Disclaimer: Don't own them. Never will. No copyright infringement intended. Nuff said.

The cliff overlooking the ocean is one of my favorite places at night. Looking out over the oceans at the waves racing to crash on the rocks brings some sort of peace. I can just watch the waves, and forget.

It's a rare day when I can get away these days. So much to worry about. Giles wants me to train more. Willow wants me to be a sister. Xander wants me to cut loose once in a while. And Riley desperately wants me to be normal.

Riley. I don't know what I really saw in him. He's just not what I want. So I ditched him tonight. Slipped out and ran here to find some peace in the crashing waves.

I clasped my hands together loosely in my lap. Idly, I notice the claddagh ring. Two hands holding the heart, and the crown. Without them, the heart falls away. And Giles says I don't appreciate ancient works of art.

The ring... I never took it off. Sometimes I wore in on a chain around my neck, or with the heart turned under my finger, but my claddagh ring is always with me, a reminder. Of what we always are.

I can hear someone walking towards me from behind. With a smile, I looked up at him. At those rich hazel eyes so full of love. He knelt beside me on the cliff.

"Are you ready?" he asked quietly. With a smile, I stood up and picked up the duffel bag, slinging it over my shoulder.

I lean over. He puts his arm around me, hugging me to him. We walked to the convertible together. A teenager with long red hair got out, smiling at me.

"An honor." she said quietly. I noticed the stake in her hand, and smile. "Good luck." I told her.

As she walked back towards the lights, and a new life, I threw my bag in the backseat, and got into the convertible. And we drive away from Sunnydale, away from the worries. Away from the chains that tie us away from each other.

We'll never be back.

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