Destiny

By PSUBrat

Epilogue

In the End...

Spike slumped to the floor, spent. His body was wracked with spasms as the power of the Twelve receded, leaving only human Spike behind. He pulled himself up to his knees and steadied himself with his hands. He felt like he had gone about fifteen rounds with the heavyweight champion, or at least Angelus when he was in perfect form. Painfully, he lifted his head, searching the chamber for her, his Buffy.

When his eyes found her, he tried to push himself off the ground but stumbled forward on shaky legs. "Buffy," he muttered to himself. "Please don't leave me. Please."

Unable to walk to her body, he crawled the rest of the way there, pausing only briefly to empty the contents of his stomach. When he reached her side, he pulled her out of the water and turned her over. Her lips were blue. There was no pulse. He had no idea how long it had taken to get to her or how long his fight with the Master had lasted, all he did know was that she looked dead.

As quickly as he could, he tilted her neck and checked for any signs of breath. None. Instinctively, he began CPR, not realizing that he was doing it. He felt as if some force was controlling him.

After what seemed like minutes, he heard her gasp and then start coughing.

Life is your gift…

"Buffy?" He cried. "Luv, are you with me?"

"Spike," she whispered weakly. "I'm so cold."

Hurriedly, he removed his duster and wrapped her frail form in it, trying to warm her cold body. "Buffy…" he sobbed into her hair. "You left me."

"But I'm back now," she replied, forcing a smile and reaching up to touch his face. "And I promise that I'll never leave you again."

He held her tight and cried, rocking her back and forth in his arms. "I love you so much, Buffy."

Before Buffy could reply with her own declaration of love, a blinding light flashed through the chamber. When it diminished, ten people dressed in white tunics looked around frantically, unsure of their surroundings.

Giles was the first to notice where they were, as well as the first to see Buffy and Spike on the ground in front of them. "Buffy!" He cried out as he rushed to her side. "You're safe! You did it! You defeated the Master."

"Spike defeated him," she replied with pride in her voice, her strength beginning to return to her. "And you're all alive!"

Once the shock of being transported, yet again, wore off, the others joined Giles at Buffy's side, each taking a turn hugging the couple and crying softly.

Spike and Giles helped Buffy to her feet so that she could embrace her sister. Both girls wept with relief.

Slowly, the twelve made their way out of the cave and into the dawning light. Eight others who had been waiting in the woods, hoping beyond hope that their spell had worked, rushed to greet them.

As Buffy entered the shadows of the trees, she entwined hands with her lover, the man who had saved her life, and took a moment to look at the sunrise through the shadows. It wasn't the most spectacular of sunrises, as sunrises go, but this morning it took on a whole new meaning.



~Fin~