BITTERSWEET

Hey there.

So this is a post-Chosen Spuffy fic which includes everything that happened in Buffy (yes, including the bit where Spike died) but probably discounts a fair bit of Angel (I haven't seen it).
Oh, and the only Buffy-canon thing I've changed is the last line to "Where do we go from here".

Disclaimer: Though the story is mine the characters are not, and all that.

Dawn looked to her sister. "Buffy? Where do we go from here?"

Buffy smiled. It wasn't exactly a happy smile. She felt caught between beaming in relief and victory and bursting into tears. On the one hand she had what she would have died for (or rather not died for, seeing as that was kind of the point) at sixteen. She was free of Sunnydale, free of her Slayer responsibilities, and there was a good chance that she would see out that milestone she'd never expected to hit, her 25th birthday.
But the price had been so high…

"We live," she said simply, feeing the power of her own words.

"Can we live a little further from that crater, though?" Faith said, warily eyeing the hole where Sunnydale had been.

"I for one will feel a great deal safer when we've left Sunnydale behind us," said Giles.

"Seconded," Willow agreed, in a voice that seemed a little too chirpy to be genuine. "Or is it thirded?"

They all began to turn back to the bus.

Dawn hesitated when Buffy didn't move.

"Be there in a moment," Buffy said, in her slayer voice- hard, serious and brooking no argument. She didn't need to look to know that Dawn turned back to the bus.

A few moments later, however, she heard a shuffling sound behind her. She wasn't sure who she expected to see.

Probably Faith, ready to impart some unwanted slayer wisdom or world experience, or Willow, trying to fulfil her best friend duties.

But it was Xander's voice that spoke.

"Bittersweet," he said, stepping forward and taking her hand.
"That's what it feels like," Buffy said, going for lightness, but fighting back tears. Looking at Xander, she saw that he too was close to crying, and suddenly it felt safe to be honest.

"I loved him." she said.
"I know," he replied, dark eyes serious.
Buffy gave a small sad smile.
"He didn't. I told him, but he didn't believe me."
She was still working hard not to cry.
"I don't think she knew either," Xander said. "In the end." His voice cracked on the last words.
"Xand…" Buffy started.
"All aboard!" Faith hollered from behind them, leaning out from the bus door like a conductor.
Xander took a big steeling breath of air and exhaled loudly through his cheeks. Despite everything, it made Buffy laugh.
"Ready?" he asked her.
"Ready," she confirmed.
Xander squeezed her hand one last time before letting go, and they walked back to the bright yellow bus in silence.

A.N. So, thank you for reading. I love Buffy/Xander friendship, which probably shows. :) And if anyone spots any typos, feel free to point them out to me and I Will Fix Them, Guaranteed. :P