Disclaimer: We do not own Buffy, Angel or any of the characters. This is an AU story sort of based on Season 2 Episode 1 “When She Was Bad.” Otherwise the fic is ours.
Feedback: Please!!! E-mail daburden@wko.com or PrincessSorcha85@cs.com
Distribution: We would love it if you want to post the fic please just let one of us know where it’s going.
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~Part: 1~
Buffy stormed out of the library leaving Willow in tears and Xander and Giles speechless. Since she returned from spending the summer with her father she had changed. She was angry, mean and spiteful to her friends and had hurt Willow’s feelings almost beyond repair. Giles walked to the red head that was setting at the table in tears hoping to offer her support in stead he was met with fury.
She stood from the table kicking the chair back onto the floor, “Leave me alone!”
“Wills,” Xander pleaded.
“No! Just leave me alone!” With that, she ran from the school sobbing. She kept running, she didn’t know where she was or even where she was going hell she didn’t care. Her best friend had been so mean to her the only thing she could think about was showing her just how the world would be with out Willow Ann Rosenberg. When she couldn’t run any longer she fell to the ground panting. Realizing she was in the park she got an idea. Picking up a piece of broken glass she pulled herself to her feet and began slicing her self with the jagged shard. “I know you vampires are here! You want to eat? Hungry for some yummy blood? Can’t you smell it? Come on!” She screamed and put the glass to her throat. Just as she began the cut someone grabbed her arm and twirled her around. She closed her eyes in anticipation of death.
“Willow?” Angel gasped? “What are you doing?”
She lowered her head unable to look him in the eyes, “Leave me alone Angel. I just want to…” she faded.
“To what? Willow talk to me!” He shook her causing her head to roll back, that was when he realized how much blood she’d lost. “Oh God.”
“Please, I just want out of this life,” she begged. “I just want out.”
“Then take a vacation Willow, this isn’t how you deal with stuff!” He took her head in his hands, “Stay with me for a while, no one has to know your there.”
She didn’t say a word but shook her head yes. Leaning on Angel for support they walked to the mansion. Once inside he sat her on the sofa and retrieved some first aid supplies to clean her wounds. When he walked back in the living room and sat beside her, “Thanks.”
“For what?” he asked confused.
“This, for taking me in and at least pretending that you care about me.”
He dropped the first aid kit with a resounding crash, “I’m not pretending Willow! I do care about you! I want to know why you were trying to die. What or who drove you to this? Please, let me help you.”
“Maybe later?” she pleaded.
He smiled realizing how tired she was, “Later, promise?”
After cleaning her cuts he led her to his bedroom, “I’ll be right out here if you need me.”
“No!” She blushed as he looked at her. Taking his hand, “Please, stay with me.”
He felt her trembling and knew it was because she was afraid. Afraid of what she done or what caused her to do it. “I’ll stay,” he smiled. She lay down and he pulled the blanket over her then sat beside her. As she snuggled under the covers he opened a book and began to read. Moments later she was sound asleep.
~~~*~~~
Willow opened her eyes and saw Angel next to her reading a book. “She told me I was a liability, always in the way.”
Angel looked down at her, his brow wrinkled, “Who?”
She scooted up and leaned against the pillows next to Angel, “Buffy. She told me I was just in the way and I only distracted her. She said that she didn’t want me around any longer or I would get her killed because of my carelessness.” Tears streamed down her face, “She was so mean about it too Angel, like she was trying to hurt me.”
Anger surged through his body and he fought to keep his demon under control. Oh yes, he would be having a little talk with the blond slayer. It was enough that she’d been mean to every one and down right bitchy with him but to hurt Willow? That just wasn’t acceptable. “Willow, I’m sorry she said those things. Maybe she’s just going through some stuff she doesn’t know how to deal with?” He thought trying to make excuses would help.
“Big woop! You know what? I’m going through problems too! Best friend kinda problems where they are suppose to set and talk with you and tell you every thing is going to be fine and guess what? I don’t have one of those! She thinks I’m useless.” Before Angel could speak she started again this time in a soft tone, “I guess she’s right.” She smiled a wane little smile, “I am useless and helpless and hopeless. I mean what do I have to offer anyone?”
“You have everything to offer Willow and one of the most wonderful things about you is that you don’t see it. You don’t walk around boasting that you’re a kick ass Wiccan or how awesome you are at computers. Hell Giles would be stuck on the first demon had you not been there to help him research and welcome him into the 20th century. You are so pure at heart; you have no hate in you Willow and that is something that is very rare. Not to mention courage. I mean wow. You are willing to sacrifice your self to save anyone with out judgment. If you want my honest opinion I think Buffy is jealous.”
“Jealous? Of what?”
“You.”
“Angel, did ya hit your head on somethin’?” she asked in her ‘your nuts’ monotone.
He laughed, “Yeah, a lot but that’s not the point.”
She smiled from ear to ear, “I’ve never seen you do that before.”
“What?”
“Laugh, smile, be happy. It’s a great sight you should do it more often.”
~~~*~~~
Buffy was beating the hell out of a half-breed demon child who was trying to find an herb to perform a love spell when she felt someone hit her from behind. She fell to the ground face first and the demon made a run for it, “Your so gonna pay for that!” she roared.
“I am?” Angel asked. “Your beating up a child who was trying to perform a love spell on his demon crush and that some how makes you a saint? How about Willow? I bet it made you feel super strong to hurt her so bad too huh?” he asked pacing circles around her.
“What do you know? I told you I never wanted to see you again. I am so through with you and your ‘I’m so tortured’ act. You know what I think Angel?”
“Oh, please enlighten me oh great one.”
“I think that you are always Angelus. I think you knew when you killed your sister that she was in pain and terrified.” She walked up face to face with him, “I think that you savored the taste of her blood and laughed as she died!”
“Shut up!”
“What? Am I hitting home? You know you loved doing it Angel. You, Angelus, one in the same. Just like now, I think you would kill Willow if you had the chance, or anyone. I think you get off on it.”
Angel was losing control and morphed into game face growling at the slayer, “I should have killed you when I had the chance! You are no savior for the people you’re their nightmare! You would be nothing with out the help of your friends. If Willow weren’t at your side working spells and doing research on how to kill what it is you fight you would be dead! If it weren’t for your watcher you would be dead. You are so out of control even Xander has thrown himself in the fights willing to get killed to buy you some time to get your shit together! If it weren’t for ME, you would have died long ago!” He turned to walk away.
Buffy grabbed his arm and spun him around throwing a slimy liquid in his face. He unintentionally ingested some of the slime and began to gasp and shake. “Buffy,” he gasped, “What did you do?” Happy with her self she smiled and walked away.
~~~*~~~
Willow paced the mansion nervously wondering why Angel wasn’t back yet. It was just two hours before dawn and she knew she had to go look for him. Pulling on one of his leather jackets that was laying on the chair in his room she ran out the door. She needed help for this one, someone who knew Angel and the places he went.
She wrapped her arms around herself tightly; she could feel the eyes watching her and her walk became a sprint. When she reached the crypt she banged on the door, “Spike! Spike! Let me in please! Spike!”
The door swung open, “Bloody hell!” He stopped himself when he saw the trembling redhead. “What’s wrong?”
“It’s Angel, it’s almost dawn and he’s still not back at the mansion. I’m afraid he went to talk to Buffy and, oh Spike if she done anything to him I’ll,” She began to cry.
“I won’t even pretend I understand what is going on but I will help you look for peaches. Not for the bloody poof’s sake mind you but I wouldn’t want you walking around all alone with things that go bump in the night.”
“Aren’t you one of those things?” she asked jokingly.
“Ouch,” he laughed. “That hurt red.”
It was now Forty-five minutes before sunrise and they had just reached Sunnydale’s last cemetery, “He’s got to be here,” Willow snipped. “If she dusted him I’ll, I’ll turn her into a rat for ever and and and give her to a cat to play with!”
“Easy there red, I’m sure even the slayer isn’t stupid enough to try and hurt Angel. He could take her head off before she even saw him move.”
She looked at him, “But he wouldn’t. Angel would not hurt her because he loves her.”
“Please, Slutty and peaches have been over for ages. He’s not willing to risk humanity for sex and well, that’s all she wants. Well, that and his money.” He leaned closer to her and whispered, “Just between us, his soul has been anchored and it can’t be taken away by happiness now. We don’t know how but it’s true.”
Willow smiled and whispered, “I know, I’m the one who anchored it.” Head held high she walked on a bit in of a stunned Spike. “You?” he asked as her ran to catch her. He was almost to her when he tripped and fell, “What the hell?” he demanded.
Willow turned just as Spike looked back at what he tripped on, “Angel!” She ran to him kneeling down next to Spike, “Is he ok?”
To see his Sire like this was heartbreaking, even for a demon with no heart. “He is not ok Willow. I need you to call Giles and tell him he has to come pick us up now. We have to get him inside before sunrise. Tell him to bring Xander and Cordelia we are going to need help finding away to cure this and fast.”
“Cure what? What’s wrong with him?”
“Just..” he shouted! Regaining his composure, “Just make the call love and I will explain it all when he’s safe inside.”
They had barley gotten to safety from the burning sun. Willow could tell that Giles knew what was wrong with him by his expression when he saw the slime on his clothes. She done as Spike said and waited till they were at the mansion but she was getting impatient, “Spike damn it tell me what’s wrong!” Every one looked at her not expecting the language.
Spike put his hands on the mantel as Angel often did. He couldn’t face them. He couldn’t let them see the pain this caused him. “He’s been poisoned.”
“What? He’s a vampire how can he be poisoned?” Xander asked.
“There’s only one thing that can poison a Vampire,” Willow said but faded as she fell into a chair sobbing. “No, no it can’t be!”
Giles knelt in front of Willow and hugged her. “It’s going to be ok. We’re going to help him. I promise.”
“No we aren’t,” Spike sighed. “It’s the blood of a Cronose Demon you fool! They have been extinct for thousands of years as have the tribe that had the cure.”
~~~*~~~
Angel was afraid to open his eyes. He knew some how that he was not awake, although he wasn’t asleep. This was not home and the last time he experienced anything like this was when Buffy had sent him to hell. He couldn’t stand to be there again.
~~Angel~~~ Angel where are you?~~~ the small voice called.
His eyes snapped open and he basked in the site before him, “Emily?”
The small girl walked towards him, ~~I’ve missed you so Angel~~
The towering vampire fell to his knees and sobbed, “I’m so sorry Emily. I never…” He couldn’t continue all he could do was clutch the girl in front of him in a crushing embrace.
~~ Why are you so sad?~~ She lifted his head making him look at her and smiled. ~~I know it wasn’t you Angel it was a demon. Daddy said that it was you come to kill us all because you were evil but I know the truth. T’was the blond woman who was trying to court you, the one that mama didn’t like. She’s the one who done that to you.~~
He stood shaking his head in protest, “I was a monster yes but I should have been strong enough not to do it Emily!” He felt her small hand take his big one and he knelt in front of her again, “You were the only person in our family to ever believe in me. To ever love me and I..”
~~No!~~ Her yelp caught him off guard causing him to jump. ~~ Do you remember where the name Angel came from?~~ she asked in the voice of a child that had lived many lifetimes. ~~I always said that you were my Angel. My big brother who always looked after me. You brought me so much happiness and I know that it wasn’t my Angel who killed me that night. If I know this to be true then you have to know it. You have to forgive yourself brother or you will not be able to return and be and Angel to others.~~
~Part: 2~
Paceing the floor of the mansion Spike was at his wits end, he couldn't just sit idly by while his sire died like this. He had to do something, maybe he could find someone who knew one of the ancients and force them to give him information.
Giles was reading text, his only way of dealing with what was happening. He knew their had to be something, any piece of information that would lead them to an answer no matter how difficult It would be to find.
Willow had just returned from checking on Angel, her heart was breaking. The once strong, volatile man was now cringing and whimpering in a nightmare he couldn't awake from. She had to save him so he could continue to fight the good fight. He was the world's true Angel and she would do everything she could to save him.
The three were torn viciously from their thoughts when the door burst open and a very bloody, very battered Xander fell inside. In an instant Giles and Willow were at his side, "Xander, what happened?" Giles asked.
Blood poured from his mouth as he tired to stand and collapsed, "Didn't do anything."
Willow cradled his head and ran her hand through his blood soaked hair, "Who did this to you Xander?"
He kept repeating his earlier comment as his entire body began to tremble. Spike walked up behind Willow, pulled Xander to his feet and put him on the sofa. "You need to treat his wounds and cover him with blankets he's going into shock. I'm going to see if I can find out who the hell did this to Angel." With that he was out the door.
Buffy and Faith stood in the middle of the Bronze laughing. Buffy looked at the dark haired slayer and smiled, "You were right about this whole anger thing. It feels so good to be able to finally take my frustrations out on something!"
"I have to admit B, the look on Xander's face when you were kickin the crap out of him was priceless! I wouldn't have missed that for the world. Well, ok I would have traded it to see the look on fangs face when you poisoned him but," they both laughed.
"Oh, wait let me see if I can do it right," she took a stance resembling the one Angel had at the time. In a deep gasping voice, "Buffy!" she fell to her knees, "What have you done? Buffy!" Both slayers were rolling with laughter when they spotted their next target for torture.
Cordelia was talking to the 'in crowd' at the Bronze and didn't notice the looming figures behind her until the others beat a hasty retreat leaving her alone. "Uh, rude much?" she scoffed then spun around. She gasped in surprise at the two slayers, "Make some noise next time!" Catching her breath, "Why are you two lurking around," she paused, "and why are you looking at me like that?" She began backing away as they stalked closer to her.
Angel was holding his sister, "I can't do this alone Emily. I can't fight this alone."
"Your not. You have the fairy sorceress, the watcher, a warrior and soon you will have a seer."
"I know the watcher but I know nothing of the others you've mentioned," he protested.
She pulled from his embrace and sat next to him, "The fairy sorceress: the red head and true love of the souled vampire. She is your other half and posses the power to help end evil. The watcher: scorned by his slayer he will lead you down the path of knowledge. He is an intricate part of your future. The Warrior: your childe, he's forced to do good because of a chip in his brain, or so he leads you to believe. He is loyal and will follow you till the end of days. The seer: Young, sophisticated, dark haired girl. She tends to talk a lot and work less but she needs someone who can give her a chance. She will come to you."
"What is it we are suppose to do? Is the world ending again because I have to tell you," he said standing and walking away from the young girl, "I've saved the world before and done it without begin lied too!" he spun toward her in game face, growling.
The image of his sister faded and in it's place stood a man and woman. "We did not mean to lie. We thought it was the only way you would believe."
"Who the hell are you?"
"We are the powers."
He stood in shock, "Then why the hell do you need me? Why don't you just change the future?"
"It would be wonderful if it worked that way but it can't. Evil will exist always that is why we need warriors to fight the good fight. You and your friends are the world's hope. Together you can help keep the dark forces in check. It will not be easy, there will be hardships but you will become family."
"I thought the slayer was.."
Before he could finish the woman sighed, tears streaming down her face, "The slayers were corrupted. They could not handle the power they were given and caved. It's put the world at great risk allowing chaos to ensue. They are no longer any help to us."
After another hour of convincing Angel began to believe what they were saying. It was far fetched but sounded so right. He looked up at them, "Ok, say I buy into all of this, what good am I going to do you dead?" He looked confused at his own comment, "Well, dead to the dead?"
The comment elicited laughter from the powers, "The fairy sorceress will save you. We will give her the information needed to perform the ritual."
"Is this all I need to know? Is this my team, my family?"
"There are two more. Because of all you've done we will send your sister back to you. She was a fairy before her death, he powers not yet reveled. She will be powerful but not as powerful as the fairy sorceress. She, like her brother will have eternal life."
He thought for a moment, "Who is the last?"
Willow lay sleeping next to Angel. Her breath was coming in quick pants as she was tossing her head back and forth against the pillows. She began to moan and yelp, so loud in fact Giles came in to wake her. "Willow?"
She sat straight up in the bed, sweat covering her body, "I know what to do!"
"What?" Giles asked perplexed. "Willow you were having a nightmare not.."
"No! It was real! I need some supplies please you have to hurry. I can save Angel!"
He was hesitant but gathered the supplies she needed, luckily all of which Angle had in the mansion. They drug Angel in to the living room and laid him in the center of the floor. She began making the power circle around him. Giles sighed, "Willow you don't understand. Only a fairy sorceress can do this spell." She glared at him and went back to work. "I'm not saying your not a strong witch, you are very strong but."
"Are you going to stand there complaining or you gonna help me?" she asked unabashed by his doubt. He began setting the candles in their proper places when the door swung open.
Spike was helping Cordelia inside. Giles took her and sat her in the chair. Her clothing was torn, she had a small cut on her face and her lip and nose were busted. "What on earth happened?"
"Buffy and Faith happened!" she scowled. "They went like all carrie on me and a gay carrie at that!"
Spike smiled then sat on the chair arm next to her, "The slayers were beating her up in the alley behind the Bronze. Oddly enough when I happened by they were trying to rip her clothes off."
Giles stormed off in disgust then returned, "Are you alright?"
She smiled up at him then looked around the room, "Looks like I'm the least injured here." Turning to her rescuer, "We need to take care of that burn."
"Burn?" Willow asked as she knelt beside of Angle making sure he was comfortable.
Cordelia lifted Spikes shirt revealing a huge burn on his stomach and chest. "When he saved me, I had to save him back." Giles smiled as Spike vehemently denied being saved by her. He treated Spike's wound. When he stepped back Spike spoke softly, "They're the ones who hurt Xander as well. They were bragging about it."
When Willow was done setting up there were three power circles side by side. Angel was in the center one, Willow as to be in the one to his right. Giles and Spike looked at each other, "Red, I hate to ask the stupid question but why three circles."
She hap-heartedly shrugged her shoulders, "Dunno, the dream said to have three. The answer would come with three."
"The dream?" Spike questioned. Giles took him aside and explained.
Willow began to chant; some words in Latin others in Yiddish. The mansion began to shake and the walls bleed as Willow continued. Spike pulled Cordelia behind him protectively as they huddled in a corner far from Willow. Soon a blinding white light engulfed both Willow and Angel levitating them five feet above the floor. Her head flew back, eyes becoming orbs of nothing but the white light as the chants became quicker and more meaningful. With a brilliant flash of lightning a small girl appeared in the third circle. She sat up and looked at the others before beginning to chant as well. A loud heartbeat could be heard pounding rapidly as Angel gasped and winced in pain. The wincing soon gave into anguished cries of horrific scales. The two girls completed the last words of the incantation and the light flooded into their mouths while some escaped into Xander. Then there was darkness.
Willow opened her eyes, she felt as though she'd been hit by a truck. She heard Angel's painful cries and crawled to him. When she reached him the small girl was already at his side in tears. Willow knew what had to happen next, it was a part of the dream. Her eyes still glowing white she lifted Angel up as the girl slid behind him for support. She held his head steady while Willow woke him, "Angel, you have to feed."
"No," he rasped and tried to break free.
Willow easily held him down as she ripped the shirt from her shoulder. Taking his face in her hands she gently kissed his lips, "Look at me Angel."
He done as he was told and opened his eyes, the sight before him was amazing. Willow had come in to her full powers and he knew she would be safe. He was not, however, going to feed from her. It would hurt and disgust her. He felt his sister's nails digging into him drawing his own blood; the scent sent him in to a frenzy. He needed a feed in the worst way.
Knowing she wouldn't have the energy or the power surging through her body to heal him much longer she done the only thing she could think of and cupped him hard. Her grip was unrelenting and honestly, painful. He tried to get away from her but the two young girls over powered him with the help of the sorcery running through their bodies, he was at their mercy. Willow's grip however was anything but merciful. She continued to tighten her hold until he thought it was going to rip off. He sat up, grasping her hand, pleading for her to release him. She looked at him, "Feed and I will." The pain was intense enough at this point for him to morph into game face. Needing relief from her harsh hold he done as she demanded and sank his fangs into her neck. His sister stepped from the circle and threw herself into a stunned Xander's arms. Willow relinquished her hold on Angel and sank into his lap as he gulped her blood greedily. When he had taken enough he forced his fangs from her neck and they both collapsed on to the floor. As sleep and exhaustion overtook them they began to once again levitate.
Xander looked at the child in his arms, "Um, who are you and what the hell just happened?"
Giles and Spike rushed to Angel and Willow and were about to break the circle. "No!" Emily cried. "They must rest, they have to draw the power from the light."
Spike spun around, "What the bloody hell are you whining about?" When he got his first good look at the child he lost all rational thought, "No, it can't be."
"William," she squealed and jumped into his arms. "I heard you were with Angel still but I didn't believe it!"
"Yeah well you know peaches, can't leave him alone for a second with out him getting into trouble." He looked her over, "You," he paused, "Haven't grown a bit." She playfully slapped his arm.
"Em," Giles fidgeted, "Would some one mind telling us what the HELL IS GOING ON?"
Emily walked to Giles, took his hand and led him to the chair. She motioned for him to set then climbed up in his lap, "Everyone set near and listen, this tell will only be told once." The others sat near them, all eyes fixed on the child. "My name is Emily," she smiled. "And that," pointing to the still levitating Angel, "is my brother."
"I thought Angel killed you the week he was turned?" Cordelia snapped. Everyone looked at her, "What?"
Emily continued, "Angel didn't kill me, a demon named Angelus did. My Angel got his soul back years later as the powers that be had planed it. It was meant for me to pass when I did for my abilities would certainly gotten me burned at the stake. You see I am a fairy and I have abilities that are unexplained. If I had reached the age of ten they would have shown through and instead of my father hating Angel he would have sent me to the church where I surely would have been burned. As soon as I took my last breath the powers explained everything to me and I've been waiting to come back and help my brother and his new family end the evil that is taking over the world."
"His family?" Spike asked.
She smiled wickedly at him, "Yes, you are all apart of his..our family. I know you have considered yourselves the outcasts of this town but truth be told you are the oracles last hope."
Spike stood nervously, "Oracles? No one said anything about oracles!"
"What's the oracles and why don't I like it?" Xander asked.
Spike stomped towards Emily, "No one faces the oracles and lives you know that and so do these damn powers that be you keep talking about! Your sending is to the wolves love and I'm not bloody buying it!" He looked at Angel, "If peaches wants to go down in flames playing the hero that's fine but count me out!"
A green bolt of energy shot from the innocent child's hand and held Spike in place, "You will listen William then you can decided wither or not you want to stay. Now, you can set on your own or I can continue to hold you here, which is it?" With out a word she read Spike and dropped him hard to the floor. He sat up growling but listened.
She explained all she could to them about their destines which unfortunately, was very little. By the time she reached the end of her story Willow and Angel were standing behind them. Both looked the same yet different. They radiated some sort of power about them. Still setting in Giles' lap Emily laughed, "Angel and the Princess can face the oracles."
"Princess," Cordelia spoke. "Some one call my name?"
"Princess," Xander scoffed, "Not corn Queen."
"It was May Queen you Oaf!" Cordelia snarled.
Emily jumped from Giles' lap and took Willow's hand, "She's the Princess. A Fairy Sorceress Princess."
They all looked on in shock. Xander finally breaking the silence, "Geeze Will, that's some name ya got there."
She laughed and wrapped her arm around Angel's waist, "We need to start preparing for battle. We will all learn how to fight like a slayer and to do protection spells. We will have to give 100% and fight through the hard times but we ALL have to be on board for this."
All heads nodded in agreement. Angel walked to Xander and abruptly punched him in the jaw. He fell to the floor like a limp scarecrow. Angel glared down at him, "That's for what's going to happen later." With that he walked away smiling, leaving the others confused.
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