Well guys, this is it. The last chapter of this fic. It's sequel, Defeating the Past, won't be up for a few months. I have to work the plot out and such before I start posting.

I want to thank Meri and Krisztina for all of their wonderful feedback and support they've given me over the course of this fic. You guys are wonderful!

And thank you to everyone who has read and reviewed this fic over the past two years. I appreciate each and every one of you. You guys kick ass!

chanel 5, I'm a Spuffy shipper at heart as well. Spike is one of my fav characters and I could never treat him like he never existed. I'm like you, I don't really care for it when authors dismiss his role on the show and in Buffy's life. There will be a sequel and I'll either touch upon the future as the epilogue or write a one shot afterwards. I've already got some plans for them. :)

ShalBrenFan, I'm afraid this will be the last update for this fic. But take heart, there will be a sequel in the future.

Paws.on.Scroll, Damia, Delauro, thank you so much for your reviews!

For update information on the sequel to this fic or any of my others, feel free to join my yahoo group. Information is on my profile page.

Epilogue

Logan smiled as he watched Rogue and Bobby tag team the last vampire of the night. Buffy's faith and trust in them during the apocalypse a few weeks prior had shown not only a growth of confidence in their own abilities but in themselves as well. They seemed to have found their place in the world where they could make a difference and as a result more comfortable with themselves.

A quick glance at the tiny blonde beside him reminded him that the two teens weren't the only one positively affected by the battle. Buffy had changed as well. She had become more open and receptive to the people around her and her bright laughter now flowed freely from her smiling lips.

He still found it rather hard to believe that this beautiful woman was in love with him. At times he worried that it was all a dream, but when he woke with her in his arms, in the room that they now shared, he knew it was real.

Rogue's complaining voice broke through his thoughts. "Bobby, ya did it again!"

"I'm sorry, but I thought he was going to hurt you."
"But you covered his chest in ice! Again! I can't shove the stake through that!"

"I'm sorry," Bobby said again with a sigh. "I was more worried about you."
"But..."
"I'll take care of it," Buffy said with a laugh as she swung the scythe and decapitated it. Inside the headless ice statue, the vampire turned to dust. "Now let's go home."
"One more cemetery, please," Rogue anxiously begged.

"Yeah, one more," Bobby echoed.

Buffy stopped and stared at the two. "What is with you two? It's been 'just one more cemetery' all night. What's up?"

Rogue tilted her head slightly. "I don't know what you mean."
"We just like patrolling," Bobby said with a shrug. "It's better than sitting around the mansion doing homework."

"Possibly," Buffy said slowly. She looked up at Logan. "What do you think?"
"Darlin', I don't even want to try and figure out how their brains work. I say we take their word for it," he replied with a shrug of his own.

Buffy's eyes narrowed as her suspicions grew. "Now I know you guys are up to something."
"I didn't realize it would be such a problem!" Rogue said in sudden disgust. "Let's just forget about it and go home." She turned and grabbed Bobby's arm with one glove-encased hand. Then she drug him in direction of their parked car.

"That was odd," Buffy said with a frown.

"Who knows? Let's not argue and just go home," Logan said in her ear.
She smiled up at him as she slipped her hand into his. "That sounds nice."

XXXXXXX

As they pulled up to the mansion, Buffy tensed as her senses tingled, but relaxed as she recognized Oz. However, something else hovered at the edge of her awareness, but just out of reach. She quickly dismissed it, thinking she was just becoming paranoid because of Rogue and Bobby's strange behavior that evening.

The four of them entered the building just as Rogue and Bobby convinced Buffy to stay up and watch movies. They drug her towards the darkened common room while Logan lagged behind. Before Buffy got a chance to tell him to hurry up, the lights were flipped on and a room full of people yelled, "Surprise!"

"Wha?" Buffy said in shock as she looked around. The room was filled with the X-Men, students, and her friends from L.A.

"Did we surprise ya?" Rogue asked, her eyes bright with excitement. "Wes did a spell to temporarily cloak Angel and Lorne."
"What's going on?" Buffy finally managed to ask.

"We wanted to thank you for all of your work in keeping the world safe over the years," Ororo said with a smile. "The whole world actually owes you, but we hope the few of us will do."

Buffy's eyes misted as she looked over at all the faces of the people she loved. Kurt smiled shyly at her as her eyes rested on him for a brief moment. There were no other people in the world who could thank her and have it mean more. She tried to respond but the lump in her throat prevented any sound from coming out so she just nodded.

"In honor of everything you've done for us, we're declaring August third as official 'Queen Buffy of the Mansion' day," Jean said. She came forward and placed a sequined crown on Buffy's head. "I'm afraid it's a bit cheesy, but Rogue insisted you'd like it."

"It's perfect," Buffy said softly, reaching up to adjust the rather large crown.

"From now on, every year on this day, you will rule over us, and we'll do your bidding like good little peasants," Scott said, bowing and placing a kiss on the back of her hand.

"Are you serious?" Buffy asked with wide eyes.

"Very serious," Charles said with a twinkle in his eye.

"So what's the first order, Buff?" Oz asked.

"Then I say..." She looked around and smiled. "I order that we party!"

"Well it's about time!" A mock angry female voice said from Buffy's right.

"Cordelia!" Buffy said, and rushed over to hug her friend. "It's good to see you on your feet again, and in such cute shoes!"
"Aren't they though?" Cordelia asked, modeling them. "I made Angel buy them for me since he's been the brood monster."
"I thought you were fixing that."
Cordelia flashed her a wicked grin. "I'm working on it. And don't get too attached to that crown, missy."

"I could never dethrone Queen C," Buffy said. Then she said softly, "I just can't believe they did this for me."
"It's because you deserve it," Logan said just as softly from behind her.

"You knew!" She accused, turning to scold him.

"Of course. Had to make sure they were going to treat my girl right," he said, wrapping his arms around her tiny waist.

"You're too good to me," she said, returning the embrace.

"Never. I love you."
Buffy looked up at the man she could face anything with, even the future, and smiled. "I love you, too."