Part 10
Wesley looks at the man he admires greatly and is thankful that he is included in the clean up work. Whatever Giles needs from him, he has it. He let Giles and the slayers down once before but not this time. Not again. Angel gave him another chance and this time he won't blow it. These people are my friends and we all stand together to fight evil whatever form it comes in. And for the first time in his life, Wesley Windom-Price the Third feels pride. Pride in himself, pride in his work and pride in his friends. This is his destiny. This is where he is supposed to be. And he feels good, happy, and useful.
Willow and Tara stay behind knowing that Giles is going to need their special powers to decimate all that Walsh and her soldiers have built. They smile at each other. They can do it. Together they are strong. The love they have in their hearts for each other and for all their friends, give them the added advantage. Love has a special power all its own and they have it in abundance.
Willow rejoices that they are all together though a part of her heart aches for the loss of her other love. Oz.
She squeezes Tara's hand for reassurance and finds it. She can do this.
Tara holds her lovers hand and knows joy, feels joy. Joy that she is a part of Willow's life and joy in being a part of a great group of friends. This is where she is meant to be. She knows it. She also knows the moment that Willow is thinking of Oz. Tara can feel Willow's pain and see it in Willow's eyes.
She holds onto Willow's hand tightly, giving her an added assurance that it is all going to be okay.
Giles looks at the ones he asked to stay behind. He knows that Willow and Tara and their strong magic will be able to put a stop to Walsh and her plans. He is so proud of all his surrogate children. For a man who has no wife or children of his own he has surely been blessed in great abundance. Just knowing that they are all safe gives him a feeling of joy and peace.
He looks at Wesley and where once he saw fumbling detachment, he now sees a man he can call friend. A peer to share things with! They will have some stories to tell over this adventure. Over a cup of earl grey! At last someone who appreciates a good cup of tea.
He gives Willow and Tara instructions and they leave the room. Only Giles and Wesley are left with Walsh and her soldiers.
"Who do you think you are?" demands Walsh.
"I am only going to say this once so listen very carefully. All of you! You will pack up and leave Sunnydale by the end of the week. And you will never return. Any of you! Finn, be happy that it was Angel and Buffy you had to deal with. I would not have been so lenient. Now listen up. Buffy and the other youngsters would never be able to kill humans and neither would Angel even though he is a Vampire. And Wesley and I wouldn't let them dirty their hands like that. But we are not like the others. We have taken a sacred vow to cleanse the earth of evil, whatever the form it appears in. Unto death, including death, is our vow. So if you come near any of the people we care about you will deal with us. If you don't leave town, you will deal with us. And if you ever come back, you will deal with us. Am I making myself clear?" Giles voice can be clearly heard throughout the room leaving its occupants no room for doubt.
"We will kill you Professor Walsh, and any of your followers if you try any of this work again." Says Wesley, knowing that he and Giles are in total agreement over this. "And if I see any of you near any of these youngsters, I will shoot first and ask questions last." He continues, getting a nod of approval from Giles.
"We heard the first time and we will go." says Walsh. "But I .." Finn goes to cut in. "Shut up Riley. It is over. We are leaving. That is an order." Walsh glares at the young man daring him to reply unfavourably. "Yes Ma'am" she hears from the three soldiers.
Giles looks at Wesley. "Shall we find the girls and leave this hellhole." He asks.
As Wesley nods his head, they walk out of the room side by side.
Part 11
Back at Giles apartment.
Cordelia, Xander and Anya are fixing some light snacks while Spike munches his weeties. Angel and Buffy are in the bathroom. She is tending to his wounds.
In the bathroom.
Angel is sitting on a chair while Buffy cleans his face. The beatings have left some abrasions but most were already healing. He was able to feed from the blood in Giles' fridge and so escalate the healing process.
As she gently runs the facecloth over his brow he looks at her. Her hand stops in mid stroke. He lifts his hand and tenderly removes the cloth from her hands. She falls into his lap and for the first time in a long time feels safe. He wraps his arms around her as she burrows into his chest. And funnily enough she fits perfectly, contour to contour. Her arms slip around his waist and tighten as if to never let him go. Once again one of them was nearly lost forever and even though both are warriors they understand better than most the precariousness of life. How precious life truly is. They hold each other for endless moments, savouring this quiet time together. They know they have to talk but for now just holding each other close gives solace, gives meaning to all the fighting. They are reacquainting themselves with the feel and the scent of the other. And as those old familiar feelings envelop them they feel complete.
"Giles has a spare room and you must be tired. We could go and sleep there for the rest of the night." She asks tentatively. She lifts her head to look up at his beautiful face. She finds he is looking down at her.
"I'd like that. We both need the sleep." He says as his hand comes up to gently run over her face. He feels her tremble from his touch and as she starts to rise he stops her, pulling her to a sitting position on his knees.
They gaze into each other's eyes. Words are not necessary. Reflected for the other to see is the love that never went away, the joy of being together again, and the hope that this time promises made will be kept.
She cups his face in her small hands. Such small hands yet they hold him captured and as he goes to speak she puts a finger over his lips.
"We have a lot to say to each other but not now. Tomorrow we can talk. Tonight I only want to hear three words from you and then I want to fall asleep in your arms. Now that I know that we have a tomorrow, I can wait for all the other words we need to say." She tells him with a loving smile.
"And one more thing, I think this belongs to you." And she takes his ring off her thumb and slides it onto his finger. With the heart pointing towards him of course. "Just like mine." And she holds her hand up for him to see that she has her matching ring on as well and that she has always belonged to only him. "Cordelia gave them to me." She says as she kisses the ring on his finger bringing back poignant memories for them both.
He goes to speak again but she says. "Not here." And so he picks her up in his arms and carries her out of the bathroom and into the spare room.
As they lay in each other's arms he turns to her and says, " I love you Buffy and I want to spend my life with you. Always." And he kisses her sweetly on the lips.
"I love you too and I am always your girl. You have all of my heart Angel, now and always." She too, kisses him after declaring her love. They hold each other tight, both remembering the last time they held each other. As they drift into sleep their faces reflect the peace in their hearts.
They sleep on, the Vampire with a soul and the Slayer. Not knowing that tomorrow all their dreams and all their promises will be shattered, like broken glass. Not knowing that once again good intentions and unexpected events just might tear them apart forever.
They sleep on.
Part 12
Downstairs. Giles and the others have returned. Everyone is sitting around the room. They are enjoying some food and drink and talking.
"So the soldier guys and their toys are all finished?" asks Cordelia.
"Yes, they won't be causing any more problems in Sunnydale." Says Wesley, sharing a look with Giles.
"Tara and I cooked their goose, well we cooked all their computers and all the files. There is nothing left worth saving." Willow smiles at all her friends as she boasts.
Tara gives her a smile and says, "We did powerful magic tonight for sure. Willow is a natural."
Xander and Anya are cuddling on the couch. "Can we go home now? Xander and I want to do more than kiss." Asks Anya.
"Oh please no visuals needed." Groans Cordelia.
"Well I would prefer if you all stayed here tonight. Just as a precaution. And I dread saying this, but you too Spike." Says Giles with a grimace at the bleached Vampire who is lounging in a chair.
"I didn't know you cared." Laughs Spike. "Since Peaches and his Slayer got the spare bed, lot of sleep going on there, guess I can sleep in this chair."
"They are just sleeping you moron. Angel and the Slayer were in dreamland when I peeked into the room. Doyle was right, they do look cute together like that." Says Cordelia with a sad note in her voice.
Talking about Doyle so soon after his death brings a tear to her eye. Wesley reaches over and gives her a comforting pat on the shoulder.
"Who's Doyle and when did he get to see Angel and Buffy in bed together." Xander sits up and demands to know.
"Doyle was Angel and Cordelia's friend. He helped them with the bad guys in LA. He was killed quite heroically a few weeks ago. I didn't have the privilege of knowing him but from all Angel says he was a good friend and good man to have around." Wesley tells them all. "But I don't know about the other." He finishes looking at Cordelia for an explanation.
"Well I guess now that Angel and Buffy are together again it will be okay for me to say. It was at Thanksgiving, 5 weeks ago that it happened…….." and she goes on to relate what Doyle told her about Buffy's visit. The first time!
"Goodness, to give up the thing he wanted most in the world, humanity and Buffy. Quite extraordinary." Giles puts into words what they are all feeling after hearing Cordelia's story.
"Angel is extraordinary. Would any of us have been able to do it? I don't think I would have the strength." Muses Wesley. He is proud to count Angel a friend.
"What a Pansy. Bet they cried all over each other. Would have paid to see that." Spike turns over and goes to sleep.
"That is so like Angel. I hope things are going to work out this time around." And Willow reaches for Tara's hand, wiping at her tears with the other.
"They must really love each other." Says Tara. "When we were doing the mind sharing spell, it only took a few seconds for Buffy to find him. Their love must be very powerful. I felt it and I knew then they shared a special bond. The bond of soul-mates." Tara is wistful as she shares this with the group.
"Just like us." Says Willow. Tara just smiles without answering. If Willow had looked harder she would have seen the doubt in Tara's eyes.
Xander just holds Anya close without saying anything. Knowing what his friends gave up makes knowing they are together now, sweeter. He is truly happy for them. He has an idea how to make it even sweeter.
"Hey, now that we have some big magic makers in the group, maybe you could do something about Dead-boys curse. You know, so Angelus can't come out to play again." Xander asks looking at Willow and Tara.
"Because If Angel were mine I wouldn't be able to keep my hands off him." Says Anya, earning her a glare from everyone.
"Xander, that is a good idea, but I think maybe tomorrow okay. Everyone needs some rest. The sleeping bags are in the hall pantry. I will go and get them. I might need some help, please Wesley." Giles says. He and Wesley go to get the sleeping bags and blankets and pillows.
"We could have a look at the curse and Miss Calenders notes before we go to sleep. I have it on Giles computer. How about it Tara." Willow turns to Tara.
"That would be a nice surprise for Buffy." She agrees. "We will let you know what we find tomorrow okay." Willow says to the group.
"Yeah, tomorrow, I have to get some sleep now." Mutters Cordy.
Giles and Wesley come back with the supplies. Within 20 minutes the bodies are all over the room. Willow and Tara are in the back room continuing with their research.
The wicca's have been through all the notes and reread the curse over and over. Finally Willow turns to Tara. "It is just not fair. A curse on all those gypsies!" She cries and breaks down into Tara' s waiting arms. Tara shakes her head feeling the same way as Willow. She wasn't looking forward to telling the others what they had found. "A curse on the gypsies indeed."
Part 13
Midnight…The Witching Hour. All is still throughout the apartment.
In the spare bedroom Angel and Buffy are sleeping. Buffy is curled up beside her Angel. How peaceful and content they look.
But it only takes one second and things can change. How well these lovers know that sad truth. They have gone through such changes time and again. They don't expect it to happen now though.
Angel sits up in bed so abruptly he disturbs the sleeping slayer. "No, no, not now. It can't be happening now." He cries out in despair. He throws himself from the bed. Away from his love! Away from Buffy!
Buffy sits up confused. "Angel, what is the matter? What's wrong? She asks, concern threaded through her voice.
"Stay away, stay away." He implores her and runs from the room.
Buffy flies from the bed, running after him. Calling to him the whole time.. "Angel, Angel, tell me what is wrong." She can't think. She is frantic with worry. What could have caused Angel so much distress?
Angel runs into the room with all the sleeping bodies. Buffy is on his heals. She turns on the light switch as she comes to a halt looking at Angel. He is disoriented and mumbling.
Everyone in the room is in semi wakefulness. And Giles is running into the room, having been awakened by the cry of the slayer. He is unprepared for the sight of a crying Buffy.
And Angel, goodness he looks devastated and has his hands in front of him to stop Buffy getting any closer. There are tears streaming down his face. Giles has never seen Angel cry before. What in the world could have happened now? Looking at their faces he is not too sure he wants to know. But looking at them both, he knows he has to try. "Buffy, Angel, what is it? What has happened?" he throws the question out to either of them.
Angel is just standing there looking at Buffy, not letting her get any closer.
"I don't know Giles. He just woke up yelling and then he ran out here. Angel. Tell me please." She implores him.
"What's all the noise about? Can't a feller get a decent sleep? Grumbles the bleached vampire.
The others all start to stand up around the room. They are still sleepy and can't comprehend what is happening. They look at their two friends. Worry starts to show on their faces. Cordelia's "What's happened" is echoed by everyone in the room.
"They were probably doing more than sleeping and Peaches is going to turn into Angelus. Not going to get any sleep now." Says Spike to the room and sits up so he can watch.
"They wouldn't be that stupid." Says Xander. Then turning to Buffy. "Would you."
"No, we didn't do anything. Just let me talk to Angel." She asks to no-one in particular but to everyone.
Angel is still just standing near the door. Fear is written all over his face. The tears are still falling. Buffy takes a shaky step towards him
"Angel, please talk to me. Tell me what I can do to help. We all want to help you. Angel, please, you're scaring me." And she takes a couple of steps towards him.
"Don't Buffy, no closer, please. You want to know what is wrong? You want to help me?" He gives a bitter laugh. "I thought we could do it this time. I thought we could lead some kind of life together. I thought we could be happy. And that is the trouble. You are what is wrong. All of you." He says to her, to all of them. And seeing the devastated look on his love's face makes his tears flow faster. He goes to take an instinctive step to go to her but stops himself.
"No, no, you can't be saying these things. How can you say that to me? I thought you loved me. You promised me always. You promised me always. I was so happy tonight in your arms. You were too. I know you were! Was it a lie?" She can barely get the words out. She is choking with the tears and pain.
"Don't you want your life to be with me?" she whispers, remembering another time and another place and another hurt.
Part 14
"It doesn't matter what I want.. What matters is what I feel. And I felt him, My God Buffy, I felt him. Rising up inside me. Just like before. I felt …" his voice holds the terror of that knowledge.
"What do you…who do…no, no, you can't mean Angelus. We didn't make love. You're wrong, you're wrong." And now her heart beats with fear and confusion.
All of their friends are looking on with confusion and slight fear. This can't be good. Not good at all. Any sentence with Angelus in it is of the bad.
"I don't understand. If you and Buffy didn't do it then what is the problem. Giles, Wesley, do you understand." Asks a confused Cordelia.
Even though Giles is as confused as the rest he walks to Buffy and puts his arm around her. She turns into his chest crying. He lets her cry for a minute and then turns to Angel.
"Just tell us. We need to know what you mean. She needs to know."
"Please Angel, just tell us." And Buffy draws on her inner strength to face whatever he has to say.
"I felt him coming to the surface. I was holding you and just enjoying being together. It has been so long since I felt .. that's it.. I felt totally at peace.." he exclaims
"But we have been in each others arms before, lots of times and nothing happened." She says to him.
"This time was different. I felt at peace, truly at peace for the first time since I was cursed. Last time with you was true happiness. I never thought anyone would love me, but you showed me I was wrong. That was the most beautiful night of my life. Our love and the utter contentment afterwards set the clause into action. And we all know what happened next.
Tonight, I was holding you and we were together. You told me you loved me. We were going to be a part of each other's life. I was really going to be a part of your life this time. By your side till I truly die. It is everything I have ever wanted since I first saw you. And I had it right in my hand. Everything any man could want.
But it wasn't just you. It was all of you. I felt I had back what Angelus took from me. A family. You don't know how it made me feel when you all came to rescue me. I felt for the first time a part of your lives. I felt that you all wanted me in your lives.
Xander was looking at me like I was a buddy. He never did that before. Cordy and Wesley, well we have already started to act like family. Willow and Cordelia. They are like the sister that Angelus took from me. All of you. You banded together for me. And Giles. I can never tell you how sorry I am that he killed Jenny."
"I know it wasn't you" cuts in Giles.
"They were my hands that killed her. I will never be able to forget. And if I could give her back to you I would. But even after that you are here, willing to help me. I was never able to please my Father, no matter what I did. Giles, I look at you and watch how you have taken them all under your wing. You are a Father to us all. None of us here have or in my case, had, the best Father. You have made up for that lack. With you I feel like I can gain acceptance. That I can make you proud of me! You have given me back the part of me that I never thought I could get back. You all made me part of your family. It is everything to me." He stops.
Angel looks around at them all. Except for Spike who is just sitting there, they are all moved by his words.
Looking at Buffy he slowly makes his way toward her. He takes her in his arms. He needs this contact to gain the strength to say what has to be said. He holds her and she holds him to her tightly. He can feel her tears soak into his shirt and she feels his tears on her neck. He shudders. I have to do this now and once again I am going to have to hurt the person who means the world to me. He slowly pulls away from her. He steps back not touching her. He looks at her face, into those eyes. Those eyes he wants to drown in. He wipes the tears from his face.
"When we are apart I am never truly happy. I have good moments but with you missing from my life there is no way on this earth that I could lose my soul. I wish it could be different. I want my life to be with you. I want to live up to my promise of always. But I can't. We can't be together. ( his tears start to fall again) I can't be him again. I can't be a monster again for any reason. If I stay with you, all these feelings I have for you, for you all, will unleash Angelus again. No matter how careful I am it would happen one day. The peace, the happiness you give me, could bring him back. I asked you once before Buffy, to let me be strong. I am asking again. Help me do the right thing." He ends on a sob.
part 15
Everyone in the room can feel their pain and their own hearts are heavy with it.
"Angel, I want to be strong, but I don't know how to let you go again. There must be something we can do. Something to fix the curse." She looks to Willow and Tara. "You're both powerful. Willow please help me. Help us. Maybe the curse.." she asks, hoping against hope for a miracle.
"No Buffy.." Angel starts to say.
"We have to try. I won't give you up without a fight this time." She tells him.
Xander speaks up for the first time. " Yeah Willow, what did you and Tara find to help." He turns to Buffy and Angel. "We thought of it earlier and they were research girls."
"Willow" Buffy questions.
Willow and Tara look at each other and Willow is crying openly by now. She didn't want to be the one to tell her.
"We can't do it. We can't fix the curse. We went over all Miss Calenders notes and it says…" she fumbles with the words.
"Just tell us Willow." Angel adds.
"It says that if anyone tampers with the curse in any way then the soul will leave the vampire and never be able to go back." Willow tells then tearfully holding onto Tara's hand. "We can't change it. I am so sorry Angel."
"It is not fair. I hate those gypsies." Buffy angrily says turning to look at Angel. She sees his face and rushes over to embrace him. He crushes her to him. Their last avenue of hope, crushed and gone! Both Angel and Buffy feel the weight of futility.
"I don't know if I can do it again Angel. I don't know if I can sacrifice you for the rest of the world. I have had to give you up too many times. How can I do it again?" She pleads from within the circle of his arms.
He pulls away from his sweetheart. Their faces reflect the pain and loss that they have already suffered and their eyes hold the pain that is to come.
"Those gypsies sure hate good. Glad I never got on their bad side." Spike makes the observation. He sure is glad he has only a damn chip and not his soul in place. Lately though the chip is giving him enough problems. Cor, he had even caught himself making up excuses to come and see all these little blighters. He wanted to spend time with humans. That would be okay if he could eat them but no, he couldn't eat them or hurt them. Next thing you know he will be like his Ponce of a grand-sire and be crying all of them. If that ever happens he will seriously think about falling on a pointy stick. Damn all bleedin hearts. Why didn't he just get up and leave then. He was becoming as weak livered as the rest of them. Ah, well. He didn't get to watch Passions yesterday. This was better than a soap opera. He settled back into his chair.
Angel and Buffy are oblivious to everything but each other. The others however turn to glare at Spike.
"Is there anything we can do Wesley, Giles? Asks Cordelia. These people have been good to her. Angel saved her in LA. He was her bond to Doyle. She didn't like to see him hurting like this and Buffy was, well, Buffy, and she looked a mess. Note to self. Do my crying where no-one can see how puffy you look after a big weeping session. This heart- rending stuff is no good for a girl's complexion.
"I am afraid our hands are tied. There is only one course of action." Giles addresses the room. He takes off his glasses and rubs the bridge of his nose. How much more will they be asked to endure? He felt one hundred years old and helpless. He swore he would do everything to help Buffy and Angel through this. They didn't deserve all this hurt. He turned to look at said warriors. Defeated warriors at the moment!
Everyone in the room knew what was to come and they should give their friends some time alone but no-one moved. They were all motionless, waiting for the last good-bye. It was like knowing the movie was going to make you cry and break your heart but you couldn't turn away. It was too late to leave cause you were already a part of what ever was going to happen. You were totally tied by emotional strings to the scene unfolding before your eyes. So the friends silently moved closer to each other and waited. And watched. And grieved for the two warriors who had already sacrificed way too much in their lives!
part 16
Angel takes a step away from Buffy. If he keeps touching her he may never have the strength to leave. Everything in him is aching to just hold her forever and help ease her pain but he has to be strong. He can never be Angelus again. He knows that if the demon ever got loose….
"Buffy, we have to be strong. We have to do this. We can't do anything that might bring Angelus back. Last time he wanted to play with you all but I felt him for just a moment this morning. If he ever gets out again he will come to kill you all. He wants your death, the death of all of you. Especially you Buffy! I can't allow that." He takes her hands. One last touch, he tells himself.
"It's not fair. It's not fair. I hate it." She yells at Angel. The tears are awash down her face.
"I know my love." He soothes as he rubs her hands with his fingers. "But there is no other way. I have to leave. Please always remember that if I could I would never leave your side. You are the sunshine in my dark world. I cherish every moment that we have had together. They will see me through to my last day on this earth. As much as it breaks my heart to say this I have to. I know now that your life, like mine, will never be normal. But I want you to have some normal things in it. Find someone to share your life with. Someone to help with the lonely days and … nights. (It is killing him to tell her to find someone else to share her life with) Someone to give you something besides this dark world we have to live in." His heart is breaking. Broke!
She goes to break in with a denial but he stops her with a finger over her lips. The tears are running down his face and hers. He leans over to gently place his lips where his finger was. He crushes her to him. If this is their last kiss, their last touch, he wants to feel her whole body along his. He savours her very touch. He inhales her scent until all he feels, all he smells is Buffy. His love, his life!
She listens to what he has said. Telling her to go on without him. Find someone else. No matter whom she was with, her heart will feel lonely for only this man forever. She goes to tell him that she can't do what he asks but he stops her with a finger to her lips. The tears flow more freely down her face and his. He gently leans over to place his lips where his finger was. He crushes her to him. She holds him with all her strength. If this is their last kiss, their last touch, she wants to feel his whole body along hers. She savours his very touch. She inhales his scent until all she feels, all she smells is Angel. Her love, her life!
They kiss their last kiss and it is over. (the angels in heaven weep) They pull away from each other until they are connected by only their fingertips. They look at each other, look into each other's eyes. They imprint upon their minds, upon the very essence of their souls, this last good-bye. Sometime in the future they will have to see each other but never again like this. Next time they will have closed off their feelings so the hurt will not be visible. Their fingers give one last grasp and no more. He takes a step back and before he walks out of her life again. Before she has to watch him walk out of her life again. He says.
"This is what we have to do. We are warriors for the world. For the people we protect. This way the world, the people, all of you, and especially you my love, will have some kind of future. Knowing that you can have some kind of future is giving me the strength to turn and walk away from you. Good-bye my love." And with those last words he turns and goes to walk out of the door. Out of her life forever. He puts his hand on the handle and goes to open it.
Buffy is just standing watching as her heart breaks. As her one true love walks out of her life. She is shattered. Heartbroken. She wants to scream. To scream at him. At the world. At everything. She wants to run to him and stop him. Grab him and never let him go. But she stands there. Like a statue. The only movement are the tears falling down her face.
The others watch the drama come to an end. Another day in the life of Buffy and Angel. They all look on and wonder if their two friends will ever be okay again. How many more times can they have their hearts ripped from their chests and keep existing? All are saddened by the morning's events. All want to help but they know there isn't anything they can do or say that will make this better. So they stand there and watch as Angel puts his hand on the handle.
part 17
Everyone is so wrapped up in what is happening with Angel and Buffy that when they feel the first tremor and first clap of thunder they gasp.
The ground starts to shake. And there is a deafening roar of thunder. They all at once go to hold onto something or someone.
Angel goes to turn the handle. His exit is interrupted by the shaking of the ground and the rumble of thunder. His only thought is "Buffy". The tremors are intensified and the sound of thunder crashing over the house is frightening. He hears a whispered "Angel" and in two strides he turns and rushes to his loves side. Whatever the danger, they will face it together. That at least they can do together. They clutch at each other wondering what the fates are going to throw at them this time. What big bad evil has come to Sunnydale?
Just as suddenly the tremors stop and the noise is gone. Angel has Buffy in his arms. Everyone is shaken but unhurt. As they all look around at each other they hear Giles exclaim.
"Good God in heaven." and a "Bleedin Hell" from Spike.
They all turn to follow his gaze. They all gasp at the sight. Angel and Buffy turn to see what everyone else has already seen and "What the Holy Cow is going on?" says Buffy while Angel remains silent. No-one has an explanation for what is standing in the corner of the room.
In the corner of the room stands a warrior brandishing a sword. By the looks of him he was taken straight from a battlefield and put down in Giles's house. His clothes and condition testify to that fact. He has a gash from his left eye running down his face and ending at the corner of his mouth. Not a recent wound by the looks of it. His hair is sticky with blood and his shirt is hanging in threads on his torso. Through the rips in the shirt they can all see old and new wounds. His sword id coated in blood. He stares at them all in fear and confusion. He looks around the room at all the people watching him.
As of yet Angel hasn't spoken. He takes a step toward the warrior, one arm outstretched. As he goes to take another step forward the warrior turns to Buffy. Before anyone can stop him he drops the sword to the floor and rushes forward and drops to his knees before her and wraps his arms around her waist burying his head on her chest. They all hear him sobbing over and over.
"Buffy, Buffy. You're alive. I never thought I would see you again. Dead, you are all long dead. Is this real? Am I dreaming?" he sobs, the tears flowing down his cheeks into her shirt.
Angel along with all the other's, can just stare at the scene before them. Angel doesn't know what to feel. He looks at Buffy over the warrior's bent head. Their eyes meet and he sees a tear trailing down her cheek. Her hand is running through the warrior's hair. Angel continues to look at the woman he loves touching another man. He doesn't know what to say. What do you say when you see your love being embraced by …you.. He doesn't know how or why, but he knows it is himself holding Buffy. He just stands there and waits.
part 18
Buffy looks down at the man holding her. Buffy looks down at….Angel….holding her. She doesn't know how or why but she does know one thing for certain. This is Angel too. She can feel it inside where she has always felt that particular feeling that tells her that it is Angel. He is still sobbing but he has quieted a little. She locks eyes with her other Angel. Okay lets call him Angel 1. This is just too weird. But it is the hellmouth. She doesn't know what to do. She feels the arms around her drop and Angel 2 stands up but his arms hold her by the shoulders.
He then frames her face with his hands and just looks at her. He bends slightly and ever so slowly so as not to frighten her he lowers his head to kiss her. His body trembles as his lips ever so softly brush across hers. She can taste his tears as their lips touch. She doesn't pull away because somewhere inside she feels that her warrior needs this. And when was she ever able to deny anything to her Angel in need? It is Angel 2 that eventually pulls away. He turns to look at Angel 1 over his shoulder. He says, " Forgive me." He turns back to Buffy. It is as if he can't get enough of gazing at her lovely face.
"Cor, this is not my day. As if one Pansy boy wasn't enough to make my life miserable. Where the hell did you come from and how come he gets to kiss the slayer without getting his butt kicked." Asks a disgruntled Spike. "Two of them, bleedin hell, two of them."
Everyone is shocked when Angel 2 laughs. And their shock deepens when Angel 2 walks over to Spike and enfolds him in a hug. "Spike, Spike, it is so good to see you. You can't know how good it is to see you again. I lost you yesterday and now you are here. Safe and being a pain in the butt as usual." He says while holding Spike.
Spike is horrified and pushes Angel 2 away. "You can hug everyone else in the room but keep your bleedin hands to yourself when it comes to me. I ain't no nancy boy. At least our Peaches don't go round hugging anyone but the slayer." And he takes himself out of arms reach.
Angel 2 just laughs looking around at everyone. One minute he was a weeping mess and now this. Questions needing a lot of answers, everyone is thinking.
Angel 1 goes to stand beside Buffy and puts his arm around her shoulders in a possessive manner. The action is not lost on anyone in the room. Especially Angel 2.
"Where are you from? I know, somehow I know, you are me but from a different timeline. Yes." Angel 1 asks his twin.
Angel 2 walks slowly toward the slayer and her Angel. He stands in front of them and stops.
"I am from the future. Is this the year 2000? This is the day you said goodbye isn't it. The day you were captured by the initiative. I remember this day." Angel 2 asks of his counterpart.
"Yes, I was just walking out the door when you appeared. Why were you sent here? And why now?" Angel 1 is still confused.
Buffy slowly reaches out her hand towards Angel 2. He takes it in his hand. She is still in her Angels embrace but it is as if she can't help herself. She needs to touch them both.
(Now girls get your mind back on the story)
"What happened and what did you mean, we are all dead. How far in the future." She asks him.
Angel 1 looks at Buffy and Angel 2 and then the others. "Maybe we should all sit down."
Go to Part 19