Fic: Magister 3, Ch 21 (FRM)

[gilescandy]

This is the end!  Thank you all for following me through this long journey.  For the last two and a half months I haven't watch any new drama on tv or started any new video games, just so I could concentrate on this story.  I hope you enjoy my creation.  Love you all.

Thanks to Protoneoromantic.  Her beta work made this story better than it ever would have been.

Full series HERE.

Ch. 21 – The Choice

“I’m sure most of you have heard at least rumors about what’s going to happen today.”  Buffy paced in front of everyone gathered in the hospital lobby.  “Even if you don’t fully understand, you can feel it.  We have a chance to do what has always been impossible.  A chance to take the fight against evil straight into its stronghold and make sure it thinks twice before showing any of its faces in our world again.

“All this time there’s been one Slayer, one girl to protect the whole world from darkness.  Why?  Because a group of men got together and decreed it should be so.”  She glanced at her Watcher’s bowed head.  “Maybe it was because that was all the power they had.  Maybe it really was the best they could do.  Who knows?

“Into every generation is born a chosen one, and she alone…  Only we know that’s not true, don’t we?  Look at this one generation.  Tens of you right here.  Hundreds and maybe more still out there waiting.  You are all here.  Maybe because someone told you to run.  Maybe because a guy like him,” she pointed at Giles, “showed up and told you this is where you needed to be.  So you came.  And you stood up.  And you chose to fight evil. 

“Who knows what makes a Slayer.  Something deep inside her that makes her unwilling and unable to stand by while the innocent suffer?  Something that drives her to fight?  What I do know is that it is in every one of you.  The only thing that makes Faith and me any different is that we were given some power to go with it.  I look at you, and I see sisters.  Only braver because you guys are here just as you are.

“So…  Why don’t we change that?  Why don’t we change everything?  Thousands of years ago a group of men made one Slayer.  This woman right here is more powerful than all of them.”  Willow ducked her head shyly.  “For the first time in history, we don’t have to fight alone anymore.  We can all be strong.  We can all face the darkness together and drive it back to where it belongs. 

“But I have to ask all of you…  You need to make the choice for yourself and every other potential out there.  Are you ready to spend your life standing between danger and the innocent?  Are you ready to be strong?”

Buffy was breathing hard after giving what she felt was her most rousing speech ever.  She scanned the eerily silent room as the girls continued to look at each other with huge, uncertain eyes.  This went on for so long Buffy was getting truly worried.

Finally, Dawn stepped out and turned back to the group.  “So, anyone not up for beltin’ the First right in the teeth?  Speak now… or forever hold your peace.”  The room remained breathlessly quiet.  “And all those ready to join the sisterhood of kickin’-evil-ass, let me hear it.”

The room erupted with a cheer and Dawn turned toward her sister with a huge, undoubting grin.

The look on the Slayer’s face held a lot more surprise.  Sure, it was a good speech, but she still wasn’t positive how they’d react.  “Are you guys sure about this?” she asked carefully.  “You know being a Slayer isn’t easy.”

It was Molly who spoke up from the group.  “We know.  We’ve been watching you and Faith.  But, here’s the thing…  If we all say bollocks to it now, what’s the next plan?”

Rona answered for Buffy and everyone else.  “Ain’t got one.”

“An’ you Slayers,” Molly continued.  “You deal with all kinds of drama, and relationship problems, and falling for the wrong guys, and people counting on you to do the right thing…”

“Sounds a lot like being a girl,” Rona took up her part of the tag team.  “’xcept at night you get to go out and kick the crap outta some who really deserve it.”

“Yeah, you have all this pressure to save the world, but…”

“Beats the hell outta sitting at home and hoping someone else doesn’t screw it up.”

Molly looked back at all the new and dear friends standing behind her.  “We’ve seen what the worst thing about being the Chosen One is.”

There were nods all around to accompany Rona’s answer of, “Being the chosen ONE.”

“So, here it is.  We choose to be strong together now so that no Slayer has to fight alone again.  You’re right, Buffy.  We are sisters.  Time we had the power to watch each other’s backs for good.”

Buffy’s jaw hung in astonishment.  She glanced over just in time to see Giles wipe proud tears from his eyes.  In fact, the only one frowning was Willow.

“Great,” the Witch muttered.  “Everything will be just peachy… but only if I don’t mess it up.  No pressure.”

“You’ll do fine, Willow,” Giles told her with a huge smile.  “Everyone here knows you will.”  A chorus of affirmatives went up all around to support his statement.  The redhead smiled bravely, but it was till forced.

“The scouting party’s back,” Faith announced as she entered the front doors, pulling focus away from the grateful Witch.  “And success we got.”

“You guys found what we need?” Buffy went to meet her.

“Nothing luxury.  But there was a bus left at the High School.  Quiet around there, too.  Like the First is daring us.”

Glancing at her army, Buffy smiled.  “That’s because It has no idea what It’s up against.”

“Xand is backing it up as close as he can to the door as we speak.  And Kennedy is putting the finishing touches on a dark zone in the back so our dead-boys don’t fry.  We should be ready to move out pronto.”

 “You heard her,” Dawn announced to the group.  “There won’t be much room, so grab your favorite weapon and anything you can’t live without.  We’re talking final showdown here, that means anything can happen.  We might not get a chance to come back here.  Meet in five to load up and move out.”

“I’ll go get Ethan,” Giles told the Slayers.

“I’ll go,” Faith stopped him.  “Besides, I picked up some clothes for him while we were out.”  She whispered to the Watcher, “Looks like you might need to stick here and keep Willow calm.”

“She’ll be wonderful,” he gazed at his love with pride.

******

“You guys know what to do!” Buffy shouted as they marched into Sunnydale High School.  “First, spread out and search the basement.  Plug any hole you see.  We don’t want the rats running anywhere but to us.  I’ll meet you all at the Hellmouth.”  The girls took off at a trot, headed for the basement entrance.

“This would be easier if you’d just let me carry you,” Faith grumbled as she hobbled in supporting Ethan draped over her shoulders.

“I’m half again your sithze and would like to retain a small amount of dinnity,” he replied, forcing his legs one in front of the other.  “When I voiced my hope to be held in your lovely arms, I din’t mean cradled like a babe.”

“Since when did you ever need dignity,” she teased him.  Glancing up at Buffy, she asked, “Where do you want me to drop the baggage?”

Buffy could only chuckle at their antagonistic way of showing affection.  “Willow said she needs to be in a quiet place, but as close to us and the Hellmouth as possible.  I’m thinkin’ principal’s office.”

“Got it,” Faith nodded.  “I’ll drop him off and head down to give the girls a hand.  Come on, Gimpy.  You can make it.”

Ethan retaliated as they slowly continued down the hallway together.  “Gimp…  Have you forgotthen that I almost died onlfy a few days ago?  I was ready, against my very natture, to give my life for the greater cause.”

“Yeah, yeah…  Join the club.  And, hey, look on the bright side.  You might still die today.  At least that way I won’t have to drag your skinny ass outta here.”

“My arse happensh to be a work of art.  Don’t try to deny you’ve notisced…”

Buffy watched them for a moment before turning back to see the next group entering the building.  Willow, Dawn, Xander, and Kennedy lead what could only be described as two technicolored Halloween ghosts forward.  They were all grinning at the muffled voices arguing with each other from under the blankets.

“All I’m saying is that it seems to me Southern California is a very poor home for vampires,” the slightly taller ghost muttered.  “The sun is constantly a problem here.”

“You callin’ us that choose to come here daft?”

“If the cape fits…”

“Didn’t seem to be a problem for you other half when he was down in LA takin’ over the town.”

Giles’ voice heaved a sigh.  “Yes, but that was where my demon was born.  He was merely starting where he was.”

“So, where do you suggest vampire paradise could be found?”

“I haven’t given it much thought before now.  But, off the top of my head, maybe Scandinavia, or the Highlands of Scotland.  Plenty of darkness, overcast days, and room to be left in peace.”

Spike chuckled.  “All that and freezing cold, too.  Ever seen what happens to a frozen body.  You get parts start breaking off an’ all.  Besides, Dru and I did spend a couple decades in Scotland.  I suppose it’s about what kind of danger you want, really.  Sure, here you got the sun, but that’s predictable.  In LA, someone says they saw a vampire, the questions you get are, ‘does that mean you’ll stay young and pale’ and ‘if he can only work nights, can we pay him half’.  Up on the moors someone claims vampire and you’re running from torches and pitchforks.”

“You guys are safe now,” Dawn giggled.

Giles whipped his blanket off over his head.  “Are you trying to say the people up north are nothing but villagers from classic cinema?”

Spike shrugged.  “Looked that way to us when we were running for our lives some ninety-odd years ago.”

“Well…  I’m quite sure you deserved it.”

Xander walked up to Buffy and rolled his eye at the vampire antics.  “Where do you want me?”

“You and Dawn will be our backup up here.  Hopefully, we won’t let anything get through, but you might wanna see what you can set up in the way of boobytraps.”

“Check,” he and Dawn jogged into the school building, both hauling loaded duffel-bags.

The Slayer turned to Willow.  “I sent Ethan to Wood’s office.  Looks like the best place for you to set up.”  She handed the scythe to the Witch.  “You’ve got this, Wil.”

Willow gave a tentative nod and headed off, follow by closely Giles. 

Kennedy stepped forward.  “You said you had something for me to do?”

“Yeah.  I need you to hold back up here when the rest of us go in.  We need someone who can come warn us if things go sideways.  You’ll also be able to help if the First tries to stop Willow’s spell.”

“So, I’m a gopher?”  The Potential shook her head when Buffy started to explain.  “It’s good, I get it.  What I don’t understand is why you’re not waiting for Willow to finish before you open the Hellmouth.  Aren’t you just asking for a disaster, taking everyone in before we know if this will work?”

“It’s our only chance at surprise.  The First knows what we’re doing, but I don’t think It believes we can pull it off.  If we’re already in place to attack, It won’t have time to mobilize Its army before we get down there.”

Kennedy nodded.  “This is do or die.  And it all hinges on some hocus pocus.  Do you realize how crazy we all are right now?”

Buffy smiled.  “You wanted to be a Slayer.  Welcome to our world.”

The Potential could only chuckle and shake her head before going to see if she could help Xander and Dawn.

“And I’m with you,” Spike approached his Slayer.

“Do you have it?”

“Yeah,” he pulled the amulet out of his pocket.

“Better not put it on ‘til we’re in.  We have no idea what’ll happen.”

Together they turned, the last to walk down the long, dark hallway to the future.

*****

The potentials were already gathered around the Seal of Danzalthar when Buffy and Spike arrived.  “Everything finished up down here?” the Slayer asked as she weaved her way to the center of the group.

“Five by five,” Faith gave a guarded smile.  “Nowhere for them to go but through us.” 

Buffy sighed, “Yeah, and that sounds like such a good thing when you say it out loud.”

“No turning back now,” the other Slayer shrugged.  She handed over an ornate dagger.  “You first, B.”

Buffy took the ceremonial knife and placed the blade across her palm.  She glanced around at her army.  “Here we go...”

“Don’t do that!” came a shout from the doorway.  All heads whipped around to see Dawn striding toward her sister.  “Who taught you how to make a blood sacrifice anyway?”  She snatched the dagger away while Buffy was still staring stunned at her.

“What are you doing down here?” the Slayer finally sputtered out.  “I told you to stay with Xander.”

“They sent me to tell you Willow’s ready to start.  She said to give her about ten minutes and you should know…  One way or the other.”

“Fine.  You delivered the message.  Now give me the knife and get out of here.”

Dawn kept the dagger out of Buffy’s grabbing reach.  “Not before I show you guys how this works.”  The Slayer crossed her arms and gave her best big-sister-annoyed-and-patience-running-short look.  “Just watch,” the younger Summers sighed.  “You never cut the palm of your hand unless the spell specifically calls for it.  There are lots for nerves there and it gets in the way with whatever you need to do afterwards.  It counts as a special kind of sacrifice.  In fact, there’s only one place a spell can require that’s more painf… and you don’t wanna know about that.”  She quickly placed the blade to the meaty part of her arm just below her elbow.  “Make your cuts here.  It’s easy to direct how the blood falls, heals better, and is out of the way when you need to fight.  Got it?”  Dawn flipped the dagger in her hand and gave it back to her sister.

“Do I even want to ask who taught you that?” Buffy huffed.

Dawn grinned.  “You’ll all be thanking Ethan when you don’t have to swing a sword with a cut hand.”

“Fine.  Get out of here.”  Buffy watched her sister turn toward the door and frowned.  “Dawn--”

“No,” the younger woman said quietly.  “Anything more you say will sound like goodbye.”  She continued back upstairs to her assigned post.

Buffy watched her go, filled with pride and love, before looking back to her troops.  “You all got that, right?  The point is for all of us to give just enough to open the Seal and not enough to feel weak.  Here we go.”  With a deep breath, she cut her arm where Dawn had instructed and passed the dagger to Faith.

***

Giles made one more circuit of the office with the bundle of smoldering sage before placing it in a bowl and sitting cross-legged in front of Willow.  “The room is cleansed,” he murmured.  “You should have no interference from conflicting energies.”

The Witch gave him a quick, worried smile before going back to checking her set-up again.

Ethan sat behind her and to her left.  He read the helpless look that crossed Rupert’s face expertly.  “Ready to rewrite the rules, My Dear?”

“Yeah, I guess,” Willow muttered distractedly.

“Willow…” he tried for more of her attention.  “Everything is set to perfection.”  He could see her shoulders begin to relax, though she didn’t glance back at him.  “You are about to become everything you are meant to be.  We can all see it.  Remember that Rupert and I are here for you, but we won’t interfere.  You must reach out and take from us what you need, as much as you need.”

She did snap her head around at that.  “But what if I pull too hard and take too much…”

“It won’t matter.  We are here as support.  And we accept the risks.”  He gave her a charming smile.  “But I don’t think you’ll need us at all.  The power to change the world is sitting in front of me.  She is beautiful.”

Willow blushed.  “Careful,” she whispered.  “My boyfriend is right there.”

“I can’t fault him for only speaking the truth,” Giles smiled at her.  “You are ready, Willow.  Buffy and the others must be in place now.  It’s time.”

The Witch took a deep breath and gave a nod.  “Okay,” she breathed, “here we go.”  Spreading her hands over the scythe placed within a sacred circle of candles and relics, she began to recite the spell quickly and under her breath.  She called on all the good powers of this world and others to join together and push back the darkness.  Before she knew it, they were coming to her call.  She could feel the power begin to fill and whirl within her body.  The room around her was swaying and losing focus.

“You’re using too much, Baby,” Tara was in front of her, concern written all over her beautiful face.  “You can’t go on like this.  It’ll hurt you.”

“Have to,” Willow puffed, focusing desperately on the tempest inside her.

“How did you let them talk you into this, Sweetheart?  They knew they would die trying.  Now they’re all willing to sacrifice you on an impossible spell.”  Tara stretched a hand toward her.  “All alone.  What can you hope to do all be yourself?”

“Not alone…  Ethan and Giles are--”

“Doing nothing!  Just sitting there watching the magick tear you apart.  They’re not going to help you.  They’re nothing but frightened, lying cowards.”

“I… I…”  Willow began to reach out for Giles with her magick, searching for a boost of strength from him.

“Go on,” Tara encouraged with a dark edge to her voice.  “Take what you need from him.  Take it all.”

The Witch slammed her fist down and focused her watery eyes on the vision.  “No!  I’m the one being tested.  It’s my magick, my soul the powers need.  It can take me if it wants, but I now know one undeniable truth.”  She grinned through her pain.  “You’re afraid of me.”

“Stupid child!”  The vision of Tara exploded into the true form of the First.  Glowing, red eyes, huge, curled horns, and snarling fangs, all stormed just inches from the Witch’s face.  “You will never defeat me!  It’s impossible!  I am eternal!”

“And I’m Willow!  One white witch calling on the power of all white witches past and future.  One asking the forces of good that the Slayer must no longer be alone.  One woman willing to give everything so that many can defeat you.  Go back to your hole!  They’re coming for you!”

The scythe began to glow beneath her hands and the golden light spread up her arms and throughout her body.  Willow could feel all that was light, and good, and strong flow through her and out.  Out to all corners of the world.  To all would-be Slayers becoming real Slayers.  She could see their faces, every one, as they felt the power and stood tall.  The magick in her and flowing through her was pure goodness, and she watched as the First dissolved to nothing in the face of it.

In her vision, It was replaced by a multitude in white, watching her from some hazy distance.  From it, one clear, soft voice rang like a bell.  “I’m so proud of you, Sweetie.  I love you.  Tell Mr. Giles and the others I love them, too.”

“Tara…”  Willow was breathing hard when the light faded.  She smiled at Giles, who was staring at her with absolute astonishment.  Picking up the scythe, she passed it to him.  “Better get this down to all the Slayers.”

“You are a goddess,” he whispered, taking it from her.  When he did, Willow collapsed to her side and he hesitated to leave.

“I’ve got her,” Ethan said gently, moving forward to cradle her as she rested.  “Must be quite a high to come down from.”

The Witch giggled, “Feels nifty.”

Giles gazed at her a moment more before shouting voices from outside the office drew him back to their current situation.

“There are too many!  We can’t hold them back!”

“They must be coming to stop Wils.  Get behind me.”

“They’re too late.  These guys are toast.”

The Watcher was up and out the door in an instant.  He saw Kennedy standing with Xander and Dawn, all ready to fight as more Bringers than he’d yet seen rushed down the school hallway toward them.  Shoving the scythe into the new Slayer’s hands, he shouted, “Get this to Buffy!”  Then he grabbed a huge two-handed sword and bounded up in front of Xander and Dawn to meet the oncoming army head on.

“Give him room,” Xander pulled Dawn farther back.  “Guard the door in case any get by.”

The youngest Scooby nodded and took her post as the first Bringers collided with their protecting vampire.

Giles grabbed the leading attacker by his shoulders and swung him around and back into his fellows, knocking many to the ground.  He followed that with a shockwave of magickal energy that traveled down the corridor, causing carnage as it went.  The Bringers kept coming, but, as Giles expertly swung the Scottish claymore through them like they were nothing.  It was plain to see this army was never getting to Willow.  Those few that managed to crawl past the raging vampire were quickly cleaned up by Xander.

Dawn watched in morbid fascination.  She knew the Bringers were evil, and any one of them wouldn’t think twice about killing her, but the way they were being torn apart like tissue paper made her stomach twist.  She knew the First was sending everything It had their way.  It would never be enough.

***

Kennedy took a sharp breath as she jumped into the Hellmouth.  She hadn’t thought about what she’d expect Hell to look like, but this wasn’t it.  The cavern before her was huge and impossibly deep.  The floor and walls appeared to writhe with the Turok-Han rushing up from below.  There was shouting and fighting all around her as her sister-Slayers fearlessly met the first wave of enemies to crest the cliff.  Kennedy didn’t know what she expected of Hell, but what she did know was that this was still Earth, her world, and she had the power to defend it.

“Buffy, here…” she called across the battlefield.  The elder Slayer turned and easily caught the thrown scythe, swing it around to cut down the Turok-Han before her like a row of wheat.  Kennedy scanned around for anyone in need of assistance and charged into the battle.

***

Dawn could hear echoes of the war raging below and glanced back down the dark hallway behind her.  In a blink, the Turok-Han was all over her, and she was on the floor being crushed beneath it.  She screamed, but knew that Giles and Xander were too far away to get him off of her in time.  Staring up into his snarling face with terror, Dawn watched a set of fingers curl around the sides of the monster’s head and he screamed out as his skull dissolved into smoldering ash above her.  The next moment her attacker was gone, and she was staring up into Ethan’s panicked eyes instead.

“Are you all right?” he reached down for her with naked fear in his raw voice.

“Yeah,” she coughed, wrapping her arms around his neck as he helped her sit up.  “Thanks to you.”  Ethan held her in a tight embrace and she could feel that he was trembling more than she was.  “I’m fine.”  Dawn was suddenly the one trying to comfort him.  But, when she opened her eyes and saw the sight down the hallway over his shoulder, there was no more time for comfort.  “I hope you have some more tricks.  ‘Cause we’re gonna need them.”  More Turok-Han were racing straight for them.

Ethan’s head whipped around.  “Not enough for that.  Run!”  He pushed her behind him and fought to stand on his wobbling legs.

A hand on his shoulder steadied him and the chaos all around them seemed to calm and go into slow motion as Willow glided more than walked past.  On the other side, Giles had just knocked down the last Bringer and was turning around to charge into this new battle.

“No,” Willow put her hand up, stopping him in his tracks, not entirely of his own will.  “Xand, cover Giles.”  It took the young man only a moment to comprehend the order.  He scooped up the nearest discarded scrap of cloth and leapt onto the Watcher, knocking him back into the pile of bodies and covering him with his own.

Willow turned toward the oncoming uber-vamps and began to glow with a pure golden light.  Just as the first was about to reach her, she pushed a pulse of radiant sunlight out and down all the school corridors.  Every Turok-Han in its path was instantly reduced to dust.

When the vision of those around her cleared, Willow had collapsed on the floor and they were alone in the school.  Giles struggled out of his protective cocoon and raced to get to her side.

***

The wound in Buffy’s gut burned, but it wasn’t as painful as watching those around her fall at the hands of monsters.  There were just too many, even for an army of Slayers.

“Ouch.  Mommy, this mortal wound is all… itchy,” the First mocked, standing over her and wearing her body with her wound.  “Willow pulled it off after all.  I’m impressed.  And you came this close to smacking me down.  What more do you want?”

Buffy looked up at herself and growled.  “I want you,” she pushed up and got defiantly to her feet, “to get out of my face!”

Rona noticed Buffy was back up and tossed the scythe her way.  With a mighty swing from the elder Slayer, several Turok-Han tumbled down the cliff before her.  Seeing this gave Faith and the others renewed strength to continue the fight with even more ferocity.

The First roared with frustration and her own voice turned into many combined, filling the space.  “You can keep this up as long as you want, but we both still know the truth.”  It pointed out over the endless writhing chasm.  “Your army will drop one by one until everyone is dead, and mine goes on forever.” 

A shout from behind Buffy cut through the clamor.  “Oh, bollocks.”  Spike clutched at the amulet on his chest.  “Buffy!  Somethings happening!”

Before she could get to him, light blasted upward from Spike and the amulet, creating a clear pathway to the sun above.  The ground shook and beams of sunlight began to be redirected out from the souled vampire, dusting every Turok-Han it came in contact with.

“Everyone out!” Faith ordered as Buffy reached Spike’s side.

“I can feel it.”  The vampire looked at his Slayer with pure, childlike amazement in his eyes.  “My soul.  It’s really there.”

***

Giles was blasted into a wall of lockers as the principal’s office exploded beside him.  He struggled to his feet, avoiding the sunlight now pouring in through a hole in the roof and made his way to Willow.  Scooping her up into his arms, he checked to see that she was all right.  She grinned back at him.

“Nothing singed?” she asked with a euphoric giggle.

“No,” He couldn’t help but chuckle back.  “But I must remember never to give you reason to be upset with me.”

“A good rule for any boyfriend.”

Giles turned to see that the rest of his small band of warriors had survived intact.  They were all gathering around when the ground beneath them shook violently.

“Take her,” Giles passed Willow to Xander.  “Get everyone to the bus.  I’m going to see if the others need assistance.”

“Got it,” the young man nodded.

Dawn hooked Ethan’s arm around her shoulders.  “Let’s get out of here.”

“Best idea in history,” the sorcerer whispered.

Giles turned away from them and headed toward the basement entrance.  He wasn’t half way there when a stampede of Slayers nearly ran him over.  “We gotta go.”  Was the best answer he got until Faith caught him by the arms and spun him around.

“Spike’s thingy is doin’ a thing!” Faith yelled at him.  “Feels like this whole place is goin’ down.  We gotta get the girls out.”

He looked around.  “Where’s Buffy?”

“She was right behind us.”  She tightened her grip on him, but he stood firm.  “Vi!  Amanda!” Faith called on the two nearest Slayers and together they dragged him with them as they ran for the bus.  “B knows what she’s doin’.  If I let you go down there, you’ll get blasted.  Too many people I’m not tellin’ that news.”

She grabbed one of the discarded blankets at the school entrance and threw it over the vampire’s head.  Several blind steps and they lifted him and tossed him bodily through the back door of the bus and into the dark tent set up in the last few rows.  Faith slammed the door.  She sprinted to the front and gave Xander an order.  “Drive!”

“What about Buffy?” Dawn asked.  But the school sinking into the ground behind them forced the final decision.  Xander hit the gas and drove as straight and fast as he could away from the gaping sinkhole collapsing behind them.

Dawn stared out the window with tears in her eyes as Ethan wrapped his arms tenderly around her in an attempt to comfort her.  “I’m sorry,” he murmured in her ear.  “Your sister was…”  The girl buried her face in his shoulder and began to cry.

They had only traveled about two blocks before a heavy thump landed on the roof of the bus.  Then a very familiar voice called out, “Faster, Xander!  It’s gaining!”

Dawn looked up to the ceiling and squealed, “Buffy!”  She began to bounce for joy before returning her gaze to Ethan’s sparkling eyes and excitedly kissing him full on the lips.  When she got up to hurry to the front of the bus with Faith and Xander, she didn’t notice the deep blush she’d left on the stunned sorcerer’s cheeks.

******

It was, appropriately enough, the city limit of Sunnydale where the sinkhole stopped, and where Xander slowed the bus to a halt.  Buffy jumped down from the roof, and was barely able to straighten before Dawn was wrapped around her.  Everyone began to stumble off the bus, most still in shock that they were alive, and wandered back to survey the devastation.

“What. The. Hell…?” Xander finally asked Buffy.

“It was Spike,” was the only answer she could give.

Faith walked up beside them.  “Looks like the Hellmouth is closed for business.”

“Yeah,” Dawn puffed, then glanced back toward the bus.  “And Slayers Inc. is up and running.”

“All thanks to Willow,” Buffy sighed.  She looked around.  “Where is Willow?”

Her little sister elbowed her.  “Where do you think?”

***

Giles laid on the floor off the bus under the dark, protecting canvases.  He stared into the radiant green eyes that were gazing back at him.  Willow was still giving off just enough of a golden glow to light their private cocoon. 

“Wouldn’t you like to go celebrate with the others?” he whispered softly.

“I’m exactly where I want to be right now,” she smiled.

“You were amazing today.  And you did it all on your own.  As I knew you could.”

“I wasn’t alone, Giles.  I could see them.  All those who’d ever used magick for good in the world, they were there with me.  And all the Slayers out there.  I could see all of their faces.  There are more than we ever knew about.”

The Watcher smiled lovingly at her.  “Sounds like we have a lot of work ahead of us.”

A tear gathered in Willow’s eye.  “And I heard Tara.  She was really there with the others.  She said that she loved me, and she loved you, too.  It felt like she gave us her blessing.”

“She was an extraordinarily kind woman.”  Giles wiped the tear from her eye.  “I’m glad she approves, because I love you too much to ever let you go.  It doesn’t matter who or what might think I should.”

“Like ultimate evil?” Willow giggled.  “I love you, too.  You’re…  You’re just too good to be true…”

Knowing what she wanted, Giles softly continued the song.  “Can’t take my eyes off of you.  You’d be like heaven to touch.  I wanna hold you so m--”

That was as far as he got before Willow stopped his lips with her own.  Neither of them even noticed when the bus started moving again.