Strange though it seems, when that was such a difficult time in her life, sometimes Buffy longs for the way things used to be, when she was the Slayer, the one girl in all the world, instead of one of many, scattered across every continent. Things just seemed simpler back then, when she knew her job, to fight the demons and vampires wherever they lurked, and even though it had been difficult, balancing school, slaying, family, and what social life she could manage in-between her responsibilities, at least it was all… clearer, fewer decisions to make.

Now it’s all decisions, training potentials, sending them where they’re needed, making sure everyone has the information and resources they need… She’s like a General, directing her troops, and there’s so much to keep track of. If not for the spreadsheets Willow set up for her, she thinks she’d forget half of what needs doing, lose track of where the other Slayers are at any given time, even though they’re supposed to check in regularly.

She doesn’t do much in the way of Slaying herself anymore, and she moves around a lot anyway, so she’s always having to get used to new cities, even new countries. Now that Sunnydale is nothing but a crater, she’s never found anyplace she likes enough to make it her new base of operations, and perhaps it’s better that way, no ties to anywhere in particular, and yet…

She’s come a long way from the terrified young teen fighting and slaying her first vampire, and when she thinks back on those early days, it’s with a wistful fondness. Not so much that first year or so in L.A., but the time in Sunnydale… Those were, she thinks, her golden years, with friends and family, the happiest she ever was.

The End