Twenty Years

By Merzibelle

Twenty years, Wesley thought. Twenty years. Where has the time gone? He rested his hands on the railing that lined the windows of his office on the twentieth floor of the Wolfram & Hart building, gazing out across the expanse of Los Angeles. The city hasn't changed. Thousands of people going about their lives, never caring about the darkness that festers beneath their feet, the evil that draws nearer and nearer.

Wesley gazed at his reflection in the tinted windows of his office. He hadn't changed much, one of the perks of the job. A few strands of gray threaded through his hair at the temples, a few more lines around his eyes, but other than that, he could have switched places with the man he sometimes wished he still was… the man that had a home and family.

Lilah's gone… Kayla with her. Wesley drew a deep breath for that still hurt. Fifteen years later and he was still ready to kill Angel for that--the death of his wife and daughter. He still has Connor. I have nothing at all, thanks to his twisted idea of vengeance. He bowed his head, resting his forehead against the glass and whispered a soft prayer to a deity he'd long ago turned his back on, hoping once again that his little girl hadn't suffered before she died. Did he have to do that to her?

Wesley forced down the memory of how he'd found Kayla, or what was left of her, lying in a slowly congealing pool of her and Lilah's blood. It had only been Drusilla, crazy that she was, who'd managed to keep him sane enough to live, to seek his own vengeance on Angel. We've danced around it for ages. I hurt him and he tries to hurt me. He allowed other memories to flit though his mind, the things they'd done to each other. All because of one stupid twenty-year-old mistake.

Gunn's death was another mistake, necessary perhaps, but still a mistake. It had destroyed Winifred, the young physicist downing a bottle of painkillers chased by vodka. She hadn't survived that night, following Gunn in death within hours of receiving word that he'd died. At least I managed to save those children. Wesley smiled, thinking of the videotape that he'd received the previous night, now locked securely in the vault in his apartment. The twins look more and more like their parents every day. I'm glad they're safe, safe away from this mess.

He turned away from the window, absently bidding farewell to his secretary. Yes, farewell, Jackie, if I'm right, it ends tonight. I did the one unforgivable thing, even more irritating to Angel than my taking Connor all those years ago. I went after Cordelia. Wes crossed the office, settling into the chair behind the desk, signing a few final papers, tucking them away. At least the twins will be well taken care of. There's no one else for me to leave all this money I've acquired to. The soft creak of the door had him raising his head, a small smile on his face and one final memory flitting into his mind. Let it end as it began.

"Hello, Angel."

~Fin~