Part 5

" Come before us warrior, and you too, lower beings," said the male Oracle.

" We have called you here to bestow a gift upon you. These girls have helped to bring it upon you, by their presence, and so we have allowed them to accompany you," said the female.

" We shall bestow upon you the gift of humanity," said the male Oracle. Angel gasped, and the girls smiled.

" But last time, I was so weak, if I become human it'll kill Buffy even faster," Angel objected.

" Do not worry warrior," said the female smiling, " You will have your strength and healing abilities so you will be able to continue your mission. Albeit from another location, but it will be continued nonetheless."

" What do you mean from a different location?" Angel asked suspiciously.

" All I meant," she replied, " was that since there are no conditions whatsoever, only that you continue fighting, you may want to fight in a different city."

" No clauses?" he asked quietly.

" No, none at all," said the male Oracle.

" When you are outside, it will become affective," said the female Oracle. " Be happy warrior, and never lose hope." With that, they walked away and Angel and the others were suddenly outside.

******

As the girls collected themselves and stood up, Angel just sat there, looking slightly amazed.

" Angel," Amethyst asked softly," are you ok?"

" Yeah," he said getting up and standing next to them, " What do I do now?"

The girls exchanged looks. Those were some of the same words he had said that day.

" You can pretty much do what ever you want now," said Elizabeth, enjoying her role as Doyle. "The question is, what do you want?"

He looked at them, and they knew the answer.

*****

Amethyst, Ivy, and Elizabeth were riding in Angel's car. Ivy riding shotgun in honor of her birthday. Elizabeth and Amethyst were in the backseat. Cordy was driving Wesley, Serena, and Felicity, the brave ones, in her car. They were headed for Sunnydale.

*****

" Where do you think Buffy would be?" Cordy asked. They had met at the mansion, and were now standing outside, with their cars parked in the driveway.

Angel looked at the girls and said, " You would know where she is, I mean, you see what happens here, not us."

" Well," said Ivy, " She's normally either fighting the big bad, at Giles' or at her dorm," she finished tactfully leaving out the 'oh and screwing with her boyfriend' part despite the looks the others were giving her.

" Well, we could try Giles' apartment," said Angel.

" Should we split up?" Cordy asked.

" No, we might as well stay together. That way, we know where everybody is.

" So," said Felicity, " are we driving or walking?"

" Walking," Angel replied, starting off, and the others followed.

******

As they walked to Giles' apartment, no one talked, everyone was thinking something different.

Cordelia was thinking she might lose her job. Wesley was thinking how happy Angel would be. Felicity was thinking how cool it would be to see Buffy and Angel together. Serena was thinking how awesome it was seeing Angel, and soon Buffy and Angel together. Ivy was thinking how cool it was that her wish was gonna come true. Elizabeth was thinking how much she would miss being in this reality. Amethyst was worrying about the fact that Buffy had a boyfriend, and what Angel would do if he found out. Angel was thinking how happy he and Buffy could finally be. That's when he saw it. A guy, with Buffy. The guy leaned down to kiss her, and Buffy didn't object it was then that Angel's world shattered, it was then that he ran.

******

Buffy was spending another boring day with Riley in the park. She sensed something, someone, but it was impossible. He was in LA, plus, the sun was out. Mentally shrugging, she saw Riley bend down to kiss her. She let him, after all he was her boyfriend. Suddenly, she broke off the kiss and sharply turned her head to the left. It was then she saw him, saw him in the daylight, and saw him running. She screamed, " Angel!" and ran after him.

******

He stopped, he heard her yell his name, he turned, and saw her running, saw Cordy, Wesley, and the girls running after him. But then he saw the guy she had been kissing running after her, and he couldn't stand to stay, so he ran.

******

Buffy saw that there was no way she could catch Angel. Then she turned and saw Cordelia, Wesley, and five girls she didn't know running up to her. She also saw Riley running to catch up. She turned to Cordy and asked, " What are you doing here?"

" We came with Angel, he wanted to see you, to tell you he's human."

" How?" she asked, and then reconsidered, how could wait, " Why did he run? And who are you?" The last question was directed at the girls.

" It probably has something to do with you kissing him," Cordelia said inclining her head toward Riley who had just caught up with them.

" Buffy.." he started, but couldn't finish.

" Not now Riley. Who are you?" she asked the girls again.

" I'm Ivy, this is Amethyst, Serena, Felicity, and Elizabeth." she said pointing to each in turn, and we'll explain later, when there aren't more important things to do."

" Alright," said Buffy, nodding, " Explanations later, we have to find Angel first."

*******

part 6:

She was with another guy. He should have known she wouldn't just sit around and wait, not knowing if he would ever return. She looked happy now. He wasn't about to take that away from her. He'd leave, and he'd never come back. That way he would never interfere with her life again. She deserved to be happy, and it looked like that guy made her happy. No one would have to see him again. He'd leave the LA stuff to Cordy and Wesley. He could go to Ireland and start a new life there. A life he'd hate because it would be a life without Buffy. He headed toward the airport.

*******

"Where should we start looking?" asked Cordy. The girls stayed silent because even they realised it might be better if they not speak up right away.

" I don't know. Maybe his apartment or the mansion. He could be anywhere!" Buffy was sick with frustration and worry. " Maybe we should split up." She looked at the girls.

" We can find our way around," said Ivy for the group.

" Ok, good," said Buffy who was still very curious as to whom they were. " Cordelia and Wesley, you check the mansion. You girls stay together and check his old apartment. You know where it is, right?"

" Yes," they chorused.

" Good. I'll look anywhere else I can think of. You should do that too. We'll meet at Giles' in an hour. With or without Angel. Riley, go to Giles and tell him what happened. He'll understand."

" But." Riley said rather pathetically.

" Don't argue, just go! One hour," she said before she walked away to search for the one person who could make her happy.

********

" Well," said Cordy, " rude much? Let's go Wesley. See you girls later." Wesley nodded and followed her

" So, Angel's apartment?" asked Serena.

" Angel's apartment," agreed the other girls.

****

"Well, he's obviously not here," said Amethyst.

" Where should we check next?" asked Elizabeth.

" Well," said Ivy. " Cordy and Wesley are at the mansion, and Buffy will check all the obvious places, so what's not an obvious place?"

" Well," said Felicity, " He'd probably want to get out of Sunnydale. I mean that's what he does in all of our fics."

" But would that be what he'd really do, in real life. I mean here?" asked Serena.

" Well," said Amethyst, "he didn't take his car, so.. He'll have to leave a different way, but how?"

" He has lots of money, right?" asked Elizabeth.

The girls thought for a moment. Then, as one, the exclaimed, " The airport!!!" and ran out the door.

*****

As they ran to the airport, they ran into Buffy, only not literally.

" Was he at his apartment?" asked Buffy hopefully.

" No," replied Ivy, " but we have an idea of where he might be."

" Where?" she asked, considerably frantic.

" The airport," answered Felicity.

" Lets go," Buffy said simply, heading toward the only airport the small town had to offer.

****

Wesley and Cordelia, having no success trying to find Angel, headed toward Giles' house. As they walked in, they heard talking.

" Deadboy's back in town," it was Xander, sounding thoroughly confused, but not angry. It appeared he had finally gotten over his jealously of Angel, " only he's not dead."

" Apparently so," they head Giles say. Then, they walked in.

" Cordy, Wesley, what are you guys doing here?" asked Willow excitedly.

" Well," replied Cordelia, "We were here with our now-human boss, but Buffy's GI Joe boy toy scared him away. He was finally coming to his senses too."

" So what Riley said was true?" asked Giles.

" Yes, it was," replied Wesley.

" Wait," said Riley, " What do you mean now-human? If he wasn't human before then what was he?"

The now reunited Scooby gang looked at each other, wondering how they were going to explain this one.

****

Buffy, Elizabeth, Ivy, Amethyst, Felicity, and Serena had finally arrived at the airport. There was only one major airport in Sunnydale, so they figured this is where Angel would have gone.

" Where do you think he'd go?" asked Amethyst.

" He's somewhere ahead of us," answered Buffy.

" How do you know?" asked Felicity.

" I think it's the soulmates thing." She said walking forward with the girls following her. They had walked for a short while before they saw anything that they wanted to see. Then, all of a sudden, Buffy stopped cold. She said, " He's here, I can feel him." That's when they saw him. Serena voiced what all of them saw.

" He's right over there."

He had been sitting with his back toward them, apparently waiting for the boarding call. As soon as they saw him, Buffy started forward. Angel stood up, and they all knew it was because he could feel her, just like she had felt him. He turned around to face them. More accurately, to face her. As he reached her they could see mixed emotions on hi face. Pain, joy, confusion, but love shone out above them all.

" Buffy," he asked, " what are you doing here?"

" What do you mean 'What am I doing here?'" she practically shouted. " You came here, to tell me you're human, and then all of a sudden you take off, leave me without a 'Hi!' or 'Hello' or any explanation whatsoever?" she lowered her voice just a notch. " Don't you love me any more?"

" Buffy," he replied, his voice sad, " how can you even ask me that? You know I love you more than anything."

" Then why?" she demanded, " Why didn't you even tell me you're human? Why did you just take off all of a sudden, without even telling me anything?"

" Because you looked happy. That's the only reason I left one of the reasons I left before. All I've ever wanted was for you to be happy. When I saw you kissing that guy, it broke my heart. But you seemed so happy I didn't want to ruin that for you. I didn't want you to feel obligated to be with me. I didn't want to take happiness away from you." He lowered his voice, " I didn't want you to turn me away, because knowing that you were with another guy was bad enough. But if I ever knew for sure that you didn't love me anymore, that you would tell me you had moved on, that your heart and soul had moved on, I wouldn't have been able to take it. At least this way, I could still hope that at least a pat of you still loved me, that at least a part of you was still mine."

" Angel how could you even think that?" Buffy asked, her voice laden with tears. " I've always loved you, you know that. If ever there was a way for us to be together, no string attached, I'd do it in an instant. I love you, I always have, and I always will. You're the only one I've ever wanted the only one who could ever make me happy. The only one I've never been able to have, until now."

He looked at her, his eyes full of love. " But what about that guy you were kissing?"

" I'll just have to break up with him. He was boring anyway, and I never really loved him. I always held back. We never, well, you know. You're the only one I've been with." The girls, hearing this, exchanged glances At least some things had been better here.

" I love you," Angel said softly.

" So, you'll stay?" she asked, her voice hopeful.

" I'll stay, but only if you want me to." The only answer he got was the only answer he needed. She pulled him into a deep, passionate kiss. The girls stood watching and smiling. Ivy was the first to speak.

" Well, I guess my wish came true."

Part 7

" So, who is Angel and what does he have to do with Buffy?" Riley asked for the fifth time. The scoobies were still trying to figure out what to tell him. They didn't want to say too much, but he insisted on knowing it all.

" He's a friend who has helped us in the past," said Willow.

" Is that all he is?" asked Riley.

" No, he was also the person I hated more than anything for three years," joked Xander.

" Why don't I believe you. Tell me the truth," insisted Riley. When the others remained silent he said, " Fine. I'll just ask Buffy. She'll tell me." The others looked at each other knowing exactly what Buffy would do.

******

Angel and Buffy were standing like statues gazing into each other's eyes. They had been standing that way for quite some time. While the girls relished seeing them together, they were getting quite bored. After mutual looks of agreement they all cleared their throats. Buffy and Angel snapped out of their reverie and remembered the girls.

" Thank you," Angel said sincerely.

" You're welcome," choursed the girls.

" So, what are you going to do now?" asked Ivy.

" Well," said Buffy with a laugh, " First thing I'm gonna do is break up with Fishboy! God he was getting boring. Always talking about cheese and Iowa!"

The girls laughed and Serena said, " You've got it easy here Buffy. You should, no actually you shouldn't see what happens in our world!"

" You mean we exist there?" asked Buffy, awed.

" No," answered Angel, " We're a TV show there!"

" Wow, I can actually see that happening," said Buffy smiling. " What was the worst part?" she asked.

" You sleeping with Fishboy," said Felicity.

" You and Faith switching bodies and fishboy didn't even know and he slept with her," said Serena.

" You getting mad at Angel for helping Faith and acting like a bitch," said Elizabeth.

" And rubbing Fishboy in his face and Angel telling you to go home and get out of his city," added Amethyst.

" Not to mention telling Fishboy you loved him more than once. Oh! And there was that time where you and Fishface had sex over and over and didn't even notice the ghosts," said Ivy nonchalantly.

Buffy and Angel looked horrified. " We did all that?" they asked horrified.

" Yup," said Amethyst.

" To our immense horror," added Elizabeth.

" Well, it hasn't come true here, and it won't." said Buffy resolutely.

" Let's go tell the others," said Angel as they all walked out of the airport.

*****

Buffy, Angel, and the girls walked into Giles' apartment.

" Hi guys," said Buffy meekly. Everyone but Riley, Wesley, and Cordelia barely noticed. They were too busy staring at Angel.

" Wow," said Willow.

" Bloody hell," said Spike, " the wanker really is human."

"Spike?" asked Angel, " what are you doing here?"

" I've changed sides you poof! I'm a good guy now. The little redhead's my girlfriend now." Angel stared at him in shock and then smiled a little.

" Well, " said Spike, " Congrats man. Maybe with you back we can get rid of the Fish over there."

" Ditto," said Xander also shaking Angel's hand. " Oh, and sorry for the deadboy thing."

"It's forgotten," said Angel smiling.

Willow stood up and gave Angel a hug. " Be good to her," she whispered so only he could hear.

" Did you ever doubt it?" he answered in a whisper.

She smiled and shook her head. "Never."

Giles walked up to Angel and said, " Congratulations Angel. Don't worry about the past, just take care of her," he whispered.

" Thank you, and don't worry, I will." He whispered as well. Everyone but Riley knew they were whispering because of Riley.

" Buffy," he demanded, " Who is this guy and what's going on?"

" Riley," she said gently, " We have to break up."

" What!! Why!! Is it because of him?" Riley asked glowering at Angel.

"Actually, yes, it is." Before Riley could say anything she continued. " I love Angel Riley , I always have. There were obstacles before, but they're gone now. I hope you can understand."

" What!!" shrieked Riley. " My Bessie was never unfaithful like this!" The girls looked at each other with 'so-it-is-true-about-Bessie-looks.' " How dare you leave me you slut!"

Before Buffy or Angel could say anything the girls cut in. " How dare you!" shouted Felicity.

" You jerk! You insensitive jerk!" shouted Amethyst

" How can you even think of calling her that!" shouted Elizabeth.

" You only went on three dates!" exclaimed Serena.

" See," said Ivy, " All our fics were right about him."

All of a sudden the girls huddled up whispering things and shooting murderous glances at Riley. The others were too astounded to say anything. Buffy and Angel could hear the words 'spork, why not?, kill, please'. The girls broke out of their huddle and looked at Riley evilly. " Look Riley," said Ivy. " We're gonna give you one chance. You can leave now and never bother them, or us, again, and we won't hurt you, even though we really want to. If you don't, we'll have to resort to more drastic, and fun for us, measures. Take your pick." Riley stood there and looked at them for a minute. When they stepped forward menacingly, he ran screaming from the house. No one in Sunnydale ever heard from him again. The rumor was that he had gone back to Iowa and his beloved Bessie.

Angel and the others looked at the girls who shrugged innocently and said, " What?"

Elizabeth, Ivy, Amethyst, Felicity, and Serena looked around. It was nice and peaceful now. Buffy and Angel were talking quietly, Xander and Cordelia were arguing, Spike and Willow were cuddling, and Giles and Wesley were talking about the PTB. After Riley had run away and everyone had considerably calmed down, the girls had insisted upon taking pictures. They had borrowed Giles camera (yes, he actually had a modern one!) and had taken about five rolls of film. There was no way they would forget about this. They were all talking peacefully now. They talked about things like how evil Joss is, things that happened on TV, but not in the "real" Sunnydale, not to mention the things that happened in the "real" Sunnydale but not on TV, and Willow's dachshund named Heidi which they have never seen on TV. Just as they were running out of things to talk about, there was a bright white flash. Everyone shielded their eyes. Once the light had abated they looked up. Floating before them was Jenny Calendar.

" Hi!" she said. She looked around the room. Everyone was stunned. She could see it in their eyes. In Angel's eyes she could see horror, because Angelus had killed her. In Giles' eyes she could she pain. She smiled at both of them. To Angel she said, " Don't worry about it! It was the demon who is now in hell forever. You and Buffy are happy, and that's all the reward I need." She turned to face Giles. " Don't be sad Rupert. I love you. We'll be together eventually. Just be as happy as you can for now." With that done, she turned to the girls. " Hi! You probably know me, well, you've seen me anyway." When the girls nodded she continued. " So, anyway, the PTB sent me 'cause they're too high up to actually come themselves. They wanted me to thank you for reuniting their two greatest warriors. They've sent me to take you back to your world." The girls looked around sadly. They didn't want to leave. Slowly, they nodded. One by one they walked up to each of the characters and friends. They hugged them each in turn. Buffy thanked them for bringing Angel back to her. Angel thanked them for the same. There were hugs all around before the girls went to stand next to Jenny. Just as they were about to leave, they all turned back to Sunnydaler's. They looked at them for a second before saying simultaneously, which they had gotten better at, " We'll never forget." As the white light closed around them, they heard Buffy say to Angel, " I never forgot."

******

They girls were thrown onto Ivy's floor, which was, thankfully, carpeted. They heard Jenny's voice saying " Goodbye."

" Wow!" exclaimed Serena

" That was unreal," said Elizabeth.

" Did it really happen?" asked Felicity.

" It was like something out of one of our fics," said Ivy.

" It happened all right," said Amethyst pulling out five rolls of film from her pocket. " And here's proof." The girls just stared at each other for a few minutes. All of a sudden Cass burst in the room.

" Hi! Sorry I'm late, I was babysitting my nephew and his parents came back late. Happy Birthday Ivy! I brought Sixteen Candles, your fav movie." During all this, the girls were staring at her, agape. She looked at them and asked, " Did I miss something?" At this they all burst out laughing, leaving Cass very bewildered.

******

A few days later, Amethyst called Ivy, Elizabeth, Felicity, and Serena saying, " Guess what! I got the pictures back!"

The End

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