Sad, but very appropriate, given their respective responsibilities. I'm very much looking forward to the Epilogue.

Loved these bits, especially, where Jack is momentarily humbled by who Buffy truly is:

...the steely determination and bravery were quite simply part of who she was: She’d been through crucibles and come out stronger. He wanted to be her so badly it hurt.

She’d always been out of his league, all he could hope for was that she never discovered just how far.

Excellent and compelling work, as always!