Summary: This story begins post-Chosen, then rockets into an angsty, dystopian post-NFA future that finds Buffy questioning the loyalties of her closest allies.
Four years after the gang helped Sunnydale perform its swan dive into Hell, a terrifying new enemy emerges from an unexpected quarter. As secrets are revealed and old friends are reunited, the greatest Apocalypse of all looms ever closer. Will they manage to save the day one last time?
Nominated at the 2010
Cover to Cover Buffy Awards for "Best Epic."
Rated: 18
Categories: General Fics Characters: None
Genres: Action,
Angst,
Horror,
RomanceWarnings: Adult Language,
Character Death,
Sexual Situations,
Violence
Challenges: Series: None
Chapters: 47
Completed: Yes
Word count: 209660
Read: 70359
Published: 02/01/2007
Updated: 10/03/2010
1. Prologue by lostboy [Reviews - 17] 
(2878 words)
Notes on timing: While the Prologue below takes place one year after the events of "Chosen," Chapter One ("Trouble Again") actually picks three additional years later. The events of these four "lost" Post-Chosen years are purposefully kept a little vague, though many details are revealed as the main story progresses. The book assumes BTVS and ATS canon up until the "Season 8" and "After the Fall" comic book arcs. In other words, the canon ends with the season finales of both TV shows. If it happened on TV, then it happened. Otherwise it's bollocks.
I hope you enjoy it. I'm not in the habit of begging for anything, but please write me a review if you like it. It's the only payment I'll ever see out of this, and it warms the cockles of my cold, black heart.
Thanks to nmcil for the wonderful banner.
2. Trouble, Again by lostboy [Reviews - 10] (3200 words)
3. What the...? by lostboy [Reviews - 10] (2652 words)
4. Touchdowns and Interceptions by lostboy [Reviews - 7] (2534 words)
5. Red Falcon by lostboy [Reviews - 5] (3525 words)
6. Nicked by lostboy [Reviews - 7] (2856 words)
7. Enemies, Closer by lostboy [Reviews - 3] (3313 words)
8. In the Land of the Blind... by lostboy [Reviews - 12] (3724 words)
9. A Door in the Walls by lostboy [Reviews - 9] (3402 words)
10. The Bloody Cavalry by lostboy [Reviews - 13] (2105 words)
11. RE: Spike by lostboy [Reviews - 4] (2934 words)
12. Infernal Rackets by lostboy [Reviews - 4] (3619 words)
13. Big Game by lostboy [Reviews - 9] (5128 words)
14. The Wrong End of the World by lostboy [Reviews - 6] (5206 words)
Thanks to everyone who helped encourage so far in writing this, particularly slinkypsychokit for her beta help, kcarolj65 for her magnanimous pimpage and all the wonderful people who have reviewed.
I'm adding an additional warning to this chapter. It contains a short, but graphic act of non-sexual child abuse that may be upsetting to some readers. Thanks for all your support.
15. Lost and Found by lostboy [Reviews - 5] (3064 words)
16. Three Excellent Questions by lostboy [Reviews - 10] (5727 words)
17. Out of the Woods by lostboy [Reviews - 1] (6502 words)
18. Passover by lostboy [Reviews - 1] (4154 words)
19. London Calling by lostboy [Reviews - 1] (3505 words)
20. Cute D'état by lostboy [Reviews - 1] (7455 words)
21. Departments of Education by lostboy [Reviews - 1] (4438 words)
22. Watchfulness by lostboy [Reviews - 1] (4744 words)
23. Happy Hour by lostboy [Reviews - 1] (4802 words)
24. Housecalls by lostboy [Reviews - 1] (3211 words)
25. Thicker Than Water by lostboy [Reviews - 1] (5169 words)
26. Depth Perception by lostboy [Reviews - 1] (2221 words)
27. The Eyes Have It by lostboy [Reviews - 1] (4443 words)
28. Breakthroughs by lostboy [Reviews - 2] (2767 words)
29. Fish and Chips by lostboy [Reviews - 3] (6031 words)
30. Safe As Houses by lostboy [Reviews - 2] (4150 words)
31. Be Thou Chased by lostboy [Reviews - 4] (6720 words)
32. Boldly They Rode by lostboy [Reviews - 1] (5172 words)
33. Pistols At Dawn by lostboy [Reviews - 1] (3637 words)
34. Scary Monsters by lostboy [Reviews - 3] (5241 words)
35. Boys Who Suck by lostboy [Reviews - 1] (4145 words)
36. Paving the Road by lostboy [Reviews - 1] (5851 words)
37. Rematch by lostboy [Reviews - 3] (5125 words)
38. No Cigar by lostboy [Reviews - 1] (4583 words)
39. Parallel Lines by lostboy [Reviews - 2] (5296 words)
40. Santa Muerta by lostboy [Reviews - 1] (6050 words)
41. The Real Me by lostboy [Reviews - 1] (4498 words)
42. The Ups and Downs of Modern Architecture by lostboy [Reviews - 1] (5096 words)
43. Auld Lang Syne by lostboy [Reviews - 1] (5119 words)
44. The Long Now by lostboy [Reviews - 2] (6661 words)
45. Of Rabbits and Hats by lostboy [Reviews - 1] (4556 words)
46. Belongings by lostboy [Reviews - 4] (6338 words)
47. Epilogue (or "Where We Went From There") by lostboy [Reviews - 2] (6113 words)
Thanks very much for reading my stuff. Below is part one of a two-part epilogue. Eternal thanks to nik(jamie) for her invaluable input in these final bits of the tale.
