Title: Hope
Author: Eaglewolf
Spoilers: S3
Summary: Buffy talks to someone on the other side.
Rating: PG14
Pairing: Buffy/Giles
Distribution: Everyone likes free things.. Please take it just let me know where you are housing it
Feedback: Yessum.. Always..
Disclaimer: Joss and his playmates own it all.. No matter which sandbox he is sitting in. Dedication: For all the of the Nobbies nuts!!

The squirrel looked down at the blonde head kneeling in front of the tombstone below him. His eyes glowed red as he scampered down the bare tree and across the snow, looking for somewhere warmer to be.

Buffy sighed and brushed the snow off the tombstone. She traced the name with her fingers; a sad smile crossed her face. She crouched down in the snow, pulling her jacket tighter around her as the icy wind bit into her. Buffy laughed. Snow. In California. In the middle of summer and only in this graveyard, only in Sunnydale. Outside the perimeter of the cemetery, the stars were shining brightly. She turned her attention back to the grave in front of her.

"Hi. I know it's been a while since I've come here. I've just been so scared and I've felt so guilty for so long. I didn't think you'd want me here. But I guess I know deep down you never blamed me for what happened. I blamed myself." Buffy felt the tears start to fall. She ached for Giles' arms around her. But he was far from her now.

She felt someone's hand on her shoulder and slowly turned around. She smiled at the person standing there and pulled them into a bear hug, as the tears continued to stream down her face.

"I'm so sorry for everything that happened. If I'd known..."

"Shhh, it's okay. Everything happened as it was meant to. I don't blame you, I never did. It was my destiny to die that way. I've always loved all of you, you know."

Buffy closed her eyes to stop the tears from falling and smiled gently as she felt gentle fingertips wipe them away. She smiled at the face shimmering before her and placed her hand atop the one caressing her cheek.

"You've grown up so much over the years Buffy." The gentle voice whispered.

"I know, it's been hard. Losing mum, losing Angel, losing..just losing everything..." Her voice broke and she smiled softly, "I just seem to lose all the people I care about. Sometimes I wonder if it would just be easier to stop caring completely. Stop hurting, just forget about Buffy and become 'The Slayer'..Would it be easier then? If I were to become a soldier? With no past, no family, no friends?"

Buffy looked up to meet her friend's eyes and was shocked by the sadness she saw there, sadness for her.

"No, Buffy..You could never be just a soldier..You are Buffy before you are anything else. You are far older than your years, your life as the Slayer has done that to you. But you have a choice Buffy, you can fight death, or you can embrace it."

Tears welled in the slayers eyes, she hadn't known this wonderful person had cared about her so much.

"When I was with Angel, I embraced death..When Angelus was here I had to fight it, but I just didn't know how. He was so strong, he hated me..Yet, I was still in love with him, well with the idea of him. I did love him, I thought I loved him more than I could love anyone. But, now. Now I know differently..And I'm so scared. It's like my true love was dangled in front of me and.." Her eyes filled with tears. "I feel like it's been snatched from me."

"I know, but don't give up hope yet. You know there's still a chance he'll pull through, he loves you more than even you realize. You are his life, his hope, and his dream. Even if I had lived, you would have always come first. You always will. Watchers and Slayers have been intertwined throughout history, you need to rely on each other above all else. No one else will ever be good enough."

Buffys lower lip trembled. "But, what if he doesn't choose me?"

Jenny smiled gently at the younger woman. "He already has. He made his decision the second you told him you loved him and he felt the truth in your words. He's fighting for you, go to him."

A light came over Buffys face. "Jenny, I'm so sorry for everything..I'm glad I got this chance to see you again, to thank you for everything you did."

"You look after the fuddy-duddy. I'll be watching over all of you from up here. You'll be fine. You just be happy together." And with that Jenny faded out, leaving Buffy to look around the snow-covered graveyard and smile.

"He chose me." She whispered and took off at a run back towards the hospital. She wanted her face to be the first thing Giles saw when he woke up.

The squirrel twitched his whiskers as he watched the girl run away, his squirrel mind thinking it's own squirrelly thoughts.