Joyce heard a knock at the door, and Xander’s voice as he called for Buffy. “She’s not here, Xander,” Joyce answered from the kitchen.
“Oh,” came Giles’ voice, who was still keeping his distance since Joyce blamed Giles for Buffy’s leaving. “But she was here, yes? She came to see you?”
“Yes, she did,” she responded, wiping the tears from her eyes as the footsteps approached. “We talked. She explained everything; how you came to see her, how you gave her your ticket in case she wanted to come home, how she gave it back to you and then second-guessed her decision and came home. I know everything.”
“Well, that’s more than we know,” a pale Xander said, trying to maintain his cheery demeanor but obviously struggling. “Did she tell you about…”
“Yes,” Joyce said. “Did you find Cordelia?”
Giles looked at the floor and Xander sank down onto a seat next to Joyce. “No. No, we really didn’t. I… I wanted to come back here to see if Oz and Will had any luck. Have you seen them recently?”
“No, I’m afraid I haven’t, Xander. You look terrible. Can I get either of you anything?”
“No, that’s fine, thank you,” Giles answered politely.
“Normally, I’d love something, but I have to keep looking.” Xander stood and took a deep breath. “Did Buffy say where she was going? It’d be nice to have her on the hunt.”
“Sorry, Xander. We chatted, and then she… well, she just went up to her room, grabbed something, and asked if it was all right if she went looking for you guys. I didn’t know where you’d be.”
Xander nodded. “All right. Thanks. Are you coming with, Giles?”
“Actually, Rupert,” Joyce said, talking to the counter more than Giles, “I’d like to speak with you for a while, if you don’t mind.”
Giles nodded at Joyce and looked up at Xander. “Is that…”
“Yeah, sure, it’s fine. Just, uh… I’ll just check in every so often. If Buffy comes back, tell her that I’ve gone in case I don’t come back.” Xander left the building and decided to trace Willow and Oz’s steps to see if they needed help.
***
Buffy stood and stared at the place where it had all happened. Acathla was gone. Maybe Giles carted him away or something. But she could still see everything happen; from the sword fight from here to the garden to back again to the moment when Angelus was Angel again. The moment he went from the demon she hated to the man she loved. She’d kissed him, and then she’d put a sword through his chest. She watched him get sucked into hell.
She saw the look of shock on his face as he registered that Buffy, of all people, stabbed him.
Buffy let the tears fall off her face as she fiddled with the ring in her hands. He’d given it to her the night he’d gone homicidal again. It had been her birthday. And it had been one of the best days of her life.
But she was ready to let go.
Buffy set the ring down, and then stood there and cried for a moment. Then she turned and walked away.
Willow and Oz approached the building just as it began to happen.
***
“Damn, you’re good,” Faith said, catching her breath.
“Oh, I’m not finished yet, love,” Spike responded, flicking her hair back seductively.
“I didn’t expect you were,” Faith responded, pulling Spike toward her and kissing him deeply. Spike responded forcefully, but moved down and started to kiss her shoulder, working his way up until his lips tickled against her neck.
“I knew the only thing better than killing a Slayer would be doing one,” Spike whispered as he morphed into vamp face. He held her hands down again and ensured she couldn’t move beneath him. “While killing one.”
Spike felt the small wave of apprehension pass through Faith. He leaned forward and just brushed her neck with his teeth, letting the blood flow slowly.
And then the ground began to shake.
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