Darkness Falls: Part Six
by Willow Mallory
See parts 1, 2, or 3. Whichever you want, they more or less say the same thing.



***

The Bronze wasn't particularly crowded that night, and for once Buffy was relieved it wasn't. After her big disappointment over Snyder, Giles had suggested she patrol; but Buffy had other things in mind. She needed to talk to Xander, no matter how awkward it was, and find out what exactly Spike was planning. Xander had gone to the warehouse to talk with him when he left the library, and was going to meet her here at ten. She had meant for it to be a one-on-one discussion, but Willow had insisted she come as well. Buffy decided it probably would relieve a little bit of tension if she were there.

Finally Xander showed up, late as usual, and sat down at the small round table.

"So," Buffy asked, "what's the plan?"

"There isn't really much of one. I think, basically, it's 'ambush 'em'." Xander replied, saying the last in a bad English accent. "Spike's not exactly Mr. Planning as of late."

"Remember when we used to sit here all the time, just the three of us, completely boyfriend- and girlfriend-less..." Willow stopped as Buffy looked at her quizzically.

"I remember," Xander said. "Those were the days..."

"Okay, nostalgic much? We're talking plans here," Buffy interrupted.

"Of which there are none," Xander responded. "Yet, anyway. I don't think Spike's gonna make a plan at all. He'll just set a time, place, and we'll attack. Pretty simple stuff."

"Nothing's simple when Angel's concerned," Buffy said.

"For some people it is."

Buffy glared at Xander. "You're not a 'people' anymore, Xander."

Willow put her arms across the table. "No, no. We don't need any more tension. So both of you, stop."

The trio was silent a moment. "Okay, well, I don't think Spike's gonna go for the Slayer intervention method, so you'd have to make a surprise visit, Buffy, if you're gonna do this at all," Xander said.

"And I still don't know."

"Buffy, I was thinking, this doesn't have to just be a let's-go-kill-Angel thing, even though that's the best part of it..."

"Xander..." Willow whispered harshly.

"We can get rid of Drusilla and Spike too."

"You'd turn on your sire?" Buffy asked sarcastically. "How unloyal of you."

"Buffy..." Willow's whisper was more of a plead this time.

"Guess I'm just not the guy I used to be," Xander said.

"Stop! Stop it!" Willow stood up. "This is bad, okay? This isn't the time to be fighting! There is no time to be fighting, really! This could be a chance to get rid of Spike and Drusilla and Angel. I'm not gonna let you two screw it up!"

Buffy and Xander both looked at the table like two scorned children.

"So, are you gonna do it?" Xander asked quietly.

"I don't see why not," Buffy replied. "Does Spike have a time he's gonna do this?"

"Tonight, actually. About three o'clock, at the warehouse."

"I can do that. I'll do it," Buffy said.

"That's five hours from now, what are you gonna do until then?" Xander asked.

"Prepare." Buffy stood from her chair, and headed towards the door. Exchanging a glance, Willow and Xander followed.

"Not at the library..." Xander began to say, before being interrupted.

"Why not?" Buffy turned to face them.

"Well, um, Giles, y'know, probably wouldn't be into it."

"He doesn't have to know what I'm training for," Buffy said, then turned and walked out the door.

* * *

Giles was surprised to see the threesome enter his office again. He had assumed they had retired for the night...Willow and Buffy, anyway. He couldn't be sure of what Xander's plans had been. But as of right now he was here. A small blessing, being that he wasn't out killing anybody.

Buffy headed straight for the filing cabinet that housed the weapons. She flung open the doors, revealing quite a full stock of anti-demon weaponry. She quickly glanced through it, deciding what would be best for who.

"Will," she said, pulling out a spray bottle of holy water and a couple of stakes, "take these. Anything else you want?" Willow grabbed a couple of garlic cloves.

"These," she said, then backing away from the cabinet.

"Xander," Buffy took the crossbow of it's hook and handed it to him. "I'm assuming you're a better shot now than you used to be." She also handed him a couple of stakes.

"You better believe it," Xander said, eyeing the crossbow. He could just imagine aiming it at Angel, the arrow piercing his heart. Giles brought him out of his fantasy when he took the weapon from his hands.

"I don't believe it is a good idea to be giving Xander weapons, Buffy," the Watcher said, handing the crossbow back to the Slayer. "And what *is* all this for?"

"We were going patrolling," Buffy said lamely.

"I do not recall patrolling requiring so many weapons."

"Well, uh, you know, you can't be too safe," she stuttered.

"Buffy, what were you planning on doing?"

Buffy bit her lip.

"Spike had a plan to kill Angel, and Buffy agreed to help with it, and we're stocking up because there's gonna be a huge battle in the warehouse and we're preparing to kick some vampire ass."

Giles, Willow and Buffy stared at Xander, surprised. "Remind me not to tell him a secret," Buffy muttered.

Giles took a minute to process this information. "Buffy, I need to talk privately with you," he said finally.

Xander and Willow took their cue and exited the library.

"This is the part where he tells her how 'foolish' she is for going along with this, and how she shouldn't trust me and I could just be leading her into a trap for Angel."

"Yep," Willow responded. "So what should we do? We might as well go patrolling, huh?"

"Might as well," Xander replied, and the two left the school.

* * *

"Buffy, this is extemely foolish of you," Giles lectured the seated Slayer. "You should never have gotten yourself into something like this."

"I didn't get myself into anything!" she protested. "I don't have to show up, it's not like it's written in stone or anything."

"Yes, but that you agreed to it at all! You don't know that Xander isn't leading you into a carefully laid trap...."

"Thought of it, Giles. Even if Xander did turn on me, I could handle him. He's not that experienced, Giles. I was prepared...I could take care of him."

"And Angel and Spike and Drusilla as well? Buffy, you cannot let your guard down..."

"Let my guard down? You wanna talk about letting your guard down?! I was with Xander every time he was with Willow, as far as I know. I never let anyone go with him anywhere alone. And you just sent Willow and Xander out of here, together!"

Giles was stunned to silence. "I-I, well, yes, I, I suppose I did..."

"Let's go find them before something happens," Buffy stood and walked to and out of the library doors, with Giles trailing behind her struggling to put on his coat.

* * *

Willow tapped the stake against the side of her leg as she walked. She looked into the night sky, and said, "It's really cold tonight. I mean *really* cold. It's not normal."

"It is if you live in Oklahoma," Xander said absently.

Willow turned to him. "Why Oklahoma? I would expect Antarctica or Greenland or something, but Oklahoma?"

"Cause in Oklahoma you never know what the weather's gonna be like," Xander said. "Once it was 42 degrees in September, then 75 in the middle of December." He noticed Willow giving him a look. "I had a pen pal there."

"Oh." Willow looked into the graveyard when she saw movement. "Xander, look!"

He looked to where she pointed, and saw Angel and Drusilla playing around. "Shit. Guess we'll have to find another graveyard."

"Not likely." Suddenly Spike appeared beside them. "Place and time have been changed, mate. To now."

Willow instinctively took a step back from the blond vampire. Spike smiled.

"Don't worry luv, I just ate." He turned to Xander. "Now or never, mate."

Spike disappeared into the cemetery.

Xander put his hand on Willow's arm. "Go get Buffy," he said softly. Willow nodded. "And, Will, I love you. Y'know, in case...I just want you to know that."

Willow put her arms around him. "I love you too, Xander."

Xander hugged her, and kissed her on the forehead. "Go."

Willow let go and ran quickly down the street. Xander followed Spike into the cemetery.

* * *

Buffy and Giles came out of the school, frustrated after searching the halls for Willow and Xander and not finding them.

"Buffy, where could they have gone?" Giles asked, slowing his pace.

"Anywhere!" Buffy cried, exasperated. She turned to Giles. "They could be anywhere! This is what happens when your guard is down."

"Yes, Buffy, you've told me that at least a dozen times. And I'll never let it down again."

"Good." Buffy turned and walked to the street. "I don't even know where to start looking for them."

"Buffy!" She looked down the street to see Willow running towards her. Willow reached her, panting. "Buffy, cemetary, Spike decided to ambush now."

"Oh crap," Buffy sighed.

"Where's Xander?" Giles asked.

"He's with Spike, they're starting it right now!" Willow grabbed Buffy's hand and started running. "C'mon, we gotta help him!"

* * *

Xander glanced around the cemetary, looking for Spike, before noticing that he had already confronted Angel. "So much for the element of surprise," Xander muttered. Angel did seem genuinely surprised at a wheelchairless Spike, though. Drusilla, on the other hand, was attempting the impossible task of hanging on both vampires at the same time. She was completely obilvious to what was going to happen, and when it did happen, she started crying.

Spike struck Angel first, leaving a good sized bruise on his jaw, but the older vampire wasn't fazed. Angel tackled Spike, and the two vampires struggled against each other.

As Angel slammed Spike against a gravestone, Spike yelled, "Take care of Dru!!" Angel glanced behind him to see who Spike was talking to, but saw no one.

"Not only are you weaker," he laughed, "but you're delutional now too!"

Meanwhile, Drusilla had stumbled directly into Xander's arms. Xander wasn't sure she could see anything through her tears, but she surprised him.

"It's the boy," she whispered. "But he's not a boy anymore, no..."

"It's okay, Drusilla," Xander said softly. "Spike told me to take care of you, and I will."

Drusilla leaned against his chest, sighing her relief. "Spike always took good care of me, giving me dollies and yogurt...will you give me yogurt?"

"Sure, Dru," Xander took a stake out of his pocket, "It'll be okay, everything'll be fine." He patted her on the back, then plunged the stake into her back. Drusilla gasped, and burst into ashes.

"You're taken care of, Dru, but what about Angel?" Xander moved from behind the bushes to see Angel pinning Spike against the ground. "Nope," he moved forward to help his sire.

* * *

Buffy walked up to the gate of the cemetary and stopped dead in her tracks at the sight of Xander holding Drusilla. She shook her head slowly with wide eyes. Willow caught up to her and followed her line of sight.

"Oh my god," she whispered.

Giles finally caught up to his younger companions, and gasped his own surprise. "I...he *was*..." But before he could finish, Xander had dusted the vampiress. "...not lying."

Buffy closed her eyes in relief. "That really scared me for a second."

"You're not the only one," Willow breathed.

* * *

Xander walked up to where Angel and Spike were struggling and pulled Angel off of Spike as violently as he could. Angel stumbled and had a bit of trouble regaining his balance. He growled, game face on.

"You really are asking for it, aren't you?" he threatened.

"No, but are you offering?" Xander smiled, and his game face appeared as well.

Angel launched at Xander. He threw a powerful punch, but Xander ducked and kicked Angel's legs out from under him. Xander pulled out his stake, intending to stake the older vampire while he was down, but in seconds Angel was back up and kicked the stake out of Xander's hand.

"You didn't think it would be that easy, did you?" Angel asked, Spike forgotten.

"Well, I couldn't help but hope," Xander growled.

Xander threw himself at Angel, but the more experienced vampire rolled, grabbing the stake. Angel stood, grabbed the younger vampire by the collar, and threw him against the brick wall that surrounded the cemetery. Xander struggled to stand, but Angel grabbed his neck and held him against the wall. Angel placed the stake over Xander's heart.

"This was the biggest mistake of your life, Xander," Angel grinned. But he was a bit unnerved when Xander smiled too.

"Guess I'm gonna be really, really dead, huh?" Xander asked. "That'll be fun, y'know? I always wanted to be cremated."

"You've lost it," Angel said.

"No," Angel dropped Xander when he heard her voice. "You're the one who's gonna lose it."

Buffy skillfully kicked the stake out of Angel's hand and caught it mid-air.

"This is it, Angel," she said. "No more games, no more playing around. Tonight this ends."

"Yeah, right," the vampire mumbled.

Buffy punched him in the face, then delivering several quick blows to his stomach. Angel grimaced and threw several punches at Buffy, who blocked each one easily. The Slayer kicked him, and he fell into a bush. She approached him carefully, but Angel got up and knocked her to the ground. Xander then appeared, punching Angel in the face. Angel was caught off guard, and Xander began pummeling him. Angel fell to the ground, and Xander kicked him in the side.

Xander reached down and helped Buffy up. "Honors?" he said, indicating Angel.

"Gladly," Buffy said. Xander grabbed Angel and held him up for Buffy. The Slayer pulled out her ever-ready stake. Buffy smirked. "Good-bye, lover," she said.

And she staked him.

Angel screamed as his body disintegrated into dust. Buffy backed away. Xander wasn't as fast and got a good eyeful of dust. When he noticed that all he was holding now was a handful of ashes, he backed away as well.

Buffy stared at the pile of dust on the ground. Just stared. It was over. That pile of dust marked the end of a big part of her life -- a part that could never come back. She kneeled next to the pile, Angelus forgotten, and cried for her lost Angel.

Joining them from her observation point of the fight, Willow squatted next to Buffy and put her arms around her. She grieved for her friend, although thankful that Angelus' grip on Buffy and Sunnydale was gone for good.

Xander still stood, unable to comfort. He had not a regretful thought in him. All happy thoughts. In fact, it was all he could do to keep from smiling. He couldn't stay here, though, and risk eroding what was left of the precarious friendship he had with Buffy. If she saw him there, and knew that he couldn't care less about her sadness of Angel's demise, there would be no precarious friendship. So he did what any other vampire would do -- disappeared.

Giles wasn't the best at comforting, he knew from experience, but he could try. He patted Buffy on the back, saying, "There, there".

Buffy shrugged off her best friend and her Watcher, taking a deep breath and wiping her tears from her eyes. "It's over," she said, standing up. "I can't let it --*sniff*-- I can't let it get to me. He-he was gone way before I-I killed him." She looked around. "What happened to Xander? And Spike?"

Giles glanced around as well. "I don't know. Perhaps, he had to, um, 'bail'. As for Spike, who knows."

"You don't think he's with Spike, do you?" Buffy asked. "After all he did?"

"He killed Drusilla," Willow mumbled. "Spike won't forgive him for that. He couldn't be on his side..."

"We can only hope..." Giles muttered.

Buffy took off her jacket, and brushed the dust into it. "He at least deserves a, some kind of burial. For the good part of him." She folded up the jacket, and they walked out of the cemetery.


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