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She went to Xander and placed her hand on his chest. Her red hair swung down and brushed his cheek as she intoned over him, �vivo vixi victum.� Tears fell from her eyes and moistened his face. Crackling trails of blue energy cascaded from the witch�s fingertips, cocooning Xander and flickering brightly. She eased the surgical tape from his mouth and pulled the respirator tube from his throat. Healthy color replaced the pallor of his skin. She gently placed her hand on his chest, and felt the rise and fall of his breath. She kissed him gently on the forehead and caressed his cheek. For several minutes, they sat together as Willow watched him sleep peacefully, a smile on her face.

With no warning, her expression became stormy again; Willow rose from her seat beside Xander and stalked down the hall. The other people in the corridor stood frozen, trapped in the moment. Opening the door to Buffy�s room, she found the bed empty and Angel on the floor in a pool of blood, his throat slit. Willow placed her hand on his chest and electricity sparked from her fingertips. �Sano.� The wound reversed itself, the blood flowing back into his throat, tissue mending. �Tempis resumo,� intoned the witch. The hospital sprang to life around them, phones ringing, machines functioning, and people talking. Angel grabbed at his throat.

�Drusilla,� he gasped. �She took Buffy.�

�How could a vampire just waltz in here and take her without anyone noticing?� Willow cried in disbelief.

�Magic,� he croaked. �She has a mage with her.�

Willow smiled, and darkness filled her eyes again. �Good. I�m up for a fight.�

****

�This is the way the world ends, the world ends, the world ends,� a voice sang sweetly. �This is the way the world ends, not with a bang but a whimper.� The garden was dark and peaceful; the only sound was the gentle trickle of the fountain. Buffy rested in white, fragile arms, rocked gently like a child. Blood trickled down the Slayer�s throat and she drank it greedily. �Such a good girl for Mummy,� Drusilla purred in her ear. �Sire�s blood will heal you. Silly doctors don�t know how to heal my baby girl.� Dru pulled her wrist away from Buffy�s mouth and gently kissed her lips.

Buffy slowly stirred. �Where am I?� she asked. �What happened to me?�

�You�re dying,� the vampire said calmly. �A little whizbang popped you in the head and you�re dying.�

�I don�t want to die,� whispered Buffy. �I�m finally happy.�

�You can live forever,� crooned Drusilla seductively. �You can be loved forever.� She ran her fingers over Buffy�s neck, and her features morphed. Buffy opened her eyes and looked up at the vampire.

�I don�t want to lose my soul,� Buffy struggled weakly. �I don�t want to be evil.�

Drusilla grabbed Buffy by the throat with one hand. Pointing her fingers at her eyes, she commanded, �Be still and listen.� Entranced, Buffy obeyed. �If you don�t do as I tell you our William will die. Your mortal body is failing and he is fading away. �

Drusilla leaned forward and licked Buffy�s neck. �You taste so sweet, so warm.� She nuzzled Buffy, trailing her mouth down to the juncture of Buffy�s shoulder. �Such a good girl,� Dru crooned. �When you wake up from your sleep we will have a wonderful party.� The vampire sank her fangs into Buffy�s throat, and her heartbeat rang loudly in the vampire�s ears, until it stopped.

Drusilla stood up slowly from the ground and looked down at her handiwork. Buffy�s dead eyes were open and staring. The golden strands of her hair spilled over the dark ground. Drusilla tilted her head back and smiled up at the night sky. �Take her,� Drusilla said to the man who stood in the shadows. He lifted the slayer and rested her gently in a shallow grave.

****

�I just want to take a brief rest and then go to the hospital,� said Giles.

She looked at her watch. �Visiting hours will be over soon. You may as well get a good night�s sleep tonight and see Buffy in the morning.� He looked at her. �Eat, and rest,� she said gently. �There is nothing that can be done now.�Buffy�s bedroom was filled with soft light and flowers. Incense burned in a cauldron as Tara gently turned Spike onto his side. His eyes stared vacantly forward. She bathed his nude body with a damp sponge and lay him carefully back down. She rubbed oil into his hands and feet, then covered him with the sheet and blanket. She moistened his lips with balm and wiped his face clean. She sat next to him and positioned his head on the pillows before she opened a book of poetry. �Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold,� she read quietly. �Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world. The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere, the ceremony of innocence is drowned. The best lack all conviction, while the worst are full of passionate intensity. �

He turned his head and looked up at her. �Spike?� Tara asked, disbelieving.

He smiled at her, his blue eyes blazing with affection. He slid his hand into hers and held it tightly. �The first time I died it hurt. This is so easy. It doesn�t hurt a bit.�

He turned his head away, and disappeared in a soft puff. �No,� Tara cried out. �No!� She held out her hand, and stared at the shimmering dust within.

Giles and Cordelia entered the Summers house. �I made up Dawn�s room for you,� she said. �And Tara made a casserole for dinner if you�d like to eat.�