Title: Hello Goodbye (Part 12 of 12)

Author: Jeanny

Description: The gang must discover their gifts in order to bring Buffy back.

Disclaimer: These characters are not mine. They all belong to Joss and Company. I don't own them and I'm not making any money here, not a single penny. A single penny is just about all I own, too.

Dedication: Thank you, zus, for all of your wonderful help! None of this would have been possible without you!

******

"Welcome, Chosen One." Buffy was not amused to find herself standing in this cavernous darkness. She had no visual of the voices that seemed to come from everywhere at once, but she instantly knew that they were the ones running the show. The Powers That Be. She would have been awed and impressed if she wasn't busy being annoyed.

"Wait. No. I want to go back to where I was...it was so peaceful, so beautiful..."

"You have fought well..."

"Uh-huh. Ummm, not needing the affirmation, but thanks. You know, this is really great and all..."

"You are our champion..."

"Again, thanks...I mean I'm sure we'll stay close, I'm sure we'll have lots of time to catch up, but right now I want to get back to a nice peaceful being dead..."

"You have been chosen."

"I was chosen. 'Have been' implies still chosen, which I am not...right?"

"You are our champion. Ten have been chosen. You have chosen the Ten..."

"No! I already...I fought for you, I died, I fought some more, I died again! Not wanting to make with the fighting and the dying again...huh? Ten what?"

"The Ten bear the gifts of the Slayer..."

"You always have to be cryptic? Just say what...gifts? Gifts for me?"

"The Ten will be tested."

"Sounds...vague. Can we get back to the part about the gifts?"

"If the Ten prove worthy, the Slayer will live, and the Ten will be rewarded..."

"I go back and they get rewarded? Figures. Goody for the Ten. I'm happy for them, really..."

"If the Ten fail...the Slayer will remain as she is...evil will triumph...and the Gifts of the Ten will be forfeit..."

"This is my life you're talking about. My life, my death. And you're talking like I'm not even here!"

"It's just their way, doll. You get used to it." This voice came from right behind her, and Buffy whirled around. Whistler doffed his hat at her and she groaned.

"I should have known. Are you the man behind the curtain?"

"That's pretty good, kid, but you're the one spitting on the ruby slippers."

"I didn't ask for this gig, Whistler! I didn't ask to be the Slayer, and I didn't ask to die! But I did, so why can't that be it?"

"Cause it's not over, doll. Death was your gift."

"Duly given. See me being dead over here. Saved the world, closed the portal, done."

"But you see, that's the thing. The world still needs saving, and you aren't the only one who has a gift to give in order to make sure that it gets saved."

"You mean the Ten? What is that all about?"

"I believe you're familiar with the Ten. They're your friends and family, well, most of them are. But all of them care about you. The Powers need them as much as they need you in order for our side to win the day. What they're trying to do has never been done before. It's a whole new ballgame."

"Are they in danger?" Whistler's silence was all the answer she needed. "No. You've got to stop this. I don't want this!"

"Course not. But you're just a mere shadow of yourself right now. Their gifts are going to make you become...what you'll need to be. You have no idea how out of balance things are right now. If you don't get their gifts, the earth will fall completely to evil."

"But I don't want..." Buffy realized it was pointless to repeat herself and turned away. She could feel tears stinging in her eyes and was momentarily amazed that she could still have that sensation. "Damn. Does the fate of the world always have to depend on me?" Whistler regarded her for a moment, then shook his head.

"You haven't been listening, doll. It don't depend on you. Depends on your friends."

******

Angel reeled with shock. He was standing back in the construction site with Spike, but he could still smell his sister, still feel the warmth of her skin. He could tell by Spike's face that he was equally surprised, but the blonde vampire quickly hid his amazement.

"Well, that was interesting..." Spike drawled, giving Angel an appraising look. "You look like you've seen a ghost, mate."

"Something like that," Angel responded carefully, not trusting Spike to understand what his experience meant to him or the meaning of his revelation. It was too important to him to have the other vampire throw it in his face. "What about you? Did anything...did you...?"

"Yeah, I had a bloody test...Powers thought they'd get the best of me. Underestimated me as usual." Without thinking Spike had sunk further into the shadows, and Angel knew that his experience had effected the blonde vampire more than he was willing to admit.

"Did you find your gift?"

"Of course I bloody well found it!" Spike sputtered, his voice loud with false bravado. "You?" Angel responded with a curt nod and a sigh.

"I wonder how the others did." Spike gave a short laugh.

"Probably mucked it up, especially Droopy." Angel glared at him, then walked away.

"Only one way to find out. I'm surprised you don't want to come see, just in case you're wrong." Spike stood frozen for a moment. What if they had managed to pass all the tests? Then that would mean...Buffy was alive. The thought was so wonderful it was terrifying.

Spike hesitated for one more moment before heading after Angel. He really needed a bloody cigarette.

******

Willow's heart was hammering so hard in her chest, she was surprised the others weren't complaining about the noise. It was hard to keep quiet, so intense was the urge to scream out her story. She wanted to tell them what she'd done, what she'd learned, that she'd seen Miss Calendar, most of all that she'd found her gift. Only two things were keeping her silent. One was her fear that mentioning Jenny Calendar would cause Giles pain. The other was simply the expressions on everyone else's faces. Everyone was clearly still processing whatever had happened to them, and Willow knew it would be a bit of time before everyone was ready to hear what had happened to the others. In fact, Dawn was laughing so hard that tears were running down her face for some reason that they still hadn't been able to determine. So when Giles turned to her expectantly, she had merely grinned and nodded. The time for the telling would be later. Right now it was her secret, burning her heart and making it beat so hard and fast. She could wait to tell them...when they could all tell Buffy.

******

"What's this all about?" Buffy scowled at Whistler as she recognized their new environment. "A little trip down memory lane to make me feel nostalgic? Someone needs to tell these guys that...Sunnydale High? Not exactly the greatest attraction in the world. They should show me Disneyland...or Magic Mountain!" Whistler simply gestured towards the slender redhead who had just appeared.

"The Powers decided it would be okay if you watched the tests. Might help you understand, or at least quit complaining for a few minutes. You're killin' me here."

"Willow? Hey! Willow!" Buffy called to her friend then looked at Whistler in annoyance. "What is this, like that two-way mirror stuff they use in police stations? I can see her, she can't see me?" Whistler grinned.

"You know I forgot how much experience you had with police stations. She's here for her test. We're here to watch. She can't see you or hear you because you're just a shadow. Until all the tests are passed, you won't really be you."

"I hate cryptic people. You know what? Forget I asked."

"You might want to listen to what's goin' on, seeing as it's why we're here," Whistler hissed at her. Buffy looked with wide eyes as Jenny Calendar appeared. They watched the two women walk down the hall together, and Buffy noted with interest that while she and Whistler were not actually moving themselves, the school moved around them so as to keep them centered on Willow. She let out a yelp as Angelus suddenly appeared.

"What the hell...Angel turned? No, that's some kind of illusion, right?"

"Angel's fine. But that's Angelus. No illusion, he's the real deal."

"You mean he can kill her?" Buffy's throat tightened as she watched Willow's terrified flight with Jenny in tow. She gave a frightened gasp when she saw Spike and Dru, instinctively realizing that this was the unchipped Spike who had once been her worst enemy.

"Actually, they all can." Whistler nodded at the three vampires, and Buffy grabbed his arms in frustration.

"No! We have to-"

"We can't do nothing. The witch's gotta save Jenny Calendar and herself, by herself. She gets it right, you got yourself a gift." Buffy decided at that moment it was a good thing she was dead, because she didn't breathe again until Willow had used her magick to dispatch the three vampires. She smiled widely.

"She did it! I knew she could do it!"

"Right," the demon snorted.

"I did," Buffy insisted. "I'm just not used to being sideline girl." Willow named her gift at that moment. Buffy was lit from within by a light so white and pure, it was almost blinding. Whistler had to shield his eyes for the second it lasted. He cocked his head at her appraisingly as she stared back at him, dazed.

"Never seen that before, and I've seen a lot of things. Pretty neat. How do you feel?"

"Like...like something was missing, and I didn't know it until now because it's back," Buffy answered slowly, grappling for the right words. She blinked in surprise as the halls of Sunnydale High faded into the less familiar setting of Angel's office. She shook her head in amazement watching the interaction between Cordelia and Doyle.

"Cordelia's helping me?"

"It's not the first time."

"And what's the deal with Doyle? Office romance? He doesn't seem her type."

"Sure he doesn't. Two words. Xander Harris."

"Point taken." Buffy said nothing else. She listened to Cordelia make her choice and then to her explanation of her decision. Buffy knew that Cordy was putting aside her own needs to do what she felt was right. She had no idea the former cheerleader was capable of such depth. A moment later she could feel Cordelia's gift inside her. The weight of the world was really back on her shoulders, but it felt like it belonged there. She remembered what it was like to make the kind of sacrifice she had just seen Cordelia make. No words could adequately express that sorrow. Whistler gave her hand a comforting squeeze. He knew that the next test was going to be one of the hardest on her.

*****

Cordelia had to blink back tears. She knew she had done the right thing letting Doyle go, but it was just as hard the second time as it had been the first. She saw Giles look at her with a frown of concern and quickly plastered a smile on her face.

"I'm good. Definitely. Passed. Whatever," she responded to his unspoken question. She took a deep shuddering breath. She was okay. She was Cordelia Chase. She was Vision Girl, given a gift that could help people in a way no one else could. Doyle had said the Powers had found her worthy of her gift. It wasn't much comfort in the face of this sense of loss, but it was something. She felt someone touch her hand; surprisingly it was Xander's girlfriend. She was smiling at her. Cordelia smiled back, and this time it was genuine. She lifted her chin and tossed her hair in what had once been a signature move. She knew she'd be okay, as soon as she saw she hadn't given up her love for nothing. Buffy had better hurry up and return, or Cordy was going to be highly annoyed.

*****

Dawn started giggling almost the second she realized they were back in the shop. It was either that or weep from the pain, from the fresh loss of her mother for a second time, from all she'd had to endure as the Key. The more she tried to stop the harder she found herself laughing. She couldn't get it under control. One thought was echoing through her head. She was Pinocchio. Or maybe Pinocchia. But no longer a Key to be manipulated, to be used, but a real girl.

"Dawn, are you quite all right?" Giles asked, clearly concerned, and Dawn managed to control her laughter long enough to reply.

"I saw my mom. And they wanted to see if I would sacrifice myself, only it was a trip. I'm not the Key anymore. I'm human. I'm a real person. I'm a real girl, Geppetto." And that did it. Dawn collapsed laughing again. In time she'd have to deal with her experience. She'd especially have to deal with what she'd endured as the Key. She'd used the laughter to keep the pain at bay. The giggles were already starting to subside, her breath hitching as painfully as if she'd been sobbing. Only one thing would make this tolerable, and that was her sister's arms around her, telling her that everything was okay.

*****

"No!" Buffy struggled in Whistler's grasp. "Dawnie!" She saw the pain etched on the faces of her sister and her mother. It was unbearable that she might be the cause of it. She clawed at the demon desperately. "Make them stop this!"

"It's almost over."

"I say it's over now!" Buffy screamed, although she knew she had no power to enforce the demand. She was helpless to stop what was happening to Dawn, the sister she had given her life to save. It made her sacrifice seem meaningless.

Just when Buffy thought she could bear no more, mercifully, it was over. Buffy wept as she felt the power that was Dawn's gift surge through her. When she opened her eyes, they were standing in the Irish countryside.

"I can't...I don't want to watch this..." Buffy said miserably as Angel was drawn to the scene from his past that had most tormented his souled immortality.

"It's rough, kid. I know. But Angel, he has to do this, and you have to watch."

"Why?"

"You're asking the wrong guy. I'm not the one making the rules here." Buffy wanted to scream at him, but she knew it would do no good. He was right. The Powers That Be were running the show here, and Whistler was as powerless to do anything to stop what was happening as she was. She watched in silence as Angel wrestled with his guilt. She was shocked at his gift. Forgiveness. She felt all traces of self-recriminations fall away.

"Wow. I...wow." Whistler grinned at her.

"I love it when you do that glowing thing. Angel brings forgiveness, eh? I'll say one thing for our brooding friend: he's always been full of surprises."

*****

Angel fought the urge to run. The urge itself was completely out of character for him, but he couldn't help himself. The burden that had weighed him down since being cursed had been lifted through his test. He finally could let some of it go, and his heart sang in response. How many epiphanies could one vampire have? Angel wasn't sure, but he was definitely grateful for this one. The only thing that could make this moment better would be seeing Buffy's face. If she was back at the Magic Box with the others, he didn't want to miss a moment. Joy and anticipation added to the impulse to simply take off running. He settled for walking faster.

"Hurry up," he growled to Spike, knowing the younger vampire was at his heels without having to look back.

*****

The first thing that Giles did when he realized he was back in the Magic Box was look at his watch. He blinked in amazement. One minute past midnight. All that had happened had transpired in almost no real time at all.

"Remarkable," he murmured, not aware that he had spoken aloud. Looking around the room, he noted with relief that no one was missing. All of the others seemed to be dazed, shaken and elated to various degrees. They also seemed to be more...present...than before. Like the qualities that were the best parts of themselves were now more prevalent. Giles knew that was how he felt. It was as if he'd never been truly comfortable in his own skin until this moment. Now if only he could be certain that it had worked. As Dawn collapsed into a hysterical fit of laughter, he amended that thought to include being certain that they had all emerged unscathed, with their sanity intact. He cleared his throat meaningfully.

"I believe we should try to ascertain whether our tests were successful. I can say I do believe I was able to pass my test and give my gift. Dawn, are you quite alright?"

*****

"Come on, Giles," Buffy cheered her Watcher on, even though she knew he wouldn't be able to hear her. Whistler gave her an amused look. Buffy pointed at the sunburned Englishman. "Well, look at him! It's just...sad."

"You worried?" Buffy shook her head emphatically.

"About Giles? Never. He'll find his gift. Oh. My. Is that a lion?"

"Lions and Tigers and Giles, oh my." Buffy glared at the demon, who shrugged. "What? It's funny."

"Not if he gets ripped to shreds!" Buffy retorted anxiously. Whistler smirked at her, and Buffy forced herself to remain calm for the rest of Giles' test. She breathed a huge sigh of relief when she saw Giles grin at his father and the locale shifted.

A while later she was looking at someone else being ripped to shreds, this time more of a psychological mauling. Giles' gift of insight had brought Buffy a kind of clarity of thought, and she realized watching Anya talk to her father how little she really knew about the girl's human past. She knew that Anya had mentioned her life prior to becoming a demon, but Buffy had tuned it out as she had much of her overly frank commentary. The story unfolding in front of made her wonder if even Xander knew where his girlfriend had come from and what she had endured.

Whistler had to shield his eyes. Anya's gift had blazed brighter than the others had, he thought perhaps because it was truth. There was no time to speculate on the matter as he and the Slayer were plunged into darkness.

*****

Anya was feeling generous. She wanted to run into Xander's arms, but one glance at the distant look on his face told her now wasn't the time. It was okay. She could be patient. They had time.

Instead she looked around at the others. Willow's eyes shown with secret joy. Dawn had obviously gone insane. Giles was quickly trying to reassert his authority over the situation. Cordelia looked quietly devastated, and Anya impulsively took her hand. She couldn't believe she had ever been jealous of her. After all, she would still be a vengeance demon if it hadn't been for Xander and Willow's high school dalliance. Cordelia's pain had been the catalyst for her new life, and now that she had finally been able to confront her father, she could totally leave vengeance behind. And the new improved Anya was definitely generous when it came to weepy ex-girlfriends. As long as they stayed away from Xander.

When Giles asked, she told her story in excruciating and rather uncomfortable detail. Hers, after all, was the gift of truth.

*****

Tara basked in the joy of being out of the basement, of being back in the company of her friends. She wanted to grab each one of them and hold them to her. She wanted to whisper the secrets that were written on her heart into their ears. To tell Dawn she understood why she was laughing. To tell Willow all the reasons she had fallen deeply in love. To tell how she'd gone up against Glory and won. She wanted to talk about how much she'd loved Buffy and how excited she was that she was coming back. The sense of anticipation in the room was heightened, and Tara wanted to share how that felt.

"Tara?" Giles asked, and she simply smiled.

"I...I know I passed." There was time for all of that later.

*****

Buffy contemplated Tara and her mother in silence. As with Anya, she was struck by how little she knew of her friend's background. She knew that her mother was dead; Tara had been a great comfort to her when her own mother passed away. She knew first hand that Tara's father and brother were grade A jerks who had convinced her that she was a demon. But the atrocities that had clearly taken place in this basement she knew nothing about. She couldn't be certain, but she bet that Willow didn't know about them either. Tara had chosen to keep these things hidden; Buffy resolved to make an effort to help her open up in the future.

Glory's appearance and her accusations hit hard. Having seen how much she didn't know about Willow's girlfriend, Buffy was momentarily worried that she didn't know the girl as well as she had thought. Then Glory was again vanquished, and Buffy received compassion from Tara. Seeing the tears in her eyes, Whistler smiled wryly.

"Don't go getting all touchy-feely on me, kid. Save it for our next stop."

The next stop was a familiar spot. The strange and unsettling meeting of two Slayers: the First and Faith, who apparently was the Last. Confusing as hell. Then the unfortunate Allen Finch and hated Mayor took turns telling Faith about the nature of being the Slayer and what her gift was to be. Buffy felt empathy for what Faith was being asked to sacrifice, but feared it was all over. There was no way the Faith she knew would give up being the Slayer. She liked the power of it all too much. Liked the violence too much. Still, she hoped she was wrong.

Buffy felt briefly dizzy and staggered, nearly falling. She reached out blindly. Whistler grabbed her around the waist and gave her some support.

"What was that?"

"Off hand, I'd say you just got Faith's gift." Buffy knew he was right. She could feel newly acquired Slayer strength coursing through her, but she frowned in confusion.

"Strange...I know they told Faith something about me, but I can't remember what they said..."

"It's not good to know too much about your destiny." Buffy took one last look at Faith hugging Richard Wilkins, her expression one of dazed wonder.

"I don't believe it. She gave up being the Slayer for me."

*****

"Whatever it takes, B."

Faith hadn't realized she had spoken the words out loud, but she was instantly aware that she was back in her cell. She stood took a quick stroll around the cell, which was small enough to give a whole new meaning to the word quick. She felt simultaneously emptier and more whole than she'd ever felt before, but Faith wasn't the type to dwell on the whys and whats and hows of feelings. She was Action Gal, except...well, there was going to be a lot less action from now on. Without her Slayer abilities, everything was going to be different.

"It's what I always wanted," said a wistful voice from the vicinity of her bunk, and Faith stiffened. She turned and gave her surprise visitor a half-smile, forcing herself to relax. It wasn't really that unexpected, but it was more than she'd allowed herself to hope for.

"This? You wanna trade? I'm listening." Faith smirked, crossing her arms to hide the fact that they were trembling. Buffy smiled back at her, sitting back on her hands as if she was sitting on a sunny park bench instead of in a grimy cell.

"I'm thinking that's not really an option." The smile disappeared from her face. "Why did you do it, Faith? Give it up?"

"Did what I had to, B. You know I'm not really cut out for the hero gig. You are. And the world needs a Slayer that's a hero."

"You sell yourself short," Buffy answered, standing and moving over to the dark haired girl.

Faith became rigid again, her hands involuntarily clenching into fists. She was tensing for a fight that would fortunately never come again. Buffy put her hands on Faith's shoulders, and Faith could feel the warmth in them. The life, the strength, and something more. Something more powerful than she had ever sensed in anyone or anything. It made her want to drop her gaze, but pride won the day.

"I saw you. I saw all of you. I know what you did, what you gave up. Don't ever say you're not a hero, Faith. You're a hero to me." Buffy pulled Faith into a hug and Faith held on for dear life, tears spilling onto the blonde Slayer's shoulder.

"I'm really glad you're back, B." Buffy pulled away to look at her, and seemed surprised by her own response.

"I'm glad, too." She cocked her head, hearing something beyond Faith's hearing, then frowned with genuine regret.

"I have to go, I'm sorry."

"S'okay. Would be a bit hard to explain how you got in here...and the Slayer shouldn't be behind bars." Buffy let go of her but Faith grabbed her arm. "We were a good team, weren't we?" Buffy smiled and nodded.

"We made a great team. The world will never see anything like it again." Buffy gave Faith one more quick hug then moved away.

"Lucky world," Faith murmured.

"I won't forget you, Faith. I'll be checking in, to see how you're doing. If there's anything you need."

"I'd like that. There is something I need. Something you can do for me."

"What?" Now Faith really did have to look away. She mumbled the first part of her parting words, shouting the last part as Buffy shimmered and disappeared.

"Tell Xander, tell everybody, I'm sorry. And kick some evil ass."

*****

Spike was afraid. His least favorite way to feel, and it was pissing him off. He was afraid that he had messed this whole thing up. William had been so sure that love was his gift, and it made sense. What if he was right, and Spike had thrown that away?

Even as the thought crossed his mind he knew he had done the right thing. He clung to the thought. He had to believe he wouldn't have that persistent feeling of being right if he had really failed. And he would know soon enough, as he and Angel had finally reached the Magic Box. He followed the dark-haired vamp inside.

*****

"Oh no." Buffy was aghast as she saw Spike, his double and what was on the movie screen. "Oh, please don't tell me that love is Spike's gift. I just got over the whole obsessing over me thing, and he's been great about Dawn and all, but still...oh no."

"Is jumping to conclusions some kind of Slayer thing? Cause you do that a lot. Keep your shirt on, kid. Have some faith."

"In Spike? You want me to have faith in Spike?"

"Why not?" Whistler frowned at Buffy's incredulous expression. He pointed at the blonde vampire. "You think this is some kind of mistake? He's one of the Ten. He has a gift for you, something you need. Whether you get it or not, you need him."

Buffy pursed her lips. There was no point in protesting Whistler's words. She knew that he was right. She did need Spike on some level. But his gift was not love. She couldn't help but shudder as she absorbed the gift of darkness, knowing that it was not a call to evil but a matter of balance. Perhaps her relationship with Spike was the same.

She shuddered again as the gaudy theatre gave way to the scene of her first death. Buffy smiled when she saw Xander and Jesse talking together. She had been keeping count, so she knew that Xander was the tenth and final test. She had no doubt that he would succeed. Xander had never let her down, and she knew he never would. His confession of his feelings at her death was painful, but mainly because she knew he'd been tormenting himself with that moment for months.

Even with the insight that she had received from Giles, she still was Buffy. All the talk of other worlds and Earth Prime meant nothing to Buffy; she only knew that Xander was being offered a chance to bring her back himself, and to get some kind of supernatural powers as well. Buffy knew that Xander had always resented being 'normal', and that she had been guilty in the past of wounding his pride by diminishing his role. Buffy knew she'd only been trying to protect him, but she regretted never having shared with him how much she admired him for facing down so many things without Slayer powers. He always had her back. Xander had always chosen her needs over his own, and this time was no exception. She felt the final piece of herself lock into place, and the overwhelming sense of love for her friends took hold. Without asking she moved towards Xander, giving him a kiss on the cheek shortly before he faded, shocking herself by the sensation of contact. Whistler laughed.

"Why are you so surprised? You're alive now. The Ten have proven more than worthy. As the Powers said, they will be rewarded. You ready to reward them?"

*****

"She's alive."

Angel and Spike had run into the shop in time to hear those words. They saw everyone standing around expectantly, and Dawn tearfully holding Xander's hand. Anya and Cordelia were huddled together like old friends, and Giles was polishing his glasses with shaky hands, great emotion playing across his features. What they didn't see was Buffy.

"She's alive? Where is she?" Angel asked gruffly.

"Not here, obviously," Spike drawled, hiding his hopeful heart behind belligerence.

"I don't know, but I know she's alive," Xander answered defensively. "I saw her. She kissed my cheek."

"She's alive; she'll be here," Willow declared emphatically.

"You're saying she's late?" Spike responded incredulously. "What, she got stuck in all the coming-back-from-the-dead traffic?"

"Not exactly," the voice they'd been waiting to hear spoke from the doorway. Unable to breathe, they turned as one and saw her. Buffy grinned at them as she brandished a large pink bakery box. "Actually, I stopped for doughnuts." She dropped the box and held out her arms.

Dawn reached her first, then Xander, and then all of them were huddled together in a great laughing, crying group hug. A full parade of demons could have wandered in at that moment and would have been unnoticed, so the single poorly dressed demon that actually was there remained unseen by all. Whistler smiled in satisfaction at the joyful tableau.

"You just gotta love a happy beginning."

*****

THE END!