Destiny

By PSUBrat

Impossibilities

Buffy dropped the sword and looked at the man who had once been the love of her life. "He's what?"

"He's my son," Angel said, his shoulders slumping at the realization that Connor had taken off for parts unknown and that he had just blurted out the truth to his former love.

"I'm not…I'm not sure I understand," Buffy said in a hushed tone. "How can he be your son?"

"It's a really long story," Dawn replied as she passed through the portal into Sunnydale. "One I don't think you really want to hear right now. Trust me."

Blinking hard, Buffy looked at her sister and then back at Angel. "But Vampires, they can't…It's impossible…"

"I know," Dawn replied placing an arm around her sister protectively. "I said the same thing. Apparently there's some kind of prophecy or something."

Angel reached out to touch Buffy's shoulder, but pulled back at the last moment when he saw the anger in Dawn's eyes. "I'm really sorry, Buffy. This isn't how I wanted to tell you."

"And just how was it that you were going to tell me that you had a teenage son?" Buffy demanded.

Angel shuffled his feet. Why did this have to be so damn hard? He was over two centuries old, and yet he was still intimidated by the first woman he ever truly loved. He lifted his eyes and met her puzzled gaze. "I, uhm…I was going to tell you…"

"Wow," Lorne exclaimed letting out a low whistle. "This is quite impressive my little green glow girl!" He walked out of the portal to join Angel and noticed the young woman that Dawn was standing next to in protection mode. "And you must be the one and only Buffy Summers." He extended his hand towards Buffy. "I'm Lorne."

Buffy just stared at him until Dawn gave her a small nudge. "Uhm, yeah. That would be me, Slayer in the dark." She met his hand and gave him a Slayer-strength shake.

"Nice grip you got there! So this is the infamous Sunnydale?" He asked turning towards Angel. "Doesn't look much like a Hellmouth sweetcheeks, although I am getting that vibe…"

In the distance, the group of four heard someone calling Buffy's name.

"Must be William," Dawn stated, still talking for her dazed sister. She so did not want to be around when Buffy finally regained her senses.

"William?" Angel asked perplexed.

"My watcher," Buffy snapped. "And much more," she said under her breath knowing that only Angel would be able to hear it. She sprinted towards the voice. "William! We're over here!"

***

Wesley held the door open for Lilah as they entered the office building. He already had an idea of who Buffy's new watcher was but he figured he'd let Gavin bask in the glory. It was really quite amazing. How he'd kept the information to himself without Lilah catching on was also a bit amazing. He made a mental note to himself, as he pushed the elevator button, to act surprised when Gavin revealed the watcher's identity. The last thing he needed was twenty questions from his lover. As they waited for the elevator doors to open, he glanced over at the tall brunette that had been sharing his bed for several months now. She really was quite a remarkable creature, and he did use that word to describe her for he felt that human was too kind a depiction. Some days it still baffled him as to how he had wound up in this place and this time with her.

They rode in silence to the top floor, where all-important business such as this was conducted. Lilah scanned her identification card first and went through the metal doors. Wesley followed. Once inside they took their places at the conference table. This was the first time Wesley had been up to this floor, normally his duties didn't require it, but tonight was different. Apparently, the news that was to be shared among the top associates was so sensitive that it required the confines of the special room. Wesley tried to avoid chuckling to himself over the extra care that was being taken to reveal the identity of one man.

"So glad that you two could join us," Gavin said sarcastically.

Lilah and Wesley just gave him a cold glare.

"Linwood?" Gavin asked the conferencing equipment in front of him. "Are you there?"

"I'm here," Linwood replied coming into the view of the teleconference camera.

"Good then. Shall we get started?"

"Start away Gavin, my boy."

Gavin smirked at this hint of favoritism from his boss. As he spoke, he handed out the packet of information to Wesley and Lilah. "Due to the diligent work from some of our field agents, we've been able to ascertain the identity of one William Giles."

"He's the nephew of Rupert Giles," Wesley stated dryly, playing along.

"Ah, but that's where you're wrong Wesley," Gavin grinned. "Up until a few months ago, William Giles did not exist. The Council of Watchers was very thorough in their creation of this identity. It was almost impossible to crack. Almost. If it hadn't been for an old photograph in a Chinese newspaper during the Boxer Rebellion, we would have been left to believe that this man was indeed Rupert Giles' nephew."

Lilah wrinkled her brow and gave Wesley a confused look. "The Boxer Rebellion was over a century ago Gavin. What does this have to do with the new watcher?"

Wesley knew where this was going. "What you're saying is that this new watcher was alive during the rebellion? That's a bit incredible seeing as how he'd have to be over one hundred years old and clearly not human."

"He wasn't a human," Gavin replied. "Now he is."

***

William ran to meet Buffy, fear and concern clouding his face. Heedless of those in the background, he quickly pulled her into his arms, stroked her hair and kissed the top of her head. "Buffy, I'm so glad you're okay. Clem came to the shop and told us that Dawn's boyfriend was attacking you. I was hoping he was wrong but I've always had a feeling about that bloke…"

"I'm fine," Buffy said pulling away and giving him a slight smile. "If Dawn hadn't gotten here in time…"

"Dawn?" He asked incredulously. Then he looked over to the group of people standing by the tree. "Is that…?"

"Yeah. Come on, I'll take you over," Buffy said holding his hand and leading him to the group.

"Spike," Dawn screeched as she ran to him and threw her arms around the man.

"Bit," William replied hugging her tightly. "You gave us all a scare last night. What did Rupert and I tell you about going through portals?"

"I know. I'm sorry. I promise not to do it again," she answered contritely.

As soon as the teen released him from the embrace, he felt the eyes turn on him, those dark, piercing eyes. He chided himself for even letting his grandsire stir old feelings of hate, mistrust and inadequacy. He was William now, not Spike, and he refused to be cowed.

***

Angel stared in disbelief as Buffy's watcher kissed her and stroked her hair. At first, he hadn't recognized the man who was holding his former lover but then realization set in. He felt like he had been staked through the heart, except he wasn't turning into a pile of dust. How could this be? How could Buffy willingly accept Spike into her life? Into her family? He knew that he had been an outsider in Buffy's life for the last three years but he'd had no idea how much things had changed. The look on her face as she held her watcher's hand to bring him over to the group, told Angel everything he needed to know. She wasn't just in love; her soul was complete. She was more complete and at rest then he had ever seen her, even with him and that thought was almost unbearable.

Lorne noticed his friend's frame stiffen as he watched the two lovers embrace. "Let it go pal," he whispered to Angel. "You made your decisions a long time ago. These are hers."

Angel looked at Lorne pleadingly but said nothing.

"Angel, sweetcheeks, you gotta snap out of this. You have a long night ahead of you because you owe that brave girl an explanation. Otherwise, you'll never move on."

"I know," Angel replied, staring at the now present William who was just finishing an embrace with Dawn. Anger welled up within him when he realized that his adversary had taken his place both in Buffy's life and in her heart. In two short strides, he covered the ground between him and the watcher and started beating on the man.

***

"Not human but now human? Care to explain that Gavin?" Lilah demanded.

"Isn't it obvious, Lilah?" Wesley asked, sarcasm dripping from every word.

Before Wesley could continue, Gavin stepped in. "Mr. William Giles is indeed the legendary William the Bloody."

"Wait," Wesley stated in an annoyed tone. "You're trying to tell us that William the Bloody, also known as Spike, is now human and is in fact, Buffy's watcher? Seems a bit trite and a bit impossible if you ask me."

"Exactly," Linwood interjected. "The senior partners want Mr. Bloody brought in for questioning. They want to know how it is a vampire can become human. It certainly wasn't prophesized."

"True," Wesley agreed. "The only prophecy that we know of is one pertaining to Angel, the vampire with a soul."

"That is correct Wesley," Linwood stated from his office in Los Angeles. "I want you to look into this in more detail. Could there have been two vampires with a soul?"

Wesley snorted. "Highly doubtful, sir, but I'll look into it right away."

"Good man," Linwood stated. "And Ms. Morgan?" He asked looking directly into the camera.

"Yes Linwood?"

"I want you back up here in L.A. before midnight. I'm sure that Wesley can proceed with his research without you present."

Lilah blushed a deep red. "I'll be there in a few hours."

"Good. Let's get to work then."

Lilah threw an icy glare at Gavin who smirked back at her.

***

Before anyone could move, Angel was on top of William, pummeling him.

"Spike," Dawn screamed as Lorne held onto her.

"Angel! What do you think you're doing?" Buffy demanded as she tried pulling the vampire off the human.

Angel slipped into game face as he punched William again and again. He was enjoying every moment of this but he didn't understand why the younger vampire didn't hit back, all he kept doing was blocking his hits.

Lorne stepped over to Buffy and put his hand on her shoulder, gently pulling her back from the fray. "I think you should just let the two of them go, let them get this macho business out of the way."

Buffy spun around to look at the demon. "Normally, I would agree with you on that one, but Spike is…human…"

Angel stopped, his arm cocked back and fist clenched to throw another punch. "He's what?"

"I'm a bloody human you wanker," Spike bellowed as he pushed Angel to the ground. He shook off Buffy's attempt to help him to his feet. As he stood up, he wiped the blood from his nose. "See? Blood. My blood. Human blood. What the hell is your problem?"

Angel pulled himself into a kneeling position and watched as Dawn ran to Spike, a look of fright etched on her face. "It's impossible…"

"Let me heal that Spike," Dawn insisted. "You have a pretty nasty gash on your forehead."

"I'm alright Bit. Nothing that I can't heal myself in time."

"How?" Angel asked in disbelief. "How did this happen?"

"I earned it," William seethed.

Angel shook his head trying to take it all in. "What do you mean you earned it? You don't even have a soul!"

"Guess again Peaches," William snorted. "You're not so special after all. Not that it's any of your business, but it seems I've had a soul for a while now. I guess the love of a good woman can do that for you."

Angel lunged at William again but the man quickly sidestepped him.

"Okay," Buffy demanded as she stepped in between the two. "That's enough. I think you and…Lorne, is it?" She asked the demon to her left who nodded in reply. "I think the two of you should walk back through that portal right now. I'll track down Steven and send him home."

"Sounds like a plan to me," William scowled.

"Uhm, Buffy…" Dawn stated hesitantly. "That's kinda not possible since I kinda let the portal close…"

"Then you'll open another one," Buffy replied matter of factly.

Dawn bit her lower lip and looked down at her feet. "Uhm…I can't. I tried last night but I was too drained. I think I can only open one a day or something."

Buffy looked at her sister in shock. Great. Now they were stuck with one strange looking demon and one very pissed off vampire. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "Fine. We'll figure out a way to get them back to L.A. tonight."

"I can't go back yet, Buffy. Not without finding Connor."

"Who's Connor?" Buffy asked scrunching her face into a frown.

"That's Steven," Dawn whispered to her. "It's a long story."

"Whatever. Fine. Let's move this party to my place then."

"Do you think that's such a great idea luv?" William asked glaring at Angel.

"Do you have a better idea?"

"Guess not," he shrugged in defeat.

Buffy began herding the group towards Revello Drive but she stopped cold when she heard a familiar voice come from behind her. She felt William stiffen next to her. Could this night get any worse?

"My poor darling Spike," the voice cooed. "The stars whispered that you would be here. I'm so glad I listened."

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