Rating PG PG-13, lots of violence.
Dis:I don't own any of the Buffy People, I only ownthis plot. Nor do I own Garth Brook's "The Dance"Ok now this disclaimer is "Very" important! Ha yeahright anyway this takes place at the very end of prom.AfterBuffy and Angel's dance. THERE IS NO ASCENSION IREPEAT NO ASCENSION!!!! But Faith is bad. This ismy version of the SERIES FINALE The end of the end. Ifyou want it ask, more than likely I'll say yeah takeit have it!
AUTHORS NOTE: THIS IS PROBABLY MY FAVORITE FIC I HAVEWRITTEN. I WORTE IT BEFORE SEASON 4 STARTED ANDDECIDED TO POST IT AGAIN. TO ME THIS IS THE WAY ITSHOULD BE BUFFY ANGEL FOREVER!!
FEEDBACK PLEASE!

Giles watched from a distance as the two love birdsdanced. He watched the way Buffy and Angel looked ateach other, he could feel the tears well in his eyes. Hethought about Jenny at that moment. And howAngel---Angelus took her away. But Giles finally was able to come togrips with the fact that Angel was indeed Buffy'sAngel. He in no way caused Jenny's death. And now Angel knew he hadto leave Buffy. Giles respected him for that decision.Giles couldn't imaging leaving Buffy, he could onlyimagine what Angel was thinking. But this was the bestfor Buffy, everyone of the "Scooby Gang" knew that. Sadbut true. Giles wished everything would have workedout but he knew it couldn't.

Giles let his eyes pan across the dance floor. Hesmiled as he saw all the young adults dancing andsmiling. Then he saw Wesley. "Blueberry scone" Giles muttered tohimself and walked away.

The song ended against Buffy's wish and will. Beforeshe knew it the gym was beginning to clear out and sheand Angel were still swaying to their own music. Buffylooked up at what she had once lost and was going tolose again.

"Is it over all ready?" Angel asked giving her aplayful smile. Not wanting to let her go.

"Yeah...it's over." Buffy replied not knowing if shemeant the dance or their relationship.

Angel sensed the uncertainty in her voice andreluctantly pulled his hands away from her waist. Hestepped backwards but only a little bit. "Look I don't wantthis to go badly."

Buffy choked back her own tears. "Yeah we shouldprobably just leave it as good-bye, huh, or you couldsay that you weren't' t leaving!"

Angel had to stop and laugh. He threw her one of hislopsided grins. "I'll always love you Buffy Summers."

Buffy's smile grew so wide that she put her head todown until her ego shrunk. She hoped that by the tomeshe lifted her head again, the redness in her face would be gone.But instead her tears came. She couldn't hold themback any longer. When she finally raised her head again, shesaw that her Angel was gone. Buffy bit her lip to keepfrom calling out his name. And put her hand over her heartto keep it from falling out.

But she was not mad.

"I love you too Angel." Buffy whispered to the nownearly empty gym.

Buffy began to walk out of the gym, her pink trainfollowing her, oblivious to absolutely everything.

"Hey Buffy! I see deadboy showed up...and..." Xanderdidn't finish he felt a strong hand clamp down on hisshoulder. He turned quickly...only to see...dead boy.

"I.I.I just want to watch her go." Angel whispered tohis least favorite person..

Xander kept his mouth shut. No master how much angerhe held on to, now was not the time to show it. Evenhe, King of Cretins, could not interfere with Angel'smoment. Xander only watched as Buffy left the gym to,feeling tears well in his own eyes. But the tear weren't forBuffy or Angel they were for him. Because it shouldhave been *he* who Buffy had felt that way about. Buffy shouldhave loved him. He immediately felt guilty. Xanderturned to Angel. "You're more of a man than I'll ever be."

Angel slowly turned his eyes towards Xander. Andslowly nodded his head once. Then returned his gazeback to Buffy just now leaving the gym.

Xander having said enough turned and met up with Anyaagain.

Angel tilted his head to the side as Buffy finallyleft the gym. He thought about Xander's comment. "Ifonly I was a man Buffy, If only I was a man."

*****************

Faith watched as Buffy left the Prom with the stupidgrin on her face. And the dress so perfectly glided behind her.

Faith was jealous.

She would never ever admit it to herself though. Butshe wanted to be there. It should have been her withAngel. Her with all the friends who loved her. Giles should havebeen proud of her. Joyce should have been her mother.

Mother. Faith thought bitterly. Faith's mom had her.But Faith never had her mother. Mommy didn't wantanything to do with the child. So Faith left ran away. Shehadn't seen her mother since.

A single tear fell down her cheek.

In disgust Faith wiped it away. She refused to cry. Tolet her emotions out. Her emotions were what made hervicious and angry. Made her what she was.

Faith leaned back against the tree she was standingbeside. And looked down at her clothes. She imaginedherself in the beautiful pink gown Buffy had. She closed her eyesand pictured the last dance with Angel. Faith, eyesstill shut, lifted her head upwards, imaging Angel's kisses on herlips.

She shook her head for thinking such thoughts. Becauseof Buffy.

True they were now mortal enemies but it was more thanthat. They were Slayers and Slayers had a specialbond.

That night that Buffy had come to the docks lookingfor her, Faith had felt special for the first time inher life. Someone would actually take the time to look for a madSlayer who killed a man. Faith actually thought thingswould have been Ok after that. After she saved Buffy fromTrick, she felt as though she couldn't face Buffy. Shealmost wasn't in time to save Buffy. She almost didn't saveBuffy for that matter. But she would never haveforgave her self if Buffy had died. She would have died to.

The only thing Faith had ever wanted was friends. Butshe threw them away. Just like Willow had told her.You were a Slayer and now you're nothing. Willow could neverunderstand how much those words hurt her. That wholeconversation killed her.

Faith was actually considering turning around goingback, taking up with that Scooby gang again. But thenBuffy and Angel both double-crossed her. She finally hadAngel in her grasp and he was faking the whole time.

The whole time.

Buffy words hurt Faith badly that night. But Faithcouldn't stop throwing the insults at Buffy. In turnleaving her self wide open. For more pain, more disappointment. Moreeverything.

She failed. Faith had finally fallen. She was a shameto her first Watcher, to her mother, to Giles....andto Buffy.

Tears were now freely falling down Faith's cheeks. Sheangrily wiped them off of her face. She reached downin her coat pocket, and pulled out a vile that the Mayor gaveher. He told her this would help her finish off Buffyonce and for all. He said it would help rid Faith's conscience,help her become a better killer.

A Killer, that's what I am. But I can't continue thisway. Buffy rules my life, my mind and my conscience. Ihave to....to get....rid of her.

"I'm sorry." Faith said out loud to anyone whodeserved an apology. She unscrewed the cap of thevile, closed her eyes tightly. And quickly drank the potent contents.When she finished she could fell her body begin tofell different.

******

"Angel?" Giles muttered softly.

Angel shook himself out of his trance like state. Whenhe turned around he saw Giles. His hand was outstretched to accept Angel's hand in a hand shake. Angel shook theman's hand.

"I wanted to tell you..." Giles couldn't make thewords "I forgive you" pass his lips. As much as hewanted to say that simple phrase, his lips couldn't.....wouldn'tform the words. "Bon Voyage." He said instead

"Thank- you Giles." Angel said. His voice shook withthe thought of leaving his Buffy. "Take care of her?Please."

"I always do." Giles said politely, tears welling inhis eyes. Not for Buffy or Angel but for the fact thathe was holding onto his anger. He nothing else to say toAngel, so he left.

Angel watched him leave. Cordeila had all ready left,so that left Willow and Oz to say good-bye too.Then..he would leave. He looked around but Willow found himfirst.

Willow tightly wrapped her arms around Angel. Shedidn't know what to say. Even though she practiced her"Good-bye to Angel" speech in front of her mirrorabout 50 times before she came. Oz smiled, or liftedthe corners of his mouth at Angel. Angel shook his head and thenlooked down at Willow still tightly clutched to him.He looked to Oz for help.

"Um, Willow. HE may not need to breath, but I think ifyou hug him any hard his ribs are gonna break." Ozsaid trying to pry Willow off of Angel.

"Oh, yeah...sorry....you won't forget about her right?And you keep in touch...and you still love her...andyou'll never..ever find anyone else.." Willow babbled on.

Angel took a moment to process what he could rememberof Willow's question. "I can't promise anything."

"I don't know what to say." Willow said

"I'll take good-bye, for what it's worth."

Willow smiled and hugged Oz tightly.

"I am sorry Willow" Angel whispered

"For what?" Willow asked

"I'm sorry." Angel repeated again.

Willow broke down in tears. Everything was fallingapart.

Angel slowly nodded his head. "Take care of her Oz."

"Like nobody's business"

He turned towards the exit door.

Angel walked into the loneliness of immortality.

************

Buffy continued down the streets. She figured she'd doa quick sweep...until she remembered she was in herprom gown. There was no possible way she could slay so vampin this. Buffy let out a bitter laugh as she lettonight's event's play in her head.

"You know B, I could have gone to that." Faith saidstepping out of the shadows.

"Yeah, except the theme wasn't bad to the bone." Buffysaid never turning around.

"Well B, what can I say. When you're good, you'regood."

Buffy finally turned around. "Do you know your nameposes a lot of irony."

"Really B? But did you know this will be your lastnight on Earth."

"Is that a threat?" Buffy asked moving closer. Theperson inside her said to stop. But the Slayer in herneeded to proceed.

"Yeah, see I have been training.....well nottraining." Faith pulled out the empty vile out of herjacket.

"Training....who am I kidding. I got a new Drug. Yousee Mayor gave me this wicked stuff...I feel differentall ready."

"Ok...whoopee. You're up on dope. I don't give a ratsass...."

"Shut up!!!! Just SHUTUP!!!!!!!!"

Before Buffy knew what happened Faith wasbeating...........to the death.

******

Angel walked back towards the mansion, alone. Hecouldn't believe the night was over all ready. He feltcheated.But then again, life was supposed to cheat him. Hethought of everything he had over the years...

He thought of Buffy...

She was out of his life. And he felt empty and cold.

He finished his walk back to the mansion. Not thinkingabout anything.

****************

"Faith no!" Buffy screamed but it was no use. Whateverdrug the Mayor had given Faith, it made her have theupper hand. Faith was faster than anything Buffy had everseen.

Faith knocked Buffy down on her back. Buffy's eyesmoved up to Faith silently pleading for her to stop.She was too injured to move. Faith put her head back and laughed.As she picked up her foot and slammed in on to Buffy'srib cage.

***

"Where do we go from here? Willow said to Xander, Ozand Anya.

Everyone was still in disbelief over the whole AngelBuffy thing.

"Well" Oz began, "We were given the opportunity tospend out last prom in good spirits so ;lets mosy onover to our limo."

"Yelp, lets seize that big ol' fun thought of Oz's!"Xander quirked

"Here, here!" Willow piped up."

"Well I say we have to walk...Cause there goes ourLIMO!!!" Anya yelled all ready starting in hotpursuit. The rest of the group followed.

Willow was the first to stop. "This is stupid." Shewatched as the other people kept running. "Whoa guys!Stop, Halt....Xander! Ho-Ho's."

Xander stooped immediately. "Where?"

"Guys lets just walk."

Everyone pulled out their stakes.

****

Buffy felt a large WHOOSH of air leave her body. Reddots began to form in front of her eyes. A wave ofnausea fell over her. She was in pain. But she refused to die atFaiths hands. She moved to get up, but realized shecouldn't, several of her ribs were broken. Some even pokingthrough the skin.. Faith still loomed over her.

"Why?"

"You don't wanna know, I killed your mother.

"No...no."

"You see B, all I ever wanted was for you to like me.Hopefully that your Watcher Mother and flipping Scoobygang would accept me. But did they NO! So they are allgonna die."

"No," Buffy was sobbing. "Another Slayer will comealong..and stop you."

"Buffy in case you didn't notice. They won't be amatch for me I mean come on I knocked you down. You'rethe Legend."

"And now," Faith continued "I am gonna hurt you justenough so all your buds can watch you die. I didn'twant to do this B, you made me"

Buffy shut her eyes awaiting the death blow. Her lifeflashed before her eyes. She wasn't ready to......

Faith's foot made contact with Buffy's head. Cause herskull to crack.

Buffy felt the first blow. And heard Xander's voice.

"Hey get away...FAITH!!!!!!"

Faith didn't quit her brutal beating of Buffy. Whatcould the Scooby gang do to her know? Faith continueduntil guilt grabbed a hold of her.

Guilt named Xander.

"What have you done?" Xander stepped back when he sawthe bloody tears running down Faith's face. "All Iwanted was a friend" Faith sobbed. And then she took off.

The gang turned to the bloody and broken Buffy.

"Buffy....no....don't leave me....."

Xander wasn't even sure how he got Buffy to thehospital. All he knew was that Buffy's blood coveredhim, and he had been sitting in this waiting room for what seemedlike an eternity. Xander was removed from his train ofthought when Giles came running in.

"Where is she? My Buffy where is she?"

Willow ran over to calm Giles down. But it was of nouse. "Joyce is dead Willow." Giles said grabbing ahold of her shoulders. "T.t.t.t.t here was a message on thewall....s.s.s.ee y.y.y.you in hell" Giles had calmeddown a bit. "Just tell me where she is."

"It was Faith." Xander said coming up to thehysterical Watcher.

"b.b.but Buffy was more than a match.." Giles began

"She was on some drug." Willow handed Giles the vile"Here we found this."

"Oh, God no." Giles flung the vile at the wall. Hesunk into a chair. "Has anyone contacted Angel?""No..." Xander said.

"He needs to be here when she...." Giles neverfinished.

Giles didn't tell the gang what the vile hadcontained. All they could gather was that it wassomething horrible.

Willow asked if Anya wanted to come with her to callAngel.

***

Angel had just begun to lose himself in his memorieswhen the phone rang. He slowly walked over towards it.

"Hello?" Angel said into the static receiver.

"Angel?" Willow's voice came out small and shaky.

"Where's Buffy. What happened?"

"She's in the hospital Angel...Angel she's not gonnamake it." Willow burst into tears as the realizationof the situation hit her.

Angel felt his world fall apart. "Who did this Willow?"

Willow was silent she was scared of what Angel mightdo.

"Willow!!!!" Angel screamed into the receiver.

"Faith....."

Willow jumped when the received slammed down on theother end. "Don't do anything stupid Angel please."Willow said to the dial tone. Anya took the phone andhung it up for her. And embraced Willow in a hug.

Angel fell to the floor. "No! You will not leave meBuffy."

'Faith will pay' Angel said to himself as he fled fromhis house. 'She will pay.'

***

Um who would be Ms. Summers guardian?" Theregistration nurse asked.

"I am her Watcher...or..um..I.I.I.watch o.o.over her."

The aging lady handed Giles a small stack of papers.One was for organ donation. "Do you people have norespect?"Giles said throwing the papers back at the lady.

"Why did she go to the prom?"

Giles sat back down in his chair and listened the theradio.

Looking back.......

Angel continued his angry rampage down the lonelystreets of Sunnydale. He was looking for Faith.Planning to kill her. Knowing what it would do to him. But withoutBuffy in his life. It wasn't worth living.

on the memory of the dance we shared.......
beneath the stars above.............

Angel stoped his anger march for a moment. Thinkingof how beautiful Buffy looked tonight. Angel smiledfaintly. Then he shut his eyes and remembered watching her walkout of the gym. He wanted to remember her the way shelooked tonight. He couldn't bare seeing her, bruised,bloody, broken....and....dead......

A bloody tear ran down Angel's cheek. Faith would pay.

for a moment......
all the world was right.....

Now Angel's world will never be the same. Buffybrought light into his dark, cold world. He knew hewas gonna lose Buffy, he could feel it in his soul. He wouldn'tallow Buffy to leave him all alone in the cold,heartless world. He would follow her where ever she traveled.

but how could I have known....
you'd ever say good bye.....

The nurse permitted the group to go in and see Buffy.Giles lead the group silently down the hall way. Helet out a musty laugh when the nurse told him her room number.

666

The elevator doors opened on the Intensive Care floor.He stepped out and made his way to her room. Notknowing if the gang was still following.

Slowly, Giles opened her door.............

......his tears feel upon seeing her.......

She had machines surrounding her...breathing forher.....living for her.

Her face barely resembled the beautiful girl that hehad seen earlier tonight. Her face badly swollen andbeginning to bruise.The Doctor said if she lived, she would have extensivebrain damage and she would not be the same Buffy.

If That single word played over and over inGiles head, as he and Willow wept together. Anyapolitely began to excuse herself when Xander grabbed her handand cried into his shoulder. For the first time in1124 years, Anya cried.

and now....
I'm glad I didn't know.....
the way it all would end.....
the way it all would go.....
our lives are better left to chance.....
I could have missed the pain......
but I'd a had to miss.......
the Dance.....
Holding you I held everything......

Angel could still feel Buffy's arms around him. Theintensity of her eyes upon him on their last dance.

For a moment, wasn't I a king.............

It pained him to the depths of his soul that hewouldn't see her....wouldn't get to say goodbye. Hecouldn't see her even if he wanted to. He knew only one thing forcertain. This would be his soul's last night on theHell he called Earth.

Hey who's to............
You know I might have changed it all.....
And now..............
I'm glad I didn't know......

Xander, Willow, Oz, Anya, and Giles all were shakenfrom their mourning state, when Buffy's body startedthrashing around. She began convulsing, shakingviolently in the bed.

Suddenly four Doctors rushed in yelling words Gileswouldn't allow him self to understand. It was all ablur.

Willow looked on, the actions played like slow motionin her head.

The way it all would end...............

The Doctors did absolutely everything they could. Theytried injecting her with drugs, and everything else.But it wasn't working....Giles couldn't watch thisanymore....he had to let her go.

The way it all would go...........

Angel finally came upon what he was waiting for.

Faith stepped from the shadows.

Angel attacked Faith, letting every blow reveal hisanger, his pain, his misery, and his loss. Tonight hewas going to drain her blood. To kill her with out remorse. Becomethe monster he was born into the night as. Tonight hewas going to lose his soul.

our lives............
are better left to chance..................

Giles slowly raised himself out of the uncomfortablehospital chair. He slowly made his way over to Buffy'sstill thrashing body. Giles kissed his Slayer on theforehead. Upon doing so, Buffy's eyes fluttered open.Her green eyes stared a Giles......pleading with him. He nodded his headand Buffy eyes fell shut..........for the last time.Giles grabbed the cord for the life support machine, sobbing in theprocess, and yanked the plug out if the wall. Buffy'sbody stopped convulsing. Her pain had ceased. She was free from thework of the Chosen One.

I could have missed the pain...............

And dropped the lifeless body that was once Faith tothe ground. He felt a familiar pain inside of him.

"Buffy....Buffy......wait for me...." When Angel awokeagain he would be a changed man.

but I'd a had to miss............

The Doctors' left Buffy's room, allowing good-byes tobe said. Each said their prayers and thoughtsindividually.

When they all stepped back and were ready to leave, alarge white light appeared in the room. And the imagesof Buffy and Angel smiled then disappeared.

***

Angelus woke up in the middle of the street, lettingmemories play in his head. An evil smile spread acrosshis face.

the dance.............

***********

Giles sat alone in his beloved library, without thepeople he loved most. Since the night of Buffy'sdeath, he had taken up drinking again. And drank him self to sleepevery night. He couldn't blame the gang for notwanting to be around him. But tonight he was sober.....he had a jobto do. He had to slay Angelus.

Giles silently cursed himself for not being a betterWatcher and friend to Buffy. And for not telling Angelthat he forgave him.

"I figured I'd come to you." Angelus said entering thelibrary.

"Go to Hell"

"Oh, come on Rupee! You can do better than that. Buffywould have."

"Don't bring her into this."

"I have to I am the bad guy! To bad my soul killedFaith, she was so great...Anyway that blond bitch hadit coming.

Giles very sloppily threw a stake at Angelus. Angeluscaught it with ease.

"Awe Rupee come on! You know though....I never stakeda human...I've killed many....I just snapped Jenny'sneck.....nothing big there. But you, you Giles arespecial, you loved her and were close to her."

Angelus swiftly came over and knocked Giles to theground. And very slowly placed the stake above Gilesheart. "Tell me if I do this right."

Giles looked up in shock. He never thought he'd golike this. He felt his life slipping away...and bloodstream out of his mouth.

"Buffy..................."

Something inside of Angelus caused him to quickly pullthe stake out upon hearing her name. But it was tolate. Giles gasped and died.

Angelus looked down at the stake in his hands. Heplaced it over his own heart. Without Buffy to torturelife wasn't worth unliving. Angelus gave into the force and pushedthe stake deep in his chest. He looked up and sawBuffy there. Standing before him.

He crumbled into dust.........

Buffy bent down and picked up the ring. Now she wasfree. Free from the work of the Chosen One.

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