for a deposit on a reasonably sized home for her and Dawn. However Dawn spread her wings and moved to the centre of town not long after she graduated university.
XXXX
Buffy was busy in the kitchen making herself some breakfast, her cooking skills had improved since she came to England. Her phone began to buzz. She looked at her phone and answered.
"Hey Dawnie, what's up?" asked Buffy flatly
"You sound awfully moody this morning" said Dawn
"Thank you I love you too!" Buffy rolled her eyes
"You're really not a morning person are you?" said Dawn
"What can I say all those years being a Slayer made me a real night owl" Buffy shrugged "Was there a point to this phone call or is it just pick on Buffy day?"
"No" Dawn laughed "I wanted to call and ask who was driving tomorrow"
"Driving where now?" asked Buffy
"Bath… Giles'?"
"Right.. the anniversary" said Buffy
"I know ten years, I can hardly believe it" Dawn said sadly
"Feels like a lifetime ago" Buffy muttered
"So… who's driving?" asked Dawn
"I'll drive" Buffy offered
"On second thought I'll drive" said Dawn "I still haven't gotten over our last road trip where you nearly killed me"
"Dawn how many times do I have to tell you? The was dark I had no idea that there would be a cow just randomly in the middle of the road" said Buffy
"Still… I think it's best if I drive" said Dawn
"Okay" Buffy rolled her eyes
"Okay, I'll pick you up tomorrow morning. Make sure you've packed everything" said Dawn
"Yes ma'am" said Buffy
"I gotta go I'm gunna be late for work. Love you" said Dawn
"Love you too"
Buffy sighed as she put her phone back on the countertop. The next few days we're going to be tough.