The year was 2013. It was a new time and there were a new slayer and a new watcher.

The watcher was shifting through boxes of books and papers that he owned. Inherited it all actually, from the last watcher. He paused as he thought about Giles.

It seemed like such a long time ago when he had last seen him, but the funeral was only a month ago. Lucky Giles had died of natural causes, a heart problem. No vampires and demons involved in that one.

Wesley on the other hand, hadn't been so lucky. The vampires got to him one night. Buffy hadn't been able to the stop them and they killed him.

Buffy blamed herself for his death until her own.

Shaking his head the new watcher opened a box and pulled out a pile of paper. A yellowed envelope dislodged itself from the pile and fluttered down to the ground. Something was written on it and the new watcher bent down to pick it up.

It read "For the watcher who comes after myself."

The new watcher opened the envelope, expecting something from Giles and began to read the letter that was sealed inside.

***

November 27, 2001

She was always most insistent in letting the whole world know about the crush she had on me. But it was absolutely insane. I was a watcher, and she was a student. Not to mention that I was more than ten years older than her. But as Giles so easily put it, I have the emotional maturity of a blueberry scone.

Cordelia was an odd girl at some points. It seemed like she was attracted to me on some days, but other it just seemed like she wanted to make Xander jealous. Teenagers, I don't understand them most of the time. I often find it hard to believe that I used to be one. I'm not even sure why I'm writing this. Perhaps it is to document how my life had been in Sunnydale, perhaps it's just because I'm bored and do not have much else to do. I just hope one day some young watcher can read it and not make the same mistake with their slayer as I did with Faith.

All I wanted to do was watch, be a watcher and do a good job of it. I wasn't prepared for such a fight from Buffy and to have another slayer turn bad on me. I suppose it was my fault. I was, after all, her watcher and I should have been there when she needed me. I still remember the look on her face when I introduced myself.

"I'm Wesley Whyndam Price."

She looked at me like she wanted to kill me right then and there. I am somewhat embarrassed to admit that I was almost scared of her. But Faith proved to be a good slayer until she began to work with the mayor. Buffy believes it started the day she killed the mayor's assistant. Allen, I think his name was. Poor man, but Faith was caught off guard and they had just been attacked by so many vampires. It wasn't all her fault. It was mostly mine, I suppose.

Mr. Giles had told me repeatedly that I shouldn't blame myself but I can't help but feel responsible. If I had just trusted her and been there for her when she most needed my help perhaps I could have prevented her turn to the dark side. Oh Lord, now I sound like a Star Wars movie. 'Welcome to the dark side Faith, hope you enjoy your stay'.

I wonder if she did. Enjoy her stay I mean. Was turning to the mayor all that she thought it would be? Did it prove to her that bad was better than being good or did it maybe make her realize that helping the people of the world is better than hurting them?

I wonder what her last thought was? Her last conscious thought. As she took that step off the building and fell into the truck below, do you suppose she realized that she would never again wake up? Did she think that it was the end, or was she too busy celebrating her victory against Buffy and Angel to think of death?

If I could have been with her then, I would have. The craving to know what she was thinking has begun to get so strong. I just want to know what was going through my slayer's mind.

If I could have traded places with her, I would have. My slayer was not supposed to die, Faith's life was not supposed to end like this. But it did. It ended quick and painless.

I wonder if that's a proper assessment. Was her descent to evil, then to death really painless? So many things could have been running through her mind and haunting her thoughts while it all happened. Her life could have literally been ruined by the decay of evil in her heart. I wonder.

Sometimes I just sit here and think of all that could have happened if Faith hadn't turned to the mayor, then died. So much had been laid out for her, the council hadn't planned on her doing this and dying this way. She was supposed to keep the slaying going when Buffy died at the ascension.

The council was wrong twice in the same year, it makes you wonder why I keep working for them. They never thought Buffy would be strong enough to stop the ascension and they definitely never thought she could convince every single graduating student to help her save their home and their school. I don't know who else it could be. I suppose the council could have sent another watcher from England but letting Willow do the job would have been much easier in my eyes.

I think it's time to end this letter. The others are coming into the library. I see Buffy, Willow, Xander and Oz. They all so look happy, even Oz who tends not to show emotion. I wonder if they know that exactly two years after Faith's death I'm still sitting alone and blaming myself for what happened. I wonder if they know how it kills me to look at them and want to be so happy and so carefree. I'm so jealous of them most of the time that I find it hard to research with them, or find a demon.

In closing, I want to wish the new watcher and the new slayer the best of luck. I know you'll do well.

Wesley Whyndam Price

***

The new watcher slowly folded the letter and placed it back inside the envelope. He felt tears come to his eyes but he shook his head, refusing to let them fall.

"Hey Oz man!" A voice came from the door of his apartment and he turned to see Devon standing there. "We have some work to do. I'm moving."

Oz smiled. "Sorry Devon, just 'cause you're still a bachelor at thirty four, doesn't mean I have time to help you every single time you move."

Devon smiled. "I love my life. Come by when you get some time. See you later."

Oz shook his head and looked down again at the letter he held in his hand.

"Are we training tonight?" A female voice asked from behind him and Oz turned to look at her.

"In a little bit. You can go on down to the gym, I'll join you in a few minutes."

The small brunette smiled at him and nodded. Oz watched as she went and smiled at her. She was shorter than he was, which was quite a feat, but she was a good slayer. Sturdy and strong.

He looked at the letter and suddenly remembered something Wesley had written.

"I wonder if they know that exactly two years after Faith's death I'm still sitting alone and blaming myself for what happened. I wonder if they know how it kills me to look at them and want to be so happy and so carefree."

Oz sighed. "I don't know if the others did Wes, but I knew. If it helps you any, I knew." He paused and looked around the room, as if Wesley was there with him. "Thanks for the advice. And if in some bizarre working of the Hellmouth, you can hear me, it wasn't your fault. I hope you accepted that in death because I know you never did in life. Please believe me Wesley, it wasn't your fault. You were a good watcher." He smiled sadly. "I'd be proud if I could ever be as good as you."

Then he opened a drawer on his desk and slid the letter inside. He wanted it around if he ever need motivation to keep going and keep training his slayer. All he needed to do was open that letter. A smile crossed his face as he shut the drawer and watched as the darkness swallowed the envelope that sat inside.

"You wondered a lot of things Wesley." He said aloud. "But I wonder if you ever knew how much that would help someday. I wonder if you ever thought how much you could mean to somebody. You meant a lot to me."

Oz smiled, then locked the drawer and followed the slayer down to the gym.

The End