Willow was sobbing softly, with Cordelia rubbing her back comfortingly, looking sad herself. "It's too late," she cried. "The sun rose. He can't come."
"Do you..." Faith paused, then rushed out the words that no one wanted to say. "Want to say good-bye?"
Everyone stood up solemnly.
"She won't die," Xander said, trying to sound confident. "She'll pull through."
"Of course" and "I know" and "Yes" coursed through the room, but everyone trickled into Buffy's room anyway.
"Well, Buff," Xander began. His voice cracked. "I don't really know how to say this. Ha. I'm supposed to be the one with the witty jokes, making everything all right, and I can't do it. Jeez, Buffy. I need to tell you a few things." He sucked in his breath. "I have a confession to make. You'll hate me for it, and I home to God that you pummel me for it. Please? I lied. When you went to fight Angel, years ago, I lied. Willow didn't say 'kick his ass'. She wanted me to tell you she was trying the spell again..." he looked at his friends, trying to read unreadable expressions. "I'm sorry. I can't help but think this is all my fault. Gosh...when I first saw you, I loved you. It was really an infatuation-type love, and I want you to know now that I do love you, you're my best friend. You changed my life...I can't let you...go...without knowing. Please, Buffy..."
Willow took Xander's hand compassionately. "Buffy," she choked over a sob. "You're my best friend. We went through so much together, and I need you...who's going to be my bridesmaid when I get married? Not that I am anytime soon...this isn't the time to ramble. I want you to know that I love you, Buffy. You could've run with the popular crowd, and you befriended me, the shy girl, instead. And it means a lot to me, you helped me pull out of my shell. I don't know what my life would have been like without you in it, and I'm glad I don't have to find out. Even if, God forbid, you leave us...every moment we were friends is a moment worth treasuring. Thank you, Buffy. Thank you."
"B. Buffy. Hey. It's Faith...I don't know where you are now. Where ever you are, I hope you're happy. But I'm confident that you can hear me. You wouldn't just leave without listening to a speech, would ya? I have to admit, I didn't like you that much at first...you were intimidating. Ha! I was supposed to be this all no-fear gal, and I was intimidated by you. I guess it was 'cause everyone had heard of you. As soon as I was called, I heard about you. You're a legend, Buff. And I was scared, that I couldn't live up to that. I mean, slayer's weren't supposed to have lives, and you did. You scared me, that you could go through so much and still come out so professional and nice...and I couldn't. But you were there for me, even though I didn't deserve it, you helped me pull through. And if you leave...well, I bet you'll be happy in that place in the sky- or where ever the Hell it really is. If I need to go on slaying alone- or with some new slayer- I will. I don't have a choice, you taught me that. Gotta deal and move on, huh? I love you, Buffy. You were the sister I never had, that I always wanted. It meant more to me than you can imagine."
"You know, Buffy, you really turned out better than I would have thought," Cordelia said to the still form. "I mean, when I saw you hang with Willow and Xander...jeez, I thought you were a lost cause. But that was really me. I would have been a lost cause, if you weren't there. But you were there. It was your snippy remarks to me that made me want to change...how weird does that sound? And now that we're friends...it's not fair. It's too soon, but I guess that's not my choice. I just don't want you to...die," Cordelia choked on the words, "Without knowing how grateful I am to you."
"Buffy, I never really knew you that well. But I saw how happy Willow was to have you as a friend, and from what I knew of you...everyone made you out to be a goddess. But you were down-to-earth, too, you managed to break the barriers. It meant a lot to me to have you...accept...me as a werewolf, and just welcome me into the group. You're the best kind of friend, and we'll miss you. I'll miss you." Oz kissed Buffy on the cheek and then pulled back.
"Buffy," Giles whispered hoarsely. "My daughter that wasn't." He smiled slightly. "I can't begin to recall all the times you whined to me about problems, not wanting to slay, and everything else. And as much as I said I hated it, I loved it. I loved having you turn to me, as if I was your father, complaining about your life. I loved the way you contradicted whatever I said, and the way you always had a swift comeback for everything. I-I love you."
Joyce clutched Buffy's hand. "Buffy, Darling. It's Mom. Daddy couldn't be here. He loves you, he's trying to come. Hold on, Darling. I love you. I know I wasn't always a good parent...or ever, really, but I want to change...and that means now. If this is the only chance I get to be a good parent, so be it, but please know how much you mean to me. You are my reason for living, secretly saving me from vampires and so much more. You gave me a good life, you were the angelic daughter, even if it didn't seem that way. I wouldn't change one part of my life if I had the chance, not as long as you would still be in it. I love you, Baby. Come back to me." Joyce broke into sobs and Giles escorted her from the room.
Everyone silently kissed Buffy and then filed out of the room.
"It's eight o'clock," Willow noted sadly, tears streaking her face. Oz tried to comfort her, but broke down himself. The entire waiting room was in tears.
"Aw, don't cry!" a voice said from the doorway.
Willow leaned her head up from Oz's shirt. "W-who a-are you?"
"You're Whistler, aren't you?" Giles said.
"Buffy told me about you!" Willow suddenly cried.
"Yeah, I brought ol' Angel to her the first time, in LA."
Suddenly a fiery look filled Willow's eyes. She stormed over to him and grabbed the small demon by his colorful green-and-purple shirt. "Why couldn't you do it again? Huh? You're just letting her die, when I'm sure you could do it again. Don't give me crap about it being her time, plans are made to be broken."
Whistler backed up from the hissing girl and pulled her arms down to her sides. "Calm down. Who says I didn't?"
"It's daylight," Willow said. The others were watching the scene unfold. "Angel can't come anymore."
"Sit down," the good demon suggested. Willow flopped onto a yellow plastic chair.
"Sitting now. Tell me."
"I sent the guy dreams, that Buffy needed him."
"He'll convince himself that it's not true! He'll convince himself he's better not interfering, because he knows that if he comes back he won't be able to say good-bye again, and he's right!" Willow sobbed.
"No. I sent him several dreams. Each time he tried to convince himself that it wasn't so, I pummeled him with another dream. I saw his resistence crumbling. And I did a little grab-bag magic. I made him human. Left him a note. Told him to hurry. He'll come. He still loves her."
"He'll come," Willow repeated to herself. She glanced desperately at the clock. "It's eight forty-five! He better hurry up!"
Willow thought she saw worry crease Whistler's face for a moment, but any trace was quickly hidden.
Willow jumped up and began to pace, as did Xander. He put his arm around his friend. "He'll come, Will, he will."
Willow nodded, trying to make it look as though she believed that, although she was more than slightly doubtful.
At eight fifty she, along with the rest of the group, headed for Buffy's room, everyone in tears. "Buffy."
Eight fifty-three rolled around, with no sign of Angel. Silent tears turned to gut-wrenching sobs.
"Let's all go to the bathroom and get cleaned up," Whistler, the only one not crying, although he looked near the breaking point, suggested. "If she wakes up, she won't want to see a bunch of people crying."
Everyone nodded and silently got up.