chapter 1

In Rome...

The sun felt good on her face. She could feel the warmth sink in almost burning... Buffy’s eyes flew open. Taking in the surroundings small groups of people milling around a fountain. The fountain of Trevor or something like that. She could never get it straight. She spotted a small plaque with ‘fontana di trevi’ on it. A small sigh escaped her, ‘Well for me that’s close enough...’ One of the couples must have been on their Honeymoon with the amount of kissing and PDA. Buffy felt a sharp pain in her heart as they clasped hands just like her and...Spike. She sat down hard on the cool marble bench grateful for the support it gave her. It was funny how it snuck up on her at the most unusual times. She glanced around, people didn’t even spare her a second look as they took in the history surrounding them.  Lucky for her she picked a tourist site in full daylight to be hit with a sadness so hard that it took her breath away.

‘Why did he have to stay... If only I made him come with... I could have saved him somehow. It hurts so much. I need him. It isn’t fair. Not fair.’ Buffy’s inner child wailed.

The thoughts tumbled through her head so fast,  a confused blur. She wiped away the tears that fell with the back of her hand. ‘Why does everything in my life turn to shit. My father left us. Mom died. Giles left me. Twice. (Also, lied to me. Twice.) I died. Angelus. Riley.’ Buffy’s thought slowed a little.

‘Why couldn’t I have told Spike sooner. Why did I wait? Was it because Dad left... I thought that Spike would leave me. But he was always there. He kept taking everything thing that I could dish out and came back for more. My ridiculous thought that him not having a soul made him somehow unworthy of me...’ She laughed bitterly. ‘Spike was what I wanted and needed. Not the idealized love that is so ‘pure’ but real love. He saw me at my utterly worst and he still loved me. Not having to worry that I would say the wrong thing or that I didn’t have any makeup on.’ tears streaked down her face.

‘Angel. Oh God, the cookie dough comments. His cookie was so 1999. Way expired! The relationship that I measured everything else up to was a mirage. It was based on false images of each other and a lot of smoochies. Angel never loved me unconditionally. I had to be the perfect slayer and do exactly as he wanted me to or I was on the outs again.

Ultimately my input never seemed to matter. In every single facet of my life he decided what was the correct way to deal with it. Be it our relationship... if you can call it an relationship. Or even dealing with Faith...He made all of the decisions and I better toe the line or else was the underlying theme. He withheld his love for me to only be rewarded, when and if, I complied with his wishes. He was my forbidden love. Oh so wantable but just out of my reach, forever. How can you compete with something that was the perfect relationship... if only. I could never really find out how perfect it could be without him going all bumpy on me.

‘Oh the drama.’ Buffy thought, ‘He can never really put me before his own self image of how important he is. Oh, vampire with a soul... Oh, I must repent... I’m all broody...’

‘My “true” love died. I didn’t realize what a man he truly was until he was gone. He never ‘browbeat’ me into doing anything. He accepted  me for who I really am. There were no illusions. I hate myself for all of the things I did to him. I felt a tenderness that I thought shouldn’t be there before he had the soul. And, Oh God, the sex. Why did I have to try to measure him up to Angel and the Grand Relationship... He loved me before he went and got his soul. Wasn’t it proof enough that he loved Dru without one? I know that he loved me without a soul because when he came back there wasn’t any difference between how he treated me beforehand. He just felt tremendous guilt for his actions. So, as usual, I brought him more pain and he thought that I deserved better than him still. The difference between Angel & Spike was that Angel loved me on his terms ONLY when he was Angel. Angelus was a different story.  All that was part of Spike loved me. Spike’s demon even loved me.’ Buffy’s broken sob seemed out of place here. She could tell that she was drawing a couple of odd glances. ‘How come everyone let the Angelus’ episodes go and never thought of Anya’s evil past (especially when she enjoyed throwing it in our faces) and when Spike tried to change so hard they spit on him. Me included.’

‘What really hurt was that he actually thought that the bathroom incident was indication that he was a monster. Yeah, it scared me. But in reality how many times did I tell him no when it really meant yes, yes, yes! As soon as he realized that I really meant it he left. Ashamed. I realize now that I was so hurt about him and Anya that I latched on to this episode as a way to reinforce my I’m better than you stance. So many times I came home from the crypt with scratches and bruises that were much worse than the one on my thigh. And the ones I left on Spike were more punishing. I purposely let Xander see it because I knew how much he already hated him. And to show him how revolting Anya and I were to let him touch us. I purposely set up barriers to keep him from ever really getting into my life. Afraid that he would end up like Angel and leave me. My fears. My stupid, stupid fears. If only I could do it over again. I wouldn’t take him or our time together for granted. I miss him so much!’

A shadow crossed before her and she felt a hand come down on her shoulder.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Buffy looked up to see Xander hovering over her. She quickly raised the heel of her hand up to her cheeks and tried to wipe away the tears that had fallen. She put on her wavering smile and managed to sound convincingly perky, “Hey Xander... Whatcha doing out here I thought you had class to teach today?”

“Hey yourself Buf, I thought that being that it is my turn to teach, I could just teach them my ‘run away from your enemies approach to fighting’ or is it ‘run away from your problems style’? Well, either way it always works from me. Though usually it is followed up by my patented ‘oh my god, what have I done style of making up’? Xander smiled weakly.

Buffy tried to laugh but it just wasn’t coming easy to her anymore. She settled for smiling warmly and scooted over and patted the bench next to her. Xander sat down just as heavily as she has moments before. Heaving a big sigh and slouching over. She noticed that he looked tired the ever bouncy, springy Xander looked wiped. It was like looking into a mirror. A gender challenged sorta fun house mirror, but a mirror.

Xander sat down and really looked around. How could he be here in this amazing place and feel this bad. He was worried about Buffy more now that ever before. She had always had to stay strong because there wasn’t anyone else to do her job but now with all the new slayerettes he knew she felt... well, more like him. Used up and not really needed anymore. He had seen the tears that she had tried to wipe away. He still had a good eye! Like maybe her good years weren’t before her and that maybe she had more than a few regrets about what had happened in the past. He really knew that feeling...

They sat in silence for a couple of minutes until Xander asked, “When did it all get so hard... I can remember when everything was better with a jelly filled doughnut. Hey! Do you think that now it would be better with a biscotti? Because they have this great biscotti with almonds just down the street from here...”

“Doughnut good. Biscotti good... not so much.” Buffy replied. “Are you going to compare chocolate? or flan? Because either way there you have a winner!”

“Buf, it’s been over a year now. I know that I have well, not been a good friend to you in the past when it comes to... well, your relationships. I tend to overreact and become all overbearing and stubborn. I know that I am doing it and at the time I can’t help it. I go into super hyper big brother mode when it comes to you. And I kinda think that I would with Willow except she only guy she really dated was Oz... and  who doesn’t want to pet the pooch? That guy was soooo easy going I couldn’t find anything not to like about him. Moot point though I guess... Well, what I have been wanting to say to you is that I am sorry for not being the person that I want to be for you. I know that you are having trouble coping and I know that I am still too. I want you to feel like you can tell me things, y’know things that matter. Not just, ‘Oh I saw Dracula 2000 wasn’t it the lamest excuse for a vampire movie ever,’” a solitary tear fell from his eye, “I don’t want you to do this all by yourself. I need you to let me help you and we can help each other.”

Buffy hesitated and then blurted out, “I’ve wanted to talk about him. To somebody for so long. I just couldn’t say anything to Dawn. She’s been heartbroken too... She never really made up with him and is feeling so guilty about it. I didn’t think that talking about him would make her feel any better only make it worse. I know that I miss him. I miss him soo much.”

“Buf, it’s alright to say his name... You don’t have to be afraid that I’m gonna go all evil Xander on you. Spike was a good guy. There was times that I knew it but, I didn’t think he was good enough for you. Y’know he saved my life. After all of the mean thing I said about him and did to him he saved me. He saved the world... not like I haven’t done that before... but Spike! He really did care and I was so wrong about him on many different levels. I look back now being the monday morning quarterback of all times and see that some of the things that he did was to get a reaction. The reaction that he expected to get from us. He baited us knowing that we weren’t ready to see him as anything other than a monster. I know that I was stupid... I wish that I could tell him that I misjudged him and that I am sorry. I would like to think that one of the things that I have learned from this is that I can’t just make assumptions about people.  I can’t decide what is best for you and I really will try not to ever make you feel like I judge you. I love you, Buf. You mean alot to me.”

“Xander you are my best friend. I love you! I really haven’t been resenting you or anything... I just needed some time... I thought that time would be enough. I mean look at Willow. She’s a movin’ on kinda gal now. With Kennedy. Maybe that wasn’t such a good analogy. I thought though that I would be movin’ on but I can’t. Oh, I tried. I thought that The Immortal would be a diversion but, I really just never got into him. I basically just went through the motions. Oh, not those kind of motions! No motions. None.” Buffy’s eyes grew round and frantic and her hands simultaneously sliced through the air. 

“Actually, The Immortal and I went out a couple of times and while we were out he started telling me these unbelievable stories about Angel and Spike (and the two skanky ho-bags that will remain nameless). I was laughing so hard that he must have thought that I didn’t care for them and started to say really mean things about them. I guess when you are The Immortal you really don’t like to have your front teeth knocked out. Imagine having to have to go through eternity gumming your food. Needless to say we aren’t really on good terms now... Not that I care! The jerk! Who calls themselves “The” anyways... You don’t call Madonna... “the” Madonna or Cher... “the” Cher... Why can’t he just be Immortal!”

“Uh Buf, aren’t you “the” Slayer.”

“Not anymore. I’m more like “a” Slayer. It has a much better ring to it! Much less snooty!”

“You really never were y’know with The Immortal.”

“Nope. It never got that far. He stepped back after The Incident and I was sorta labeled as his girlfriend by everyone else. Like I couldn’t  resist him when he was such a creep! I don’t get it. The guy is a legend in his own mind. I guess he figured that by just letting people think that he had bagged a slayer (notice the “a”) that his reputation wouldn’t suffer.”

“Buffy why did you let us believe that you guys were together?”

“I just... It was easier. I knew that you guys were worried about me and it made things easier for me. Sorry.”

“You don’t have anything to feel sorry about. I know how you feel. Everyone is afraid to say Anya’s name around me like I am made up of glass and I’ll shatter. We miss them and are both sorry for the way thing ended... For not telling them that we loved them.”

Buffy looked at him and put her arms around him. With her face snuggled against his chest she found the courage to say, “In Sunnydale at the High School right at the end, I told Spike that I loved him and he told me that I didn’t but, thanks for saying it.”

“That’s harsh, Buf. Maybe he just told you that so you would leave the school and get away safely. The guy was crazy about you. He would have done anything to keep you safe if he could. I’m sure he knew.” Xander’s arms tightened around her back.

Buffy began to cry again, “That’s what I keep hoping...”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In L.A.


The bottle of whiskey flew through the air barely missing the incredibly expensive antique maps that adorned the far wall of Wesley’s apartment. Followed by a string of curses that made Angel blush.

“Angel, I can’t bloody well believe that you actually believe that you are Shanshu-boy of prophecy when you can’t make up your mind. First you tell me that you need me and that you...” Angel gave him a warning look that made him break off from what he was about to say. “Well I won’t do it. I’m not getting any rotten jet so sod off! Italy just doesn’t happen to agree with my palate! It seems I’m now a California man. I stay here with you.” He gave a meaningful look to Angel. “Don’t even think of trying to get rid of me.”

Angel shot him his most broody look before answering,  “Why do you always insist on being such an...”

“Don’t say it...”

“Obstinate... argumentative.... pugnacious-ssh...” Wesley supplied trying to be helpful. The alcohol that they had been drinking all night had certainly caught up with him if not the vampires he was drinking with. The room had a pleasant hum and a slight tilt to it that was rather soothing. The only thing that was keeping it from being a perfect boy’s night was the yelling and sniping the two had been exchanging all night. The vampires ignored his attempt to solve this quarrel. Perfect. More yelling was about to commence. Wesley grasped the table and mumbled something about going to the kitchen to try to find another bottle. Hopefully there was something left from the stash that Lilah had sent for his birthday... He suddenly felt the need for a drink.

There was a reason that they had chosen to come over to his apartment. One of the benefits that came from his liaison with Lilah was the expensive investment in charms and hexes that she had put on his place so the Senior Partners couldn’t get a glimpse of what went on in here. Lilah had taken a certain amount of pleasure in being able to pull one over on the Senior Partners. It also allowed Wesley a measure of freedom. Still... they were trying to allude to their upcoming plan just in case. They really didn’t want to put into words what they have planned.

“Ass.” There it was out. A challenge. Added to the forbidding forehead it was almost an irresistible invitation to fight.

Spike smiled evilly... “You aren’t pissin’ me off so I go stormin’ out, Peaches. You are stuck with me. I’m gonna see this to the end.”

Angel sighed and tried another tactic. One he never tried before with Spike. Reason. “Listen, if we don’t make it. I need you to keep her safe. This is going to be big. I’m not talking about what we usually face here. She can’t be left with neither one of us to be there for her. Especially if she’s with him...” There wasn’t any need to elaborate on who he was. Just thinking about him stirred up old memories of mutual hatred. For once not for each other. “I need to know that you will be there to let her know what has been done and to make her ready for what is about to come next. This could be the event that sparks it off. She could easily be lead in to a trap by The Immortal if it explodes like we think it is going to.” The deliberate use of the dreaded name was just to make Spike not think straight. All the thoughts of Buffy being left alone with him was enough to make Angel want to weep. He saw the yellow glint in Spike’s eyes and thought, ‘I’ve got him.’

Spike stamped down on his immediate reaction to pummel anything within his reach. “I don’t like the thought of leaving her with him anymore that you do. Unlike you though I do have faith in her. I know that when it comes down to making the right decision she’ll do it. She doesn’t need me there lookin’ over her shoulder doubting her every move. I’m no vampiric Jiminy Cricket you prat! It’s funny that you didn’t want me marching off when I first turned solid. You seemed to think that she was way better off without me then! Are you going to tell me now that I am the better of us?” Spike smirked. He leaned back in his chair and took a swig of his drink. Locked eyes with Angel and said each word deliberately, “Like I told you before, Pappy, I’m not goin’ anywhere.”

“Spike why do you always have to do things the hard way. If you won’t go willingly I’ll make you go.” There was and angry growl before the two of them clashed. Angel easily outweighed him by 50 pounds and at least 3 inches but Spike was faster and slipped out of his reach.

“You don’t want to do this again, Peaches. I’ll easily clean up like last time. You’ve been lookin’ for a scrap all night. If you look for it with me you’ll lose.”

Wesley heard the sound of breaking furniture and thoroughly disgusted with the both of them he snatched up the last bottle of his special reserve and grabbed Angel’s cell phone from off the counter. He stumbled off to the bathroom and slammed the door behind him. Flipping open the phone he scrolled through the remarkably short list smirking as he went by Nina’s number until he found the one he was looking for and pressed send. The tumbler he was holding was obscenely filled with the amber liquid. He tossed back the drink as he waited for someone to answer.

The phone rang and rang until he heard a strange voice intone flatly, “Rome. The final frontier. We have boldly gone forth and are unable to answer the phone. If you wish to reach Buffy, Dawn or I, Captain Andrew Archer please leave a message.” Beep.

Wesley held the phone away from his ear and looked at it disgustedly for a second until another loud crash from his living room regained his attention. “Buffy... It’sssh Wessshley Windham Prisshe. I don’t have time to explain everything but Angel is going up againssht The Shircle of the Black Thorn. The fighting hasn’t started yet but it’ssh going to be another apocalypse. Angel is going to need help. Sshlayer help. Giles must know, of course.” The fighting grew louder and seemed to be outside the door. The sound only fueled Wesley’s resolve. “For sshome unknown reason Angel wouldn’t let us tell you, but, I think it’s time for you to know that Sshhpike has been back amoungsssht ussh for quite some time.  Andrew will fill you in. Buffy hurry there’s not much time.” Wesley smiled to himself strangley unconcerned with the wrath he knew he was going to face from Angel. He might not be able to be with Fred anymore but he hated to see the fighting that went on between the two of them over Buffy. It reminded him uncomfortably of his relationship with Gunn. Things had to be resolved and now was the time to ask for help. His conscience absolved he slid down the back of the door grasping the bottle by its neck. All attempts at the niceties of manners forgotten as he swigged from the bottle. The sound of fighting out in the other room sealed the fact that this is where he was going to spend the rest of the night.

  remembrance - chapter 2
 
 

Wesley woke up with his hand in the toilet. Unfortunately for Angel in that hand was the now defunct cell phone. His head was pounding and to say that he felt horrible would be the understatement of the year. He felt like he had been turned inside out and if the pounding in his head didn’t abate he might actually be sick. ‘A Price never drank more than he could hold,’ his father’s disapproving voice echoed in his head. Only making him feel sicker. What the hell did he drink? Lighter fluid? Why was he holding Angel’s cell phone anyways? He lay down on the blessedly cool tile floor and swore to God that this would be the last time he ever drank. The thought of moving to get the bottle of aspirin from the medicine cabinet was sending warning messages to his stomach. He was much better off just lying here...

Angel winced as he tried to move his arm to grab the unbroken mug down from the cabinet. He could see Spike out of the corner of his eye sitting on the countertop smirking at him and it made him see red. Stifling a groan Angel grabbed a pint of blood from the fridge and poured it into the one remaining mug. The remembrance of Spike making him ‘cry uncle’ was almost too much to bear. The fighting had gone on almost all night until the two of them were exhausted. Brute force didn’t get him anywhere. Spike was just too quick and gave far more that he got. To have had to concede to Spike a second time was the ultimate humiliation. One that Spike would never let him forget. For an eternity. He groaned out loud.

Spike knew what was going on in Angel’s head. Could a bloke with a stone cold expression be more obvious? Somewhere in the middle of the fight Spike realized that they were really tearing up the ex-Watcher’s place. As much as he loved sparring with Angel it would destroy what little that had already escaped destruction. Wesley was an alright guy he didn’t deserve to have this done to his stuff. The fight needed to be wrapped up quick. Decision made he felt the tingling start at the base of his spine coursing up through him till it it expanded behind his eyes. Angel saw the bright blue glow coming from Spike’s eyes and was unable to look away. ‘Shit it’s true that he has thrall,’ was his last independent thought. Spike hated doing this. It took a lot out of him and would leave him feeling hollow inside for the rest of the day. Dealing with Dru for a century had forced him to learn different ways to calm her down and this way was always the very last resort. He always felt like he cheated after he used it because of the unfair advantage it gave him.

“Peaches you and me are going to have a talk. Well, I talk, you listen and obey. You will not ask me to leave again. I am staying and there is no need to argue. You agree? Say yes.” Angel slowly nodded his head. “‘Right then. Fights over.” He released him from the thrall the strain being too much to handle. He couldn’t have lasted much more, another reason to keep this trick as an ace-in-the-hole. It was too hard to keep up control over someone else’s mind for any long period of time. And at best, what was said was a very strong suggestion. The only thing that might work in his favor is that Angel, the stupid git, bought into this crap. Angel’s wide puppy dog eyes blinked twice and then narrowed menacingly at Spike.

“Tsk. Tsk. Tsk. Peaches. I said no more fighting. I would hate to have to force you to bleach your hair to be just like mine. It might improve your love life though!”

Angel looked horrified before backing down saying, “Who wants to fight? I really think Buffy is better off with you here anyways. I’ve rethought my position on this matter.”

Leave it to Angel to take the suggestion and turn it into his idea. As long as he buggers off... that’s all that mattered. The thought of having to go back to Italy and see Buffy terrified him worse than the upcoming war that was heading their way. She had been with the Immortal when he saw her last and he was sure that he couldn’t stand it if her saw her with him again. He had thought that maybe something had been growing between them right before the final fight with the First. He replayed the last moments in his head of Buffy’s final words. She had finally told that she loved him. He had desperately wanted to believe that they were true. He didn’t know what to believe now and it hurt to think that she moved on. His uncertainty about his reception wasn’t the only thing that was keeping him from going though. He had been accepted here. Well everyone but Angel liked or at least tolerated him. Much more so than the Scoobies had ever come close to. He would do just about anything to hold Buffy in his arms again but leaving them now felt so wrong. He was needed and somewhat respected. Wesley and Gunn were good mates. The tragedy that happened to Fred and to Wesley... He needed to see this thing through. It was about respect.

There would be time for Buffy after the fight was over. He told himself that he wasn’t making excuses... Alright, maybe just a little but it was because it was so important that he got it right this time. He just wasn’t sure what to do to make it right. He needed more time... He broke off staring at Angel as he loitered around the kitchen. Just to annoy him he put his tongue behind his front teeth and smiled tauntingly at him.

Angel turned to glare at him while his blood was heating up in the microwave and was rewarded by Spike laughing out loud as he pushed off the countertop. He swaggered past him and turn to face him from the doorway, “Are you gonna brood all day ya ponce? I beat you. I stay. That’s the end of it.”

That’s all it took... Angel vamped out.

Spike was more than ready, “You want more of this?” he pointed to his head then at Angel. Then made voo-doo claw like motions with his hands toward Angel.

Angel blanched. Spike didn’t know that a vampire could even do that but here was proof. Angel dropped the game face immediately and put a shaking hand to his perfectly gelled head. Giving it a reassuring pat that he would never let anything happen to it. Spike laughed evilly. This was going to be sooo much fun.

Just then he heard a deathlike groan coming from the bathroom. All laughter gone he turned and ran toward the bathroom and flung open the door. Peaches right behind him. Wesley lay on the floor. The scent of alcohol was overpowering in this tiny room. The empty bottle laying on it’s side a testament to Wesley’s drinking prowess. It looked like he was truly paying the price for it now.

“Aspirin...” was all that Wesley could croak out.

Spike stepped over him to the medicine cabinet and filled the tumbler that was on the counter with cold water. Squatting down he leaned over and handed him the aspirin and water. “You alright?”

“I’ll be fine. Just need a moment.” He scooted up against the wall and downed the aspirin with one swig. “You two done fighting?”

“We came to an understanding.” Angel was quick to say.

“I’m staying...” Spike answered smirking.

“Right. We’re going to need you in the upcoming events. I’m glad.” Wesley managed a weak smile. Spike gave him a hand up.

Angel broke in, “Wes, what is my phone doing in the toilet?”


~~~~~~~~~~

Buffy sat belly up to the bar looking a little uneasy. You could tell that she really didn’t get out much and wasn’t at ease in the whole bar scene. Faith watched her nervously twirl the umbrella in her drink and saw her look around the bar quickly not making eye contact with anyone. Her body language screamed stay away. A couple of guys in there weren’t getting the message and started over to her swaggering over confidently. Buffy looked up startled at the two guys in front of her. Now that The Immortal had let it be know that he had ‘tired’ of her she was getting hit on by any guy with a pulse. Faith saw the look turn to outrage and hurried over there before Buffy could get them thrown out.

Faith came around Buffy’s side and put her arm around her possessively. “Can’t I take a piss before you are off cheating on me?” Faith said with a menacing look at Buffy. She zeroed in on the two idiots in front of her. “Listen guys she’s mine. So back off. She’s not interested.” The two guys looked at each other kinda smirked and walked off. God only knew what was going on in their minds.

“Thanks, Faith... I think...” Buffy’s eyebrows shot up.

“Well I took a gamble there... usually they take off embarrassed but there is always the chance that they will stick around hoping to see some action.” Faith grinned. “Especially when it’s two gorgeous looking slayers like us. Wanna give ‘em a show?” Faith joked.

Buffy just rolled here eyes. Sometime she was just too much. It was impossible not to laugh.

There were a couple of tables scattered about and since it was still early they were mostly empty. The two eldest Slayers grabbed their drinks and sat down in a more secluded area. They had fallen into a routine where just the two of them went out for a drink on Friday nights. It was comfortable now and most of their issues were worked out. Faith understood how she was feeling and just let her be. She never pushed or asked how she was feeling but, would really listen if Buffy had something to say. It wasn’t about judgement or weighing every action it was more about being there and accepting.

For Buffy these nights were special. She had let go of her anger towards Faith. It was hard to stay mad at someone when you realized that you made terrible mistakes along the way too. They had come through all of their problems with a new commitment to a healthy relationship. One where they weren’t constantly competing against each other for everyone else’s approval. They didn’t get jealous of one another and tried to help each other out.

Faith had been there through many hard times. Causing more than a few of them. But ever since she had found Katrina’s lifeless body... and thought that she had been the cause of her death Buffy had a deeper sense of just how much hurt, guilt and helpless anger that Faith had gone through. Faith had turned on Buffy in displaced rage. While, Buffy had found an outlet for that rage in Spike. She hurt Spike like she had been hurting. She ended up taking her rage out on him. And funneled her guilt into every punch. Each blow only making it that much worse. Making her want to tear everything in her path to pieces. Broken and bleeding he still managed to forgive her for what she had done to him. How could Buffy not do the same for Faith. Knowing how it felt inside and how she had reacted like Faith did to her. It was a never ending circle. The rage pushing her to hurt and hurt bringing on the guilt till she had been miserable. There were many reasons that she had to respect Faith but being able to pull herself up out of that was amazing. When she had turned herself in to the authorities it been a turning point for their relationship. At the time, Buffy hadn’t been able to forgive yet but it had been a step in the right direction.

Buffy was proud of Faith for the way she had grown into a caring compassionate woman. Faith tried to reach out now and wasn’t completely shut off from the people around her. She was more defensive than most but that was just her. All of the SIT were in awe of her and really looked up to her for training and Faith responded to their need by blossoming into a nurturing caring woman. Well caring in her unorthodox way, of course.

Faith really never had expected Buffy to forgive her for the things that she had done to her and her friends. She had held on to the hope that maybe someday she would be allowed to tell her just how sorry she was for her actions. Everything had just went out of control. Every choice she had made had just made it worse. She was grateful for Buffy’s friendship. She cared for her like a sister and in many ways they had a friendly competitive relationship like they truly were sisters. She knew the loneliness and responsibility that being a Slayer had put on Buffy. She had felt those things too but, like so many of her choices she had taken the easy way out. Held herself responsible for nothing. Those days were over. She wanted to be proud of herself and took the time to care about others. She tried to treat people better and realized that not everyone was on the take. This last year had been about fixing the pieces within herself that had been broken. She had learned to trust again thanks to Buffy. Actually Xander had been a big help too. He had helped her realize that not all of the relationships in her past had been completely destructive. He was sweet. He made her feel like she was young again. And had all of her choices ahead of her.

Wood on the other hand, had gotten so possessive of her that finally Buffy had asked Giles to send him off to Cleveland just to give her some room. He was always suspecting things that weren’t there and she had finally been forced to call it off between them. She had such high hopes for him when they had started off... She hadn’t counted on his jealous streak that was a mile wide. And for once she had been behaving. Wanting a real relationship based in trust. When she figured out that he wasn’t ever going to trust her in that way it had been time to call it quits. It had been ugly. Why was she wasting time thinking about him when they could be having fun? She turned to Buffy who had been scoping out the dance floor.

“Let’s dance.”

Five hours later an exhausted Buffy quietly shut the door behind her. Her feet were killing her. How was she supposed to dance in five inch heels all night long. She reached down and undid one of the straps letting it fall noiselessly to the ground. Then the other one joined the pile. She smiled remembering how they had pretty much cleared the dance floor by the end of the night. A throng of people surrounding them. Mostly men. She went to put her purse down on the entry way table and noticed five messages on the answering machine. She put one well manicured finger on the button and pressed play...

~~~~~~~

Buffy hit the play button and a low melodic string of Italian words filled the air. She didn’t understand a word of it. Not like she hadn’t picked up a few words of Italian... she was doing good with signora and the whole pasta family of words like lasagna, fettuccine, ravioli and there was her favorite word ciao. So sophisticated. She might not understand the words coming out of the answering machine but she definitely knew the tone of them... Upbeat, chipper, no one is that impossibly happy. It was a telemarketer. Who knew that they would be getting those annoying calls in Italy. Buffy wondered if there was a Do Not Call List here too. She made a mental note to research it. It’s kinda sad when the research that she had to do these days was so mundane. She pressed the skip button to the next call.

Xander’s voice blared out at her. Buffy nervously looked in the direction of Dawn and Andrew’s bedrooms. Where was the volume control on this thing? “Andrew for the last time stop leaving me e-mail, voice mails and in general harassing me. There is no way you are going to convince me that the Ewoks in Star Wars Episode VI: The Return of the Jedi were, in fact, Xahn Gurth demons. You can see the zippers down their backs... Not a Lucas shining special effect moment. If Xahn Gurth demons got together in an amount like they used in the movie they would have set off a spawning episode that would still be going on today... Not a pretty  picture. No Ewok on Ewok loving for me! Uh, I hope that you are getting this message if not... Dawn... Buffy... Disregard anything that you heard before and uh, Hi?” Beep. Buffy shook her head smiling wryly.

Next message Buffy immediately recognized the carefully modulated tones of Giles. “Hello, Buffy. Just calling to see how you and Dawn are doing. Things are going well here. Willow and I are settled in at the Coven and we are going through more training. Sorry it took so long to call but we have had a grueling schedule. I hoped to catch you at home. Everything is progressing well. Willow has shown amazing strides in dealing with her new found wealth of “white” magic. They have us channeling it in positive ways. I rather thought that I wouldn’t be necessary here but their Seer assures me that I must stay and that I am very much needed so I won’t be coming back as planned. I guess I am going to consider this as a Holiday. I shall catch up with my research. And help where I can. Give me a ring when you get a chance.” Beep.

Well at least Giles had called to let her know what was going on. That was a new theme in their relationship. He tried to treat her as an equal instead of his pupil. He didn’t decide anything for her now. Ever since that disastrous decision with Wood. He had apologized over and over but, things were still a little strained between them.

Focusing on the next message Buffy realized that it was Giles again... Not a good sign. He was like clockwork. One perfunctory call and that was it. This smelled of trouble of the very big kind. “Buffy... Buffy if you are there pick up... Damn!” Also not a good sign. Giles rarely cursed in front of her. “Buffy listen closely... When you get this message you are going to have to take the next flight out to the States. Gather as many of the Slayers as you can round up. The Coven’s Seer has had a vision... and Buffy there is no easy way to tell you this but, it involves Angel. Something is happening there and we need to stop it from getting out of hand. This is going to be big. I think it might spark off a major war. Angel needs our help. Willow and I are going to go through a ritual with the Coven and they are going to teleport us to the Hyperion. Angel still owns it and it is a good meeting place for everyone.  I haven’t been able to get in touch with Angel. All I know  is that time is of the essence.Please hurry be ready for anything and as always be careful.”

Buffy was stunned. Why hadn’t Angel called her for help himself? He probably thought he could handle it. He never let her know when he needed help. Why did she bother calling him to let him know what was going on... Not that they had talked more than a handful of times this year. She could tell that he felt guilty about giving her the amulet. And what it had cost her. She wasn’t angry at him... about that. He had offered to wear it himself. It was his stupid arrogance that he was going to come through everything just fine. HE didn’t need HER help because of that stupid shawshank prophesy he was always going on about.  He was destined to play a HUGE part in upcoming battles for good... for evil... only he knew for sure. He was just sooo important that everyone wanted him on their side. He just made her blood boil. Well he was getting help whether he wanted it or not.

Buffy had turned to grab the phone to call Faith so she could round the others up. When she heard a vaguely familiar voice... “Buffy... It’sssh Wessshley Windham Prisshe. I don’t have time to explain everything but Angel is going up againssht The Shircle of the Black Thorn. The fighting hasn’t started yet but it’ssh going to be another apocalypse. Angel is going to need help. Sshlayer help. Giles must know, of course.” Wesley sounded wasted. But knowing Wesley the information that he was telling her was one hundred percent correct. Buffy changed her mind and started to dial up Giles he would have to be filled in on the details. The message continued, “For sshome unknown reason Angel wouldn’t let us tell you, but, I think it’s time for you to know that Sshhpike has been back amoungsssht ussh for quite some time.  Andrew will fill you in. Buffy hurry there’s not much time.” Buffy felt her world drop away. One word echoing over and over... Spike.

~~~~~~~~

She felt numb. All feeling was centered on the turmoil inside of her. Her heart started racing and she felt dizzy. She hadn’t even dared to hope that he might come back... He had died a mystical death. There was always that loophole. She was living proof right?  Spike. Alive. Spike. Alive. L.A. Spike. Is he okay? I have to see him. Oh God... Spike. Each thought crashing over and over in her head. Overwhelming joy fought with confusion. How?

Then she focused on the one word that could give her answers... Andrew. Her eyes narrowed. He had known? He had known and hadn’t told her? He is a Watcher-in-Training but this was pure unadulterated full blown Watcher style of withholding the truth. She stalked purposefully towards his bedroom and opened the door. Andrew was sleeping on his back. His mouth open softly snoring.The Star Wars night light softly glowing next to his bed. Buffy stood silhouetted against the light from the entryway. She couldn’t remember a time where she felt more rage directed at one of her friends. She tried to reign it in... afraid that she would hurt him. She walked toward the foot of the bed anger making her body shake. She climbed on the bed and straddling him so that he no chance to escape. She shook him by his shoulders. “Andrew wake up... Get up...” she said harshly.

His eyes snapped open his mouth a soft ‘oh’ of surprise. “Sweet, sweet Buffy,” he said sleepily, “You just couldn’t resist the siren call of my bed... Not many women can. Oh, they try but with my irresistible good looks and...”

Buffy carefully controlled herself... The urge to pummel him was extremely strong. She leaned closer until her face was inches away from his. Andrew’s eyes fluttered and he dramatically pursed his lips. Rolling her eyes she brought her hand up before his face and flicked him on the forehead.

“Oowww! What is that for?”

“Andrew if you have any chance of surviving this night you will tell me, in detail, how you trip to L.A. went and who exactly did you see there...”

‘It was here,’ Andrew thought wildly, ‘the black day that I have been dreading. Buffy finally knows the most painful, torturous secret I have ever had to keep. The glorious knowledge that William the Bloody had indeed, somehow survived the cataclysm in Sunnydale. I took an oath and bound by that horrible oath I could not reveal the miracle that is Spike... Oh! hateful promise, you have brought me so low...’

Buffy glared at him and brought her hand up swiftly and flicked him on the forehead again. “That was my final warning, Andrew! You won’t like what I do next! So spill.”

Andrew rubbed his forehead looking at Buffy pleadingly, “You don’t know what you are asking me. I made a promise. A sacred oath of trust that one must never break...”

Buffy her patience gone brought her hand up to Andrew’s face and pinched his nose. She had enough of his stalling and wanted answers. Out of sheer desperation she asked, “Do you want me to get Dawn in here?”

Andrew violently shuddered but remained impassive. His eyes darting around for any chance of escape. Buffy noticed and shook her head warningly at him. “You had your chance... DAAAAWWWN!  DAAAAWWWN, Get in here!”

They heard the sound of Dawn’s feet hitting the ground and the second noise of the the weapons chest being hurriedly opened. Then, not seven seconds after the first yell Dawn stood in the doorway. Buffy was impressed by her fast response time. Dawn shook her hair out of her face and asked, “What’s going on in here? Buffy you’re not killing us again are you?”

“Dawn... I have some good news and some bad. Let’s start with the good. Spike is alive and is somewhere in L.A. He somehow survived Sunnydale and is working with Angel...” Buffy didn’t get any further. Dawn’s eyes had misted over and she let out an unearthly squeal of happiness. She was practically jumping up and down with an axe in hands. Andrew’s face had gone pale and his breathing had become irregular. He never took his eyes off of Dawn for a second. He knew what was going to come next.

“The bad news,” Buffy continued, “is that another apocalypse is on the rise in L.A. and is headed straight for them. Also, Andrew here has known about it for about... When was his trip to L.A.? Oh yeah... Six months ago.” Dawn stood stock still. Her hand now bouncing the axe down against her other hand with a resounding thwap. “He refuses to say anything... a sworn oath means more than our happiness. Our trust that has been broken...” Dawn took one step forward.

Andrew started weeping. Crumbling under the combined threat of the Summer sisters. “Oh alright, I never meant to hurt you guys... I thought that you would find out from him. And I promised.” He said as if it explained everything. He sighed, “I saw Spike in L.A. He came back from the amulet. From what I was able to deduce he was incorporeal for a while and had just become solid shortly before I arrived. He seemed the same suavely handsome, chiseled self. He made me promise that I wouldn’t tell you that he had come back. He wanted you both to be happy and he thought you had a chance to be happy now out of Sunnydale and all that had connected you to it. Then, when Angel and him came out here looking for Buffy, last weekend I thought for sure that they would find you. But I guess they must have missed you. You being at the Immortal’s and all... They seemed a little miffed at the mention of him though. I let them know that you cared for them both and that you were happy. I thought that you might be mad at missing them so when you didn’t mention seeing them I kept quiet.” Buffy looked at him blackly. “What? I had a sacred oath to keep here...”

Dawn looked at Buffy who had remained uncommonly quiet throughout the whole story. That wasn’t a good sign. ‘She must be in shock... I know I am. Yay! Spike’s alive. Buffy is going to be sooo happy. I hope that she’s not ashamed of her fling with the Immortal. It would be just like her to be guilty about that. It wasn’t as if she knew that Spike was alive. Anyways the Immortal jerk has been out of the picture for a while now. It’s nothing to feel sorry about.’ Dawn thought.

Buffy was sorry. One white little lie...  It made things easier. Pretend to be dating. Pretend that it wasn’t killing her. Pretend that her life wasn’t empty without Spike. Her friends had been the only thing left. She wanted them to not worry about her. Only with Xander had she been honest enough to let him know the depths of her pain. Faith had seen some of the wreckage and wasn’t dumb enough to fall for the dating routine. But Faith hadn’t had enough courage to ask what was going on.She didn’t think that she had the right to pry. Not when they had their new tenuous friendship.

Buffy had been tempted and took the easy way out.’Oh... What’s it going to hurt let everyone believe that you have moved on?’ Except finding out that it had kept her away from the one truly important man in her life. The man that she had realized almost to late that he was the real love of her life. He had come here. That was the important fact. He had come to her and he thought that she had moved on. The pain inside her went deep. She had made so many stupid decisions in the past with him. This time it would be different. She would make him see how she felt about him.

Andrew was sobbing uncontrollably. Buffy put a comforting hand on his face wiping away the tears. She looked up at Dawn noticing the tears streaking down her face. She put out her other arm and gathered Dawn and Andrew into the most uncomfortable hug ever. She looked at them with a new fire in her eyes and said. “We’re going to L.A.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 

.A.

They only had this day left...

He stared down at what was left of his apartment. Everything was in shambles and it looked like a tornado had gone through the place. You would think that with the wealth of splintered wood lying around that at least one of the two vampires would be dusted. He tried to muster up some anger, even remorse for things destroyed that he had that were once important to him. He only felt empty. The things didn’t matter to him. Well maybe his books did... that was all he had left. What good was he without them? He was needed only for his mind. And lately that had been soaked in alcohol.

Fred was gone. Nothing was going to take her place. He felt all joy had gone out of his life.

He kept on going through the motions. The same stubbornness that had seen him through having his throat slit. For being a Judas in his friends eyes. For living even though he felt like he should be dead. Ashamed and hurt. Unworthy. He couldn’t quit. He found that he could still care about ideals and for some people... He still wanted to make things right. To somehow fix things so he could look at himself in the eye and feel that he had done enough. He was firmly committed to standing up to and ending the evil of Wolfram & Hart. He knew that this upcoming mission was almost impossible. It was his gordian knot. Since he couldn’t affect things from within Wolfram & Hart he would slice right through it. Hopefully to its heart. Stopping it for a moment. It would be enough for him.

It had taken all the things that had mattered from him. Lilah was gone to him. Knowing that she was forever in their service her soul gone for eternity. He thought about her a lot. He had tried to burn up her contract with the company to set her soul free. Only to see another reappear in its place. She was beyond his reach. And he grieved for her. There had been something about her that said that she could have been good if given the chance. She had been changing. He had seen the signs. He saw redemption in her future and then she was killed. All of her possibilities shattered.

Wolfram & Hart had definitely taken Fred away from him. Her soul burnt up so that something godlike could take its place. Left him with Illyria. Illyria that could, at times, be so much like Fred that it hurt. It was like seeing a car wreck... it was so morbid but you couldn’t tear your gaze away. All the glow that Fred had was still there when you saw Illyria. It was like looking at Fred as she truly was. Not an imitation but her. That is why he would do anything to keep Illyria from acting like Fred. He could manage fine being around her as Illyria but, seeing her act as Fred just poured salt into the wound. It had been tearing him to pieces.

Part of him was intrigued by Illyria and he hated himself for it. How could he be interested in the thing that had killed his love. He had a coldness inside him where he could clinically observe her and be asking himself if there was a way that he could study her. Measure her powers and classify her. Maybe figure out what had actually happened to Fred’s soul. So he could finally know and let it rest.

He had brought Illyria back from Spike’s apartment. Her wounds had healed and you couldn’t tell that they ever were there. She seemed mentally scarred from the beating that she had taken from Marcus. It was obvious that she wasn’t accustomed to being on that end of the fight. Wesley had tried to talk to her but after refusing to let her look like Fred she had closed herself off. She stared absently at the scattered remains of one of his chairs. Broken and battered. He hoped that she was ready to face her part of the plan tonight. Four members of the Blackthorn... He remembered her fighting skill... her strength and reassures himself that she will be fine. He stops. Why is he worrying about her, of them all, she’s the fiercest.

He only has to face Vail. An invalid. An immensely world bending powerful invalid. He made a mental note to bring his knives and personal stash of mojo for backup. He was ready no matter what it took he would get the job done. This had to mean something. For all that was lost there had to be some sort of retaliation...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Illyria looked down at the shattered leg of Wesley’s chair. That was how she had been when they had found her. Weak. Shattered. She knew now that she did not like those feelings. They were unfamiliar. Before she was contained that grovelling slave couldn’t have come close to touching her. She had been infinite. She felt her boundaries now... constraining. Fragile.

As she had lay there broken she had felt the spark. The spark that she had always been able to control. To banish. Flare. It had warmed her. Comforted. Spoke. Whispering nonsense words in a singsong voice that soothed. It was still there getting stronger as she was weak and healing. The words clearer with more direction. The one word repeating was Wesley.

She looked up into a pair of blue eyes. She saw pain flash in them. She felt pain too. She clamped down on the spark willing it to be quiet. Wanting to not feel these things. She stood stock still. The war that was raging inside of her unnoticed.

She needed to hurt the Wolf Ram & Hart. They had done this to her. They must pay. Vengeance was something that the spark and her understood very well.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

He had done it. The swirl of guilt ran through his mind. Drogan’s blood streamed through his veins strong and powerful.

He pushed away any thoughts of remorse. It was done and there was no turning back now. There had been no other choice left open for him.

Now, with his plan in place for Lindsey, he could afford no second guessing of himself. Lorne would follow through on his part of the deal... repugnant as it was for him.  Lindsey was evil and he had already consigned him to a hell dimension once already. Angel couldn’t waste time worrying about the fine line between right and wrong. He had made the hard decisions and everyone had better fall in line or the whole plan would collapse.

The sewer was especially rank today. He couldn’t risk taking one of the cars and letting Wolfram & Hart in on where he was going. He came up to the surface in the shadow of a strip mall. He had kept tabs on Connor since his “parents” had brought him in a few months ago. This whole situation would have never come to be without Connor. His love for Connor was unconditional and uncontrollable. It made him do things that he would normally never do. Like taking over Wolfram & Hart. He would do it over again in an instant... Even if it meant losing Cordelia and Fred. For Connor. He walked into coffee shop and spotted Connor going over his notes with a Grand Cafe Mocha in front of him. Figures he likes whipped cream... Just like his mom.

His smile genuine Angel waves awkwardly. “Hey... Umm... Connor, right?”

Connor looked up his gaze clear but quickly becomes shrouded when he recognizes Angel. “Oh, hi.”

“Uh... What are you studying there?” Angle tried for the small talk.

Connor shook his dirty blonde hair out of his face, and looked at Angel directly, “I know that you are my father. I have all the memories back. They’re there mixed up with my new ones, like a bad dream. An inappropriate erotic bad dream?...with a cheerleader?”

Angel looks like he’s been punched in the gut. “Do... Umm... Do you have any questions? Uhhh... Not about that... The cheerleader thing,” he said uncomfortably.

Connor shook his head, “I understand what you did. I am grateful but I just... I just don’t want to talk about it.”

Angel wanted thing to be better between them but he had given up so much just to make it even this much better for him so he didn’t push. “Well if you ever have questions you know where to find me... I hope... I want you to be happy.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Lorne struggled to try and choke down what passed as a seabeeze in this tired karoake bar. He sighed. It was probably for the best. His gut was churning over and over. He had thought that a drink might calm him down. It wasn’t going to be that easy for him.

Angel’s request for him to “back up” Lindsey weighed on him. The thought of intentionally hurting another made him feel queasy. He hated fighting. That was the reason he had been relieved to be here rather than in his home dimension of Pylea. That Angel had let it come to this was what was really bothering him. He had followed Angel before and tried to help in any way that he was able. But, this wasn’t what he believed in. Angel was going in the wrong direction.

He would do what was asked... This one last time and that was it. Then he was done. 

He heard his name called and stepped on to the stage...

“If I Ruled The World” was never sung better.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

He looked up and down the street cautiously. Some habits died hard. It was a good thing that they didn’t. Charles looked around at what had been his home. Where he had grown up. Where he had lost Alonna. It never stopped hurting. Even now thinking about how he wasn’t able to saved her. Hadn’t kept her safe. He was all that she had. It didn’t matter that he had dusted hundreds of vampires. It mattered that he had dusted her. His sister.

He had nowhere to go. No one who really cared. Just what was left of his friends and tonight he had to make a difference. There was no room for mistakes.

What did he have now... A fancy suit? A dead ex-girlfriend? Another casualty to his ego?

He felt that what they were doing tonight was the right thing to do. To finally go up against the evil instead of sucking up to it. Angel’s plan to take over Wolfram & Hart from the inside was at best delusional. There was no stopping evil that you shook hands with.

He was so ready to tear each and every vampire to shreds with his own bare hands if need be. The Senator was about to be voted out of office and back into hell.

He would try to change things down here. He would care. For the people that had it the hardest. He headed over to the shelter to see if there was anything that he could do to help. He was going to spend his day trying to make whatever difference he could.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Whiskey. More. More. More. His hands were shaking.

He had thought of calling Buffy. What do you say to someone who you love when you know that you are probably not going to see them again. That had been his whole reason for existence since he came back. He must see Buffy. Buffy would see that he had changed now. That he was worthy. That his soul was every bit as worthy to love as Angel’s was. He had sacrificed himself. To save the world. But for him it had been to save Buffy and Dawn, the bit.

When he had finally gotten his chance to go to Italy it was the defining moment of his unlife. And Buffy had moved on. It had been a year. She had no reason to know that he was alive. If it would matter or not was the question. He wanted to be big enough to accept those reasons but seeing her with the Immortal had just reaffirmed all of Angel’s snide comments.

‘That why would Buffy care if he had come back? That she hadn’t felt the connection between them. That nothing was going to compare to the great love of 1999. And his one shiny perfect moment. The git! And what was with all the cookie dough comments? You would think that he had a sweet tooth but the guy never touched anything that resembled human food...’

He couldn’t get drunk enough for what he wanted to do. Which was to call Buffy up and tell her how he really felt. To let all of his feeling come out and just be done with it... Buffy never seemed to handle his confessions the way he hoped she would. All the times in the past when he told her how he felt always ended up in disaster.

Since there was no way that a long distance phone call was in his future he settled down to pass the rest of the day with his second love, poetry. He could channel all of his feeling into it. And be held up for public humiliation, again...

Another shot.

“Keep it coming... Damn, gimme the bottle.”


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

4L.A.

They only had this day left...

He stared down at what was left of his apartment. Everything was in shambles and it looked like a tornado had gone through the place. You would think that with the wealth of splintered wood lying around that at least one of the two vampires would be dusted. He tried to muster up some anger, even remorse for things destroyed that he had that were once important to him. He only felt empty. The things didn’t matter to him. Well maybe his books did... that was all he had left. What good was he without them? He was needed only for his mind. And lately that had been soaked in alcohol.

Fred was gone. Nothing was going to take her place. He felt all joy had gone out of his life.

He kept on going through the motions. The same stubbornness that had seen him through having his throat slit. For being a Judas in his friends eyes. For living even though he felt like he should be dead. Ashamed and hurt. Unworthy. He couldn’t quit. He found that he could still care about ideals and for some people... He still wanted to make things right. To somehow fix things so he could look at himself in the eye and feel that he had done enough. He was firmly committed to standing up to and ending the evil of Wolfram & Hart. He knew that this upcoming mission was almost impossible. It was his gordian knot. Since he couldn’t affect things from within Wolfram & Hart he would slice right through it. Hopefully to its heart. Stopping it for a moment. It would be enough for him.

It had taken all the things that had mattered from him. Lilah was gone to him. Knowing that she was forever in their service her soul gone for eternity. He thought about her a lot. He had tried to burn up her contract with the company to set her soul free. Only to see another reappear in its place. She was beyond his reach. And he grieved for her. There had been something about her that said that she could have been good if given the chance. She had been changing. He had seen the signs. He saw redemption in her future and then she was killed. All of her possibilities shattered.

Wolfram & Hart had definitely taken Fred away from him. Her soul burnt up so that something godlike could take its place. Left him with Illyria. Illyria that could, at times, be so much like Fred that it hurt. It was like seeing a car wreck... it was so morbid but you couldn’t tear your gaze away. All the glow that Fred had was still there when you saw Illyria. It was like looking at Fred as she truly was. Not an imitation but her. That is why he would do anything to keep Illyria from acting like Fred. He could manage fine being around her as Illyria but, seeing her act as Fred just poured salt into the wound. It had been tearing him to pieces.

Part of him was intrigued by Illyria and he hated himself for it. How could he be interested in the thing that had killed his love. He had a coldness inside him where he could clinically observe her and be asking himself if there was a way that he could study her. Measure her powers and classify her. Maybe figure out what had actually happened to Fred’s soul. So he could finally know and let it rest.

He had brought Illyria back from Spike’s apartment. Her wounds had healed and you couldn’t tell that they ever were there. She seemed mentally scarred from the beating that she had taken from Marcus. It was obvious that she wasn’t accustomed to being on that end of the fight. Wesley had tried to talk to her but after refusing to let her look like Fred she had closed herself off. She stared absently at the scattered remains of one of his chairs. Broken and battered. He hoped that she was ready to face her part of the plan tonight. Four members of the Blackthorn... He remembered her fighting skill... her strength and reassures himself that she will be fine. He stops. Why is he worrying about her, of them all, she’s the fiercest.

He only has to face Vail. An invalid. An immensely world bending powerful invalid. He made a mental note to bring his knives and personal stash of mojo for backup. He was ready no matter what it took he would get the job done. This had to mean something. For all that was lost there had to be some sort of retaliation...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Illyria looked down at the shattered leg of Wesley’s chair. That was how she had been when they had found her. Weak. Shattered. She knew now that she did not like those feelings. They were unfamiliar. Before she was contained that grovelling slave couldn’t have come close to touching her. She had been infinite. She felt her boundaries now... constraining. Fragile.

As she had lay there broken she had felt the spark. The spark that she had always been able to control. To banish. Flare. It had warmed her. Comforted. Spoke. Whispering nonsense words in a singsong voice that soothed. It was still there getting stronger as she was weak and healing. The words clearer with more direction. The one word repeating was Wesley.

She looked up into a pair of blue eyes. She saw pain flash in them. She felt pain too. She clamped down on the spark willing it to be quiet. Wanting to not feel these things. She stood stock still. The war that was raging inside of her unnoticed.

She needed to hurt the Wolf Ram & Hart. They had done this to her. They must pay. Vengeance was something that the spark and her understood very well.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

He had done it. The swirl of guilt ran through his mind. Drogan’s blood streamed through his veins strong and powerful.

He pushed away any thoughts of remorse. It was done and there was no turning back now. There had been no other choice left open for him.

Now, with his plan in place for Lindsey, he could afford no second guessing of himself. Lorne would follow through on his part of the deal... repugnant as it was for him.  Lindsey was evil and he had already consigned him to a hell dimension once already. Angel couldn’t waste time worrying about the fine line between right and wrong. He had made the hard decisions and everyone had better fall in line or the whole plan would collapse.

The sewer was especially rank today. He couldn’t risk taking one of the cars and letting Wolfram & Hart in on where he was going. He came up to the surface in the shadow of a strip mall. He had kept tabs on Connor since his “parents” had brought him in a few months ago. This whole situation would have never come to be without Connor. His love for Connor was unconditional and uncontrollable. It made him do things that he would normally never do. Like taking over Wolfram & Hart. He would do it over again in an instant... Even if it meant losing Cordelia and Fred. For Connor. He walked into coffee shop and spotted Connor going over his notes with a Grand Cafe Mocha in front of him. Figures he likes whipped cream... Just like his mom.

His smile genuine Angel waves awkwardly. “Hey... Umm... Connor, right?”

Connor looked up his gaze clear but quickly becomes shrouded when he recognizes Angel. “Oh, hi.”

“Uh... What are you studying there?” Angle tried for the small talk.

Connor shook his dirty blonde hair out of his face, and looked at Angel directly, “I know that you are my father. I have all the memories back. They’re there mixed up with my new ones, like a bad dream. An inappropriate erotic bad dream?...with a cheerleader?”

Angel looks like he’s been punched in the gut. “Do... Umm... Do you have any questions? Uhhh... Not about that... The cheerleader thing,” he said uncomfortably.

Connor shook his head, “I understand what you did. I am grateful but I just... I just don’t want to talk about it.”

Angel wanted thing to be better between them but he had given up so much just to make it even this much better for him so he didn’t push. “Well if you ever have questions you know where to find me... I hope... I want you to be happy.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Lorne struggled to try and choke down what passed as a seabeeze in this tired karoake bar. He sighed. It was probably for the best. His gut was churning over and over. He had thought that a drink might calm him down. It wasn’t going to be that easy for him.

Angel’s request for him to “back up” Lindsey weighed on him. The thought of intentionally hurting another made him feel queasy. He hated fighting. That was the reason he had been relieved to be here rather than in his home dimension of Pylea. That Angel had let it come to this was what was really bothering him. He had followed Angel before and tried to help in any way that he was able. But, this wasn’t what he believed in. Angel was going in the wrong direction.

He would do what was asked... This one last time and that was it. Then he was done. 

He heard his name called and stepped on to the stage...

“If I Ruled The World” was never sung better.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

He looked up and down the street cautiously. Some habits died hard. It was a good thing that they didn’t. Charles looked around at what had been his home. Where he had grown up. Where he had lost Alonna. It never stopped hurting. Even now thinking about how he wasn’t able to saved her. Hadn’t kept her safe. He was all that she had. It didn’t matter that he had dusted hundreds of vampires. It mattered that he had dusted her. His sister.

He had nowhere to go. No one who really cared. Just what was left of his friends and tonight he had to make a difference. There was no room for mistakes.

What did he have now... A fancy suit? A dead ex-girlfriend? Another casualty to his ego?

He felt that what they were doing tonight was the right thing to do. To finally go up against the evil instead of sucking up to it. Angel’s plan to take over Wolfram & Hart from the inside was at best delusional. There was no stopping evil that you shook hands with.

He was so ready to tear each and every vampire to shreds with his own bare hands if need be. The Senator was about to be voted out of office and back into hell.

He would try to change things down here. He would care. For the people that had it the hardest. He headed over to the shelter to see if there was anything that he could do to help. He was going to spend his day trying to make whatever difference he could.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Whiskey. More. More. More. His hands were shaking.

He had thought of calling Buffy. What do you say to someone who you love when you know that you are probably not going to see them again. That had been his whole reason for existence since he came back. He must see Buffy. Buffy would see that he had changed now. That he was worthy. That his soul was every bit as worthy to love as Angel’s was. He had sacrificed himself. To save the world. But for him it had been to save Buffy and Dawn, the bit.

When he had finally gotten his chance to go to Italy it was the defining moment of his unlife. And Buffy had moved on. It had been a year. She had no reason to know that he was alive. If it would matter or not was the question. He wanted to be big enough to accept those reasons but seeing her with the Immortal had just reaffirmed all of Angel’s snide comments.

‘That why would Buffy care if he had come back? That she hadn’t felt the connection between them. That nothing was going to compare to the great love of 1999. And his one shiny perfect moment. The git! And what was with all the cookie dough comments? You would think that he had a sweet tooth but the guy never touched anything that resembled human food...’

He couldn’t get drunk enough for what he wanted to do. Which was to call Buffy up and tell her how he really felt. To let all of his feeling come out and just be done with it... Buffy never seemed to handle his confessions the way he hoped she would. All the times in the past when he told her how he felt always ended up in disaster.

Since there was no way that a long distance phone call was in his future he settled down to pass the rest of the day with his second love, poetry. He could channel all of his feeling into it. And be held up for public humiliation, again...

Another shot.

“Keep it coming... Damn, gimme the bottle.”


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Outside of London

The weather was uncommonly warm for this time of year. It had been nice to be back in England. He knew it wouldn’t last.

Giles sighed and started to clean his glasses with his handkerchief. It was at times like these that he really felt useless. What could an middle aged Ex-Watcher do that was going to make a difference. In the big fights he was more of a background player. Useful but not in a major way. Most of his texts that he had in the U.S. had been to refer to books that had been here in London. All of that glorious knowledge had been lost.

Surprisingly, a wealth of books had been out on loan to Wesley’s Father, Roger Wyndam-Price. He was able to get most of them back from the retired Watcher. He had to endure the biting tongue of the old man for hours in order to do so. It had been worth it. Almost. To think that Wesley turned out as good as he did was a huge surprise. Growing up with a man such as that couldn’t be easy.

He had been able to straighten out most of the financial matters and that left the surviving members of the Council, himself included, well off. He had managed to get an annuity set up for each Slayer so that they wouldn’t have to be forced to deal with financial matters on top of trying to save the world on a daily basis. To think about what Buffy had been through the past two years. She was really an amazing woman. Everything that he had hoped she would be. She made him proud...

He had even been able to get one set up for Dawn since she was mystical in origin. The only catch is that the remaining Council members wanted one interview with her so they could question her more about Glory. They had taken his full report of what had happened. But as with any major event, they tried to get as many eyewitness accounts and Dawn’s role had been pivotal. Buffy would have a fit but, would give in for Dawn’s best interest.

There wasn’t any real need for her to be concerned. The Council that Buffy had known was gone. None of the Elders remained. There was going to be a power vacuum until someone stepped up to fill the position. He had set a date with the surviving member to elect a Council Head but that was weeks away. In the meantime, he had been given authority to use whatever he would need for the upcoming onslaught. This conflict was going to be on a bigger scale that anything that he had faced with Buffy before.

There was organization behind every movement that Wolfram & Hart made. They were always two steps ahead of every move that the Council, at full strength, had ever made. The disaster that had happened to the Council had been noted and every attempt at secrecy was made. Giles thought reasonably that there was little more that he could do. Stress and anxiety was making him want to smoke. He had given it up... The absolute wrong time to have tried to.

Then Willow had come in from the Continent... There was a serenity to her now. She had found something within on that day in Sunnydale. When everyone else had lost so much. He still could remember the lose on everyone's face. They had lost some of the girls. Anya. Spike.

That last name brought back bitter memories for him. He had been so sure of himself. So self righteous. He knew evil. He had danced along the edge of it in his youth. Flirted with it since. But how could he even think to make such a decision for Buffy. She had been the only one to fully trust Spike... Spike had saved them all and he had tried to kill him a week before. He felt full of regret. There was nothing that he could do now to assuage his guilt.

Hindsight was always twenty twenty... Of all of his bad decisions this was the one he most regretted. For losing Buffy’s trust. For not giving Spike a chance. He had been so scared for them all at the end of the siege that the First had imposed on them. It had looked so dark. And he had doubted the two that had shed light upon them all with their actions. Willow had played her part in saving them. He had doubted her, too. He was humbled. His ego had taken a blow. He had so many successes with Buffy, that he had turned a blind eye to the fact, that it was because of her that they always triumphed. He played his part. That’s all it was... a part.

The time he had spent here at the Coven had been the best part of his Holiday. Willow had been progressing so well. He had helped in training her. For some reason the Coven had thought that his past with her would strengthen the lessons. It had awakened in him a spiral of energy. His own power. That he had carefully kept hidden. Buried within himself. Since his youthful summoning of the demon that had killed his friends. When he was the Ripper. Ethan had known that he had buried the power. That is why he he had come to Sunnydale... To see what was left of it. He had left disappointed. Giles had kept a firm reign on himself. Now it was rearing itself up again demanding to be used. Tempting once again.

He saw movement out of the corner of his eye. The Coven’s Seer, Margaret. She had followed him out to the gardens. He had been blindly looking out at the landscape not truly appreciating the beauty of it. Everything was natural and free. The only order was the herb gardens. They were carefully tended and shaped in intricate knots. Margaret smiled at him.

“We are almost ready for you...”

“I’m not sure I am ready for this...”

“I know that you are. Remember I see how it can unfold. You just have to be true to yourself. You have to accept that part of you that you have denied. It is unnatural for you to suppress such a gift.”

“It isn’t a gift...”

“Yes, it is... You have the wisdom now to use it as it should be used. And we have provided you with the training. All of the time that you were helping Willow you were helping yourself too.”

“Why does it have to be me? I would rather not do magicks. I am afraid of the consequences that they bring...”

“You know that we cannot leave the Coven. We are bound to the land. We are the protectors of the sacred stones. Our power’s would diminish outside of our boundaries. That is why we sent Willow back to her friends before she became too afraid to leave here. She is not meant to be a part of us. We must bind our powers to yours so that you both may become our weapon in this upcoming fight. Our vessels. The two of you must go through with this ritual. I know that you did not like the experience before when we sent you to help guide Willow back to the right path. But we know that you have the strength to withstand the ritual and the wisdom to use the power wisely. You also now have the training with Willow that will help you. When you used the power in your youth you were stripping it away from others. You now have the knowledge of how to channel existing energy, to borrow it, not drain it from others. There will be a difference no consequences. No backlash. You both have a certain amount of natural energy but combined with ours you should have enough to turn the tide of this upcoming fight.”

“Are you sure that Willow and I are the right choice?”

The small smile was back on Margaret’s face. “Giles... I am sure. Visions... remember? I’ve known you for years. Do you honestly think that I would mess up on something as important as this?”

“Well... It is rather hard to grasp the concept that I am going to be using the power that I have been spending my life trying to deny.”

“You are ready.” She extended her hand and walked him into the house heading for the main hall. The floors were made of stone and they had been swept clean. The smell of incense hung heavily in the air. Willow was standing in the middle of an elaborately drawn out pentagram. Many of the symbols Giles had to look twice at to decipher. He saw that she had been dressed like him in linen. She had a loosely flowing gown and looked radiant.

She held one arm out to him as an invitation. He looked at Margaret, who only nodded, and went to join her in the inner circle. Willow grasped his forearm and took his hand up and placed it on her shoulder. And repeated the motion so that Giles hands were now resting on her shoulders. She made a hand gesture in front of Giles’ heart and motioned that he should repeat it. The silence in the hall was overpowering. The Coven sisters had filled in the ranks around them and watched the proceeding with a critical eye. Once Giles had repeated her motion Willow placed her hands on his shoulders... the spell had started and the room filled with warm yellow light.

Low chanting filled the room where silence had been before. In front of each member of the Coven was a ball of energy that when it became big enough its owner would send it to wash over both. Willow and Giles. There was a peacefulness to this. A strong sense of giving. So different than what Willow had done when she had practiced black magicks.

The euphoria that Giles and Willow felt was enormous. Power came washing over them in waves. The training that they went through helped stabilize their centers and kept them focused on what was to come next.

Willow felt her eyes start to turn black. Giles had been waiting just for that to happen. She felt his power expand and help her with her control. His many years of self discipline extending itself to help her. She knew that this wasn’t what usually happened. Giles shouldn’t be able to tell exactly what she would need and be able to somehow give it to her. But she was grateful for the increased control that it gave her.

They felt the room start to fade around them. Energy streaking across each others face. Both lit up with a glow that was ethereal. Giles felt her joy and felt a strange answering feeling coming straight from him to her. A connection was made in the circle that helped tame the immense power that had been bestowed on them. The power was shared between them and the burden was somehow lessened. The support that they gave each other. Each complimenting each others weakness with their strengths. A perfect balance.

The last ball of energy had been absorbed by them and they held each other close as the Coven completed the spell and teleported them outside the Hyperion Hotel.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Kennedy fumed. She was on her way from New York to LAX and couldn’t wait to get there. She hated flying. Especially since she wasn’t in first class.

She had been stuck with this passel of brats since Willow and Giles had decided to get spelled up. If anyone should be helping Willow it should be her. She had already assisted her in that spell in Sunnydale and it was a piece of cake. Why the Watcher had to get involved she would never know.

She resolved to talk to Giles about opening a Slayer branch in major cities that could handle emergencies like this one. All this travelling was getting tedious. She had rounded up twenty seven slayers and had bribed their way onto this flight. Giles was going to be so pissed when he saw the bill for this one. That brought a smile of satisfaction to her face.

L.A. here we come.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Buffy had never accomplished anything so fast. The Concorde jet with its 47 passengers had taken off and was making good time in their flight to L.A. The night before had been a blur of action. Everything had been chaos. After Andrews confession, Buffy had called the house where all of the new Slayers were staying at. She filled them in on all of the pertinent details of the upcoming battle and told them to be ready in fifteen minutes since they had to head out as fast as they could. The girls had been trained for emergencies such as this. It constantly amazed Buffy that they were so organized, like a well oiled machine. Each girl had their battle gear and small weapon kits ready for the flight.

Dawn had taken the time to call up and organize their flight. Since the Council was footing this bill Dawn had booked an entire private plane that would take them to L.A. in record time. It also made the weapon kits a viable choice, stowed away of course.

She then put in a call to Rona, one of the surviving Slayers from Sunnydale, she had been put in L.A. to kind of keep tabs on what Angel had been up to. She would be needed to help bring weapons for Kennedy’s group of Slayers that would be arriving from London. Rona had been surprised to get the call and was happy that there was finally going to be some action of the demony kind in Los Angeles. Rona confirmed that no one had been seen around the Hyperion and that it seemed as good place as any for them to meet up at. Dawn hung up the phone grateful that the weapons would be waiting for them outside of the Hyperion.

Now that the dust had died down, Buffy could feel her hands shaking. She had never had such a feeling of fear. She had been desperate to help Spike before when he was taken away by the First. But between fighting the Ubervamp and all the demands of her friends and the slayer-in-training she had buried the terror and desperation down so deep. She knew that she could never do that again. She just didn’t have it in her to hold back all of her feelings anymore. The shaking got worse. She moved to the back of the plane trying to get away from any prying eyes. She was going to lose it. She knocked on the bathroom door grateful when no one answered.

Taking deep breaths she tried to hold back the sobs that were consuming her. Spike. That one word filled her. All other thoughts went away. How could I find out about him being back and have to face the chance of losing him again. I can’t let anything happen to time. I won’t let anything happen to him... this time... I am going to tell him over and over again that I love him and make him believe. I have to make him believe... I don’t know if he can ever forgive me for some of the things that I did to him, but if he can at least know that I love him...That will be enough.

She continued to cry channeling all of her fear and worry into it. She wrapped her arms around herself and slowly rocked back and forth. Slowly the tears stopped flowing and she was able to breath normally again. She went to the sink and washed her face not really caring if anyone knew that she had been crying. It was about time that she stopped hiding her true feelings. She would never be truly happy if she lived her life to make everyone else happy. To live up to their ideals of her. She wasn’t a role model. She was a woman. A woman who had found out that she had another chance at happiness. This time she was going to embrace it.

Dawn noticed that Buffy had left and knew that this was a hard time for her. She was grateful that they both had another chance with Spike. He had been there for them during such dark times. He had been like older brother to her and sometimes understood her better than Buffy ever could. She hoped that they could get past some of the harsh words that had been said. She had said them in anger and was sorry for them now. They were landing in about ten minutes and Buffy still hadn’t come out of the bathroom... She started to get out of her seat to see if she was alright when the door opened. Buffy looked up at Dawn both silently communicating that this was it. They weren’t going to lose him again. A small smile hovered on Buffy’s lips as she sat down next to Dawn and grabbed her hand. They touched down.

Rona was waiting for them at the Hyperion. In front of her, fingers pointing was Kennedy. Buffy could tell that this wasn’t going to end well. Of all the new Slayers these two had never gotten along.

“You call these weapons? Half of them are ginzu knives!” Kennedy huffed. Eyes rolling.

“Kennedy, you don’t have to use them then! You can go into the fight with your bare hands, bitch!”

The other Slayers had been watching this exchange with wide eyes. No one wanted to get in the middle of these two when they went at it. Buffy sighed.

“You two need to stop right now.”

Rona looked over at Buffy and looked embarrassed. “Uh... Hi Buffy. I tried to get the weapons you asked for...”

“You didn’t try hard enough...” Kennedy broke in. Buffy gave her a dirty look and she trailed off. There was something about Kennedy that rubbed her the wrong way. She looked at the array of weapons that Rona had scraped together. Seven swords, an ax, two spears,
five crossbows,  a mace, a flail, two broadswords and an assortment of knives. All in all not bad for a last minute scrape up.

“Well it looks like we’re in pretty good shape. Nice work Rona you managed to gather up enough weapons for us. We can share from our extra weapon kits that we brought. We couldn’t gather up enough on our own...” Buffy shot a withering glance at Kennedy daring her to pipe in. “You helped out a lot...”

There was a bright flash and the girls raised up their arms to shield their eyes. Standing off to one side was Willow and Giles. They looked radiant. Each of them wrapped in each others arms. Willow looked so tiny next to Giles frame. Seconds passed neither one let go. There was an embarrassed cough from Xander. They blinked finally becoming aware that they were surrounded by their friends. Giles stepped back fractionally and reached for his glasses while Willow nervously wrung her hangs in front of her.

Kennedy was shooting murderous glances at Giles while she demanded, “What the hell was that?”

“Uh..Ah... a teleport spell.” Willow said as way of an explanation.

“You know what I meant...” Kennedy began but was interrupted by a huge screech that filled the air. Looking up they saw an impossible sight. A dragon.

Buffy looked in the direction that it was headed and nodded to the others. “Everyone knows what they are supposed to do.” Buffy was already in motion tossing weapons to the other girls. She paused a moment and asked, “Willow do you think you can get us there?”

Willow nodded and shyly grabbed Giles hand, “We can get us all there...” At the plural Kennedy’s eyes snapped back to Giles seething with rage. Buffy shot a questioning glance at Giles but there was no time to ask now.

Giles shifted a little bit uncomfortable at the sudden curious looks he was getting from the girls. “Ahh... It would seem that we would be able... rather, Willow and I could do a spell of sorts that would get us to the location of the fight.” Willow smiled at him reassuringly.

“Giles here is the souped up version... We’re gonna mojo all of us to the site. Just give us a second to get the spell right...” Willow said breathlessly. Her other hand grasped Giles and everyone could see the energy surround them. Surging back and forth like a closed circuit.  They mumbled a few words sounding suspiciously like, "Clatto Verata Nicto." And a energy band surrounded the girls and started to constrict.

Buffy yelled to Dawn, “Remember you, Xander and Andrew head to the roof... You have to guide us to where we are needed.” She touched her two-way that was clipped to her belt. The rest of the girls switched theirs on. The band tightened and they were gone...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Angel nervously waited for the game to begin... He picked up the curved knife he used as a paperweight on his desk and started to put it in his belt when Marcus walked in. Accusing him of trying to take out Arch Duke Sebassis. Game on...

‘Marcus knew what his plans were. Good. Harmony is an open book and I know exactly how to read her.’ Angel thought with satisfaction. ‘Sebassis should be already lying cold by now. His slave being the only one he drinks from... I poisoned him with a toxin that will slowly kill him inching its way through his system. But by taking the blood directly it will instantly kill Sebassis. If there is one thing I know... its blood...’ Angel thought darkly. ‘Now I’ve got to focus on my real problem. Marcus.’

Angel realized somewhere between him not connecting with Marcus’ face and being thrown through the glass ceiling that he might have underestimated Marcus. The lobby was deserted except for Harmony who was protesting her innocence. Angel quickly told her to grab her stuff and get out. With references. She scurries off after a wave and a bright, “You’re the best!”

Marcus came striding toward him and Angel was ready this time hitting him with a couple of gut punches. Marcus didn’t flinch. Uh-Oh...

Marcus grabbed him by the neck easily lifting him off the ground.

Angel not needing to breath ground out, “Did that even hurt... at all?”

Marcus cocked his head to the side his lips pursed in thought, “Well I guess it did... A little. But, Hey, it’s part of the package around here...” He threw Angel toward the balcony hoping to crack a few of the banisters. Jackpot. Angel went crashing through, obviously shooken up, and lay there on the floor.

Hurrying up the stairs he told Angel that the Senior Partners wasted valuable time on him and that now they had no interest in keeping him around anymore. He had a chance and he had failed, just like he always failed the people he cared about. Like Fred. Like Darla. Like Cordelia. It was time for Angel to follow in their footsteps. He picked Angel up easily.

“Did you really think that you could hurt Arch Duke Sebassis. Let alone kill him.” he taunted.

“Well, seeing that he is already dead... Yeah, I do think I could hurt him. Y’see Marcus, m’boy, you really are the one I want.”

“Well I’m happy to oblige.” He picked him up and tossed him over the balcony. “I could keep this up all night.”

Angel lay in a heap groaning. Marcus had took his time savoring the hopelessness he felt coming off of Angel in waves. He picked up a splinter of wood from the banisters and made his way downstairs. Whistling a jaunty tune... He made his way over to where Angel lay and brought up the stake so that Angel knew what was coming. It was the moment he had been waiting for since he had signed his shiny new contract and booted Eve out of the position of liaison to the Senior Partners. Time to dust his boss.

Angel saw the wood come down and couldn’t do anything to prevent it from striking home. He closed his eyes in regret for his failure. He felt the weight on top of him shift and heard the sound of flesh hitting flesh. His eyes flew open. Connor stood over him and offered a hand up. Gratitude then instant terror flashed through him. He couldn’t even protect himself let alone Connor.

“What are you doing here!” It came out a lot harsher than he expected it too.

“Like YOU just stop by for coffee... Give me a break! I knew the world was ending, or something like that.” Connor rolled his eyes.

Marcus recovered from Connor's punch. The kid has a mean left hook. He got up and advanced on Connor who was fast but couldn’t get away in time. With both hand on Connor’s arms he head butted him and tossed him into the elevator.

Angel felt sick. Connor lay still against the elevator door. The metal on the door was dented in from the force of the blow. He could feel all encompassing rage take hold. This wasn’t good. He needed to keep his head in this fight. He rained blows down on Marcus but they didn’t leave any lasting effects. It was like it all just rolled off him.

Marcus started punching him, in time with each blow he said, “You cannot beat me... I am part of them. The Wolf. The Ram. And The Hart. Their power flows through my blood.”

Angel stood up got behind him and vamped sinking his fangs into his neck. “Guess which one of those words you shouldn’t have said?”

Marcus is shocked at first and Angel is able to get a good quantity of his blood before he grabs him and pulls him off. He throws him away from him but Angel flips through the air and lands back down before him again.

The blood flowing through him combined with Drogan’s blood is extremely powerful. He can feel the injuries that he sustained before vanishing within seconds. He starts matching blow for blow with Marcus each of them now an equal in strength. Angel saw an opening in his defenses, and just like that, he snapped his neck with one blow. Marcus lay there another piece of the game removed from the board.

Angel felt the building shake. Running over to Connor he took him by the shoulder and shook him awake. “We have got to get out of here. Connor! We have to go... The building is collapsing...” He looked at his son overjoyed that he is fine. “Thanks for the help, but you have to get out of here NOW! Go home where you’ll be safe.”

“I can help though...” Connor stared at him stubbornly for a second then seeing the fear behind his eyes trailed off. “Alright... Dad.” He embraced him quickly and in a flash he was gone, running out of the building. Angel watched him go. Pride and fear fighting each other for dominance. He might also be a target for Wolfram & Hart but, if he stayed he wouldn’t have a chance in hell of surviving. The building shook harder.

He ran to tell Eve to clear out. She looked at him with pleading eyes and asked for Lindsey.

“Lindsey won’t be coming for you...”

“How can you you...”

“He won’t.” Angel broke in with finality. “You have to go...”

Eve looked at Angel finally understanding that her worst fear had come true. There wasn’t going to be any redemption in the future for her or Lindsey. There definitely wasn’t anymore Lindsey. Her heart was breaking. The walls shook menacingly and Angel looked back once more at her gesturing for her to follow him. She couldn’t move. She knew now that she couldn’t follow Angel and all of Wolfram and Hart was after her already. She stood stock still as a chunk of the ceiling came crashing down between her and Angel. Angel retreated running for the lobby doors. She had no where to go...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Lindsey was pumped. This was going to be fun. Working on Angel’s side was a bit of a kick but, hell, he was ready to step up and take the reigns at Wolfram and Hart. Eve would be his second in command. That girl had proved herself to him in so many ways.

He never thought that he would fall for her. He hadn’t started it out that way. She was supposed to fall in love with him and do what he wanted with no strings attached. Soon he found that he needed to be around her and she had understood him. How ambitious he was. Helped him.

She was already a liaison to the Senior Partners and she was only twenty seven. He knew what it took to move up at Wolfram and Hart and harbored no illusions about her. She had full access to his file and knew thing about him that he hid from all others. Yet it was there. This feeling. It was precious because of all that they had sacrificed for the company. Their morals. Their innocence. Their hope. All that they had left was love.

The door burst open and Lindsey started swinging his sword with all his might. Arms were severed. Then heads. He was covered in filth. He could feel demon blood splash against his exposed skin. He heard himself yelling at the top of his lungs. Each breath that he took was expelled in one loud scream. His face split into a wide grin.

Lorne scampered in behind Lindsey. He batted at some of the Sahrvin that had managed to escape Lindsey’s beserker rage. He shooed them back toward Lindsey and watched as Lindsey mowed them down. The man was a killing machine. It didn’t make what he was going to do feel any better. Angel had better leave me alone as I asked. After this I never want to see him again. The bitterness was there. He was through with Angel and the others. It seemed that after Fred was gone all light had went with her.

This is my tribute to her my only way of striking back at Wolfram and Hart. The woman that made it through Pylea hell and could face me everyday with a smile and a laugh. She was a gem. And they stole her away from me. Us. The Sahrvin tried to run by him and out the open door. Lorne hit the highest note registered on the human ear. (Also piercing to demons)

Lindsey swung around decapitating him and nearly Lorne as well. Lorne jumped back out of reach, “Hey!” Just what I need... a decapitation to make this day complete.

Lindsey grinned and shrugged his shoulders in way of apology and got back to business. There were three Sahrvin left and they were looking for escape routes. He started wielding his sword in long sweeping movements. Catching two of the Sahrvins in the knees and decapitating another one. Lindsey quickly beheaded the two rolling about on the floor. Looking around the bodies strewn about the room Lindsey quickly makes sure that none are still living. Walking back to the bar he turns on the water and starts to wash the muck off his face.

“Nice work, toodles. I haven’t seen swordsmanship that good since back in Pylea...”

Lindsey grins, “Well I couldn’t have done if it weren’t for the high note from Macarthur Park.” The blood washed off he dries his face on a handful of cocktail napkins. “Any phone calls? Have you heard anything from the team?”

“No I won’t be hearing from them again.”

“Why not? I like this team thing... I think I could get used to this.” Seeing the look on Lorne’s face he asks, “What? You don’t trust me?”

Lorne sighs, “This isn’t about what I think, This is about what Angel thinks.This is Angel’s plan.”

“Listen, I’ll sing for you...”

Honey, I’ve heard you sing before...” Lorne pulls out a gun and shoots twice. “This is my last job. You aren’t part of the solution.”

The look of shock then pure horror dawns on Lindsey’s face. Lorne knows that it will haunt him. This was it... he was gone. This was for Fred. A lone tear slipped down his cheek. He drops his cell phone on the floor and walks out into the night. Not looking back.

“Goodnight folks.”

Inside Lindsey takes a labored breath. This isn’t how it was supposed to happen. He was supposed to fight with Angel. He would kill Angel or Angel would kill him. Not death by Kermit... He couldn’t breath and the pain was overwhelming. His last thought was about Eve. “My love...”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It was time to clean house. He was looking forward to this. Outside of the campaign office, Gunn checked his weapons one last time. Everything was in place. It was game time. The door burst open...

It was funny how easy it was for him to kill vampires now. His reflexes were trained to react to the predictable moves he was getting from the vampires in the office. How Angel and Spike had ever survive this long was a mystery to him... But they really weren’t like the average vampires...

Dust was flying everywhere. Senator Brucker looked up from the phone call she was taking cooly eyeing Gunn. After noting that he was only the human she dismissively waves at her bodyguards. Continuing on with her phone call she answered each question brightly ignoring the fight that was going on in front of her. Gunn raised his arm throwing an axe and it buried itself in the Senators head  killing her instantly. Well that was easy...

The vampire guards arrive and seeing their boss dead enrages them. A huge group of them surround him. Gunn holds out his wrists two mounted stakes eject. Time to fight old school style. They try to rush him. The first to try to touch him gets staked through the heart. The others grab one of his arms and he is reduced to staking any various vampire parts that are in his way with the other. The vampires scream in pain falling back.

A couple get in close and while he is dusting one the other reaches in and cuts him deep in the side with his claws. The scent of blood reinvigorates the few remaining vampires. Gunn starts to think that maybe he might not get out of this. He starts to doubt that he can get through this. The pain in his side is flashing through him.

Alonna and Fred. The thought of them refocuses his mind. There is no way that he is going down to a pack of vampires. He looks at the golden eyes in front of him and grabs a pencil from off the desk. Good ole number two. Pushing it through the back of the vampire in front of him he turns his wrist and depresses a button and the stake launches out of the wrist mount. Dusting vampire two. That leaves one.

The vampire seeing that he isn’t going to make it through this tries to leap out the front window. Gunn depresses the second button and the vampire explodes into dust.A rich hot feeling of satisfaction flows through him. He did it. He leans back on the desk, blood flowing freely down his side. He grabs the Senator’s jacket tying it around him as a makeshift bandage and heads for the alley north of the Hyperion.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
6

She could feel the spark. It was angry. Hurting. It wanted to lash out at what had hurt it. That was something that she could understand. It felt good to finally do something that made sense to her. She could feel the power in this shell. She still had vast strength at her disposal. The spark was telling her something... The targets. They had come from the building and entered their vehicle. The headlights went on. Illuminating her body as she stood in front of the car. A smile played on her lips.

She walked in front of the car and slammed both hands down on the hood. Both tires blew out and the engine sputtered and died. Izzy and his three companions poured out of the car.

“What do you think you are doing?” Izzy yells jumping out of the car.

The others jump out and run towards her with fists raised. Illyria smiles.The first one comes near her and hits her in the face. She starts laughing They gather close around her... blows raining down on her over and over. Izzy is standing in front of her his face split into a leer. His horns lowered as if he was going to impale her.

Her diminutive fist shoots out punching through the shell of the being before her. The flesh parting easily she reaches in and takes hold of the spine
and tears it free. Before the two on either side of her can react she has punched through their chests and repeated the process. The last attacker seeing that he was outpowered brought up a small glyph and flashed it before her face.

She shook her head dazedly. The worm must not know what he is truly dealing with. Paltry magicks. They have no effect on one such as I. The small smile came back to her face.

He backed away as fast as he could. There was no explanation for what was happening. The fear glyph that he had used was the highest class of magick. This... thing... just kept coming. It wasn’t afraid. He felt the blow he never saw it coming. The pile of bodies made four. She was done. Leaning down she picks up the spines of her fallen victims and raises them up the the night sky. Proclaiming her victory.

She staggered back. The trophies falling aimlessly to the ground. She put a trembling hand to her temple. The spark. It was screaming. The fear it felt flooded her body urging her to go. She must go now. Hurry to Wesley.

She took off at a dead run.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Wesley knew now. All of the horrible memories had come back when he had smashed that box at Vail’s house. The thing that he had done to Connor and Angel was inexcusable. He had done it with the best intentions but he had failed his friend when he had needed him the most.

There wouldn’t be a repeat of that tonight. Standing outside of Vail’s receiving room he let the servant take his name and waited to be escorted in.
After being led into the room Vail proceed to cut to the chase. No pleasantries or small talk. “Ahhh... Mr. Wyndham-Price I was wondering why you arranged this little meeting... Is there any reason that I shouldn’t kill you?”

“Well, I am doing fine thank you for asking. But as to your question, I believe that you have your doubts about Angel. You are right in having them. How are you supposed to trust him. He unpredictable and has... a conscience.” He said it like it was a dirty word.  “I believe that you would be better off with some one who is more qualified for his position. Someone a little bit more agreeable to bending the rules.”

Vail slowly nods and shuffled a little bit closer. “You have a point there... I am listening...” The breathing tubes hooked up to him are hissing obnoxiously. He dials it down a bit and motions for Wesley to continue.

Wesley grinned and opened his hand there on his palm was a glowing swirling ball of power. “It gets better...” He said as he wills the ball at him. Vail crashes against the far wall tubes and machinery falling away from him.

“Your evil influence is over. The Circle will wither and die...” In his hand there is another globe of power.

Vail struggles to raise his arm up off the floor. He senses the power coming from the upstart and gathers the power within himself. With his outstretched arm he commands the power to be his. He laughs as the globe harmlessly transfers itself to his hand and is absorbed. “Now Mr. Wyndham-Price let’s see what a real wizard can do...”

With a flick of his wrist Wesley was suspended spread eagle in the air in front of him. “You actually thought that you could beat me with that pathetic excuse for magicks? In my own domain? How foolish...”

Wesley couldn’t believe that things were going so badly. He should have focused all of his energy in the first shot but he truly never dared to hope that Vail would have had his guard down. There was no way that he was going to fail this time. His father. Angel. Connor. Cordy. Faith. Fred.Each face flashing quickly through his mind. Finally focusing on Fred. He found the energy within himself to resist the magical bond that were holding him enough so that he could bring out his knife.

Vail seeing the struggle laughed as he saw the knife Wesley produced. He leaned over and plucked the offending knife from Wesley’s hand. “You want to play it with knives now, do you?”

He motions to a weapon display that is on the wall and a large dagger goes sailing across the room into his waiting hand. He plunged it into Wesley’s stomach twisting it cruelly.

He felt the burning pain explode in his stomach. The pain forcing his body and mind to another level of survival mode. He calls forth a huge ball of energy that surprises Vail once more as he is blasted against the wall and lies motionless on the floor. The spell broken Wesley crumples to the floor.

The door burst in briefly showing the lifeless body of the servant on the floor. Illyria covered in gore sees Wesley laying on the floor. Blood pooling around him. She rushes to his side.

She see the wound and knows that it is mortal. Why does that bother her? Why the sudden pain flowing through this shell? The spark was raging now. Completely insane. Illyria doesn’t understand this new pain that is assaulting her. No blow has befallen her. No wound was upon her. But the pain was staggering. Confused she looks to the spark to tell her the answer. It hit her then with all the rage and power focused. The spark took over. There was nothing she could do and she felt herself changing becoming more soft and weak.

Wesley looked up. “Fred... Fred is that truly you?” his voice full of wonderment.

She held him tenderly on her lap her hand stroking his face.

“I’ve missed you..”

“I’ve missed you so...Hush... The pain will be gone soon...”

“I love you...”

“I love you too... Oh my love...” she is crying hysterically. There in the arms of his love he died. Deep inside of her she feels an howl of pain answering from Illyria.

She let him go and slowly stood up numb. The pain too deep.

The wizard recovered from the energy blow that Wesley gave him, looked at the frail little human girl standing in front of him. “How touching... I’ll let you take your best shot before I finish you off... like him!”

She turns fury igniting back in her eyes. As she throws her punch she changed back into Illyria once more. One punch that goes straight through Vail’s head like a rotten cantaloupe. He fell to the floor next to Wesley. She kicked him far away from her love.

Still shaking with rage Illyria kneels down to Wesley and scoops him up close to her chest. Cradling him. Tears leaking from her eyes. A soft glow surrounded him centering on his chest. She held him tighter. The glow became brighter and then stopped. Wesley’s head fell to the side and he let out a faint cough. Then sucking in huge lung fulls of air he tried to sit up. He couldn’t break Illyria's hold.

Her eyes blinked twice. A new emotion surged inside of her even more unfamiliar than the one before. Joy. She reached down with her hand and stroked his face. Imitating the movements of the spark. It felt right to do this. It helped her.

“Wesley looked up at her when he regained control over his breathing. “Illyria... Thank you. You can let go now.”

She awkwardly released him from her grasp. “You were dead. How is this happening?”

Wesley was pulling up his shirt to see where the knife wound should have been. “I did die. I just had a charm to help bring me back. Osiris’ charm that I stole from Wolfram and Hart. It seems as if they have a rather extensive collection of white magick items that they call contraband. I just helped myself to a bit of it. Angel and I knew I was out of my league in doing this. This was my fail safe.”

“Illyria I want... to thank you... for trying to save me and for pretending to be Fred earlier...” his reached up and smoothed away the tears that had fallen.

She fought against the spark. It had been desperately trying to come forward again. This was unacceptable. Her will pushed it back down again.

“We must go..”

She helped him rise up and walk out of the house and head for the alley...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

‘It figures Angel would give me the babysittin’ job. Off they all went to a major battle and I’m left holding the wet nappie.’ Spike ran a hand through his hair thoroughly frustrated. The cloak he had wrapped himself in smelled fouler that foul and he couldn’t wait to get the thing off and hose himself down.’He knew the Fell Brethren were rank.’ His nose wrinkled and he barely restrained the urge to pinch his nose closed. ‘The only way he could have made me more miserable was for him to give me some jewelry to accessorize. The man has crap taste in amulets... If I were a Fell Brethren where would I put my sacrificial baby? Hmmm....’

He heard a faint wailing down the corridor to the left. Bingo. He walked swiftly down the hall trying not to attract too much notice. He slipped in the room and walked over to the bassinet. Looking down he smiles at the little baby and scoops him up and puts him in a sling that is fastened over his chest. He turns to leave and sees three member of the Brethren who demand that he put the holy vessel down in his crib.

He grins. Throwing off the hated cloak he brings up a sword that he had been concealing ready to fight. With the baby securely in the sling he has both hands free to fight. He lunges at the three and lops off two of there heads before they even react. The third one races for the wall and depresses a button there a low gong reverberates through the mansion.

This might not be so boring after all. Spike grins evilly slowly swinging the sword through the air. He see the throng of demons swarming to him. “The ponce might have been right in sending me here...’

Chop. Stab. Parry. This went on for a while and then he realized that he really wasn’t going to get any sort of fight from these blokes. They were too afraid of by chance hitting the child. Their bodies piled up around him. Several of them more desperate to to stop him actually slashed at his head or aimed for his legs. They followed the rest of their Brethren into death.

‘This was the saddest excuse for a fight that he had ever been in. Truly angry now he slaughtered the few remaining Brethren. They all lined up to die for this bloody baby... He would never understand it.

He looked down into the baby’s face and saw the bluest eye looking back at him the little fist snuggled tight to his cool chest. The warmth from the child spread through him and he lightly touched the downy curls on the top of the child's head. “You safe little one... Your mummy waiting for you.”

After getting the child to his mother Spike headed toward the alley hoping the other would be there waiting for him...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The rain started to slash down. Half blinding anyone that was unfortunate to be stuck outside in it. He had been waiting in the shadows for what seemed like an eternity. ‘Where the hell is everyone. They should be here by now.’ Then he smelled it... the faint smell of human blood. He swung himself away from the wall and pivoted his head back and forth trying to scent out which way it was coming from.

There. It was coming from the north end of the alley. It had to be Gunn with the heavy footfalls and the harsh breathing. Wesley was much leaner in frame and had watcher training that made him surprisingly harder to scout for him. Unless he wanted to be found. He started down the alley to bring Charles into the dubious shelter of the overhang of one of the few doorways opening into the alley way. He could tell that something was wrong. Charles was stumbling and his breathing was harsh and gasping. Halfway down he felt another presence. Another vampire signature. Angel. It was funny that he felt something akin to relief.

Out of his one remaining good eye, the other having swollen shut halfway from the Senator's office and here, Charles could see the bright white glow of Spike’s head coming toward him. ‘Man that dude's whiter than white bread with mayonaisse on it. Why would he dye his hair that color to top it off?’ A feeling of euphoria swept through him... God it felt good knowing that at least one more “Thorn” had been killed. He put his hand to his side. A fresh gush of blood leaked out from where his hand pressed against it. He knew that this couldn’t be good. The field bandage that he had put on had loosened in the walk over. It needed to be fixed fast... actually it really might not make a difference at this point. He struggled a couple more steps. Spike reached him.

He put an arm around Gunn’s shoulders and supported him the rest of the way back to the doorway. “So how’d it go Chuck? I can see the you came out of it in one leaky piece... Did you get our good Senator?”

“I got her and then some. What’s with vampires anyways... There’s always and endless supply of worthless minions. Do you all go off and sire everyone you bite?... I thought you all were all solitary and broody and such...Not vampire rabbits.”

“Can’t say about everyone else, mate but the Ponce here is the only broody one in the family. Even when he was Angelus....”

“I can hear you, hello, vampire hearing.” Angel stepped out of the shadows.

“I knew you were there the whole time. What’s the fun of talking behind you back when I can get a full fledged reaction from your face.” Spike grinned infuriatingly.

Breaking out of their old pattern Angel counted to five before continuing, “Alright, enough about that... Did you both accomplish what I asked you to?”

Both of the men briefly told Angel what had happened in their fight.

Angel looked at his cell phone. “Good. I received a text message from Lorne.” Across the screen flashed ‘Gnite.’

“His end held up. That leaves Wesley and Illyria... Have either of you two seen...”

A small figure plummets from the rooftop. Across her shoulder kicking and wriggling was Wes.

“This is most uncalled for Illyria. I can walk fine. I am fine. There is no need for you to carry me...”

The others just stared at them for a moment before Gunn started to laugh. Then Spike and Angel joined in.

Gunn winced in pain. The laughing had reopened the wound on his side and blood was leaking from it again. Angel moved closer to him.

“Gunn are you alright? I can tell that you aren’t... The wound let me see it.”

Gunn started to pull open the bandage. Fresh blood came out. “I don’t think that’s such a good idea...”

“Trust me...”

Gunn pulled the soaking jacket that he had used for a bandage away.

Illyria took one look at it and said, “You are fading fast. You will last ten minutes if you are lucky. Unless you too have stolen an item from the Wolf, the Ram and the Hart.” Her head tilted as she thought about this theory. She set Wesley down as she stared intently at Gunn. “Must I cradle you for it to work?”

Wesley made a show of brushing himself off and straightening his clothes but, at the last question, he got a strange look in his eye. Almost tender. “No Illyria... I don’t think that Gunn needs you to do that.”

Gunn shook his head ‘I have no idea what she is talking about. But I don’t want that thing near me. Wesley may be able to look it in the eye but I will always see my guilt. My failure to Fred.’ Gunn mentally shook himself he was getting a bit light headed. Funny that the sight of his blood made him feel faint when he was usually covered in demon blood or even more unsavory fluids.

Angel caught Gunn’s attention. He was dying. Right before his eyes. What he was going to suggest Gunn would probably refuse.

Well he wasn’t going to give him an option. He would give him a chance to live. He was going to do everything he could to help what few friends he had left. Angel focused on the wound. Swiftly before Gunn could react he vamped out and started lapping the wound his tongue pressing deep within the flesh. The capillaries responded immediately. Closing over and the veins soon after that.

Both of Gunn’s hands had come up to either side of Angel’s head in horror when he saw him vamp out. Then it dawned on him what Angel was really doing. His hands slowly relaxed on head and drifted to Angel’s shoulders to support himself. Angel finished licking the edges of the wound and it sloppily closed over on itself. It would do for now. If Gunn didn’t go into shock from too much blood loss.

‘Bloody hell, Angel is now going around glutting himself on his friends blood. I hope that Chuck is alright but this is too weird even for me. Angel literally starves himself of human blood for a century (or so he claims) and now he has drank from three in the course of one day. Drained one dry. A champion for good at that.’ Spike took a quick look around. Wesley’s eyes had narrowed in thought.

‘Wes isn’t stupid. I can tell he has his doubts about Angel’s actions. I’m going to have to talk to the head boy soon... I can smell the power that Angel has drank from. He stinks of evil. Marcus. I’m starting to wonder why the git left out that part of the story. Does he think that I wouldn’t know? Things aren’t adding up...” He ran his hand through his hair completely frustrated. Feeling the need to say something to break the awkward silence that had grown between all of them he said, “Peaches for the record here... I ever get injured, be it a limbs amputated (again) or a stubbed toe, at no point do I give you leave to put your tongue upon my person. I always knew you were a bloody poof...”

Gunn stepped back a bit from Angel and with his fingertips he probed at the scar. A little tender but he had fought with WAY worse. He nodded to Angel in way of thanks too overcome with mixed emotions to put anything into words.

Angel had closed off from all of them. His full brood on he bounced up from his semi crouching position. Turning to scan all of their faces he noted their expressions ranging from shock to faint disapproval. He would have to do damage control after this, if they survived. There wasn’t any time for the games they usually played with each other. Wolfram & Hart would hunt them down and the battle would just begin. ‘We need Gunn. He can fight. I couldn’t chance the fact that he could have told me no. His wound had to be sealed.’ Angel’s tongue darted out to the corner of his mouth where a speck of blood had escaped him. Even this small amount of blood had his head swimming in throbbing pulsations. Pure bliss. He shook it off.

Illyria seeing Gunn’s wound healed tells them that she wishes to do more violence. Vail’s attempt on Wesley’s life and Gunn being wounded had brought the spark dangerously close to the surface again. Illyria knew that the only thing that would keep it at bay would to let herself get lost in fighting. There the spark and her became one in harmony. She heard them before she saw them. A horde of shrieking demons heading their way. Her eyes flashed pushing Wesley behind her she grabbed a brick from off the ground. Above her twirling and diving ever closer was a dragon. How meager.

“Our plan is to fight,” Angel said eying up the competition.

“A bit more specific...” Spike said rolling his eyes while lifting up his sword ready to fight.

Angel looks heavenwards and says, “Well I kind of want to slay the dragon.”

Not even a second later the dragon wheels towards them. Angel stands braced for impact.

Illyria looks at it dismissively and launches her brick at it. Rocketing toward the dragon it narrowly misses its head and slams through the membrane of the wing and into the bone attaching the wing to its body. Its wing is in tatters the dragon plummets to the ground taking out a third of the army in the rear. Unable to fly the dragon thrashes about its long tail sweeping the ground its nails gouging the ground in pain. There is complete utter chaos in the ranks of the army that is racing towards them. The loosely organized bands were now scattered and it was every demon for himself.

Angel stood there sulking. “I can’t believe you did that... I just can’t believe it... I called him. I had dibs...”

Spike stood there grinning, “That was bloody amazing Blue! You’re brilliant.”

Illyria ignored them both and stood her ground waiting for the horde to reach her. Wesley had come up beside her in his hand was a knife. A small part of her noted that it was the knife that Vail had tried to kill him with. “You may need this,” was all that Wesley said. She accepted it. The fury inside of her had blazed to a higher level.

She shoved Wesley behind her again and told him roughly, “Stay close.” It was all that she could manage without the spark taking over and making her all weak. Wesley was annoyed but nodded knowing that she was his biggest chance at any sort of longevity. Gunn slide in right beside him holding a baseball bat. Heck it was better than nothing.

The army was upon them the sound of fighting in close quarters was deafening. The line that had been separating the two opposing sides had blurred and there were demons all around them. That the group had taken their stand with their backs up against the wall was both figuratively and literally. That made it easier to target their opponents. But they just kept coming... The dragon had stopped writhing in pain and came closer. Angel took one look and was off running towards it...

Spike screamed at him to stop. That they needed to stay together if they were going to get through this. United front...

He realized that Angel didn’t hear or didn’t care. Either way he was heading to do battle with the dragon. A sword whistled by his ear. Whoa... too close. Angel was on his own. There was nothing that they could do for him now. The four remaining members closed ranks and tried to repel the demons as best they could...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The band of energy expanded dumping the seventy six slayers and a powerful witch and warlock onto the pavement. They can hear the sounds of battle just a block away from them. Jumping to their feet they form the battle formation that they have trained so hard for. Giles and Willow look at each other feeling a little uneasy. Unnoticed by anyone Giles takes her hand. Sparks fly. Drawing Kennedy’s attention. Willow sighs now is not the time.

A sharp squeal and popping noise comes from their belts. “Testing... one...two... three... Testing... one...two... three... sibilance...” The unmistakable sound of Andrew coming in loud and clear.

Buffy depressed her button. “We hear you Andrew and so does everything else for miles around.”

“Affirmative. Hey do you guys know that you just teleported a block away from where you were standing?”

“I guess the great and all powerful Giles doesn’t believe in walking...” Kennedy started laughing meanly. Giles and Willow blushed.

Buffy annoyed said, “Put Xander on the line.” They had determined before that there was only going to be one person talking from command central that way they couldn’t get confused with too many directions. Military Xander is just what they needed.

“Xander how it look?”

“Umm... Buf... not so good...”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
7

The fang gang is surrounded and getting desperate... Spike & Illyria are pushing themselves to the limit trying to keep Gunn and Wesley safe and alive.

The demons are coming at them from the side. Wesley and Gunn are ready. Gunn delivers a blow to one of the demons in front of him that caves in his face. He had picked up a trash can lid for a shield of sorts. It was battered and beaten practically useless. Gunn’s bat is about to splinter in half from all of the chopping blows he has taken from the swords. Leaning over he grabs a sword from one of the fallen demons that Spike has killed. Bringing what was left of his shield up and over him to cover him. He picks up the sword and continues to fight...

Wesley using the sword that Illyria had picked up from a fallen demon and tossed to him, slashes and pivots. The answering blow  harmlessly passes by him. Moving swiftly he is able to dodge most of the blows that had fallen his way. One had snuck in catching him in the shoulder and his shirt was now stained red. He felt exhausted. After being killed by Vail and resurrected in the arms of the woman he had loved he was now fighting off a never ending wave of demons. If his father could see him now...

Somewhere inside of him a part wailed about how stupid he was in not letting Buffy know he was alive and that he loved her. To at least have taken the chance. It would have killed him if she had rejected him but at least he wouldn’t be standing here now regretting the fact that he never tried. All of the fears that he had about calling her about confronting her about the Immortal seemed ridiculous now... Being in the center of an immense battle always did give him a fresh perspective. His heart longed for her. To just see her again. He would give anything to just see her again.

Where the hell did Angel go? They needed him. The demons kept coming in closer and closer... The bloody wanker. Figures he would bail on us when we need him the most. Not big on sticking around for too long...

Spike knows that this is hopeless... They weren’t going to get out of this alive. He hears screaming only to realize that it is coming from him. All the rage and fear he has kept inside him has been released. He is wild. Unleashed. Anything that get too near him is hacked into. He strikes out blindly. His back to Gunns. Got to save them. I am not going to lose another one. He glances at Blue...

She is in shambles. Numerous wounds cover her. She had taken up a sword and was using a knife in her other hand. She would catch the incoming blows and interlock the blades effectively trapping the opponents blade. Yanking back hard the demons would inevitably drop the weapon. Left standing there with no weapon he would try to flee. Illyria would unlock the weapons and reach out and skewer the victim in front of her. The demon split in two covering the ground with its blood.

He had glimpsed many different variations of the same thing. The pile of weapons just kept growing in front of her. Bodies had piled up in front of them. Giving the enemy a slight advantage as they had the leverage on them when they were standing on the dead. She stepped forward. Her foot connected with the mass of bodies. Bodies flew everywhere causing the encroaching enemy to be momentarily confused and they backed away. Giving the group a much needed breather...

~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Uhhh. Buf... There are thousands of them... I can see that there is a small alley way south of your position. Send in some of your girls from that direction. While you attack from the rear. Y’know like a two pronged attack. And there is a dragon out there people... It hasn’t been flying and it looks like it has been injured somehow. Wait I think I see someone... These night vision binoculars are sooo cool. Hey it’s Angel... He’s going up against the dragon. You guys better get in there quick... I can’t see from my position where the others are but if Angel is off on his own that isn’t a good sign. Focus on the plan. Get Giles and Willow to the center of the throng. I am going to send Andrew to the building kitty corner to this one and try to get a better vantage point from that angle. Be careful I want you guys to come out of this in one piece. Move out.”

“Gotcha. Thanks Xander.”

Buffy took all of this in and was motioning to Faith that she should take her group of girls and do what Xander had suggested. When they had been training they had prepared to break off into smaller fighting groups. Faith had control of Group A and Buffy’s group was called Group B. How Faith had set her up for that one was beyond her. Every time anyone mentioned it she would get this stupid grin on her face. “Faith take Group A over to the alleyway Xander will let me know when you are in position. Group B will be ready,” purposely mentioning it to bring the grin to her face. There it is...

Faith grabbed her gear. ‘Shit that’s why I am doing this. Buffy is so great. The fact that she can joke like that.. when her man’s out there. Hell she’s stronger than I guessed.’ She gave Buffy a reassuring pat as she headed out. Almost inaudibly she whispered, “We’ll find him B.” And then she was gone. Group A and her at a dead run.

‘Where is he? Oh, God. I’ve got to get in there. I have to find him.’ Panic had set in. She felt numbing fear descend upon her. ‘What if he is hurt? I have to find him. I will not think about anything bad happening to him... I have to focus.’ Lifting up the scythe that had gotten her through the last battle of Sunnydale she motioned the others forward with one fluid movement. Her face grim, set and determined, Group B waited in position for Xander’s call to action.

Willow and Giles were positioned in the center of the Slayers. Hands never straying away from each other. Giles worried that this wasn’t normal. He felt filled with power. Even more so than the time he had been sent by the Coven to reign in bad Willow. He glanced at her. She had been avoiding his gaze. He knew exactly how she was feeling. The thoughts that had been going through his mind. Well, if they had been back in Sunnydale High, he would have been arrested. He tried to focus on the facts of the matter. He shouldn’t be getting such a jolt every time their hands touched. There was a thrumming passing back and forth between the clasped hands. He had a deep reluctance to let go of her hand. No this was definitely not normal...

Willow had been staring at anything but Giles. She felt herself blush. The intimate feeling that she was having towards... Giles? That was NEVER supposed to happen. She would never had any such thoughts, if it wasn’t for the fact, that the hands that were clasped together were pulsating and throbbing in all the right ways. It was weird that his touch could set off such fireworks behind her eyes. ‘I mean I’m GAY? Right? And there’s Kennedy... And feelings like this with Giles was big on the WRONG... But how could something that felt this good be bad for you? I mean it must be the magic. White magic.’ She thought to reassure herself. She gripped his hand tighter. Intensifying the feeling between them. She heard Giles gasp faintly realizing that it matched her own. ‘Note to self... NO squeezies... Focus... Center...’ She felt her heart slow down a little. She knew that she was all flushed and her breathing was irregular coming in soft pants. ‘Think about the training...’

Giles thought about football... about cricket... about the primeval demonic alphabet and slowly recited it to himself forwards and then backwards. He was doing everything thing in his control not to turn to Willow and crush her into his embrace and lower his lips upon hers. ‘What was wrong with me?’

He had watched this girl grow up! Well he never had the fatherly feeling that he had for Buffy and was more often than not exasperated with her. She was a woman now. There was no denying that. His body had more than recognized the fact way before it had ever reached his brain. She had brought him back to a part of himself that he thought better left hidden. The power that had laid dormant had just grown. Now his body was rejoicing that he was back to a whole person. That this would pass was his only hope. He couldn’t be forcing himself upon poor Willow. She had gone through enough already. He mentally reviewed the spells that they had memorized during their training sessions. Trying desperately to ignore the beauty by his side.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Angel had started to sprint through the enemy to get to the dragon. That wasn’t his brightest idea. Quickly he was engulfed by them and there was no turning back. He thought that he heard Spike screaming his name... He would come back for them. They could hold their own. The dragon was the real threat. He could feel the power contained within the blood flowing through him. Looking forward to the challenge the dragon presented. He knew that he could stop it. He was so strong now. All of the power of his victims pooled together. His demon was relishing every drop. Angel was reveling in it against his conscience. It had been so long since he had drank from a human let alone a champion. And Marcus... all of the dark blood had been infused with power. Hell, even Gunn’s blood added to it.

He kicked out at the nearest demon and it crashed into its brethren the force knocking them to the ground. With the way cleared  Angel was able to take a flying leap further into the oncoming army. Halfway to his goal Angel wasted no time. The enemy was surprised. He had come crashing down full force. The demon he had landed on had its spine broke. Angel laughed hearing the scream of agony. His sword came in to play. Working swiftly all the extra strength behind his swing he loped off heads left and right before launching himself in the air again.

He caught hold of a fire escape and pulled himself up on it. A few of the marauders had sense enough to follow what he was doing and tried to stop him. He dodged the few spears that came his way and was gone before another volley could reach him. Spotting his target he put everything into the next jump. He landed near the dragon who was more interested in causing destruction of the demons it was supposed to be aiding to notice him.

The dragon was tearing into the army in front of him. The blood lust making it ferocious.  It loved blood and carnage and was turning upon its original goal to punish the infidels. Its loyalties were at best chaotic. It had wiped out a half of the army in the half hour it had been on the ground. Numerous wounds weeped caustic blood upon the ground. The smell of it was putrid.

Angel smiled. The smell of spilt blood was overpowering. Not his type, of course, but still there was an intoxicating feel to it Gripping the sword tighter he launched himself at his target.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Hit it Buf!” Xander yelled into his two-way. They watched as the two teams entered the fray.

Dawn was nervously fidgeting near him. At every blow she would wince. What was Buffy thinking bringing her here? He put a reassuring hand on her shoulder. Dawn shot him a grateful smile, “I’m okay... I have been through worse.”

“It’s different being on this side of the fighting Dawnie. I know, remember? YOU are used to being the center of the fight. I am the bystander. I know how hard it is.” He squeezed her shoulder. “You keep and eye on Buffy’s team... I know you would be checking up on her anyways if I assigned you to Group A. So, I’ll watch Faith’s...”

He saw the Group A’s front line crumble when they met face to face with the enemy. He saw Faith right in the middle of things screaming something to the girls. They renewed their efforts. The demons realizing the they were being attacked started to swarm in three different directions. With most going towards Faith’s group and Spike’s direction. No demon really wanted to go back toward the dragon.

Buffy’s Group waded into a panicked and disorganized lot of demons. They were desperately trying to get away from the dragon. Buffy watched with dread as the Dragon’s head came down and snapped up a fleeing demon not five feet from her. She slashed her way through a demon...  This dragon had to be taken out. I thought that Angel was around here somewhere?... She focused on fighting desperate demons as they broke and ran away from the dragon. Wave after wave engulfed them. The slayers around her started to get isolated and cut off from one another. Exactly the opposite of what they wanted to happen. Buffy signaled the girls she had left. They tightened ranks around Giles and Willow. All of this happened in under five minutes. Things weren’t going so good.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Angel landed on the dragons back right above where it had been wounded by Illyria earlier. He saw the damage she had done and grimaced. He had called it. There was nothing that he could do about it now. He might as well take advantage of the situation. The heavily scaled dragon had some of its scales torn off right by the wound that had been inflicted. Angel balanced himself perfectly and rammed the sword down through the opening down to its hilt. Through its spine and straight to its heart. The dragon screamed in pain thrashing and tossing its body. Angel found himself flying through the air landing directly in front of the dragon.The dragon catching sight of his attacker drew in a deep breath. Letting his dying breath come out in flame the dragon tried to kill his foe.

Angel rolled to the side trying to dodge the flame. His whole left side went up. He could feel the flames licking all over his body. The pain was indescribable. It was if each cell of his body was tinder just waiting for the spark to ignite it...

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Angel rolled over and over landing in a puddle of water several demons falling on top of him as he knocked their legs out from under them. Rona saw him go down. She had been separated from the group and she knew that Buffy would kill her if she didn’t do something to help him. This dude was a good guy and all. She made her way over to where  smoke was drifting out from under the tangled pile.

The demons snarling and thrashing about. Half burned they were trying to get away from the source of their pain. She hauled one of them up and ran it through with her sword. Tossing it away she reached for the next. This one was ready for her and landed a solid kick to her stomach. She fell back after bouncing off of another demon that had survived the deadly fire blast. She rolled away from it curling her legs under her and launching herself at its legs. They fell to the ground. She reached in the leather belt that was around her enemy's waist gripping a dagger she started to stab him repeatedly. Blood shot all over her. She used her forearm to wipe away the gunk from the face.

The demon that had kicked her had snuck up behind her. She felt the danger from behind and tried to throw herself flat. The sword that had been aimed at her neck glanced off of her skull. Seeing stars she threw the dagger with full force praying that it would find its target. She heard a satisfying thunk as it embedded itself in the demons chest. Blind luck. She shook her head dazedly. She needed to find a weapon fast... She crawled toward the heap of bodies where Angel had went down. Looking for a sword she leaned forward to pull off one of the bodies. She scanned the area quickly noticing that a swath had been cut in the army. Flaming bodies were everywhere. She was at the edge of the destruction. Rona figured that she better make sure that the vampire was dead or Buffy would have her hide.

After pulling off the last of the demon bodies she wrinkled her nose in disgust. The smell of burning hair and flesh brought a different kind of revulsion to her. The blood and gore she was almost immune to after Sunnydale but this was a whole different kind of gross. She looked at the body in front of her one side of it was completely charred. The skin blackened and flaking away in spots revealing a deep red underneath. She grimaced. Great she was going to have to tell Buffy about this. The blood from the head wound had slowed down a little bit. The front of her shirt was coated in it though. Thank God for slayer healing... She turned feeling that she was threatened.

A blackened claw shot up and reached around her throat yanking her back into his embrace. She felt his fangs slice down into her neck gouging and tearing at her jugular. Blood was leaving her at an alarming rate. She could feel the long pulls he was taking from her. She bucked backwards trying to dislodge him. It only served to drive the fangs deeper. She felt pure panic. This was the moment that any slayer feared above all else. ‘What the hell! This guy is supposed to be good...’ She rammed a elbow into the jagoff’s side. She felt the outrush of breath against her neck as the only reaction. She had to get him off of her! He was clinging... All of his limbs snaked around her like some kind of parasite. She could feel herself getting weaker her heart was fluttering. Tears streaked down from her eyes. She reached up and raked the side of his face her nails going deep. He backed off a bit, then attacked with even more ferocity. Her neck snapped.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Angel had lain there in a feral state. The pain driving him insane. The only thought that he had was to put out the flames. The demons that had toppled down on top of him combined with the wet weather snuffed out the flame. Feeling a moment of relief he was grateful to the demons that had put him out. For one second... Reality and the intense pain set in. He sunk his teeth in the demon above him.

The demons beady eyes grew huge in shock. This never happened. Vampires NEVER feasted on another demon. It was taboo. The demon tried to tear free but the jaws locked around his throat were snapped shut.

The blood that flowed down his throat gagged him. It was like spinach... ‘I remember spinach... good for you but it made you want to vomit.’
Angel was never more grateful when the wretch on top of him was still. He reached for another one of its companions that had witnessed the whole act but, had been too burned to get away. Angel felt such satisfaction in tearing into his defenseless neck. Just watching the demons eyes plead with him before he had sunk his teeth in. Too soon he was dry. The pain was coming in waves. He couldn’t stand it.

Then the husks were pulled off him and he could smell it. Blood. Slayer’s blood... The heady, strong aroma of it was making him crazy. He had only had a taste of it once before... He pushed away the thought. The pain.

Then she was standing there in front of him. Leaning over. He could see her look of revulsion. ‘What did the bitch think? He was dead?’

A single solitary drop of blood feel on the cracked and broken skin. That was the breaking point for him. She had turned around as if expecting to be caught from behind. He lunged up grabbing her and sank his teeth in. She WAS caught. The spurt of blood filling his mouth made him delirious. He entwined his limbs with hers. There was no way he could let her go. The elbow jab didn’t even phase him. He could tell he was getting close...

‘The bitch clawed him?’ His teeth ground down pushing so hard that he felt her neck break...

He started. ‘What the hell? How could he have let this happen?’ Remorse for the girl lying dead in his arms filled him. She had a head wound that looked pretty fierce. The edges had started to pull together and a small trail of blood leaked from it. The blood... He could feel the powerful Slayer blood get to work inside of him. The charred skin on his left side fleshed out and became a light pink. His face barely showed the trail of scratch marks that recently been made upon it.  He heard the sound of battle getting closer. The flames had started to die down. He had just killed. A Slayer... Which meant the Buffy would be in the mix. What was he going to tell her?

He tried to tell himself that Rona was probably going to die anyway. Her wound was severe. Mentally upgrading the severity of it to critical. Her heard them getting even closer...

He made his decision. Standing up he tossed off his overcoat that had practically been reduced to tatters and leaned over to the dead slayer. Gently lifting her up he laved her wound with his tongue. The brutal wound started closing like magic. After a couple seconds the wound was nothing but a memory. Any vampire could do this... This was a secret that he had never told anyone. Not even Buffy. A vampire could disguise his wounds. He only left a mark if he wanted to make a claim on someone. How else could they have stayed pretty much a secret from the general populace. Just how many attacked and killed by a rabid dog stories could go around?

He grabbed a sword off the ground satisfied that the wound was healed and swung the it down as hard as he could. She was cleaved almost in two. What little that was left of her blood was washed away. He looked down dispassionately. That was a pity.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Andrew burst through the rooftop door. Finally! He stashes the screwdriver in his fashionable hip sack. Making sure that it is properly zipped up. His shoulder still hurt from his first attempt to get through the door. He sighs what he wouldn’t do for a sonic screwdriver. That door would have posed no threat then! Or maybe if he had K-9... The council had to have money lying around for research and development... Ahhh... good ole K-9! He unzipped his hipsack and rummaged through it snatching up a sugar baby and munching on it thoughtfully. This watcher stuff was way more dangerous than being evil. Outside of veiny Willow...

That thought snaps him back to the here and now.

He sprints over to the edge of the  rooftop and peer over the side. He sees utter chaos. There’s flames coming from the rear of the battle. Faith had drawn half of the army in towards her. Her girls were in tight formation. Working like a well oiled machine. They made a sizeable dent in the demon army. The slayers still were in pretty good shape.

He saw one of the girls fall and another reach down and try to pull her back. Out of harms way. The second slayer, he was pretty sure it was Vi, took a sword blow to the arm for her efforts. It looked like the battle gear that they wore took the brunt of it but he could tell that she was hurt pretty bad. Faith stepped in and rammed the hilt of her sword down on the demons skull. While he was bent over she kneed him in the face. Now completely prone she drove the sword down and twisted it to inflict the most damage. She motioned the two injured girls to the back of the formation. Reassuring himself that they are doing alright. He scans the crowd for any other signs of battle...

He almost missed them. He zeroed in on the small group. There was no doubt that this was the people he had been searching for. The platinum blonde head a beacon. He tried to look them over for damages but the fighting was too fierce. It was enough to know that they were alive... Not that he had ever doubted the fact that Spike would pull through... With his superior strength, cunning mind and catlike reflexes...

Spike's head disappeared. He had been engulfed by demons...

‘Xander! I’ve found Spike! They are alive! They’re by the southern most part of the alley... Actually the alley ends there... Umm... He... They need help! Tell Buffy!”

Xander was never more angry than he was right now, “Andrew... Remember when you left and and I told you to contact me through channel 12 and you said ‘Affirmative captain?’ Will you look down at your two-way and tell me what channel it is on now?” Andrew looked down. It was on the universal channel 5. He was in big trouble...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Buffy urged the slayers on at a frantic pace. She had to get to the center and get Giles and Willow in position. Anything that came her was was mowed down. She had to find Spike. She became mindless just thinking over and over again. Spike. Slash. Spike. Stab. Backflip. Underhand chop. Spike. They were almost to the center...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~
8
Andrew scanned the crowd with an increased interest... If he could find out something of importance and relay it on channel 12 Xander MIGHT forgive him. It wasn’t fair! Xander had Dawn helping him and she was REALLY organized. The girl even color coded her underwear. That thought just made him feel even more guilty... It’s not my fault I tipped over her laundry basket and ruined that color coded splendor. He sighed. This battle was confusing and scary and in such a bigger scale than he had ever imagined. Like the Ewok battle in Endor but with no log traps or C3PO. Buffy’s scythe was almost as cool as a lightsaber but...

Hey what was that? He had been so focused on finding Spike that he didn’t look in the other direction. Xander’s direction...  He snorted. Was that Angel? What the frell was that thing? That fahrbot vampire was going to fight a dragon? He watched the Angel vs. dragon scene play out with one eye peeking out from under his hand the other clenched around the binoculars. His high pitch scream was lost in the sound of the battle below as Angel was blasted by a fireburst. He looked down and made sure that the channel was on 12 or was it supposed to be 5? He switched it to 5 and then back to 12 again... He double checked to see that Angel was down. Well, if he was going to possibly broadcast this to all he better double check.

Then he saw Rona. Ohhhh... Rona. The sweet, sweet slayerette. She was all crusty on the outside but he knew she melted like butter for him on the inside. She too must have seen Angel fall... She pulled the demons off the pile. Then he caught movement a demon had kicked her into another. Why hadn’t he warned her? Those damned binoculars were zoomed in all the way! He leaned over the roof ledge so he could see better. Ahhhh... Sigh of relief. She had taken good care of herself he took the two-way in his hand just so he would be ready if there was a next time. She had returned to the pile pulling off corpses... She froze and whirled around in a crouched fighting stance. In slow motion Andrew watched this thing lunge at her and attach itself to her neck. It was hideous... all burned on the left side. Then he recognized the right side. The two-way slipped out of his sweaty palm falling over the edge of the rooftop wall and shattering on the ground. He spun around fully intending to run straight to Xander and Dawn when his feet got tied up in the emergency weapon pack that he kept for himself. He went down hard. It happened so fast that he had almost no time to brace himself for impact. His head hit the corner of the brick wall and everything was black...

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Her breath was coming harsher now. Her arm felt like lead. Each swing was getting slower and slower. She pictured him then... bathed in a glowing white light. Glowing from within. His soul exposed shining on them all. She relived that horrible moment when she realized that he was staying behind. Her words hanging on the air. Her hand burning within his grasp. The look of wonder that had flashed in his eyes for a second. Doubt and confusion following. Then cold certainty that her words offered nothing more than comfort...

She felt her determination harden. Nothing would stand between them this time. She could do this. No fears. No mixed messages. It took her losing him once to find out what her truly meant to her and she wasn’t going to waste anymore time... She couldn’t live her life to make others happy. At least she couldn’t sacrifice her personal happiness just because they were unhappy with her choices...

The tender moments between Spike and her were all that she had to hold on to and those were precious few. She swung harder. She had so much to make up to him for...  She knew that they were on borrowed time now... Feeling the scythe tear through flesh like paper she half turned. Right into a fist. She was knocked back into Giles who caught her and stumbled... A quick motion from him and one word, “censum..” set the offender on fire.

Willow who was taken aback by Giles use of power stepped in and chastised HIM for once, “Giles... Y’know that we are conserving our powers till we are in position. Could you please learn some control?” She smiled to take the sting out of her words and bounced on her feet. Giles suddenly felt like control with Willow was the most important thing he could focus on. He reached for his glasses... rubbing them in a swift circular motion. Willow’s eyes strayed to his hands her mouth parted slightly. He could see the tip of her tongue dart across her pink lips.

Buffy glanced at them in confusion... What was going on? Well there was no time to figure it out. They were almost through the area that had been burned by the dragon when Willow spotted her... Rona was laying on the ground split in two. Willow started to cry knowing that there was nothing that she could do to help. Giles put a comforting hand around her shoulders. Buffy wanted to turn to him but knew the moment that she turned they would be set upon again. There were less demons now but they kept coming. One of the girls called out a warning. She saw a movement out of the corner of her eye. She swung the scythe up high trying to catch the opponent unaware. The scythe cut though the sword with a loud twang. She whirled.

There holding a half of a sword was Angel...

Buffy flung herself in his arms. Grateful that he was still alive. He returned the hug squeezing the breath out of her lungs. He leaned over her swooping down to kiss her on the lips. Buffy put a finger up to his lips to stop him.

“I am sooo glad you are alright... Ummm... have you seen the others? Wesley... Gunn... Spike...” Her scythe flew through the air and buried itself in the chest of a demon.

Angel’s face had gone cold at the mention of his name. “I lost them...” His fist shot out and he broke a demons nose. Followed by a kick that sent him flying.

Buffy’s face fell. Two rabbit punches followed but an uppercut leading into a low arc of the scythe that cut the demon in two.

“Well Buffy... I HAVE been kinda busy here. Killing dragons?!” He flung his arm out to point out his latest conquest. Also nailing another opponent.

Like she could have missed it. Inwardly rolling her eyes, she thought, ‘Hello... My tally has demon god... AND I helped Spike with the first...  Also giant snaky mayor, who in my book, equals a dragon.

Giles had been trying unsuccessfully to get Buffy’s attention for a minute. Willow stepped closer and shouted, “BUFFY!” practically in her ear. Buffy swung around stunned. Willow’s mouth scrunched to the side and she lifted her shoulder up in a way of an apology. “Ummm... Buffy... Ummm... Giles and I are ready to start. W-we need you to guard us as we complete the spell. Is that, okay?”

Buffy nodded and signaled the slayers to get into defense mode.

Angel watched all this with a calculating eye. “Buffy? Where should I go?”

“Right by me will be fine...”

Angel stood rigidly beside her.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

The stood in the center of the battle rain now misting down on them. Entwining both of their hands they felt the power expand. Rushing over boundaries and spilling into each other. Travelling back and forth until it burst free full of power. Both lips moved in unison, “Motus terrae imprecor nostras adgredior cessare...” The ground shifted and buckled knocking back the horde surrounding the group. Travelling outward. They saw Faith and Group A hanging in there not far from where they were at. Buffy waved sassily. Faith blew her a kiss. Farther away at the end of the battle Buffy swore that she could see a flash of white. Her hopes skyrocketed.

Angel could hear her heartbeat accelerate and her breathing hitch. He knew then that there was no hope left for him. He felt bitter and wanted to smash something preferably Spikes face. The slayer blood was now a secret that he kind of relished. It would hurt Buffy to know that he had done that just like it hurt him to finally realize that she was gone. Out of his reach. He didn’t REALLY want her to know and would do anything to keep the secret... But he liked the fact that he could replay the moment of sinking his teeth into a slayers neck and drawing her life out. Right next to the Slayer that broke his heart.

The demons brushed themselves off and half of the resumed the attack on the survivors. The other smarter half started to rush toward the opening in the alley way. Trying to escape. They knew now that they were dealing with major magick. Giles and Willow smiled they were ready. This was the focusing spell that they had practiced on at the Coven. Now it was gametime.

Giles took Willow by the hand and turns her so that her back is up against his chest. She felt all barriers go down between them. He had seen her at her worst and he finally just let go of his past and focused on the now. She leans back into him as close as she can get. He takes her hand and lays his own above it. His finger is pointed out and underneath his is Willows. The rest of their hand is fused together. Power glyphs appear over them as they trace them into the air “diluvium...” a blue glyph appears.  “procella...” Another one. “tempestas...” this one is black rimmed in white. “ignis...” Silver. “censum...” Red. “deflagration...” Bright orange. The last word were spoken and triggered the glyphs, “imprecor nostras adgredior cessare morbundum hoadie...”  Giles and Willow suspended in the air arms wrapped around each other in bliss felt only release.

Glowing energy shoots out over the whole battlefield. Each demon is targeted by a single ball of energy bringing with it its own special brand of death. By water, flame or lighting the huge horde was reduced to none. Buffy watched the demon in front of her explode from a lightning strike that came out of nowhere... ‘Hey! that was close!’ The battlefield cleared Buffy drops the scythe and starts to run in the direction that she thinks Spike is in. Angel is completely ignored...

A/N: Please review me... Also, I have a bunch of Latin in this fic. Please forgive me, in the fact that it is an equivalent of a two year old trying to speak it. I just wanted to use it for a more realistic feel than a bunch of nonsense words. But who knows, the way I strung them together I am sure that it IS nonsense.

~~~~~~~~~~~~
He stood there surrounded by slayers as he watched her try to pick her way through the corpse ridden alley. Body parts and flaming bodies lying everywhere. The building next to him was practically  reduced to rubble. The dragon destroyed part of the block when it came crashing down. Once on the ground it’s threat had been reduced and it had caused chaos in the demon ranks. The horde had panicked but hadn’t broken and run. Most of them continued to fight.

The fact that it was such a compact space had worked against the legion. On an open playing field they would have slaughtered everyone just by sheer numbers alone. But in this terrain the enemy had to fight them in smaller packs... and on more even terms. He hadn’t really thought that they would make it through but she came in saving everyone as always. ‘For him...’ he thought bitterly.

‘Why would she chose him? There was nothing good about him. Nothing special. Nothing redeeming. He didn’t dwell on what he had done in his past! And he had done some really despicable things... Maybe he should let Buffy know about some of them.’

‘No. He would just tell her some of the even more creative ways that I tortured people in  MY past. See just another point that he will always be second best to me. I was more evil. But I repented more. He just went crazy in a basement or something like that...’

‘Plus The Powers That Be chose ME to wear the amulet... He wore it by default. I am the champion...’ His thoughts flitted back to Rona and what he had done. He felt shame fill him but it was tinged with a healthy dose of satisfaction mixed with hopelessness.

Why bother? Nothing was ever going to redeem him in the eyes of others and in his own eyes. He had to make different plans now. It was clear that the path to redemption was gone for him. He had killed over and over and even the presence of his soul couldn’t stop it. His soul liked it... Craved it. The feeling of power and control it gave to him. To make another feel the pain that he lived with everyday. He felt euphoric and then it would come creeping in the thoughts of guilt and remorse and they made him hurt more until he lashed out and did it again.

‘I was the champion... now I am my own man. I am going to make my own destiny. I refuse to be a pawn piece anymore. Now that the board has been wiped clean I will be crowned king.’

He was so tired of trying to fight his nature. He wanted to rip out the throat of everyone standing around him. Everyday at Angel Investigations and even at Wolfram & Hart he had wanted to bash someone's brains in. The people that he was surrounded by were so stupid. They never saw the big picture. They were so wrapped up in the here and now of their pathetic lives that they never saw that nothing they did would matter.

The only thing that mattered was power. Power that they had help make a vacuum for him to fill. There was nothing left for him. Nothing that made him want to fight against what he was anymore. It wouldn’t matter in the end anyways. He was a sinner and he would go to hell. If that is where he was bound he would make hell wait as long as he could and not go without some kind of power to be wielded there too.

The thought of Buffy and Spike together sent white hot jolt of rage pouring through him. After all he had given up for her best interest. He had let her go so she could have a normal life and she was going to throw it all away. Waste it on him. He could tell what was coming. It made him sick. He was all but choking on his anger. He was going to make them pay...

His pact was made. It was made the moment he accepted the reigns at Wolfram and Hart and he had known then what he was giving up. That really didn’t matter to him. He had a son and he was going to do anything to keep him happy and safe. He was the only thing left that he cared about. And Connor was gone from him now too. Out of his reach. Everything that he touched was tainted and fell apart. There would be no redemption in the future. But it would hold joy of its own kind. He could remember the things that he had done. The things that he had denied himself for so long. The taste of blood he had already reacquainted himself to. It was time to plan something grand. Something fitting for the Slayer. She was Buffy to him no more.

The slayers around him paid him little attention. They would send questioning glances at him but they were more full of awe than anything else. They had heard all of the whispered stories about him. Most of it was probably true...  The fact that he had taken on the dragon and barely had a scratch elevated him instantly to Oh my God status and the girls were embarrassed and didn’t know what to say to him. His normal broody demeanor just added to his mystique.

They helped the wounded and moved Rona the only casualty of the fight. Angel almost snorted out loud. The only one down is because of me. I guess Wolfram & Hart really knew what they were doing when they put me in charge. Faith’s group had meandered toward them most of them wound free. When they found out about Rona they gathered around and started to cry. A couple of girls kicked the dead bodies of the demons that were scattered around them. Angel watched all of this inwardly amused. Outwardly broody.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Willow and Giles had slid to the ground. The after effects of the spell were lingering and once in a while a glimmer of energy would outline their bodies. Willow’s eyes were shut and her arms had snaked around Giles shoulders and he cradled her in his lap. Everyone in the group left them alone too uncomfortable to break up something that was so obviously tender and intimate. The outpouring of energy should have left them exhausted but Willow felt full of energy. The good kind. It was just... right. She couldn’t understand it. It was so weird the feelings she was having and what was going on with her powers. She opened her eyes and saw Giles looking down at her with such wonder in his eyes that her heart skipped a beat.

“Is this normal?” she asked in a small voice. Relying on him to know the answers. For reassurance.

“Most definitely not...” The shaken tone of his voice sent an answering thrill down her spine. It made her realize that maybe this meant something to him too. She closed her eyes and leaned her head against his chest. She knew that normally she would have been all awkward around him and anything that resembled physical contact would have sent them both running in the other direction. But after what they had both gone through. What they had both shared there was nothing to feel embarrassed about. No barriers. They felt so comfortable in each others arms like it was natural.

Willow felt hands clamp down on her shoulder and haul up and off of Giles’ lap. Shocked wasn’t the right word for it. Appalled was the look that she saw on Giles’ face and she was sure reflected in her own. Kennedy stood holding Willow up by the back of her collar and demanded, “What the hell is going on with you? You two? What gives huh?”

Willow looked around embarrassed but all of the other slayers pretended not to be hanging on their every word. “Uhh... Kennedy can we talk about this somewhere a little more private?”

“Well privacy wasn’t first and foremost on your mind when you and Grandpa were spooning over there. Was it?”

Giles had risen to his feet and looked at Willow in askance. Willow barely shook her head no. At her insistence he backed down allowing her to handle this as she saw fit. It really wasn’t any of his business. He rationalized. While trying to not make a move on the irritating chit who had ahold of his Willow.

Willow felt bad for hurting Kennedy’s feeling and tried to apologize, “Kennedy... I am so sorry. I just don’t know what’s going on. The magic. It was the magic. I felt something... I’m sorry but I couldn’t help myself.” Willow saw the crestfallen look on Giles face and felt even worse. The great feeling was gone leaving only an echo in its place. She looked at Giles with tears brimming in her eyes hoping that he would understand.

Kennedy looked at Giles with hate burning in her eyes. She had caught the look that Willow had shot at Giles. She brought her hand up and was about to smash his face in when he uttered one word. “desino.” Her hand froze in midair. All of the slayers that had pretended not to be listening shot angry looks in Giles direction not sure if they should stand up for Kennedy or not. Giles could sense the tension in the air and sidestepped the blow and muttered, “dissolvo.” Her hand continued in its path but with nothing solid to connect with she lost her balance and stumbled.

Giles looked at her and with a carefully controlled voice told her, “Kennedy, you foolish girl, if you ever try something so stupid again I may be forced to hurt you.” He stalked off trying to regain his composure. Trying not to let what Willow had said affect him in any way.

Willow was left with one pissed off slayer and no real way to explain what had happened since she didn’t understand it herself.

Angel looked on very satisfied with today's events. Who knew Giles had a pair? And Willow... She must be amazing if she had them fighting over her like this. Maybe she would give him a moment of happiness before he killed her... Inwardly he grinned.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

A loud static noise filled the air followed by, “That was frickin’ awesome guys! Great fight! And fireworks like that! Giles old boy I didn’t know you had it in you! And Will you are the best! Dawnie and I are on our way down to congratulate you in person! Hey, has anyone heard from Andrew?”

Dawn’s loud voice filled the air, “Has anyone found him? Buffy is he okay?” In her anxiety Dawn forgets to let go of the button.

“Dawnie I thought that you aren’t supposed to be the one talking... Are you usurping my authority?”

“Xander the battle is over... Duh! I am so not waiting till I get over there to find out what’s going on...”

“Dawn if there was anything to tell I am sure you would hear right away... Your sister would let you know. It’s not a good sign that you haven’t heard anything...”

“Don’t say that! You don’t know anything like that. Why isn’t anyone answering me? Oh shit I was holding the button down... Ooooppps! Sorry guys.”

Faith pressed the button, “Hey Dawn, Your sis is looking for him now so chill. Why don’t you and the hunk get your asses down here and help out.”

Xander nudged Dawn in the ribs, “Did you hear that? She called me a hunk... We really should be getting down there to help out.” He groaned and slapped his forehead. “Wait! I better go check up on Andrew. I mean he should have checked in by now. He would have definitely checked in cause he sooo loves the 007 like two-way action.”

He reached for his two-way depressing the button, “Umm... Faith, Dawn and I are going to go check up on Andrew... It really isn’t like him to not be playing around with his shiny new gadget...”

Faith started to laugh and told him exactly what she thought he was playing with. Faith needled him about his concern over his special friend and Dawn saw Xander blush and stammer until Faith let him off the hook and laughed her ass of at him. “Go and check up on the chump and then get your sorry ass down here for clean up. We have wounded down here y’know?!”

Xander found himself saying that he would hurry up and get down there. Dawn was looking at him with something like pity. “What? Why are you looking at me like that?”

Dawn just shook her head and started to grab her gear. A few seconds later they were on their way to the building kitty corner to them. Xander didn’t let the subject die and had hammered Dawn until she finally ground out... “You like her don’t you?”

“Well yeah... She’s nice.”

“No I mean like - like...”

Xander looked at her with a dull look in his eyes, “Well I already told you that I like, like her, whatever that means...”

Dawn rolled her eyes , “Are you always this dense? Do ... You... Have... Romantic... Feelings... For ... Faith? Does that spell it out for you enough?

Xander blushed and shuffled his feet a little. Sure sign Dawn thought. She looked down at his feet trying to think of a way to try and warn him off Faith and saw the shattered two-way. Panic shot through her. “Oh shit...”

Xander thought, ‘She’s becoming a regular little potty mouth. I guess I can’t really say anything to her anymore. Dawnie’s almost all grown up and all.’ Then he registered the pale face and scared eyes and looked at what she was staring at. The two-way. Andrew’s most treasured item of this excursion. It had been his brain child to use them in training and for him to drop it on his first real trial run was a bad sign.

“Oh shit...” The two of them looked at each other and bolted for the stairs.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Buffy tried to maneuver her way through the dead while keeping her eyes peeled for Spike. She was feeling desperate and listening to Xander and Dawn bicker had done nothing to alleviate her fears. Then all at once she spotted him. He was leaning against the wall one of his arms was in a curled position like he had been hurt. She started to scramble over there going as fast as she could. She was about fifteen feet away from him when he turned and opened his eyes and saw her standing there. It was like time had stopped.

She didn’t notice the others around them. Wesley had been hurt and the woman there was holding him and Gunn was making a bandage for him.

Spike saw her and didn’t dare blink. He felt the same overpowering joy he always felt when he saw her. When that shockwave had hit the enemy - and only the enemy - he should have known it was her. Bringing the big guns to come save... Angel. She hadn’t known he was here so she had come for him as always. He tried hard not to let it bother him. The history that they had shared was so tangled.

It was so good just to see her again. It didn’t matter.

She took another step towards him. Afraid to say anything. Afraid that whatever she said would be wrong. Every time she opened her mouth around him she just screwed things up. Taking a deep breath she closed the space in between them and put her hands on either side of his face. Kissing him with every tender emotion that she possessed.

She heard him groan against her mouth and couldn’t help but deepen the kiss and press her body in tighter against him. He groaned again this time in pain. She backed up and he tried to recapture her. She ducked away.

“Are you hurt? Please tell me you aren’t hurt...”

Spike grimaced and pulled away his hand from his side a deep gash ran round his ribs. If he had needed to breath he would have been dead a long time ago. Since he was already dead it just curtailed his need for unnecessary breaths.

She took one look at him and all color left her face. “No... No! You aren’t going to leave me again!” She shoved him against the wall her hands buried in his shirt. Her palms flat against his chest. Her grief and sorrow plain to see.

He put one finger to the tears that had started to trail down and asked, “Buffy?” The one word echoing all of the need and longing that he had for her. He started to hope that maybe she had some feeling for him. That what had started between them during the battle with the First had left his mark upon her. That it had meant something to her as well.

“Oh God, Spike. I can’t believe that you are here. That I can... That we can... I want to...” She leaned in again and started kissing him fervently.

He groaned again. She stilled instantly mistaking it for pain and looked at him with big glowing eyes.

“Will you.. Will...” Not being able to express how she felt she just lifted her hair and unbuttoned her collar revealing the tan column of her neck to him.

He watched the blood pump in her neck for a second and was tempted by her offer. Realizing everything that she was offering in that gesture. Trust. Compassion. Love. He leaned back and removed himself from the temptation a little. “I’m sorry luv. I can’t do that to you.” Every fibre of his being wanted to.

Her eyes narrowed. “You listen to me. I will NOT lose you again! I need you. You are not going to suffer when you don’t need to. I know that this will help you. Take it and take me.” She reached down into her belt and brought up a small knife and ran it across her neck. Blood started to flow immediately.

He was furious. She could have killed herself. What if she had nicked her jugular. He vamped out intending to lick her wound closed. She grasped the back of his head and guided him down to where she had cut herself. The old scar where the Master and then Angel had drank from her. He felt something in him responded to this. He wanted to taste her. To mark her as his. His fangs sunk in...

~~~~~~~~~~~~
9fic:

As his teeth sank in she felt her body spasm against his. Her arms twined around his head pulling him in tightly. She couldn’t get close enough. Her nipples were instantly hard and brushing against the hard planes of his chest. Her head was tossed back. Her mouth open and gasping for air. A low moan poured out. The first sting of his teeth tearing into her flesh had faded and waves of pleasure were pulsing through her. She ground her hips against the hard bulge in his pants. It had never felt so good. Her hands slipped into his platinum hair pulling it slightly in her need. Out of nowhere it hit her like a ton of bricks. She came so hard. She felt like she was going to pass out. There was ringing in her ears and her heart was beating furiously as she writhed against him.

Spike he felt her hands buried in his hair holding on tight. His mouth closed over the wound and he felt his fangs descend into her neck. His body was a whirlwind of sensation. The pain in his side was throbbing and aching while the pleasure from the blood was swirling down his throat and flowing out to the rest of his body. It was like his whole world began and ended at the touch of his lips on her. He was reeling from the combined effect of her sudden appearance and the heady draught of her blood. His arms wrapped around her moving up and down over the expanse of her back. He could smell her arousal. He was drowning in it. He began murmuring endearments against her neck, “I missed you, luv... can’t stay away... forever... I will love you... forever...” He knew that she was close. He slipped his hands down to grab her ass and pulled her up tighter against him. The combined pressure of her thrusts and his own grinding brought them both over the edge.

She heard him growl out his satisfaction burying his teeth deeper for a second. The second onslaught of his teeth sent jolts of pleasure pain through her body and she moaned softly as she came again.She ran her hand along his cheek just reassuring herself that he was really here... with her. The sound of his voice broke through her contented state of mind.

“Buffy, luv, are you alright?”

She glanced up at him still dazed. Damn, I forgot how quick his recovery time is. Just to reinforce her point she felt him harden against her hip. Her eye widened and she felt her body aching for him. Then she noticed all of these strange people looking at her. ‘Hello bucket of cold water. My name is Buffy!’

He felt her stiffen up and tried to make her feel more at ease. In her ear he whispered, “They never even noticed, pet. Too busy with the watcher-boy over there.” He lied easily.

Everyone was studiously not looking their way. She glanced around so embarrassed. She had publically just very vocally announced that they were together Her body still tingled from the after effects of his bite. She knew that everyone had seen but the funny thing was that she didn’t care. She was so happy that she was here in his arms. It didn’t matter what they thought... Well maybe it was more than  a little bit embarrassing but it was worth it. She wasn’t going to deny the relationship or what he meant to her any longer. She knew what she wanted. Him.

She realized that one way or another it had always been about him. Such strong feelings were so hard to deny. But denial was her middle name. Almost losing him had been the worst and best thing that had happened to her. It made her realize with clarity how much he really meant to her. He was her everything. Her best friend and lover all wrapped up in one. Her soulmate.

Thinking about souls always made her feel wistful. She had wasted so much time.Her stubborn belief that he couldn’t love her without one was brought on by the whole Angel/Angelus period of her life. If she had never been with him she would have never thought that Spike couldn’t love her without having a soul. Angel had shown her how much of a difference having a soul could make on him. Admitting to herself that Spike had been basically the same as he had been without one had been one of the more difficult things that she had ever done. It showed her the fact that the relationship that she had with Angel was based on a lie. True love just didn’t disappear. It was always there and sometimes it burned.

She looked up into Spike eyes and felt tears well up in her own. “Spike,” her breath hitched. She took a deep breath to calm herself down. “Why didn’t you call me? Tell me that you were alive?”

This was the last thing that he expected her to do. A soft question asked with hope (and love?)  shining in her eyes. He felt ashamed. Confused. “Buffy, luv, I wanted to ring you. Believe me it was always on my mind. When I came back... Well, I came back as a ghost. I was surrounded by the great poof and his friends. The first thing that I thought about was you.” He paused waiting to gauge her reaction. She nodded her head encouraging him to go on.

“And to try and figure out how to get my bloody body back. I was stuck here for a while with no way to contact you... Angel wouldn’t fill me in on your recent whereabouts and that made me worry that you might need me. Then I figured that no matter what a stupid git Angel could be at times... he wouldn’t let anything happen to you if he could help it. Then it happened. The phones went all wonky and I got my body back. No explanation... I don’t right know who to thank and all but I was so happy. I had figured out where you were at and started off when all this rumblin’ happened. The building was about to come down on us. It seems there is a clause about two vampires with souls fightin’ the good fight. The scales were tipped and were trying to right themselves. So I was stuck here again. I couldn’t leave until this was all sussed out...”

He continued in a low whisper, “To tell you the truth, Buffy, I was terrified to call you. Now that I had my body back and I could physically do it...too much time had gone by and I started to wonder if ringing you would remind you of things that were better left buried. That maybe it wasn’t such a good idea. I desperately wanted to and I stopped myself a dozen times a day... I’m such a wanker!” He ran his hand through his hair and averted his gaze.

She reached up and stroked his cheek to get him to continue. “No you aren’t... I just wished you would have called...”

He took an unnecessary breath and paused for a moment. When he spoke his voice was so low she strained to hear it. “Peaches and I went to Italy to take care of some business. I saw you there... with him.” No name was needed to explain who he was. “You had made a better life for yourself. You were so happy. I couldn’t... You have a chance now. A clean slate. You can be free. You can do what you want with your life. I didn’t want to muck it up with mine. I want you to be happy, luv...”

He saw a storm brewing in her eyes. She was breathing hard another sign that she was all worked up. She exploded. “I am going to kill myself! No I am going to kill you and then I am going to kill myself! You are making me crazy! What were the last words that came out of my mouth in the cavern? Hello! I love you! Doesn’t that mean anything to you? I know I am not the best at saying things like that... But I don’t think that I can get much clearer.” She started to jab him in the chest with each word. I..” (jab) “love...” (jab) “YOU!” (with a double jab for emphasis).She let out an inarticulate noise and stamped her foot. “This isn’t how I wanted to tell you AGAIN that I love you.” She stared at him with her heart in her eyes pleading that he would believe her this time.

He wasn’t a fool. He didn’t have to be told twice... Well actually he did. He wasn’t about to waste anymore time. “Buffy you know it was always you, right?” His head tilted at an angle as he searched her eyes once more. Both of them had been through so much and wanted this so bad to rush it this time. He tried to warn her off one more time, “I just couldn’t assume that you would want me waltzing back into your life again. I am never going to be an easy fit, luv. I want you to have it all. Things that I can’t give you. Sunshine... and picnics.. and all that bleedin’ stuff...”

“Ohhh... Spike. I have had all of that. What I want is you.”

That was all it took. He crushed her to him.His mouth fastened on hers. In between kisses he whispered, “Buffy... I’ll never leave you... I love you.” He felt her return his embrace. They were nearly crushing each other with the intensity of their need.

It looked like everyone was about to get another eyeful.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Buffy heard a low whistle of appreciation. Faith was standing to her side a couple feet away from the two of them. Waving her hand back and forth fanning herself off, she lazily drawled, “Man you two are HOT. But I just thought I would give you the heads up the the old man is heading this way and something pissed him off..”

Buffy smiled sheepishly, “Thanks Faith...”

“No problem. Uh, good to see you in the land of the living blondie. Us reformed villains have to be keepin’ it real for the slayerettes. I better go check up on Xander. The twerp is missing. He never checked in with Xander. I figured that Xander and Dawn might need some backup.”

At the mention of Dawn’s name Spike could feel Buffy tense up. He shot a questioning look at Faith to see if they were needed.

Faith caught the glance and waved her hands dismissively. “Don’t worry B. I got this covered! You two figure out what the hell we are going to do from here.” She saw Giles coming and made her getaway before he could drag her into one of his long winded discussions of the best possible plan of action they could take.

Buffy almost groaned aloud. She had to admire Faith’s sense of timing. That girl always knew the best time to quit and run. Watching Giles come closer she realized that there was something different about him. The same feeling that she had whenever Willow was around was evincing itself. She had thought that Giles was working on borrowed powers like he had before when he came to help Willow get off of the dark magicks. Now she had a sneaking suspicion that Giles had some ‘splaining to do.

Giles stormed up to them. Then did a quick double take. He was doubly grateful that Spike was alive and apparently getting a second chance with his Slayer. Feeling uncomfortable because of their past he managed to grind out a stilted, “Spike... I am so happy to see that you are alive...” At the raised eyebrow from Spike he continued, “Truly I am... I have realized what a dreadful mistake I made in Sunnydale. I can only offer you my sincerest apology and my word that nothing so completely stupid, on my part, will happen ever again.”

Giles stuck out his hand in a gesture of friendship. At Spike’s reluctance on accepting it he appealed once more, “You do realize that I was only doing what I thought was necessary for her. Another dreadful mistake, but, one that I hope I am rectifying as of right here and now...” He trailed off at a loss to convey his deep felt regret for his past actions.

He felt a cool hand reach up and return his firm handshake, “What’s an attempt on your life between friends. How can I hold it against you when you have forgiven me on MY attempts on all of your lives before the chip?” Giles acknowledged the dig at the Scoobies characters with a slight nod of his head. “And look at Red, Angel, Faith, oh yeah, even poncey Andrew, everyone in the line up has had some kind of shady past. I couldn’t bloody well fit in without my checkered past...”

“Yes, well, I am obviously not without one of my own. I really can’t apologize enough. I would also like to formally thank you for averting the Sunnydale apocalypse. Without you there we might not have have made it...”

Giles’ speech was interrupted by Buffy barreling into him and giving him a great big hug. “Oh Giles, I am so glad that the two of you have kissed and made up. Well not literally...” Her face scrunched up in a yuck look. “Now that Spike is back I need you, and everyone else, to make him feel welcome because he is not going anywhere without me.”

The look of wonder and complete joy that crossed over Spike’s face at Buffy’s speech was not missed by Giles. He felt that this might just be the thing that would make his Buffy happy at last. He cleared his throat. “Right then, Where was I? Oh... yes... The proper plan for an evacuation of this size is something of a logistical nightmare. I have thought it over and I really think that the best possible course of action is to have Willow and I preform another teleportation spell along with a cloaking and misdirection spell for this area. I have also thought about the possible resting space that we can use until we figure out if this is the major battle or just the beginning...”

Buffy sighed softly. She just knew that Giles would have that big brain in overdrive and have everything all planned out. She tried to pay attention but all of her thought seemed to be focused on the vampire next to her. She leaned closer to him and grabbed his hand. He had been paying attention to Giles and looked at her with a warm smile and gently squeezed her hand. She felt goosebumps break out all over her skin in reaction to his touch. She tamped down on where her thought were leading her. Must pay attention.

She heard the tail end of Giles question and looked to Spike for help. He smile evilly at her and asked, “Yeah Buffy do you agree?”

Nonplussed Buffy tried to skirt around whatever the issue was, “Ummm... Whatever Giles thinks.”

Giles sighed. “It seems that Buffy agrees  it is way too dangerous to stay in the States. We will return to the Coven. There will have plenty of room and it is one of the safest areas that we could retreat to. At least until we have analyzed the extent of this new debacle that we have thrown ourselves into. Angel and his friends will just have to come with us to be on the safe side.”

Buffy was amazed that for once what she blindly agreed with Giles on what was actually sounding like the choice that she might like. She perked up. Looking at Spike she asked, “How does that sound to you? A place where we can... talk.”

The heat coming from Spikes eyes should have set her on fire.  The looks that she was sending him made him want to shag her senseless.  Growling low in his throat he snatched her close and began kissing her with all of his pent up passion. He could hardly believe that this was the same Buffy. She was kissing him in public. Bloody hell, he had even bit her in front of everyone. He felt like he was in a dream. He wasn’t about to waste a single precious moment with her.

Giles realized that there was going to be no more talking to either of them took off muttering something about Willow making him blind again. Now that their game plan was all sorted out he was getting everyone  ready to pull out of the area. He managed to put some of the healing poultices on the more serious wounds but with their slayer healing factor most of the girls didn’t need it. They had come through this fight with only one casualty. The thought of Rona made him choke up. He could remember the day when she had shown up on Buffy’s doorstep. So brash and full of life. Seeing her on the cold pavement almost cleaved in two had brought this to reality for many of the girls.

So far they had thought their slayer powers were fantastic. That they could beat anything. For the most part they could. They only patrolled in groups of three. Most of the time they came back grumbling that they hadn’t had any fun tonight. That there wasn’t enough evil for them to kill to go around. Tonight they were introduced to the world that Buffy and Faith had lived through. A world where you were the only thing standing between evil and humanity. And evil could win. It wasn’t fun and games it was life or death.

He felt their pain after Sunnydale he had thought that maybe things would get easier for all of them. Things only became more complicated. He heard a groan to his right. He thought that he had tended everyone. He saw Wesley lying on the ground his chest soaked in red. A strange woman was cradling him in her lap. Angel was kneeling next to him arguing with him about something. Giles made his way over and caught what Angel had been saying.

“...just let me fix this for you. It will only take a second.”

“It’s only a minor flesh wound. No need to bother, Angel.” Wesley struggled to sit up and black spots swam across his eyes. He wobbled and finally lay back down.

“Look at you! You need me to help you with this.” Angel leaned over and ripped open Wesley’s shirt. As he started to lean over the wound a tiny little hand came up on his forehead and stopped him from going any lower.

“Do you wish this creature to touch you? I can hold you and pretend if you would prefer that.”

Wesley was grateful that Illyria had stopped Angel from what he had been about to do. He had made it clear to him that he wasn’t comfortable with him “tending” his wounds but Angel hadn’t even listened. He was always aware of what Angel truly was. His training as a watcher pretty much made that a given. But he had come to also think of him as a friend. Angel’s disregard of his wishes made him experience a different kind of hurt than the wound in his chest. He was in no shape to do anything but give Angel a fierce tongue lashing so Illyria’s intervention seemed at the moment to be the best course of action. Wesley managed a weak, “Yes Illyria please continue to hold me that should be enough for now.”

Gunn had stayed strangely quiet throughout this whole exchange. Deep in thought.

Giles was horrified by what he had just witnessed Angel try to do. Pent up hatred for Angel blazed through his system. Remembering his misguided attempt on Spike’s life he barely managed to contain it. Moving around Angel’s bulky form he reached the other side of Wesley. Looking down at him he said fondly, “Hello Wesley. I see that you have a nasty looking wound there. I can’t imagine why you would object to some of the Coven’s healing salve being used.”

Wesley smiled weakly glad for Giles help. “I would like that very much...” Giles looked at Illyria for permission. Correctly assuming he needed to. She nodded her head regally.

Giles placed a generous amount of the healing balm on the open wound, infusing it with some of his own magic, the wound stopped bleeding and closed over on itself. Wesley looked down amazed. Two close calls in one day. Thank God for magick.

Giles happened to look up after the wound healed and caught Angel staring at him in a strange manner. He could have sworn that his eyes had flashed gold. Then it was gone.

~~~~~~~~~~~~
10

The teleportation spell went smoothly. It seemed like Giles added a much needed element to Willow’s spells. Namely focus. The two of them were able to place a misdirection and cloaking spell over the area and bring everyone over to the Coven without digging too deep into their energy levels. Giles and Willow preformed the spells and while the power flowed through the two of them they had melded together as one again. After the spells were complete they felt an awkwardness come over them. Willow’s words hung in the air around them.

Willow had no idea of what to do to get them back on track again. This felt much worse than the time he had called her a rank, arrogant, amateur.

Giles stubbornly refused to comment to her about the remarks she made earlier. The words still stung him and he hated feeling this way. All open and vulnerable. He tried to close himself off but as soon as their hands had met again he had felt them blending into each other again. She had made herself pretty clear in stating that the only thing that was important between them was the magic. So magic would be the only thing that they would share. He dropped her hand as soon as the portal deposited them at the Coven.

Willow looked at him with wide eyes unable to say anything that she felt since she was all jumbled up inside.

The demon carcasses that they left would soon dissolve into goo and be washed away without any regular joe being any the wiser. Special care was taken with Rona’s remains and they planned on having her buried just outside the Coven grounds.

Everyone was worried about Andrew. Xander and Dawn had found him unconscious laying in a pool of blood. They had brought him back to the Coven and he was resting in bed. They had tried to heal him with various herbs and unguents but it only cleaned up the very nasty bruise on the side of his head. Margaret, the Coven’s seer, had told them that he was going to have to come out of it on his own and that he just needed to rest.

Buffy sat next to Andrew’s side stroking his forehead. “Spike... You know if it wasn’t for Andrew... No. Actually, if it wasn’t for Wesley I would have never known that you were alive. Wesley called me in Rome and left a message on the answering machine. He was crocked.” Buffy’s face split into a grin trying to envision the stuffy Wesley that she had known drinking.

Spike thought about it for a moment and then started laughing, “He must have called you when Angel and I were in a tussle. I can’t believe that he went against Angel strict orders of no contact with the Slayers... He surprises me more and more.” He started laughing again at the look of anger on Buffy’s face. Angel was going to get an earful from her. But not now. He swooped down on her before she could get a word in. His arms wrapping around her chest and his body protectively embracing her. Whispering low in her ear he said, “It looks like we are going to have to thank our ex-watcher then pet. I can’t imagine Angel would be too happy with this information. Maybe we should do Wes a favor and keep this little tidbit to ourselves.”

Buffy thought for a second and slowly nodded her head. It might have been because Spike had taken advantage of their situation and had started to place kisses all up and down her neck. Buffy thought that maybe it wasn’t such a great idea for a Slayer to be so turned on by a vampire kissing her neck. But it was this vampire. Her vampire and she snuggled against him letting out a small moan. Spike smiled against her neck and pulled her even closer.

~~~~~~~~~~

Angel leaned against the wall outside the door. He had heard everything that had been said. That information and the noises that the two were emitting was enough to drive him into another murderous rage. He should have known that Wesley would have snuck away and gone against him. Why not? The Judas had done it once before. He knew exactly when he had told her. The night at Wesley’s apartment he had taken his cell phone. The only place that he kept her number. The phone that had conveniently been dropped in the toilet after he had called her. He had acted all innocent when he had asked him what had happened to the phone. Wesley deliberately destroyed it and the record of the calls that had gone out. He added it to the growing list of things that they would all pay for.

He had even offered to seal Wesley’s wound earlier. Giles had stopped him from getting even a speck of the blood.

Giles had always been a huge pain in the ass for him. He had interfered in his relationship with Buffy and now apparently felt all chummy with Spike. The hypocrite! Some of the guilt that Angel had for Jenny Calendar’s death melted away. He felt that Giles had been moving against him even back then. Angelus’ spree of violence had evened the score up. Giles wasn’t the innocent victim he always liked to portray. He knew what he was doing.

The noises from inside the bedroom became a little louder and more incessant. It sickened him. He had to get away from there quick before he did something he wasn’t ready to do quite yet. Buffy the Vampire’s Slut was going to pay along with her little lap-dog, Spike.

He crossed the corridor and went outside into the cool night air.

~~~~~~~~~~

Giles sat in Margaret’s personal salon and watched her as she poured him a cup of tea. The familiarity of the act calmed his nerves somewhat. He had asked to be given an audience on the excuse of trying to find out what Wolfram and Hart was planning to do. He planned on discussing that but his true reason for seeking Margaret out was to find out what she knew about the bond Willow and him had experienced.

He was at a loss on how to control himself whenever he was around her. He was infatuated with her and couldn’t stop thinking about for more than a moment. He wanted to make sure that he was not going to embarrass himself in front of her. He was acting like he was a bloody schoolboy and she was his first kiss.

Margaret smiled at him and he knew in that moment that she had an inkling on why he had shown up at her door. They had been friends for so long that sometime they could tell what the other was thinking just by a glance. He hoped that he wasn’t that obvious to everyone else. Or that maybe there was an off chance that she had a vision about his situation with Willow. Highly unlikely but worth a shot. It would do him good just to hash out his feelings and get her honest reaction. Her advice was always sound.

Giles was warming up to his topic when he heard a timid knock on the door. Willow was standing there all cleaned up and fairly sparkling. She stood in the doorway apologizing for disturbing Margaret at such a late hour but she had something she wanted to ask her about the spell that had been performed on Giles and her. If maybe there was some after affect that she knew about... She trailed off as she noticed Giles sitting there with his tea cup halfway to his mouth. Margaret smiled and motioned Willow into the room and brought up a chair for her to sit in next to Giles.

“Well it seems that I am not going to have to explain this twice.” She made a motion towards the teapot to see if Willow would like a cup. After Willow’s nod she started to pour explaining all the while. “The spell that you two were placed under was very straightforward. It gave you both the extra power that you would need for the upcoming fight. Anything else that came from it was your own doing.”

After dropping that bombshell she dipped her finger into her cup of tea and proclaimed that the tea was entirely too cold. Scooping up the various tea cups she announced that she was off to the kitchen to heat up some more water. She would only be a minute and for them to wait till she returned. Hiding her smile she left the two of them in the room together.

~~~~~~~~~~

He had to fight off the urge to go back in there and tear the head off of his childe. He wanted to brutally tear into Buffy’s neck and claim her like Spike had earlier this evening. She had no thought on how this was affecting him. She was oblivious to the pain that she inflicted on him.

Or maybe she enjoyed it. He had seen her toy with Spike before in the past. She had like to lord it over him. To inflict pain with her word as well as her little fists. The Slayer knew a few things about torture.

Angel had to get a grip on himself. The shock of what had happened in such a short time. The painful decisions that he had made was destroying all of his much lauded self control. The fact that he was here now right in the middle of the enemy camp was rich. The fact that he had been brought here by the borrowed magic of the Coven only sweetened the pot. He had to calm down. The only thing that he needed to do right now was to figure out what to do next.

Kennedy was patrolling in hopes that something had slipped by the Coven’s defenses. She was so mad that she could spit. Willow must take her as some kind of idiot! There was no way that she was buying that ‘Oh... There’s nothing going on’ routine. She wanted to punch something right then so bad she could taste it. Her slayer sense’s flared up and whirling around she felt a vampire signature. Bingo! Not taking any chances she dove at the tall figure in front of her. Wrestling him to the ground she threw punch after punch until some part of her recognized the form underneath her. Oh shit! Angel.

She leaned over him and placed her hands on his shoulder’s shaking him non too gently. “Angel... Angel... I didn’t know it was you...” His swollen eyes popped open.

In a flash her position was reversed and she felt his fangs sink deep in her neck. There had been no warning. He had just torn out her windpipe. Kennedy felt searing pain. It was like nothing she had ever felt before.The blood leaving her body in great torrents with Angel’s body grotesquely hovering above her. Swallowing over and over.

Her hand trailed down Angel’s arm till it lay in the grass beside her. Her eyes wide open and staring.

~~~~~~~~~~

He felt a moment of panic as he looked down at Kennedy’s prone form. How the hell was he going to hide her body? He picked her up off the ground easily carrying her into the woods that surrounded the crumbling manor home. Tall oak trees shielded the view from the house one thing that Angel had to be grateful for. He moved silently deeper into the dense forest. Finding a area covered in thick bushes he laid Kennedy down in the brush carefully arranging her body so that she mimicked the pose that he left Jenny in. Perhaps Giles would be the one to find her. He felt something akin to glee at that thought.

Moving carefully he drifted back out of the forest he caught a glimpse of a red ember fiercely glowing. The scent of tobacco hung heavy in the air. A low husky voice called out, “Yo Angel whatcha doin’?”

Angel felt himself relax a little, the sound of Faith’s voice held no trace of awareness of what he had been up to. She seemed relaxed and even a little bored. He was grateful that he normally didn’t talk much so he settled with a noncommittal grunt.

“C’mon I know that you are feeling low. What with Buffy and all. You need an ear I am right here... We’re buds.” Her low husky voice was filled with concern. He felt like tearing her head right off her shoulders. What did she think? That they were soul mates just because she had killed one man? Comparing herself to him like that was like comparing vinegar to wine. And he had aged well.

“Faith if I needed someone to talk to I would be talking to Gunn or...” He almost choked on the word. “Wesley. I mean this isn’t the kind of thing you would understand...”

“Try me...” She put a wealth of feeling behind those words. He could see her eyes flashing at him with his enhanced night vision. He could tell that he had hit a nerve by dismissing her. That he had hurt her by rejecting her offer. This was going to be easy.

“Faith to tell you the truth I really don’t want to be sharing anything this personal with you...” He sighed acting all exasperated. “You and I have some sort of a history but I was just helping you out of pity. Pity and the need to work of some of my own guilt. By saving you I was saving myself... Do you get it? I don’t need you to help me...” He gauged her reaction. Needing just a little more pain he added. “You can’t even help yourself...”

Every word that Angel said drove itself home. Her heart ached and her eyes burned with unshed tears. Blinking them back she felt her defenses snap up. Iron doors that had been broken down over the past year slammed closed around her once again. What he had told her was confirmation of every thought that she had about herself. Reaffirming her self loathing and guilt. Anger kicked itself in gear. Her favorite defense.

“Y’know Angel... Everyone here told me what an asshole you can be but, I really didn’t believe them. You live. You learn.” She shook her head disapprovingly. “No wonder Buffy kicked you to the curb.” At that parting shot she stubbed out her cigarette and headed back into the manor.

Angel held himself back from tearing into her when she had the nerve to even mention the fact that Buffy hadn’t chose him. It took every fibre of his being to stop the demon inside him from coming out to destroy her. She was too strong for him now. A fight with her would only alert every other Slayer by the intensity of their battle. He needed to be stronger. The blood that he had imbued from Kennedy sang throughout his body. He was stronger already. The blood making him more powerful by the mouthful. Slayer blood it seemed had that effect. Why hadn’t Spike told him? A grin spread across his face. Chilling in its intensity.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A clock ticked on the mantle. The fire burned cheerily on the hearth crackling and popping sporadically.The two people in the room looked around aimlessly trying to think of something to say to fill the silence between them. Giles cleared his throat. That was all it took for Willow’s already thinly stretched nerves.

“I’m sorry Giles. I didn’t mean to say those things back in L.A. Can you understand how this is really confusing to me?” Her words all came out in a rush blending together in a fast stream. “I... I... don’t know what is exactly going on between us but Kennedy and I are really done. I told her that it was over and that it didn’t have anything to do with you. We were... not right. Tara was right. Oz was right. Do you know what I am saying?”

Giles felt a surge of elation come over him when she told him that she was through with Kennedy. He had always thought that girl was a prissy bitch.  Her presence had always been something of a thorn in his side. She had added a nasty element to the house in Sunnydale. When he had started to see Willow in a different light she had become loathsome to him.

On the thoughts about them, he knew exactly how Willow felt. He was amazed that there might be some kind of future for them. Realizing that now wasn’t the time to push he reviewed what he was going to say to her in return before he just blurted out his feeling for her.

“Willow, it hurt what you said in L.A. but I understand why you said it. I am just as confused as you are. There IS something there, so it seems, and we can just take things slow and figure out just what that means to the both of us.” Giles resisted the urge to go to her and smooth out the worry lines that had formed on her forehead with kisses.

Taking in what he said she visibly relaxed. A huge grin transformed her face lighting her from within. “Does that mean that we can start meditating again. And that you can help me with my control. Or that we can go to their library and go through their spell book on harnessing sunlight. It looks really tricky...”

Giles smiled back at her entranced. She was made for him.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dawn came running into Andrew’s room. Seeing Spike and Buffy passionately kissing made her pause for two seconds. Didn’t Buffy ever come up for air? She had heard that there had been no change in Andrew’s condition and had come here for the sole purpose of seeing Spike. She knew that they weren’t on speaking terms when had had “died” but she now had the chance to be forgiven. And she wasn’t going to wait even a second longer.

Launching herself at them she attempted to pry them apart. Only to find her hands wedged in between their bodies. Oh gross! She let out a yelp! Spike realized what was going on first and broke off from kissing Buffy. His eyes glazed over for a second. Then looking into Dawn’s with such fondness that she dug her elbow into Buffy’s side to gain her attention.

Buffy’s snort of annoyance was anything but lady like. She knew how much Dawn had wanted to make up with Spike. How much she had regretted the things that she said. She excused herself under the lame pretense that she was going to the bathroom. While she was there she might as well splash some cold water on herself. Hoping that everything was going to be fixed Buffy sailed out of the room. She was going to give her ten minutes. She looked at her watch. Willing it to move faster.

Dawn looked at Spike for a second. She had known that he was alive. Seeing him here though was an entirely different story. She was flooded with memories. How he had treated her as a person, grown-up like, valuing her opinions. Listening to her. He had been her first real friend. The only one that hadn’t been influenced by the monks to like her. To protect her. She remembered the time that he had been tortured by Glory so he would give up her name. How he had cared for her after her mom died. After Buffy died. Tears well up in her eyes and rolled down her cheeks. There wasn’t anything that she could say that would let him know just how much he meant to her.

“Aw bit...” He opened up his arms to her and she flew into his embrace. Sobbing she told him how sorry she was. That she was so happy that he was alive. He quieted her as best he could. Shushing her and patting her on the back. He was humbled by the fact that he had somehow been forgiven by Dawn. He had loved her from the moment he had set eyes on her. The bond that they shared had been forged in mutual loss and the easy friendship that had sprung up between them. He was so grateful that she wanted him back in her life. All had been forgiven.

Buffy stood in the doorway smiling at the two of them...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The courtyard was deserted. Xander stepped outside to get a breath of fresh air. Sometimes being outnumbered about ten to one was very unnerving. Oh. He forgot to factor in the lovely ladies of the Coven so make that about twenty-five to one. Good luck getting a bathroom... He walked toward the bench near the herb garden he saw earlier. He sat down trying to relax some of the annoyance out of him.

He heard a soft sound. Stifled.He located the noise and moved towards it. Sitting in the back of the garden on the grass, with her knees bent up and her arms circled around them was Faith. At his approach she frantically dashed at her eyes and tried to look all tough.

He sat down next to her making sure that he had full view of her face. “What’s wrong Faith...” He reached out and placed his arm around her shoulder.

Faith felt the familiar warmth that he always aroused creep up on her. She ducked her head and muttered, “Nothin’. I just got something in my eye... No really...”

Xander tilted up her face and looked at her. In that moment Faith could see everything that he wanted to tell her in his face. She didn’t deserve anyone as good as him. She would only ruin it anyways. That’s what she did. Buffy was the Slayer and she was the... Destroyer. She wanted to be worthy of him so bad that it made her heart ache.

“No questions. Just hold me...”  Xander’s strong arms encircled her and pulled her tight against him. Trying to give her comfort in any way that she would accept it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Claire was coming in from her turn in patrolling. Even though they were in friendly territory Giles had thought that it would be prudent to keep sweeping the area for signs of Wolfram & Hart trying to get back at them. Kennedy had never showed where she was supposed to meet her to patrol. It wasn’t surprising considering everyone had heard that her and Willow were broken up. She was secretly glad. Patrolling with Kennedy tonight would have been a living hell. Her slayer senses had picked up a vampire in the area she felt like she had been punched in the gut it was so strong. She had pulled the stake out of its holster when he stepped out of the shadows.

Damn! It was that hottie vampire guy Buffy used to date. What was his name? Oh yeah... Angel. “Umm... hi.” God she sounded like such a dork.

Angel had been surprised that she had sensed him.And she had managed to pull a stake. He looked down at it and she shuffled a little bit and looked at it embarrassed before tucking it back into her holster. Shrugging an apology. This one was going to be a bit more difficult than the last slayer. Good he needed a challenge.

“Hi. Have you seen Gunn out here? I have been looking for him and I can’t seem to find him.”

Uhh... He is talking to me. C’mon brain work! Her brain kept saying, “Danger,” while her eyes and various other parts of her kept saying “Very Hot”. Focusing on the tiny part of her brain that was working she unscrambled the message that he had been trying to tell her. “Gunn? Umm... No. I haven’t run into anyone else out here. Just walking around... patrolling by myself.”

Angel smiled sweetly at her. “Do you want me to go with you patrolling?” He put on his best puppy dog face.

She looked at him and melted. “Sure...” It came out all breathy. She was wondering if this was such a great idea. What if Buffy got mad at her for going with him. They weren’t going out anymore but... It was just patrolling she reminded herself sternly. No problem with that. Inner debate solved she turned to him gesturing to the woods. “That’s the only place I have left to patrol.”

“After you...” 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 

11

Wesley’s mind raced with the possibility that many of the things that they had taken for truths while working at Wolfram and Hart were anything but. They had the arrogance and audacity to believe that they had been one step ahead of the Senior Partners. He realized that they had been led down a certain path by none other than Angel. The same vampire that had sold all their memories up to the wizard he had been sent to kill, Vail. Signing his name on the dotted line of his contract has essentially been signing away his soul. At least his right to it. He knew how Wolfram and Hart worked. Lilah had been in their employ and he saw how well that had ended. Her soul eternally in their grasp. A pawn piece to do only God knows what. So what did that mean for Angel?

Then there had been that weird licking thing that Angel had done to Gunn. He had tried to do to him. If it hadn’t been for Illyria and Giles who knew what would have happened. He felt uneasy whenever he thought about that vampiric ability. It had probably saved Gunn’s life but it was so dangerous letting the demon out for a taste and trying to reign it back in. What had Angel been thinking to try a stunt like that? He made a mental note to talk it over with Giles in the morning.

He sat in the kitchen staring down at a glass of scotch that he had just poured for himself. Gunn was sitting opposite from him chowing down on some bread and honey.

“What is it about surviving an apocalyptic battle that make you so damned hungry?” He mused.

Illyria stood outlined by the roaring fire in the giant fireplace that was left over from ages past. Black metal hooks were still used to hang cauldrons over the fire. Wesley mused that there was something to the stereotype of the black cauldron and witches. Illyria had refused his offer to dress her wounds with a shake of her head, and had stood still as a statue in front of the fire for hours. At Gunn’s words her head cocked to the side and she found her voice, “Do you think that the witches have tacos?”

Both men were stunned. Wesley looked like she had given him a mortal blow. (Three mortal blows in one night was just one to many.) The hand that had been toying with his glass tightened around it. His knuckles straining and turning white.

Gunn carefully asked unable to stop himself, “Illyria how do you know about tacos?” Wesley winced but remained silent.

She looked down, her eyes reflective, as if consulting herself on how she should answer that. “The spark. It tells me many things.”

At those simple words both men exchanged glances, Gunn’s hopeful, and Wesley’s fearful that they had let Fred be trapped inside her own body with out realizing it. The fact that they had taken Knox’s word on the transformation was, in hindsight, ridiculous.

With a look of trepidation on his face, Wesley asked softly, “Illyria what else does the spark tell you?

Illyria turned around to face the fire. She was tired of this world. She needed to rest. It was time to let the spark take over. For a while. They were in no danger right now. She could feel herself fall back and the tiny, bright spark rushed to the fore... When she turned around again she was Fred. She ran to Wesley and threw herself in his arms. Crying. Sobbing. Wesley trembling returned the bone crushing embrace. Tears starting to form in his eyes.

“Wesley... Oh God, Wesley. I have missed you. I never thought I would be able to get back to you.” A huge sob tore through her tiny frame. “This thing... Illyria. It surrounded me.” She saw the look of horror on both of their faces. “It didn’t hurt. Well, just in the beginning when it first came to me.” Her voice became softer meant for Wesley. “When we thought I was dying. After that... After it became part of me it felt... strange.” She glanced around looking for the right words to describe it. “I was so strong and yet, I couldn’t control anything. I was there but couldn’t talk. Or move.”

There was a strangled noise from Gunn. Wesley stroked his hands down her back in a soothing manner. So grateful to have this time with her.

Fred continued on unable to stop herself from getting everything out. Her tears had all but stopped and her voice was much stronger. “When you guys diminished her power, I found that... Illyria became aware of me. It knew that I was there. Before... it was infinite. I was a mote inside of it. After it had been reduced by you guys I was what she called a spark. Maybe I was like a speck. Illyria began to listen to me. When my folks showed up I was able to coach her through every word that she said.” Wesley looked at her in surprise. She smiled tremulously.

“I think that it is tired. I guess that I am going to be let out what? Every six months or so?” She gave a small laugh. Both men looked at her with pained expressions. “Oh, I’m sorry. I am just so used to talking to myself. I have a history with that. This time I couldn’t even write on the walls...”

Wesley crushed her to him. The feeling of joy turning to one of dread. He didn’t know how long that he had with Fred but every moment wes precious.

Gunn sat there helpless. Unable to shake the terrible feeling of guilt. Having his heart ripped out day after day was still not enough justice for what he had done to her. To them. He stood quietly and snuck out the door trying to at least give them this time together. Without having to suffer his presence.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Wiping the blood from the lower part of his face Angel looked indifferently down at the tangled bodies of the slayers he had devoured. He had gorged himself tonight. Five. He had surpassed Spike’s tally. His skin was almost warm to the touch and it had a very faint tinge of pink to it. Slayer blood. There was no way he could ever go back to pig’s blood again. He was ruined for anything else. Hell, regular human blood paled against this stuff. Adding to the fact that killing these girls was like shooting fish in a barrel. His history with Buffy, and the child like awe they held him in, was making it a cake walk. They never suspected a thing. He was all soulful. He couldn’t hurt anyone because of that.

What a bunch of crap. These slayers were living in some fantasy world. All they had to do was look around them and they would see many examples of atrocities done by people who claimed that they were good. AND had souls. It didn’t stop them.

Why should it make a difference when you are a vampire? If anything he had constant urging to do evil things with no incentives to keep him in line. It wasn’t as if he would go to heaven or that he had to worry about any of that drivel. After signing the contract with Wolfram & Hart he had effectively bought Connor a new life. At the cost of his soul. The Circle of the Black Thorn had taken away his last hope of redemption when he had signed away the shanshu. Then add it to the fact that Cordelia was dead. And Buffy his one true, eternal love was being claimed in front of God and everyone by a vampire that he had always just tolerated. Barely. Now he hated him with all that he possessed. They were going to pay. The first part of his plan was in place. He had to move fast. Dawn would be in a couple hours.

He brought the bodies from where he stashed them taking care to avoid the patrolling slayers. He had to get this just right. The moon was obscured by clouds when he placed them in the circle of the sacred stones. He arranged the bodies in an intricate pentagram. Entwining limbs and weaving bindweed, nightshade and hemlock around the corpses to form a symbol of summoning.  Placing five black candles at the points of the pentagram he enclosed the whole area with a thick ring of salt. Spreading sulphur over the dead slayers he stepped back to admire his handiwork. Everything was perfectly positioned. It was time to start. He lit the candles and started the incantation. There was no going back.

“Coorior, consurgio Cerebrus. Ferio meus carptum. Fidem praestare ad me. Accingo consumo abnocto. Coorior, consurgio Cerebrus”

As the last word left his lips the flames flickered and the burned brightly. He leaned over the perimeter of salt barrier and vomited blood all over the corpses. The smell of the sulphur and the rich blood mingling made Angel want to cover his mouth and nose. He watched expectantly as the earth shuddered and the candles tipped inward lighting the bodies on fire.

They burned brighter than a midsummer's eve bonfire. The magical flames consuming everything in its path. The smoke that swirled up solidified into  snarling and snapping beast with two heads.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Margaret sat straight up in bed her mouth open in a silent scream. The wound in the earth that had hit her all of a sudden was enormous. She could hear the cries of rest of the Coven. She tried to get out of bed and fell to the floor weak and useless. She had felt so sick. The sacred stones. Something had happened.  Something foul.

She opened her mouth to scream out a warning to her guests and a stream of black viscous blood shot forth. Terrified she tried to stop it. Gagging she crawled into the bathroom where she hastily lit a white candle of protection and held onto a large stone of hematite. Fighting back the onslaught of another round of nausea she tried to think what could have happened. There had been no attempt on the property walls. No attack. So it had to be from the inside.

Desperate to warn them she tried to move and was overcome with sickness. She retched up a thousand flies and they started to bite her wherever they landed. She huddled back under the meager protection of the candle and pulled down the shower curtain to wrap around herself. Fighting off another wave...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Willow bolted upright her eyes wide and staring. Her pupils dilated to shown nothing of the iris. Giles had been watching her sleep upon the pile of books in front of her and quickly reached down to steady her. He had felt it too. Whatever had happened had been big. Wolfram & Hart had finally made their move.

At the touch of Giles’ hand on her shoulder. A warm glow spread through her that counteracted the black coldness that had woken her from her sleep. Her eyes slowly lost that look. “Giles,” she said tentatively, “what happened?”

“It seem as if we are under attack. Hurry we must get ready to defend ourselves.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dawn had finally left the room and went to her room to go to bed. She planned on sleeping in tomorrow. All day.

Buffy looked at Spike with all the pent up passion in her eyes. He was so beautiful inside. She wanted to kiss him and found herself in his arms in the next second. “Don’t I have any control around you?”

“Let’s hope not...” Spike said laughing. Lowering his lips to hers. Savoring the moment just before his lips touched hers. He couldn’t believe that she was here in his arms. He was overcome by his need for her. He had to get her out of this room and into his. He tugged her towards the hallway. She melted into his arms. Smiling sweetly.

Screams filled the air. Spike whirled crouching into a battle stance. Buffy standing at the ready next to him. Slayers poured out of their rooms in various states of dress. While witches crawled out of their rooms trying to escape the pulsating pain that was lancing through them. Several of them were vomiting blood.

Spike was revolted by the stench. The blood shooting out of their mouth was foul. Bitter black blood. Dead and congealed. “What the bloody hell is going on here Buffy?”

“I don’t know...” She motioned to some of her girls. “Stay with the coven and try to help them as best you can. I’m going to go get Giles. He’ll know what is going on.”

One of the witches gasped out, “Find Margaret. She’ll know...” Her shoulders heaved as she was racked by another round of heaving.

Buffy nodded to the girls and grabbed Spikes hand. “Let’s go...”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Angel stared into the circle four glowing red eyes stared back at him. Angel reached downs lit a rush in the glowing embers of the corpses. He deliberately brought the rush to the inside of his left wrist, taking elaborate care he branded the glyph of Cerebrus there. At the final stroke the snarling and snapping beast bowed low and both heads touched the ground in supplication. A whine came from one of the heads.

Angel looked at the hulking two headed dog in front of him and was more than satisfied. He was... effulgent.

A grim smile ghosted across his lips. “Adgredior Cerebrus. Addere nex necis.” Both heads snapped up and he saw the they were salivating. The glowing eyes looking rabid. Angels’ foot shot out and in one sweep he cleared a pathway in the protective ring of salt that had bound the beast. Letting out a gleeful howl the beast shot out through the clearing and headed toward the manor. Angel muttered, “Sic ‘em.”

Feeling how close it was to dawn Angel flew across the grass to get back inside before the first rays of light hit him. Halfway there he saw the beast muzzle deep in Slayer. It had torn out the throat of one of the girls that was patrolling. The other head lifted up and sniffed the air to seek out the next prey. It had begun. Angel made it to the manor and went around to the wing where they had placed him in, slipping into his room unnoticed.

The utter chaos he saw when he opened his door to his room sent his inner demon into throes of pleasure. Girls were lying prone on the floor weakly calling out for help. The slayerettes were desperately trying help them but they couldn’t figure out what to do.

Angel had known that his plan would have effected the Coven to some extent, but never in his wildest dreams, had he dared to think that they would be brought so low. Their power was rooted more deeply in the sacred stones than he had guessed. Summoning Cerebrus there had been a double attack on his enemies. First freeing Cerebrus from hell AND befouling the pure and untainted well of the Coven’s magic. This had just been his day. The thought almost brought a smile to his lips until he noticed one of the girls looking strangely at him.

Feigning a look of concern he asked, “What’s going on?”

The slayer looked at him for a second wondering if she had just imagined the smile that had been on his lips a moment ago. It must have been her imagination... Things have gotten so screwed up here. “I don’t know. One minute I was sleeping and the next all hell broke loose...”

Angel tried to keep his look sympathetic. “Where’s Buffy?” He had to know where the major players were. Assuming that Buffy would drag her boy-toy around with her he asked, “And Willow?”

The girl looked at him apologetically and answered, “Buffy and... uhh... Spike went off to find Mr. Giles... and I don’t know where Willow is.”

Angel figured that is where she would run off to. The slayer was nothing if not predictable. Now the other witch of power, “What about Margaret?”

“Oh, she is sick like the other girls. I don’t know what to do with them. Do you?” She looked at him hopefully.

Angel wanted to tear into her neck and drain her right then and there. She had nothing more to tell him. The slayer blood called to him but he controlled himself. Barely. Walking over one of the stricken girls he picked her up and placed her in her room. The slayerettes took note of his actions and having no one else around to follow started to do the same thing.

He heard the eerie sound of baying. Satisfaction flowed through him.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Buffy flew down the corridor searching for Giles. Spike ran right at her side. Halfway down she stopped and turned to Spike. “I don’t like the feeling of this. I hate to ask this again but could you watch out for Dawn? Something doesn’t feel right... on a big scale...”

Almost expecting her to ask this of him Spike readily agrees. He kissed her forehead and replied, “I won’t let you down this time, pet. She’s safe with me. You be careful and get word to me when you know what is going on.”

“You are the best. I love you.” The words flew out.

He reached forward and pulled her into a powerful embrace. “You have got to stop saying that in situations like this.” He smiled and kissed her passionately on the lips. “Now go find your watcher.” He backtracked down the hall and swooped into Dawn’s room bellowing her name.

She stood there for a second with her lips still tingling. She heard him yell for Dawnie. God she loved him. Doing a quick about face she ran toward the library. God knows that’s where Giles would be.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Spike was ready to pull his hair out. If the bit had been bloody annoying as a teen she was definitely upgraded to aggravating now. Trying for the fifteenth time he growled, “Dawn... Buffy put me in charge of you.” Wrong thing to say. Immediately the fire was blazing out of Dawn’s eyes.

“I am not a child anymore! I can hold my own.” At his doubtful look she changed tactics. “What I’m suggesting isn’t that dangerous. I just want to make sure that Andrew is okay. We’ll wait in his room just to make sure that he is fine through whatever ‘this’ is...” Adding her ultimate weapon she put her most pleading look in her eyes.

Knowing that this was a losing battle he nodded his head and turned around while Dawn quickly changed out of her PJ’s into the battle gear she had worn earlier. Grabbing up an axe she walked by Spike and headed to Andrew’s room. Happy that she would look out for him at least.

Spike took out a cigarette and trailed right behind her. How the hell had he lost that battle. Just like a Summer’s girl to get him all pissed off so he couldn’t see straight. He should have made her go down to the cellar where the stone walls might be more of a protection. It would be much darker down there for his comfort. Secretly he was proud of the bit. She had fire. She stuck to it and stayed loyal to her friends. He figured that he might as well get comfortable in Andrew’s room ‘til he got word from Buffy.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Buffy found Giles and Willow gathering up ingredients for a plethora of spells. Tucking them into a small pouch that they had attached to their belts.

Buffy couldn’t resist, “My what a nice hip sack you’ve got going on there Giles. How are my two favorite tourists?”

Giles glanced up not at all surprised to find Buffy there. Not having any of the answers for this one was killing him. Stopping her from asking the question he knew was burning on her lips “Thank goodness you’re here Buffy. I haven’t the faintest notion what is going on here. All that I have been able to determine is that it is a mystical attack. Both Willow and I felt it.” At Buffy’s confused look he held up his hand. “Don’t ask. We don’t have the time. You must get the slayers ready for action. I know that everyone is tired but this is going to be major. Willow and I are going to try to place a spell of protection and warding on the manor. For some reason the wards on the house have gone sour... Be ready for anything.”

He looked down at Buffy’s two-way that was still clipped to her belt. “Does that thing still work?”

Buffy glanced down at it. There was still two bars left. She nodded.

“Good. Willow can contact you to let you know when the spell is up. Go get the girls ready.” Giles had refused to ever handle one of the two-ways muttering that they were too distracting in battle. Everyone knew that he just didn’t know how to use one.

Willow smiled at Buffy. “Yeah Buf... We’ll take care of our end. Be safe.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

At the sound of howling Faith’s head snapped back from Xander’s shoulder. Giving him a wary look she quickly rolled to her feet. Xander hopped up  much less gracefully.  In the entrance to the enclosed garden was four glowing red eyes glaring at the two of them. Faith sized up the situation and pushed Xander towards the veranda doors. “Get the hell out of here. Go get me back up...”

In the past Xander might have put up a fight. Insisting that he would be able to help but, with his injured eye came the realization that he was just scraping by in a fight. He was much more useful if he used his head. For what it was worth. He turned and ran towards the manor. Fear for Faith’s safety making his strides longer. The helpless feeling that was going through his head was nothing new. He was going to make a difference this time and get Faith the back up that she needed.

The demon-wolf saw its prey trying to make an escape and correctly targeted it for the weaker of the two. It couldn’t resist the sight of fleeing prey. Xander’s legs churning as fast as he could was like waving a red flag to the beast. It focused all of it’s energy toward its victim. While trying to avoid the stronger of its enemies. Cull the weak was its instinct. Bounding across the well manicured lawn the hell hound closed the gap swiftly.

Faith felt fear choke her. She was used to it being in her emotions but it had always been covered up by the sheer power of her adrenaline kicking in. She loved to fight. She liked mixing it up. The thought of herself hurt didn’t phase her. But the image that had flashed in her head of Xander down and bleeding made her terrified. She tried to turn it off. Focusing on the enemy.

She had to time this just right. She set an intercept course for Lassie. Running at top speed she zeroed in on her target. There was a blur of fur flying past her... putting every ounce of her strength behind her she leapt forward. Catching the monster by surprise she buried her hands in its fur and let her momentum carry them to the ground. Snapping jaws and tearing claws everywhere. She spared a glance in Xander’s direction to make sure that he had got away. She saw him cross the threshold and felt a wave of relief the was palpable.

Her moment of inaction had been all the monstrosity atop her needed. It’s jaws reached for her throat. Some instinct made her throw up her forearm at the last possible second. The sound of cracking bone filled the night air. Faith’s face was suddenly covered with a mixture of her blood and the molten hot saliva of the beast. Desperate to free her arm and avoid the other set of lunging fangs she reached down to the outside of her thigh where she kept her hunting knife. It was a knife like no others. Rambo would have killed for this knife. She popped it out of its sheath and brought it down repeatedly in an overhand fashion.

The demon-dog went wild. It’s hind legs tearing into Faith’s taut belly digging deep. Faith let out an agonized scream. Reversing her grip on the knife she rammed it up through the throat of the the head that had ahold of her forearm. A high pitched yelp and whine was heard from that head and it released her from its grip. Scrambling backwards the behemoth tried to shake off the wound. Blood was pouring from the maw of the gigantic head. It walked a little unstable a few feet away. Faith took that opportunity to gingerly get to her feet. The limp, broken arm clutching at the wounds in her stomach. She was afraid to look down in case she saw her insides hanging out.

The demon whirled scenting her fear and decided to take another try at her. The one head was seriously wounded and lying half unconscious on its thick neck. It coiled back on its hind legs ready to attack Faith. At that moment Xander showed up with the other slayers that he could gather. Before the girls could even try to attack he raised up a crossbow that he had grabbed and fired. Secretly praying that for once his luck would be with him. They heard a meaty thwack as it landed in the left shoulder of Cerebrus.

That was all the threat that it was going to take. It could sense the power from the slayers. It whirls and slunk through the underbrush leaving gouts of great big splashes of blood to follow. The slayers unhappy with their quarry slinking away immediately tried to set out for it. Only to be stopped by Faith.

Weaving on her feet she told them that now that this thing was injured it was going to be even more difficult to put down. Being a cornered animal always made you fight harder.

Xander saw how the corner’s of her mouth twitched up at that... He rushed over to see how she was.

Xander’s face blanched as he took it all in. He took off his sweatshirt and tried to make a compress for the wound on her stomach. Waving the others away he told them to go find Buffy and to go after that thing. Half carrying Faith inside Xander prayed that she was going to make it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The next two hours was complete chaos. No matter what they tried Willow and Giles couldn’t help the members of the Coven. The wards had been placed back on the house and it would repel any demon threat from the outside. Faith had been healed as much as could be done for her. She just needed rest and time to let her slayer healing to take over.

Feeling as secure as they could be in leaving them Buffy headed up Group B while Vi temporarily took over for Faith’s Group A. They were going on a hunt... The girl were ready to follow the trail of blood ready to repay it for what it had done to Faith. Buffy had the scythe on the sheath on her back. Her face grim.

Spike wished he could watch this one. He was sure that it wasn’t going to take his girl long. No one pissed her off this much and got away with it. He sighed. The bloody sunlight. It was always interrupting his good time. Well I guess it’s back to babysittin’ the bit. Maybe they had some cards around here for a nice game of poker. Dawn was old enough for it now...

The mountain of change in front of Dawn had steadily grew until he was sure that she was cheating. He wasn’t sure how but when he found out it was going to have to be added to his repertoire. Dawn just sat back and smiled innocently at him. Oh that was a sure sign. He growled. Dawn giggled.

There was a loud dramatic groan from the bed.

Dawn jumped up tipping the chair back in her hurry. “Andrew? Andrew are you alright?”

One eye cracked open. Followed by the other. “Oh God... Rona...” he paused and Dawn grabbed the water jug that was on his bedside table. Tears coming to her eyes.

A note of urgency entered Andrews voice. He gripped Dawn’s arm that was holding the pitcher. “Dawn listen to me it was Angel...”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
fic:

I would like to thank Spikes Bint for taking the time to beta me... God knows I need it.

Angel left the witch’s room. “Helping” them to bed also coincided with helping himself to their blood. Strange thing was that he had expected to get more of a buzz from their blood. A different kind of rush of power when he drank it down. It tasted very normal, mundane even. He almost laughed aloud at what a snob he was becoming. A week ago, he would have been swilling down pig’s blood.

He really didn’t have time to be pondering his tastes in blood or his former lack thereof. This is where his timing became even more crucial. He took out as many of the witches as he could. They were pretty much helpless as a side effect from the summoning spell he had cast. Adding their blood to his store was making him that much stronger.

He had already “helped” eight of the coven and two slayerettes that had been stupid enough to offer to help him. Some of these girls had been just too bold for their own good. They thought him harmless until they felt his fangs in their neck. The sight of that was usually enough to get the weakened witch up and running to the door. Her fear flooded the room with a delicious scent. He had denied himself for too long. This is what he was here for. This is why he still existed. The blood. The fear.

Then he found out that Buffy was getting all of the slayerettes rounded up so they could go and kill his pet. Just what he predicted she would do. This would leave him free reign with the remaining Coven, whatever Scoobies were left behind and his darlings from Angel Investigations. The final link to his old dreams and hopes. To kill them would finally make him free.

He imagined Buffy’s face as she returned and found everyone that she left behind was slaughtered. Oh, she would suffer. He would wait for nightfall and fade away. Maybe a few days later she would piece everything together, then she would come looking for him, bringing her lap dog Spike in tow, and he would be waiting.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The cards went flying in the air. Dawn looked over to where Spike had been and saw only empty space. She heard a low growl coming from the other side of the bed. Spike had materialized across from her on the other side of Andrew’s bed.

Leaning over him he asked, “Are you sure of that, mate?”

Andrew tried to clear the fogginess from his brain. Mentally reviewing the events of the previous night, he reaffirmed it with a nod of his head. The room tilted wildly and he let go of Dawn’s wrist to gingerly feel the wound that should have been there. Ah... it was good to have witchy friends. His tongue felt thick and he desperately wanted that drink of water Dawn had been about to offer him.

Dawn saw the longing in his eyes and poured a big glass for him. Helping him to sit up a little, she tried to encourage him to say more. He gulped down swallow after swallow only stopping when he reached the bottom of the glass. Letting out a satisfied, “Ahhh...”

Andrew was stunned when Dawn grabbed him by the shoulder and snapped, “C’mon Andrew we need to know what you saw!”

Andrew winced. “All I remember was that I went to the other building to get a different view of the battlefield and I was looking for Spike.”

His gaze travelled over to the obviously pissed off vampire. Spike had slipped into game face and was almost snarling. Andrew took a deep breath before he continued with his account of events.

“I saw him and the others fighting back up against the wall...then I noticed something strange. Angel was off fighting the dragon. He took his sword and stabbed it. In its death throes it managed to throw him, and the dragon sent out a huge fireball that engulfed him. I thought that he was dead. I searched the surrounding area to see if anyone else friendly was around and that’s when I saw Rona. She must have been separated from Buffy’s group. She had seen Angel go down and was trying to see if she could help him. Several of the demons that had been spared from the dragon fire attacked her. Then... I... saw this thing attack her. The last thing that Rona did was to try and help someone that she thought was a friend and Angel drained her...”

Dawn had a horrified look on her face. The thought that Angel could have done that to anyone was chilling. He was still roaming about here.

She stuttered, “B-but... h-he...h-has a soul.”

Spike snorted. That simple statement, the catch phrase of all the Scoobies, had been stuffed down his throat for years now.

“Don’t think that matters now. Does it, pet? I’m pretty sure that we’re not dealin’ with Angelus here. No happy means all soulful Angel. It’s always a matter of choice pet. I researched up on his curse when I realized that I was in for the long haul at Wolfram & Hart.”

Dawn and Andrew looked at him strangely.

“What? I can’t open a book? Well I originally was looking up this Shanshu thing, but I got sidetracked by the files Wolfram & Hart had on Angel. We’re talkin’ reams here. It seems like this, curse doesn’t have anything in it that actually keeps him from feeding on anyone, except for the feeling of guilt that accompanies it. Guess Peaches doesn’t feel enough guilt to keep off the sauce.”

Dawn looked at him a speck of fear showing in her eyes. “Does that mean you can do it too?”

Spike raked his hand through his hair frustrated. “I went to get my soul. I didn’t have it forced on me, or tied to me by the thinnest of curses. It’s a part of me pet. Do y’know what that means? The difference between us is that my soul couldn’t go anywhere even if I wanted it too. I feel it all the time. I couldn’t feed off of a human now...”

Dawn looked at Spike, “What about what happened with Buffy. Y’know at the battle site?”

“That was nothing like feeding off of someone. She was helping me heal. She was never in any danger. I didn’t even ask her. Never mind.”

“I understand, Spike. I know that you would never do anything in the world to hurt her. I just needed to hear you say it.”

“Right then.” His reply was clipped.

He didn’t have time for all of these questions. Angel was out there doing what Angelus used to do best. He had to find him
and stop him. He absentmindedly reached for what he thought was a cross on the wall. Picking it up he noticed that the familiar pain from a cross was distinctly missing. “Bloody hell! Don’t these bleedin’ witches even have a cross lying around here?” He looked disgustedly at the ankh in his palm.

Dawn had the nerve to grin up at him. Grabbing the ankh from his hand, she took out the dagger that she had in her belt. “At least it is wooden...” She started making a stake out of it.

Andrew was rummaging in the bedside table. Finding a small vial of holy water, he held it up triumphantly. “Hey, look what I found...”

Dawn saw the look on Spike’s face. “Oh no! You aren’t going to do it. You can’t go out there looking for him. Just wait. Buffy should be back soon.”

“I can’t wait, bit. This is something that I have to do. What if he is out there killing...Xander? Oh, wait maybe I can do that...” He was shrugging on his duster completely making his last statement false.

“What if he comes to get us? You promised Buffy to take care of me!” said Dawn

That was a low blow. He knew that she would go there so he was ready for it.

“I know that you aren’t such a little bit anymore. I was the only one who ever believed in you. That you could take care of yourself, and that is how you are going to act. You have your stake and holy water. I pray to God that you won’t have to use it. I have to go and find him pet. I can’t let anyone else die. Just shut this door behind me and do not let anything in after me.” His hand came up to cradle her chin. “Be safe. Stay strong. I’ll be back before you know it.”

Andrew had watched the two of them for moments and whispered, “I wish I had my video camera...”

Then in a flash of black leather, Spike was gone.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The red haze before his eyes just wouldn’t go away. He leaned against the door he’d just closed until he heard the sound of heavy furniture being dragged across the floor and placed in front of it. He sighed in relief. At least it looked like the bit was going to do the sensible thing for once.

Angel had really done it now. There was no coming back from this. No grey area where he could claim that it wasn’t he. That it was his alter ego, Angelus. Spike wanted to punch something so bad that it hurt. He should have known that Angel was up to something. Not one word had come out of his mouth when he saw Buffy being claimed. He had originally thought that Angel was going to have the good grace to bow out quietly and to let Buffy choose whom she wanted. Figures that the ponce wouldn’t let her go that easily. He had been planning ways for revenge ever since. When he found him, he was going to wish that he had died in the fireball.

He tested the air for Angel’s scent. He had been around here not that long ago. He checked in on the first room that he came too. The scent of old blood hung in the air mixed with the acrid smell of the black blood the witches had been chucking for the last three hours. He focused on the sound of heartbeats...actually the lack of them. Three doors down he opened the door and wasn’t truly surprised at what he saw. A crumpled form of a slayer lying at the foot of the bed and one of the witches with her throat torn out, sprawled on the floor face down a few feet from the door. It was a bad sign that Angel hadn’t even taken the time to disguise his actions. It meant that he was his usual arrogant self or that he was kicking his plan into overdrive.

Five rooms later Spike had a sick feeling in his stomach. The bastard had drained every one of them and most of them brutally. He had to find him soon. Fear for the bit flooded him. In this last room, the scent had been stronger. Either Angel had lingered there over his kill or it had been recent. Four more rooms later, the scent was overpowering, where He found him, fang deep in Gunn’s throat.
tbc

I would like to thank Spikes Bint for beta-ing me. She is a Godsend!

Ch.25

“We are so going and that’s final!”

Dawn leaned into the heavy armoire that she had shimmied into place only fifteen minutes ago. Moving this thing was proving to be an Olympian struggle. Andrew was in a snit and refused to even look at her. Taking a deep breath Dawn reminded herself how concerned she had been when she had seen him seriously hurt after the battle. Her feelings reigned in; once again, she tried another tactic to gain his help.

“Andrew I was wondering if you would remind me of Angelus’ habits? With your Watcher training you would be much better equipped to deal with the situation that we find ourselves in.” This wasn’t her most brilliant of schemes, but subtlety was lost on Andrew. She had to get right to the chase. Giles needed to know what was going on.

Andrew ignored her last question, “We can’t go out there. We should stay here until Spike rescues us. He gets really mean if you don’t do what he says...”

“Andrew I have had it! We need to tell Giles!”

“There’s no reason to yell. Why don’t you use your two-way?”

Dawn was torn between slapping herself on the forehead for missing such an obvious solution to their problem, and hugging Andrew. Settling for the latter of the two, she bounded across the room and gave Andrew the biggest hug of his life. Settling back on the bed, she depressed the button.

“Willow? Willow? Are you there?” Dawn remembered to let go of the button this time.

A couple of seconds went by and she was about to try again when Willow beeped back. “Dawnie? Is that you? Is everything okay?”

“We have a problem... Angel is going all Angelus. Spike left us in Andrew’s sick room and took off after him I think. You guys better go and help him.”

“What are you talking about, Dawnie? Angel was acting fine...”

“That’s just what I thought too. Andrew saw him attack Rona and drain her. You have to believe me...”The two-way was yanked out of Dawn’s grasp.

“Oh, magical mistress, can you not see his aura? The blight upon his soul must be vast. To have partaken in such a foul deed should have left some visible mark for one such as you.”

Dawn yanked the two-way out of Andrew’s hand giving him a look that promised much pain if he tried that again.

Willow thought hard trying to remember if she had seen anything amiss. She had been too wrapped up in dealing with the influx of power and her growing, “whatever it was” with Giles. “I was uhh... kinda busy during the battle. Afterwards I helped the wounded so I never really paid much attention to Angel.” The reality of the situation sunk in. “I can’t believe that this is happening again. We barely escaped alive the last time that Angelus made an appearance. You guys need to stay put. Giles and I will go find Spike. He shouldn’t confront him alone.”

“Spike doesn’t think that we are dealing with Angelus but Angel who is capable of anything... Be careful.”

They were interrupted by Buffy, “What the hell is going on there? Somebody better go find Spike! Now!”

She had been on her way back to the Coven to get cleaned up. Not wanting to be away from Spike after just reuniting with him she had asked the girls if they minded if she cut out early. Vi had laughed at the eager expression on her face and told her to go on back. It had been decided that the demon had to be burned to cleanse it from the land. Giles had hoped that by burning, the remains the Coven’s strange sickness that had come on with the beast’s appearance would disappear with its corporeal form.

Halfway back she had heard the conversation between Dawn and Willow. The thought that Angel would do this to her again was heart wrenching, she never even noticed a change in him. He still had acted the same. Angelus never had the reticence to forego a little mental torture with his evil plans. He always had to put a few digs in there to make you doubt yourself. Therefore, this had to be Angel.

Angel, the one who swore that he loved her and that HE would never do anything to hurt her. He HAD hurt her before, but he had always maintained that it had been Angelus behind the wheel and that he had nothing to do with his actions. She had always suspected that a good part of him was intertwined with his demon. His soul had never left any mark upon his demon. His human personality hadn’t been enough to change it, even a little, for the better.

Unlike unsouled Spike who acted out of the kindness of his heart on occasion. Spike’s demon had some form of compassion for those that he cared about. A sometimes skewed compassion, but he had feelings and interests other than inflicting as much torture as possible.

It hurt her to think that she had brought Angel back into everyone’s lives yet again and that he had killed yet again. Rona didn’t deserve to die that way. He was supposed to be a friend, dammit. Spike was out there trying to find Angel. She hoped against hope that he wouldn’t be able to track him. Two master vampires in one building. Sun out, not good odds for Angel escaping him. She poured all of her energy toward getting back to the Coven as fast as she could.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Spike stood in the doorway for a second taking in the minute details. The look of fear on Gunn’s face was a chilling reminder of all of the times that Spike had seen the same look upon Angelus’ victims. The realization of what Angel had done to him was showing through the look in his eyes. Listening to his steady and strong heartbeat meant that Angel had probably just sprung upon him. Debating how to get Angel to release Gunn without killing him was first and foremost in Spike’s mind.

Angel seeing the vampire that he hated more than anything else took advantage of Spike’s inaction. Tightening his grip on Gunn’s neck, he grazed the aorta puncturing it enough to make the wound fatal. He made sure that he didn’t tear it open enough to make the death clean. Gunn would watch as the blood sprayed out all over the room as he desperately tried to stem the bleeding. He let out an evil chuckle as he dropped Gunn from his embrace. Eyes narrowed and still in game face, he leapt at Spike.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Gunn had seen Angel come into the room out of the corner of his eye, but he had thought that he had come in here to talk. Possibly about Spike and Buffy and he had tried to pull it together so he could try to cheer him up. Seeing Fred again, the real Fred, had thrown him for a loop.

As he was turning around, he felt Angel’s hand come up in a vice like grip around his upper arm, and pulling him into an embrace. There was something seriously wrong here. Angel wasn’t a huggy kinda guy and he was pulling him backwards. He reached with his free hand for the stake that he kept in his belt. Angel let him grab it and then reached over and latched onto his wrist. Holding the stake straight out in front of Gunn, he taunted him with it.

“What do you think you’re doing with this Charlie-boy?” He leaned in close to his neck and let each word come out as a cool caress.

Gunn snapped back his head in an attempt to head butt him. Angel had been expecting that and had moved out of the way.

“Don’t bother with trying to hurt me. It will only make this harder on you. I am so much stronger than you now. I could take this wrist in my hand and crush it into little shards.”

Angel started to apply pressure to the wrist in increments and Gunn, the nerves in his hand forced him to drop the stake. The loud clatter of the stake and Gunn’s harsh breathing was the only sound in the room.

Satisfied with that response Angel decided to up the ante. Focusing on the thrumming vein in his neck he gently scraped his fangs back and forth. Gunn instinctively flinched and renewed his struggles. That only brought more laughter from Angel.

“Hmmm... What have I found here? A nice juicy vein? I think that I need to personally investigate this one, don’t you Charles?”


“You asshole! Why the hell are you doing this?”

“Why shouldn’t I be doing this is the question you should be asking yourself. You had it much more together when you were living on the streets. You knew me then. Knew what I was, what I am. I am a vampire and no flowery phrases and tidy little souls are going to change that. You are my prey. On the other hand, maybe I’ll turn you. You’d like that wouldn’t you?”

“God damn you Angel. I am going to kill you!” It was his worst nightmare come to life. That he would be turned was a constant fear since what had happened to Alonna. He struggled again thrashing back and forth.

Angel slowly dipped his fangs in just getting them bloodied. He was going to make this last. He licked the wound shut so he could do it again. Savouring the bright burst of blood against his tongue and the sweet agony, that he was inflicting on his prey…that’s all that he was to him now. He sunk his fangs in deeper and took a few swallows of blood. It always was better when he really knew his victim. He sighed in pleasure against Gunn’s neck.

Now firmly entrenched in Angel’s embrace, Gunn felt impotent rage in him build up. “Buffy is going to kill you for this. She did it once before! Cordelia told me all about it when you took off to Tibet. You couldn’t defeat her before... What makes you sure that you can beat her when Spike will be by her side?”

The effect of those words was terrifying to see. Angel immediately sunk his fangs in deep and started to draw out blood at a feverish pace. The door opened with a bang and he looked up to see his nemesis in the doorway.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Angel was on top of Spike before he knew  it snarling and trying to sink his fang into his neck. Spike’s demon came to the fore and he gave back as much as he could. Angel was incredibly strong. He must have been eating his weetabix along with his Slayer.

Spike turned his head to check on Gunn’s condition. He could hear the rapid beating of his heart and that meant that panic had set in. Gunn turned toward them for a second and tiny droplets of blood showered them before Gunn had managed to wrestle the coverlet off the bed and clamp it on his throat.

Spike knew it looked grim but he had to try to help him. Hoping that he would catch Angel off guard he unleashed all of the power that he had and it came blazing through him. His eyes glowed eerily and he snapped his head back before Angel’s startled eyes. The thrall had him.

Gunn had been fumbling on the floor for something and came up behind Angel’s now motionless form, but before he could bury the stake in his back, a wave of darkness came over him. He fell over on his side the blanket that he had been clutching to his throat forgotten.

Spike panicked. Putting his all into it, “Angel get your bloody ass out of this room and wait for me in the library. We’ll finish the fight in there.”

Angel struggled against the thrall for a second and then decided that it really didn’t matter. He could easily kill him in there as in here. Spike’s strength was no match to his anymore. In addition, the waiting always made it that much more special. He rolled off him and smiled.

“You always were a bookworm huh, William? See you there...” The door shut after him.

Spike knew that he only had seconds. He flipped Gunn over and brought his wound up to his lips. Gently licking it closed he prayed that he wasn’t too late. Gunn’s heartbeat was faint, but steady. He kicked away the ruined coverlet and placed Charles on the bed covering him up with whatever blankets he could find. Hopefully that would help him through some of the shock that his body was going through. It would have to do.

He couldn’t let Angel go free. Taking one last glance, he picked up the fallen stake and headed to the library.

I have to thank Spikes Bint for once again beta-ing me. She’s the best.

Chapter 26

The surface of the table was scattered with opened tomes and Giles was peering down at one, looking in vain for some sort of prophesy regarding Angel and the sudden resurgence of his evil alter ego. No matter how many times Willow had tried to tell him that Spike knew that it was Angel not Angelus he refused believe it. It seemed that Giles wanted Angel to be Angelus again.

She sighed, “Giles I need your help. We don’t have much time left. Angel is on the loose out there and we have to try to seal as many of the Coven’s rooms from him. I checked up on Margaret and saw that she is doing slightly better but there are all so weak. Giles? Are you listening to me?”

Giles had his face close to a book, scanning rapidly through paragraph after paragraph his finger lightly touching the tome. “Hmmm?... Oh yes, quite right.”

Willow felt her anger rise. That had been close to a dismissive ‘yes, dear’ comment. “Hey! I’m big with the books too Giles but, we have to do something. There are people that need us!”

Giles, glanced up only for a brief moment, but in that moment, she read the fear in his eyes. Evil Angel was back and he had shattered his life once before. The thought that it could happen again terrified him.

She instantly regretted her words and closed the space in between them swiftly. Putting a reassuring hand on his shoulder, she felt the connection spring up between them once again. Feeling the need to touch him she shyly leaned into his chest and entwined her arms around his neck. Giles looked at her in surprise and then crushed her to him his arms wrapped tight around her. Tilting her head back, he brushed his lips against hers so lightly, asking permission to continue.

Her eyes fluttered shut and she revelled in the sensations coursing through her. The slightest brush of his lips had her trembling. Giles waited, hoping that he hadn’t made a mistake. When Willow tentatively opened her mouth against his it was as if the world had exploded. The loud groan that rang through the room was hers. Shocked at her overwhelming response she stepped back and put a trembling hand to her mouth. Giles ran his hand soothingly down her arm as he tried to control himself from pulling her back into his arms. A huge smile lit up her face and Giles ended up chuckling too.

“Well that was unexpected?”

She nodded her head and whispered, “But nice. Extremely nice.”

Giles caught her softly spoken words and growled half hopeful, “Unless you want to continue where we left off, I suggest that we gather the ingredients for the warding spell and get on with it.”

Willow noticed that his hands were shaking ever so slightly. The realization that she had affected him, made her smile grow. Turning her thoughts to the task in front of her, she motioned to the stuff that she wanted Giles to go through. She heard him sigh and almost laughed at the resigned look on his face.

She was glad that he was here with her. Having gone through one episode with Angelus was enough. Even now with her power to help her through it, this time she felt a thrill of fear snake through her when she thought of Angel and evil together.

What Giles was feeling had to be a thousand times worse. The physical pain that Angelus had put him through was horrible. The bruises and cuts had taken months to heal completely. It was the mental torment that he had been put through that had left a lasting mark.

After Jenny’s death, it had been a very rough time for them all. Willow had loved her and they had become very close friends. Buffy had felt responsible. Giles, well, he had gone through each day afterwards but he had seemed empty. Her heart ached for him knowing how he had felt when he lost Jenny. Tara wasn’t such a distant memory.

She shook off her thoughts and focused on her task at hand. She walked over to the cupboards where the coven kept some of their extra supplies. She snatched up some charcoal for the brazier, holy water, some amber, obsidian, sardonyx and a perfect blood red ruby. Trying to balance all of the supplies, she didn’t notice the library door open and close. Giles was placing the items he had gathered in a small box and turned to help her.

Willow saw the look on his face and froze. All the blood had drained from his countenance and he leaned heavily on the table next to him. The feeling of ultimate terror overcame her. She always wondered why, in all of the movies she had seen, that the victim never ran or did anything to save herself.

She finally had the answer. Her mouth opened, but no sound would come out. A small squeak was all that she managed. She could feel his presence behind her; though he had made no more to even touch her. The stones that she had grabbed fell out of her hand and rattled as they hit the floor. The sound startled her from the fear-induced inaction. She grasped the holy water vial and flipped off the stopper in the confusion of the moment. She felt strong hand caress her cheek.

Giles was trying unobtrusively to locate anything he could use as a weapon on the tabletop. He couldn’t begin working any spell. One word and Angel would snap her neck like a twig. He stopped moving. Angel would love the fact that he was causing as much pain as possible and would hopefully draw this out. Each second that passed was another chance for Willow’s survival and he wasn’t going to jeopardize it for anything.

Angel smiled coldly at Giles. Willow was the only one he had to worry about and one word from her and she would be history. Now that the Coven’s magic had been expended from Giles at the battle site he wanted to toy with him a little. Giles, the Watcher, always lording it over everyone else. Never admitting to his own mistakes and blood that was on his hands was no less red than the blood singing through his veins.

Slowly leaning into Willow’s small frame, he draped an arm around her chest hovering over her vulnerable neck. “What’s the matter guys... Aren’t you glad to see me?”

He had felt the tension in the air between the two of them since he’d snuck in and they practically reeked of each other. This was going to be sweeter than doing Gunn. He knew that he didn’t have much time, but he figured that Spike would be trying to help out Gunn. Out of the people that had survived Wolfram & Hart, Gunn was the closest to Spike. They had hung out at some local dive after work and surprisingly for Gunn he had no problem getting along with that vampire.

‘Yeah, Spikey-boy won’t be coming to help them anytime soon. Time for play...’

“What do you think you are doing Angel?” She tried to play dumb hoping that he would play along.

“What does it look like I am doing Willow? Hey, Giles, I know that you like to watch so I thought that you might want to see what happens when a vampire tastes a witch.”

His head dipped low and he ran his tongue along the throbbing vein in her neck. He could smell the fear coming off her and there was the faint scent of strawberries. “Ummm... Yum!”

Eyes locked on Giles, he noted the pained reaction that he tried to keep hidden. The subtle clenching of his fists and the muscle ticking at his jaw was the only give away. He had to hand it to the old Watcher’s Council they really had drilled control into this one.

Dredging up old memories that he had locked away in shame, Angel went for the figurative jugular, “You know what I am thinking? Roses are out of season this time of year I might have some trouble getting them from the garden. We might just have to make do with a nice chilled bottle of Champagne. I can tell that Willow is going to look so good all snuggled up in your bed Rupert... What do you think?”

His eyes became golden and his face shifted to reveal his true nature. Grasping a fistful of her hair he yanked her head to the side and lowered his head to sink his fangs in.

That Angel had the nerve to mention what he had done to Jenny was almost too much for him. Alluding to what he had in store for Willow made him sick to his stomach with fear. Giles hand came up in supplication, the black feeling of terror churning through him. A horror laced, “No...” slipped past Giles lips before he could stop it.

Angel hesitated soaking in the agonizing fear that was coming from Giles. There wasn’t anything sweeter than that. The pain and sheer terror before the kill was what he lived for. Having someone that cared for the prey only heightened the overall sensation bringing undiluted ecstasy.

Willow had waited until the last moment to use the holy water, knowing that if she missed him then she would have no other weapon at her ready disposal. Her head was pulled painfully to the side so she figured that she would have a good chance to hit him if she tossed the contents straight back. Hoping for the best she flung it over her shoulder.

Angel felt the red-hot liquid sear his flesh. He should have known that the little bitch would try something like that. The smell and the feel of his flesh bubbling and peeling brought back the terrifying memory of being consumed by the dragon fire and his hold on her faltered for a second. He could feel her frantically struggling to free herself and almost laughed in spite of the pain.

The laughter died in his throat when she was pulled out of his grasp. Looking out of his good eye, he saw Spike standing in front of him.

Many thanks go out to Spikes Bint who beta’d this chapter...

Chapter 27

“Why do you always have to come and ruin my good time? Wasn’t it enough that you messed up things with Gunn?”  Angel gave an aggravated growl and tried to shrug off Spike’s grasp.

His grip was firm though and he managed to hang on his other arm, roughly shoving Willow towards Giles. He would have to try to take him down soon since Angel’s strength now outstripped his. The trick that he had pulled in Gunn’s room had taken a lot out of him. He heard the witch and the warlock begin to chant something. Trying to keep Angel occupied he threw a jab and followed it up with an uppercut. He felt his blows connect, but they didn’t seem to leave that much damage. Needing to distance himself from Angel, he executed a perfect snap kick and gained a little breathing room.

Willow and Giles had brought up a small warding shield and continued to cast an intricate spell. Giles held her desperately and the power that flowed through them was enormous. It appeared that his emotions intensified his spell casting and almost losing her had put him close to the edge. His strong voice flowed over her and she felt her power entwine with his without having to say a single word.

“Crescere animatis arboris anquirere viscerum solitarum.”

The wooden objects in the room started to glow. The floorboards began to shift and grow before their eyes. Angel felt a moment of concern, pulled a dagger from his boot, and threw it with all of his might at the two figures huddled together. It struck the hastily constructed ward and with a sigh of relief, Willow saw that it held. The dagger fell to the ground uselessly.

The floorboards underneath him buckled suddenly and heaved themselves over his boots holding him in place. Spike tried to scramble back as Angel reached down and tore off a chunk of the offending wood. More wood quickly grew up and over the  area that he had cleared. Staring at it with disbelief he muttered a curse and launched the piece he held, it at his target. Had Spike had been at full strength he would have easily avoided the missile. At such a close range and with more than half of his strength leeched from him he only was able to deflect it at the very last second. It punched a hole through his right lung and left a gaping hole where it went through. Spike’s agonizing scream was deafening. He fell to the floor.

Willow made a move to help him and was dragged back by Giles right before she would have broke through what meagre protection they now possessed.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Buffy burst through the door at a dead run. Pausing for a moment to catch her breath, she figured she was safe enough with the dying rays of the evening sunset on her back. The scene that she stumbled into startled her. Clothes were strewn all around the kitchen floor. She looked away hurriedly when she caught the embarrassed eyes of Wes and the piercing blue ones of Illyria. She managed to stutter out an apology. Wes was already shrugging back into his shirt and his pants had never quite made it completely off. A discreet zip and he was presentable.

His heart squeezed in pain when he saw that Illyria was back in full control, standing there in front of them without an embarrassed bone in her body. Not that she had anything to be embarrassed about. He sighed and that brought Illyria’s attention on him. Reaching up stiltedly she caressed his cheek.

“Do not fear Wesley, your spark is still here I will keep it safe.”

Wesley felt his eyes water and he held on to that thought. Losing her again was so hard, but today had been a gift and had brought him back the ability to hope.

Illyria brushed her hand across his cheek once more and then turned to Buffy. “Slayer. Why do you interrupt us?”

Buffy had no idea what was going on here and was very uncomfortable but the room was so small that the pair blocked any avenue of escape.

“I am so sorry. I had no idea! The door was open...” cutting off her apology she focused on what had brought her back to the Coven so swiftly. “Angel has gone bad!”

Wes’s head snapped up at that, “You mean Angelus has made an appearance?”

“I don’t think that he is Angelus but he is killing again. He killed Rona during the battle. Andrew saw him do it.”

“There must be some mistake!”

“I don’t think so Wes. He is acting like Angelus though and we need to find him and stop him quick.”

“Who is this Angelus?” Illyria looked at Buffy intently, her armour having miraculously reappeared upon her body.

Wesley sighed. “Angelus is... well, Angel. An evil Angel. He must be stopped at all costs.”

“I see.” Illyria answered but by the far off look in her eyes, he wondered if she was even talking to him at all.

Now that they were fully clothed, Buffy felt some of the embarrassment leave her. They didn’t have time for this. She needed to find Spike and make sure that Dawn was still fine. She didn’t dare use her two-way again in case Angel would overhear and know that they were on to him. She looked at Wes and saw the lethal look on his face. She briefly wondered what had happened to him since he had left Sunnydale to make such a profound difference in him. Gone was the meek and sheltered Watcher, and in his place, a lethal combination of intelligence and training. She was glad that he was on her side and wherever he went, the Blue thingy was sure to follow. It made her less apprehensive that she had back up.


The thought of facing Angel when he was like this, made her blood run cold. It had hurt so much when she had sent him to hell before. She knew with stunning clarity that it was going to hurt like hell again but this time there would be no delay in justice for him. He had crossed the line and he was going to see the Slayer side of her up close and personal.

She felt something close to panic set whenever she thought about Spike being in there hunting down Angel. Taking a calming
breath she reminded herself that Spike had lived through centuries with Angelus. He would take care of himself...  If Angel had touched one hair on Spike’s head, he was going to pay in blood. Buckets of it. She sent Wesley an ‘Are you ready yet?’ look of annoyance. He simply nodded his head and fell into line after her with Illyria guarding the rear.

They went swiftly down the hall with Illyria moving ghostlike behind them. Wesley checked in one of the rooms and nodded his head silently and the grim look on his face said it all. It was true. Angel was killing again. Buffy felt the last shred of hope die within her, he was going to dust this time. No coming back from a Hell dimension. No mystical death for him!

She took the time to stop outside of Andrew’s sick room, tapping softly on the door knowing that if Angel were anywhere nearby he would have already heard them coming. The hallway was eerily quiet and she hated to break the silence. She had to make sure that Dawn and Andrew were okay so she knocked twice again. She heard a muffled noise inside and then a loud yelp.

“You bit me?”

“You are lucky I didn’t take a finger off! Do you think that Evil Angel is going to be knocking on the door and asking to be let in?”

Buffy felt relief at hearing her sister’s annoyed tones. Andrew had a way of getting under Dawn’s skin.

“You guys are okay, right?”

“Yeah, we’re okay. Did you guys take care of him yet? Hey... Is Spike with you? He left a half hour ago...”

Buffy felt sick, Spike would have definitely found him in that time. Praying that he was okay, she told Dawn and Andrew to stay put and to keep as quiet as possible. Buffy told Dawn that in fifteen minutes, if she hadn’t come back for them, she had to use the two-way and try to get ahold of the other slayers. The girls would be trickling back in soon and Buffy had to warn them as best as she could.

She took off down the hallway not attempting to disguise where she was. Hoping that she could draw Angel out from wherever he was. Wesley and Illyria were right behind her. Wesley checked each room as they passed hoping that they would catch Angel inside of one of the small rooms. It would give him less room to work with in which to escape.

Wesley felt sick when he saw what had been done to the girls. Some of them had such a look of horror frozen upon their face. All of the past months clicked finally in his mind. He had thought that Angel was really trying to fight evil from the inside at Wolfram and Hart. How could he have been so naive? Angel’s soul had been effectively gone ever since he had signed the damn contract to work at Wolfram & Hart.

He had put pen to paper in order to get Connor the life that he wanted him to have. The rest of Angel Investigations had been hired on at Wolfram & Hart as outside contractors with the option to sign on if they worked out. Wesley felt guilt assail him again for failing to keep Connor safe. Angel’s soul truly belonged to evil now and he was partly to blame. He stared at the horrified look on the dead witch’s face committing it to memory. Another failure in a long string of them...

Illyria felt the spark wake within her and listened to it scream. The foolish spark needed to be protected. Illyria thought about how the shell had felt when within Wesley’s arms. She had felt close to her Godhood for one blinding second when the spark and Wesley had mated. She wanted to explore that again, so she must protect her Wesley an the spark. Angel must be taken care of.

Buffy stood outside of the Library door cold dread rolling through her stomach. She heard the sounds of fighting within and Giles’s strong voice calling out in Latin. She hoped to God that they were alright. She threw open the door, shocked at what she saw...

The room was swathed in greenery, not the deck the halls type of greenery, but the living, growing type. Tree branches and limbs had sprung up from the tables and chairs and even the floorboards had flourished. Buffy’s eyes scanned the room, seeing Giles and Willow apparently unharmed and in each other’s arms with a glow gently surrounding them brought a measure of relief. She tried to peer through the veritable forest surrounding her. The limbs that she brushed up against bended willingly to let her pass and she finally found the animal that she had been hunting.

Angel struggled against the wooden bonds. Wood was weak he should have had no problem shattering himself free. The limbs that held him had adapted rapidly and another limb wrapping itself tightly around him met each movement he made to get free. Desperate he had torn at the slender bonds managing to free one of his arms. The magical growth had responded fiercely sending shoot after shoot into his flesh, digging in deeply where each limb touched his body. Still reeling from the unending pain of the wood entering his flesh, Angel finally screamed out in agony. He could feel the slow forced entry all along the length of his body.

Screaming out curse words at Giles and promising him more torment, Angel realized that he had better play along right now before Giles’ elemental began torturing him on a deeper stake-like level. Feeling the resistance drain, the limbs slowly stopped their growth and stayed anchored within Angel’s flesh.

She moved closer to Angel making sure that he had no way of escape. Two feet in front of him, she stumbled over Spike’s prone form. A soft moan passed his lips, alerting her of the severity of his injuries.

Immediately dropping into a crouch she snapped, “Illyria, watch him. Make sure that he doesn’t try anything.”

Illyria stood motionless in front of Angel trying to discover what was different in the half-breed that made the others fear him so. He was a warrior but so many of the others were too. The spark was screaming again. Why must it always scream? She focused on her inner spark letting it have its say.

Leaning down, Buffy moved away the vegetation that had disguised him. Tearing clumps of greenery away from Spike’s form, she saw the gaping hole where Angel had injured him. Feeling something akin to hysteria rise within her, she forced back the panic and focused on his face.

‘He’s not dust. It’s okay. He can heal from this. Oh God, he’s so still. There’s so much blood.’ She looked in horror as she raised her hand away from his chest and saw that it was coated in blood.

‘I just got him back... No. This is not happening! He’s going to be fine.’ She leaned closer to him. It always freaked her out whenever he was still like this. His normal vibrancy made her forget sometimes that he was one of the undead. For him this utter stillness was unnatural.

His eyes flickered open. He saw Buffy hovering over him, her eyes misted over and a look of pure terror in them that he had never wanted to see there again. He reached up and gently stroked her face. The movement caused his body to feel an agonizing, searing pain from the torn muscles of his chest. Buffy grasped his hand and laid it on his chest, tears falling unheeded down her face.

“You’re going to be fine! I love you,” she whispered fiercely. The severity of his wound making her realize that she still hadn’t said it to him enough. A lump forming in her throat she pulled herself up into a semi-crouch. Anger evident in the rigid stance of her body. She meant to do harm. Lots of it.

Angel watched the pained looked on Buffy’s face and relished it. Slowly flexing his bonds, he tried to loosen them as gently as he could. He groaned as the wood bit deeper into his flesh in some places touching the bone. He felt the pain as if it belonged to another person as he calculated his best chances at survival. He put on his best puppy dog face and hoped that he could stir up a glimmer of compassion from the enraged slayer.

~~~~~~~~~~

Wesley opened the door to the last bedroom in the hall and found Gunn lying motionless in the bed. Fearing the worst he crept to the side of the bed, and with a shaking hand he put two fingers on the side of his neck. He felt a faint pulse and sagged against the bed in relief. They hadn’t had the best of relationships but he truly didn’t want anything bad to befall him. They had been good friends at one point and he was certainly a better friend than the one out there killing whatever he came across. His anger at Angel surged to the fore as he positioned himself on the far side of the bed with the door in plain view, just in case Angel tried to come back and finish what he had started.

Gunn deserved better than this. They had all followed him so blindly, seeing what they had wanted to believe shining through in the idealized image of their leader. The faint misgiving grew and multiplied over the years that he had spent working closely with Angel. It had all gone away in those months in Wolfram and Hart and they had once again fallen in line
after him. Never once had they questioned his motives or actions until he had smashed the illusion that Angel had decided for them. Invading their memories and changing their perceptions. Part of him wished that he could forget those terrible months that he had been left on his own but; another larger part of him wanted and needed to know how the blind choices he made had destroyed a baby’s life and what had been left of the man within the vampire.

Gunn’s eyes fluttered open and darted around the room to make sure that he wasn’t going to be attacked again. He settled his eyes upon Wesley and felt a sense of calm envelope him. Wesley would have done the right thing if he had been turned. The mere fact that he was sitting sentinel over him brought a slight grin to his face.

Wesley saw that Gunn was awake and marvelled that at a time like this he was smiling. Feeling an answering smile upon his lips, he realized that if he didn’t start laughing he was going to cry. A strange strangled laugh escaped him and Gunn looked up in alarm.

“I thought you were dead!” another bark of laughter.

“I thought I was turned...” a small chuckle escaped him.

Their eyes locked. “That fucking bastard.”

Wesley reached for his hand and Gunn held on tight.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Willow felt Giles begin to falter. The immense mental effort he was putting forth to control the elemental was extraordinary. She hadn’t thought that Giles was capable of this level of control. She leaned in closer to him and funnelled more of her energy into his spell casting. She knew how draining these transformography spells were and he had called upon an elemental to reinforce the strength of his attack. Without the fury of the elemental, Angel would have long ago torn apart the fragile wooden bonds.

The fact that he had taken her unawares, once again, made her sick to her stomach. The attack from so many years ago in the high school still sometimes woke her up at night. She had mistakenly thought that this time, with her powers, she would be more of a match for him and ended up a means to hurt Giles. She sent another wave of energy towards Giles and hoped that Buffy would figure out what to do with Angel soon.

Giles felt a bead of sweat trickle down his forehead. The steady influx of energy that Willow had been sending him was most welcome. He was starting to feel the burn. If Angel guessed the strain that he was under trying to hold him, he would renew his attack upon the bonds.

He prayed that Buffy would be sensible about what she had to do. It was Angel though and her sensibilities usually went out the window when he was involved. The fact that he was killing again had to make an impression on her. Plus the fact that Spike was laying in a heap on the ground cleared things up for her a bit.

Giles focused on controlling the elemental who was becoming enraged that it was being held back from destroying everything in the room. Angel had blessedly stopped struggling against his bonds. It gave him a moments rest from restraining him as well.

Thinking of Willow trapped by the wanker made him send a tendril of new growth into Angel’s arms and legs. Hearing him scream was music to Ripper’s ears.

Buffy stood before him her body trembling from the force of her anger. Bits and pieces of her past came back to her making this moment all the more painful. She knew what her inaction in the past had caused Giles and she had seen enough of his victims here to make this a reality. The blood on his hands was not something that she could overlook and push out of her mind as a product of him not having a soul. He was doing these things and some part of her had known that without a soul Angel had let himself have free reign to the impulses and desires that he had always felt coursing through him. She gripped
the stake and positioned it perfectly. Angel was going to die but she needed to know...

“Why?” All the heartache and loss was in that one question.

A grim smile crept over Angel’s face, seeing her standing there in front of him so smug and self-righteous made him want to tell her the truth. Nothing hurt quite as much as the truth did. The words came tumbling out in a heated rush gaining momentum and getting louder with every word uttered.

“What do I have left to fight for? I have nothing. It means nothing to me anymore. Why try to fight my nature? I can’t be saved. The things I did, the lives I destroyed, and that is all that’s ever going to count. It’s what I am. I pretended that it wasn’t but it was just a lie. To be a champion of good... Y’know, I am a champion but it's really just for myself. You wanted me to toe the line. Kept dangling yourself in front of me as a reward if only I kept fighting the good fight. What do I get for all of the years I have been off doing your bidding?


Angel’s cold facade broke and they all could see the glitter of hatred in his eyes. His mouth twisted bitterly as he continued, “You, getting fucking claimed by my childe. The sorriest excuse of a vampire...my real son is stolen from me and when I finally get a measure of peace for him, it is destroyed by the memories I tried to keep from him. That was done by my best friend, Wesley, who knows what the right thing to do is in every situation...” He struggled against the bonds welcoming the pain that came with that motion.

“You tell me Buffy, what is there left for me? I have no soul anymore I signed it away to get the wasted memories for my son. There is no shanshu either I signed that away also. All in the fight against evil. It was in the middle of my last grand fight that I realized that I was still doing this for you. My last grand gesture since I expected to go down fighting. Well I didn’t go down and I came out of it with nothing. I drained Rona before I even knew what I had done. I was burned by dragon fire and instinctually I killed her. All of that repenting and do gooding gone in a single action. When it comes down to it, I am a killer. I can’t change my nature and frankly why try? Do what you want Buffy, I am done...”

Angel gauged the reaction to his speech and knew that he had touched a nerve. It was his only hope that she would come at him blindly, rage leading the way. It would make her reckless and it would leave opportunities open for him. Giles continuous Latin was driving him insane. He struggled against the bonds testing them for any weakness. The bonds just tightened in response drawing a soft moan out of him before he could stop it.

Buffy couldn’t believe he actually had the nerve to try to blame what had happened on her. Did he actually believe that crap? He was never going to accept any sort of responsibility for his actions.

Her words were low and meant for his ears only. Knowing that Spike would be able to hear everything that was said, “Angel there was a time that I thought that the very ground that you walked on was blessed. That you could do no wrong, and that you truly were the knight in shining armor that all girls dream about. That was so long ago, I woke up and saw you, as you really are, years ago, but clung to the false image of you. Afraid to pull you down from your pedestal.”

She took a deep breath to steady herself and started back in, “I was given real love before and I almost lost it. You know when you came to me with the amulet I honestly thought for a moment how nice it was to be around you again. You were comfortable and I cared for you but it was different. I told you that night that Spike was in my heart and now you act all surprised that I am with him? As I went home, I realized that I had chosen him and that it had been goodbye for you that night. I love him and I almost lost him because of you. There is nothing that you can do or say that is going to change my mind about him.”

“All of your posing and posturing, your noble actions and self denial it all was an act to hide a selfish little soul. You can never measure up to anything that Spike was or is yet to become.”

Her voice shook and broke as she forced out the words that had been clambering in her head, “You killed innocents and friends that came to help you and cared enough to fight for you. I don’t know what you did to the Coven but Giles and Willow will fix it. You are the most worthless piece of trash.” Tears fell from her eyes for the victims, her friends.She felt anger replace all of the feelings she had toward him. Anger was safe she knew how to deal with that emotion.

She steeled herself to do what she had to and raised the stake for the final blow. Angel’s eyes widened imperceptibly and Buffy thought she saw relief flash in them. Her arm came straight down. Mere inches away from its target, halted in its progress as Illyria’s hand firmly grasped hers.

“The spark has spoken. There is a better way.”

Buffy tried to shrug her off but couldn’t break the grip on her wrist.

They didn’t have time for the two powerhouses to fight this out. Willow felt the strain that Giles was under and urged, “Buffy, please... just listen to what she has to say.”

Illyria stood with Buffy’s wrist in her hand and cocked her head as she listened to a voice that only she could hear right now.

“Please Buffy...”

Buffy relaxed and pulled back slightly.

Illyria had come to some sort of decision and dropped Buffy’s wrist. She turned toward the rest of the group and spoke in her loud, brash tone, “Drogyn was my keeper for eons. I was the only old one to ever escape. He was bound to find me and bring me back. Even before Angel attacked and finally killed him. Before Drogyn was taken from my pet’s dwelling, he gave me these. He wanted to make sure that the Well would be guarded.” She reached to her wrist and unsnapped the manacle that
had been placed there. Holding it in her hand as if it weighed a lot more than it did, the faraway look reappeared in her eyes.

“I told the keeper I would go back and stand sentry there. I had nothing in this world. I was diminished. Who better to guard the others? We are close to the well I can feel its pull. I do not wish to go back. This shell has awoken to Wesley. I want more.”

Buffy was the only one in the room that could fully understand what Illyria wanted.

Giles soft Latin had become raspy and Willow started to counterpoint it with some words of power of her own. Angel had renewed his struggle against the bonds when he realized that Buffy wasn’t going to stake him. It had cost Giles to keep the elemental from tearing apart the room and everyone in it. He focused all of his energy in bending it to his will.

Willow was so in tune with him now that she encouraged the wood into even more foliage. She interjected a cautionary word here or there to the elemental when it started to stray out of line.

Illyria’s words came at them staccato, “This foolish half-breed took the life of the keeper. It should be his fate now to guard all against the old ones being taken and made to see what this realm has become. The manacles will bind him and make him belong there. He will be half in this world and half within the Well, for all eternity. A champion for good once again. The spark wishes to speak...”

Her image softened and became Fred once again. The one manacle within her hand would have fallen if she hadn’t grabbed it and held on to it with both hands. “Angel?” She turned toward the man she had once loved and adored.

Angel looked at the miracle that was before him. Fred had come back to them. He could tell in her scent, her heartbeat, her soft little voice... He never saw the blow coming; her hand snaked out and slapped him hard across the mouth. He had been hit a million times harder but no hit had ever stung quite as this one did. It brought back the shame of what he had done. He tasted blood in his mouth and knew it was the stolen blood of the coven and slayers that he’d killed. Even a little of Drogyn’s blood.

“I guess I deserved that...”

“You deserve that and so much more.” Her voice had lowered and each word came out sharp and raw all of her emotion behind them.

“Do you know what it has been like to be trapped inside and not be able to do anything that you want to do? To see everything that is going on around you and to not be able to affect it? I was a prisoner in my own body for three months it was all that and more. Now you will have to fulfill Drogyn’s destiny. You took his life so now his life becomes yours. Forever at the Well, compelled to stay there and forced to keep them safe from harm, from you or others. You will be able to see life as it passes by you but you will never even be a small part of it as you are now. You’ll be like I was trapped without a way to work your will. After what you have done here Angel I think that this is the most fitting end.” Her sweet face was lit up by her smile as it slowly was absorbed back into the cold features of Illyria.

Buffy looked at her for a moment and reached toward the manacle. Hefting it into her hand she closed the distance between them.

Angel’s struggled against his bonds in full fury. There was no way that he was going to let them place him within a prison like that.

Giles let the elemental have its fun in reattaching the torn branches by sticking them back into Angel, only restraining it when it tried to go too deep. The elemental kept up easily with all of Angel’s attempts at freedom. A frenzied glee overtook it as it went about its work. Willow’s words kept the wood growing and strong but the spell was finally weakening the both of them. They had to end this soon or the two of them wouldn’t be able to hold off the elemental, let alone banish it back to its plane.

Illyria reached up, unlatched the other manacle, and stood at the other side of Angel. The two women brought up the manacles and Illyria never hesitated and clamped the manacle over Angel’s wrist. The wood at the wrist had melted away right before the manacle had snapped shut. Illyria stepped back and looked at Buffy in confusion.

Angel seized this moment to beg her, “Buffy don’t do this... Please Buffy. You sent me to Hell once already, please don’t do it again...”

“That was a different... You and I were different.” She watched in fascination as the manacle stretched to fit over his meaty wrist.

“At least now we know that you are forever going to fight for good...” her voice trailed off. The manacle snapped shut.

Angel felt a searing pain as the manacles pulled his arms together in front of him. The wood holding him shattered and exploded off his arms. Buffy and surprisingly Illyria jumped in front of Spike’s prone body to protect him from being hurt.

Willow screamed as the psychic backlash of the destruction of her magical creation completely caught her off guard. Giles immediately began the chant that would send the elemental back to its own plane of existence. His arms holding her still within the protective ward. Putting back the elemental where it came from was proving to be an easier task that he had dared to hope for. The intelligence of such beings was, at best, equivalent to a one-year old child and the presence of a powerful witch and a warlock had spoiled all of its fun here. It had wanted to go back.

The two manacles started to glow and raised Angel up and off the ground. Pulsing pain shot down his arms and into his dead heart. For one moment making him feel like it was beating. Every fibre of his being was fighting against the compelling bind that had been laid upon him. He was as helpless now as he was that long ago day that had cursed him with a soul. Feeling his will slip away, he knew that he was bound to serve out his time as the new Guardian of the Well.

Buffy watched Angel try to fight his fate. She saw the malevolent glare that he had sent her just before surrendering into acceptance of his fate. The monster before her was nothing to her now. He was already dead to her. She turned away to see how she could help Spike.

Reaching his side, she cradled him gently and gently moved away his shirt to see the extent of the wound. She smothered a gasp when she saw just how much damage Angel had actually done. If it had been five inches lower, he would have been nothing but dust. She put a gentle hand on his face to reassure herself that he was still here with her.

Spike’s eyes opened a fraction trying to stay focused on what was going on around him had taken its toll. He covertly stared up at his love, saw the shattered bits of wood clinging to her hair, and embedded in her leather jacket. The weak scent of her blood forced his eyes fully open and he half sat up in concern. “Buffy, luv, you’re alright?” He groaned and fell back into Buffy’s lap hating how weak his body was.

Buffy smiled, ‘How like him to be more worried about me than his own sorry self.’

“I’m fine....Spike you heard me tell Angel that we are together right?


This was a moment that Spike wanted to remember. He could see it clearly now. The pain made everything bright and focused. Buffy looked at him with all of the raw emotion in her eyes that he felt inside for her. His voice low and trembling he replied, “That we are, luv.”

Buffy leaned own and placed a feather light kiss on his lips. “I need you to drink from me. This is something that I can do to help you, and now that you are my boyfriend you have to do what I say!”

Spike felt dizzy from trying to follow her twisted logic, and from the prospect of tasting the slayer blood that was being offered.

She looked deep in his eyes, and brought his lips to her bare neck. She gave him one last look that conveyed her love and complete trust, and pressed his lips across the marks he had made earlier. She felt the bones shift in his face and felt his fangs enter her artery. A small trickle of blood escaped and trickled down her collarbone. A testament to how truly hurt Spike was.

Angel hung suspended in the air forced to bear witness to Buffy and Spike’s reunion. All of his work here had been undone. There was nothing that he could do now to tear them apart. He felt bitter regret that he hadn’t found a way to kill Spike when he first arrived in his office at Wolfram & Hart. Seeing them together like this was the salt poured in to the wound. That image would be the last thing he would see in a long time as he felt himself being mystically pulled to the Well.

Giles watched the tender scene between Buffy and Spike and unconsciously tightened his grip on Willow. He winced when he saw Spike sink his fangs into Buffy’s neck, every instinct telling him to pull Spike off of her. He kept his mouth shut knowing that this was Buffy’s call and that she truly did know what she was doing. He had to let her go of her at last.

Willow felt Giles stiffen and knew what was bothering him without being told. She turned in his embrace and placed her hands on either side of his face and would not let go. She smiled when he returned her look with a thunderous one of his own. The aftermath of Angel’s attack made him tremble as his last shred of concentration faltered and the barrier around them fell.

Willow leaned toward Giles and whispered, “Who is messing around with the ferocious and primal magics now?”

Giles had the grace to look a bit sheepish, “I had to come up with something strong and powerful enough to stop him. He was going to kill you...” There was a pained look on Giles face.

Willow felt horrible that she had inadvertently reminded him about Jenny’s death. She had just wanted to tease him about the comments that he had made to her about the type of magic that she had practiced. The magic that he had been playing with here was definitely of the grey... She laid a hand on his shoulder as a type of peace gesture.

“I am sorry Giles I was just trying to lighten the mood here. I am really grateful for your help.”

Illyria was the only one that witnessed the subtle shimmer around Angel before he winked out. Her authoritative voice rung out a solid, “Goodbye, guardian.”

The couples broke apart and looked at where Angel had been moments before. Giles was the first to break the silence.

“Ummm... Well, Buffy what do you think we should do with Spike here? I know that he can’t possibly healed from that blow yet, even with your help.” It was as close as Giles could come to admit that he had full knowledge of their relationship and gave them his blessings of sorts.

Buffy blinked back her surprise, Giles didn’t have a lecture handy? This day needed to go down in the books. “Well... We could put him in the room across from Faith and we should check up on Margaret. Oh, and make sure that the room has a western exposure and heavy drapes.” She looked down at Spike’s chest wound, and while it was starting to close over a bit, it still was deep and ragged.

It wasn’t long before the group had gone to check on the others. Most of the Coven was resting in their beds and were still so sick that they could barely move. Giles and Willow found Margaret on her bathroom floor and tried to do a healing spell on her. It didn’t help the strange sickness was even worse than when it had started. They helped her back to bed and while Willow bathed her face Giles broke the terrible news that some of the Coven was killed.

Tears slid down her face and Margaret felt another kind of helplessness and bitterness. Why was it that the powers that be granted her the ability to see only certain things. The events that mattered most to her were always shrouded. She rarely ever glimpsed anything that effected her directly. She forcibly put aside her resentment and asked about the other women.

Giles looked at his old friend and felt regret. Willow and Giles had gained so much from coming to this place and in return for the Coven’s help several of the members had been slain, all of them had been sickened presumably by something Angel had done. He was puzzled by the fact that their healing spell had failed. There had to be a reason that the Coven was still so horribly sickened. He had hoped that when Angel was gone that the effects of the spell would lessen. The Slayers had been filtering back in and most of them had headed to bed after the news had been broken to them.

It was still so hard to tell young girls such tragic news. It was what they had been trained to deal with but whenever one of their own went down it was a reminder that they weren’t invincible and that being a Slayer was a burden. How Buffy had dealt with these issues alone baffled him. Looking back he realized that he had not been there for her when he should have and meddled when left best alone. Regret would always be with him it seemed.

He focused on the problem at hand, the Coven must be restored to full health and the wounded needed to be tended. Sleep would wait.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Xander could feel his inner child just dying to say the words I told you so. Angel had been his least favorite “person” and to have all of his suspicions confirmed was justification of some of his own past actions. Another larger part of him felt sad for both Buffy and Faith. Deadboy had played a key part in making them what they are today, and in Faith’s life he had actually made it a change for the better.

He didn’t really relish the thought of breaking the news to Faith. He knew all of the issues that Faith had, having lived through most of it, and had to admit that Angel had helped her when everyone else had given up on her. Even himself. It took all of the glee out Angel’s downfall. Faith was still hurt her slaying healing had been overtaxed by the wound she received from the demon. Willow and Giles had promised to stop by and try to cast a healing charm on her to speed things along.

It had been a long night for everyone and he was glad that he had stayed in Faith’s room last night to make sure that she didn’t need anything. Sprawling in the overstuffed chair had probably saved his life. He had to rank high on Angel’s snackable tidbits right? Or was he not even bite worthy...

Faith was majorly pissed off that Angel had been behind it. If Xander heard her rasp out, “Are you sure?” one more time he was going to go mental.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

He saw the blueish smudges underneath her eyes. Her body swayed a sure sign of her utter exhaustion. The face off against Angel had provided the only means for Giles to stay on his feet, pure adrenaline mixed with the after effect of magic coursing through his veins. He brushed aside all thought about Angel not ready to give in to his rage and utter hatred just yet. He had to be focused on what was going on in the here and now, people needed help and for once he was able to do something instead of just offer advice.

He had just found out about Gunn’s condition and had to tamp down on his anger once again. Gunn’s needs took precedence over anyone else since his healing charms didn’t seem to be helping anyone in the Coven. Wes looked up in hope as Giles and Willow brought in supplies to mend the wound in Gunn’s neck. There was blood all over, in one part of his mind Giles was taking in all the little details so he could piece together what had happened in this room.

His hands automatically went through the motions of preparing the spell. Barely aware of the trembling of his voice Giles intoned the necessary blessing before laying the poultice on thick. The room smelled heavily of feverfew and some less identifiable herbs and for a few moments nothing happened.

Gunn’s body suddenly stiffened and his eyes that had been shut flew open in alarm. Giles laid a restraining hand on his chest and Wes took his hand in his once more. Gunn relaxed as the poultice began its work. A warm glow enfolded him for a moment and the wound closed over.

Grateful that the charm had worked Giles started to clean up the remainder of the poultice, carefully holding it he asked Willow if she would apply the excess to Faith’s wounds. Sighing in relief when she agreed Giles went to figure out who else needed help and tried to round up Dawn to do a head count.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Willow walked into the room to hear Faith mutter, “Angel?”

There was so much bewilderment in her voice that Willow felt an unfamiliar compassion for her. She caught Xander’s look of frustration and realized that Faith was having a hard time accepting the change that had come over Angel.

After Xander shot her his best pleading look Willow briskly walked into the room and placed her bundle carefully on the nightstand. She placed a cool hand on Faith’s forehead and and bit her lip in worry. “Xander? Could you please go to the kitchen and get a pitcher of cold water?”

After reluctantly nodding his head he jogged out the door. That gave them a few uninterrupted minutes since the kitchen was on the whole other side of the manor. Willow gave Faith a small smile that Faith regarded a bit suspiciously.

After all, she had seen the bundle that the witch had brought in...

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