Destiny

By PSUBrat

To Shanshu In Sunnydale

Wesley cleared his throat and tried not to look too nervous about what he was about to reveal. It was an understatement, to say the least that the information he had uncovered at Wolfram and Hart, was going to send shockwaves through certain members of the group. There was a part of him that feared the repercussions. There would still be a purpose for this individual, just not what they had originally thought. He worried that, as a result, backs would be turned on the Powers That Be and all hope would be lost.

"Well Wesley?" Xander prodded impatiently. "Gonna tell us why Angel isn't soul boy after all?"

"Right," he croaked, his throat suddenly dry. He nervously looked towards Giles for permission to take over their little session. After getting the nod, he began. "The Souled is one who is tied closely to a second prophecy." He then turned to the group at the counter. "Most of you are aware of the Shanshu prophecy."

"I think we all know what it is," Fred replied, speaking for the group.

"Then it means that Angel is definitely the Souled," Cordelia blurted out.

Angel searched Wesley's eyes; the man's face wasn't reflecting his true thoughts. Suddenly he felt a sense of dread. "No," he said quietly. "It isn't me."

"But why not?" Cordelia demanded. "You have a soul, duh, hence being the Souled. Plus Shanshu, that's you too."

"I'm afraid not Cordelia," Wesley stated, lowering his eyes and turning away from his former employer. "In order for this vampire to be the Souled, he must already be human."

"Someone care to explain what this sushi stuff is all about?" Buffy inquired, folding her arms across her chest, her curiosity peaked. The whole Fang Gang was starting to get on her nerves. It was too bad she couldn't just send them packing back to Los Angeles.

"It's a prophecy about Angel," Cordelia huffed. "About him becoming human."

"What?" Buffy demanded, eyes wide. "You're supposed to become human? You never told me about that!"

"I didn't think it was necessary…"

"You didn't think it was necessary," she yelled at him. "How long have you known about this…?"

"It doesn't really matter," Wesley growled, interrupting the shouting match that had erupted in the room. "The Shanshu has already taken place."

"It has?" Buffy asked in shock.

"What?" Cordelia demanded as she poked at Angel. "If you're human and you haven't told anyone buddy, you're in big trouble!"

"Cordelia, I'm not human," the vampire assured her trying to hide his pain.

"But then who?" She asked looking around the room frowning. "All vampires are accounted for…"

"No they aren't," Buffy whispered, her eyes wide. The Scoobies turned their attention towards William.

***

William sat in stunned silence as the pieces started falling into place. He had only been half listening at first since the cheerleader was yapping and doing her rah-rah thing for Angel. Now he wished he had been paying closer attention. Everyone was staring at him, including those on the other side of the room. He felt like he was on display, a freak in a sideshow exhibit.

"Spike's the Souled?" Xander asked incredulously.

"Spike doesn't even have a soul," Cordelia began impatiently, continuing her crusade to convince everyone that Angel was the proper choice for the position.

"Yes he does," Buffy said quietly as she took William's hand, conveying her love for him in one bright smile.

"Are you sure about this Wesley?" Angel asked, almost begged.

"It's true," Lorne responded before Wesley could.

Angel frowned at his friend. "How do you know?"

"He sang for me."

"I didn't sing for anyone," William shot back.

"Okay so sang isn't the right word," Lorne sighed, rolling his eyes. "Semantics. Adonis over there hummed for me. Everything Wesley is saying is true. We've all made a terrible mistake about the Shanshu prophecy being for you, well not all of us, but that's besides the point."

"But you've heard me sing," Angel stated, confusion coating his voice.

William began to chuckle and then laughed heartily. "Just trying to picture peaches singing a song. Woulda paid money for that!"

Buffy swatted at him playfully. "Be nice," she said trying not to giggle as well.

Ignoring the conversation around him, Angel's mood turned dark and broody. "How could the Powers…?"

"Sweetcakes, listen to me," Lorne soothed. "There is a higher purpose for you. You're still the champion of the Powers. I have no doubt that you'll have your reward in the end."

Angel frowned. He felt lost, his center of being suddenly pulled out of him. What did all of this mean for him? Was he doomed to be a vampire forever despite his retributions? A part of him wanted to scream out in anguish and the other part, his demon part, wanted to destroy everything within his reach. Suddenly he was brought out of his thoughts by a cheery voice from the other side of the room.

"I suppose we just figured out who the Champion is," Tara smiled, trying to lighten the mood in the room.

"Indeed we have," Wesley agreed with a nod.

"Hold up there English," Gunn said with confusion in his voice. "You telling me that the man here is not going to become human 'cause the prophecy has already happened?"

"Precisely," Giles replied stepping into the conversation.

"Oh, I get it," Cordelia said smirking as she folded her arms across her chest. Then she scowled. "No I don't. I need some enlightenment here…"

Xander laughed. "Ya know, for a half demon…"

"And former higher being," Dawn chimed in.

"…You're not all that bright are you?" Xander continued with a grin.

***

Cordelia blinked hard at the young man that had been her boyfriend once upon a time. What had she ever seen in him? Clearly, he was all wrong for her, she saw that now. He was definitely not as handsome or as strong as her dark knight. No wonder all of her so-called friends had thought her pathetic when it came to Xander Harris. He was nothing then and he was still nothing now, all wrapped up in that ex-demon who was much too clingy for her liking. If her time in L.A. had taught her anything, it was that she was much too good for Xander and much too good for Sunnydale. Oh yeah, she definitely made the better choice this time around. Wait. Why wasn't Angel coming to her defense? Why wasn't he putting Xander in his place? She was a higher being now - former higher being, she reminded herself - and she deserved to be treated as such.

"You're just jealous Xander," she said sarcastically and with a sweet smile, trying to cover the pain she was feeling from Angel's lack of attention. "I became someone important while you stayed here in Sunnydale and became even more of a loser than you were in high school."

Xander said nothing in return; he just shook his head and closed his eyes. She never ceased to amaze him.

"I think we're gonna have to draw Cordelia some pictures," Buffy grinned. "Giles, why don't you get out the white board and we'll start with the basics. Oh and make sure you don't go too fast for her, wouldn't want to leave the higher being behind."

Everyone in the Scooby group chuckled at Buffy's remark but it was William that spoke up to defend her. "Buffy, luv, please. We have more things to worry about than the cheerleader's insecurities." He turned to Cordelia. "Let me make this simple," he continued, pointing to himself. "Went to Africa for a soul. Passed the trials. Found out I already had one. Asked the demon to make me what I was and he did. Now I'm human. End of story. Understand?"

"Uhhhh, yeah. I guess," Cordelia said with a frown. "Only one question."

"Yes, pet?" He asked in a rushed voice, suddenly becoming annoyed with all of the focus turned on him.

"Where did you get your soul? I mean did Willow make with the magic and curse you?"

"That's a very good question," Angel concurred. "I'm interested in hearing the answer to that myself."

William shrugged his shoulders. "No idea."

"What do you mean you have no idea," Angel roared at him, his eyes flashing yellow with his anger. He was standing next to the former vampire in a flash, his fists balled against his legs, trying hard to keep his demon in check. "Vampires just aren't given souls."

"I bloody don't know how I got it, alright? So back off peaches. Just because I'm not a vampire anymore doesn't mean I can't kick your ass."

"I know how," Wesley stated quietly, looking down at his feet. His voice had barely been audible but Angel had caught it and so had Buffy.

"How did it happen, Wes, how?" Angel demanded with a growl.

***

Wesley took a step back from Angel. He could feel the anger rolling off of the vampire. "The Powers That Be gave him his soul after Buffy died." He took a deep breath, knowing that his next few sentences would only add to Angel's anguish. "There was more to the Shanshu prophecy than what we had, Angel. I found more in the vaults at Wolfram and Hart."

"That impossible. I burned it."

"You burned a copy," Lilah sneered at him. "A forgery. The original was safe and sound in my files."

If Wesley hadn't stepped in between the two, he was sure that Angel would have ripped her head off. "Angel, we had no idea of knowing, without the second part, that the prophecy wasn't meant for you. If we'd had it, we certainly would have known that it was referring to William the Bloody. I'm sorry, Angel." His heart went out to the vampire.

"What makes him so god-damned more important, huh?" Angel raged as he pushed William, making the man stumble and almost fall. Buffy was there to support him, to keep him from falling as he had done so many times for her after she'd been brought back from the dead.

"Don't touch him again Angel. I mean it."

Angel backed off after seeing the anger in her eyes. It was true. She really did have everything now, everything that he could never give her. Quietly he went back to his seat, turning his back to the others.

"Wes, please tell us the rest of the prophecy," Buffy begged. She needed to hear it. She needed to hear why the Powers had given Spike his soul and why it had to do with her.

Wesley recognized the need for information in her eyes. He walked over to where William stood, still in utter shock over the whole revelation. "The Powers gave you a soul because you performed a selfless act. You made a promise to the Slayer before her death and you honored that promise, whatever it was," he paused, hoping that William would elaborate.

William raised his hand and caressed Buffy's cheek, all the while looking into her eyes. "I made a promise to a lady," he choked out in a whisper. It was such a simple promise, but he had made it in good faith and he had kept it out of love, love for the woman he thought he'd never have, or see again.

Dawn sat at the table watching the exchange, smiling and with tears running down her cheeks. She knew what that promise had been and it made her heart swell with love and admiration for the one time vampire. No one deserved to receive a soul more than Spike. She was so proud.

Wesley cleared his throat and continued, realizing that no more words were going to come out of William at this time. "However, it wasn't just the promise that you kept that gave you your soul, it was your continued fight on the side of good that secured it. The prophecy stated that you would be faced with a choice after the death of the Slayer. The first choice would continue to lead you down the path of damnation and the second choice…"

"Redemption and restoration," William said softly.

"Correct. Shanshu. Therefore, you, Spike, are the Souled."

"And he and Buffy are paired," Giles added. "They've been sharing dreams about the Master for weeks now."

"The prophecy foretold that as well. I'm sorry that I couldn't get word to you Rupert, I just couldn't risk it."

"No, I understand. It was more important for us to have the document and you alive than to have you dead and nothing to show for it."

"Don't worry," Lilah seethed. "He'll be dead soon enough."

"Give it a rest already honey," Lorne sighed. "No one really cares what you have to say."

"I'll agree with that one," Gunn added with grimace.

Suddenly the room erupted into an outburst of curses and accusations.

While most everyone was engaged in a war of words with the woman from the law firm, Willow watched in awe as Cordelia floated, a light emanating from within her. "Uh, would someone care to explain why Cordy's gone all glowy and is floating?"

"It's a vision thing," Fred replied as everyone turned his or her attention to Cordelia. "She gets like this when the powers are sending her a message."

"I hope they're sending her an instruction booklet on how to defeat the Master," Dawn commented as she watched the glowing woman from across the room.

No one noticed the glazed look on Angel's face or the fact that he was talking to himself until he started screaming. "Cordelia! No!"

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