Every Day I Write the Book - Epilogue
Bags in hand, Wesley stood in the door, looking out at his car in the driveway. His time on Revello Drive was up, and he'd made it through. Rather astoundingly well, if he said so himself.
Buffy smiled at him. "Thank you so much for staying with Dawn, Wesley. You made it okay for me to be gone." And suddenly she gave him an impulsive hug. "Thank you for helping Willow, too. I can't even think what might have happened if you hadn't been there."
He dropped his bags so he could hug back. "You're more than welcome. But, Buffy, I'm not sure it's finished with Willow. She was thoroughly poisoned by the darkness, and it will take more than some mood-modifiers and a few hours with the therapist to make her right again."
"No. But she has Xander to support her, and I'll do what I can." She kissed his cheek, then stepped back. "And as for you, mister-- don't be a stranger any more!"
Spike stepped into the hallway at that point; he was talking to Giles on the cordless phone, but he held the receiver against his chest and punched Wesley on the shoulder in a friendly, non-crippling fashion. "Right, Wes, you did a bloody fantastic job. Come back any time, even when we're here."
Wesley smiled. But he waited. There was one more Sunnydale task to complete.
Dawn hurtled down the stairs, hands behind her back. "Wes! Thank you!" She ran over to him and gave him a one-armed hug, then grinned. He grinned back. "You've been great, Wes. I've already sent you an e- mail for when you get back to L.A.!" she whispered.
"I've already put you on my buddy list," he whispered back. She giggled.
Then the two turned to Buffy and Spike. Dawn cleared her throat dramatically. Spike shot her a look, said into the phone, "I'll ring you right back, Rupes," and clicked it off.
"Okay. Wes and I did a lot of stuff besides work and all, and saving you guys from Willow, when you were gone. And we were thinking about you the whole time. So, this is what we did!"
Dawn solemnly presented a thick binder to Buffy. Spike leaned over her shoulder and flicked to the title page:
THE CARE, FEEDING AND SUPERVISION OF BUFFY THE SLAYER AND WILLIAM THE WATCHER. By Dawn Summers, with assistance from Wesley Wyndham-Pryce.
THE END