Buffy sat in a deep trance, as she got deeper and deeper into her inner self her life started to flash before her. She saw the last eight years flash past as if she was watching a movie. Most of the unimportant stuff just flashed past in a whirl but a couple of interesting things that were important to her mission stood out in slow motion. Angel stood before her telling her that he had to take the day back, he was human, she was crying and saying that she would never forget.
She couldn’t believe what she was seeing, he had been human, for a full day they were together and happy! She saw herself saying that she would never forget and then standing again the day before with no memory of what had happened and the tears she shed for her beloved and loosing her dream.
More moments flashed before her, finding out dawn was the key, her mother telling her that she had to stay in hospital overnight and then Spike walking up to her with a shotgun ready to kill her, then seeing her crying, the look of concern on his face, the look of love and how he had sat there and comforted her for the night as she cried. She knew from that moment as she was floating in her mind that he really did love her and how horrible she had been to him in return.
A wave of guilt and remorse swept through her as she watched over the relationship she had with Spike. He had given her his heart, he went and fought for his soul for her, and ultimately died for her. She had given him nothing in return but an “I love you” as he was dying. He had deserved much more than she had given him.
As she started coming out of her trance tears fell down her cheeks. She had loved Spike, as she had loved Riley and Angel, but it was only Angel that she had ever let in. And out of all of them he was the only one that had left her, even when they had a chance of a normal life he had taken it back. She knew he did it to save her and out of love, but she couldn’t help but feel that they could have made it work.
Although she loved Angel and a part of her always would, it was Spike she missed the most. She didn’t have the chance to tell him now, to be able to hold him and say how sorry she was for the way she treated him. She stood up and walked to the window and looked out the window and soaked in the country side sun. Europe had been good for her and Dawn, but now it was time to move on. Dawn was old enough now to stay in school while she went on her mission and she had Xander to look after her while she was away. There was something big coming to LA and she had to go collect the other slayers and help Angel defeat it.
Buffy had been training for a year to help herself become stronger and to prepare herself for the battles that she would have to face. Her powers had grown stronger since she had fought the first and had Willow use the power of the scythe to make the potentials in the world Slayers. She had the birthright power and every day she could feel it getting stronger like a light waiting to burst out of the dark, but she knew that Angel and his crew couldn’t handle it alone and she couldn’t be the only one to help them out, the thing that was coming would need an army to defeat it and Buffy intended to bring Angel exactly that.
As she looked out the window of the bus to L.A she thought about her life...she was going back to where it all started, to where she had been called, her life had now gone in a complete circle.
The bus slowly pulled up into the bus station, as Buffy collected her suitcase she thought about the battle that lay waiting for Angel. She wondered how deep he had gotten himself into the hell that was about to be unleashed. Her thoughts were interrupted by her cell phone, she answered it to hear Giles on the other end. “There will be at least twenty Slayers arriving in LA in the next couple of days, we’re trying to round up more, hopefully by the end of the week we will have a hundred to help you out from across the globe. Buffy this is big.” Buffy let out a sigh “I know Giles same old same old, we beat the first, we can handle this to and if Angel is still himself, we will have him and his crew on our side too.”
Buffy swore she could hear Giles cleaning his glasses on the other end of the phone. “That’s the problem, we don’t know if we can trust Angel. He works at Wolf Ram and Hart. Their roots go through all dimensions and date back since before man. The power could have corrupted him.” Buffy thought about this for a moment. Angel was her first love, and with all the things she had found out along her journey she couldn't let him do this alone, not this time and if he had turned she would bring him back again, no matter what it took. She said goodbye to Giles and thanked him for the information then hung up the phone. She put her hands in her pocket and played with the bottle that she had in there, if everything went to plan and they got through this, she would finally have her dream.
As the cab pulled up in front of Wolfram and Hart, Buffy couldn't believe her eyes...this is what Angel had willingly walked into...she could smell the evil that was in this place and the stench overwhelmed her. She wondered to herself if Giles was right. Was Angel was himself? Or had the evil had taken over him. She knew that Angel would never let himself be drawn in to the evil intentionally so she started to wonder if Angelus had made a return visit. That was the last thing that she needed with the battle drawing near, to fight someone who wanted to torture her in unspeakable manners.
She slowly walked up the steps and into the foyer; people were rushing around everywhere, not like the old Angel Investigations. As she turned around to find a desk to ask for directions to Angel's office she bumped into someone, when she looked up she realized that it was Angel.
"Buffy." Angel stuttered surprised to see her standing in front of him, "I thought you were somewhere around Europe?"
"I was," Buffy replied, "but something has come up...something of the big bad kind." "Oh I see." Angel said the clear disappointment showing in his voice that this wasn’t a social visit. "What kind of big bad are we looking for this time?" He asked as he shifted his eyes to his feet to keep himself from showing the emotions that were coursing through his mind and body. Buffy didn’t seem to notice and continued to carry on the conversation. "I'm not sure, but I can tell you this much, it took me a year of training to prepare myself to help you face it and an army of Slayers on their way to help."
Angel led Buffy to his office, as she walked in she saw something she couldn’t believe was possible, there he was, standing in the corner like nothing had happened, it was Spike! She had to do everything in her power to hold back the urge to run up to him and do all the things she had wanted to do for so long. "Oh my god Spike! How could this...why didn't I…why didn’t you...How is this possible?"
"Long story love" Spike replied the look of sheer glee on his face to see his love again. "It's been a long time pet." Spike looked over to Angel; the look of sheer jealousy was all over his face. "Come here and give me a kiss pet."
"Spike!" Buffy exclaimed obviously aware of what was going on, and secretly wanting to do just that, but at the same time there was Angel, she still loved him too and it would break him to see her run up to Spike of all people and kiss him, especially when she also had the urge to run into his arms and kiss him too. This was going to be one confusing time for her indeed.
"I'm not going to go through this whole vampire jealousy crap again it's not what I have come here for! There are more important things." Buffy tried harder to hide her feelings for Spike and the joy she felt being able to see him again after all she knew now, but the look on Angel’s face told her that he knew that there was still something between them. A wave of guilt washed through her again, she still loved Angel and it tore her heart out to see him in pain. Again she thought that this was going to be one confusing and frustrating time for her coming up and one hard decision she would have to make.
Buffy then when on to explain that during her journey across Europe she discovered that there was another dark power, one that rivaled even the first evil that was planning on showing up sometime soon in L.A, and that it was planning on showing up in the very building they were standing in.
"What?!" Angel exclaimed, "We are doing good here! This place was evil sure but I'm turning that around, I mean I have turned that around."
"No Angel," Buffy replied, "This place was built for evil and will always be evil and all I know is that whatever this big bad is you are in it's plans and now I'd say so is Spike"
As day turned into night, Buffy and Angel went for a walk around the streets of L.A, talking about Buffy's journey and what she had found out much to Spikes disapproval. Buffy thought to herself "I can't keep it to myself any longer."
"Angel, I have to tell you something...,” she nervously said as she looked up at him, "what is it? Is something wrong?" Angel asked anxiously. "No, well yes, maybe," Buffy stammered "While I was in Europe I found out something that only you were supposed to know, well that you were only supposed to remember..."
Angel's mind wandered back to the day he became human. Surely it couldn't be the oracles swore that no one would remember but him. Buffy went on to continue, "I know you were human Angel, I know what you gave up for me, for us. I saw it all. While I was in Europe I did some deep meditation training, and although the oracles said that no one would remember but you, that only applied for the conscious mind, not in sub-conscious..."
Angel couldn't believe it! She knew, that day, that wonderful day where everything was perfect that he had to burden by himself for all this time regretting what he gave up, she knew.
"Angel, we could have made it work. We could have at least tried." Angel could hear the pain in her voice and he felt the tears welling up in his eyes. “Buffy…I … We …. What I mean is the Oracles told me that you would die not long after that day. I couldn’t live with myself knowing that I was the cause of your death.” Buffy looked up and smiled “Buffy with the dying doesn’t work around here, you know that.” They both had a chuckle and walked along silently for a while both lost in their thoughts until Buffy spoke up again. “Angel, there’s something else I need to tell you.” Angel could tell that something was up by the way that Buffy sounded hesitant “What is it Buffy? Is there something wrong?” "No…Well not really it kind of makes things confusing and all with the thoughts for me but not something wrong and there goes Buffy with the rambling. Angel I found something, something that could change everything."
Buffy knew that this news could change her life as well as Angel's, but it could also change Spike's life she had to make a choice, although she loved both of them, even if it was in different ways, it was going to be the hardest choice she would ever have to make.
"What is it Buffy?" Angel asked, "I can't tell you not right now, not until this is over and then I will tell you and Spike together."
"Oh here we go." Angel said sarcastically "You love him don't you, that's what you want to tell me, you love Spike!" Buffy could notice the sheer anger and hurt in his voice
"No Angel, I love both of you, in different ways but all the same I love both of you and what I have to tell you has to do with the both of you" Angel backed down for the moment but he still wasn't happy with the situation. Spike, it always had to be Spike.
Buffy and Angel returned to Wolfram and Hart in silence, when they got there Spike was waiting, trying not to make it look obvious that he was waiting to see if Buffy and Angel were back together. Angel walked hastily past him and into his office slamming the door behind him. "Well he's in one of his brooding moods I see." Spike remarked clearly happy that there had obviously been some sort of argument between them.
"Stop it Spike!" Buffy snapped, "I'm not in the mood for the jealousy and twelve year old attitudes that you two have whenever I'm around."
"Easy pet, I was only making a comment, don't snap at me because you and lover boy had a tiff it's not my fault." Buffy relaxed a little, she was glad that Spike was alive, for the last year she had felt like she could have done something to save him, pull him out of the hell mouth, anything just to get him out of there, and here he was in front of her.
"Sorry, things are more complicated than just the big bad, a lot more complicated." Spike moved closer towards her remembering her last words she spoke to him, "did you really mean it?" Spike said softly. "Mean what?" Buffy asked in return. "That you loved me pet, did you think that dying in the hell mouth would make me forget what you last said to me, I don't think so."
"Yes" Buffy replied, "I do love you, I love both of you." Spike scoffed at the remark "Well that's just bloody perfect isn't it, you sure know how to make a bloke feel special don't you." Buffy sighed. "Spike, I don't need this right now, please just leave it be, you don't know how hard this is for me seeing the both of you here."
Spike stroked Buffy's hair lovingly. "It's ok pet I understand I'll back off it’s just that I've been so worried about you." Buffy moved away from Spike, "I know you've been worried about me, but I'm O.K I really am." Spike was taken aback by Buffy moving away from him “love what’s wrong? You moved away, I would never hurt you, you know that.” God this is hard Buffy thought to herself as she turned to Spike. “I know you would never hurt me Spike, that’s not even an issue, it’s just that things are hard right now, with you being here and Angel being here in the same place at the same time and all the things I’ve seen, all the things I know it’s just so hard to deal, you know what I mean?”
“Well I would love if I had the foggiest idea what you’re talking about. What do you know? You know you can tell me anything.” He moved closer to Buffy and started to stroke her hair again this time instead of pulling away Buffy moved closer to him and sighed. “There’s so much I need to tell you, so much I didn’t get to tell you before. Spike, I’m sorry, I treated you.” Spike cut Buffy off before she could go any further. “Shh love, you don’t need to say it, I know and I understand why you treated me the way you did. It doesn’t change a thing I still love you more than life itself and I always will. All that I’ll ever ask in return is for your love, or at least your friendship. You know you’re the one Buffy, you always will be.” Buffy’s eye’s welled up with tears, Spike always knew how to make her feel like the only woman in the world that mattered at the exact right time she needed to feel like that. She leaned closer to him and the two of them met for the first kiss that they had shared since before the hell mouth closed in Sunnydale for the last time.
(The following day)
Buffy hung up the phone from Giles, she had to meet ten Slayers that had arrived in LA that morning but unfortunately there was still no word on what the big bad they had to face was exactly. All that could be worked out was that Wolfram and Hart was behind it, or at least the power behind Wolfram and Hart was.
Buffy left her hotel room and headed back to Wolfram and Hart to meet the other Slayers and to tell Angel and Spike the news she had just found out. As she walked in she found Angel and Spike having an argument. "Oh sorry, have I walked in on some macho vampire stuff?" Buffy said sarcastically, "Should I come back later when you have both either killed each other or blown off steam?"
Angel and Spike stopped arguing and looked at Buffy, "sorry pet, captain forehead and I were just having a disagreement about something...no need to go we will finish it later." Spike smirked at Angel and mouthed the words, she loves me more then Angel spoke up. "No actually it was more captain peroxide here having a little whine about things like he usually does." He then mouthed the words keep dreaming to Spike and then turned his attention back to Buffy.
"So what have you found out about the big bad?" Angel asked. "Well," Buffy said, "I know one thing, there are ten Slayers about to arrive here and the power behind this place has something to do with it." "What do you mean pet?" Spike asked "I mean that whoever is the big mucho power that runs the Wolf Ram and Hart through all dimensions is behind what ever is coming." "The senior partners." Angel replied, "Buffy this is bigger than we thought, we may not be able to stop this."
"Yes we can and we will. We stopped the first evil, obviously tied in with these guys somehow, so I shall have some fun kicking their asses when it comes down to it." Buffy sighed, "You’d think after saving the world seven or so times they would give a Slayer a break wouldn’t ya?." "No rest for the wicked pet" Spike said with a wink, "Pet, there’s something Angel and I have to tell you before we go any further, you remember Fred?" "Yeah that girl Angel saved from the demon dimension?" Buffy replied "Yeah her. Well one of the employees here killed her, or rather unleashed an old one that took over her body Illyria.” “Oh my God.” Buffy could barely get the words out. “She was such a nice person, she...” Buffy was lost for words, a wave of anger swept through her, yet again another innocent was taken. “Where is this ‘Old One’ and how do I kill it?”
Angel let out a sigh. “Buffy I know how you feel, we’ve all felt it, but Illyria isn’t a threat anymore, her powers were mostly stripped and she could prove to be useful in this fight. But I must warn you she isn’t very sociable.” “OK then.” Buffy replied, one demon that isn’t quite evil on our side, good for us.
"There’s something else I have to tell you." Angel said getting out of his chair, "Spike go find something useful to do like try to be scary or something I need to talk to Buffy alone with this one." Spike scoffed at Angel, "I'm a damn right scarier than you, Mr. 'Oh I'm so tortured and cursed, I must save the world’ and I’m not going anywhere.'" Buffy shouted at both of them, "God, do you two ever stop?! I mean jeez you'd think after living for over 200 years you'd at least grow up a little!!" Both Spike and Angel mumbled under their breaths and settled down. “Spike, this is important.” Angel said with a sigh unsure of exactly how he was going to tell Buffy about his son.
Buffy looked around Angel's office, it was huge, with daylight coming through, she could see why Angel couldn't resist it. Although Buffy knew it would be his undoing. “Fine.” Spike scoffed, “But I’ll be right outside.” And with that he left the room closing the door behind him.
Angel thought for a moment, and then looked up at Buffy, "There’s no easy way to tell you this so I’ll just come out and say it. Buffy I have a son, his name is Connor. The reason I’m here is because I needed to give him a normal life, he was going insane and the only way to save him and Cordy was to kill him and Wolfram and Hart sent him to a normal family to have a normal life.”
“Hold up a sec.” Buffy said taken aback by what she just heard. “Vampires can’t conceive children, you told me that. How did this happen?” Angel sighed again. “Darla.” He said simply. “Yes Darla is dead you dusted her years ago. To save me no less.” She replied. “Wolfram and Hart, before I took this place over, brought her back as a human, I tried to save her but they brought Dru into it and she vamped her again. I was going through a bad time and I slept with her.” “You slept with Darla…actually had sex with her?” “I had lost my way, Darla, saving Darla meant a lot to me and losing her sent me on a downward spiral. It was sleeping with her that brought me back; it did the opposite to what sleeping with you did to me.” “Oh.” Buffy replied memories flooding back of Angelus and how he had almost killed her and destroyed the world.
“There’s so much that’s happened Buffy, Cordy is dead;” “What!” Buffy exclaimed shocked by the news that one of her friends was dead and she hadn’t been told. “Why didn’t you tell me? How did it happen?” Angel went on to tell Buffy the events of the last year, about Jasmine, Cordy and the vision that she had given him with their last kiss. “Again I say hold up.” Buffy said shocked, “you and Cordy kissed? Since when did you and Cordy kiss? What did I miss here?” Angel sighed again and went on to explain how he grew to love Cordy. “Whoa, You’re saying that you were in love with Cordy but every time that Spike is mentioned you go ape at me with your immature jealousy! You’re a hypocrite!” Angel felt shamed by the truth that Buffy had spoken. She was right he was a hypocrite and had no right to act the way he did about Buffy and Spike when He was in love with Cordy. “I’m sorry Buffy. I realise I had no right now. Forgive me?” Buffy looked into his puppy dog eyes and sighed “Of course I forgive you. You know I can’t stay mad at you when you look at me that way.”
Spike wandered around the halls of Wolfram and Hart. "Bloody stupid Angel," he mumbled to himself, "like he knows anything about what Buffy and I went through! I save the bloody world and I still can't get an ounce of respect from the git!" As he turned the corner, he saw a familiar face, it was Faith. "Well bloody hell," he smirked, "this must be slayer month or something." Faith turned around and grinned, "I always knew that bursting into dust couldn't stop you, how are you Spikey?" "Oh alright I 'spose, 'cept for blemmin forehead guy, I'd rather stake myself than put up with him for all eternity."
"Well why don't you just leave then? I mean this place doesn't seem like the type of place a bad boy like you would hang around." Faith smirked, she knew why Spike was here, good ol' B. "So where is my old buddy B anyway?" she smirked. "In Angel's office, probably getting her rocks on, on his desk I'd say." "Oh now, now Spike, don't be so jealous! You know a bad boy like you can get a way better chick than that, you need a bad girl." Spike knew that Faith was only trying to get his back up as usual, and as usual it worked. "For your information pet, I'm a changed man, or did you forget me saving all your asses or something?"
"Com'on Spike, you know I’m just playing with ya, I know you've gone all soft." Faith replied with a grin. "I need to find B I have something for her." Spike lead Faith back to Angel’s office. When they got there they found Buffy sitting by herself. “Where’s your lover boy pet?” Spike asked sarcastically. “He’s gone to collect the Slayers,” Buffy said as she looked up and saw Faith. “Faith, glad you could make it.” Faith smirked at Buffy. “You know me B, always looking for a party and by what I hear; this will be one hell of a party indeed.” “By the sounds of it, it won’t quite be much of a party, more like a slaughter of a lot of innocent people.” “As I said party.” Faith motioned to Buffy that she needed to talk privately so they both left the room. “Fine then.” Spike called out after them. “I’ll just sit here and twiddle my thumbs while you two have your girlie chat.” “Don’t worry lover boy” Faith called back, “I’ll only take her for a little while then you can have her back…or her front…up to you really.” “Faith!” Buffy exclaimed blushing. “What? As if you don’t want to just give him a good ugh!” “What is it with you and grunting? Do you know how to describe anything with something other than a grunt?” They both laughed and continued on their way.
Buffy and Faith walked out of Angel’s office and into the streets of L.A "So B, what's the deal with Angel these days? You guys hookin' up now that you're all not the only 'Chosen One' anymore? Or are you and Spike gonna take up where you left off?" Faith asked as she walked towards a nightclub named The Spot. Buffy pondered Faith's question for a moment, she hadn't actually thought about the whole Angel and Spike thing since she had spoken to Giles about the big bad. She sighed and replied, "I haven't really thought about the whole situation, I have this cure that can make one of them human, but I have to choose between Angel and Spike and it's rather.." Faith interrupted. "Whoa you gotta be kiddin' me! That's the strangest thing, because I picked up this along the way..." Faith pulled out an amulet from her pocket; it was gold with a purple gem in the middle and had an inscription around the outside of the gem.
Buffy looked at the amulet and thought of the last time she had been given something like this, it was back in Sunnydale and she was fighting Caleb. She had been so happy to see Angel that night, and so devastated to see Spike die as a result of it. Faith's voice brought Buffy back to reality. "B! Did you hear what I said?" "Wha...Oh sorry, I was thinking about something, go on," Buffy said distantly. "I said that this is meant to give Angel a normal soul, you know, lift the curse, let him have a soul without having to worry about turning evil when he gets a happy?" Buffy was speechless, this made things worse and better at the same time, she could give Angel a normal soul and turn Spike human, or she could hide the amulet and turn Angel human and leave Spike with a soul. She didn’t know what to do.
As Buffy and Faith turned the corner to go to the nightclub they heard a scream coming from a nearby alleyway. "Business as usual." Faith said as they started running towards the alleyway. With stakes in hand, Buffy and Faith rushed the Vampire that was attacking a pretty redhead down the alley beside the nightclub. "You know, you really shouldn't play down dark alley's", Buffy said sarcastically as the Vamp looked up. "Oh good seconds." The vampire grinned as he threw the frightened girl aside.
"Ever heard of the word Vampire Slayer?" Buffy asked as she tilted her head to the side. The Vamp looked confused for a second and then rushed Buffy fly kicking her down to the ground. "Slayer!" He hissed. "What about the term Slayers?" Faith asked as she kicked him from behind slamming him against the wall. The Vamp shook his head and looked up, stunned he slowly stood up. "Fine, I'll have you both, I've heard the blood of a Slayer is a really fine treat. I'm sure two Slayers will give me quite a buzz." Faith grinned at the Vamp. "Oh common! You don't think we're that cheap do you?" As the Vamp went to make another snide remark, Buffy fly kicked him in the head. "You really think you could take two Slayer's on?" she scoffed, "You really must be full of yourself." Buffy pushed him towards Faith and into the stake Faith was holding. The Vampire looked up confused for a second, then screamed as he turned into dust.
"I can't believe how cocky they are getting!" Buffy exclaimed. "You'd think they would be at least scared of us still." Faith laughed and replied, "Must be all the newbie’s getting used to the whole slayage gig. There's so many these days that the Vamp's don't know the experienced from the trained, and I tell you what, Giles sure has his hands full at the moment, what with the whole no council thing and all. They really should think about getting that going again. Man I'm starved. Let's get something to eat." And with that Buffy and Faith went to get something to eat and do some partying at The Spot.
The two girls sat at a table, Buffy looked around, The Spot looked a lot like The Bronze, but with an LA feel to it, there were older people dressed in next to nothing and most of them looked like they were high on some drug or another. "So B," Faith started interrupting Buffy's thoughts, "What was with that Vamp tonight? I mean it just didn't seem like your heart was in it, it just went by so quick." "Yeah," Buffy replied with a sigh, "I guess I just didn't feel like playing, slaying is just getting boring these days, there's none of the excitement there used to be." "Oh common!" Faith exclaimed, "As IF you don't love the game, the way the Vamps just lunge at you thinking they are gonna be the one to have a taste of Slayer blood! As IF you don't get hot afterwards!" Buffy looked at Faith, same old Faith, she broke into a smile and replied; "Ok you have me there, maybe I do like the game, but I do NOT get hot by it EWW!" The two girls shared a laugh and had a drink.
Angel paced around his office, where was Buffy? He had got the other Slayers settled into their hotel rooms and he needed to know what was going on, why she was acting so strange, and what the hell it had to do with Spike. "Bloody hell would you stop pacing wiener boy, the girl will be back when she's back, no need to put a hole in the carpet over it." Spike said sarcastically. "Shuddup Spike, you know while you're at it, get lost." Angel said obviously pissed off at the sound of Spike's voice. "Oh yeah right, get lost, whatever." Spike mumbled as he went to walk back out of Angel's office, he turned to say something, decided not to, turned around again and walked out. "If he didn't bloody realise I was only trying to make the git feel better, god knows why, maybe Faith is right when she says I'm bloody going soft." Spike mumbled to himself as he walked off.
Buffy and Faith were dancing at The Spot when Buffy's mobile phone rang. Buffy walked towards the female toilets where it was quieter so she could hear who was on the other line. It was Angel. "Buffy it's me the other Slayers are settled and there are more coming in tomorrow, I have some more information that Wes found for me could you and Faith come as soon as possible?" He asked. "Sure," Buffy said with a sigh as she realised that her fun night out had finished. "We'll be there in ten." With that Buffy hung up the phone and turned to leave. As she opened the door to leave the toilets and head back to Faith, she heard a girl whimpering in one of the cubicles.
Buffy slowly started to cautiously open the cubicle doors. "Hello?" she asked, quite sure that she wouldn't hear an answer. Buffy got to the last cubicle, she pulled her stake out just in case, as she opened the door she found what she expected, a Vamp feeding on a pretty blonde dressed in next to nothing. "You know," Buffy interrupted, "You really should find a more sanitary place to eat..." The vamp threw the girl aside and lunged at Buffy. "Look I really don't have time for this," Buffy said with a sigh as she kicked the vampire in the head knocking him into the basins, making him hit his head. The vamp shook his head and stood back up. "Oh yay," Buffy said, "one that just keeps on coming." She kicked him again and gave him a couple of punches to the head. "As I said before," Buffy continued as she drew out her stake, "I REALLY don’t have time for this." And with that she staked the vamp turning him into dust. "How can I ever thank you?" The whimpering girl said from behind Buffy. "Yeah whatever just another day on the job. I mean no problems just as long as you’re safe. I think it would be best to go to the hospital just to be sure." Buffy replied as she walked out of the female toilets and headed back to Faith.
Buffy and Faith walked back into Angel’s office. "So what's the deal?" Buffy asked Angel. "Well," Angel started, "It's called the circle of the Black Thorn. By what we found out it’s an elite group of Demons and humans alike who are in control of the apocalypse.” “Another apocalypse? You called us out of a great dance fest just for another apocalypse?” Faith said sarcastically. "Not an apocalypse, the apocalypse." Angel said and the look of worry on his face said to Buffy that he was serious, "We’ve got to find out who is in this elite group." Buffy stated flatly. “You’re right.” Angel said “We’ll go see Wes and find out more about this and how to go about getting myself into the circle. Buffy went to argue, but realised that Angel was right. Getting himself into the circle was the only way that they would find out who they were dealing with.
As they were walking down the halls Illyria walked past. “Who are these creatures? They are stronger than human. I find this quite intriguing. I can smell the blood of demons on them.” “Buffy, Faith, this is Illyria, Illyria this is Buffy and Faith, they are Vampire Slayers.” “Fascinating, two Vampire Slayers helping two Vampires. I still don’t understand this world of yours. It’s twisted and obscure in my day such creatures did not help each other rather they slaughtered each other like beautiful poetry.” Both Buffy and Faith looked at Illyria with raised eyebrows. “You’re right.” Buffy said to Angel “She is a weird one.” Illyria looked at Buffy expressionless “You dare to talk about me in that manner? I once ruled this world. It was chaos full of horror and beauty indescribable.” “OK I get it you were bad, but this is my world now, our world, the champions and slayers and I talk to who ever I want how ever I want.” And with that they went on their way leaving Illyria staring after them curiously.
"You know, it made me think, when Illyria mentioned blood" Buffy said, "I remember that when you were human Angel you didn't like the smell of blood." Spike and Faith both looked up in shock. "You were blimmin hell what?!" Spike exclaimed. "Yeah, what he said." Faith said still in shock. "I was human," Angel mumbled. "Yeah I heard that," Spike scoffed, "but how? And why the bloody hell would you have given that up?!" "It was a long time ago," Angel replied sadness filling his voice at the memories that came flooding back to his mind as the group came up to Wes’s office. "Buffy and I were attacked by a demon when Buffy came to visit me a couple of years ago here in L.A. The demon's blood had regenerating powers and it got into a wound causing me to become human."
Spike and Faith stood in the one spot shocked at what they were hearing. "B, is this true?!" Faith said in disbelief. "Yep." Buffy replied with a sigh. "All true." For a second there was silence and then Spike spoke up again. "But why on god's green earth would you give up a human life, a living human life with Buffy for that matter, to be a cursed vampire with a soul? It's just bloody stupid if you ask me." "Well I didn't ask you Spike!" Angel hissed "It was for the best. If I had remained human Buffy would have died. I had no choice." "I had a choice too." Buffy said in frustration, "And it was taken from me. You never asked me what I wanted Angel. Instead you wiped my memory of it so I didn't have a clue for years, and if it wasn't for the training and meditation I still wouldn't have a clue as to what happened." A tear fell down Buffy's cheek as she remembered telling Angel in that last minute that she would never forget. "It was for the best," Angel sighed "It was the only choice I had at the time." Everyone went silent again and got back to the task at hand. Buffy's thoughts wandered off to that magical day when she had kissed Angel in the sun, then to that night when he had told her that it had to end, that he was no good to her as a human.
Buffy came to the realisation that Angel would never be happy as a human. She sighed saddened by the thought that her fantasy of her and Angel being together, both as humans would never come true. At that thought she realised what she had to do. She had to give Angel the Amulet and give Spike the potion to make him become human. Snapping out of her thoughts Buffy spoke up again. "I could have trained you, to fight that is, as a normal human." Angel looked up at Buffy. "Things are better the way they are Buffy, I would never be able to be any good to anyone as a human." At that reply Buffy made up her mind once and for all.
"Ah Faith, Buffy.” Wes said with a smile. “How nice to see you. Good to see you are on our side Faith.” Faith shifted around from foot to foot for a bit she felt ashamed of when she tortured Wes back when Wolfram and Hart had hired her to get rid of Angel. “You know I’m on the good side now Wes, I’ve been training Slayers with Giles in England.” “Ah yes the Slayers. How many are here now?” “As far as I know about sixty.” Buffy replied still upset from the previous conversation. “Good, I have another seventy arriving from Australia alone tomorrow. We will have a good army to go up against the senior partners. They won’t know what hit them.”
Wes went on to tell the group on how to get into the circle of the black thorn. Angel had to convince them that none of his group trusted him, had to convince them that he had sacrificed one of his own to get into the circle. “That’s easy.” Angel replied. “I’ll use Fred’s death as the sacrifice. Buffy could see the emotion in Wes’ eyes at the mention of Fred’s name. Obviously they were involved. She thought to herself feeling sorry for the man that was once her Watcher. “Wes;” Angel continued “I want to make Fred’s death mean something, I don’t want her death to just be another cruel thing to happen in a cruel world and this is the perfect opportunity to do so.”
“Right” Wes replied. “Let’s get to planning then.”
(A week later)
Angel jumped through the wall of fire and into the room of the circle of the black thorn. There he saw his old friend Drogyn being beaten. As he pulled his friend up he whispered “I’m sorry” and as his friend said thank you he bit deep and drank from him. The crowd applauded him and a party began. Angel looked around the room as everyone took off their masks. The time was near.
(The next Day)
Angel and the group all stood in his office minus the slayers who had to be kept out of sight until the time came. Gunn, Wes (who was in on the plan), Spike (who also knew the deal) and Lorne all with weapons at Angel’s throat. The plan had worked perfectly. “We know what you've been doing.” Gunn stated angrily. As Angel held Lorne by the throat as hostage he made Lorne pull out the arrow that he had previously shot at Angel landing it in his shoulder. Slowly he pulled out a crystal that Wes had given him to perform the glamour that was needed for the conversation that was about to take place.
“Ok we have six minutes.” “Till what?” Spike asked sarcastically playing along. “Until the glamour collapses, as far as everyone outside of this office is concerned, we are still at each other’s throats. “Aren’t we?” Said Gunn still holding his sword ready for action. “No we’re not.” Wes replied putting down his weapon. Angel went on to explain the plan of taking down the Black Thorn. “So we’re gonna take them all down at once?” Gunn asked. “No;” Angel replied. “Together they are the most powerful group on this plane of existence, separate they are just a bunch of Demons. I’m talking about taking them out one by one. We have a chance of winning this, as we speak over one hundred Slayers are gathering. Taking out the Black Thorn will mean really pissing off the Senior Partners and they wont take it lightly, they will come down on us full force hence the army that are waiting for my word. So the question is, are we all in?”
The group stood around in circle thinking for a moment, then slowly one by one put their hands up. “So it’s agreed. We strike tonight.” Just as Angel finished he grabbed Lorne again and punched Spike. Just for Hamilton to open the door of the office. “Sorry I didn’t know you were in a meeting.” “Just finished.” Angel replied telling Wes to look after Illyria incase she got snippy. “You’re in trouble I see.” Hamilton retorted. “What that? No just laying down the rules.” “The Circle want to see you, they are worried about all this.” And with that Angel went to the Circle of the Black Thorn for his final meeting.
Angel sat around the table looking at the members who were going to be killed that night. “We are worried about some of the members of your team.” Archduke Sebassis said in a worrying tone. “There’s no need to worry about them” Angel replied “They are taken care of; they know who’s the boss.” “It’s not them we’re worried about, it’s you.” As Angel looked up with a curious look on his face the Archduke pulled out a scroll. “The Shanshu Prophecy. One would think that a Vampire with a soul who will play a major part in the apocalypse might try to double cross us to gain his longed for humanity.” “I have no desire to become human.” Angel replied flatly realising that he would have to sign away his only chance of ever becoming human. “Well that is marvelous news. All you need to do now is sign your humanity away and all will be well.”
Angel was handed the scroll, as he went to pick up the pen one of the other members jammed it through his hand. “It has to be signed in your blood” The demon stated and with that Angel signed away his right to Shanshu.
Angel arrived back at the office. Everyone was waiting for the word. He sat down at his desk and started making the calls. It had begun.
(Later that night)
Angel stood waiting in the rain for his companions; Spike was the first to appear, followed by Wes, Gunn and Illyria. “I wish to do more violence” Illyria stated as what seemed to be thunder started rolling shaking the alleyway and the world around them. “Well you’re about to get your wish.” Gunn remarked as the group looked in front of them and saw thousands of demons heading towards them. “Time for some action.” Angel stated as Buffy, Faith and about two hundred or more Slayers from across the world came from behind them. “Not too late are we?” Buffy asked. “Right on time.” Angel replied.
“You girls ready for some real action?” Faith shouted to the army behind her. A couple of “Hell yeah” were heard among other battle cries. The army of Slayers and Angel’s crew drew their weapons ready for the battle of their lives.
Buffy looked around her, Slayers were fighting various demons, Faith was having the time of her life, Angel was fighting some kind of demon she had never seen before and there was a Dragon flying above them. One demon after another kept rushing towards her and Buffy chopped them to pieces one at a time. The chips were looking down, they were outnumbered, and it was starting to look like they weren’t going to get through this after all.
“Need a hand?” Buffy heard from behind. It was Willow and the members of her coven. “Oh how I can not express how glad I am to see you right now.” Buffy said as she sliced her sword through a Demons throat leaving it bleeding on the ground. The wiccans formed a circle and started chanting, a wall was raised around them and a blinding light came from the wall and started hitting the demons around them killing them instantly. The odds suddenly started to look up for the army of hero’s.
“Angel! Dragon!” Buffy screamed as the Dragon swooped down towards Angel. “Got it!” He shouted back jumping up onto its back and plunging his axe into the back of its long neck. A huge howl was let out as the Dragon started thrashing wildly about trying to throw Angel off of its back. Angel took the axe out and repeatedly plunged it into the Dragon’s neck until it fell to the ground in a pool of blood.
Slayers and Demons alike were dropping like flies; the wiccans still under their protective shield were taking down enormous amounts of demons until suddenly there were no more smaller demons. The army let out a cry of victory just as the ground began to shake. “What the fu…” Buffy and Faith both exclaimed at once as they laid their eyes upon a giant demon coming their way. “The head honcho.” Angel stated as he drew a larger weapon out. All Slayers that were left looked on in horror, none of them were experienced enough to handle something this size. But the wiccans were.
As Willow and the other twelve members of her coven saw the demon coming towards them they started chanting. Willow’s power grew stronger than the day that she turned all potentials into Slayers. She was a true Goddess, and only a Goddess had the power to defeat a creature like this. As she started to glow she looked up at the Demon advancing towards the group. Willow started to scream the words of a spell to the Demon white light coming out of her mouth as she spoke. “By the Power of the coven and the Goddess within let this Demon break within, its evil through, its mask unspun take this monster away from us! Savage winds, serve us well, take this demon back to hell!” Willow and her coven members then held up their hands as what looked like white lightening bolted out of each one of them sending the Demon back through a portal. The war was won. They had defeated the Senior Partners!
“My God Will that was amazing!” Buffy exclaimed hugging her long time friend. “Really, it was nothing. Glad we could help.” Willow said obviously out of breath. Angel came up to Willow. “Willow, it’s so great to see you again. I can not thank you enough for your help.” “As I said last time…when you need some magick done give me a call. I’m just glad that you did otherwise you all would have been toast!”
As the excitement wore off and exhaustion set in most of the Slayers went back to their hotel rooms. Faith, Buffy and Willow however went out to party, like they did every time they stopped the world from ending.
“That was quite a ride B” Faith said smiling. “One wicked cool ride with one wicked cool witch. Will I never knew you had such power…you’re some sort of Goddess!” “The only one on this great green Earth.” Willow said proudly.
The Girls danced the night away while Angel and the crew went back to Spike’s apartment. “What now?” Spike asked not exactly sure on how to take the nights events. “I truly don’t know” Angel said exhausted. “Well…what about the Shanshu thing? Don’t one of us get to become a real boy?” Spike said eager to find out if the Shanshu Prophecy was real. “I signed my right away. I had to so the Black Thorn wouldn’t suspect me. Anyway I don’t think it’s real…wouldn’t you be human already?” Spike thought for a moment. Angel had signed his right to become human away…so why wasn’t Spike human? It didn’t make sense. “Maybe you were right mate. Maybe it was all about you.” Spike sighed and took a swig of his beer.
“I think tonight’s violence was glorious. It took me back to the days where fights like that walked the earth constantly. Where lower beings would shed blood to impress me. When can we do it again?” Illyria stated wistfully. The group let out a groan. Wes answered her. “Illyria you really do need to learn to walk in this world. Things like this don’t happen in our world very often. And hopefully now they won’t happen for quite some time.” “Well that truly is a disappointment.” She stated as she played crash bandicoot. “I still don’t understand the point of this game. It frustrates me.” “It frustrates me to blue.” Spike remarked as he relaxed a little.
(The next day)
Buffy took the amulet out of her pocket and put it in one of Angel's desk draws, it was time to talk to Angel and Spike and explain to them about what she had for them. "Angel? Spike? Can you come in here; I need to talk to you both." Angel was already on his way into his office as Buffy called and at the sound of her voice Spike soon followed. “It’s time I told you what I have that concerns you both.” “Finally” Angel sighed. Even though the previous night’s events had taken it off of his mind he still was anxious to know what Buffy had that was so important. Wolfram and Hart was empty. There was no longer an LA branch to deal with, the white room had gone, and all employees had left leaving Angel, Spike and Buffy alone to talk.
Buffy sat in Angel’s chair and opened his draw. “Angel I have this for you.” Angel took the amulet in his hand. “Oh no…I know how this goes…I saw what one of these did to Spike.” Buffy laughed. “No silly, the fight is over…we won…this will lift your curse. You will have your soul and you won’t have to worry about ever losing it again.” Angel couldn’t believe it. He could finally be at peace, happy and not have to worry. “Well I’m sorry to say this pet…but I really don’t see what this has to do with me.” Buffy looked up at Spike dreading Angel’s reaction to what she was about to say in reply to Spike’s remark.
"That....That isn't all that I have," Buffy continued, "I have a potion, a potion to make you human." There it was out, Buffy no longer had to keep it to herself any longer. Spike started to grin, he was going to become human, he was going to be with Buffy. He looked over to Angel to mouth some smart assed comment but the look on Angel's face stopped him. Angel looked as if his unbeating heart had been ripped out, Spike kind of felt sorry for Angel for the first time in his undead life. "You're going to make Spike human." Angel said, tears forming, "You're choosing Spike, Spike of all people over me?!" Buffy looked up and was about to start arguing with Angel about the choice she had made but when she saw the look on his face she decided not to. harmless sunlight warmed the room, it was still odd for Buffy to see them like this bathed in sun, like men. It made each word of her decision unspeakably harder; she didn’t even have the familiar darkness of night to hide behind.
Angel was the first to speak up. "So I guess you've made up your mind as to what happens in this situation then?" Buffy looked up into the eyes of her past lover. "Yes I have." She replied blankly. This was the hardest decision that Buffy had ever had to make, harder than having to deal with being alive after she had given up her life to save Dawn and had gone to heaven, harder than having to kill Angel, it was tearing her up inside.
Angel flew into a rage, he couldn't believe what he was hearing, the love they once shared now meant nothing, the demon within him started to surface. “Why does he get to be human!" He screamed, "What you don't love me anymore is that it? Spike is more worthy? What! What makes him so special?!" With jealousy and rage that could no longer be kept down Angel's face morphed into the demons face that he held down inside, he was so furious, after all that he and Buffy had been through it had come to this.
Spike stood up, he too could no longer hold back the anger that he felt towards his fellow vampire. Furious at what Angel had just spat out. Spike put on his game face and threw a punch at Angel.. "You bloody well think that you are the first for everything! What about me huh?" Spike spat in Angels face as Angel pushed Spike back against the wall. "Does me saving the sodding world mean nothing? Does me dying to save the world make me LESS worthy?" Spike screamed as he blocked one of Angel's punches. "You think you are so much better than me is that it Spike?" Angel hissed as he threw another punch at Spike. Spike lunged towards Angel again. "Why are you always the bloody fop who gets everything? The snazzy office with the tinted windows, what did you do to deserve it? You got given your soul, I fought for it!" Spike kicked Angel causing him to fall backwards. "You did nothing! Bloody nothing to deserve this!" He spat as Angel stood up.
Angel lunged at Spike punching him back. He was about to stake Spike when Buffy stepped in. "Stop it! Stop it both of you!" Buffy screamed startling the two vampires. "Why do you constantly insist that it is about who gets me? I'm not a prize to be won! This is about who can handle being human, and you handled it so well last time Angel. You said not that long ago that you were better off being a vampire! That things were better off as they are now!" Angel went to reply but Buffy stopped him. "Don't Angel, I don't want to hear it. You don't want to be human. So I am giving you the next best thing."
Angel and Spike pulled away from each other and sat down, they were still furious at each other and at the situation at hand but they both now realised that nothing, not even fighting could solve what they were feeling. The hurt, anger and jealousy would not make Buffy change her mind. After sitting in silence for a while dwelling on their own thoughts, Buffy spoke up. "Spike, can you leave Angel and I alone for a while. I need to talk to him." Spike looked up, the thought of Buffy alone with Angel infuriated him, but instead of resisting he obliged and walked out of the room.
Buffy looked at Angel. "I'm sorry." She said softly. Angel looked into his beloved's eyes, "Buffy...I...I don't know where to start." Buffy softly put a finger on his lips. "Shh, it's Ok, really." "No," Angel replied tears welling up in his eyes, "it's not Ok Buffy, I made a mistake when I gave up being human, when I gave up you." With the memories freshly in his mind of that day, Angel couldn't control his emotions anymore. With tears streaming down his face he gently touched Buffy's face. "I have always loved you Buffy, I would give up everything." Angel couldn't finish, falling to his knees he grabbed Buffy around the legs, almost in a way that showed sheer desperation to hang onto what once was.
"Angel please don't cry." Buffy said, tears streaming down her own cheeks. She hated seeing Angel cry, she hated seeing him in so much pain. Buffy wanted to change her mind but it was too late for that now. "Please Buffy, don't do this, change me, do anything, just don't leave me." Angel pleaded unable to be the strong person he had been for her all these years. "It has to be this way Angel, the world still needs you, Angel the champion, not Angel the human." Each word that Buffy spoke cut her like a thousand knives, she thought to herself that this is how Angel must have felt that day when he told her that he couldn't remain human, this is how he would have felt the day he left Sunnydale and Buffy forever. "I don't care about the world, I care about you." Angel spoke half with anger, half with pain. "My whole existence since you came into my life has been lived for you."
Buffy lifted Angel up to his feet. She looked into his eyes her reflection staring back at her through the tears and the pain. Angel went to speak again but Buffy stopped him with a passionate kiss. After a couple of minutes their lips finally unlocked and they both knew that this would be the last time they would ever share a kiss, this was goodbye. Buffy slowly put the Amulet around Angel's neck. For a few minutes nothing happened, then a light went through him that was much like the light that Buffy had saw the day she had killed Angel, the light that meant he had his soul. "I feel it Buffy." Angel said through his tears. "I can tell the curse is gone, I'm free." Buffy looked up at Angel, and for the first time she felt completely happy, this is how it was meant to be. "You will always be in my heart Angel." She said as she kissed him one more time.
Just as Buffy and Angel finished kissing Faith walked into the room. "Hey B, Angel, what's happening?" When Buffy and Angel looked over at her Faith wished she could take back her cheerful tone and walk back out of the room. "Okay, I see I have walked in on a moment, I'll go." "No, it's Ok Faith, I was just about to leave. You coming?" Faith looked around the room and then back at Buffy. "You know," Faith began with a smile, "I've always been a bit of a big city girl. And anyway I'm sure Angel could use a hand around here to figure out what to do next. And have you actually seen the hotties in this town? Man I can't believe how hot these L.A guys are." Buffy let out a chuckle, good old Faith, always thinking about the guy side of things. "Well that's if Angel will have me." Faith shyly stated looking at Angel for an answer. "Sure," Angel replied softly, hurt still showing in his voice. "Welcome aboard." "You won’t regret in Angel," Faith stated, happiness and excitement breaking the vibe of pain in the room. "I'm sure I wont." Angel replied standing up.
Buffy looked at Angel once more as she was walking out of the door, she couldn't speak, she couldn't say goodbye, all she could do was look at him with sorrow on her face. She knew that somehow he would be alright, and that's what would keep her going. But for now she had to take care of Spike.
Spike looked up from the seat he was sitting in outside of Angel's office. Buffy looked like hell and all Spike could think of was taking her in his arms again. "You Ok pet?" Spike managed to ask, stopping himself from getting out of his chair and holding her. "I'll be fine." Buffy replied clearly still upset about what she had just been through. Buffy pulled out the potion she had in her bag. Spike looked at it unable to control the excitement he was feeling at the thought of being able to feel sunlight on his face again. "So that's the stuff that will make me human again?" He asked eagerly. "Yeah," Buffy replied distantly. She handed Spike the bottle.
Spike looked at the bottle in his hand for a second, "doesn't look to tasty." He stated as he started to drink the potion. Buffy tried not to laugh at the sight of Spike screwing his nose up. "My god! This stuff tastes like utter rot!" Buffy let out a chuckle. Suddenly Spike fell to the floor in agony, "Buffy.." he stammered as he held his stomach, life starting to seep back into him. Buffy knelt down to comfort Spike; she couldn't help but wonder if this was what Angel felt when he lost his soul the night they had made love. Spike could feel blood rushing through his veins as his heart started to beat. "I can feel it Buffy." Spike weakly stated, "I can feel my heart beating."
Tears started to flow from Spike's eyes, he was human again, and he had another chance at life. As he weakly stood up he almost fell, Buffy caught him and for a moment they stared into each other’s eyes. Spike pulled away and ran his fingers through Buffy's hair. "I love you." He said to the woman standing in front of him, "Even if I am second best to Angel." Buffy was startled by Spikes last statement. "You aren't second best Spike. Angel was my first true love yes, but that is over now. I love you, I told you that in the hell mouth that day," "Sure you did," Spike interrupted, "but I was about to die, that was the only reason you ever said it pet and I know that." Buffy started to get annoyed with Spike, "It is not why I said it you idiot! I said it because I love you, we had been through a lot and you had been there for me through all of it, not Angel you." Spike went to speak but Buffy stopped him. "This isn't a competition Spike, I wish you and Angel would just get over the whole jealousy thing, I love both of you yes, but I chose you to become human, doesn't that say anything to you?!"
Spike thought for a moment, he was speechless for possibly the first time in his life. Instead of saying anything, Spike just held Buffy in his arms, giving her a kiss on the forehead. "Let's get out of here luv." He said warmly and with that Buffy and Spike walked out of Wolfram and Hart.
Spike stood for a moment outside of the law firm, sunlight warming his face. He held his arms out as if to hug the air around him and took in a breath of air. "I forgot what it was like to actually breathe." He said with laughter in his voice. "I love being alive!" Buffy laughed as Spike started spinning around a light post like a child. She looked back for a moment at Wolfram and Hart to the window where Angel's office was.
Angel stood at the window of his window, tears streaming down his face as he watched the woman he loved with the now human he loathed the most. "I've lost her forever." He sobbed as Faith walked up behind him. "I love her so much and now she's gone and it's my fault." Angel put his forehead on the window wishing that the harmless sunlight shining through would burn him and end his pain. Faith could say nothing, instead she just rubbed Angel's back in a pitiful attempt to comfort him. Angel looked down at Buffy for one last time through his tears as she and Spike walked off done the street, he noticed that Buffy turned around for a moment. He studied her face as she momentarily looked up at his window. "I will never forget." He whispered as Buffy turned around and kept walking.
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