Chapter 19

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Holtz attack on Castle Dracula had the potential to disrupt the peace talks. Most of the Concillium Mortuum had been wiped out, only Dracula was an emergency meeting at the castle that night between president Wilkins, Dracula, and Buffy. Buffy had never thought she would be meeting with these two about peace, but these were indeed unusual times.

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Buffy: What exactly was that they used against the vampires?

Wilkins: Its a device that will temporarily inflict great pain on vampires. They're hard to manufacture and can only be used once. I don't know if Alan stole one of ours, or his other employers gave him one. In any event, we have to talk business. With the Council almost entirely wiped out, it seems I have to negotiate with Dracula alone. If you were to sign the peace agreement, how many other vampires would follow your lead?

Dracula: Many could be convinced, given my celebrity status. Other pretenders like Lestat are mere fiction, but perhaps its worth considering to get some pretenders to their thrones.

Buffy: But Kakistos and the Master won't be stopped by you, and they could pose a threat to my family.

Wilkins: We can protect you and Dawn.

Buffy: No offense, but we're not there yet. I think we're just going to leave, its better we not say where.

Wilkins: Fair enough.

Buffy: Good luck with your peace initiative.

Wilkins: And good luck to you.

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Buffy, Giles, Jenny, Xander, Willow, Joyce, and Dawn left Sunnydale. Giles wasn't entirely certain he could trust the Watcher's Council, so he used some of his underground contacts to try and disappear. Kakistos wanted to murder Willow and her baby, and this Draconian Order wanted to steal her to use her for some nefarious purpose. Her friends refused to let either of those things happen to Willow and her baby. Willow was incredibly grateful for this. She also couldn't help but notice that Xander and Buffy were becoming closer. Willow thought that Buffy always viewed Xander as just a friend, but then Xander had matured somewhat over the years. She was not jealous like she would have been once, she was happy for her two friends and wished them both the best.

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Holtz and his remaining followers were nowhere to be seen in Sunnydale since their attack on Castle Dracula. Even as president Wilkins was promising that vampires who accepted his offer of amnesty would be unable to harm humans, he granted the vampires of Sunnydale an exception to go after Holtz. Steven hadn't seen his adoptive father since that night, nor did he particularly want to. A part of him hoped Holtz would just live out his remaining life in secret, in peace. But peace didn't seem to be an option for that vampire hunter. Steven had warned to the idea of calling himself Conner, as his birth parents had wanted to name him. He grew closer to Darla and Angel. He missed Dawn, he hoped she and Buffy could escape the danger. Conner was glad that Darla was willing to accept the amnesty, but he had no illusions about his parent setting back together. Angel seemed to like Fred, and they might make a good couple.

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Buffy began thinking about Xander a lot more than she used too. In the old world the two of them, along with Willow, had been best friends. The worst kept secret in Sunnydale was the fact that Xander had a crush on Buffy, but nothing had ever come of that. But, despite his faults, Xander had always been there for Buffy, and that part never changed with her wish. And he did seem a little more mature than she remembered, maybe that was a butterfly effect. In any event, Buffy did find herself wondering about a romantic relationship with Xander.

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Angel remembered Fred from the old world, but he hadn't really thought about her in a romantic sense. Or maybe he had, and tried to deny it. But working with her, again, he liked her. Maybe he did have a certain type, strong women. That was what had drawn him to Darla all those centuries ago, and what had drawn him to Buffy and Cordelia. But none of those relationships had worked out in the end, but maybe he and Fred had a shot. Back in the old world she liked him, for awhile. But that was after he saved her from Pylea, when he was her savior. It would have been wrong to take advantage of her then. But in this world, she was never in Pylea, and while he saved her life at times, she saved his as well. He could only hope that in this new world, she might still like him in that way.

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Buffy finally decided to tell Xander how she felt about him. She was nervous, tried to make small talk. But finally she worked up her nerve and just kissed him. Xander couldn't believe it. The girl he'd had a crush on for over eight years, she finally felt the same way about him. All he could think to do was kiss her back.

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Angel went to see Fred, to tell her how he had come to feel about her. He wasn't sure what to say, maybe there were no right word to describe his feelings. Fortunately Fred was a genius, she could read between the lines. She kissed Angel, and he kissed her back. They were together now.

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Despite the imminent danger, things were looking fairly optimistic. Xander and Buffy were in love, Angel and Fred were in love. Willow would soon give birth, she was over the moon about finally being able to look her daughter in the eye and hold her. And peace between humans and vampires was within reach, for perhaps the first time ever, with Richard Wilkins of all people as the peacemaker. When Buffy first became the slayer nine years ago, she never could have imagined things turning out like this. Maybe the lines between good and evil were not as clear as she might have once thought. This was the time period they would later look back on with nostalgia. Because, as always happens in life, nothing good can last forever.