SOMETHING ABOUT HER

by - Suaine

TITLE:	SOMETHING ABOUT HER
AUTHOR:	Suaine
DISCLAIMER:	I don't own anything except my TV (wait, my parents have it now, go back to nothing ;) and the computer I'm writing my stories on, everything else (that matters anyway) belongs to Joss Whedon and Mutant Enemy.
DISTRIBUTION:	Sure, just let me know.
RATING:	PG? how should I know? But really nothing you wouldn't see on the show.
SPOILERS:	Anything up to and including "The Gift" is fair game.
FEEDBACK:	Oh, yesss... please.
DEDICATION:	Dedication: To my brother. He is my world, I couldn't live in it without him. I would go through hell and back for him, and thank god every day that he doesn'T know that. To the gals at OGD for their feedback and kindness.

PART THREE

They had relocated the diaries from Buffy's house to the Magic Box. As soon as they left the house, Buffy had calmed visibly, only a tad of sadness left within her. She buried it deep down, with the memories of her Mom. Now they were all in the shop, each of them scanning through one of the notebooks. Spike, for some reason that was beyond their imagination, was still with them.

Most of the notebooks didn't give them any clue; they were filled with the mind-shattering problems of a usual teenager. But throughout the last year they were different. They talked about mystical energies, hell gods, and a Key to open the door to another world.

Suddenly, Xander screamed. " Whoa... That was... that's..." The whole gang looked at him strangely, waiting for him to spill. He breathed heavily and handed the book over to Buffy, not looking into her eyes.

She took it with a steady hand. Her turn of being emotional was over, or so she thought. She glanced at the first line and frowned. The usual header had been changed into 'Buffy'. They were directly addressed to her. Flipping through the book she found all of them to be like that. She started reading.

Buffy,

It's hard for me to write this. I can't focus on anything, but I need to get this out of my system. There's nobody I can talk to. Since you're gone... they are falling apart. I wish you could be here. I'm not strong enough. I can't be you. I'm just a girl. Not even. It's been exactly forty-eight hours since you died. ...

Buffy looked up from the book and swallowed hard. She met Xander's gaze and mouthed, Oh my god. Then she returned to the writing of 'her sister'.

It's been exactly one hundred and ninety-two hours since you died. Eight days that seem like eternity. I gave them your message, but I don't think they even noticed. All of them are so withdrawn in their own grief that I can't get through. When they look at me, all they see is you. Your body lying... Sorry, but I can't go there, not yet.

I haven't cried since the funeral. Seeing your grave made it real. When the coffin hit the ground with that soft thud I knew you were gone. And my tears just stopped. I wish I could cry, because this is worse. You can't believe how much it hurts to be in this house, all empty, when the two real owners are both dead. I couldn't sleep either. I'm covering the rings under my eyes with make-up, but soon somebody is bound to notice.

I miss you.

Love,

Dawn

After reading Buffy handed the book around, wordless. When each of them got through reading the first letter to Buffy, they all stared at the floor, letting this sink in. Buffy had died. Nobody spoke. Buffy took the diary back and continued reading.

Buffy,

Today Dad came and wanted to take me away. He just arrived, saying how sorry he was not being able to come sooner, sorry for Mom, sorry about what happened. All I wanted was to scream at him, hit him hard in the face, and break down crying. Instead I stood half way down the stairs, looking at him standing in the hallway... I managed to say thank you. I asked him why he was here.

He said to take me with him. I smiled the way you do before you kick someone's ass... I said: 'You're a bit late'. He stared at me, startled. I must have scared the hell out of him, being all calm and composed. He started to stutter. I interrupted him, holding up my hand. You'd be so proud of me. I told him that he wasn't going to take me anywhere. I said he would stay in Sunnydale, in an apartment somewhere, telling social services he would take care of me. He wouldn't show up here anymore, only if I needed him to fool the guys from social services. I said: 'You haven't called when Mom died. You haven't been to the funeral. You gave shit about me and Buffy after Mom was gone. When Buffy died we tried to reach you everywhere. It's been two whole weeks. You are not my father. My family is grieving for Buffy; they are the ones that stayed with me when the doctors proclaimed her death. You have no right to show up here and claim me as yours, not now. Leave me alone, please. I can't look at you.' He left.

I think he might have been grateful that I didn't need him. I think he was here because it was some kind of duty he had to fulfill. Something he had to do to be able to sleep at night. Good for him, now he has a clear conscience and no responsibility.

The others are not coping. I mean, they know you're dead, but they can't handle it. I know now that I have to get you back. When I wanted to resurrect Mom I felt so lonely and lost, but not this time. It's them who are lost, I need you to come back and give me back my family. I didn't just lose you that morning; I lost all of them.

I miss you.

Love,

Dawn

 

Buffy,

They stopped coming here. I mean, they still visit, but they're always alone. No more Scoobies. My family is gone, and you're the one to blame. I wish I could be mad at you, but how could I? You saved my life. The pathetic ruin of a life I still have. I haven't seen Spike since the funeral. I'm worried.

Buffy glanced at the vampire, who watched her carefully. For the very first time she wondered if his feelings were true. He was still here, helping them out without being asked...or paid. His eyes showed genuine feeling, for her or the little girl they now thought of as her sister.

I'm worried. We only spoke one time after you died. Only once, but it was enough. I think he is dead. That night after the funeral he stayed at your grave, drinking and crying. I came looking for him one hour before sunrise. He sat there, staring at the sky where the sun would come up. I said his name, but he didn't react. Buffy, he loved you so much. You took him with you, you know? Hell, I loved him too. He was my best friend; he was like a big brother to me. But you died and he did too.

I stood before him, placing myself between him and the soon upcoming sun. Just then he seemed to notice me. I knew he had been drinking, but even the alcohol couldn't subdue the pain. He was going to kill himself, right there and then. I couldn't let that happen. 'You are a vampire. You're evil. Don't behave like Angel.'He stared at me, his eyes wide with tears and something I have never seen in him...guilt. He didn't answer me, but at least I got his attention.

'Killing yourself won't bring her back. It wasn't your fault, and it sure as hell wasn't my fault. It's hers.'I pointed at your grave and hated myself for it. I never blamed you, and never will. Sometimes there's just nobody to blame and it makes it all the worse. Because without reasons or explanations it's all the more painful. He glared at me, growling. I had him right where I wanted.

He spoke: 'Don't say that about her. She was a hero. She was all I bloody lived for. That night before... she said some of us were going to die. I thought she was talking about me, asking me to die for you, and I would have. Instead she did the only thing she could. She saved your life.'

I saw the pain in his eyes, but I couldn't let go now. I needed to say this. I needed him to be angry, to feel more than just grief. I leaned in close to him, close enough for him to see the pain I had buried deep inside of my heart. I said: 'What life?'We both knew that I was talking about the mess my life had become. About the Scoobies who felt it was too painful to talk to me, about you, about Mom, about me being a mystical energy.

He got up without saying another word. He muttered something about a promise he was going to keep. I never saw him again. Until last night I knew he was out there, watching over me. But I think he finally gave in to the pain. But maybe he's just gone, left Sunnydale for somewhere with less memories. Giles did. He was sorry, and said so about every time he talked to me. He had decided to leave Sunnydale and go back to England. Can't blame him. It was too painful to be around. I wish I had a home I could run away to, but this is all that's left of my life. He left the day after the funeral.

Willow and Tara are still around. They came over a lot in the beginning, but Willow was hurting too much to be a big help. Tara looked worn too. I hope they'll be okay, but somehow I don't think so. You were Willow's best friend, even more so than Xander, him being a man and all. She keeps on blaming herself. She lives through that last night every time she goes to sleep. At least she still knows how to sleep.

You know, I kind of feel like that guy in that movie. You know which, the one with Brad Pitt you didn't want me to watch. I'm afraid they're gonna split up. There's that thing between them. Willow unconsciously blames Tara for your death, and herself. She thinks she acted selfish because her main target was to heal Tara. It never comes up in conversations but I can see it in her eyes. They are falling apart, and the only thing left is broken glass.

Xander takes it hard too, but he and Anya are coping. At least that's what I thought, but then I talked to Anya. She told me that he had asked her to marry him. Before you died. She said ever since any talk about a happy future was useless. He couldn't bring himself to believe in a happy end when you were six feet under. Not that any of us could.

I can't handle it anymore. Buffy, they're not going to live through this. I mean, I didn't expect them to be like 'Buffy died, wanna go for Pizza?'but I need them to be strong too. I need someone I can depend on. The only one I can think of is you. I don't want to. The thing with Mom taught me a lesson. But I have to. Supposedly, you saved the world. My world is still ending. I need you to save it, again.

I miss you.

Love,

Dawn  

Buffy's hands shook uncontrollably and she cursed herself for it. There was only one more entry before the diary just stopped. The last one was even dated, it had been written yesterday. With Dawn's sloppy signature below. It looked like a last good bye. Come to think of it, it probably was. She had read the last entry aloud, and just now she noticed her friends'stares as they tried to recover from what they had heard.

"Read the last one," Spike muttered. He looked pale, not just the usual vampire-paleness, but as if he was made of glass. Buffy had never seen him this vulnerable.

She shook her head. "I don't know if I can," she said weakly. Her voice was hoarse from reading, and she wasn't quite comfortable with all of them knowing.

Spike looked in her eyes and a sudden feeling of trust for the monster came over her. For a moment she saw the man. "Just for yourself," he said. Buffy knew he was itching to know. After all, she wasn't the only one presumably dead. Nice of him not to pressure her. She decided they all had a right to hear this.

Buffy,

I have found a way to bring you back. It took me weeks to find all the stuff I needed, but it was worth it. And it was about time. Everything around me is going up in flames. Cordelia called me last night. She told me that Spike had shown up in LA to kill Angel. She was acting like she brought me a good news, telling me that Angel survived and Spike was now a pile of dust.

I almost broke down, I wanted to cry; instead I just hung up the phone and took it off the hook. First Tara got hit by that spell from Willow, accidentally I was told, and fell in a coma, then Xander and Anya break up because they keep on arguing about little nothings, and now Spike's dead. I have to take the risk, even if it kills me.

I found a monastery in Germany occupied by the same monks that made me. I contacted them, told them my story. They understood and two days later I met two of them. They seem really nice, and they know a lot of stuff about me, about the Key. I have to do this ritual where I offer myself to a mother-goddess of my choice. When she accepts my plea, mine and her power will join and time will be turned back to that dreadful morning on the tower. It's very dangerous and I just can't seem to care.

This time I'll do the right thing. I won't let you kill me slowly, won't let you take away my destiny, won't let you destroy my world. You told me to live for you. Now I tell you to shut up and listen. This is not a world I want to live in, not like that, and not without you.

I miss you.

Love,

Dawn  

August 3, 2001

 

None of them was able to say anything. Now that the truth was out they couldn't speak or move, couldn't figure out how to react. These diaries had been written in another world, a world not much different from their own. A world in which Buffy had a sister. And died to save her.

"We have to get her back," was all Buffy said. She had made her decision. It didn't matter if that girl was just a mystical energy. It didn't matter if she couldn't remember Dawn being her sister. All she knew was that she had died for that girl. The love for her was deep embedded in her heart, deeper than any spell could touch.

"We will," Spike said. She smiled at him and nodded. He loved her at least as deeply, and she was grateful for that. He reached for her shoulder in a reassuring way. To the surprise of everybody she didn't push him away. In fact, she pulled him closer and let her tears drop on his black t-shirt. "We will get her back, luv. I promise."

PART FOUR

"But what about the memory spell? Can't we do one of those again?" Buffy knew the answer before Giles even took off his glasses.

"It is much too powerful, even if Willow, Tara, and me do it together, we could never restore a human." He sighed. "I'm sorry, Buffy." He looked at her, his eyes expressing not the same level of feeling she would have expected. Actually, next to her, Spike was the only one who seemed emotionally affected. The others had processed the information, but didn't feel Dawn's loss the way Buffy did.

"You don't understand," Buffy said. "This is not just about an apocalypse, or a gang of vampires, she's my sister."

She faced Giles who had a look of resolution in his eyes. It was the face he gets when giving her bad news. "I don't think there's anything we can do for her." Buffy felt as if he just slapped her in the face. Spike growled menacingly, taking it pretty much as a personal insult. Giles frowned, "You two are behaving strange, you remind me of that spell Willow did a while ago."

Buffy massaged her temples with the tip of her fingers, trying to relieve the tension that was building up beneath her skull. "We're not under a spell. If you would all pay a little more attention you would know, that is not our problem." She sighed, her gaze fixed on the man who was more of a father to her than Hank Summers could ever be. "Please, try to find a way."

He cleaned his glasses again, not a good sign. "We can't do the memory spell again, besides we don't even have the Key's power to channel it through your sister. There is one way."

"Yeah?" Buffy inquired with hope in her voice.

He put the glasses back on. "But it isn't a possibility. We could always try to break her spell, return reality to the point where Dawn decided to act on her own, however..."  

"I would be dead," Buffy finished. Her eyes met Giles' and he nodded.

Spike shook his head. "Not an option, find another way, watcher."

"We'll do research. That's how we do things," Anya exclaimed. Softly, she added, "We'll find a way to save Dawn and keep Buffy alive."

Buffy smiled at the ex-demon. Soon the Scoobies were on their job, pushing away thoughts of a world in which their lives had turned to dust before their eyes. Willow turned on Giles' computer and started the browser. Thank God for the internet, she thought to herself. Within minutes she came up with several ideas, but Giles threw over each and every one of them.

Buffy yawned. This morning it all had looked like an ordinary day. A boring ordinary day. Now, her whole had been turned upside down. She was exhausted from the events and revelations. Her body demanded sleep, and research not being one of her strong features, she wouldn't deny it. The slayer got up and walked over to the training room. Spike followed her after a minute. He wanted to talk to the slayer about Dawn and what all this meant to the two of them.

"Giles, come here," Willow whispered to the watcher. Giles got up from the book he had been reading and walked over to the witch. She was looking at the computer screen, her fingers tracing a line in one of Dawn's diaries. "Can you read this?" she asked, obviously at a loss.

The watcher glanced at the web page. "It's German. The author talks about an order of monks. Could they be the same...?" He trailed off and looked at Willow, expecting affirmation. She nodded with a small smile spreading on her face.

"Yeah, I checked the name in Dawn's diary. These are the same monks that made Dawn and helped her do the time reversal ritual." Willow could almost see how the tension left Giles' body. He may not admit it, but the watcher had been worried out of his mind. Leave it to a watcher to cover up his feelings.

"Any way we can contact them?" he asked. Smiling she gave him a phone number. Giles darted through the room, jerking the phone off the hook. He punched in the number and waited. It rang. Both, witch and watcher, waited anxiously for someone to pick up. It rang the fifth time when a loud, grumpy voice answered the phone.

"Was wollen sie?" (What do you want?)

Giles tried hard to remember the bits of how to talk German he had picked up during his time in college. Unfortunately, he had been quite distracted, dark magic can be so tempting at times. "Sprek...er, Sprechen ... sie Englisch?" (Do you speak English?) he asked the man on the other end. For a long moment there was silence. He heard muffled sounds, then a thud and someone calling in the distance, and a new voice could be heard through the receiver.

"Why are you calling?"

"I... I need your help. Do you know anything about the Key?" The line was silent once again. He could swear he heard a man scream in the background. When the man on the phone spoke up again his voice was a bit throaty, as if he had been talking real loud for a long time.

"What do you need?

Giles sighed and explained the situation. The monk kept silent the whole time, already knowing what needed to be done. He let Giles finish and then told him where to pick him up and what other arrangements had to be made. Giles jotted down the information on a piece of paper. Then he turned to tell Buffy about the ggod news, but the slayer wasn't there.

The person in question was in the back room. She was lying on the training mat, her head resting on Spike's shoulder. They were both asleep, holding on to each other to keep the nightmares away. For once they were not mortal enemies, but merely friends who lost someone they both held dear. That was when the dream swallowed them.

* * *

Buffy sat up, panting, when she felt his strong arms slip away. They were gone before she could grab a hold of them. The safety of their embrace was lost to her and all that was left a memory of love. She didn't remember who they belonged to or why he was protecting her, but it felt good enough to forget the whole world and just drown in him. She looked around just to see... nothing. She was surrounded by white. 'Load the Matrix', she thought, trying to keep from laughing.

For a long moment nothing happened. She just stood there, all alone, with white mist around her ankles. There is only so much discovering you can do in an absolute empty, alternate plain of reality. She took a step forward, then broke in a run, just to stop dead in her track realizing how stupid she must look.

She decided on the other fruitless approach, calling for help. 'Hello? Is anybody here?'she screamed at the top of her lungs. She didn't really expect an answer, the more surprised she was when she heard somebody groan in the distance. She recognized the voice immediately, Spike. Questions of why he was with her, or why she was here in the first place, left her mind when she reached his side and looked into his eyes.

'So happy to see me, love?'he said with a smirk on his lips. The only thing she could do was nod. Her eyes were locked with his. Blue, deep oceans of devotion and love. How could she have ever doubted him? She was drowning, but didn't need to breathe. His arms, wrapped around her body, protecting her...

She shook her head. 'Where are we?'she asked. He smiled that gorgeous smile of his and Buffy was about to lose herself again. It was so easy just to let go... She pressed her eyes closed, breathing heavily. Stay focused, she told herself. Just then he answered her question. "I don't know." He shrugged.

"Well, isn't it obvious?" a voice appeared suddenly and out of nowhere. Buffy spun around to face whoever the intruder was, but only saw the infinity of white. Behind her the voice spoke again. "Not there, slayer. I'm right here in front of you." The voice was deep, but still very female. Buffy turned around. The woman in front of her smiled. She had redish-brown hair and sparkling green eyes. Her face was soft, implying an age of about thirty. She held her body proud, a posture worth of a queen...or a goddess.

Buffy gasped, she knew who that was. She remembered from Dawn's journal. "You're the goddess Dawn, my sister, called upon." It wasn't a question.

Buffy didn't believe it possible, but the woman's smile became even warmer, simply radiating love and motherly affection. "My name is Brigit, and I am the one your sister deemed worthy to join her forces with." At the mention of Dawn a dark shadow crossed her face, and she said quietly, "She missed you. I feel it." Buffy wanted nothing more than to comfort the woman in front of her, who seemed so strong and beautiful, yet so vulnerable at the same time. "Please, help us?" she asked, her body fading to join with the white.

"I will," the slayer promised with absolute sincerity.

"Well, you'd better."  

Buffy swallowed...hard. Her breath caught in her chest and her heart pounded against her ribs. Racing thoughts broke down to one simple word. DAWN! She knew it was her as well as she knew her own name. Although, at the moment, it was hard to focus on anything but the relief she felt at her sister's voice. Almost in slow motion, she turned around to see the little girl she had come to know as her sister. Looking into her blue eyes all the memories flooded back to her. Everything to the last moment on the tower, saying good-bye, hoping to give life through her sacrifice.

Dawn smiled. "Good to see you again, big sis."  It was all Buffy needed to grab her and wrapped her arms around Dawn so tight she could barely breathe. Long since she had abandoned to hold back tears and just cried her name. Cool arms embraced the two of them as Spike joined. It felt so right, so real, so much like family. All of them cried tears of happiness, but Dawn was the one to break the moment. "We don't have much time. We have to talk about things, past and present, to guarantee we all have a future."

Buffy nodded, Spike just stared, but both silently agreed. There was one question though, that needed to be answered. "What happened on the tower?"   Dawn cringed, her heart heavy with memories. "The spell worked, Brigit brought me back. I was on the tower. I wanted to jump, but you wouldn't let me. I couldn't stop you. It all happened again, but this time I wouldn't let you go. I knew if Brigit and me jumped in the portal right after you, we could try to undo the memory spell, go back to a world without me, a world where you all would be safe. Brigit sacrificed her power, and I did mine, and together with the energies of the portal we had enough power to return reality to the moment I came into existence. No hellgods, no keys, no Dawn."  

"How can you expect me to live wihtout my sister?" Buffy asked in tears.

"I'm not your sister," Dawn replied with tears in her own eyes. "You shouldn't even remember me. And you won't as soon as I can get out of here."  

"You're stuck," Spike stated matter-of-factly.

Dawn locked eyes with the vampire who meant so much to her. "Yes," then she turned back to her sister, "All I need you to do is to destroy the Key. It's still around, though in another form. Destroy it, and this bubble of reality will set me and Brigit free. You have to, for my sake if not for your own. I won't go back to that empty place you left me with." Her chest was ripped apart by sobs she could no longer hold back. The slayer took her in her arms, a last embrace for two who are not meant to see each other again.

"I love you, Dawn. I will always love you."  

Dawn's tears dried. "I know, I love you too, big sis." With that she faded away, much like Brigit did before her. Buffy turned to find Spike in tears. She placed her right hand on his cheek to soothe the emotions that coursed through his body. He wrapped his arms around her in a protective manner. Both broke down, their legs no longer able to hold up their weight, weakened by the fear and pain they felt for Dawn. They were lying on the ground, surrounded by white mist, holding on to each other. When the white faded to black, the dream ended and they returned to their world in which the most important part was missing.

* * *

"So, what exactly is going to happen?" The monk smiled at Giles, his eyes never leaving the key-shaped amulet on the table between them. It had some poetic irony to give the key such a form. Even Glory would appreciate the humor of it. He cringed at the thought of the hell goddess, but then he remembered how they had been able to let the identity of Glory's human vessel slip to the Knights of Byzantinium. One less problem they had to worry about. "Don't fret, watcher. Everything will be revealed in due time."

Actually, the monk hoped that nothing would be revealed in any case, because the powers they were handling could destroy this world within minutes. Nevertheless, his brothers and him had sworn to protect the innocent, a duty that was more challenging than one might think.

The watcher sighed and returned to his position at the table. They would all do as they were told, and the monk wondered just how much it would take to break them. Of course he knew, he had seen it, heard it from the Key herself as a crucial part of their life had been taken. The Key had always been part of him, for he was the Key's guardian, and it was hard to let go, but he knew he would. For the innocent.

He started the incantation that would hopefully end all this suffering. He could only pray for the one soul he knew would be lost forever after this deed was done.

"We call upon the powers of the Key," he started.

"We offer our strength." Buffy let drops of her blood fall on the key and stepped back.

"We offer our mind." Willow cut her finger and her blood joined Buffy's. Then the witch returned to her place.

"We offer our heart." Xander let his blood join the small puddle.

"We offer the love of a father." Giles did the same as the people before him.

"We offer our protection." Spike was next to do his part. He stayed at the table, his finger pressed on the key. The monk knew better as to stop the ritual.

"We offer all we have." Buffy came forward again, her blood being the last to drop down on the shiny key. She, too, did not take her hand away.

The monk smiled. This was were the Key belonged. This was were the innocent girl was loved. " We ask you to return to the form of another world."

Nothing happened, and the gang grew uncomfortable. So did the monks companions. The three people at the center, however, knew what was going on and what had to be done. The monk nodded towards vampire and slayer, who looked at each other for confirmation. Then, in a split second, both grabbed a hold of the key and broke it apart. Charged with all the mystical energy this simply motion released the powers of the Key, destroying it forever.

He knew Dawn was lost. She had asked her sister to give up on her, to let her be the hero for once. He knew that both, the vampire and the slayer, had been aware of the fact. He saw the pain evident in their eyes, and wished nothing more than to be able to comfort them. Then again, things wouldn't be half as much fun if he did.

Spike looked at Buffy, his eyes filling up with the same tears he had cried in their dream. Her face was stained too, salty drops running down her face to wet the dusty floor below. She went to him, holding on to him because there was nothing else that could protect her. Not from the nightmares. Not from the empty house. Not from the darkness of her empty heart.

Just as the monk thought he couldn't watch any longer, the two parts of the key started to gleam. They emenated a green light, so pure and cleansing, it could only be the Key.

"About time you show up," he said to the green cloud that formed above the table.

A soft voice answered him, a deep, female voice. "I just wanted to see if my plan worked out."

" Did everything happen to your satisfaction?" he asked, not even aware of the stares everybody gave him. Buffy and Spike were the only ones whose gaze was trained on the cloud. They knew that voice.

" Hmm, yesss..." she hissed in cat-like manner.

" Well, then let's go home," he said lovingly.

The cloud surrounded him before anybody could come to his aid. It swirled around him, faster with every second. A blinding green light exploded around them and then the cloud was gone. Where it was a small figure stood, looking as confused as everybody else.

" What happened?" Dawn asked, but there was no possible way to hear an answer, because Buffy and the gang squealed in delight. They hugged Dawn, told her how much they missed her, wrapped her in their arms and promised to never ever let her go again. She just let it happen, a satisfied smile on her face. She mouthed a thank you to where she knew the Key had been.

After a very long welcome back moment everything was quieting down a little. Dawn smiled, but let them do all the talking. She was happy to see that Buffy's hand never left Spike's. Everything seemed to be just fine. Then she noticed a piece of paper up the sleeve of her ceremonial gown. She decided to read it when she was at home, alone. Somehow she knew it was private. For the rest of the day she just enjoyed living in a world without hell gods.

* * *

Dear Dawn,

Brigit and me want to thank you. You're somewhat of a daughter to us and we feel that you deserve the truth. Share this with your friends if you see the need, but we'd prefer this to stay a secret. Gods on Earth, in hell, and any other dimension can be both, brutal and kind. As the balancing energies to Glory's insane hunger for power the two of us were always different. We have sworn to protect the innocent, we were the ones to forge the Key, and we also brought you on your path of self-less sacrifice. In the end, you must agree, it all ended in a good way.

Brigit granted you a wish, and I'm sure you know which one every time you look in the eyes of your family. There is no more Key, no more hell gods on Earth, and you are as real as any person on this plain of existence can be.

We'll see each other again.

Balor,
Guardian of the Key

Dawn had a grin spreading on her face. Buffy and Spike were downstairs, talking as they had said. Now, with all their memories back in place, Dawn would bet they did more than just talking. She had seen the look in their eyes."Thank you", she whispered almost inaudibly, but she knew, the two it was meant for would hear her everywhere. Even in her dreams. She decided now was a good time to call one of her friends from school. Let's see how normal life worked out for an Ex-Key.

The End

Author's note: Balor and Brigit are old celtic gods, and are complementing parts of good and evil. Here, I assume they are the two hell gods that shared reign with Glory. In case you wonder, the one lost soul is that of Ben. Balor, knowing that Ben had betrayed Dawn and the "Good side", did not deem him worthy to live while Dawn had to suffer. (Or I just wanted to get rid of Glory because I needed the Key :) I know that happy endings are not everybody's taste, but I hope you enjoyed this one, because I would want to have my family back. I would die for them any day, but I'd rather live with them for a little longer.