Act 6

Fade In:

Ext.

Vor Hell Dimension – Battlefield – Moments Later

“Hold the line!” Tephros bellowed, as demons fought desperately around him. “Hold the line! None touch the wounded! None –” He was cut off as one of the Destroyer’s warriors emerged from the carnage behind him and brought his blade down on the mage, slicing him in two. Tephros’s ethereal form fell apart, dissolving into strands that faded as they drifted to the ground.

“Tephros!” Dawn screamed. She fought her way through the melee as best she could, swinging one of Kail’s censer-maces about herself, inflicting blasts of fire wherever she struck. She saw the demon warrior that had killed the mage stride forward, smashing foes out of his way. He headed straight for the Council army’s wounded, at the center of the only pocket of resistance yet to be forced back around the dead Bastion.

“Jeff!” she screamed. “Jeff, wake up!”

The demon broke through the multitude of bodies and raised its sword above its head, staring down at the defenseless victims at its feet. Dawn cried out inarticulately, struggling forwards, then stumbled as a stray weapon grazed her back and drew blood. Then, the instant before the demon brought its blade down, a burst of blood erupted from its back, followed by another, and then came the roar of a weapon firing. Shot after shot punched through the warrior until it toppled backward, lifeless.

Dawn made a last effort to scramble out of the confusion, caught her foot on something and flung herself forward as she fell, collapsing among the unconscious wounded. She looked up to see Bonnie staring back at her in shock, but with a death-grip on Kadin’s repeater crossbow.

“What’s going on?” the woman asked, her voice panicked.

“Reload!” Dawn replied, scrambling to her feet.

Cut To:

Int.

Presidium Citadel – Panopticon – Same Time

Ever so slowly, Willow’s eyes fluttered slightly open. “Still here,” she gasped. “Huh.” With extreme effort, she turned her head toward where the Lover stood, her back to Willow.

“If you do this,” Willow gasped, “you’ll destroy everything. You can’t unmake evil, it’s…it’s not some force, outside of life…It’s part of being alive.”

“It deserves to be unmade,” the Lover said.

“You don’t deserve to make that choice!” Willow insisted, struggling up on her elbows. “Not for everyone! Fight for good, protect it, die for it if you have to, but you can’t just…just take away evil. Good doesn’t mean anything if it’s not a choice. If you have to be good…you might as well not be alive to begin with.”

“No,” the Lover shook her head. “No, the world will be better, once we are done.”

“It won’t,” Willow protested. “Listen to me…look at me, look inside my memories. You can see all of me…look at everything that’s worthwhile. Feel what it’s like to be loved – that was always a-a choice! Everyone who ever cared for me, they could’ve turned away, but they didn’t! That’s what makes it mean something, that’s all that means anything! You know I’m telling the truth. You know you’re destroying the only world that can ever have…have good in it, even with all the evil that goes with it. Whatever you put in its place, it’d be hollow. That’s what you’re fighting against. You wanted to protect the innocent against all this, and instead you’re going to destroy innocence forever!”

“What choice do I have?!” the Lover snarled. “You? Your Council? You fail and falter, and lose your way. Once you are gone, what you leave behind will become corrupt, and evil, just as it was before. Everything fails.”

“When I’m gone,” Willow insisted, “there’ll be others…you have to trust us. We have to trust those we leave behind. We have to teach each generation, before we go, about what’s right…that’s how it has to be. With your way, there’s no one to take over for you, so you better learn from your mistakes now…”

“No one can replace us,” the Lover said.

“And that’s why you have to go,” Willow whispered. “No one will take over when you’re gone and someday, somehow, you will be gone.”

“The talk of a foolish girl.” The Lover waved her hands at Willow dismissively.

“Oh yeah, ask the Engineer,” Willow countered. She paused for a moment, as the Lover watched her intensely. “Someday you will fall…What legacy will you leave behind then?”

Cut To:

Ext.

Battlefield – Same Time

Giles looked up from tending to Faith at the sound of a titanic blast from nearby. Bodies flew through the air, tumbling and falling, raining blood on those beneath.

“The Flayer,” Creed said bleakly, staring across the heads of the fighters. Giles stood and caught a glimpse of a towering, red-armored figure striding forward, swinging his huge maces and smashing combatants aside with great explosions of magic as he went. Behind him stretched a trail of dead and dying.

“We’re cut off,” Giles said quickly. “The slayers are too far away to stop him!”

“I will face him,” Creed replied.

Cut To:

Int.

Earth – Watchers Council – Infirmary – Same Time

“Okay, we’re at ten,” Dr. Abraham said. “Time to get ready to push.”

“Does it…argh! Have horns?” Becca asked with difficulty.

“No,” the doctor shook her head, looking bemused.

“Have you been visiting demon bars behind Giles’s back?” Skye asked with a grin, as Buffy used a soft towel to wipe the sweat off Becca’s brow.

“No, but…never know…in this place…” she managed to huff out.

Cut To:

Int.

Vor Hell Dimension – Presidium Citadel – Panopticon – Same Time

“Please, stop this,” Willow begged. “I know you can hear me. I know you want to hear me…please.”

“If I did,” the Lover said, “there would be none to take my place. We are the only hope for a better world.”

“No,” Willow pleaded. “No, you’re wrong…you’ve seen me, all of us, you’ve seen what we do – we’re your hope!”

“You will never succeed,” the Lover said dismissively.

“We’re not fighting to win,” Willow insisted. “We’re…oh god,” she coughed violently. “We’re fighting to protect innocent lives…because it’s right. You still remember that…don’t you? Why you lived? What you wanted to protect?”

Cut To:

Ext.

Battlefield – Same Time

“Flayer!” Creed roared, standing in the Presidium lord’s path. The Flayer stared at him, forced to look up just a fraction to meet the leonine demon’s gaze.

“You will not pass while I live,” Creed growled.

“So be it,” the Flayer replied, raising his weapons. Creed swung his own mace, and they connected- in mid-air causing a blast of fire, but in the aftermath, the Flayer was unharmed while Creed’s mace was sheared in two. He had just enough time to look at his attacker before the Flayer’s second mace swung.

“My victory,” Creed whispered. Then the Flayer struck, and his crushed body was hurled out of the way.

Cut To:

Int.

Earth – Watchers Council – Infirmary – Same Time

“Oh god !” Becca shouted. Skye winced as Becca’s hand held hers so tightly that her knuckles turned white. Even Buffy looked strained.

“Stay focused,” Skye instructed. “Keep breathing.”

Cut To:

Int.

Vor Hell Dimension – Presidium Citadel – Panopticon – Same Time

“You cannot promise this,” the Lover protested. “You cannot achieve what we hoped for…you are too weak, too helpless!”

“Says you,” Willow answered. “But we’ll do it, though.”

“You are dying as you speak!” the Lover said.

“And I still haven’t given up, have I?” Willow countered.

The Lover began to pace. “You will never leave this place! You will have no say in what comes to pass. How can you say you will stand as guardian of the innocent?”

“The others will, if you let them,” Willow insisted, her voice fading. “Besides, this isn’t about me. We believe…in what we do…no,” Willow corrected herself. “We are what we do.”

“You are transitory,” the Lover argued. “Gone so soon – in the span of time, you are nothing, forgotten already –”

“There’ll be others,” Willow whispered. “There’ll always be someone. I promise. And I know I’ll go on.”

“And how are you so sure?” the Lover asked.

Willow closed her eyes, and her apartment at the Council appeared in place of the otherworldly chamber.

“You and I…we…we should have been forever,” Willow said as she spoke to Tara’s apparition in her bedroom.

“Oh, Willow,” Tara said. “We are forever. We’ll always be forever. Nothing can ever change that…not fate or destiny or the boundaries of time and space. We’ll be together again. That I can promise you.”

“Really?” Willow said hopefully. “It’s just…sometimes I feel guilty. I never thought I could love anyone again as much as I loved you.”

“Of course you can, Willow,” Tara said. “During the long journey through our lives, we touch so many others. When you find someone who you can love and who loves you back…it’s a wonderful gift from the gods that you should not deny. Our souls have joined repeatedly over eons, but not just ours alone…”

Cut To:

Ext.

Battlefield – Same Time

Giles saw the Flayer advancing, and turned to Rowena.

“Take Faith,” he said. “Get her to safety.”

“What?” she frowned. “Where are you going?” 

Giles didn’t answer, but picked up a fallen sword.

“Against that?” Rowena asked, aghast. “You’re crazy!”

“I can buy you time,” he said, his eyes never leaving the demon lord striding towards them. “Now go. Go!” 

With that, he left her, walking forward to meet the Flayer, as the warriors around them struggled to get out of the towering figure’s path.

Cut To:

Int.

Presidium Citadel – Panopticon – Same Time

“You cannot promise that,” the Lover repeated. The dying gasp of the battle was playing out around them.

“I do promise it,” Willow insisted.

“You would swear this to your very soul?” the Lover asked.

“I did that before you even set eyes on me,” Willow replied.

“But you are so weak,” the Lover said, almost dumbstruck.

Willow nodded feebly. “But even you have your weakness. We all do. That’s how it’s meant to be. We only decide for ourselves. No…” she paused to cough. “No making other people’s choices for them. I made my choice. I promise.”

“If none of you survive…” the Lover said hesitantly.

“Someone will,” Willow said. “Somewhere. I just…want you to believe me.”

“You ask too much,” the Lover shook her head. “I have lived centuries, for a single purpose. To give it up…”

“You don’t have to give up,” Willow said with a faint smile. “I haven’t. You just…you have to trust others to keep going. Please…trust me. You’ve watched me. You know me…Look inside and tell me what you see.”

Cut To:

Int.

Earth – Watchers Council – Infirmary – Same Time

“Another push,” Dr. Abraham reported. “Come on Becca, you’re doing great.”

“Breathe,” Buffy said softly.

“Oh god!” Becca yelled, grimacing in pain. “Rupert!”

Cut To:

Ext.

Vor Hell Dimension – Battlefield – Same Time

The Flayer stared in disbelief at the figure standing before him. Giles waited, sword held at his side.

“You?” the Flayer said derisively.

“You will not pass,” Giles said softly.

“What manner of farce is this?!” the Flayer demanded.

“As I said,” Giles replied. “You will not pass.” He raised his sword slowly.

Cut To:

Int.

Presidium Citadel – Panopticon – Same Time

“Please,” Willow begged. “Please trust me…he’s a father. Don’t leave his child alone like you! Please!” She coughed, and her elbows slipped out from beneath her. “Please…” she gasped, lying flat on the floor, her eyes closing.

Cut To:

Int.

Earth – Watchers Council – Infirmary – Same Time

“Breathe!” Buffy grimaced at Becca’s death grip on her hand.

“Rupert!” Becca screamed.

Cut To:

Ext.

Vor Hell Dimension – Battlefield – Same Time

The Flayer shook his head in disbelief, and then raised his weapons to strike Giles down.

Cut To:

Int.

Presidium Citadel – Panopticon – Same Time

“Please…” Willow exhaled one last time, as her body finally stilled. The Lover watched her, then turned her attention to the battle.

Cut To:

Int.

Earth – Watchers Council – Infirmary – Same Time

“Another big push, Becca!” Dr. Abraham coached. “You’re almost there.”

“Arghh!” Becca screamed.

Buffy and Skye looked at each other, as if nearly in shock.

Cut To:

Ext.

Vor Hell Dimension – Battlefield – Same Time

There was a flash of darkness, a moment in which the world seemed to exist in negative and time slowed to a halt. Then it was gone, and the Flayer struck. Giles swung his sword desperately, hopelessly…and the Flayer’s maces clanged off the blade and were deflected away.

“What?!” the Flayer roared. Around him voices were suddenly shouting out in shock and confusion, the sound of battle was subsiding. The Presidium lord looked at his troops as they reeled back, staggering away from the rebel demons they had been fighting. One by one, they turned to face him, expressions of incomprehension on their faces. Slowly, those expressions turned to rage.

Cut To:

Int.

Presidium Citadel – Panopticon – Same Time

The Lover knelt down and lifted Willow’s limp body in her arms, as the Citadel began to tremble around her.

“Do not fail me,” she whispered, lifting Willow’s head and leaning down to bring their lips together. The moment they touched, both their bodies were engulfed in a blaze of light.

Cut To:

Ext.

Battlefield – Same Time

The Flayer looked back at Giles, his expression unreadable. Giles stared at him, then gave a sigh and turned, walking slowly away.

The Flayer opened his mouth to shout, but before he could, dozens of demons were upon him, dragging him down.

Cut To:

Int.

Presidium Citadel – Panopticon – Same Time

The Lover stood and looked one last time at the woman lying at her feet. Willow’s eyes remained closed, but she was now healed and breathing. Then the Lover quickly spun around and left the chamber.

Cut To:

Ext.

Battlefield – Same Time

“What’s…going on?” Faith asked, as Rowena half-carried her around the edge of the fallen Bastion.

“I don’t know,” Rowena said, glancing over her shoulder at the Citadel. The huge tower was trembling. Arcs of magical energy rippled up and down its jagged surfaces, and fragments of its unearthly form were beginning to crumble and topple.

“We didn’t win, did we?” Faith asked weakly.

Cut To:

Int.

Presidium Citadel – Imperium Chamber – Same Time

The strange light in the Citadel’s heart blazed violently, leaping about in deflections and strands, tearing at the walls and ceiling. The Lover made her way calmly through the chaos and stood before the dark figure at the center of it all.

“My Lord,” she said, bowing. The Unmaker stared at her.

“Why?” he said at last, in a voice that tore through the chamber. The Lover was thrown back against the far wall, her face and body ripped open, spilling blood in her wake. She opened the single eye that remained intact and gazed sadly at her master.

“For innocence,” she replied, and died.

Cut To:

Ext.

Battlefield – Same Time

The Citadel fragmented in a titanic explosion. The shattering continued up through the air, down into the bedrock and out in all directions. Great rents appeared in space, revealing layers and layers of void beneath them.

Over the whole vast span of the dimension of Vor, a thunderous separation began to take place. The splintered borders between what had once been worlds opened anew and dimensions warped and curled in on themselves. Lands, oceans and skies twisted and separated, like a great tapestry being unwoven, the strands pulling apart and drifting free.

Rowena looked back at the wreckage and whispered one word. “Willow.”

Cut To:

Int.

Earth – Watchers Council – Infirmary – Same Time

The building shook suddenly, causing all four women in the room to yelp in shock. Buffy grabbed Becca, keeping her from moving from the bed, while Skye fell backwards, giving a yell of complaint as she landed. Dr. Abraham slipped, as a divider curtain fell onto her legs.

“Doctor?” Buffy shouted, as the quake subsided as quickly as it had appeared. “Doctor!”

“Buffy,” Becca gasped, clutching her hand.

“She’s…” Skye began to say, scrambling across the floor to where Dr. Abraham lay. “Buffy, she’s hit her head! I don’t think she’s awake!”

“Get Miller!” Buffy ordered. “Cell phone, quick!”

“Buffy!” Becca said urgently.

“We’re getting help,” Buffy assured her.

“Dr. Miller?” Skye said into her phone. “We need you here right away! Dr. Abraham is hurt and Becca’s ready to pop!…Buffy, he said two minutes!”

“I don’t think the baby’s going to wait!” Becca warned.

“We need to know what to do,” Skye said into the phone. “Hurry!”

Buffy turned to Becca. “Well…can’t you hold it, or something? He’s on his way.”

“This isn’t like going to the bathroom!” Becca yelled.

“Check for the baby’s head!” Skye said, holding the phone to her ear.

“What?!” Buffy asked, moving to the foot of the bed.

“Look and see if you can see a head,” Skye said, as quickly as she could relay what she was being told through the phone. “What? Oh, she was pushing,” she added to the phone.

“Uh…okay,” Buffy said, looking up helplessly at Becca. “Well…this is kind of a first for me.” Biting her lip, she peered between Becca’s bent legs.

“That’s got to be the head,” she said after a moment. “It’s…definitely a head.”

“It’s coming!” Becca informed them at the top of her voice.

“What do we do?” Skye asked into the phone, before turning back to Buffy. “He says keep pushing. He’s on the way,” she added.

“It’ll be okay,” Buffy said, glancing up at Becca. “It’ll be okay. You’re doing great.”

“How would you know?” Becca panted.

“I’m a slayer. We learn quick,” Buffy said dryly. “Okay, ready? Deep breath and push. Come on, go! One, two, three…”

Becca let out a pained growl as she closed her eyes and pushed, her face turning red from the effort.

“Okay, relax,” Skye said, as Buffy finished her count. “Buffy, keep it from coming too fast, push gently if it moves too fast, slow it…”

“Cause I really want this to last longer!” Becca protested.

“She sees the head,” Skye relayed. “Okay, you have to…what? Okay…milk the vagina around the head.”

“Excuse me?” Buffy asked incredulously.

“That’s what Dr. Miller said to do!” Skye protested with a shrug.

“Uh, I think I get it,” Buffy hazarded. “Okay, Becca, everything looks great.”

“You’re doing great,” Skye reassured Becca, as she did her best to breathe regularly. “Buffy, check the…check for the cord around the neck.”

“I don’t see…a cord around her neck,” Buffy said.

“She doesn’t see it…Oh,” Skye said, then turned back to Buffy. “You have to, uh, feel it.”

“Owww!” Becca protested, gripping the sides of the bed.

“What was that?” Skye asked.

“Shoulder!” Buffy replied. “And no cord. It’s okay, looking good…oh my God, Becca, you’re having a baby!”

“Just noticed that, did ya?” Becca growled.

“Ease the other shoulder out,” Skye said. “Pull up slightly…”

“Oh my God,” Buffy said again. She reached forward as Becca let out a heartfelt groan and began taking huge, deep breaths.

“There we go,” Buffy coaxed. “There we go. Ha!”

“Is it out?” Skye asked.

“Yeah, it’s a girl!” Buffy said proudly. “Gimme a cloth!” she demanded.

Skye handed her one, and Buffy carefully applied it, wiping away fluids. Becca’s eyes opened just as Dr. Miller burst through the doors. He slowed to a halt at the foot of the bed and took in the scene at a glance.

“Is everyone all right?” he asked.

“It’s not crying,” Buffy told him, handing the baby over. In afterthought, she said, “And Dr. Abraham is still out.”

“Did you clear the mouth?” he asked.

Buffy shook her head and the doctor went to work cleaning out the baby’s mouth, then gave it a slight slap on the rump. The sound of the baby’s cries filled the room and everyone began to smile.

“It’s all right, Buffy, you’ve done very well. You want to cut the cord?” Dr. Miller asked.

Buffy looked up to Becca. “Is it okay?” she asked.

“Rupert would like that,” she said sincerely.

The doctor did his part by clamping the cord, then handed Buffy some scissors. After it was over, Skye took the stunned slayer by the shoulders and handed her a towel to clean her hands. Then she went over to check on the fallen Dr. Abraham where she still lay on the floor.

“Oh my God,” Buffy breathed dazedly, as Dr. Miller worked. Becca reached out a hand.

Dr. Miller nodded down at Dr. Abraham as she began to stir. “Don’t let her move just yet,” he ordered Skye.

“Hey,” Becca said to Buffy.

“Hey,” Buffy nodded back at her.

“You did it,” Becca smiled.

“What?” Buffy asked, still looking dazed.

“You delivered my baby,” Becca said with a grin.

“And very competently too,” Dr. Miller added, without looking up from attending to Becca and the baby.

“I did?” Buffy asked.

“Didn’t you notice?” Becca chuckled. Buffy blinked and looked around, just taking in the scene.

“Congratulations,” Dr. Miller said after a moment, holding up a blanket-wrapped bundle. “A perfect ten-fingered, ten-toed girl. Although in this place, I suppose I should be saying ‘it’s a human’,” he added. He gently handed the baby to Becca, adjusting her bed so she could sit up a little.

“She’s so tiny,” Buffy said in awe. Becca smiled and lifted the baby up, staring into her wide eyes.

“She didn’t feel too tiny a few minutes ago.” The child gave a little gurgle, and Becca leaned forward and touched the tips of their noses together.

“We’re not quite done yet, but I need to attend to my fellow doctor,” Dr. Miller said, backing away. “Can you deliver the afterbirth?” he asked Buffy.

“That sounds icky,” Buffy replied.

Dr. Miller paused. “It is. But when she has her next contraction, have her push. It will come out on its own.”

Buffy looked at Becca. “The things we do for family, huh?”

“So…what are you going to name her?” Buffy asked excitedly.

Becca smiled and got a far off look in her eye. 

“Elizabeth,” she said softly.

Fade to:

Ext.

Vor Hell Dimension – Battlefield – Some Time Later

The great plain was almost empty now, but for a great pall of smoke that hung over the center, where the Citadel had once stood. The sky above was free of thunderclouds, crystal clear and dotted with millions of stars. Dawn and Giles were drawing a portal circle in the ground, taking time to inscribe the intricate markings correctly. Demons stood around them, in small groups, casting suspicious glances at them and the other humans as they walked around, checking the battlefield for survivors of their own force or Creed’s.

Faith sat with the wounded, leaning against a rock and staring sadly at Robin’s sleeping form. One of his legs was missing from just below the knee. Now and then she glanced at Kennedy, still with her dragon snuggled next to her. Mia looked on from a distance, as she helped Lt. Matheson tend to others among the injured. Kadin, a short way away, occasionally glanced at both Mia and Kennedy as she cleaned and repaired her weapons.

Rowena stood far away, at the edge of the cloud of smoke rising from what remained of the Citadel. Xander was a short distance behind her with his arm around Vi’s shoulders, while hers was around his waist. Occasionally a slayer would venture out to check on them, but Rowena remained where she was, waiting, staring into the blank expanse of dust.

The tiniest sound signaled the first sign of life from within – a footstep in the dirt, followed by another, and another, and then a shape slowly began to emerge. Tears fell from Rowena’s eyes, and Xander let out a triumphant whoop, startling Vi, as Willow walked out of the smoke.

Her eyes fixed on Rowena, waiting for her. Rowena raised a hand. The silver ring Willow had given her was still firmly on her finger. Willow smiled. Neither of them seemed in a hurry as they slowly walked towards each other, embraced and kissed.

Fade to Black

Fade In:

Ext.

Watchers Council – Grounds – Day

On the grounds of the Council headquarters, in the same spot where the team had departed days before, a portal flared to life and the watchers and slayers started coming home. Several of them squinted at the sudden sunshine and shaded their eyes.

Buffy searched the crowd and released a heavy sigh of relief when she saw Willow, Xander, Faith and Rowena talking with Giles. She rushed over and pulled the older watcher into a hug.

“Ooph,” he responded. “Good to see you too.”

Buffy pulled back and got a mischievous look on her face.

“Welcome home, daddy,” she said.

The gang all looked at each other, slowly beginning to smile and offer their congratulations as the meaning of her words soaked in.

“Where…?” Giles began to say.

“They’re both upstairs in the apartment now,” she answered. “Go meet Elizabeth,” she added, with a nod toward the Council building.

After a wide smile, Giles kissed Buffy on the forehead and pulled her into a tight hug that she happily returned before he rushed to meet his daughter.

Fade to Black

Series of Shots:

Mia held the dragon in her arms as she sat by Kennedy’s bedside in the infirmary, watching her sleep.

Giles and Becca stared in wonder at their daughter, as she reached out with her tiny hands to enclose his pinky.

Robin opened his eyes and looked down at himself, judging the shape beneath the sheets of his bed in the infirmary. He closed his eyes and gave a sigh, then opened them again and gave a faint smile as Faith took his hand and knelt beside him, smiling up at him.

A shot of Buffy, Rowena, Willow and Xander around a table laughing as Xander appeared to be telling a story, his hands waving wildly.

Amid dozens of watchers and slayers, with music playing, streamers and balloons dotting the grounds, a banner was raised on the Council grounds.

Fade to:

Ext.

Watchers Council – Grounds – Day

“Hey,” Willow said. She sat down at the bench of a picnic table on the periphery of the outdoor party, where Bonnie was nursing a drink and watching the festivities.

“Hmm? Oh…hello,” the woman nodded.

“Dawn told me what you did,” Willow said. “Protecting the wounded.”

“I’d appreciate it if you wouldn’t spread it around too much,” Bonnie said. “It’d just make them uncomfortable. Especially Jeffrey. The way he feels about me is…deserved.”

“Maybe he’d be able to forgive you,” Willow suggested. “One day…stranger things have happened.”

“He doesn’t have to,” Bonnie said with a shrug. “He hates me…I can live with that. No reason to make him feel guilty about it.”

“You’re a really strange person,” Willow said, shaking her head.

“Oh please,” Bonnie scoffed. “No one around here is qualified to tell anyone they’re strange.”

“I guess that’s true,” Willow said. Then she spotted someone and waved. “Giles!”

“Willow,” Giles said, stopping on his way by the table. “Bonnie,” he added politely.

“How’s the newest Scooby?” Willow asked.

“Well,” Giles replied, as he smiled and took a seat, “though I think Becca may be trying to make up for all the coffee she cut back on during the pregnancy.” They sat in companionable silence and looked at the crowd of slayers, watchers, witches, family and friends dancing, laughing and enjoying each other’s company. Above them, the banner read: “We Saved The World Again.”

Willow’s eyes moved to the gazebo a short distance from the party, where people were coming and going in ones and twos. Several smiling photos were taped to the gazebo’s columns, just by the little stairway. Each visitor stared at them, sometimes reached out and touched the photos, then left and rejoined the celebrations.

“I suppose we should count ourselves lucky we lost so few,” Giles said somberly, following Willow’s gaze to see the picture of Ethan.

“They’d be happy with what they gave us…even him,” Willow said softly. She put a hand on Giles’ shoulder, then glanced at Bonnie, looking forlornly at the shrine.

“Does this kind of thing happen every time you sell someone a building?” she asked with a grin. Bonnie gave a dry laugh.

“God, I hope not,” she replied. Willow got up and offered Giles a hand, and together they headed back towards the party.

“I don’t suppose some less…frenetic music could be located?” he asked, as Rowena appeared at Willow’s side.

“I’ll see what I can do,” she said, drawing Willow off with her. “What about you?” she asked. “May I have the pleasure of a dance? Might as well have our fun while we can. You know something else is going to turn up sooner or later.”

“That’s what we live for,” Willow smiled, taking Rowena’s hand. “Always more to do…I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Fade to Black

End of Ragnarok Part II

End of Watchers Season Two