Previous Chapter Summary: Joyce awakened, and she was filled in on what's been happening. The group at the Magic Box worked to get the potion and spells done. Everyone went home for the night to rest except Angel and Cordelia who headed to L.A. for the last ingredients needed to cast the spells. Spike and Buffy shared a passionate night together and completed a mutual claim

Chapter Summary: The aftermath of Spike and Buffy mating. The Scoobies prepare to head to Glory's house just to be sure that Ben is gone. Will the Scoobies get the potion done in time? Will Glory get a hold of Dawn? If so, will the Scoobies save her in time without Buffy having to die?

NOTES: The place of the portal opening has changed for my story. We're going to assume that Glory's minions were a little smarter, and they picked a place for the house to be built that was where the portal would be. Instead of building a tower, the portal will open outside of Glory's third story window. Also there are no Knights. You might have noticed that I didn't mention them when the Council showed up even though they were in that episode.

(Disclaimer and Distribution notes are listed in the Prologue of this story. Thank you ahead of time for reading and accepting or abiding by them.)

'Single' quote marks surround thoughts in this story. "Regular" quotes are around spoken words.

Dawn groaned, rubbed her eyes with her hands, and yawned. Light streamed into her room through a crack in the drawn curtains. Her body ached, and for some reason she felt really drained and worn out. She stretched out her whole body from her toes to the tips of her fingers.

'Those were some freaky dreams. I felt like I was living Spike's life with him.' Dawn shivered. Her body felt like she'd been pulled through the ringer of her nightmares. 'I guess hospitals don't have the best chairs to sit in all day.' She passed off the sore muscles as fatigue from sitting in the hospital for so many hours the day before.

What Dawn wasn't able to comprehend was that her powers as the Key were used all night long to literally travel through the shadows of time with the two lovers in the next room. The claiming bond was strengthened by her supernatural presence, and the circle of their familial bond was made even stronger.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Spike awoke to one of the sweetest sensations he'd ever known. He felt the complete love from his mate who was nestled in his mind and arms. No longer would his insecurities be allowed to reign. The mating bond he shared with Buffy was strong. Her love radiated to him and through him. He still had some doubts, but he felt happier than ever before.

Buffy was wrapped around Spike's body with her chest pressed to his. They'd switched positions during the night, but his cock was still encased in her heat. The heat surrounding him brought Spike a measure of peace and rightness in the world.

Spike splayed his fingers out into Buffy's golden tresses. He delighted in the silkiness that slipped through his fingers and back onto his chest. 'So beautiful,' He thought.

"You're not half bad yourself," Buffy's half muffled voice answered Spike's thoughts. Her waking mind mingled her memories of the night before with the nightmarish images she dreamt.

"Good morning, luv." Spike rubbed his hands in circles on Buffy's back. "Sleep well?" He'd dreamt all about Buffy's life. He watched her grow up, and he knew what her life in L.A. was like when she became the Slayer. He'd felt her pain and frustration during those first days of training and her first kills. He was angered to live through her "fabulous" Angel days, but he plunged through it all. He feared that if he experienced her life during the night, she might have experienced his. The least he could do was deal with her Angel memories if she dealt with his previous life.

"Actually I'm exhausted." Buffy pressed her hands on Spike's chest to lift herself up high enough to look him in the eye. "It was ... I dreamed ... You know what I dreamt." She sighed. There were many things about Spike's vampire days that she felt like vomiting for after she witnessed them. She'd grown to hate Angelus even more during her foray into William and Spike's life. Though she wouldn't place all the blame for how Spike turned out on Angelus, he was a big part of why Spike became who he was.

"Yeah, I can figure out what you saw." Spike sighed. "I lived through your life as well last night. Quite the little valley girl in your early days."

"Not like you have stayed the same either, Spike." It amazed Buffy how much love and humanity William still had after he was turned. She viewed the turning of his mother, which at first revolted her, but she realized the love behind why he did it. She felt the gut wrenching pain when he'd dusted her as well. "I'd have to say you had the more drastic changes, several times even."

Spike lowered his gaze. He feared her rejection. Even though they were mated now, he was worried that she would hold his past against him. "I warned you about ..."

Buffy didn't let him finish his downward spiral into reliving the pain of his past. "I knew that it wouldn't be pretty, Spike." She raised his chin with the tips of her fingers to draw his gaze back to hers. "If Drusilla wasn't already dead, I would be finding her and staking her myself. I still can't believe you never left her after all she taunted you with."

Spike grinned. "Love's bitch, pet. Remember?" He twisted some of Buffy's hair around two fingers. "I don't leave the woman I love."

Buffy nestled herself against Spike's chest once more. "I'm glad." She sighed happily. "It is so strange to feel you in my mind. I can feel your love so strongly it burns into my heart."

"Likewise, mate of mine." Spike danced his fingertips down Buffy's spine. Every emotion, pain, and thought will be shared unless we try to block each other out. Thoughts only happen with the closer bonds, but you heard my thoughts as you woke up."

"Really?" Buffy perked up her attention. "Let's try it out again." She smiled warmly. 'If Angelus even thinks of hurting you again, I will dust him without a second thought.'

Spike's mouth dropped open in awe. 'Do you mean that, luv? He was your first love after all?'

"Of course I mean it," Buffy said out loud. "He hid all of that from me, but he was still trying to use your past against you to get me to leave you. He can't have it both ways."

'Thank you, luv.' Spike nuzzled his cheek against the side of Buffy's head. 'That means a lot to me.'

Buffy and Spike drifted off to sleep. Each one basked in the feeling of love and protection that radiated from the other one. They slept for another couple of hours.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Cordelia Chase was followed into the Magic Box by a slightly smoking Angel. She rolled her eyes at the others already present. "If you hadn't made the stop at the Hyperion, we would have made it in plenty of time to keep you from getting crispy."

Ever since the kiss they shared earlier in the night, the only time Cordelia said anything to Angel was to chastise him or tell him to hurry up. "I told you that I needed to get something," Angel said in exasperation. "Besides, we had to wait for that one shop to open."

Willow and Tara noticed the tension between the two brunettes. Tara whispered to Willow, "Their auras are all jumbled in a mass of confusion about whatever they are feeling or thinking."

Willow acknowledged Tara's observation by squeezing Tara's hand. They arrived around 8 am to begin work on some of the spells. Wesley arrived about a half hour after that. A call to Anya and Xander brought asked them to bring in snacks and drinks because it was going to be a long day.

Anya and Xander strolled in a little after 9 am, shortly behind Cordy and Angel. "So what's the what?" He emptied the bag of groceries onto a separate little table near the research table.

"We're working on the potion," Wesley answered without looking away from his work. "Then, we're going to pay a little visit to Glory."

"Sounds good to me." Xander shoved half of a doughnut into his mouth. "How can I help?"

Willow handed him several bags of belladonna, and Xander crushed the herb into tiny bits for the spells.

After suggesting that the spell casting be taken to the training room to keep it a secret, Anya opened the store to customers.

Buffy and Spike arrived around 11 am, and they were immediately confronted by Angel.

"Angel, please don't." Cordelia called out. She was worried that Angel would tear off Spike's head when he saw him.

Angel's eyes narrowed on Spike and Buffy who held hands. He glared at the reddened scars on both of their necks before his gaze lingered on Spike. "Be happy that I've had quite a few hours to calm down since I felt it."

Neither Spike nor Buffy had any doubts about what Angel must have felt happen. Buffy squeezed Spike's hand tighter. He'd warned her that Angel might try to challenge the claim. Buffy told Spike flat out that she would refuse any advances Angel made towards her.

"It wouldn't matter either way." Spike was ready to push Buffy off to the side to fight Angel if he had to. "Buffy already told me that she would refuse your claim, if you challenge me."

"Don't even think of challenging it, Angel." Buffy stood up straight and strong. "I've made my choice, and I had the dreams. So, I know what he's done, and I know what you kept from me." She glared at her first love. "So don't try to play innocent with me about your part."

"I'm not good enough for you Buffy, but he certainly isn't either." Angel pointed at Spike.

"That is my choice to make." Buffy refused to back down.

Angel's shoulders slumped. He looked over at Cordelia who watched everything occur. He looked back at Buffy and Spike. "You've made your choice? You want the claim to remain even after all you've seen?"

"Yes, Angel." Buffy nodded. "I want him both Spike and William."

Angel nodded his acknowledgement of their choices. "As elder of the clan, will you allow me add to your familial bond and sanction your mating to avoid any other challenges?"

"That is up to Buffy." Spike wondered if Angel had something else up his sleeve, but there was sincerity in Angel's face that he hadn't ever seen before.

"Maybe after we get through with Glory, we can talk about it." Buffy rested her head against Spike's arm. "I would want it all explained quite thoroughly before I do it."

Buffy and Spike walked over to the research table after they checked with the spellcasters in the other room. Dawn was already seated at the table with Cordelia. Angel walked over behind Spike and Buffy then sat down as well.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Giles arrived at the Magic Box in the early afternoon for a strategizing session. He was reluctant to leave Joyce's side, but he was needed at Buffy's side as well. Xander joined the group at the research table to check out various bits of information that Lydia provided for them from the Council once he was through with crushing herbs.

"We need to figure out the best way to get into Ben's house." Buffy pulled out a map of the area where Glory and Ben resided. She pointed to various entry points where their presence could be concealed by trees and other items. "I don't think he will leave the area."

"Not even after you warned him, Buffster?" Xander queried.

"I am inclined to agree with Buffy." Giles adjusted his glasses. "Ben might want to leave, but Glory's minions are probably going to do all they can to stop him."

"As well as what will happen if Glory breaks through at any time while Ben is fleeing," Angel added his two cents worth in.

"We have to be prepared to face them all." Spike frowned.

"I picked up a few extra weapons from the Hyperion before we came back to Sunnydale." Angel pointed to the bag that sat up against a corner bookcase.

"We brought a bunch this morning too." Spike pointed to the bag he sat next to Angel's earlier. "Should be enough fire power for most demons, but we are dealing with a Hellgod. Any progress on that potion?"

"The right phase of day has begun. They are working on getting everything all settled." Giles informed everyone of the progress from the other room.

Dawn picked through the various weapons in Angel's bag. She knew what weapons her sister and Spike had, but she wanted to see what Angel brought along. Her curiosity got the better of her. She pulled out a very intricate looking short sword. She studied the designs on the hilt.

"Dawn be careful with that." Buffy lightly scolded her sister. She knew that Angel used to keep his weapons pretty clean, but she wanted to make sure her sister didn't get some infection from an unknown demon if she cut herself. She wasn't sure what ailments would affect Dawn's genetics and what wouldn't.

Dawn, startled by her sister's scolding voice, jumped in her chair. The length of the blade slit a clean cut across Dawn's palm when her grip on the handle loosened. It bled down her palm to her wrist.

Glory walked in the door as the scent of Dawn's blood flowed enough to waft through the air. She'd come to taunt and torment the Slayer into giving her the Key. Instead, Glory's eyes widened in delight. "You!" She pointed at Dawn. "You're my Key!"

Buffy, Spike, and Angel jumped up from the table first. Spike and Buffy quickly grabbed weapons from the bags and attacked Glory head on. Angel grabbed Dawn's free arm and pushed her towards the training room. Anya joined Dawn, and they both ran.

Xander, Giles and Cordelia chose weapons of their own and hacked away at the scaly minions who followed Glory in. Angel joined the trio a few moments later when they were overrun with minions trying to get into the training room to Dawn.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Anya and Dawn ran into the training room. Anya slammed the door shut behind her and locked the back door.

"What's going on out there?" Willow stopped the spell she was working on.

"Don't stop!" Anya yelled. "Glory is out there, and she knows that Dawn is the key."

Dawn cried harder. The pain of her wound was nothing compared to the fear in her being that she was going to die. All the hard work they did to hide her identity, and her stupid accident with a blade gave Glory all the information she needed.

"Oh bollocks." Wesley sped ahead a couple pages in the tome to work on the next spell. They had two more to go before everything would be ready. They needed every second they could get to complete the process.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Glory knocked the weapons out of Spike and Buffy's hands during different attacks they made on her. She forced them to resort to fists instead.

Spike punched and kicked at the Hellgod. He switched back and forth with Buffy to keep Glory occupied for as long as they could. Neither of them were able to gain the upper hand. Glory took turns knocking Buffy and Spike into walls, bookcases, and shelves. They were destroying the Magic Box in the process of the fight.

"You do know how to end this right?" Buffy and Spike landed a few punches before Glory pushed them back. "It really is an easy solution." Glory blocked Spike's advances. Then she threw him up to the ceiling. "Just give me my key, and I won't bother you again."

A few scaly minions of Glory's fought against Angel, Cordelia, Xander, and Giles who guarded the doorway to the training room. They tried to buy their colleagues the minutes they needed to complete their work. They were afraid that it wouldn't be long enough because they were pinned against the door by a couple dozen of the little robed devils.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Willow, Tara, Anya, and Wesley worked on the various spells for the ingredients. They worked as quickly as they could, but magic was not something that should be rushed. One of the spells backfired and nearly exploded a hole in the table.

The back door's lock was broken through. The door burst open to reveal more minions of Glory. Dawn, who was hiding near the back of the training room, shrieked when she was grabbed from behind and drug out of the Magic Box. Wesley tried to run after them, but he was stopped at the closed door with several minions on the other side using their weight to keep it closed.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"I believe that sound tells me that my work here is through. Doesn't mean I can't have a little fun before I go." Glory buried her right hand into Spike's stomach. "You can't strengthen me, but I do love the sound of your screams." She twisted it around in his gut while the vampire screamed out in pain.

Buffy attempted to dislodge Glory's attack, and she kicked Glory in the back. Unfortunately, she only succeeded in burying Glory's hand further into Spike's gut.

Glory kicked Buffy away from her with a side kick to the temple, knocking the Slayer to the ground unconscious on the other side of the room.

Glory pushed the flat of her palm in a punch at Spike's jaw with enough force to throw him off her hand and into several bookshelves, breaking them and burying pieces of wood throughout his body. She ran out of the Magic Box with a girlish giggle of delight at the sight of all the destruction she caused.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Giles and Angel carried the unconscious and wood pelted vampire back into the training room. Xander and Cordelia followed with Buffy in their arms. Giles went to work removing every piece of wood he could find. He was careful not to jostle the vampire too much in case there was a piece underneath his shirt that he didn't see.

Buffy and Spike awoke simultaneously a half hour later. Both of them groaned in pain from their various injuries. Already Slayer and vampire healing were taking place, but they still needed more time to heal.

Buffy started to wail when she realized that Dawn wasn't in the training room. Spike crawled over to his Mate, cooing the entire time. He drew Buffy into his arms and tried to soothe her.

"She's gone. I failed." Buffy repeated over and over. "She's gone. I failed." Her eyes took on a lost look to them. She started to drift into a catatonic state, but Spike mentally slapped Buffy before she went totally under.

"Buffy! Stay with me!" Spike yelled at Buffy. He forced Buffy to look into his eyes. He felt the swirl of pain and emotions from his mate. He needed to stay strong for her, and she needed to stay strong for Dawn. "We'll get her back."

"But ..." Buffy felt lost. She nearly lost it completely. If it hadn't been for the flow of Spike's presence and love for her through their bond, she wasn't sure what would have happened.

"We'll get her back." Spike reaffirmed again.

Willow, Tara and Wesley slumped down on a bench in the training room. Their faces wore frustrated and guilt filled expressions.

"If we stayed last night, we could have finished the preparations faster." Wesley was the first to speak up.

"This isn't your fault," Giles answered. "From what Spike and Buffy told me earlier, you were all dead on your feet. You needed the rest."

Willow and Tara's eyes filled with tears. They watched their friend break down into gut wrenching sobs. The look in Buffy's eyes was so cold and distant. It broke their hearts to witness her breakdown.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Lydia and several other Watchers stepped over the remains of the Magic Box's door. Two of the Watchers on one side rushed into the shop to search for survivors. They were both relieved and concerned when they located everyone in the training room.

"Glorificus?" Lydia asked about the destruction with only the one word uttered from her lips.

"Yes," Giles answered.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Glory danced around Dawn. She caressed Dawn's cheek with her hands. "Such a pretty Key."

"Don't touch me." Dawn kicked out at Glory. Her foot connected with Glory's knee.

Glory yelled out in pain, "Jinx!" The scabby minion rushed in and bowed at his Mistress' feet. "Tie her feet too." She turned back to Dawn who fought against Jinx to keep her legs free. "You are going to get me back home. I will have my revenge on those who sent me here."

"My sister is going to kick your ass, bitch." Dawn spat in Glory's face. Glory ran from the room squealing to go clean up. Dawn smirked. 'I hope Buffy gets here soon.'

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"I don't mean to sound rude, but why are you here?" Giles asked Lydia directly. He knew the Council wasn't pleased with Buffy's recent actions. So why would they send any Watcher's to them.

"There are those of us who don't agree with Travers' stand on the Slayer." Lydia gestured to the other men and women with her. "We want to help against Glorificus."

"Why should we trust you?" Wesley beat Giles to the question at the forefront of both of their minds.

"She's the one who gave us the folder on Glory." Buffy stuck up for the female Watcher. "Among other things she gave us information about claiming between Slayers and vampires that the Council had hidden."

"Hidden?" Giles removed his glasses and cleaned the lenses.

"Yes, although it forgot a few details." Spike smiled at Lydia. "I would think the little fangs would have been worth mentioning."

"Fangs? Oh good heavens." Lydia was astounded by the information she was being given. "You were turned?" She hoped her information hadn't resulted in the Slayer being turned into a vampire.

"Nope, still all with the heartbeat." Buffy picked up Lydia's hand and placed it on her chest. "It only happens when I want to bite, Spike."

"Fascinating," Lydia exclaimed.

Willow and Tara did their best to finish the spells as quickly as possible. Spike and Buffy shared with the other Watchers and ex-Watchers about what happened during the claim. Angel, Cordelia, Anya, and Xander arranged the weapons on the research table for selection.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Sun's set. Let's go." Spike called out to the group. "We have an apocalypse to stop."

Weapons chosen and potions made, hypodermics were filled with the fluid for each person present. Giles put all of them into his bag. He headed for the door. Everyone else followed out to the various cars they would use to get to Glory's place. Buffy was a few steps ahead of Angel and Spike.

"Spike," Angel's voice stopped Spike on his way to the door.

Angel opened his hand over Spike's palm. A small cold object fell from the elder vampire's hand into the younger one's. "Don't make me regret it, Spike, or I will have no qualms in cutting your entire hand or arm off to get it back."

"But ..." Spike looked up at Angel completely stunned. "I thought you destroyed it."

"I lied." Angel turned and walked away from his bewildered family member before he snatched the prized object back from him.

Spike gaped at Angel's retreating form. He started to slip the band onto his finger when Buffy ran back to him. The ring dropped into a pocket of his duster.

"What did Angel want?" Buffy asked. "He wasn't giving you a hard time, was he?"

"No," Spike turned to face Buffy with a smile on his lips. "He wished me luck in his own way."

"That's good." Buffy softly kissed Spike on the lips. She tucked her hand in the crook of his arm, and they headed out to Xander's car.

Spike fiddled with the ring in his pocket. 'Why didn't you just put it on? He gave it to you. Though I'm still not sure, why.' The demon within him raged at being denied the ring for so long after all he went through to get it in the first place.

'It would remind her of unhappy times. Besides the git was supposed to have destroyed it,' William reasoned with the demon. 'If Buffy knew that Angelus didn't, it would raise a lot of issues that no one needs to deal with right now. She has enough on her mind already without facing more betrayal from the brooding one.'

'Let's just remember to put it on later, all right?' The demon chided.

'I don't fancy becoming dust anymore than you do when we have everything that we ever truly wanted: love, passion, a wife, and hope for the future.'

'Yeah yeah.' Spike's demon rolled his eyes. 'A good shag, passion, tasty blood, and a warrior mate all rolled up in one Slayer sized package.'

'Such a romantic.' William laughed.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Everyone ready?" Giles took in the whole of their army against Glorificus. He prayed that they would all make it through this battle alive or undead respectively. He watched each person nod his or her head to indicate their readiness.

Giles handed each person a hypodermic filled with the serum that could be used to end the battle with the Hellgod. "If you see an opening, use it." He put a capped hypodermic in his pocket. "Make sure you have a clear shot to reach her and catch her off guard."

The little band of warriors listened to every word their leader spoke. Giles continued, "Try to work in pairs for the best chance of success. We need to reach Dawn to keep the ritual from being started." He motioned for Lydia to give her input.

"All indications in our research say that as long as we can keep Glorificus from opening the portal between 15 minutes from now and an hour from now, we are home free." Lydia looked down at her watch. "That isn't much time, but hopefully it will be enough."

"Any questions?" Buffy stepped in front of everyone. "Thank you for sticking by us in this." Her facial expressions hardened as she tried to keep her emotions under wraps. "No matter what happens, thank you."

"I think it's time to send one Hellgod back to Hell, Scooby style." Xander hefted his axe onto his shoulder with one hand. In his other hand he saluted Buffy with the capped hypodermic.

"Let's do it." Buffy ordered.

The group split up into several pairs and smaller groups. Each group or pair headed for another section of the house to enter through doors or windows.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Inside the house Ben and Glory fought back and forth to be in the foreground. Ben even tried to release Dawn to escape, but Glory had returned too soon. In the end he gave in to his alter ego in the hopes that after Glory left, he would be free.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Fights broke out all over the house on every level of the three-story building. Minions came out of the woodwork to battle the Scoobies, Fang Gang, and Watchers. People crashed through windows, various doors, and came up from the basement.

Glory ran down the stairs to see what was going on. She jumped into the fray of battle. She wanted to take the Slayer out herself. She left another loyal follower upstairs with Dawn who could perform the ritual in her absence.

Buffy raced headlong into Glory's path. The two clashed back and forth, fighting their way up the stairs back to the level where Dawn was being kept. Buffy twisted around Glory. She jumped onto Glory's back and tried to get the hypodermic into her neck. Before she was able to press the plunger down to inject Glory with the liquid, she was thrown to the ground.

"You surprised me once with your needles." Glory smacked the hypodermic out of Buffy's hand. It stuck, needle first, in the wall. As she spoke she advanced on the Slayer, "You won't get so lucky twice." She wrapped her hands around Buffy's throat and squeezed hard. "This time we do it my way."

Buffy turned her head to see Dawn in the steely grip of a little man with shockingly white hair. She fought and twisted around in her captor's arms, but she couldn't break free.

"DAWN!" Buffy yelled out.

Spike looked through the masses of brown robed demons that stood between him and the rest of his family. An inhuman roar echoed throughout the entire house and front yard. Scaly demons flew out in all directions away from Spike as he plowed through the group on the stairs to get to Dawn. He made it to Dawn in no time, a path parted for him in his fury and the other Scoobies' battles.

"I do believe you have something of mine, mate." Spike stepped up close to the little demon that held Dawn tightly in his arms. "Why don't you hand her over, and I won't make it hurt when I kill you." His golden demonic eyes practically glowed from the power and anger pulsing through Spike.

"They do say that possession is nine tenths of the law here in America, chap." The little man sneered. "So, I'd say she's mine to do with as I please." He raised the long blade high, and he brought his hand back down in the direction of Dawn's arm.

"SPIKE!" Dawn yelled and closed her eyes seconds before the world went black around her.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

(To Be Continued)

Previous Chapter Summary: Glory broke into the Magic Box shortly after Dawn cut herself on one of Angel's weapons. The scent of her blood was enough to give away her status as the Key to Glory. After a heavy battle in the Magic Box, Glory's minions kidnapped Dawn. The serum was finished, and our band of warriors (along with some extra help from Lydia and some Watchers) invaded Glory's home to get Dawn.

Chapter Summary: The Scoobies, Fang Gang, and Watchers continue their fight against Glory and her minions. Spike tries to stop Doc from starting the ritual. Will Dawn be cut or killed? Will anyone have to sacrifice themselves this time around? Will they finally defeat Glory and remove any threat of her return?

NOTES: The place of the portal opening has changed for my story. We're going to assume that Glory's minions were a little smarter, and they picked a place for the house to be built that was where the portal would be. Instead of building a tower, the portal will open outside of Glory's third story window. Also there are no Knights. You might have noticed that I didn't mention them when the Council showed up even though they were in that episode.

(Disclaimer and Distribution notes are listed in the Prologue of this story. Thank you ahead of time for reading and accepting or abiding by them.)

'Single' quote marks surround thoughts in this story. "Regular" quotes are around spoken words.

"SPIKE!" Dawn yelled and closed her eyes seconds before the world went black around her.

Spike grabbed Doc's wrist in a tight grip. He halted his downward stroke into Dawn's skin. He was glad that Dawn passed out. It would be easier if she didn't have to see what might happen to her next.

Doc's strength was unusual for a creature his size. He kept the back and forth battle over control for the knife going for several minutes. Neither seemed to be gaining any headway over the other. He grew increasingly frustrated at the delay for the ritual. "Why do you fight for them, vampire? You owe humans nothing."

"You're right." Spike twisted Doc's wrist. "They are mine to protect because I love them." He kicked the demon in the stomach and pushed him closer to the window.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Buffy hit the ground with a thud after another powerful hit from Glory. She gasped to force breath back into her aching lungs.

Glory looked down at the crumpled form of the Slayer. "She isn't really your sister." She kicked Buffy under the chin and sent her flying into the other wall. "Why do you resist this? Her only purpose is to be my Key. She is my destiny."

Buffy snuck a hypodermic from one of the downed Watchers she landed next to against the far wall. She tucked it into her palm, and she slowly lifted herself from the ground. "The only destiny you have is to rot in hell for the rest of time you twisted bitch."

Glory's eyes widened in surprise. She hit the floor with Buffy's arms wrapped around her after Buffy charged at Glory in a full run. She tried to beat against Buffy's chest, but she felt herself weakening. "No! No! NO!" She screamed.

Buffy repeatedly punched Glory's face. The plunger of the hypodermic was fully depressed, and the whole needle was embedded in Glory's arm. "You ... will ... never ... touch ... my family ... again." Each word was punctuated with a different punch to Glory's face and body.

Once the serum took full effect, Glory's weakened body morphed back into Ben's. Ben choked on the blood that forced its way into his mouth from punctured lungs and other organs. "Please ... please stop," He choked out.

Buffy jumped off Ben. "It's over, Ben. Tell her she's lost." She ran up the stairs to reach Dawn in time to watch Spike and Doc fly out the window.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Doc kicked Spike's feet out from under him. He stabbed the vampire in the chest and abdomen several times with delight.

Spike groaned with each slice into his skin. 'Bloody Hell that still hurts,' He thought to himself. He shoved his knee up into Doc's stomach and threw him off balance.

The two demons exchanged punches, kicks, and dodges. The longer the battle continued, the closer to the window's ledge they came. Spike started to gain more headway, and he knocked Doc's knife out of the window.

Doc growled, "If I can't complete my mission, then I can at least take you with me to Hell." He grabbed the lapels of Spike's duster. Using their precarious positions at the window's ledge, he threw his weight outward. They both tumbled out of the house into the wood fence below.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Lydia sliced through another brown robed minion. She laid her axe against the wall and surveyed the area. A couple of her fellow Watchers had fallen in battle, but it looked like almost everyone was accounted for. She assumed that Spike, Dawn and Buffy were on the next level.

Xander and Anya walked over to Lydia. "We've got quite a mess to clean up this time," Xander stated with his arm around Anya's waist.

Willow and Tara levitated several of the dead demons into a pile. "Where is Angel?" Tara asked.

"He headed up the stairs to the half-level landing after Buffy dropped Glory," Wesley answered.

"I'll go see if he needs any help," Giles offered. He left the rest of the group to see what the others were doing. He stopped at the edge of the landing. He watched Angel having a chat with Ben.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Angel reached Ben shortly after Buffy headed the rest of the way up the stairs. He crouched down next to the choking human. "You've caused us a lot of trouble, boy."

Ben stared up into the vamped visage of Angelus. The anger in Angel's voice was palpable, and he visibly trembled under the vampire's gaze. "I couldn't ... I couldn't stop her."

"But did you really try hard?" Angelus sneered. "Instead you lie here because Buffy let you live." He held up his hypodermic for Ben to see. "She can't find it within herself to kill a human, no matter how evil they may be."

Ben gulped. "You don't have that problem, do you?" He spoke honestly and evenly despite his fears.

"No, I don't. I've killed far more innocent humans in my time and for far less motivation. You came after my family, and that can not be allowed."

Giles watched the interaction between the two with much interest. He should have felt revulsion at the evil intent from the demon he hated more than any other, but he had to admit to himself that he would be doing the same thing to Ben if their places were reversed.

Angelus pushed the hypodermic plunger to squirt a little of the liquid out the needle. "We really aren't sure what effect a larger amount of the serum would have on any supernatural being." He looked down at Ben. "I could just drain you, but then I'd have to deal with the effects in your blood."

Ben wanted to scream, but he doubted that anyone still alive would help him. He stared at Angelus with contempt but a hint of understanding.

Angelus buried the needle in Ben's neck with precision. He emptied the entire contents of the hypodermic in one fast push. He sat back to wait for the human's death in peace, but he noticed Giles standing a few feet from him.

Giles put out a hand to motion Angel not to speak. He wasn't there to lecture Angel about his choice. He agreed with it. "It's what must be done." He handed over his own hypodermic as well. He nodded his agreement, turned around, and moved around Angel to get up the stairs.

A surprised Angelus injected the serum from Giles' needle into the other side of Ben's neck. He only had to wait a few seconds for the full effect of the serum to take over Ben's entire system. He used his vampiric sense of hearing to make sure that Ben's heart no longer beat before he went to join Giles.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Buffy pushed past Giles. "Cut Dawn loose. I have to get to Spike," She called out behind her as she ran.

Angel was pulled down the stairs when Buffy reached him. "What's wrong?" He asked.

"Some demon and Spike went out the window." Buffy ran towards the front door. "There was a fence down there and ... Oh my God!" She stared at the two bodies impaled on the fence posts beneath Glory's third story window.

"Buffy." Angel shook the sobbing Slayer. "He's not dust, Buffy." He tried to reason with Buffy, but she was inconsolable. He resorted to something he never thought he'd do as his souled self. He slapped Buffy hard across the cheek.

Buffy looked up at Angel with tear filled eyes. She was in shock. Was she to gain Dawn's life only to lose Spike's? She wasn't sure she could live with that any more than she could live without Dawn.

"He's not dust," Angel clarified. "Wood plus vampire equals dust."

Angel's words broke through Buffy's grief filled mind. She ran over to the fence. She slipped on the bloodied innards of the demon Spike originally fought against. "Okay whatever that demon was, ewwwww." She ran further down the line of fence posts until she reached the bloodied black form of her Mate.

Angel kept pace with Buffy. He took in an unnecessary breath at the sight of Spike impaled on the post. He was glad that he swallowed his pride enough to give Spike the ring.

"Spike?" Buffy timidly asked. She cradled Spike's head in her hands. "Oh God, what do I do?" She looked over at Angel for his help.

"You can stop calling the poofter God, for one thing." Spike's eyes opened. He was clearly in pain, but he was conscious. "Last time I checked Angel was only a moniker."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Giles carried Dawn down to the main level. The young teen was exhausted. Whatever preparations had been made for the ritual zapped her overall strength. "Where did Angel and Buffy go?"

"They ran outside," Cordelia answered.

"We thought it best to take care of the details in here as they did not ask for assistance." Lydia wiped her hands off on her slacks. "How do you propose we take care of the evidence here?"

Xander finished bandaging the wounds of one of the male Watchers. "I think we need to get the wounded and dead of our own back to the Magic Box." He stood back up. "Then we torch this place."

"Is Glorificus taken care of?" Wesley asked.

"She and Ben are both dead," Giles explained. "Ben wasn't able to survive the wounds he sustained from Glory's injuries."

"I see. How unfortunate." Wesley adjusted his glasses. "For Ben that is."

"Yes, quite." Giles walked to the door. "I think I'll lay Dawn down in my car."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Spike? Oh God, are you all right?" Buffy tried to figure out how to get him off the post.

"I have a bloody fence post in my chest, Slayer. How do you think I feel?" Spike wasn't mad at Buffy, but he was irritated at the situation in general. He knew he would be a pile of dust if Angel hadn't given him the ring. The fact that he owed the wanker for saving his life irked him.

"Why aren't you dust?" Buffy motioned for Angel to grab Spike's legs. She stood at his head with her hands under his shoulder. "Not that I want you dust, but shouldn't you be dust?" She babbled.

"You'll have to thank the wanker for that one," Spike muttered.

"You should be a bit more grateful that I saved your life, Spike." Angel carefully lifted Spike's legs up. He moved at the same level that Buffy did to raise Spike's entire body off the post.

"You're welcome to take the credit for this one, Sire," Spike taunted. "You get to tell her what you did to save my life." He was going to get a great deal of pleasure out of seeing Angel get his arse kicked by Buffy for lying about the ring.

"Tell me what?" Buffy and Angel lowered Spike to the ground. She opened Spike's coat. The hole in his abdomen and chest made her sick to see. She reached into her boot for a dagger to slit her wrist to feed Spike some of her blood.

"Won't need that, sweetheart." Spike held Buffy's wrist away from the knife. He lifted his shirt for her to witness the wound rapidly sealing itself. "All better soon." He scratched at the healing wound. "Damn, but that itches though."

"How ..." Buffy's eyes darted between Spike and Angel rapidly. "Someone had better explain this to me real soon."

"The Gem of Amara." Spike held up his right hand for Buffy to see the ring on it. "Responsible for saving my ass today." He mimicked his words from the day in the UC Sunnydale Quad.

"I thought you destroyed that." Buffy jumped to her feet. She faced off toe to toe with Angel.

"I made it look like I destroyed it." Angel defended himself. "If everyone thought it was destroyed, no one would come after it. I was still able to keep it safe without the threat from anyone else finding out about its existence."

"And you've had it all this time?" Buffy asked.

"Yes," Angel said simply. "I picked it up on my way back to Sunnydale this morning. I thought we might need it. Guess I was right."

"I should be fire spitting mad at you, Angel." Buffy waggled a finger in Angel's face. "You're lucky that it saved my Mate's life because that is the only thing keeping me from staking you right now."

Spike stood up next to Buffy. His injuries were all healed. Although he felt a little lightheaded from the blood loss, he knew he would be able to replenish the bloody supply soon.

"I meant what I said about accepting what was done." Angel looked between Buffy and Spike. "I don't like it, but I won't interfere. I hope you believe me now."

Buffy wrapped her arms around Angel and hugged him tightly. "Thank you, Angel."

Spike stepped forward, wrapped his arm around Buffy's waist and extended his hand out to Angel. "Thank you."

"We should get back to the others." Angel was uncomfortable to be the focus of their gratitude. His gut still overturned at the thought of losing Buffy to Spike, but he reasoned that it was in his best interest not to interfere. "Ben is dead, but there is a lot of clean up."

"How many did we lose?" Buffy walked back to the house with Spike at her side and her arm curled around his waist.

"Harrison and Parker from the Watcher group," Angel informed them. "I'm not sure about anyone else, but I thought I saw the core group of Scoobies on our way out."

"Good." Buffy breathed a sigh of relief. She feared the casualty count after every apocalypse. If they only lost two people, they were very lucky this time around. Glory's minions had numbered in the several dozen. They were seriously outnumbered.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Wesley, Lydia, Cordelia, Willow, Tara, Anya, Xander, and three others walked out of Glory's house simultaneously. Giles watched the group as they moved towards the cars. He consoled a waking Dawn that everything was all right.

Buffy, Angel and Spike headed for the cars as well when they saw the rest of the group on their way there. Hugs and tears were shared between friends and family in celebration of their survival of yet another apocalypse.

"Good to see you in one piece, Spike." Giles clapped Spike on the back. "We were worried that you were a vampirekabob."

"Caught a lucky break." Spike buried his hands in his duster pockets. "Missed the posts." He wasn't ready to explain that the Gem of Amara still existed. He wasn't sure what Giles' reaction would be to the news.

Giles caught a flash of gold and green on Spike's hand, but he filed his inquiry away for another day. "I'm going to take Dawn to the hospital for a check up."

Buffy nodded her agreement. "Spike and I will join you. We need to tell Mom that we're safe."

"Indeed. You're mother will be worried." Wesley motioned to the rest of the group. "We'll get the wounded into Cordelia's car. We should be able to patch them up at the Magic Box."

"Excellent idea, Wesley." Lydia smiled at the former Watcher. "I will send a team to retrieve our two fallen comrades. We need to bring their bodies back with us to England."

"The rest of you should go home, and get some sleep as soon as you can." Giles directed Willow, Tara, Xander and Anya to Xander's car. "We'll meet at the Magic Box tomorrow afternoon."

Everyone nodded, headed to the various cars, and disappeared into the night for different destinations.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

(To Be Continued)

Previous Chapter Summary: Glory was defeated. The Scoobies and Fang Gang are all intact. They did lose a couple of the Council's Watchers in the battle though. The Gem of Amara saved Spike's life when he and Doc flew out the window.

Final Chapter Summary: It's been quite a ride from start to finish, but we're at the end of our journey for this story. Angel keeps his promise to perform a ritual that will protect Spike and Buffy's claims from any other clan member, including himself. There are some concerns still, but read on to see what happens to our Scoobies.

NOTES: Thank you to everyone who has reviewed on this story since it began in February 2005. It's been a long journey, but I hope that you will feel it was a worthwhile one. This was the first story that I wrote for this fandom, and I am thankful to MissKitty who actually started this one at the BSC. She was unable to continue it, and she offered it up for adoption. Thanks Kitty! It has been sticky at times to get to the next chapter, but I did enjoy writing this story and sharing it with everyone.

(Disclaimer and Distribution notes are listed in the Prologue of this story. Thank you ahead of time for reading and accepting or abiding by them.)

'Single' quote marks surround thoughts in this story. "Regular" quotes are around spoken words.

(Takes place 6 months after the battle with Glory)

"Spike!" Buffy shouted into the training room at the Magic Box, and then she lowered her voice. "Would you please stop pacing?"

"It's all I can bloody do." Spike threw his hands up in the air in exasperation. "The sun's set. He'll be here any minute."

"He'll do right by us." Buffy walked across the training room. She rested her hand on Spike's arm.

"There are still so many ways this can all go to Hell." Spike pressed his lips to the top of Buffy's head. "We should have insisted on the wrist. I don't want that git anywhere near your neck again."

Buffy lifted her head. "We have to give him some of our trust." Her gaze locked with her Mate's. "You and I belong together, and he knows it."

"Knowing it and giving up the chase are two different things." Spike's brow furrowed.

Buffy lifted Spike's right hand. She inspected the gaudy, but effective, piece of jewelry on one of his fingers. "He never tried to take this back from you." She kissed the encased gem.

"He complained enough about giving it to me after the battle with Glory," Spike grumbled. "He doesn't realize the curse that comes with wearing it, or he wouldn't want it back."

"Curse?" Buffy asked in bewilderment. "Is it a curse to feel the warmth of the sun on your face without fear? Is it a curse knowing you can't be killed while wearing it?"

"Yeah, it's a curse because now I am stuck waiting hand and foot as a pack mule for three very bossy ladies." Spike teased. He ducked low and to the right to avoid the punch Buffy threw his way.

"You infuriating ... obnoxious ... vampire!" Buffy continued with a flurry of punches aimed at various parts of Spike's body. She loved him so much, but sometimes he really got on her nerves too.

Spike grabbed Buffy's arm, twisted it behind her, and pulled her back flat against his chest. "There are only one vampire's fangs that should ever be near your neck." He lightly pierced Buffy's skin with the tips of his incisors. "Mine."

Buffy shivered in Spike's arms from desire. She lifted her free arm behind her and placed it at the back of Spike's head while she ground her butt into his denim covered erection. "Always yours. Trust that I won't let him take the claim from you."

Spike supped gently on the powerful elixir that flowed through Buffy's veins. The loving bond between then was unmistakable. He tasted his own essence within her life force. "I trust you with all that I am, beloved," He whispered in her ear.

Buffy slowly turned around in Spike's arm. She cupped his cheek and pressed a kiss to his lips. Tiny fangs pricked Spike's lower lip. She suckled several droplets of Spike's blood before the tiny wound sealed itself. "You are mine, and he will not take that from me."

Spike purred in contentment, "Yours, Buffy, until I'm ashes."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Angel if you don't get your undead ass in that store, I'm going to stake you myself," Cordelia ground out between tight lips in frustration.

Angel continued to pace out in the back alley of the Magic Box. The sun had set 15 minutes earlier, but he couldn't force himself to take the last few steps into the store. "What if I mess this up?"

Cordelia rolled her eyes. "I told you that I wouldn't let you do that." She rested a hand on Angel's arm.

"You don't understand how powerful her blood will be to me." Angel ran a hand through his stiff hair. "The last time I drank from her I almost killed her."

"You were close to dying and half out of your mind at the time too." Cordelia reminded him of the events that surrounded his last feeding from Buffy. "She pushed the demon as far as she could to bring him out. You aren't that same person any more, Angel."

Angel looked up at Cordelia. There was a sense of fear that shone in his eyes, but it melted some after he saw the love shining from Cordelia's eyes at him. "We've tried so hard the last 6 months to put everything behind us and start fresh."

Cordelia stepped forward, wrapped her arms around Angel's waist, and hugged him tightly. She rested her head against his shoulder. "I'd say we've succeeded quite nicely." She kissed the side of his neck.

Angel visibly relaxed in Cordy's arms. "Oh Delia," He sighed softly. "I don't want to ruin what we've accomplished already."

"Then let that lead you, Angel." Cordy pulled back enough to look at Angel. "If you think you'll lose control, focus on everything we have in L.A. together. There are a lot of happy things waiting for us to get back to them."

"Not too happy though," Angel teased.

"We'll see." Cordy smiled at the befuddled look on Angel's face. "Trust me." She hoped that Willow's idea worked. If it didn't, at least Angel wouldn't have known it was possible and been disappointed.

"Always, Delia." Angel kissed Cordy's lips softly. "Let's get this over with." He squared his shoulders, opened the back door to the Magic Box, and stepped into the training room.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Buffy and Spike looked up at the opened door. Cordelia and Angel stood just inside the opened door. The tension in the room was palpable, and no one made a move or spoke.

Dawn, Willow, and Tara walked into the training room from the main part of the store. "Did someone cast a freezing spell?" Dawn teased. "It looks like we have four mannequins in here."

Dawn's words broke through the tension. Buffy and Spike laughed. Angel and Cordelia rolled their eyes simultaneously.

"Much better." Dawn walked closer to Buffy and Spike. Willow and Tara let out a collective sigh of relief. The Wiccas walked hand in hand to oversized gold cloth that would serve as their workplace.

"What is she doing here?" Angel asked. Ever since the battle with Glory, Angel felt intimidated by the power in Dawn's presence. "I know you wanted Willow and Tara for witnesses, but is it a good idea for Dawn to be here to see this?"

"She is necessary for something we have planned afterwards," Willow explained. "Besides we couldn't talk her out of wanting to be here."

"What about Anya and Xander?" Cordelia had been sure that the other two Scoobies would be present.

"They threw us all a curve ball." Spike chuckled. "Instead of waiting to plan their wedding for next year, they decided to elope. Guess Harris didn't want to worry about Anya's side of the family eating his side or his side insulting her side. They left for their honeymoon yesterday."

"They were only engaged for two months though," Cordelia was more than happy with Angel, but she still cared about Xander enough to not want to see him hurt.

Angel watched Cordelia for any signs of heartbreak over the news of her ex-boyfriend getting married. He softly smiled when he noted only a genuine concern for the well being of a friend.

"Everything will be fine for them. Tara did a reading on their aura's when they returned to be sure." Willow knew that many of them had doubts about the newly married couple. They only wanted Xander and Anya to be happy. So, they were all relieved after Tara checked their aura's. Even Xander and Anya seemed to relax a bit more when Tara was done.

"Yep, lots of big fat Harris babies will be scaring the Hell out of the Hellmouth soon enough." Spike grabbed his gut, "Ugh," He moaned from the elbow Buffy jabbed him with. "Easy there, Slayer."

"Be nice." Buffy smiled. She knew that Spike and Xander got along better each day, but they still loved to tease each other. At least it seemed like more of a good-natured kind of teasing now.

"Always pet." Spike rested his arms on Buffy's shoulders. "Are we ready? Joyce and Rupert are expecting us all for a late dinner."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Joyce Summers and Rupert Giles worked in tandem in the Summers' kitchen to get dinner ready. They both worked without needing to ask the other person for each ingredient. Both were quite comfortable in their surroundings.

"How do you think they're doing?" Joyce asked without looking up from the carrots she shredded on top of a mass of lettuce in a large salad bowl.

"I'm sure things are going smoothly, or we would have heard something already." Giles tried to ease Joyce's nerves. In truth he wanted to be there to observe the rituals. Angel asked the ex-Watcher not to come. Angel wouldn't even let Wesley view it.

"What if we're wrong about Dawn? My poor little girl already went through so much lately." Joyce's voice was laden with concern. Dawn was her daughter no matter what she began her "life" as.

In the six months since Glory's defeat, the Scoobies had worked tirelessly on Dawn's origins. Buffy and Spike followed any leads on the monk's origins and whereabouts. When they found a small sect of the monks still alive in the Colorado Mountains, they learned more than they ever thought they would. The monks were willing to share their knowledge since Glory had been defeated already.

It turned out that Dawn was not only a key to Glory's dimension, but she was a key to all dimensions. Dawn's blood was the conduit needed to channel enough energy for dimensional portals in time and reality.

The monks informed them that Dawn's bond with Buffy and Spike probably strengthened and reinforced the claiming bond between the two supernatural creatures. It explained why Spike and Buffy both felt like they actually lived the other one's life during that first night of dreams. It was suspected that Dawn's blood link with them sent them through to various points in time during the night.

When the subject of souls was brought up, no one was surprised when the monks said that the blood link with Dawn helped to strengthen all aspects of Spike's personality. Since the vampire was in a better state of balance with his human side, it strengthened his vampiric and human sides. Therefore his soul, which had been a little farther forward than most vampires, became more secure.

The reason for tonight's dinner was a two-fold celebration. It would be a celebration of security for Spike and Buffy's claims on each other. It would also be a celebration for the permanence of Angel's soul. If everything went according to plan, Angel would be happy clause free after tonight.

Everything depended on what Tara read from Angel's aura before he began the ceremony. If his aura was in balance, or if the human side was predominant, then they would proceed with the permanent ensouling using Dawn's blood as a catalyst.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

(Earlier in the day)

Spike gulped uneasily. Dawn pushed her wrist in front of Spike's face again. "Come on. We don't have all day." She tilted her head to the side. "What are you waiting for?"

"It is not easy for me to bite you, Bit." Spike sighed. "I hate hurting you."

"We both know that you are good at helping it not to hurt." Dawn raised a teasing brow at Spike. "So get on with it."

Buffy blushed a crimson color. She made a mental note to talk to Willow and Tara about a soundproofing spell for their bedroom at Spike's new house whenever Dawn spent the night with them. Despite their best intentions, they couldn't keep their hands off each other even when Dawn was sleeping in the next room.

"Bossy chit," Spike playfully growled. "You aren't getting the same treatment Buffy does when I bite her."

"Ewwww!" Dawn slapped Spike on the side of his head. "You're my brother and best friend. Pervert!"

While Dawn was distracted with her icky fest, Spike bit into her wrist. He siphoned out the necessary amounts of the Key's blood for the ritual. With his fangs still embedded in Dawn's wrist, he offered his neck to Buffy.

Buffy nodded, concentrated on letting her Slayer side take control, felt her little fangs descend, and buried them in Spike's neck to take back Aurelius/Slayer blood that was now mingled with Key blood. It was the necessary mixture that had to be in Buffy's system when Angel drank from her later.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

(Back to the present)

"Spike would never put Dawn's life in danger," Giles reassured the woman he loved. About a month after Joyce's last hospital stay during the battle with Glory, Giles moved into the Summers' house.

Spike bought Buffy a house of their own after much discussion between Giles, Joyce, Buffy and Spike. Joyce wanted Spike and Buffy to have a private place to live together. Two medical check ups and a multitude of reassurances from Joyce and Giles to call at any time if something was wrong, Buffy finally gave in.

Spike and Buffy still visited several time a week for dinner or movies. Dawn spent a couple nights a week at Spike and Buffy's new house to give Giles and Joyce some privacy.

"I know." Everyone seemed so much happier than they were a year ago, but Joyce kept waiting for the "other shoe to fall". She used her nervous energy to twist the vegetables together in the salad with her hands. "I'm worried about all of them."

"They have two witches, a Slayer, a semi-souled vampire, a key, and a seer." Giles smirked in true Spike fashion. "I think they can handle one grumpy soul-cursed vampire."

"You and Spike are not getting any more "pub" time, Rupert Giles," Joyce teased. She waggled her carrot covered finger at him. "You're starting to get too sassy."

Giles pounced on Joyce with a kiss, and he wrapped his hands around her waist. "It isn't my visits with Spike that gets me all feisty, you little vixen." He mock snarled in Joyce's ear.

Joyce shivered in delight and desire. "Okay, back on your side of the kitchen." She reluctantly pushed Giles away. "Dinner first, visit with the kids, then Dawn gets to go visit Willow and Tara tonight."

Giles laughed. "Yes Ma'am."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Cordelia sat down on a bench along the wall in the training room. Dawn sat next to her while Willow and Tara cleansed the room of any magical or supernatural influences except their own. They had to be sure that no one was trying to sneak something into the Magic Box without their knowledge.

Dawn lowered her hand to the bench and squeezed Cordy's hand. She smiled at the Seer with confidence. "We've dotted every i and crossed every t. Tara will watch the entire time."

Cordy nodded. She wanted this to work so badly, not only for Angel but for herself too. It was hard to want Angel so much but need to guard every little intimate moment they shared to keep Angelus from re-emerging.

Tara took up her place behind Angel on the edge of the cloth. Willow stood behind Buffy on the opposite edge of the cloth. Tara nodded to Willow. She indicated that Angel's aura was good.

Willow spoke up, "You can begin."

Buffy and Spike both inhaled deeply, one out of necessity and one out of concern. Spike kissed the back of Buffy's hand. He looked up into Angel's eyes, and he searched them for any sign of malice or anger. Satisfied with what he saw, he lifted Buffy's hand over to Angel and spoke, "My Mate, my life ... Your blessing we seek and your protection as leader of the Clan Aurelius."

Angel placed one hand under Buffy's hand and the other on top of Spike's hand. "The blessing you seek comes with a price, Childe of Aurelius." He pulled the joined hands closer to his mouth. "Once completed, your claim can not be broken by anyone. Do you willing accept that?"

"Yes, I do," Buffy answered first.

"I accept," Spike answered.

"A claim is a sacred bond between the two of you." Angel clasped the top hand around Spike's hand and lowered it to Angel's side. "One life entwined with another," He spoke as he stepped closer to Buffy. "When one perishes, the other will follow from the pain of loneliness and loss."

Buffy was mesmerized by the melodic tone in Angel's voice. It sounded musical and magical. Every word flowed through her with the power it held.

Angel dropped Buffy's hand. He moved Buffy's long golden hair away from her neck. "Knowing all this, do you accept William's claim on your body, heart and soul? Although you could leave his side, you will always be chained to his life and his death."

Spike stiffened beside Buffy. No matter how many times they talked about the ritual, this was one of two parts he feared. He knew Buffy was lost in the ancient magic of the ritual, and it would pull out the truth from her heart. If she had any doubts about Spike, they would come out now.

Angel's eyes never left Buffy's, but he squeezed Spike's hand gently. Even without tasting her blood again, he felt the power of Buffy's love radiating from her inner being. Strangely his demon was appeased with this knowledge. Angel may have loved Buffy, but Angelus' caring for William wanted to help Spike find the peace William always sought.

Buffy's mouth opened, and the words poured out from her heart. "My Mate, my life ... His. Where he goes, I will follow through Heaven or Hell."

Angel nodded his head. "My blessing I give." He switched to his vampiric countenance. "My protection you will receive." He lowered his face to Buffy's neck. He turned his and Buffy's heads to place his fangs in an intersecting fashion to Spike's mating mark.

Everyone on the outside of the ritual watched Angel with care and a little fear. If Angel was going to lose it, they all figured it would be now. Tara watched Angel's aura very carefully. She smiled when the aura changed to contain more purity in it and not less. She turned around and nodded to Dawn.

Dawn got up from the bench next to Cordelia. She slowly walked over to Angel, Buffy and Spike. The ritual needed to continue, and she couldn't make her presence too obvious to Angel.

Buffy's eyes closed. She felt the connection to Spike and Dawn. She felt the power of Angel's protection snap into place, and it seemed like the claim was being locked within her consciousness. She spoke the only name on her mind while Angel took her life into him, "Spike."

Angel broke away from Buffy's neck when she uttered the name of her Mate. He was pleased that she made her choice so vocally known. He yanked Spike's wrist to his mouth and tore into it quickly.

Buffy's fangs emerged, and her body glowed. Spike's own body glowed as well the moment Buffy's fangs embedded themselves into his neck. She twisted her head back and forth to deepen her previous mating mark. She drank his blood happily.

Spike accepted Angel's wrist to complete the triangle of mate, clan and family. He drank Angel's essence like a baby enjoying his mother's milk. He'd hungered so long for the link back to his vampiric family, that he hadn't realized how happy he would be to taste Angel's blood again.

Dawn took up a position next to Tara. Willow, who had moved to the other side of Dawn, clasped one of Dawn's hands. Tara held Dawn's other hand. Both witches stretched their free hands out to Angel, Buffy and Spike.

An emerald stream of light flowed from Dawn into Tara and Willow. The light was directed out to Angel and joined by the golden nimbus that surrounded Buffy and Spike. Flashes of green and gold pulsed into Angel's body while he drank.

Angel jerked up straight and screamed. Spike held onto Angel's wrist with his fangs, and Buffy kept connected with Angel through clasped hands. They both tightened their grip on Angel when he started to writhe and tremble.

Cordelia stood up. Tears fell from her eyes. Nothing so great came without the price of pain or suffering at some point. She saw the pain that Angel was in, but she fought herself to keep from disturbing the spell. Willow and Tara had warned her that if the spell was stopped halfway, they could lose the soul he was cursed with too.

The ritual between clan leader and the mates was completed, but Buffy and Spike held Angel firmly. Both of them shared a hug with Angel while the golden and emerald pulses continued to fire from the surrounding bodies into Angel's body.

"Hold on, Angel," Cordelia called over the crackling din of magic. She watched the good and evil war within Angel as each tendril of the spell locked itself in place. He had to want and accept the soul with his entire being. "Fight for me, Angel. I love you!"

The golden green nimbus flashed so bright that everyone in the room was temporarily blinded. When the light faded everyone was lying on the ground in a state of shock.

Cordelia crawled over to Angel. She cradled his head in her lap. "Angel, please say something." She caressed his cheek.

Angel opened his eyes slowly. He felt so warm and at peace. He kissed Cordy's palm tenderly. "What ... What happened? So ... happy."

Buffy and Spike crawled back to each other. They made their way over to check on Dawn and the two Wiccas. One nod from Tara told them that it worked. The five of them watched Angel and Cordy interact.

"Your soul, Angel," Cordelia started to explain. "It's anchored. Nothing can take it away from you."

"I'm not cursed any more?" Angel stared in disbelief and amazement at the woman he'd grown to love.

"Nope, you can make with as many happy moments as you want," Cordelia teased in a whisper closer to his ear.

Angel pulled back in shock. Then a small grin appeared on his face. It grew wider the more he thought about it. The others in the room were almost afraid to see him smiling after having watched him brood for so long. "You realize we're going to have to stay in Sunnydale overnight now, don't you?"

Cordelia frowned. Surely Angel wasn't going to try to go after Buffy now that his soul was permanent. The ritual was done. He wouldn't be able to break Spike's claim anyways. "Why?" Her voice trembled.

Angel pulled Cordy down to whisper in her ear, "Because I'm not waiting for after the drive back to L.A. to have you in my arms and my bed for the rest of the night."

Cordelia blushed, and Spike cleared his throat. "All right lovebirds. We need to get back to Mum's house for dinner." He held up his hand before Angel protested. "We planned this all out, and the least you can do is share a meal with us before you two go shag like bunnies."

Angel stood up. He offered a hand to Cordy to help her up too. "I'd better see you there too then Mister 'I look like I want to screw my Mate into the ground' Spike."

All of the girls laughed at the two vampires. Buffy and Spike escorted everyone out of the room. They locked up the Magic Box and headed back to Revello Drive.

Life would never be perfect for any of them, but life was surely as close as it could get because of those they loved being at their sides.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

THE END

Again thank you to all of you that have reviewed this story over the almost year that it's been in progress. If you haven't checked out my other fictions at www.heartsoftwilight.net, I'd recommend you do. Also, please join my updates list to find out when new fictions or sequels are coming out. You can send me an email through my web site or through the author ID link on whichever site you found my stories on. Thanks for all of your support. Have a safe and happy year in 2006.