~~ Part 3 ~~
Angel pulled out his cell phone and dialed Wesley's cell phone. It rang several times before it was answered.
"Wes, your pants are ringing." Buffy nudged him but he was dead to the world. Their day had been fun, adventuresome - just plain hot. She leaned over the bed to retrieve the phone. "Hello."
Angel almost dropped the phone when he heard Buffy's voice on the line. "Buffy, I was calling Wesley. Did I dial the wrong number?"
"Nope." She grinned getting more comfortable while she waited to hear what Angel wanted.
"What are you doing with Wesley? I mean at Wesley's?"
"Is that what you called to ask?" She was starting to get angry at his questions. As if she didn't have a right to be anywhere or with anyone she chose.
"No, we can't find Conner and I wanted to know if he came by there. He told me that you asked him to go back to Sunnydale with you. I can't allow that Buffy. My son needs time to be a teenager, go to high school; maybe meet a girl his own age." He heard a snort on the other end of the phone.
"I have news for you, Angel, Connor isn't a little boy. If you have problems with him in Sunnydale then talk to him about it. Did you need to talk to Wes about anything else or was that all?"
"Buffy, I.."
"Save it, Wes - yes, no or I hang up. I've had a busy morning." She grinned down at Wesley's nude body sprawled out beside her. His hair was tousled and a slight smile on his lips. Her eyes wandered lower to what had to be a perfectly heart-shaped butt.
"Yes, I need to talk to Wesley. If you could go and get him I would appreciate it."
Buffy leaned over to bite Wesley's ear playfully. He pulled her down next to him. "Are you ready for more? I've got my second wind or should I say fourth."
She laughed then handed him the phone. "It's Angel for you." Getting off the bed, she sauntered to the bathroom to start a shower. Wesley watched her hungrily forgetting for a moment about the phone in his hand.
Angel dropped the phone when he heard Wesley's sleepy voice and Buffy's throaty laugh. Wesley and Buffy? No way, she would never be attracted to the former Watcher.
"Wesley, do you have any idea where Connor could be staying? We haven't seen him since you left this morning." He tried to sound nonchalant but Angelus taunted him. She chose him over you, left with him without a backward glance. I bet she wrapped those strong legs around him and gave him the ride of his life. You remember how she feels, don't you soul-boy? I bet if you close your eyes and take a big whiff, you can even smell her. You are so pathetic. Angel closed his eyes trying to drown out the demon in his mind.
"Hello, is anyone there? Have I lost the line?"
Angel jumped. "Sorry Wes, what did you say?"
"I said that we haven't seen him since we left the hotel. Buffy talked to him for a few moments but we left before he did and didn't see where he went. I wouldn't worry, Angel. He has been living in the city for several months on his own. I'm sure he's fine. If that's all you need then I'll ring off now."
Wesley's voice sounded distracted and Angel heard a shower running in the background. What he couldn't know was that Buffy stood nude in the doorway sucking on a finger while she wiggled another toward the man on the bed.
"Wes!" Angel called through the line, not sure why but he felt the uncontrollable need to keep his former co-worker on the line. "I just wanted to thank you for all your help. Maybe you would consider coming back to work with us?"
His eyes wandered down the toned, tanned skin bared before him. "Angel, I have some prior commitments at the moment. I have to let you go now, take care."
The line went dead and Angel just stared at the phone as if it were a foreign object.
"Why do you think that I reacted so violently to Willow when Giles didn't cause a bleep?" Buffy asked Wesley as they sat relaxing on his couch.
"You said that Anya set your senses off as well?" She nodded. "I would think that your enhanced senses must react to the darker forces or marks the newer they are. Mr. Giles' misspent youth happened quite a while ago and the marks would appear faint. Not to mention the Slayer would recognize the Watcher's aura, his actions done for protection rather than harm. The other's actions meant for destruction would rank differently almost painfully to you. Willow's recent fall into black magic, Anya's return to her vengeance ways, and Spike is still after all a vampire. You, yourself said that you wanted to destroy Angel even with a soul. The enhancements don't seem to leave you with much room for grey. Your own strength of will is what keeps you from slaying those that fall outside the lines."
"You mean the upgrade makes me some kinda vigilante?" She wrinkled her nose at the idea.
He tweaked her nose, smiling. "The Shadowmen, no doubt, saw it as the best way to ensure all evil doers were slain. They didn't know who they were dealing with of course."
She stuck her tongue out at him. "Men always with the kill everything first ask questions later." She rolled her eyes at him."
"Not all men. I'm a lover, not a fighter." He scooper her up, carrying her back into the bedroom.
"Here, here." She giggled.
Connor was waiting for them when they walked out Wesley's front door. Buffy smiled at him. "I guess you made up your mind. Angel called looking for you, but I figured you're old enough to decide for yourself. You ready to visit the big, bad Sunnydale?"
"I figure it can't be any worse than Quar Toth." He grinned at her.
"You have no idea. We have something even a hell dimension doesn't have - teenage girls. I hope that you're ready, Connor. They've been cooped up with only, ugh, adults around." Buffy threw an arm around Connor's shoulder. "Don't worry I'm a Slayer and I can protect you." She burst into giggles at his face.
"Buffy, you're going to scare him to death. I'm sure that he'll be fine. If nothing else, he can outrun them." Wesley winked at the younger man.
They walked out joking on their way to the garage. Angel stepped out of the shadows. He couldn't believe that Connor was going with Buffy and that Wesley's commitment was to her. He didn't miss the looks the two shared or the unmistakable smell of their combined scents. He walked away then stopped when he felt a prickling on the back of his neck. When he turned there she stood, although several feet away. "Buffy, I thought I would come by and..."
"Save it Angel, I felt you when you arrived over an hour ago." He took a step toward her and she stepped back. His face fell and a deep sadness filled his eyes. "You can't come close to me, Angel. I won't be responsible for what happens. I'm not that much in control, yet but I'm working on it. I'm not the same anymore. You were right though, we can never be together, not now, not ever. Our differences are bigger than they ever were before."
"But, you can be with Wesley with no problems. How could you be with one of my friends Buffy?"
"You have the nerve to ask me that. Let me see, can we say Faith, or Cordelia. Oh, you aren't worth the time to explain this to you. It's my turn to use the words you once said to me, you can't understand what I do, what I'm trying to do and you never will. You needed me to have a reason to stop feeling sorry for yourself, to give you a purpose but someone can't do that for you Angel; you have to do that for yourself. As far as Wesley's concerned, I'm not sure that I'd call you friends. Leave me alone Angel and don't come to my town. I'll know that you're there and I can't promise you that I'll be able to stop myself from acting on the instincts that are screaming at me right now." She turned and walked away.
Angel leaned against the wall shaken by Buffy's words and the tone of her voice. It was the same voice his demon remembered from their sword fight. He wasn't sure what had just happened, but he had a feeling that if he went to Sunnydale that he wouldn't ever leave it.
Cordelia felt out of sorts, as if she was missing a piece of herself. She still couldn't believe everything that had happened. A sad smile crossed her lips when her thoughts drifted to Groo. Keeping the men that she fell in love with just wasn't in the cards for her. Xander cheated, Doyle died and Groo left thinking she didn't love him. He must have been so hurt.
"He got over it, Princess." An Irish brogue came from the doorway.
She was afraid to look, afraid she was losing her mind. Cordy slowly turned to see him standing there in the same ugly shirt and shining blue eyes. "Doyle, is it really you?"
"In the, well, yeah it's me. I have some news for you, darling. You might want to sit down to hear this." His eyes pleaded with her not to argue with him. Cordelia had a feeling she wasn't going to like what she was about to hear. "Well, Delia, it seems that you and the t'others have created a giant mess here."
"What! We've worked our butts off, buddy. I even became part demon, so you take that back right now."
"Did you never wonder why the Powers would be offerin' you such a gift?" Doyle looked at her sympathetically, knowing better than most how the PTB liked to play with their warrior's lives.
"To help Angel, why else?" From the expression on his face, she knew it was the wrong answer.
"No, Delia, they wanted you to keep the visions. The journey to Pylea wasn't accidental. Once you chose Groo over Angel, you and Groo would free the people and lead them into a new life. I shared my visions with Angel to set him on the right path. When I gave them to you, it wasn't for you to carry on my duty. They were meant to aid Pylea, once that occurred they'd disappear. You and Groo could live a normal life, but you ran Delia because it scared you and you didn't want to give up your place here, where you're the center of attention. If you took a chance by staying in Pylea, you'd have to take a chance on love, giving up everything here.
"No, you're wrong. They only offered me a choice when we came back here after I almost died." She stubbornly refused to believe him.
"They knew that Groo had already decided to come for you. What good would you do Pylea, if you were dead? Angel and his team have done good work here but, Delia, we're talking about an entire planet. You didn't even ask Groo about Pylea, what he left behind, would return to, or if he could even return at all."
Cordelia leapt to her feet with tears streaming down her face. "I loved him, damnit. Why did I believe him when he told me that I loved Angel? I love him as a friend and that's it. Doyle, what do I do? Where is he?"
"You have a hard decision to make. The Oracles once turned back time for Angel. The Powers aren't quite willing to go that far, but they'll take you to Pylea at the same moment that he returns. You have to leave now, and know that you'll never return. It's your decision, so make it carefully."
"I'm definitely going. Do I have enough time to say goodbye to everyone before I leave?" She gave him a pleading look, hoping to receive this last boon.
"No Delia, the window remains open for a very short time. If we miss it then there won't ever be another chance. I'll deliver any letters that you care to write. Have some words for Angel before I leave and promise to give them to him.
"I'm not liking the way that sounds, but there's nothing that I can do about it. Groo is my main concern and I want to make a life with him. Doyle, I did love you, and I'm sorry that I never told you." Cordelia stepped closer and kissed him full on the lips.
"I knew it all along Delia, what woman could resist my Irish charm. Now pack what you want to take we only have a few minutes left."
She rushed around the room grabbing up pictures, her leather jerkin and sword. Then staring around the room at her things, she finally understood they didn't matter, what she was heading toward mattered not what she was leaving behind.
Angel,
I'm going to be with Groo, where I was meant to be all along. Thank you for being my friend. I hope that I helped you and always remember there are more colors than black. Tell the others I love them and wish them well and tell Buffy that I'm sorry. I think that she'll understand.
Love
Cordy.
A portal opened when she stood ready and waiting in her room. She saw Pylea waiting there on the other side. Her heart jumped in her throat. Groo, she would see and hold him soon. She waved good-bye to Doyle, before walking toward her destiny. The portal close with a soft pop behind her.
"Good luck, Delia."
They pulled into Buffy's driveway. She couldn't stop the smile that lit up her whole face when she saw the freshly mowed yard. Connor got out, nervously looking around. He liked the house, although he had never seen a real one before. Several young girls stepped out onto the front porch. He stepped behind Buffy, causing her to giggle since he stood over a foot taller than her.
"Don't worry Connor, I won't let the big bad teenagers get you." She grinned up at him.
"Very funny, they just surprised me that's all." He blushed, stepping back from her and crossing his arms over his chest.
"Come on. Let me introduce you guys to everybody." Wesley walked over to Buffy to take her hand in his. They smiled with the memories of yesterday, last night and this morning still fresh in their minds. "Let's go get this done."
They walked forward like gunslingers at the OK Corral. Three clearly dangerous people, with a fascinating aura of danger surrounding them. The SiTs immediately fell in love with Connor, while several commented on Buffy's good taste in men. Wesley might have found himself with several admirers, if they didn't fear the blonde Slayer more than they admired his rugged good looks.
"Hello, everyone. I want to introduce Wesley Wyndam-Pryce and Connor Angelus. They're here to help me with your training and to finish this with the First. We only have a day, two at the most but we can get it done, if we work together. Are you willing to work harder than you ever have before and do whatever anyone asks you to?"
The SiTs fed on the enthusiasm and assurance in Buffy's voice. They cheered loudly like they were at a football game and Buffy was the head cheerleader. Dawn and Giles came out to see what was going on. They had researched all day long and were excited to tell Buffy what they learned from Willow's blasted machine. Dawn smiled to see Buffy so happy. She couldn't remember seeing her sister so relaxed, so comfortable in her own skin. She noticed the cute teenager next to her sister. He reminded her of someone then the last name made her wonder. No, vampire's can't have children.
"Buffy, you're home." Dawn rushed straight into her sister's open arms. She glanced at Connor with a shy smile.
"Hey Dawnie." She saw the glances her little sister kept throwing at Connor and decided to put a stop to the possibility of Dawn's newest crush. "You remember Wesley don't you? This is Angel's son, Connor. Connor this is my little sister, Dawn." Connor smiled briefly at Dawn, before he continued to stare past her to a girl with long, shiny brown hair. The sisters noticed his interest in Amanda, the newest teenager to join the chaos of Casa de Summers. "Let's go inside and talk about what we're going to need to do to get ready."
Wesley watched her change before his eyes from a teasing lover to a general addressing her troops. He found both personas arousing, in fact there weren't any aspects of Buffy that he could see that he didn't like. He looked up to see Giles watching him like an over protective father. Wesley's eye never strayed from the older man until they nodded to each other in understanding.
"If you two are through with the pissing contest, let's go in and finish this." Buffy pulled Wesley into the house with Connor following them. She stopped when she saw Willow and Anya walk in through the back door. She backed into Wesley's arms, her body stiff as she worked to control her new instincts. She closed her eyes, taking deep, slow breathes. Wesley soothingly rubbed her shoulders, sweeping slowly down her arms in a comforting gesture that had everyone staring at them.
"You can do this, Buffy. Pull on your inner strength, not to mention all that downright stubbornness. You want to be with your friends, if nothing else to get the bloody apologies they never gave you. They can help finish this, to as you say - get this done." Wesley's cultured voice spoke softly in her ear, calmly, tempting and teasing her, with what she could do, what she wanted and wished to happen.
Buffy took a huge breath then let it out, calming herself. "Willow, Anya, you can stay, just let me get used to you. So, don't get too close." The two women gave understanding nods.
Xander walked over to looked her over, before turning to eye Wesley's arms around her waist. He glared at the cozy couple. "You left to go to LA, so you could bring back more people? Exactly what are they supposed to do, scream like girls?"
"Is there a real question in there for me?" Her eyebrow rose in challenge. Buffy didn't back down this time when Xander decided that he was her conscious once again. She wasn't sorry about her decision to bring Wesley and Connor with her.
"That's enough, Xander. Buffy, is everything all right in LA? I take it since Wesley and Connor came back with you that you resolved whatever needed your attention." Giles interjected, his nerves at their breaking point after being left alone with the girls for a full 24 hours. He realized he owed Buffy several apologies and planned to give them to her as soon as he found a moment to get her alone.
"Yep, all done. Now, we have to clean up here and it'll all be done."
Buffy's cryptic answers went over everyone's head, but it resounded in Willow's. The First came to her last night in its Buffy suit, telling her that it would all be done soon. That Buffy planned on killing everything that held evil inside them, including Willow. She rubbed her temples, trying to block out the words and the fear.
"Now, everybody grab a place to sit and I'll tell you how we're going to get this done."
"Buffy, we have some info for you," Dawn piped up. "Giles and I researched while you were gone and found something important about the Hellmouth."
"I know. Dawnie. It's the key, sorry for the wording. The First needs to open the Hellmouth, which sets off a chain reaction to get enough power to become corporeal. That's what we stopped in LA. It hijacked Cordelia's body, so she would deliver it into this world fully grown. Once here, it would control the Hellmouth along with the major bads it keeps from out of this world. Now, it needs to figure out how to open the Hellmouth. The only way to do that is - me."
Everybody started talking at once, shouting and arguing that she was crazy. A shrill whistle quieted them as they turned to Connor, who said, "Buffy wasn't finished speaking, yet. I don't know anyone here, but I saw what she could do in LA. I don't understand why you act like she even needs to ask your opinion." They looked at him with shock clearly written on their faces.
"Thanks Connor. Now, where was I, oh yeah. It won't succeed because I'm going to open the Hellmouth first."
"Uh, Buffy why doesn't that do just what the First wants?" Dawn asked, in confusion.
"I can't explain it to you, Dawnie. What I need from you guys is to trust me, can you do that?" She searched their faces as she waited for their answers.
The SiTs pushed Amanda forward to speak for them and she stood nervously before the Slayer. "We talked after you left, Buffy, and decided that you're the leader, so just tell us what we need to do and we'll do it." She smiled, then quickly stepped back to the other girls, who patted her on the back, nodding their heads at Buffy.
"Well, I didn't vote to follow you blindly into a suicide mission." Kennedy's voice rang out in the room.
Buffy stared at the dark haired girl, who wore her standard angry, sullen look. Buffy marched over to stand in front of her with green, icy eyes. "Kennedy, you have the same choice you had the other night. Join the group, or take your chances on your own. There are plenty of abandoned cars out there, take one and leave my town. I don't have time to baby-sit a spoiled, power hungry brat. If you want to help fight in the most important battle this world will ever face, then join the other girls and shut, the hell, up." She waited to see what Kennedy's would choose. It didn't surprise her to see the uppity girl swing her dark over her should before joining the other girls. Kennedy reminded Buffy of Cordelia, at her worst when she had money and ruled Sunnydale High. She needed to be knocked off her throne and told a few home truths, then allowed to decide what she wanted to do.
"Now that's taken care of, is there anyone else who has any objections? Good. Xander, I need you and Connor to go and get Spike, try his crypt first then search the town. Willow, can you help Giles and Dawn find the site exactly opposite the temple that you tried to raise last year. I know this is hard for you, Willow. You're going to have to face your demons, if you ever hope to defeat them. I wouldn't ask you to do this if it wasn't important. You can't use dark magics, no matter what happens. The connection you share with the Earth is fine, but no Dark Willow." Buffy pulled on ever ounce of strength she had to step from Wesley's arms. She walked over to her friend, taking her hands, waiting for her to look into her eyes. Willow stared into the Buffy's eyes, caught in their depths. So much knowledge, pain and strength stared back at her that the red haired wicca shivered. "This is very important, Willow, and I'm not asking it lightly. Promise me in Tara's name that you won't use dark magic, no matter the cost, irregardless of who it might save or help. Promise." The last came out as a whisper that echoed in the room. Each person, knowing that it was a command.
"Buffy, how could you even say that to her." Xander protested, when he saw the tears falling down the redhead's face.
"Stay out of it Xander. You still don't understand even after I explained this to you. She's trying to help Willow, you idiot. Why do I even bother, you never listened to me when we were having sex, what incentive do you have now?" Anya stormed back into the kitchen, muttering about thickheaded carpenter's.
"I promise, Buffy, in Tara's name that I won't use anything dark. Buffy, I know I can't get too close to you, but I wanted to let you know that I'm sorry. Sorry, for what I did, all of it. I shouldn't have done the spell, should've done lots of things that I didn't. Maybe when this is all, and you've adjusted to me, we can talk it all out." Willow smiled sadly at her best friend then moved over to the laptop on the dining room table.
Wesley leaned forward to whisper in her ear. "It seems as if you're going to get some of those apologies that have been long overdue. I believe I owe you a few myself, rather prefer a more physical form, if you understand my meaning, Miss Summers." He rubbed against her and she pressed back against him.
"I'll take you up on that later Prince Wesley, you just see if I don't."
Xander and Connor finally arrived with Spike. His face fell when he saw Wesley and Buffy talking quietly. From their body language, not to mention their combined smells, Spike knew he had lost any chance with her, knowing it was a fluke the first go round. He was willing to do anything to make it happen again, well almost anything - stupid soul. She looked up at him, nodding her head, but didn't move to greet him. Wesley felt concerned for her. He knew that nothing he said would change her mind, so he didn't try. He simply gave her his support and provided a few suggestions, which she considered.
Buffy observed the people gathered in her home. They were the last chance to stop The First from getting a foothold in their world, and they didn't even know it. Buffy turned to Giles, Willow and Xander. They had fought so many apocalypses with her. They weren't the real thing, not like this. This was it the big one, the end all be all, the last chance and she didn't know how to tell them that it was either her or the First that would come out of this. Whoever won would decide the fate of the world. Giles knew it was bad, but even he couldn't grasp the complete picture. Wesley and Connor had an idea, and even their picture was small in comparison to what Buffy knew might happen. It was the End of Days and she was her world's last hope. The last Guardian of the Hellmouth was what the Shadowmen had called her and they meant that in every sense of the word. She was the last, even now she felt the part that connected her to Faith, her sister Slayer, slipping away.
Faith, she wondered what she was feeling. If she even understood what was happening to her. Buffy knew she was alive, somehow the First wasn't interested in the dark-haired Slayer. She suspected it was because her dark past. It had tainted Faith in some way for the First's purposes, which left only Buffy. The First thought her an easy target, especially, if it could wear her down, tear her down far enough that she'd do something to allow the First to open the Hellmouth. It was time to get this done, to finish it. She wondered what her friends would think once they understood the repercussion of what they planned to do.
"Well, you're a sad picture of a hulking avenger of evil," a voice said from the doorway.
Angel didn't turn or say a word as he stared at Cordelia's letter. He couldn't believe that she'd leave them, leave him without a word. A letter, no a note saying goodbye and don't wear so much black. His whole world blew up in his face within forty-eight hours. How could this happen? He loved Cordelia and knows that their feelings were real. How could she go back to that, that - Groo?
"She wasn't ever supposed to leave him. He was her destiny, where she was meant to be. The Powers gave Delia the visions because her path led to Pylea. Yes, she helped you along the way but she still had a destiny of her own. You were supposed to be seeking redemption for your past Angel, not trying to replace one past with another. If the Powers thought the love of a good woman was what you needed to set you on your way don't you think they would have let you stay with your Slayer?"
"What do you mean let me stay? I chose to leave Sunnydale, no one convinced me." Even as he said the words, he remembered the conversation with Joyce. The same conversation that he quoted almost by rote to Buffy, in of all places a sewer.
"Now, don't you be telling stories out of class, Angel, me boy. I'm in the know up there." Doyle pointed up. "It's time that you and me, my friend, have a nice long talk. Sit down, Angel." The normally jovial Brachan demon's voice left no room for argument.
"What's all this about, Doyle? How are you even able to be here? Although with everything that's happened lately, it seems that anything is possible."
"There's that tone again. The one where the world has been so hard on poor, poor, Angel. You me, boyo, have had more help and chances than any other champion that ever served the Powers. Now, it's time for you to hear what's in store for you. The End of Days is here."
Angel jumped off the bed and started for the door. "Stop! You've nowhere to go to Angel."
"But, the End of Days, I'm supposed to fight in it. The scrolls said that I'd fight and if we won that I'd receive my humanity."
"That isn't exactly what they said. Prophecies are tricky things, you should know that by now. The scrolls said that if you stayed on the path then you'd be allowed to fight. Don't you get it, Angel? It was to be an honor, not a chore. There was more to the prophesy the missing piece. It had to do with the Destroyer."
"What does Connor have to do with the scrolls and my Shanshu?"
"Everything, from the return of his mother, to his birth and your endless pursuit of money for his future. You lost your way, yet again. How many times does that make, Angel? Did you never wonder why your son was called the Destroyer? It wasn't because of his fighting skills, though the boy does have those. He was sent to test you. He's the balance, not destined for either side, your greatest test. Could you make the hard choice, even with your family involved? Your past acts with Dru, Darla and the lawyers, not to mention walking away from your friends left them little choice. They gave you more than you had a right to and took from another. You had a direct link from the Powers while your Slayer was left to her own devices. Her friends and Watcher helped all they could, yet she fought every night. If you wouldn't have went off after Delia, you would've helped her fight Glorificus. Now, it's your son who'll fight the End of Days by her side. He's grown into a fine man, who's made the Powers proud. You, my friend, I'm afraid, they don't know what to do with you. If the Slayer wins this battle, then it maybe beyond their control. If she doesn't, then there isn't much hope for any of us."
"I have to get to Sunnydale, Connor and Buffy need me. I can help them, I can't let them die."
"You aren't listening, you can't leave here until this is over. Then your fate will be decided. You can't help them, Angel. I'm not sure that anyone can. One thing I do know is that if there is a way for to defeat the First, then the Slayer's our best hope. She took another big chance not too long ago and may not survive the results. I'm sorry, old friend, you'll have to live with your decisions. I only hope that others won't not suffer for them as well." Doyle patted Angel's shoulder before disappearing.
Buffy checked to make sure that everyone knew where to go and whose back to protect. She paired them off in groups of four, setting them off on different tasks. She stepped outside to take a deep breath, before they left for the fight.
"Going over last minute details."
She looked up to see Giles join her. "No, just taking a minute to catch my breath. I guess everyone's ready to go?" She started to get up when Giles motioned for her to sit.
"I wanted to tell you how proud I am of you. You've become everything that a Slayer was meant to be and no matter what happens today I'm proud to have been your Watcher. You're the daughter that I never had." He pulled her into his arms, squeezing her tightly.
"Do you have a predilection for Englishmen? Am I going to have to keep an eye on all my countrymen?" Wesley stood in the doorway, watching his lover with the man who for all practical purposes was her father.
"My mom did say that he was a stevedore, maybe that's true for all Englishmen." Giles started coughing and blushing furiously. Wesley just grinned at her with heated eyes. "Let's go and get this done." Buffy linked her arms with theirs and led them back into the house. Her mind already on the coming battle. It wasn't going to be the kind of battle that any of the others had ever experienced, not like when they fought the Mayor or even Glory. This was the big one, the final choice and it was up to her to make it. She knew their lives would never be the same again.
She had decided to keep Wesley and Connor with her. They were the most experienced fighters next to Spike, and she couldn't have the vampire close to her. Her plan would provide everyone the best possible chance at survival, which would allow her to concentrate on what she needed to do. The Hellmouth's total annihilation, not in the same way the First planned. No, she had a specific purpose and if she did everything correctly, it would have far-reaching repercussions.
"Don't over think it, Buffy. You have a good plan and they don't need to know anymore than that. Just tell us what you need and we'll help anyway that we can."
She stopped looking out the car window at his voice, turning in the car seat to look at them. "I know that you two have faced some hairy situations. I need you to promise me something, if it looks like I'm going to fail, then you have to kill me. It's the only way to end this."
Connor stared at her in shock. "You can't ask us to do that, Buffy. We kill demons not people."
"Ask yourself this Connor, which is more important ending this constant battle against demons or my death. I've already died several times and if I have to then I will again. Funny thing is I wouldn't mind sticking around for a while but that isn't what's important. I'm not going into this with a death wish, far from it. Still it's my responsibility to make sure the bad guys don't win. So, I need your promise before we get there. It'll take some of the responsibility off me, where I can concentrate on what needs to be done."
Wesley simply took his hand off the wheel and clasped hers, squeezing it reassuringly. "We'll do what we needs doing and we'll walk away from this together."
"Okay, this is the place that should line up directly between the temple Willow tried to raise and the seal under the school. I'm going to need your help to open the Hellmouth. The First is going to send whatever it can at me to stop what I'm trying to do. This is the part that will be hard for you two and that I knew the others couldn't handle. You have to let them come. I have to fight whatever comes at me and you have to stay alive. If it looks like I'm going to fail then you have to finish it like we talked about, all right?" Buffy looked at them as they got out of Wesley's SUV, loaded down with weapons. The two men looked at each other before nodding at the small blonde.
Connor thought he understood what she meant to do, until she asked them to kill her. He didn't understand that part, why should she have to die. They should make sure that she lived. He had talked to Dawn and Amanda today and learned more about the woman who befriended him and gave his life a new purpose. Dawn laughed, telling him that Buffy could make the devil himself want to fight evil if he could do it with her. He watched her walk confidently to a group of rocks. It wasn't until he got closer that he saw faint marking on the base of the largest rock. Even with his heightened strength, Connor knew that he couldn't move the rock. It was at least twelve feet high and several feet around with other large rocks leaning against it.
"How did you know that this was here?" He looked at Buffy trying to understand what she hadn't told everyone.
"Remember our conversation about power?" She looked at him but also over his head and into Wesley's magnetic blue ones. "It turns out that power calls to power. That's how Willow knew where the temple was when she went dark and tried to destroy the world."
"Is that what you're going to do?" Connor's voice held a note of fear unsure what he should do or who he should trust.
"You have to answer that for yourself, Connor. Have I done anything that would make you think that I'd try to destroy this world? If you believe that then it's your job to stop me. If you don't then you have your answer. I can't make you believe in me or anyone else that's up to you. All I can tell you is that if I don't do this, then there won't be anything to believe in, not here anyway. I think that we've had about enough apocalypses don't you. I say we just do it, get it done already and quit pussyfooting around about it. People can't live like this and they shouldn't have to. Now, enough with this extratenuous stuff, let's get this done." She leaned up and kissed Connor's cheek causing him to blush. "For luck, remember, don't get dead."
Wesley pulled her up next to him and kissed her passionately, taking their breaths away. "You don't need luck. Just wanted to remind you what's waiting for you when this is over. I plan on spending a long leisurely time exploring then re-exploring you, Miss Summers."
"Now, that's what I call an incentive plan. Thank you, Wesley, for coming with me here, mostly for our time together, it was one of the best days of my life and I do hope to repeat. Please, don't think that I'm going into this thinking that I'm going to lose. I just want you prepared for whatever comes." She leaned up to kiss him softly this time then walked away to stand with her back to the largest stone.
Giles' group included Willow, Kennedy, Robin and half the SiTs. They stationed themselves in the school's lobby. Willow put a protective sand ring around the Seal of Danzalthar. She worked with Giles, creating a spell, which asked the Earth to hold the evil within the bounds. Kennedy wanted to open the seal. Rona and Vi ganged up on her and told her to shut up. The once brash SiT leader followed along behind her lover, feeling left out and unwanted.
Robin wasn't sure he did right by giving Buffy his mother's bag, now it was too late. He had a feeling his demon fighting days were coming to an end. He stood at the west end of the lobby with a large sword in his hand and several knives tucked into his belt. The SiTs stood back to back, the way Buffy had showed them. They were amazed that after only a day with the blonde Slayer they had learned so much. The girls felt confident that they could hold their own if they used each other's strengths during the fight.
Willow stood with her eyes closed working hard to keep her connection with the Earth. She had spent the entire afternoon meditating. Her mind kept Tara's sweet face as her focus point, her lodestone to keep her balance. Willow knew that this was her last chance to to make up for what she did, and she was determined to get it right. Something niggled at the back of her mind, a missing piece of the puzzle. An important part that it was too late to worry about it, here they came - Bringers and the fight was on.
Dawn, Spike, Anya, Xander, Andrew and the remaining SiTs stood on the place of Willow's defeat. Anya and Dawn performed the same spell, creating a protective white ring where once a temple of darkness rose from the ground.
Spike stood apart from the others with Dawn at his side. He knew that his relationship with his Niblet would never be the same, not after last summer. He once gave a promise to a beautiful woman, a woman who had changed his unlife and he planned to keep it, till the end of the world, even if it was tonight. Spike knew a lot more about what Buffy was up to than she thought. He was a scholar in his previous life and would have eventually followed his in his father's footstep and became a Watcher. There were things the others never knew about him, including Dru and Angelus. He knew that Buffy planned to fight the End of Days battle tonight and she planned on fighting it alone. The small skirmishes that they fought were tactical false trails for the First, leading it away from Buffy until it was too late. He only hoped that she survived this battle. Spike knew he had to stop thinking about the woman that he still loved and concentrate on fulfilling his promise to her. He moved Dawn in position behind him and waited.
Dawn stood with Spike still not sure why Buffy trusted him after everything that he had done. She couldn't forgive him for betraying her friendship and hurting her sister. It was odd that even though Buffy couldn't be near Spike that she still sent for him to help fight. Dawn was glad that Buffy didn't try to send her away and was allowing her a chance to help. She tightly gripped the short sword and waited.
Anya didn't know why she didn't just leave with the other smart people of Sunnydale, but here she was with these people ready to fight. She didn't even have demon powers for goodness sakes. She saw the little nerd Andrew drop his crossbow, shaking her head she went to help him. Anya couldn't help but smile, he was a nerd sure, still he made her laugh and made the best blueberry muffins she ever ate.
Xander waited for the fight to begin. His thoughts on the last time he was here, remembering holding his best friend as she cried. He remembered thinking that he would die that day. Why didn't he feel like that now? Something was wrong with this plan, he just didn't know what it was? He saw Bringers coming at them and didn't have a chance to finish his thoughts or ask anyone else.
Wesley and Connor saw them coming and nodded to each other. They took up posts several yards away from Buffy. She waited for the first one to reach her then whipped out her blade to behead it. Her foot lashed out at another while she stabbed two with a sword in one hand and a knife in the other. Connor fought two Bringers who decided that he would make an easy target. Wesley found himself in a similar predicament. They worked their way to the Slayer, their real target. Their master wanted this one dead and their only purpose was to please their master. They saw him at the same time, walking across the open ground. He was dressed like a preacher but the air around him left no doubt that he was evil. The blue sparks that Connor and Wesley saw when Buffy fought the First before were back. They arced from her fingers in short sparks that reached out to burn the closest Bringer, who burst into flame.
Caleb confidently walked forward His master gave him more power than he had ever felt before, bonding them together in a way that allowed him to face the Slayer. When the First returned from LA in defeat, it tore the vineyard apart in its anger. Now, it would open the Hellmouth and rule this Earth, using Caleb as its tool.
Buffy felt Faith's strength join with hers. She said a silent thank you and a prayer for her sister Slayer as she prepared for what would come next. The sun went dark by an eclipse that was not supposed to happen. Buffy braced herself for what was coming next and only hoped that Wesley and Connor would keep their promise.
Caleb stood in front of her with a malicious smile on his face. "You dirty girls never learn, do you? You think that you can prance around in your tight clothes and tempt men, that you can be a man when it pleases you and.." Caleb flew backwards into several vampires that had joined the battle now that the sun had set.
Buffy stalked forward. "You evil guys are all alike. Blah, blah, blah, I'm big I'm bad. Could we fight already, listening to your preaching is killing me."
Caleb jumped to his feet with a furious scream. "Kill her, tear her apart and bring me her eyes."
The First appeared beside Caleb. "You're supposed to fight her, you fool. Let them help you if you have to as long as you deliver the killing blow. Now, get in there and do something, before I regret picking you as my servant."
He looked at the First and for the first time wondered why it always chose the Slayer's face over any other. Moving back into the fight, Caleb had a hard time even getting close to the fighting. The Slayer was taking out three and four vampires at a time; Bringers fell like rag dolls at her feet. Caleb saw an opening and entered the fight. Buffy's drew her hand back to take off the head of yet another Bringer when something stopped it. Looking over her shoulder, she saw Caleb holding the sword, smiling as blood dripped from his hand. He slid his hand down the blade to hers until their hands pushed against each other. Caleb felt powerful as he stared into Buffy's hazel green eyes. This was the Slayer, good's ultimate weapon and he was about to kill her. He would sit beside his master and help to rule this Earth. He would teach all the dirty girls to obey. His eyes flew wide in shock as a terrible pain shot through his stomach.
"You should pay attention in a fight. Thanks for coming, though you were exactly what I needed to get this done. Too bad you won't be around for the rest of the fireworks." Buffy pushed Faith's knife further into Caleb's stomach. Blue streak of lightning shot out around her hand and the knife, which she pulled up, splitting the fake preacher in half. She screamed at the top of her lungs, breaking the rune stone in half.
The First saw an opportunity. It could still win; it pushed forward toward the opening, smelling victory, smelling home. Then she was there like a death goddess of olden times, a Valkyrie ready to take the worthy to Valhalla, Athena personified. The First couldn't allow this to happen this was its time to rule. Untold prophecies had written about this time. That fool of a vampire had opened the door long ago and the First had worked its way back ever since, its time was now and this mere Slayer was not going to stop it.
Buffy did the unthinkable, which if you knew her, really knew her was the norm for the Slayer who broke every rule then rewrote the book. She simply stepped over the place, which led straight into Hell itself. The rock was an actual rune stone set in place so long ago that no one even knew who put it there. Buffy knew who put it there but that wasn't important right now. What was important was that the runes would only work with enough power and only for the right person. She grinned at the First. It was interesting that she could see it so easily now. The saying was true, like did go to like. They were the opposite sides of the same coin and it was up to her to make the right call and end this once and for all. With a saucy wave, she jumped down into the hole. The First surged forward trying to stop her, knowing that if she made it to the heart of the Hellmouth all hope was lost. Buffy folded her arms over her chest and closed her eyes, not wanting to see what surrounded her. The minute that she disappeared down the hole, the vampires and Bringers ran away in fear.
The lightning arcs grew stronger, pushing out from her entire body directly into the Hellmouth's walls. She knew that she had to reach the center that there this would would all end. The End of Days would be determined by her past acts. Buffy felt the First rushing toward her, trying to stop her from reaching the bottom. A smile crossed her lips because it was too late; she was there. It was here that their fates would be decided. No sooner had her foot touched the very center of the Hellmouth, the sparks encompassed her in a whirlwind, before suddenly stopping. Buffy waited for what would come next when it happened. She shot back up toward the opening, moving faster and faster. The First screamed in impotence; it was caged forever.
Wesley and Connor were there, waiting for her. They caught her as soon as she cleared the opening. Buffy looked back at the rune stone, not surprise to see that it had returned to its place. She rested her head in Wesley's lap while she tried to catch her breath. Connor held her hand as he stared at her pale face with concern.
"What happened, Buffy? What did you do?" Wesley asked, squinting as the sun suddenly returned to the sky.
"It's over, all of it. This was the End of Days and we won." She closed her eyes and curled up closer to him.
"But, that's impossible, the scroll of Oberjian said that Angel would fight in the End of Days and he'd have a chance to win his humanity."
"No, it wasn't a guarantee and it didn't say that it was for Angel, he isn't the only vampire with a soul. In fact, he isn't even the first. Spike has a soul. There are also several others out there, well, there were."
"What does that mean? Is my father dead?" The question burst from Connor's lips.
"I don't know the answer to that Connor. It wasn't my call. I don't even know if Spike made it through, although somehow I think he did. No, the answer is there are no more vampires, no more demons, no more apocalypses. Humans are on their own. The only evil they have to worry about now is what anyone is capable of. The Shadowmen said that I was the last Guardian of the Hellmouth and that's true. The Slayer line is gone. What you see is just plain ole Buffy Summers."
Wesley snorted at that. "I don't believe that in any way, shape or form that you could be considered plain." He got to his feet with her in his arms and wasn't surprised to see the others slowly approaching.
They rushed forward to check on Buffy, who gave them a tired smile. "Hey guys, its all over." She shared a smile with Giles. "Someone once told me the good guys are always stalwart and true, the bad guys are easily distinguished by their pointy horns or black hats, and we always defeat them and save the day. None of us died today and we now have a chance to live happily ever after. Okay, I changed the last part only a little, but it's true. Now, I say we go home and start living the life that we deserve." She cuddled closer to Wesley while the others followed their general no matter that there were no more wars to fight.
Spike walked beside Connor as he tried to wrap his mind around the idea that he was human again. He liked the young man next to him. They both wondered about Angel. He figured they would find out soon enough.
"It's over, the Slayer did it. She fought the First, even entered the Hellmouth itself and gave back the the power that the Shadowmen gave her. Her willingness to give up the power even her life to end evil's hold on this world was what tipped the scale. That girl is fierce once she gets an idea in her head. The Powers didn't think that she'd do it. They thought that they'd have to intervene to show her another way. They've always underestimated her just like you did. Before you ask, your boy is safe. He fought well and is now just a normal teenager. You've been given a chance to make a life, thanks to the sacrifices that your Slayer made over and again after you left her on her own. Don't try to find them, Angel, let them lead the lives that they've earned. If you're lucky, your son may come back to you, but you need to learn how to live. How to be the kind of man that Connor would be proud to have as a father." Doyle left his friend to consider the long road that he had in front of him.
Buffy rolled over to snuggle up to the warm body next to her. She breathed in Wesley's unique smell. His arms pulled her close to him and he kissed her head sleepily. "Is it morning already?"
"Yeah, but I'm enjoying waking up just like I've always wanted to. Like a normal girl in the arms of her normal boyfriend. It's perfect."
Wesley kissed the top of her head. "Why don't we see what else we can do that's perfect."
The End
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