DISCLAIMER: Think about it. If I owned all these characters, Riley wouldn't
be alive. Angel wouldn't be in LA. And Faith would be here to stay...("she's
one screwed-up little chick") Prologue Buffy woke with a start. She'd just been dreaming about a demon, a
vicious, bloodthirsty demon preying on the innocent. Nothing unusual for
the Slayer, but this time it was even more confusing and important. Just
as she'd woken up, she'd heard the words 'and only The Two can defeat
them..' The only light in the room was the green glow from her clock-radio. She
sat up and looked at it- 2:55am. Way too early to be getting up. But
something inside her, her instinct, was telling her to act on this now
before it was too late. Before she realised, she was packing a small bag and dragging on her
old jeans and a black top and leaving the dorm. On the way out of Sunnydale, she stopped by Giles' apartment and left a
quick note 'Dream. Gone to LA, fight demons. Something about 'The
Two' being the only ones who can defeat them. Will Call, Buffy'
She sighed, and jammed her fists into her pockets, before jogging home
to 'borrow' her mothers car. ======================================================
Willow frowned. "Do you mean to say she just left without asking you
about this or anything?" Giles nodded and slammed the book down in frustration. "I don't know
anything about these demons, she hasn't called and anything I've found
about The Two is very vague." Xander stood up. "I don't know about you, but if Buffy thought this was
serious enough to leave in the early morning, I think we should wait until
she calls before we start tracking her down." he looked at Giles. "If it's
some huge big deal, she'll call." ======================================================
Buffy felt the breath knocked out of her as the vampire she was fighting
threw her up against a brick wall. "Is that the way to treat a girl?" she managed to choke out. She looked
frantically around for her stake. This vamp was strong.
She lashed out a fist and felt it connect with his jawbone, snapping it.
The vampire cried out in pain. "Bitch." it snarled. "Go to Hell." Buffy backflipped away, stopping to pick
up her stake. "I wouldn't wanna crash your party!" she said sweetly, turning him to
dust. She brushed the stuff off her shirt. "Do the vamps here know
anything? Don't they have the Evil Network in LA?" With a final glance around the alley for anymore undead, she stepped
back out to her car. She crunched the gears into drive, narrowly avoiding a
lampost and headed for the one destination that gave her butterflies: Angel
Investigations. ~~~~~~~
Part 1 The door opened slowly, revealing a petite blond in jeans and a black
top, that half clung and half hung off her. "Buffy!" Cordelia jumped up and hugged her old friend.
"Cordy." Buffy replied pleased. "I haven't seen you since..."
"Graduation and what a fun time that was." the brunette said
sarcastically. "How've you been?" Buffy frowned. "Good, do we need to do this? We spoke on the phone a
week ago." "Ah, Cordelia, if he hears us talkin' to someone other then ourselves he
gonna come up." Doyle interrupted. Cordelia sighed. "Buffy, Doyle. Doyle, Buffy."
"Ah, the Slayer. The little blond thing that makes my man Angels
undead heart beat." Doyle said, shaking her hand. "You know no matter
how many times you're told the Slayers are just normal girls on the
outside, you're always shocked when ya see them." Buffy nodded awkwardly. "Do you mind if I tell you why I'm here before,
um, before he comes in?" "Sure, no point interrupting his brooding cycle."
Doyle nodded at this, getting in on it. "Yeah, he really has a thing for the
broodin' way o'life. Give him a dark, moody room and he's a happy, uh,
broody man." Buffy nodded tightly. "I had a dream. It was prophectic, and I woke up
knowing I had to come here." "Ah, dreams. Lucky." At Buffys bewildered look he continued. "I'm a half
demon myself. A good one. I get visions, mind-cracking headaches that
come with pictures. Not pleasant." "Anyway, this dream was about demons. Preying on the innocent. Only
something was different about them. And as I woke up, this voice from
out of nowhere said this," she handed him the paper she'd written it
down on. " ' and only The Two can defeat them'. Thats a little vague for a Slayers
dream. Anything else?" Buffy nodded. "There..there was also a kind of..instinct, like a..memory I
was given near the end. It told me I had to come here. To Angel."
The two girls were in the middle of conversation as the elevator drew to
a stop at Angels apartment. "You'd be surprised, Buffy. I've used a crossbow and fought dozens of
times now..and I'm an actress..I help Angel in my spare time.."
"Cordy..are you sure he's here?" Buffy interrupted. "I mean...I
don't....sense anything." Doyle looked around the room. "Try the sewers, or further in his room."
Cordelia stepped inside. "Angel! Someone to see you!" she called. Angel appeared from the
shadows of his bedroom. "Who-" he stopped dead and stared. "Buffy,"
Buffy took a deep breath and gritted her teeth. "Angel. Hey."
"Well, Delia and I have to go...mail.." Cordelia frowned. "Mail? I did the m- ohh...mail, right. We'll be upstairs."
======================================================
======= Angel motioned for Buffy to sit down on the couch. She sat nervously,
perching on the edge. He walked to the kitchen. "Are you..hungry? Thirsty? I've...got food here, you've driven all-"
"Angel stop pretending." Buffy said shortly. Angel turned. "Pretending?" his dark eyes were clouded with a thousand emotions
which Buffy couldn't read. "Pretending what?" The Slayer stood and paced around the room. "Isn't this even a little
hard for you?" she demanded, repeating words she's said what now seemed like decades ago.
Angel stared at her, "How can you not know its hard? Do you get prank
calls alot Buffy?" he asked. "Someone calling, not saying anything and
hanging up?" she nodded. "That's me. Do you know how hard it was to
leave? How hard it was to stay away?" he asked softly. "Everytime I
slept, everytime I saw a face, it would be you. I see your face everytime
I close my eyes. I live in the hope that one day I might be able to see
you again, to be with you again." She looked away. "Then why did you go?" she whispered hoarsely.
"Because I'm not better off without you." Angel poured her a glass of juice. "You were. With Parker, and now with
Riley." Buffy laughed sadly. "Oh yeah, happy. First someone who pretended he
liked me and used me, moving on to the next girl gullible enough to like
him before the sheets had cooled. Then Riley, who's in some freaky
vamp-hunting cult with my psych teacher, who's really only with me so
he can find out about the Slayer. Oh I'm happy, Angel. You know,
maybe I'm not clear on what happiness is, because I sure as Hell don't
have the happiness I want." "Is it having your friends push you into relationships? Is it being
miserable every day and crying yourself to sleep? Enlighten me, Angel!"
she caught her breath, and only Angels vampiric hearing could pick up
her next words. "Is it the only person you'll ever love leaving you and
taking your heart and soul with him? Is that what happiness is?"
He felt his heart break over and over with each word she said. "Buffy I-"
She turned her face away. "Don't tell me its for the best. I'm sick of
people doing what they think is good for me." He placed his hand on her shoulder, feeling her relax and flinch at once.
"I love you, Buffy. I'll love you forever, I just wanted you to experience
life in the light." he whispered softly as tears fell down her soft pink
cheeks. She turned to him tearfully. "I know...But I like the dark...it reminds me
of you." Angel held Buffy close, letting her cry it out. He never wanted to let her
go again. If he had known she would be this unhappy, he never would have
left her. Maybe, he thought, maybe I can make it up to her somehow. He
looked down at her blond head and kissed the top of it. "I'm sorry, Buffy, I'm sorry."
Part 3 Willow sighed and read the passage softly to herself again.
"'The Two, who are more powerful together then apart, will once again
unite and overcome the greatest evils. The Evil, if surging forth, with
break new paths for dark and light, but they must choose-' and then the
rest is missing." Giles stepped over. "Is that the longest passage you've found? Perhaps
I might be able to work with that anyway. It isn;t much, but its all we've
got at the moment." he lifted the book from her hands and walked into
his private study. Willow leaned back in her chair and sighed. "I feel so useless. The
passage makes no sense, we can't research the demons and I can't
help Buffy." Oz squeezed her hand. "We'll be okay. I mean, path altering demon. I'm
sure theres some of them to look up." ~~~~~~~ Doyle sighed again. Cordelia stood behind him. "Okay, well..we don't
have anything. Is that such a bad thing? I mean, soon enough, you're
gonna have a vision, right, and we'll know. Right? Right, Doyle?" The half-demon looked up at her wearily. "I don't tell when they come,
Princess. Maybe...those friends o' yours? Buffy's lit'l mates? They'd be
lookin', right?" Cordelia nodded. "Right! Good old Willow'll have something, easy! I'll
just call them." Doyle nodded and waited. "Uh, callin' them would involve actually usin' the phone, 'Delia." The girl
nodded. "I know..I just....I don't know Giles number!" she blurted. "Can't call."
Doyle leant over, massaging his temples from his hangover last night.
He grabbed the office black book and flipped through. "G..G...G..Giles, Rupert. Is that your man?" he pushed it back. Cordelias
mouth was set tightly. "Yes. That it. I'll call." she snatched up the phone, but didn't dial.
"What...what if they don't have anything, Doyle? Or..or what if they don't
wanna talk to me?" Doyle took her hand. "They'll want to, Delia. And if they're distracted,
remember theres a big scary demon out there." He dialled for her and nudged the reciever to her face. "H-hello?" she
asked timidly. "Yes? Who is this?" "Giles?" "Uh...yes, Rupert Giles speaking, who is this?" "Its Cordelia. Do you have any-"
"Do you have any information?" Giles demanded. Cordy slumped. "Nope. Zippo. I'm guessing you guys are coming up wi h big, fat nothing
too?" There was a scuffling sound. "Not really, but we do have this passage-" "Wait. I don't wanna know." she handed the phone to Doyle. "Oh! I'm giving you to Doyle! He's a demon too!" she shouted. Doyle frowned. "Francis Doyle." "Ah, hello. I'm Rupert Giles, Buffys Watcher."
"Aye I know about you, Giles. 'Cordelia's told me all about everyone. So
whats this passage say?" Giles relayed the information across. "Is Buffy there?" Doyle glanced to Cordelia and mouthed Buffy. She shook her head. "Sleeping or something. She's with Angel." "Nah the Slayers with 'er Angel. I'll try and drum something up."
"Can I speak with Angel at all?" Doyle looked at Cordelia. "You know how to work these phones. The
man wants to talk with our Angel-man." Cordy smiled. "I can do this!" she snatched the phone. "Please hold,
putting you through!" ~~~ Angel was jerked from his memories as the phone rang. He placed a
pillow under Buffys head and picked it up. "Hello?" he asked gruffly.
"Angel? Giles wants to talk to you." Cordelia said, sounding concerned. Angel glanced at the sleeping slayer. "Oh. Put him on."
There was a pause. "Hows...do you have less of a reason to brood now?" Angel thought about it. "Oh. Right. Maybe."
"Oh. Good. I'll put Giles through." ~~~~ Angel, Cordelia and Doyle were huddled around the computer screen.
Buffy was still sleeping downstairs. "Oh ew! 'The demon Algaroth chews the flesh of its victim as it still lives,
it then proceeds to dismember its prey, taking each piece to its lair and
feeding for three days until it kills again." Cordelia read off the monitor.
"If that isn't the- what?" she noticed the mens faces. "Oh no. Not him!
He's icky!" Doyle patted her shoulder. "Icky is us, Princess." Cordelia sighed. "This is just typical, you know? You won't let me leave,
but you won't let me do anything either! 'Coffee Angel?' 'No thanks
Cordelia' 'Doyle want some whiskey?' ' Not now Princess I'm-" "Cordelia, what would you do at home?" Angel asked, not taking his
eyes from the screen. Cordy stopped pacing and ranting. "Point taken. I'll be watching your
TV." she walked to the elevator, but stopped as she heard them gasp. "Get Buffy."
======================================================
====== Part 3 "So, we've got like, this huge supernatural demon guy who eats people
while they're alive then, like, makes a nursery with them for baby
demons or something?" Cordelia asked, wrinkling her nose. "Thats..." "Bad. We've got to do something. Have you called Giles?" Angel
nodded."They don't have a lot more then we do. Actually less when
Cordelia and Doyle called before." Buffy nodded and walked to the
phone. "I'll call them again," she picked up the phone. "So whats this guy
called? Aggroth? Algaemoth?" "Algroth." Cordelia said, as she idly flicked through her magazine.
"What?" she asked when she felt all eyes upon her. "I have a good
memory.....Actress, remember!" ~~~~~~~ Willow hung up the phone. "They've got something. Its a demon called
Algroth. It feeds on the living flesh of people, before using
their...remains as a kind of, nursery if you will, for its young." "Algroth?" Xander repeated. "Fee Fi Fo Fum! I smell the blood of an
Algroth...that didn't work, did it?" he asked as he flicked through a book.
Willow smiled slightly, "Okay Giles, I've got it here. Its says the two are
'sealed by an eternal unbreakable bond, invisible to the eye. Once
forbidden, travel the path to the light, where one will join the other,
after evil offers a new path.' and then it stops..the other guy, uh, Doyle? Says
its missing and came from the same book we got our passage from."
Giles nodded and walked into his office, and shouted back. "Look for a
little more, otherwise print that out and try to join the two." Oz and Xander worked quietly as Willow tapped lightly on her laptop,
occasionally letting out grunts of annoyance. "Bingo." she said, turning to grin at the others.
~~~~~~~~~ Buffy picked up a staff and tossed one to Angel, who stared at it. She
shrugged. "We need to make sure we still know each others next move. This'll be
a battle, Angel, its pretty big. We need to know we can still fight like we
used to." Angel blinked. She'd gotten wiser on the time apart. She raised her staff
and they began to spar. She feinted a few moves, before they began to
settle into fighting together again. Within a few minutes, they were
perfectly in sync, neither hitting the other, not through bad moves, but by
the other evading them. Doyle turned to Cordelia. "No wonder they never- yaarrgggh!" he cried
out, striking a hole through the wall with his foot. Cordy rushed to his
side, keeping a distance and clutching paper and a pen. Buffy looked to Angel with worry on her face. "Is he okay? Whats
happening? Why aren't you helping him?" she demanded. Angel placed a hand on her shoulder. "He's having a vision.' he walked
calmly to his desk and opened a drawer, returning with a bottle of
painkillers. "Here," he handed them to Doyle with a glass of water, as the vision
subsided. He swallowed them gratefully, before scribbling frantically on
the sheet of paper. About three minutes later, he shoved the book to Cordelia and curled
up on the floor. Cordy skimmed it quickly, making sure it was legible,
before handing it to Angel and tending to Doyle, running a hand through
his hair softly. "This is gonna be big." ====================== Part 4 Willow rolled her eyes as Xander got into Oz's van. "Xander, you're asking for an arguement with Cordelia, aren't you?" Xander grinned. "Is it that obvious?" Xander was wearing a bright
orange shirt, and green fuzzy pants. "Oh no, you've just slipped back into a style you dropped three years
ago! Xander!" she dropped her voice. "She has Doyle now." "That half demon scum? Tell me truthfully, because I'm confused. Do I
need to be half-human to attract girls? Buffy goes to Angel, vampire with
a soul, Cordy goes to Doyle, half-demon and you go to Wolf-boy here." Willow shrugged with a sly smile. "At least you don't lose out totally."
Xander frowned. "Well, you got Anya. Vengeance demon." Oz grinned. "Are we taking Giles?" Willow shrugged.
"Xand, you were the last in contact with him. What did he say?" Xander looked up guiltily, telltale creamy smudges around his mouth.
He swallowed. "Uh...'Xander, would you go home, we leave early tomorrow.'"
Oz slowed the van. "Left, LA, right, Giles. Where?" Willow sighed. "Right. We have to check." at the same time Xander
said. "Left. I think he wanted to drive the junk-mobile so he could drive 'in
peace'." Oz hit the brakes. "Will, logical, Xander...are you damn sure?" he asked.
They sat there a few moments. Finally, Willow reached across, grabbed
some money and hopped out across the road to the payphone. "You guys owe me for that rational thought."
A few minutes later she returned, slammed the door and said "Left." ===== Angel and Buffy read over the vision again. "And you're sure its lair was aruond this building site place?" Buffy asked again, moving her finger on
the blueprints Angel had dragged off the net. He'd surprised her, he'd
taught himself alot. She was starting to realise how much they'd grown
apart. Doyle nodded. "Y'know, they mightn't speak to me, but they leave the
thought in there. Donals Building Projects. And as my man Angel said,
there's only one going at the moment." Angel slammed a fist down. "If this is an Algroth, we're going to need a
big battle plan, lots of weapons and a foolhardy strategy. If he gets the
upper hand, we're as good as dust." Doyle cracked a wry smile. "If you stand too close to the window we're
as good as dust." Angel smiled a little, and the halfdemon moved to the cabinet. "Moments
like these..perfect for a little ale." Cordelia rolled her eyes. "Any moment is good for ale for him." Buffy
grinned. "So, Cordy, are you fighting with us? Do we count on 4?" Cordelia raised her eyebrows. "Yeah!" she said forcefully. "I hate sitting
around. Besides, Angel and Doyle taught me how to use a crossbow" Buffy nodded.
"A slayer, a vampire, a demon and Cordy. Four fighters. We're going to
need to-" "Eight fighters." a familiar voice said. Buffy and Cordelia whirled around. "XANDER?" they asked in stunned unison. The dark haired guy smiled. "And us!" Willow called. "Willow, Oz and Giles." Doyle looked around, startled. "This....this is what we're workin' with
now? Angel, man, he won't stand a chance." Angel turned. "They aren't like us, or Cordelia, most of them aren't
trained in weaponry, and haven't fought alone much. Threesome
fighting styles. Don't take the prizemoney yet." "Uh, guys, visitors here." Willow piped up.
Cordelia walked over and stood infront of Xander. "Get out." his face
was classic confusion. "I said get out. My retina's are now permanently
damaged. Get out, or get changed." Xander took a seat. "Ah, Queen C, never one to stand the
unfashionable." Doyle groaned and rolled his eyes. "You know the clothes are
disgusting." Cordelia slammed the cupboard shut. "Okay. We now had, at last recount, a Slayer, a Vampire, a Half-demon,
me and my crossbow, a witch, a werewolf a watcher, and oh, am I
missing someone? Oh yeah, a loser." Doyle groaned. "Are those two always like this? That Xander kid and
Delia?" Angel and Buffy nodded. "This calls for another whiskey." "This calls for another vision." Cordelia corrected, slamming the glass
down on the table. Doyle stepped back. "I toldya, Princess, they don't come like that!" he snapped his fingers. "Well ask for one. We need more help! I for one am not charging in there screaming 'kill me now, we don't know anything'." Doyle grinned. "Ah, Delia, but you know you will anyway." "Yeah, of course I will if you all do! I don't want to be waiting back here,
and thinking 'Doyle and Angel could be dead'. I don't want you dead.
We get a plan." Xander frowned. That was Cordelia? Cordelia Chase? Queen C? He
shrugged, maybe she really had changed. Doyle groaned. Angel and Cordelia turned sharply. "Doyle?" "Ohh, its nothing. After effects or something." Angel looked worried. "This can't be good...Cordelia. Go get the book in
my room, the one about premonitory illnesses-" "And I thought Giles reading was heavy." Xander quipped. Cordelia
ignored him. "Do you really think..." Angel looked at her, then softened his gaze. "I just want to make sure,
Cordy." While Angel searched through the book, Doyle cradled his head and
Cordelia checked symptoms with Doyles, the others sat around
awkwardly. "You know, guys, we can call once we find anything." Buffy offered as
she strung up a punching bag. "Yeah. Theres nothin; really to do till one of us finds somethin', then its
help central." Cordelia breathed a sigh of relief as Angel and Giles chalked Doyle
condition up to the stress of two visions so close together. "Tell us if it gets worse." she commanded. Doyle just nodded. "I need you two to go down and get the rest of my books." "All of them?" Doyle asked, a look of shock on his face. Angel shook his head. "The more or less relevant ones. I don't need anything on vampires. We've got demon problems."
Xander tipped back on his chair. "What does he mean 'down'?" "The sewers. Cordelia, go with Doyle." he pulled a few stakes and things
from the wall. "Take these. If you run into any trouble, leave the books in
the safe and come back here." the pair nodded and left. He looked into startled eyes as he returned an unwanted cross to the
wall. He frowned. "Whats wrong?" Buffy reached out, her hand shaking and took his, turning it over in her
hand. "Your...your hand. Its not burnt." her voice showed her
amazement. He shook his head gently. "An-Angel? Whats going on?"
Part 6 Buffy blinked back tears as Angel finished his tale about the oracles
granting him another aspect of humanity as he saved lives or slew
monsters. He looked at her with concern deep in his eyes, mingling with his deep
love for her. "You have tears in your eyes." She brushed them away. "Happiness....Angel, we can finally be happy!"
she whispered hoarsely. He nodded without saying a word. She lifted
her face and kissed him gently, conveying all her love for him. She pulled back and took a deep breath, looking into his eyes, into his
soul. "Angel. How human are you?" He looked away uncomfortably. "Buffy..this probably isn't the best time," She slammed her hand against the wall. "Dammit Angel! Now is the time." The once vampire turned. "I only have one thing to regain." he
whispered. "What?" Buffy found herself shaking again, something she only did in
the most fear. He turned his back to her. "I have to live." Buffy sat in silence a moment. "What do you mean?"
"I don't breathe, and my heart doesn't beat. I still don't age." Buffy practically leapt from her chair. "So you just...decided not to tell
me this!? Not to pick up a phone and go 'oh, by the way Buffy, I'm slowly
becoming human, drop by sometime, maybe we can go surfing!'" she
shook with rage. " Is it that hard, Angel? I....I love you more then
anything, and after ripping out my heart you don't even tell me you're
human?" Angel gripped her shoulders so she couldn't lash out. "Buffy. I couldn't
tell you because I wanted to come when I was sure...when I knew
nothing could go wrong." The Slayer forced his hands off her, stepped backwards out of reach
again. "Why do people always do this?" she mumbled. Angel tipped her
chin up to look into her eyes. "Do what?" She jerked her coat on. "Pretend they're doing whats best for me." she
said before stalking out the door.
Part 7 Buffy walked along the street, stopping occasionally to stare in a shop
window and think about just how much her day had sucked. "I love you. I try not to, but I can't stop."
"Me too, I can't either." She tried to shake the memory from her head. The last thing she needed now,
was to be thinking of that. She needed to clear her head before going back. She
groaned as she felt a presence near her. "Great. Just what I need now." * * * *
Doyle slapped his palm on the table. "Dammit Angel, man. Cordelia and I told
you to tell her, but ye just can't give up yer broodin' ways, can you?"
Angel sighed and looked away. Willow opened her mouth to speak, but thought
the better of it, figuring Doyle could handle it. "Doyle its more complicated then that." He said, pained.
"Oh, yeah, that's right. 'I must be the noble gentlemen, and leave her
against her will, so that her life will be better. No, no, I must be unhappy to get my
redemption. If I ever even so much as smile or do something fun, I will be punished.'" The
Irishman took a breath. "And, by doing this, you've sent the poor Slayer away again,
broken her poor lit'l heart and maybe even lost your chance at happiness in your sought
after 'redemption'." Cordelia watched the two men talk. Well, Doyle talk, Angel listen. She
walked up quietly to Doyle and placed a hand on his shoulder. "I'll go try and find
her." Angel rummaged in his pocket and slid his keys across the table. "Here, take
my car." Cordy snatched up the keys. "Okay, Angel," she paused, "Where would she go?
LA's a big town, I can't look everywhere." Angel sighed and put his head on his hands. "Sunnydale...I'd have some idea.
Here....I don't know." "She can't have gone far, Princess." Cordelia walked passed a pressed a kiss
to his cheek. "Don't let him do anything stupider." **** "Please! Please!" a female voice sobbed. "Mister...if you just-" she
screamed. Buffy ran into the alley and pulled a stake from her jacket. "You know you
vamps just don't get it, do you?" the thing looked up. "And you don't because you aren't a vamp." She put her hands on her hips.
"Get away from her, and deal with me." The horrible, disfigured demon released its prey reluctantly. "So, you're
the Slayer then, little girl?" Buffy smirked. "Little girl lost. Wanna play?" she raised her hands in a
fighting stance. "No," it snarled, blood dripping from its jaws, "I want to fight."
**** Doyle slapped another book closed and reached for another. "Nothin'."
Willow flipped a page. "We've got visuals." She called to the quiet room.
Giles and Angel rushed over. "Ah, I believe there was something about them in the Watchers Diaries, a
Slayer in the-" His spiel was interrupted by an agonised cry from Doyle, who clutched at his
head. The group watched, stunned, as the half-demon writhed in pain. Angel sat silently, waiting. The look on Doyles face gripped his undead
heart with an icy hand. "He's got her." Part 8 "See? You are just a weak, little girl." The demon said as it stroked its
'young'. The young which were once humans, turned to the evil to escape death.
Buffy wrestled with her bonds. "Girl, maybe. But weak?" she snarled, breathless from her fight. "Never."
She kicked out at the demon, missing wildly. "See, in the end, Slayer,
you'll always succomb to the evil that hunts you. The evil that is fixated on killing you
will take you over, and take your life." The Algroth ran a blood-smeared hand across her face, over her lips. "Now,
Slayer, don't spit the blood out. It feeds you, makes your soul grow." He paused a
smiled, revealing a mouthful of rotted teeth. "It makes you die." Buffy set her jaw. "I won't take your options, demon. I'll never become your
ally, I'll always fight you, and I'll always win." He smiled sickeningly, making her seeth. "Aw, but will you win everytime, everytime
evil is upon you? You aren't immortal, child, you will die. I won't."
She jerked around as one of his demon young began to gnaw at her legs. She delivered a sharp kick into its head, sending it sprawling across the floor, clawing at its head. *** Cordelia jerked to a stop outside the alley, where a girl sat, rocking back
and forth. The tires screeched and the car stopped. She leapt out and ran over, gripping the shaking girls shoulders. "What
happened?" "Some....some...*thing* grabbed me, and it was attacking me, biting me, then this girl came and fought it....it took her."
Cordy froze. She actaully liked Buffy, despite everything. She'd never judged her. "Took her where." The girl just shook. Cordelia jerked her roughly to her feet and shook her angrily, "Took. Her. WHERE?!" The girl whimpered and pointed. "And then where? Did you see it?" she
demanded, surprised at herself, she was never like this. The girl sniffed and pointed to a grille. Cordelia released her. "Thankyou.
Now, go straight home, and if you ever need help, call Angel Investigations!" she
pushed a card into the grimy hand. 'Hey, it can't hurt' she reasoned. The girl nodded
and fled. Cordelia walked up to the grille and wrinkled up her nose. It reeked of
rotted flesh. "Great. Even more fun. Not only do I get a day of fighting a disgusting
demon, it smells awful in there too. And it won't come out of my clothes.." she
muttered, walking away. ****** Angel and Doyle sat, tense at the table as Cordelia reccounted her story,
with a few untruths woven into it. "So you can take us to this place then? You know
where it is?" "No, Doyle, how could I? Of course I know where it is! Its close by even!"
Doyle and Angel exchanged a glance. "So we take the offensive?" Angel nodded and looked to the others. "Whose fighting, who's helping?"
**** Buffy bit down hard on the gag. The demon had gotten sick of her biting
remarks. Nothing was working. Truthfully, she was scared. She didn't know how Angel
or the rest of them could possibly find her, she was bound and gagged, there were
little baby demons breeding like crazy. And there was this prophecy running around.
****** Willow gasped as the fighting members prepared to leave. "What?" Angel
whirled around. "This...this prophecy..I..it could have two meanings. The first one, it
closes the Hellmouth and banishes all vampires, demons and stuff to Hell...the other,
its still in Latin, and I can't translate, but what I can get, its something about
immortality." Angel stood while Doyle walked over and looked. "Angel, man, this is
important. We have to read this...decipher it, before we go and attack. We can't take the
risk of doing something wrong!" The souled vampire shook his head. "If I can save Buffy now, nothing else
matters. If she dies, I die." Everyone looked around solemnly. They knew nothing they could do or say
would change his mind. Not even.... "We could chain him down, that'd keep him." Xander piped up. Willow slapped
him. "Xander," she warned. Xander smirked. Doyle chuckled. "Nah, I don't think even that would keep him." Angel took a
cache of weapons and walked out the door. "Uh, you might want these," Cordelia said, tossing him the keys.
"Thanks." He nodded finally to the pair, who were his closest friends, before leaving to save his one true love, his wife.
***** Buffy slowly continued rubbing the ropes against the cement behind her. She
figured if the demon was so Hell-bent on making her wait and wait to die, as he so
sincerely promised, she could free her hands at least. She froze, hearing the clanging sound of metal. Her senses tingled, and the
tiny hairs on the back of her neck stood up. Angel. The demon looked around nervously. "Who comes?" he demanded angrily.
Angel appeared, in full vampire visage. "Your murderer." The demon stood its
ground. "I really doubt that, vampire." Angel stepped forward. "Do you realise you're playing a role in a prophecy?" Angel said
patronisingly, "We can make this a lot easier, you know, you could just...die."
The Algroth growled, a low, gutteral sound, and Angel advanced. Buffy was making
noise, trying to get his attention. She shook the ropes that kept her from fighting.
He glanced over to where she was tied up, before beginning to battle.
****** "Good God. Oh my," Gilesm murmured. Doyle rushed to him. "What? What?!"
Giles looked up into his face. "It seems, if this demon is not killed before
any of its young, the first change will not take place." Doyle hopped from foot to foot. "I'm assuming theres lots of crossroads to
take, but what does this one lead to? Or, in this case, stop?"
"If Angel doesn't kill the Algroth before its young, he won't regain his
humanity with vampiric strength." Cordelia frowned. "But he's already getting his humanity..the oracles have
set that path already." Xander stared at her strangely. "Your talking Giles-talk."
She shrugged. "Comes from spending time with a vampire and a walking
supernatural message." Giles nodded his agreement. "Yes, but that's with his vampiric strength so
he can still fight. If Angel doesn't slay this demon first, that will be taken out, and
he will be unable to complete the rest of the task."
The group sat in silence. "We have to tell Angel." Cordelia said. "Right
now!" she shouted when no-one moved. Willow nodded. "If we don't....he won't be able to save Buffy and then,
well...I don't think we need to say how bad things would get." *~*~*~*~*~*~
Part 9 The exhaustion started to get to Buffy, and she felt herself losing
consciousness. Suddenley, as Angel pulled back his fist, ready to send a dagger into the
chest of a smaller demon."NO!" she cried, dislodging the rag from her mouth. "Angel
NO!" Angel stopped and leapt backwards, surprised by Buffy. He kept fighting in
confusion, somehow knowing he was not meant to kill the smaller demons. As
he fought hard, ignoring the sharp pain in his shoulder and the blood in his
eyes, he managed get a knife into the demons jugular. The blackish blood ran in
rivers down the thick neck of the demon. "Angel," Buffy whispered as she hung from the
walls. "Help.." *** About an hour and a half after Angel had left, he returned with
Buffy, each one supporting the other. Cordelia gasped."Ohmigod Angel!" she cried,
rushing over. Angel winced as she took his arm to lead him to the couch, as Doyle went to
help Buffy.After they'd had their wounds attended to, Giles pulled up a chair to
talk to them. "Tell me, what demon did you kill first?" Buffy shrugged."I was tied
up, there wasn't any fighting done by me. Angel did it all."Angel nodded and prodded
gingerly at his aching shoulder. "The big one. The Algroth; Buffy cried out as I was
about to kill the smaller ones..I don't know how she got free.""Well, then.Angel will
have his 'grr' strength, right?" Cordelia butted in as she wrapped herself in
Doyles arms. Giles nodded. "He should have, but perhaps the Oracles, as you call them,
won't grant him full humanity until the whole prophecy is played out."Buffy groaned.
"You mean theres more? I never liked those 'Choose Your Own Adventure' books as a kid,
so of course I get a starring role in one now.""And you don't get paid." Xander
pointed out."Yeah! I don't get paid. Cordy gets paid to play in the evil games. I
don't even get a thankyou." Buffy sulked.Willow lifted her head from the book. "Guys? Sorry
to interrupt, but we have the next piece of prophecy waiting, well, just around
the corner." Part 10 "You mean to say theres two of these things? Oh this prophecy
is great fun."Giles finished reading over what Willow had found. "It appears you will
have to save someone from 'the path that is not light'." Xander cocked his head. "You
know, that's what I love about these prophecy guys." He paused, "They're always so
straightforward and honest..couldn't they say 'stop this guy from doing this
thing and then this will happen?" Buffy frowned. "I actually think I prefer the
cryptic." She turned to her watcher. "Giles. This guy we have to save, is he nearby now?
Does this thing have a calendar and personal planner?" Giles perfected puzzled look
crossed his face. "I.uh, I'm not sure I catch your meaning, Buffy." "Do we know when Mr
Evil's gonna strike?" she asked, tapping her foot impatiently. She'd been thinking
of only two things sinced she got here: Angel, and getting rid of this thing they
were playing out. And so far, only the latter was going anywhere. She knew that she
couldn't go back to Sunnydale and her 'normal' life after this visit and the kiss from
Angel. But she still didn't know if he wanted her anymore. And thinking that meant that
her heart broke everytime someone mentioned his name. Everything she saw was a
reminder of what they shared. Any alley she walked through brought back the memories of
the first time she met him, and how she felt a rush of emotions; love, anger,
frustration and a eerie feeling of coming home, and safety. Anytime she drove past the
ice-rink, she was taken back to that amazing, magical kiss after he'd saved her from
the Taraka. And most of all, everything that was remotely related to Angel
reminded her of that wonderful, magical, amazing night of her seventeenth birthday, and
how she felt like she was the most-loved girl in the world. She knew that no matter
what happened, she would always be loved by Angel. And when he'd left her, in a
sewer, to go to LA, that feeling hadn't really disappeared. It had been tinged with
mistrust and heartbreak, but she knew, no matter what, if she really needed Angel enough,
he'd be there for her. Buffy had gone off on her own onec Giles had admitted they
didn't know how long they'd be waiting for sure. Now she was waiting for Angel to
get off the phone from Kate, the woman who was his police contact."Okay Buffy, I'm
ready." He waited. "You said you wanted to go someplace to talk." He
prompted. Buffy jerked herself from her thoughts. "Oh yeah, sorry." She grabbed her
jacket. She smiled, realising it was one that Angel had given her, in the better times.
"Oh, um..are there any places we could go talk?"Angel took his jacket off the peg
and looked at her. "Theres a café nearby, or a park..I don't know if you want to
do any slaying though."Buffy smiled. Still thoughtful. "Eithers fine, whatevers
closer I guess." Angel nodded, and went to take her hand, but shrunk back. Buffy
looked up in confusion. "Angel.you can hold my hand." She smiled. Angel looked down
sadly. "Buffy, we-" She raised her hand to cut him off."I know, we shouldn't. But,
Angel why can't we do something we want for once?" she grabbed his hand and held
it in both of hers. "Angel this prophecy is your redemption, can't you see that?
We can finally be happy."Angel tore his eyes away. "Buffy..""No, Angel, don't
'Buffy' me. You wanted redemption? Well heads up Angel, this is it! But, obviously, even
though you'll be human, you don't want me. Well that's fine. I'll be out of here as
soon as this damned prophecy is fulfilled." She dropped his hand and cut down a dark
alley, hoping no vampires had decided to lurk there tonight.You're taking a risk,
she told herself, Angel might actually not want me. She started to panick. She'd
meant to make him wake up to himself.She heard footsteps behind her. "Angel.." she
said softly, starting to turn around. "No," the voice said, "Your
executioner."Buffy swore. "You know, I'm not being captured again." She tried to look past the demon.
"ANGEL!" she shouted. Angel came running around the corner, always her
saviour. "Buffy? Whats wrong?" he asked, the concern evident in his voice."I think we
found our demon." She said. Angel stepped forward to fight."Angelus?" the demon
hissed, before turning to flee.Angel walked up to Buffy and held her shoulders. "Are
you okay?" he asked checking her over. She nodded."We should get back to-" they
were cut of by a scream very close by.Together, they ran towards the sound and
saw the demon holding a person captive. "Let 'em go." Angel growled.The demon
laughed. "Do you really think I'll just let him go? Come on, Vampire!" Buffy walked
closer and lifted her fists into a fighting stance. "Riley?" she asked incredulous.He
stepped back, closer to the demon. "No. No! You won't take me!" he cried.Buffy turned to
look at Angel in confusion. This was different. "Riley, I can save you."He shook his
head and the demon laughed. "He's made his choice, Slayer! Stay with me, be evil and
live. He knows that if he goes with you, he dies." "That's not true, Demon." She
snarled. "Ifn he stays with us, he lives. Going to you ensures he dies at my hands."Riley
quivered. "No. No, I want to live." Angel stepped forward. "Let me handle this. Riley,
come over here. We can save you."He shook his head. "I want to live."Buffy got
fed up with waiting and grabbed the boys hand. "Come on Riley, you know I can
help." Riley shook his head."What have you done, taken his mind?"Riley stared at
her. "Evil.I live.""No kid, evil you die." Angel said angrily. This was starting
to seem a little ridiculous. Riley looked back at Buffy and frowned in confusion.
"B-Buffy? Is that you?"Buffy and Angel glanced at each other. This was way weird."Yeah,
Riley. Its me." She ran a hand through her hair and nodded to Angel. You take the
demon, I'll free Riley. Angel nodded once in reply.Angel stepped forward, jerked
the guy out of the way and began to beat up the demon.
Part 11 Riley woke up from his dazed state as Angel finally killed the demon. He
wiped the blood off his hands onto the wall. "Buffy, how is he?"
Buffy shrugged. "I don't know. Something had a hold over his mind. I'm sure
Giles will want to see him." Riley reached out for Buffy, and a wave of jealousy rushed through him
"Buffy I..what happened?" he mumbled, wiping the blood from his mouth and
nose. Buffy helped him to his feet. "You were..." she glanced to Angel for help.
"Possessed." He supplied. "A demon had control of your mind." Riley just nodded stupidly. "Where are we going?" Buffy and Angel exchanged
a glance. "Back to my place. You need some first aid." "Who're you?" Riley asked in bewilderment.
"He's-" Buffy began. "He's Angel. My..." she looked down at the antique
silver claddagh on her left ring-finger. "My husband." Angels eyes lit up at
the recognition that she knew, and how much she did love him.
/br> "Buffy I thought..." "I'm sorry, Riley. But I can't lie to myself any longer." Riley looked hurt,
but nodded. "I always knew there wasn't room left in your heart for me." Buffy just
smiled sadly and they began to walk. ***** "RILEY?" Willow asked looking at the bruised and bloody face. He nodded.
"Omigod! Buffy what happened?" she asked as Xander and Oz took Riley off to
the bathroom to clean his wounds. She sighed and sat down. "This demon, I think its another prophecy thing. It
was trying to convert Riley to the evil side. I think it was linked to the
other one..Angel had to kill the demon so that Riley got his.sanity back I
guess." Willow nodded and scanned the book of prophecy.
"Heres something: 'The Two will avert the crossing of good to evil, and the
threat will leave." Angel read over her shoulder. "That must be it, whats next?"
Willow read then got a little grin on her face and gasped. "Amator voluntas
accidere combinare quod vita." She turned to look at Buffy. "The lovers will
become reunited for life." Buffy and Angel exchanged a hesitant look. She bit her lip. "Will.are you
sure?" she asked. Willow nodded. Doyle moaned and kicked out at the table. "Pen. Paper. Single malt whiskey."
He managed to get out. Cordelia rushed around in a flurry trying to grab
anything. Doyle pushed it away and reached for the shot glass. "Oh Angel, man. You're
gonna love this one." He muttered. Angel frowned worriedly. He had that
sinking feeling he got when Doyle had visions. "What is it?" Buffy jumped in before he could speak.
"Yeah." Angel added, not to be left out. He sighed and smiled to Cordelia. "We sure ain't gonna have a brooding boss
anymore, and I think the black décor might be in for a colour change."
Angel and Buffy both got fed up. "What is it!?" Doyle and Cordelia shared a grin. "No more 'grr' after you guys get pelvic!"
she grinned. Buffy blushed, and Angel would have if he could- he wasn't quite alive yet.
"So how come you only just got the vision?" Willow glanced over at Doyle who shrugged. "I don't know, man."
"Maybe it had something to do with saying it out loud," Willow murmured as
she tried to translate the latin passage to english. "Here! Its some kind of spell. It had to be read out after all the prophecy
had been completed properly. If Riley hadn't been stopped from going to the
dark side, I wouldn't have translated the rest of the passage, and then I
wouldn't have read the paragraph out loud, which wouldn't have activated the
spell and -" "Will, you're babbling." Xander interrupted. Oz nodded. "But its cute you're excited." Willow beamed.
Buffy slowly began to comprehend what was really going on. "You
mean..Angel.we need to talk." He nodded and reached out his hand, which she
gladly took. "Uh, Angel man. I don't mean to interrupt, but its kinda sunny out there.
And unless you're visiting the Oracles to get the change..." Angel turned to
look at him. "You mean.." Doyle nodded. "It was mentioned in the mind-splitting vision."
Angel stopped and turned to Doyle. "They can have the ring of Amara. Its in
the safe in the sewers." Part 12 Doyle muttered the quick incantation and Angel was with the Oracles.
"What did you bring us?" the man asked. Angel held out the gem. The Oracles gasped. "The ring of Amara!" the female
snatched it from his hand, admiring it. "You came for what was foretold?" the oracle asked solemnly. Angel nodded.
"The prophecy is completed." The two Oracles raised their hands, murmured a few words, and Angel was
outside again. "Angel, man what happened?" Doyle asked energetically.
Buffy stepped forward and placed her hand on his chest. "I felt your heart
beat." she murmured softly, tears forming in her eyes. She revelled in the
feeling of his chest rising and falling, the steady heartbeat, and the
colour in his cheeks. "You're alive." Epilogue "Even better then the dreams." She said happily as Angel led her into the
sunlight. Angel's look changed from bliss to worry. "Dreams?" he asked anxiously.
"Yeah," she smiled, leaning into him. "Dreams of you being human, and
kissing on the pier- can we go to the pier Angel?" she asked like an excited
little girl. Angel smiled. He could ever resist her, or deny her anything. "Sure. But tell me more about the dreams," he said opening the door to his
car. Buffy smiled dreamily. "It was amazing. You were human, and we made love in
your bed, and we ate together, cookie dough fudge mint chip. It was the most
amazing day in my whole life! And now its practically coming true!" she
laughed. Angel looked uncomfortable. She squeezed his hand. "Angel?"
He stopped at the pier and they walked to the edge and sat down on a bench.
"Buffy..that day happened." He waited for the anger. But it didn't come. "What are you saying?"
"My blood mixed with the Mohra demon, and I became human. We had the day
together, but.the Oracles told me that if I stayed human you would die. So I
had them turn back the day. Only I remember. I didn't want to give you that
burden of knowing what we'd have, and what we could never have again." Buffy was speechless. She reached up and stroked Angels cheek. "My Angel." she murmured, leaning in and kissing him gently. "You aren't angry?" he asked as she pulled away for air. She shook her head
and cuddled into him, staring out at the waves crashing on the beach..
"How could I be? You gave up humanity for me, Angel. You gave up something
you wanted more then anything so that I could live.." She smiled and kissed
his jaw. "I love you," she sighed happily. "This is like a dream come true." "It is, Beloved," he kissed her, "It is."
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SUMMARY: A big bad evil comes to LA, giving Doyle visions, Buffy dreams and
everyone involved a shock.
RATING: PG-13...
DISTRIBUTION: Want. Ask. Have. Just ask and LMK where its going. I'll say
yes. :-)
NOTES: This is for Nicole, for reading it and giving me nice feedback.
FEEDBACK: Is begged for!! I've got a little more written....but I write
faster if people like it and stop if people don't. *g* Please? :-)