Part V (epilogue)

The next twelve hours were uneasy ones for the survivors, waiting for something to happen any moment, either Meddy's return, or some sign that the vampire's leader had succeeded in taking the avatar's power, or... something.

"Anything," Buffy said, pacing the length of the library after classes had ended. "Even bad news, I just want it to =happen.=" She stopped, abashed. "Not that I don't, I mean --"

"It's all right, Buffy. I understand."

"Well, I wish you wouldn't. A good fight would make time go a lot faster." She stopped, looking at him. "And what was up wih Willow, anyway? Obviously, she knew what was going on. Extracuricular homework, or what?"

"R what, I think."

Buffy and Giles both swerved to see Angel leaning inside the library door. He looked bruised, but otherwise unharmed. Buffy flew into his arms, not caring that her cross was caught between them. He flinched, but tightened his arms around her. His gaze met Giles' over her shoulder, and in that exchange, too much information was shared.

Giles lowered his head, the hope extinguished. And when Buffy finally released Angel and turned to say something to her Watcher, he was gone.

The grove was a good seven mile walk from his apartment, but to drive there was unthinkable. His pace slowed as he entered the small wooded park, dragging as he cut through the playing fields and under the branches of the evergreens. The grass was faded to winter-sere. The sky was pale blue and cloudless.

A few minutes inside, and the trees gaveway to a grassy clearing, a giant tree holding court within, the other trees maintaining a respectful distance. He stopped, shivering in his sweater and jeans, then moved forward, placing a small angular white stone on a pile already extant. A whisper of gold traced his fingers as they touched the offering, too faint to be noticed.

"All wisdom is here, in front of us, in the natural world," he said as though repeating a mantra. "All love is here. All pain, all fear, all regrets. All growth is here. Embrace it, and know the Great Dance will never end."

Then he sat back on his haunches, touching the skin of the tree's trunk, and let the tears fall.

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