Disclaimer: All characters belong to Joss.
This takes place after "The Final Stand" and is the last chapter in the series.
Angel, Buffy and the gang must pull all the stops to win victory over Glory who has teams up with Wolfram and Hart.
It had to end sometime and hopefully all who read it enjoyed the series.
I need feed back so please e-mail me at twinstar_dust@home.com

~10:00pm~

We were all getting ready in silence. After all the years of fighting the demons and creatures of the night we have never lost any of the ranks. Until now…

The realization has not fully hit us yet. We have not had the time to mourn our loved ones. We first lost Buffy's mom Joyce suddenly to complications due to her brain tumour. Then the shock was compounded with the violent death of Willow by the hands of Glory.

I, a vampire with a soul, who has lived for over two hundred years, should be use to death but just the thought of Joyce and Willow, has made me cringe. I do not know why the deaths have bothered me so much. In the past I have caused so much death and suffering that I do not know the exact number but every one of my hideous acts weighs down my soul. No wait, I know why. I can feel, I have regret, and I want vengeance.

I look over to where Buffy is getting ready. It is harder on her than on any of us. It was her mom and her best friend that died. And to top it all off Glory and Lindsey has her kid sister Dawn hostage. I admire her, she has always felt uncomfortable with her slayer role in the past but since I've gotten back into her life I have noticed a new confidence and acceptance towards her destiny. She has grown up since I have been away. She still has that different perspective toward things and wacky flare for handling situations but she has learned to deal with her unique talents with certain maturity. She has lasted longer than most slayers in the past and she must be laughing in the Watchers Council's face after they predicted that she wouldn't last due to her lack of discipline. 

I look around the room, to the rest of the gang and I see that they too are about finished their preparations to face Glory and the Firm.

"Guys, maybe this is not a good idea…after what happened to Willow. Angel and I should go alone to meet up with Glory." Buffy says to the gang.

Giles looks around to everyone in the room. Zander, Anya, Oz, Spike, Cordelia and Doyle all nod their heads once they made eye contact with his.

"Buffy we are all in agreement. We are all in this as a team. We are family and when we are needed we are there for each other. Through good times and in bad… In this case the very bad."

"I don't know what to say…you guys are risking your very lives for Dawn and to save the world. You don't even get credit for your sacrifices and achievements. I just want to say right now how this means so much to me. I'll never forget it." Buffy gets choked with emotion.

"This deserves a group hug...even you Spike"

~11:00pm~

I need to focus on our goal so I quietly step outside. I look up at the sky and I see the moon and stars looking down on me. Over the years that has stayed the constant for me. The night sky always gave me peace and a centre point when I needed to focus and regroup. Yes it has been clearer and brighter in the past but the thought of how small we are compared to the moon and stars has not changed. Just as I was headed back into the house I stop a shooting star and I couldn't help but make a wish. A voice behind me echoes in the stillness of the night.

"Did you make a wish?"

It was Buffy and I couldn't help but put my arms around her. 

"Yes I did. I don't want to admit it but we need all the help we can get."

"Angel…about tonight. I just want to say how much it means to me that you are here. I was so angry with you left me you seemed to just turn your back and walk away from me. But none of that matters now because the moments that really counted you were here to pull me through."

"I am so sorry that I walked away from your life. But at the time I really thought I did what had to be done. You couldn't grow and have a "normal" life if I was around. I just want you to know it was the hardest thing I have ever had to do…"

"We have had so little time with each other. I hope when this is over we can start anew. But if something happens…I want you to see this." Buffy takes her hand and raises it towards the night sky and shows me the ring on her finger. 

"You…you kept it. You kept the ring I gave you for your birthday."

"I never parted with it. Every time I need comfort, courage or strength I just had to look at this ring and think of what it represents."

"My beloved. I have lived a lifetime and than some and I never experienced such love as I love you."

I trace her face with my finger as if to memorize every feature. Her warmth from her body radiates into my cold finger and it seems like as if I can get burned with just a touch. My lips reach her lips and our kiss seems so right.  We are each other's soul mate, the other half of a whole. I am never going to let go of her again.

I try to remember what the Powers told me. There must have been a clue into defeating Glory and to get my reward, my redemption. The bond with Buffy must be the key. The Powers said that strength of one warrior is not enough but the combinations of the two. Buffy and I have to work together to defeat Glory and to stop the "End of Days" from happening. They also stressed that my faith, strength and bond with Buffy will be tested. I can feel the rush in my body. The anticipation of what is going to take place gives me a rush that I fight. I look up into Buffy's eyes and I can tell that the same sensation is happening to her too.

"Ready, my love?"

"I'm ready for anything as long as we do it together…"

~12 Midnight~

Squeak… 

I slowly open the warehouse door. I look in front of me and I motion the rest of the gang inside.

Glory and Lindsey with several hired minions are ready for us. I can see Dawn in a cage suspended from the ceiling. 

"Ahh… Buffy, Angel and the gang are all here. Are you guys ready? The Firm here has figured out something that you guys have been hiding from me?" Glory is twirling around as if she had no care in the world.

"We are not here to play your sick games Glory. Let Dawn go or you will have us to deal with" Buffy says while twirling Mr.Pointy in her hand.

"Well…I can't do that… Now can I. I have just found out that tiny thing of a girl is what I have been searching all along. She is the key I have been looking for."

We all try not to look surprised but I can feel that this fight is going to be a tough one. I look back at everyone and I get second confirmation that this is what they want to do. I wanted them to realise that we might not survive this confrontation and we might experience some loses. They all nod their heads again and raise their weapons ready to strike.

"You guys better realize that we are playing for keeps. You are in the pros now." Glory says and then hell breaks loose.

The fighting is intense. I can slowly sense that we are on the losing end of things. One by one we are taken down. I am powerless to stop it. This cannot be the end? Are not the good always supposed to triumph over evil? Buffy and I are the warriors of destiny, the chosen ones. We have just found each other. We can't be cheated again from living a life together. The Fates cannot be this cruel?

I turn around to see Buffy and Glory is right in front of her. I run towards her but its like as if everything is happening in slow motion. I call out Buffy's name but no sound comes out of my mouth. My legs feel as if they are weighted down. The only thought in my mind is that I had to save my love. Glory sends Buffy hurdling towards the wall of the building. I scream and as if in a dream I reach her side. Buffy slowly gets up and I can see she is all bruised and bloody, one of her arms is hanging limp from her side. I turn my attentions to Glory and she laughing. I can see she is getting ready to hit Buffy with another blow.

Not my beloved. I love her with all my heart and soul. I would do anything for her. My life, my redemption is not important if she is not in my world. Nothing matters without her in my life. I have been "alive" for hundreds of years and always afraid of dying until this very moment. I would give up my life for Buffy and for the chance for her to live and go on. 

I jump in front of Buffy and I fell a strong heat radiating from my chest to my whole body. 

"Nooo…I will die for you…"

The next thing I see Buffy holding my head, tears in her eyes and she is stroking my hair.

"Angel…how could you do this? Do you know what you have done my love?"

"Yesss…I have. Nothing is worth anything if you are not here with me…Always remember me…"

I have troubling breathing and everything is getting dark. I look into her eyes one last time and I close my eyes for the last time.

I can hear Glory' laugh in the background. I hear another energy blast and it hitting something. I hear a soft voice saying "Always together." And I know Buffy has been hit too. My last thoughts are of Buffy and the time that we were not given. I see a bright spark of light and then there was silence and darkness.

Dawn is crying in the cage sees all the horrific happenings in front of her. She is weeping and sobbing, her head downcast to the floor as if to block her view from what has taken place. She slowly turns her head back up and stares right into Glory's eyes. She starts to glow and she speaks in a voice not her own.

"You small pathetic being, how dare you kill the ones who valiantly tried to protect me. You must be punished.  These people sacrificed their lives for me and that noble deed cannot go without being rewarded."

Suddenly a vortex appears from nowhere and swallows Glory, Lindsey, and the minions. 

"Now everything is the way it is suppose to be. I just wish that none of this had to happen. I had to remember my purpose again. The transition to this mortal body to keep me safe from the evil ones left me with no memory. The love between Angel and Buffy had and the sacrifice they and the others made reminded me that I am…HOPE." 

~Epilogue~

The last thing I remember is dying. Now I am in a white room. I assume it's to wait for my judgement. Where are Buffy and the others? 

I hear footsteps from behind and I turn around. The Powers are walking towards me. I want to tell them that I am sorry that I failed but the words never past my lips. I would not change anything. I would do it again if I have too. I would die for my beloved. She is my soul, my destiny and my redemption…

"Warrior, you have done the impossible. With your act of total love, faith, courage and devotion you have fulfilled your goal. Your ultimate sacrifice has redeemed your soul. It takes a special love to die in replace of someone else. Not even some full-fledged human has the courage to do what you did. You think you have lost but in reality you really won. You thought of someone beside yourself. Yes you have come a long way since you have gotten your soul back but the question of the ultimate sacrifice was never answered. 

Your love for the slayer has paid off. She is your savoir in ever sense of the word."

"Yes, she is. But what does that mean? I am dead and so is she and the others."

"We thought of that. Yes, you are all dead. You have all of eternity to be together in heaven but right now we need warriors on earth. We are sending you back as well as the Slayer and the rest of the people who help you in the cause. All lives will be taken back as if no one had perished. You will be human but have the same strength as the Slayer. You both will act as our guardians, champions to keeping the delicate balance between good and evil. Go now and be happy, your redemption is complete."

I close my eyes and when I open them again I feel sunlight on my face. The sudden warmth of warm blood coursing through my veins and the rhythmic thumping of my heart startle me. I am human again…I'm finally human. I look out in front of me and I am on a pier beside the ocean. I hear my name being called out and I run towards the voice.  It's Buffy and looks wonderful in the sun. Her hair glows from the radiance and she looks like an angel. I hug her in my arms and I press kisses on her lips. We are laughing and I twirl her around in circles.

"Do you remember anything?" I ask her.

"Everything. The rest of the gang are back there even my mom and Willow. The only person that's not here is Dawn but I have a feeling she will always be with us. We decided that I should come to you alone so we can have a chance to talk and soak everything in"

"This is everything I have always dreamed of. I still can't believe that this is happening. I am finally human and,, by the way, you are my redemption. We can be together like we have always wanted."

"Some things are different. The gang all have unique gifts and talents. The Powers seemed to have drilled all of us of our roles before they sent us back. Spike is in shock now that he is human again." Buffy laughs.

"Something tells me that a new chapter in our lives has opened up. Come on let's go for a walk."

"Just like you promised, huh. In the sun."

"I love you beloved, till the ends of time."

"I don't think I'll ever tire of hearing your heart beat next to mine"

Taking Buffy's hand in mine we walk in the sunlight and towards the new lives that is waiting for us…together.