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Seasons of Faith	By : norwalker Category: -Buffy the Vampire Slayer > FemmeSlash - Female/Female > Buffy/Faith Views: 4355 -:- Recommendations : 1 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I do not own Buffy the Vampire Slayer (BtVS), nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 22
- 23
Seasons of faith
Chapter 23
~~&~~&~~&~~&~~&~~&~~
They gathered at the Magic Box to plan strategy.
Somehow, they had to get Dawn back. Safe and alive. From a hell god that really wasn't into sharing, especially those things she considered her own. Like Dawn. Who actually was a key, disguised as Buffy's sister. Confused yet? A brief summary follows.
Essentially, Glory ( or more properly, Glorificus), is a hell god. Banished from her hell dimension because her co- hell gods thought she was about to usurp them. They feared her power, and her cruelty(Go figure). She was banished to this 'lower' dimension, and joined with a human baby… a male human baby, known as Ben, an intern at Sunnydale General. He was created for this purpose, but seems to have a human soul, and attempts to live a normal life. Right. Glory has discovered a way to usurp her human prison, and has the power to temporarily escape into the world, showing her female self. But she longs for more… a restoration of her power and position in her home dimension. To do this, she needs the Key. The Key is a mystical energy, created nearly as long ago as Glory herself. It has the power to open a portal between the dimensions. Unfortunately, a side effect is to rend the very fabric of the cosmos, allowing the dimensions to bleed into each other as long as the key is active. Essentially, this would make Earth a hell dimension. But, Glory doesn't really care about that. Surprise, surprise. She just wants to get home.
They Key was guarded by an obscure sect of Czech monks. They have been charged to guard the Key from the Beast( wanna guess who that is?). The beast finds them, and in desperation, the perform a ritual to change the form of the Key. They make it human, and send it to the Slayer( yup, our heroes) in a form of a sister. An annoying, pesky but loved sister. To Buffy. For protection.
Buffy learns of this through the last remaining monk, who is tortured by Glory( whom she meets for the first time). As the monk lays dying, he confesses to Buffy about Dawn. What she is, and her importance. Before he dies, he pleads with her to protect her, at all costs.
Buffy, after performing the Tirer la Courture( Pull back the curtain…which for some reason Buffy insists on calling "Tango la Cartier"… don't ask) spell, discovers what the monk said is true. So she, Faith, and the scoobies, with Giles and Spike( really, don't ask) band together to protect the Key, aka Dawn, and to keep knowledge of who and what she is from Glory. They succeed until Ben(who, like Glory, is not aware of his other existence… now, that's confusing, huh?) accidentally spills the beans to one of the minions, who promptly reports it to Glory( they know about the Ben/ Glory connection). Glory bides her time, and then snatches Dawn from our heroes.
Ok, that's where were at up to now. Let's continue, shall we?
~~&~~&~~&~~&~~&~~&~~
" Well, at least we've managed to get a location from the scabby little buggers" Spike says, obviously enjoying his role. He's still rather pissed at Glory and Co. for their 'hospitality' last time he was a 'guest' at their abode. Of course, the fact that the minions are to a man(?)…er, thing, craven cowards, has kind of taken the fun out of it for him, since torture turned out to be rather unnecessary. Still and all, he got in a few good licks before the scoobies stopped him. Bloody bleedin' hearts, he grumbles. Still and all, they're being kept tied up in the back, to prevent them from warning Glory, and to lead them to Glory's staging area when the time is ripe. So, occasionally, he goes back and 'accidentally' uses them as a punching bag, or ashtray, as the mood suits him. Nobody really tries too hard to stop him.
" Giles, any luck as to when yet?" Buffy asks for , oh, the 100^th time. She's pacing nervously. Ever since Glory snatched Dawn from under her nose, she's been on edge. Blaming herself for not protecting Dawn. Faith has been trying to reassure and comfort her, but it hasn't been working too well.
"Actually, I think I've got it" Giles reports, somewhat relieved. Having a nervous Slayer breathing down one's neck is never good for the nerves. He continues. " If my calculations are accurate" He starts. Buffy shoots him a look. He continues, " they are, Buffy. Anyway, according to the text, and the cross references, the alignment should be tonight. Around midnight. The ritual has to begin before that. Not too long before, but it can't be after midnight, nonetheless. Or it's over for Glory."
Buffy checks her watch. 9 pm." Ok, we have a few hours yet. We don't want to get there too early, in case. We might only be able to effect a holding pattern, keeping her from performing the ritual on time" Buffy says,." That should be enough to safeguard Dawn. Then we have to figure how to deal with her".
" B? Don't bite my head off, ok?" Faith says, prefacing her remarks," but how're we gonna fight her up to the time of the ritual? I mean, she's pretty damned powerful".
" Ooo, Ooo, Ooo!!" Xander raises his hand, waving it back and forth. " That sphere glowy ball thingy"
" You mean the Dagon's Sphere?" Giles asks.
"Yeah. That's supposed to like…make her itch, right? Maybe we could use that?" Xander says, excitedly.
"Good, that's a good idea, Xan" Buffy says, smiling." At least it might weaken her enough that we can give her some grief"
" Hey, Tara and I've been doing some research," Willow pipes up," we've come across a spell. It's a conduit spell. Used mainly to increase a witch's power. But, maybe we could…like, do it so it kinda drains Glory?" Willow and Tara look hopefully at Buffy. They're still feeling a bit guilty about letting Glory get Dawn.
" Great. That'd be great, Will" Buffy says, approvingly." Now we're rollin'"
"Well, me, I think I got my weapon of choice" Faith says, hefting the troll hammer. She managed to get the story out of Tara how they came to be in possession of the hammer. She smirks. Seems Anya turned her first hubby into a Troll as vengeance for cheating on her. He somehow got called here by Willow in a spell. The managed to send Olaf( who'd marry a guy named Olaf? I mean, how Teutonic can you get, anyway?) to some other dimension, but the hammer remained behind. How cool is that? She swings it a few times experimentally, 'til she accidentally hits a display, smashing it to bits. Giles looks at her with an exasperated expression.
" Ooops" Faith blushes, and sets down the hammer. Giles sighs.
"Weapons all around, Giles. I think we're going to be needing them" Buffy says," I need someone to do some scouting. Want to be sure that the party is where the minions said it's going to be".
" I'll do it, pet" Spike volunteers," Getting a bit itchy anyway."
" Ok, fine then" Buffy says, and adds," just be sure not to bungle it, or get spotted". Buffy is still trying to reconcile Spike being on their side. The world is going crazy, she thinks.
" Hey, vampire here. Skulking in the shadows is a given" Spike says. His tone turns serious, " Look, Buffy, this is the nibblet we're talking about. Not going to muck it up".
Buffy's expression softens a bit. " Thanks, Spike " She says.
Spike leaves out the front door. Xander and Anya head toward the storeroom, to find the Dagon's Sphere. Willow and Tara search the shelves for ingredients for the conduit spell. That leaves Giles, Buffy and Faith at the table.
" Now, we wait" Buffy says, grimly.
~~&~~&~~&~~&~~&~~&~~
A little bit later, in another part of town.
It's the commercial district of Sunnydale, by a construction site. On the site is a grouping of minions and the crazies that have been wandering around Sunnydale. They've been drawn here, on some purpose. They seem to have some inner direction, and all are busy reading the tower.
The tower is 4 stories tall. It's a makeshift construction, with winding stairs and rude design( these are insane people, after all. Not known for their logic). At the top is a platform, resembling a diving board. This is the focal point of the construction. This is where the ritual is to be performed.
Down on the ground, in the temporary building set up for the construction foreman, a group of minions wait on Glorificus. She is dressed in a heavy velvet robe to be used in the ritual. On a chair, tied up, is Dawn. She's gagged with duct tape, and surrounded by a group of minions. She looks scared.
A leader of the minions, older and taller than the rest, is having a discussion with Glory. While the others are dressed resembling monks, his dress is more as a high priest, with the attendant robes and accouterments.
" Most wise one" He says, insistently," We must anoint the Key for the ritual. The time grows nigh"
Glory looks over at Dawn, and notes the wide, terrified eyes. Oddly, she feels a small spark of compassion. What's that about? She wonders. Even so, she dismisses the priest and minions.
" Go away" She commands, " Leave us for awhile. We'll be ready by show time". The priest and minions withdraw.
Glory goes over to Dawn, and removes the tape from her mouth. Dawn looks at her with angry eyes.
" Are you scared?" Glory asks, her tone strangely solicitous.
" What do you care?" Dawn asks, petulantly.
" I don’t know" Glory says, her face reflecting her puzzlement." I really shouldn't care. But for some reason, I do." She turns and addresses Dawn, " look, Dawnie, it’s going to be over quickly. A few cuts, you'll bleed, and I'll be gone. Poof. You won't hardly feel a thing".
" I'm… I'm going to die" Dawn says, her voice for the first time reflecting her fright.
"Well, yes, this body will die. But you're energy, Dawn. Pure energy. You can't die. Girls like you and me, we're not meant for this world, don't you understand?" Glory asks, really trying to make it clear. She sees Dawn isn't getting it. " We're special Dawnie, you and I. We're meant for better things!"
" I don't want to DIE!" Dawn says, upset.
" Dawnie, why? What's so special about this dimension, anyway? I mean, you're made of this yucky flesh" She pinches herself, and grimaces, " You can't get a decent dress to save your life. It's small, and dirty. Look at the people who live here. They're miserable. They take drugs, drink, have sex like animals, shoot each other, whatever they can do to get off this miserable little hole. And this is where you're wanting to stay? I mean, they call me crazy, but at least I know why. The one-eyed chicklet is queen in the land of the blind" .
" Don't call me that!" Dawn says, angrily.
"What?" Glory asks.
"Dawnie…don't call me that!" Dawn says.
" You know" She chuckles, but it's not pleasant, " that really hurt my feelings".
" Sorry" Dawn says.
" Not the point" Glory says. " It's him. He's behind this!"
"Who?" Dawn asks, puzzled.
"Ben" Glory says, disgustedly." He's making me … feel this…I know it. God, this is terrible!" She leans against a wall…and changes into Ben.
"Dawn?" Ben asks," are you alright?"
"Ben!" Dawn says, excitedly She pleads with him, " help me, please".
At that moment, one of the minions appears in the room. He's startled to see Ben.
" You're not the Magnificent…." But Ben attacks him, knocking him out before he can say more.
"C'mon, Dawn." He goes around, releasing her from her bonds. " Hurry. I'll get you as far as I can"
Ben looks warily out of the office, and then signals to Dawn. Together, they sneak off the construction site.
They are heading down an alley, getting close to the center of town, when Ben stops. He puts up his hand to restrain Dawn.
"Hold on. I see some of them. We're gonna have to wait here awhile 'til they pass" Ben says.
Dawn, desperate to get away, knowing Ben can change back to Glory at any time, spies a pile of chains. She grabs it, and knocks Ben unconscious with it. She makes to leave the alley, and almost gets away when a hand grabs her, spinning her around.
She's face to face with Glory. Who's rubbing her head with her other hand.
"You know, kiddo, that REALLY hurt!" She says, angrily. She starts to pull on Dawn, leading her back to the site." You know I can't kill you, Dawn… not until the appointed time. But I can really , really hurt you." She goes a few steps, then morphs into Ben.
" Leave her alone!" Ben says, talking to his other self, who he can now remember. He changes back into Glory.
" Sorry, Benjy, but she's got a destiny to fulfill" Glory starts pulling Dawn along, and morphs into Ben.
" I won't let you do this!" Ben declares, staggering and turning back into Glory.
" You really have no choice, Ben." Glory says." Stop fighting it. It's over". In a few seconds, Ben's back.
" It's not right, and it's not fair!" Ben says, pulling Dawn in the other direction.
Dawn is watching this little production, scared and confused. She for all the world thinks she's wandered in on a really bad production of "Sybil".
" Oh, I get it Ben" Glory says, her face lighting up." You don't want to die!".
" It's ok, baby" Glory continues, wheedling him." You're scared. That's understandable. I go through the portal, you cease to exist. Poof. End of the line". She morphs into Ben.
" That's supposed to make me feel better, I suppose?" He asks, pacing. He morphs back into Glory.
"Listen, Benjy. I've got a proposition for you" Glory says, turning on the charm. She transforms back into Ben ( getting dizzy yet?).
Ben's face is conflicted. He wants to do the right thing here. But, on the other hand, he's scared, too. He doesn't want to die!
" What?" he finally asks, and turns back into Glory.
" You help me with the Key. You stop doing this nonsense, and take her back to site. Do that, and when the time comes, You'll have one very grateful God on your side. I'll make you immortal". Glory offers. She knows that he'll bite. She just knows it. His greatest fear is dying, ceasing to exist. Ben returns.
" It's… it’s wrong" He struggles. But you can see he's tempted. So very tempted. " I can't do it!"
Ben changes into Glory again.
"Sweetie, that just that pesky old conscience thing. Trust me. When I make you immortal, that'll be gone. You'll live forever" She says, in a sing song come and get it voice. She changes back into Ben.
Ben stands there, obviously torn. He shuts his eyes, and his face sets into a resolve. You can see he's made his decision. He take's Dawn's hand, and starts to lead her out of the alley.
" Come on, we've got to hurry" Ben says. He pulls her along
For a brief moment, Dawn has hope. Hope that he's chosen to do the right thing. That's quickly dashed when they meet up with a group of minions, and he turns her over to them.
"Nooo!" She screams, turning and struggling. She wants nothing more than to kill him right now.
" I'm sorry, Dawn" He says, sincerely," But it's your life, or mine". The group heads back for the construction site.

The group passes through the construction site where the crazies are busy at work. As Dawn passes, they pause in their work. Quietly at first, then louder they begin to chant.
" The Key… The Key… The Key!"
The group continues on to the foreman's trailer, entering it. The minions grab Dawn, and begin dressing her in the ceremonial robes. Ben turns his back, for modesty sake.
" Why? Why're you doing this? Please" Dawn cries out.
" I think…it'll be quick" Ben replies, guiltily.
" Actually sir" A minion interjects." The bleeding will be slow, to give the portal time to …"
" That's enough, thank you!" Ben says, shoving the minion out of the room.
" I'm sorry, Dawn" Ben says, again.
" Shut up! I hate you!" She growls at him. " Change. Change back."
"What?" Ben says, not understanding.
" Change! Change back into her. I can't stand looking at you. Change! CHANGE! CHANGE!"
"Dawn" Ben begins, " I don't think…" but then he changes into Glory
" … What's all the noise about?" She finishes, irritated. She walks over to Dawn. " What's the deal, chicklet? Why the yelling?"
" I can't stand him. He's worse than you. At least, you're upfront about it!" Dawn spits out, angry.
" Don't be too hard on Benjy. After all, he's just human. Anyone woulda taken the deal in his place." Glory says, unconcerned.
" My sister is so gonna kick both you're asses…" Dawn says.
" Funny about that. We've had you what? Nearly a day?" Glory smiles her insane smile." And I haven't seen Big sis here riding to your rescue. Maybe she knows it's not a good idea."
" She's not afraid of you!" Dawn spits at her.
" I'm not talking about that, Dawnie" Glory taunts her." She knows that once the ritual starts, the portal opens. The faster you die, the sooner the portal closes back up. Since she knows you're not really her sister" Glory delivers the killing blow, " maybe she feels it's better to just let you die quickly. Better for your species, certainly". She looks at Dawn, and again that pesky compassion kicks in.
" Look, Dawnie" Glory says quietly," It's your fate. No one can change it. Just accept it now. It'll go easier on you".
Dawn looks at her, and spits on her shoes. " Screw you, Nutso!".
" Look what you've done!" Glory goes into a towering rage. " YOU… MINIONS. Get your ASSES in here!" Glory calls out. The minions quickly run in." Take the … Key… and anoint her. Lets get this over with!"
She turns her back on Dawn as the minions drag her out.
~~&~~&~~&~~&~~&~~&~~
The scoobies are assembled at the front of the Magic Box.
In the lead are the three captured minions, tied together at the waist by a rope, held by Buffy. She's carrying a wicked looking battleaxe in her other hand…just so they don't get any funny ideas. With her is Faith, carrying the Troll hammer. The minions get the point. Behind them is Willow and Tara, going over the conduit spell. Bringing up the rear is Xander, Giles, Anya and Spike. Everyone except the slayers is armed with crossbows and knives. Besides the weapons their carrying, each of the slayers have a sword sheathed on a harness over their backs.
Prodding them with the point on her battleaxe, Buffy herds the minions towards the site. The group moves silently through the city, using alleys and back ways to avoid running into any of Glory's wandering minions. As they approach the site, they look up and see the tower. They stop, amazed.
Xander sums it up best for the group, " Spadoinkle!" he gasps, seeing the tower.
They recover, and move closer. Buffy signals the group for a confab. She unties the minions, but is sure they are covered by crossbows held by the group.
" Ok, you scabby pieces of crap. Here's the deal. If you want to live beyond the next five minutes, you're going to casually walk into the construction site. Willow and I will be behind you. You'll be covered by our crossbows, so don't try to tip anyone off. If you do, you'll be dead.. Am I clear?" Buffy asks, forcefully. They nod, cowering.
Slowly, the group of minions, formed as a shield, walk into the construction site, Will and Buffy crouching behind them. A ways back the rest of the scoobies wait for the signal. The minions approach Glory and her group.
"HEY! Why aren't you minions out patrolling for the slayer's little playmates?" Glory demands, a little suspicious.
Your Most Radiant and Magnificent One" One of the minions speak up, as if to tell Glory of their perfidy. But he feels the point of the crossbow arrows in his back, and changes course," We've come to report that we've had no sightings of the slayers or their friends".
Glory beams, and turns to the minions in her group.
" See? Didn't I tell you? The Slayer isn't coming" She gloats.
" Well, gee" Buffy quips, standing straight," Maybe cuz I never got my invitation".
" What're you doing here?" Glory exclaims, surprised and angered. Her minions BETRAYED her? How dare they?
" She's with me!" Willow says, standing up and grabbing Glory by the head. She reaches out, and grabs Buffy by the arm. She mutters a spell which ends "Transfer to this worthy vessel" and a Blue glow emanates from around her and Glory. You can see the energy flowing into Buffy. Every atom of her being seems to be charged.
" NOW!" Buffy yells, and the rest of the scoobies enter the scene.
Glory, pissed off, throws Willow against a wall. But Glory looks drained and confused. She doesn't even react when Buffy lands the first blow, knocking her back into a heap of wood beams.
"What?" Glory stands, dizzy and a bit vacant, but not hurt." What'd that witch do to me? I feel like I have a hole in my brain". She comes back over to Buffy, who lands another blow. She's back at the woodpile, still feeling woozy.
" She 'borrowed' a little of your power" Buffy says, quietly. " Gave it to me. But , really, it might be this too" Buffy hold up the Dagon's Sphere. Glory looks at it, feeling repulsed. Buffy throws it to her , and before thinking, she catches it. " It's to ward off evil. Probably don't want to touch it, either" Buffy says, grinning, as Glory feels the sphere hit her with negative energy. She drops it, and stands. But she appears very wobbly and confused.
The rest of the scoobies arrive on the scene, and the battle is on. They attack the minions, and a general melee ensues. A group of minions lead the crazies to the stairs leading to the tower, and have them defend the stairway.
" All of you!" Gronx, a head minion declares." Defend the stairway with your life. For our honor! For our God! For our Glory!"
"Very nice" Jinks says." Very apropos!"
"Thanks, I…." Gronx starts, but is cut off when a crossbow arrow pierces his chest.
Glory shakes herself out, and starts towards Buffy. Buffy throws a roundhouse kick , but Glory fends it off. She grabs the Slayer's leg and flips her over backward.
"Hey, I'm feeling better now" She gloats, as she makes toward Buffy, who's lying against a wall. So, she really isn't paying attention when Faith swings the Troll Hammer, knocking her for a loop.
" Guess what? Two slayers, no waiting!" Faith chuckles, as she goes in and hammers at Glory again. Buffy is up, and starts for Glory, to give her some more grief.
"BUUUFFFEEEEE" She hears from above. Looking up, she sees Dawn, surrounded by minions. She looks at Faith.
" Go on, B. Me and the bitch god here'll be fine, won't we?" She addresses Glory, who's still taking hits from the Troll hammer.
Buffy runs towards the tower. Seeing the stairway blocked, she looks around. She spots a pile of lumber close to the tower . Not even thinking about it, she runs up the stack of lumber, kicks off and grabs a crossbeam, hauling herself up. She makes for the stairway up to the top.
Glory, seeing Buffy going for Dawn, evades a hit from the Troll hammer and is in hot pursuit. The crowd at the stairwell parts letting her through. Faith, not to have her fun taken away from her( She always did love Whack – A – Mole at the arcade), runs after Glory. The crowd tries to stop her, but she starts swinging the hammer, knocking minions and crazies in various directions. She runs up the stairs after Glory.
Buffy is on the stairway, pulling herself up when a strong pair of arms pull her back down. Glory is there, behind her. She throws a punch at the slayer, who ducks. But Buffy loses her balance, and starts to fall. She reaches out, and grabs a hanging rope. She starts to pull herself up the rope.
Back on the ground, Willow, Tara , Giles and Spike are behind a cover of steel beams, fighting off an attack from the minions. Suddenly, Spike hears a voice in his mind. " Spike, can you hear me?" Willow projects to him. He nods, and she continues." There's someone up there with Dawn. We have to stop them before they can start the ritual. Buffy and Faith are trying, but they might not make it in time. You've got to help them. On my signal, make for the Stairwell." Spike acknowledges and waits.
Willow and Tara join hands, and begin chanting. At the climax Willow speaks one word " Separate". The crowd of minions and crazies, having regrouped on the stairwell after Faith's attack, find themselves flying through the air, once again. " Go!" Willow shouts in Spike's mind. He doesn't need encouragement. He's up and running for the stairwell even before Willow tells him.
Glory, seeing Buffy climbing the rope, grabs it and pulls it over. She grabs Buffy, and hauls her off the rope. She's about to throw her off the tower when she hears an angry voice behind her.
" Hey! That's MY Girlfriend, Bitch! " with that, Faith hits her hard with the Troll hammer, making her drop Buffy and fly over the steel beam and out off the tower. The hammer flies out of Faith's grip, and hurtles after Glory. Faith grabs Buffy, and pulls her in.
" Go, get Dawnie. I'll Get her Royal Craziness" Faith chuckles, and jumps…right onto a woodpile. Buffy starts back up the tower.
Faith jumps off the woodpile, and lands on her feet, next to Glory. Glory has already recovered, and is standing, waiting for her. She lands a hard punch on Faith, driving her back into the woodpile. Faith lays stunned.
"Well, well. Looks like you've lost your hammer, Slayer" Glory stands, hands on hips, sneering." What're you gonna hit me with now?"
Why do they always ask that?
At that moment, a huge wrecking ball swings through, hitting Glory and slamming her into a wall… and through it. Xander, at the controls, gives Faith the "thumbs up" sign. Faith, brushing herself off, returns it, grinning. She sees her hammer, and runs over and retrieves it.
It's Hammer time, she chuckles as she pursues Glory through the hole she made in the wall.
On the tower, Buffy is making her way to the top. But Spike has a lead, and is closing in on the Platform. The minions turn to defend themselves. Spike starts fighting with them, punching and kicking, and generally having his way with them. He starts tossing them off the platform, until it’s clear. He makes for Dawn.
"Spike!" Dawn squeals.
'Hello, nibblet. Seems you've gotten yourself all tied up in knots over this business" Spike quips, as he approaches Dawn to loosen the ropes.
" Spike… look OUT!" Dawn yells, but not quite in time. Spike feels a blow across his back. If he hadn't moved quickly, that would've been where his neck was. Spike turns, and is confronted by what would , on first glance, look like everybody's favorite uncle.
" Doc" Spike says." Fancy that. Thought the boy got you back at your shop".
" Now, Spike." Doc clucks his tongue," You don't think a simple sword would take me out, do you?" He brings up his sword, and brandishes it. " You, on the other hand, might find it rather unsettling. "
" Bring it on, Mate" Spike says, readying for a fight.
Back below, Faith is hammering at Glory, who's getting weaker and weaker. The Troll hammer is having its effect. She can barely stand, let alone fight. She starts defending herself, just to stop the hammering. But Faith is like one possessed, and is relentless. She swings the hammer over and over and over again, landing blow after blow. Finally, all the fight has gone out of her, and she lays there, just taking it. Suddenly, she morphs back into Ben. Faith is about to swing the hammer, but stops.
"You" She spits out, disgusted by the whole thing." Can you hear me?"
" Yes" Ben replies weakly. His face is bloodied, and his breathing is shallow and labored.
" Listen up, then. It's over, get it? She lost. There's no way she can perform the ritual in time to get to her dimension. She's stuck here. So, tell her to get over it, and live with it. I want you and her OUT of Sunnydale, pronto. And NEVER come back Never bother Buffy, or her sister, or ANY of us again. Is that clear?" Faith threatens, holding the hammer up to make her point.
"Yes, I got it" Ben says, weakly.
"Alright, then" Faith says, turning and walking away. She's had enough of Ben, Glory and the whole bunch of them. Time to get B, Dawnie, and the rest, and go home.
Ben lies there, faintly breathing. But he's alive, and that's all he cares about. Maybe now he can lead that normal life. Glory's finished, and she's stuck here. Maybe at last he can do what he wants to; that is, help people. That's all he's ever wanted. But since adolescence, when Glory emerged, he's been stuck living her life, and cleaning up her messes. He sighs, trying to find a comfortable position.
A shadow falls over him. He looks up, and sees a kindly face looking down at him. Rupert Giles kneels next to him, seeming to check to see if he's alright.
" Can you breathe?" Giles asks solicitously. He fusses a bit with Ben's clothing, loosening it to make him more comfortable.
"Y-y- yes" Ben gasps out. He looks up at Giles, and continues." She could've killed me"
"No" Giles replies quietly," she couldn't. She's tough, and she's had it tough. People think Faith is a killer at heart. But she's not. She couldn't kill another human being. She just doesn't have it in her" Giles pauses," She's not a killer. Not like us".
Ben looks at Giles' face, which has hardened. He's about to say something, but Giles covers his nose and mouth, effectively cutting off his breathing. Ben struggles weakly, trying to fight… but it's no good. Soon, he lays still, his eyes fixed in Death. Giles sighs, and gets up.
" There's no way I could let you live" he says to the dead body." Sooner or later, she'd come out again, and come looking for vengeance. I just couldn't allow that to happen" Giles seems to be justifying his action to himself. He slowly walks away.
Spike and Doc are fighting on the tower, each trying to defeat the other. Dawn, wide eyed, is watching. Finally, Doc gets the upper hand, and hits Spike with the flat of the sword. The force of the blow knocks Spike sideways, and he loses his balance, falling off the tower to the ground below.
Doc walks over to Dawn, and pulls out his watch. The time is 11:58 pm. He clucks to himself
" Tsk, tsk, and we almost missed it. But don't worry, little one. We still have time" He says. He pulls out a long ceremonial dagger." The portal shall be opened, and her Glorious one shall return to her kingdom" He says, unaware that below Glory has been vanquished.
"No, please" Dawn pleads with him, " don't do this. Please, don't do this!" She starts to cry.
"There, there" He says, comfortingly, " this won't hurt. It'll all be over soon".
At 11:59 pm, he starts the cuts. He cuts her across her chest, and across her stomach. He cuts her arms. He stands back, satisfied.
" That should do it" He smiles." Enough to start the portal, and slow enough to keep it open for awhile". He watches as the blood flows out of dawn, dripping down her body, over her feet, and into the air. The air suddenly charges, and bright energy whorls open on the air. As more of her blood flows, the whorls grow larger, and start to coalesce.
He's so caught up in his work, he doesn't hear Buffy coming towards him til almost too late. He whirls, brandishing the dagger. Buffy, angry, doesn't even bother with him, just shoves him off the tower. He falls all four stories, screaming.
" Buffy" Dawn is crying. She knows it's started, and there's only one way to end the apocalypse. She has to die.
" Shhh…Dawnie" Buffy says, soothingly. She starts to work on Dawn's ropes." It's ok, honey. It's all ok".
In the sky, strange things are happening. Lighting emanates from the rift, striking the ground and creating deep craters. Winged demons, looking somewhat like the dragons of old, escape the rift, flying in search of victims. Bolts of light strike buildings, transforming them into wreckage inhabited by demons. The end has begun. The fabric of the universe, which separates the dimensions from each other, is slowly unraveling.
Faith, climbing the stairs to the platform, stops. She sees the light show in the sky, and is stunned. Demons of all types are escaping from the rift, and around them bolts of lighting and fire is raining down on the earth. Her heart stops... this is so much… more intense, more frightening than she'd anticipated. She wasn't sure what she was going to do… or if she'd even be living much longer. She looks up at the platform, and sees Buffy and Dawn. They're talking, seeming to be arguing.
" Buffy, you have to let me go!" Dawn says, frightened but resolute." I can't stand by and watch as the world is destroyed. It's my fault, Buffy. It's me. I'm the key. I started it with my blood, now I have to end it!"
" NO, Dawn. No. That's not going to happen" Buffy says. She doesn't care. She'll protect Dawn until the end. Until she takes her last breath, and is dead. Dawn is not going to die for being innocent.
Like lightning, it hits her. Buffy suddenly knows. The images flow through her mind like a river. The hospital, where she's holding Dawn's arm " This is our blood, Dawn; yours and mine and moms.. It's all the same. It's Summer's blood"… and in the Magic Box , where Spike says " It's always about the blood. The blood is the life." … and then in her vision. " It's there, Buffy. The love is in you. It's so powerful, so large it's blinding. It's so strong, it's painful. That is why you shy from it … it hurts. It burns. But you must open yourself to it. It's your pain, and it's your strength, this love… it'll lead you to your gift… death is your gift".
Finally, she understood what it meant. What she had to do. She expected to be frightened, to fear the next step. But strangely a peace settled in her heart, as if it finally was all clear. What it had all meant She knew now what she had to do, and she was ready for it.
" Buffy" Dawn says, her voice quavering, but her intent firm." You've got to let me go. I have to stop this. I have to do this". Dawn starts to walk towards the edge, ready to jump into the rift. Buffy stops her.
" No , Dawn, no. It's not your time." Buffy says quietly. Dawn looks into Buffy's eyes, and realizes what she's going to do.
"No…Buffy! NO! You…you can't do this!" Dawn says, stopping her the only way she knows how. She clings to her, not letting her go.
Buffy looks at Dawn, the love she has for her sister shining brightly in her eyes, along with her tears. Tears not of grief, but of joy. Knowing in her heart everything is going to be ok now.
" This is what I do , Dawn. This is my destiny" Buffy says quietly. " Listen, Dawn, I don't have much time. Listen carefully". Buffy takes Dawn by the shoulders, and quietly talks to her.
Faith, below…senses something is happening up on the platform. Something important, something she needs to be a part of. She starts running up the stairs, two at a time. She gets to the platform just as Buffy bend over to kiss Dawn on the forehead. She starts out, but Buffy turns and puts up her hand. Faith stops, confused. Buffy smiles at her, mouths " I love you always" , turns, and jumps into the rift.
Faith starts to run after her, but her legs betray her… she falls to her knees. Her body seems to have lost all its will, she can't do anything but sit there, watching. From deep inside her a wail comes from her, a wail born of grief and hurt and love and sadness. " Nooooooo1 You can't…you can't leave me…Don't you dare leave me! Damn you, Buffy Summers don't you leave me now!!!!!!!" It feels like her insides are being twisted by some cruel god, and her parts are all on fire. The pain is eating her alive, and breathing is impossible. Her vision is blurred by tears, and she hears a wailing…it's herself, unable to control the grief. She feels someone put their arms around her, and she looks up, and Dawn is looking down at her, her face crinkled and torn by grief, wet with tears. Faith draws her in close, and they cling to each other. All Faith can say is " Please… don't… leave… me … now!" Over and over, echoed by Dawn.
For Buffy, time seems to have slowed. The energy surrounds her. There was a great pain…but it's gone now…now there is only peace…and joy…she sees everything, everything in her life that's mattered. She remembers the words she said to dawn, and they comfort her:
" Dawn, I love you. I will always love you.. But this is what I do… what I was born to do. Tell my friends that I love them. You'll have to take care of them now… you'll have to take care of each other now.
Tell Faith that I love her, I will love her forever. That I've figured it out now. And it's ok. That I finally understand that loving…isn't the hard part, it's the letting go… so you can let the love in. Tell her I'll be with her always, and she'll always be with me.
Dawn, the hardest thing to do in this world is live. Be brave , Dawn, be brave. Live… for me"
The energy around her goes white. She can feel herself, or what was herself, drifting apart... becoming part of the cosmic whole that created her. As her mind is slowly washed away, her last thought is of Faith, holding her, loving her.

The funeral was small, by the request in Buffy's will. She wanted only her family and closest friends to attend. To celebrate the life she'd shared with them. One by one, each stepped up to her casket, laying a single red rose. They grieved, but the tears were muted. The headstone marking her grave read the following:
Buffy Summers
1981-2001
Beloved Friend
Devoted Sister
Cherished Love
She saved the world
A Lot

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Epilogue

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It's been three weeks since the funeral.
Life in Sunnydale goes on. People go to work. Shop. Gossip Children go to school, and afterwards play with friends, do homework, and all the myriad things children do. The vibrancy and simple joy of life, so often overlooked, filled the air. Laughter, tears, song and voices weave a colorful fabric indicating that no matter how close we come to losing it, Life always continues.
The house at 1630 Revello Drive is quiet right now. Dawn is in school. Willow, and Tara, who moved in shortly after Buffy's passing, to help care for Dawn, are also in class. Faith is out, as she always is at this time.
The young woman walks down the trail, not needing to really look where she's going. She knows the way by heart. Her raven black hair, long and wavy, blows gently in the late afternoon breeze. She is dressed in black, as she always is these days. Looking at her, she's hardly more than a child herself, barely 20. Yet, her face reflects the weight of the world. She carries a single rose with her.
She kneels by the graveside, and looks at the headstone. Her eyes grow brighter, as the tears she hides from others surface. She bites her lip to hold them back.
" Will you look at this place?" Faith says to herself, a little irritated." It's only been three weeks, and already the weeds are taking over" Then she smiles. She really doesn't mind weeding around the gravestone. It keeps her hands busy, and makes her feel closer , somehow. She hums a little tune, hoping somehow Buffy will hear it.
She looks at the stone, and notes the multitude of rocks lying across the top. Willow's been here again, I see, she thinks to herself. Willow comes out here almost as often as she does. Faith likes the tradition of placing the rocks as a remembrance. It's fitting, somehow.
She cleared out the little vase by the stone, and placed the rose in it. As she fussed with it, she noticed the drop of water on it, and wondered where it came from. A second drop appeared, and then a third. Finally, she admitted to her tears, and just let them come. This was the only time she allowed herself to cry. The only time she could allow herself to cry.
She was the slayer now. The chosen one. She had her friends and family(meaning Dawn) to protect and watch over now. She couldn't afford to go to pieces. Not now. Not ever.
Yet, her hand was shaking as she withdrew it from the rose. She felt the pain overwhelm her again, and for a few minutes she kneeled there, her body shaking. She didn't make a sound, but inside a keening wail ripped through her heart. She couldn’t take this anymore. The pain was too great. It was too much, just too much. She sat and cried, as she did every afternoon.
Finally, recovering herself, she reached into her pocket. She pulled out a little gold necklace, the one she'd given Buffy on her 18^th Birthday. When they'd buried her, they'd placed on her neck the small silver cross she'd worn as a slayer. She hadn't said anything, but she wanted this to be with her, too. To remind her, wherever she was, that Faith still loved her, needed her. Not much. Only every second of every minute of every hour of every day. She lifted one of the stones on the marker, and placed the chain underneath, letting it hang down over the face of the gravestone.
With her finger she quietly traced over the engraving on the stone. When she got to the part " Cherished Love", the tears began again.
"Why did you leave me, baby? Why now?" Faith said to the gravestone." I need you more now than every. What'm I gonna do without you, baby? How do I go on? What do I do now, Buffy? What now?"
Faith leaned against the stone her tears flowing down her face, dropping onto the marble. As they have for every day in the past three weeks.
As they will for the rest of her life.
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Fin, for now.
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Seasons of Faith

Epilogue