Just Us
by
Suki Blue
Part Five
“You do? Why?” Buffy asked.
Angel stepped away from the counter and rubbed at his temple. It wasn’t often that vampires got headaches. “The hotel is under siege.”
“Siege?”
“E’baye demons. They’ve surrounded the hotel. Apparently, Wesley managed to insult one of them last week when he returned their mail. It had come to us by mistake.”
“Oh, dear,” said Giles. “That’s very unfortunate.”
Angel flapped his hand dismissively. “It’s okay; we always get everybody else’s mail. We’re used to it.”
“No, I meant that you should never present an E’baye demon with a sealed envelope. It would be the equivalent of telling it that its mother is the offspring of a Gems’teevee demon.”
“Is that bad?” Xander asked.
“Very.”
“Oh, well, no wonder you keep getting their mail. I bet the postmen in LA are smarter than they look,” Xander continued.
Angel sighed and rubbed at his temple again. “I have to go.”
“Perhaps, as you are facing a very angry clan of E’baye demons, you’d better take Buffy with you,” Giles suggested.
Everybody froze at that. Including Giles, who wanted to kick himself in the groin. And he would have, if it were possible. Which it wasn’t.
“You can count on me, Angel,” Buffy said, firmly. Good. Now she had a purpose. Now there was something that she could focus on. Demon bashing was definitely doable. Every time she looked at Angel, her heart broke. Gods, she wished she had the guts to tell him that she didn’t love him anymore, that she was ready to move on. But she couldn’t. She just couldn’t hurt him like that.
Okay, so going to LA with him *alone* probably wasn’t the smartest of ideas Giles had ever had, but she was pretty sure that Angel wouldn’t bring up their past relationship while they were in the car. Hopefully. “I’ll just grab some weapons.”
As Buffy left to get her gear from the training room, Xander resisted the largest, longest and loudest sigh that he would ever be capable of emitting.
“I’ll be back. Tomorrow night, if not tonight.”
“Yeah, I know. Don’t come back as Angel Chunks. Be careful, yeah?”
“Always. And you, Xander. Be careful with the spell.”
“Oh, I don’t think Giles will let *me* do the spell,” Xander laughed. Was Angel crazy?
“I don’t know, Xander,” Giles said thoughtfully. “I don’t see any reason why you can’t be involved. The spell does require two spell casters.”
“Really? Aren’t you scared I’ll magic up a giant bowl of spaghetti sauce to rain down on us all?”
“Not at all. You won’t make the same mistake as Willow; I won’t let you.”
Xander grinned. It was a particularly wide grin that was distinctly coat hanger shaped. “Cool.”
Angel smiled back at him. He loved to see Xander happy, to see him smile and to watch as his eyes glistened with excitement. He looked beautiful like that. Jesus, Spike was right, he really *was* a ponce. A complete and total one. Not that he really cared. In a month's time he was going to have Xander by his side and in his bed everyday. He couldn’t wait. “I’ll miss you,” Angel whispered, moving to stand directly in front of Xander, so close that he would barely have to move in order to kiss him.
“Hey, guys, cut that out! There’s no need for…manly displays…or whatever.”
“Buff…”
“No, Xand, I don’t want to hear it. I wish you two wouldn’t fight.”
Xander’s grin turned mischievous. “But Angel said he didn’t like your cooking. It makes him gag. I was only defending you, is all. Totally on your side, Buff.”
Buffy was dismayed. “You don’t like my…Right. Fine. We’ll see about that, buster. When we get back I’m going to cook you *all* my homemade lasagne special. Then you’ll see how much my cooking is appreciated.”
Xander’s heart drooped. Damn, his clever plot to get Angel into trouble had seriously backfired. Or at least *they* would be backfiring after Buffy’s famous homemade lasagne special. He wondered if Angel ever farted. He knew Spike did. *God* did he know that Spike did. Spike Farts smelt like the inside of a rhinoceros’ stomach. Not that he really knew what the inside of a…
“Xand? Honey? You okay?”
“Yeah! Sorry. Zoned.”
Buffy patted Xander's cheek and looked mournfully at him. “Don’t worry, Xand. This whole thing will be over soon. And when it is, I’ll make you *all* the lasagne you can eat.” She patted his cheek again and headed for the door.
Xander’s expression told of infinite woes and a life of pain. He managed a small, discreet smile at Angel as he left and then turned around to face Giles. “Couldn’t we just keep the books and end the world?”
**
It was two hours before Spike and Willow arrived back with the spell ingredients. And then it took another three hours to set the spell up. Giles found himself doing this alone when Willow, Xander and Spike all fell asleep.
When, finally, the last candle was lit and the spell was ready to go, Giles coughed as loudly as he could.
Spike was the first to jolt awake. “What?! Eh?! Willow’s got the arse!”
“No, actually, I have the arse,” Giles said dryly, pointing to the hog's buttock in the centre of the table.
“Are we ready to start? Do you need me?” Willow asked as she rubbed her eyes sleepily.
“No, no,” Giles answered. “Xander and I will be performing the spell.”
“Xander?! That’s not fair. He can’t do magic!”
“Um, hey, Wills, you know I love you, right? But neither can you.”
“Hey, no fair! I can so do magic.”
“Yes, but not very well, pet. Never mind, luv, you’ll get better at it.” Spike patted Willow’s knee. “Now, let’s step back and let Xander have a crack, yeah?”
“No! I will not! I’m the witch around here!”
“Yeah? Best get on your broomstick and fly the fuck off, then!”
“Oh, you are such a…such a…bloodsucker!”
“Oh, Red, I’m offended, really. Blimey, that the best you can come up with?”
“No, but this is!”
“Ow! What the bloody, buggery bollocks was that for?!”
Exactly twenty minutes later, Willow and Spike had finished fighting and had made up with a cuddle and perhaps a few tears. Although, if asked about this, Spike would deny it vigorously.
Also, Giles and Xander had completed the spell.
“Oh, I missed it,” Willow complained.
Xander bounced in his seat at the table. “Oh, my god, I was awesome. I was, like, all…witchy and stuff!”
“Nice one, luv. Spell work, did it?”
Xander looked to Giles for confirmation.
“There’s no reason to think it didn’t. There was a small glitch about halfway though. The books seemed to…spit.”
“Spit?” Spike asked. “As in they gobbed at you?”
“In a manner of speaking, yes. Or perhaps ‘sparked’ would be a better term for it. But it only lasted a second and then the spell seemed to take hold.”
Willow peered at the books uneasily. “Is there a way to test it?”
“Only by touching.” Giles leaned over the table and rolled up his sleeve. To an untrained eye he looked like he was preparing to play Operation and remove the funny bone rather than just prod some books with his index finger. “If the spell is not properly in place, I’ll feel the power and evil of the book surging through my veins. You must pull me back immediately.”
“Right. Got it. I hear you.” Spike stood behind Giles in his best football stance and got ready to lunge and pull him back if needed.
“Right. Get ready, everyone. I’m going to poke it.” Giles’ finger hovered over the tome for several very long seconds before, finally, with a small shake, it descended.
“AAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!”
Part Six
“Bloody hell! Quick, call 999!”
“What?! Is that some kind of kinky sex line?! This is hardly the time, Spike!”
“Xan, pet,” Spike said, with more patience than he thought he was capable of. “I meant, call an ambulance.”
“And say what? The Slayer’s Watcher just got a blast of evil mojo and now he wants to destroy the world?”
Giles raised a shaky hand from where he was lying on the floor. “May I just interject…?”
“Alright, then,” said Willow, completely ignoring Giles. “How about we call Wesley? He’ll know what to do.”
“Will he? I really hope so. Why do people leave us three alone together?! We’re not capable!” Xander shouted.
Giles raised his hand again. “Erm…”
“Yeah, we are. You’re just panicking, luv. Angel’s in LA, Buffy’s with him. Giles is on the floor. You’re bound to feel a little shaky.”
“You know, you are so right. It’s just panic, right, Wills?”
Willow nodded, her eyes huge and glassy with fear.
Spike guided Xander to sit in one of the chairs. “There you go, pet. Have a rest.”
“Thanks, Spike. I just need to calm down and think.”
This time, Giles didn’t bother to raise anything. “Excuse me!!”
“What?” Spike asked.
“I’m on the floor.”
“Yeah, and? What of it?”
“Well, would you mind helping me off the floor?!” Giles all but screeched.
“Nuh-uh,” Xander said, shaking his head vigorously. “You’re evil. Evil guys stay on the floor.”
“Is that a fact? Well, I’m not evil, so if you wouldn’t mind helping me up…”
Spike circled his new prey, ready to pounce if Giles looked like was going to start with the Armageddon. “No way. Like Xan said, you’re evil now.”
“What on earth would make you think that?!”
“Um, because…YOU’RE EVIL!” Xander yelled. “I saw you get zapped by the books. You are all eviled up.”
“I am not! And you did not see me get ‘zapped’ by those infernal books! I simply had leg cramp!”
Xander looked over at Spike for confirmation of this. Had he seen Giles get mojoed by the books?
Spike hesitated. He’d assumed by the screaming, hopping and falling over that Giles had fallen prey to the books’ power. He’d also been rather taken in by Xander pointing and repeatedly shouting ‘It got him! It got him!’
“What do think?” Xander asked. “Can we trust him? Is he evil? Should we run? Shall I hit him with something?”
“Xander, no,” Giles begged. “Please don’t do that. I can assure you that I am Rupert Giles. I have not been possessed. I simply have a touch of cramp.”
“Right, well, we’ll see about that.” Spike finally made up his mind and grabbed Giles by his ankles. “We’ll just wait and see what Wesley has to say. Xan, call him.”
Xander nodded and ran to the phone while Spike dragged Giles into the training room and tied him up. “Damn, no answer.” He tried Angel’s cell phone instead.
“Xander. Is everything okay?” Angel asked.
“Um, kinda. Not. You? How’s the siege going?”
“It went fine. We presented the E’baye demons with ten floppy disks. It appeased them and they left.”
“So, no slaying?”
“No. We’re on our way back now.”
“I don’t suppose you have Wesley with you?”
“Yes, he’s here. What’s wrong?”
“Um, Giles and I did the spell. You know, to strengthen the original barrier spell?”
“Did something go wrong? Are you okay?”
“I’m not sure. I mean, I’m okay. But…I think the spell might have gone a teeny, tiny bit wrong.”
“What happened?”
“It’s Giles. Either he got mojoed by the evil of The Books of Damnation…or…”
“Xander? Or what? What’s going on?” Angel’s voice was more urgent now, worry and fear for his lover creeping in and eating at his heart.
“Or…or he got leg cramp.”
“Oh my god, Xander, you have to get as far…leg cramp?”
“Yeah. Spike’s just tying him up in the training room now.”
“Because of his leg cramp?”
“Well, that’s just it! I don’t know! It all happened so fast!” Xander flailed.
“Okay, okay, calm down. We’re about an hour away. Just keep Giles locked away and don’t touch the books. And don’t go near Giles. If he’s infected by their power he’ll stop at nothing to get to them.”
“Okay. Right. Got it. He can’t do anything if he’s locked up, though, right? I won’t have to knock him out with his own Demon Index? ‘Cause last time I did that he made me replace it.”
“It’ll be fine as long as he can’t get to the books. Don’t worry, Xander. We’ll be there soon.” Angel paused to listen to one of car’s occupants. “Oh, and Cordelia says to say hi. And to tell Spike that she can’t wait to…I am not saying that!”
Xander grinned. He’d heard Cordelia anyway. Boy, was Spike in for a treat, when all was said and done.
**
“It’s a trick, isn’t it? “Willow asked.
Spike nodded. “Oldest trick in the book, luv.”
“But…” Xander paused and really thought about the situation. “Maybe he really does need to go to the bathroom? I know I would, what with all the being tied up and stuff. And English people always need to go to the bathroom more than American people. It’s all the tea they drink.”
“Good point, pet. And we know Giles drinks a lot of tea.”
“Yeah!” Willow sat bolt upright and had a revelation. “And he drinks that stuff that isn’t in a bag! Doesn’t that make you need to go more?!”
“This is stupid,” Xander announced. He stood and strode over to the training room door. “I’m gonna take him to the bathroom. I mean, are we men or mice?”
Willow raised her hand “I’m a girl,” she supplied helpfully.
Spike nodded and pointed at her. “Exactly. Lesbian, to be precise. And I’m a vampire.”
“So I guess it’s just me and Giles in the bathroom, huh? Great.”
Just as Xander had resigned himself that he was probably going to die a grisly death in the bathroom by the hands of a possessed Watcher with chronic leg cramp, the door to the Magic Box was flung open.
“Angel! Buffy! Cordy! Wes! Rupert Devel! Wow, the car really must have been packed!”
Angel marched forward. Well, he didn’t actually march; that would have looked stupid. “Xander? Is everything okay? Is Giles…?”
“Busting to use the bathroom? Yeah. He’s started swearing quite a lot. I don’t think he’s happy. I was just going to take him.”
“I’ll do it.”
“Thanks, Angel. Hey, I’ll watch your back. Well, it’s not like I’m gonna watch…never mind. Shall we?”
Angel raised a subtle eyebrow. “Rupert and Wes should have the Gliff’niff’stiff spell set up by the time we get back.”
“The what now?”
“Evil guy detection spell,” Buffy supplied from across the room. “Apparently. Hey, Will! Come over here and meet Rupert.”
Willow looked confused. She pointed to Giles as he was led out, cross-legged - so not gonna help the cramp - and cursing like a drunken sailor. “I know Rupert.”
The other Rupert – L.A Rupert – thrust out his hand and grinned. “I’m Rupert Devel. I run Devel Investigations in L.A.”
“Oh. Is that anything like Angel Investigations?”
“Yes, yes, actually. I guess you could say that we’re rivals. Although, I have to say I specialise more in the tracking and eliminating of vampires. Can’t *stand* the buggers.”
“You don’t like vampires? *Any* vampires?”
“Of course not! Silly girl.”
“What about a vampire…with a soul?”
“A soul?! BWAH! I’ve never heard of such a thing. Impossible!”
“But what if Gypsies…?”
“Rubbish. I’ll hear no more.”
Spike broke away from kissing Cordelia and made a cutting motion across his throat.
Willow changed the subject. “So, how did you meet Angel?”
“Oh, well, funny story. I actually met Xander first, although he said *his name* was Angel.” Rupert chuckled and sighed wistfully. “Wonderful dancer. Fantastic kisser. If only…”
“Excuse me?!” This from Buffy and Willow. “You kissed Xander? Our Xander?” Buffy added. “Xander’s not gay.”
“Oh, I can assure you that he is.”
Spike was ready, fully prepared to snap the man’s neck – or at least kick him – should he utter even a single word about Xander and Angel being together.
“Then what about…? He can’t…? Is…?” Buffy sat down with a bump. “That so explains why he hasn’t looked at my breasts all year. He’s…gay. Geez. Willow’s gay. Xander’s gay. Giles is questionable. Am I next? Will, do I look gay to you?”
“Um, no?”
“Spike, are you gay?”
Spike shrugged and waggled his hand in the air. “A bit. Not right now, though. Got my Cordy.”
Buffy had a sudden thought. “Have you been gay with Xander?! Is that why you’re so close?!”
Xander and Angel, with Giles in tow, chose this moment to re-enter the room. “Um, did I just get outed?” Xander asked.
Everybody nodded.
“Oh. Oh, well. I guess I’m surprised you guys didn’t guess sooner, what with my snappy dressing and Audrey Hepburn poster collection.”
Buffy dismissed him with a wave. “I don’t care about that. Did you or did you not have gay relations with Spike? And are there pictures?”
Xander wasn’t quite sure what to say. Wasn’t this one of those moments when the Hellmouth should traditionally open up and swallow you?
Obviously not.
Part Seven
“Euw, Buff, no! I did not do that with Spike.”
Buffy made a hand gesture.
“*Or* that! Look, for the last time, I have never had sex with Spike, I’ve never kissed Spike and I haven’t…manhandled him in any way. Back me up, Spike.”
“It’s true, Slayer.” Spike paused. “Whelp wanted it, though. Wanted it *bad.* Wasn’t giving it to him, though. Not until he got down on his knees and…”
“Spike!” Angel yelled. “You know how you guys always say how emotionless I am?”
Everybody nodded, except Xander. He kept shaking his head until he realised it would look suspicious if anybody noticed.
“Well, guess what?” Angel continued. “I’m having an emotion right now.”
“Really?” Willow asked nervously. “Which one?”
“Anger,” Angel stated clearly and concisely. “You people realise that Armageddon could be just around the corner?”
Everybody nodded.
“And yet you’re all standing around here discussing Xander’s sex life!”
Willow pointed at Buffy, opened her mouth, and got as far as “But she…” before Angel interrupted.
“Is the Gliff’niff’stiff spell ready?” Angel asked, looking at Wesley. “We need to find out if Giles is evil.”
At Wesley’s nod, Angel ‘accompanied’ Giles to the table and sat him down.
The spell began and everybody waited.
And waited.
And waited.
And got bored.
“Is it home time yet?” Xander asked. “Did the bell go? Why is this taking so long?”
Wesley turned around and held up his index finger. “Ah, you see, this is a very complicated spell…”
“It wouldn’t be if you used the updated version from Minkie’s Second Edition. We’d have been done by now and able to *finally* move on,” Giles grumbled.
Wesley shook his head sadly. “You honestly expect us to trust into such…fiction? Mr Giles, I must say, I’m shocked to my very core.”
“Fiction, indeed. It could teach you a thing or two, I’d wager.”
Xander sighed and walked over to stand next to Angel. “I think that’s an argument that’s gonna take a while.”
Angel nodded in agreement. “Wesley always thinks he’s right.”
“So does Giles. I guess that’s because they are always right.”
Angel nodded again. “Yep, pretty much.”
Xander shifter closer and kept one eye on the rest of room. It wouldn’t do for them to get caught out just yet. Not that anyone was looking at him and Angel. They were looking at him and Spike. Thank all the gods that Cordelia saw the funny side. Xander just wasn’t sure that Angel did.
“Angel?”
“Yeah?”
“Are you mad?”
“According to some. Christ knows what a shrink would make of…”
“No, I mean, like, still angry.”
“No. Not really. You…? You and Spike…?”
“Never happened. And I’d have told you if it did. But even Spike didn’t know about my gay status until we came to LA with those plant cuttings. You believe me, right?”
“Of course.” Angel turned around and lightly stroked Xander’s cheek. “I just…I don’t like the thought of you with anybody else. You’re mine. All mine.”
“Possessive much?” Xander whispered.
“Very. Problem?”
“Nuh-uh.” Xander leant in and brushed his lips against Angel’s “Not a problem. Just remember that I’m possessive, too.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah. About Buffy…”
“Nothing happened.”
“Did she say anything?” Xander asked.
“No.”
“Do anything?”
“No.”
“Pout?”
“N…a little.”
“Okay, just normal Buff, then.”
Angel pulled him closer and whispered. “You don’t ever have to worry.”
“Erm, not meaning to state the obvious,” Rupert Devel cut in, “but you both might need to start worrying if Miss Summers turns around and finds you in a clinch.”
Angel and Xander let go of each other and stepped quickly apart. “Damn,” Xander said. “I keep forgetting that I can’t touch you…you, you, you, *your* leather coat because…it’s your baby and you love it so. Buff! You okay? Everything okay? Okay?”
Buffy stopped in front of Xander and cocked her head to the side, “I’m fine, Xander. Thank you. And you? You look a little nervous.”
“Well, who wouldn’t be?!” Xander cried with all the inappropriate cheeriness he could muster. “What with all the evil stuff and the evil books and the evil Giles.”
“I am not evil!” Giles called out.
“But you might be,” Xander argued.
“Buffy,” Giles reasoned. “Can’t you make them see sense?”
“Well, my spider sense isn’t tingling. Does that help?”
“Not in the slightest,” Wesley answered. “Now, perhaps if we can all have some patience and wait…” Wesley checked his watch. “Another three minutes. Then we will know one way or the other.”
“And how will we know, again?” Buffy asked.
Wesley picked up the test tube filled with the urine sample that Angel has procured during Giles’ much needed toilet break. “In ten minutes *this* will turn pink if he is evil and blue if he is not.”
“And purple if he’s an evil twin,” Xander added with grin.
“Hey, you know, you could really market this stuff,” Cordelia said. “We could package it all up and sell it for, what? Fifty bucks a pop? I mean, who wouldn’t want an Evilness Test Kit? No home would be complete without one!”
Xander walked over to the table where Giles was sitting and Cordelia was standing. “You know, I think you might be on to something. It’s a great idea! We could sell them to the clients! I wonder what other kits we could make?!”
Cordelia thought about it. “An Exorcism Kit! Complete with Holy Bible, crucifix, holy water and a…priest. Maybe not.”
“Or just maybe! Who needs a priest these days?! Pah, that’s what I say. How about a Vampire Un-invite Kit?”
“Useful, useful. I like it, I like it,” Cordelia mused.
“We could set aside an area near the office or I could build another room and we could use it for a little shop or something.”
“Great! I’m thinking revenue!” Cordelia squealed.
“And I’m thinking work! Of the construction kind! Angel, what do think? It’s a good idea, right? Why are you scowling at me? Why are you all scowling at me? Cordy? Why are they all scowling at me?”
“I think your mouth just got you into trouble again, pet,” Spike said with a hint of sympathy in his voice.
“What? What did I say?”
“Xander? What’s all this ‘we’ about?” Willow asked. “Are you going to LA?”
Xander froze. As Spike would say - often - oh, bugger. “Oh, bugger.”
“Xan, what’s going on?” Buffy asked.
“Um, um, um, could we talk about this later? I mean, evil is afoot and this is really a conversation that needs to be totally without evil, malice or any kind of revenge or violence or…slayage.”
“Xander, tell me what’s going on?” Buffy asked more seriously.
“Erm, Time Travel Kits?” Xander suggested, roughly in Cordelia’s direction. “One of those would be real handy right now.”
“Xander?!” Buffy yelled. “What are you keeping from us?! Tell me!”
“Buffy…”
“Don’t get all fobby offy on me, Xand? Why are you going to LA?”
Finally, after many long years, the impossible had happened. Xander had finally been silenced. This was not how he wanted Buffy to find out, not in front of a room full of people.
Okay, so maybe he could tell everyone that he was looking for a change of scenery?
“I’m looking for a change of scenery? You know, building sites in L.A are *so* much better than in Sunnydale. I could get dental.”
“Don’t lie, please.”
“I’m not! You just can’t get dental around here!”
“Xander, are you in trouble?” Willow asked. “Because if you are, that’s okay. Well, it isn’t okay, but we won’t be mad. Well, not with you. Are you in trouble? Is it a demon? Did you knock over Mr Flannigan’s mail box with your car again?”
“Willow, I’m not in trouble…”
“Really, Xander? I think you’ll find that isn’t entirely true,” said Giles, who was standing behind Xander with a large dagger in his hand and a maniacal look on his face.
“Oh, goodness!” Wesley cried, holding up the test tube. “It’s pink! He *is* evil!”
“I bloody knew it!” Spike shouted, pointing alternately at Giles and the urine sample. “Evil git!”
“Stand back!” Giles commanded, holding the dagger to Xander’s throat.
“When did we let Giles go get a dagger?” Buffy asked as she ushered Cordelia and Rupert behind her. “Giles, put the knife down. You’re not yourself.”
“Damn right, I’m not! I’m something…someone so much better. Now, give me the books and I’ll be on my way. I will return Xander when I’m sure I’m not being followed.”
“And how do we know, Sir, that you’ll hold up your end of the bargain?” Rupert Devel asked.
“You’ll just have to trust me, won’t you?”
Angel slammed his fist into the glass counter and pulled out a large battle axe. “No. Let him go.”
Giles laughed. “Let him go? Where would be the sense in that? You have something I want. I have something you want. Surely a trade isn’t beyond even your comprehension, Angel?”
Angel was faced with a choice. Firstly, he could fight Giles and try to pull Xander away from him. Unfortunately, that could very well result in Xander getting his throat cut. That was a risk that Angel did not want to take.
So, that left him with his second choice – the only choice that remained. Giles was crazed, possessed by the book’s power and hell bent on reuniting all the volumes to ultimately destroy the world. He was strong, stronger than Angel and Buffy put together.
Yeah, there was only one other option. Destroy the two books. Destroy the two books and himself in the process.
Angel looked at the books and back at Xander. Fight or destroy. Fight or destroy. Fight or destroy.
“Angel? Are you gonna do something? ‘Cause this blade is kinda chilly,” Xander complained with a sad smile.
Angel gripped the axe tighter. And decided.
Part Eight
Angel was confused.
Was this hell? It sure didn’t feel quite as flamey as last time.
But it was dark, so dark. It was blacker than the deepest, blackest pit that he’d ever known. Not that he’d ever known many black pits. Not personally, anyway. But as black pits went, he assumed, it was pretty black.
Actually, it was a total contrast to his last remaining second on earth, when he’d plunged his axe though the two books and thus cursed himself to an agonising and eternal death in the fires of hell. The room had lit up brighter than any star and he could still feel the heat that exploded from the books and engulfed his body.
Huh. And there we are. Back to the whole fiery, burning in hell thing. And why wasn’t he on fire again? And what was….?
Angel sighed against the soft touch trailing gently over his chest. He was sure he wasn’t supposed to sigh while undergoing eternal damnation. He might get caught. Ah, what the hell. The touch returned and Angel heard whispering…no, no that was not whispering. It was…yelling?
“Oh, my god! I think he’s dead!” Cordelia.
“He is not dead!” Xander.
“Actually, Xander. I think you’ll find that…” Giles.
“Yeah, okay. Whatever. Dead already, I know. Back off, crampy!” Xander.
“Now, there is no need for that. I didn’t mean to be evil.” Giles.
“Pfft.” Spike.
“Angel? Can you hear me? Are you okay? Please wake up. You kinda look like a corpse and it’s starting to freak me out.”
“Xander? So dark.”
“Uh, yeah? Not meaning to sound like my normal sarcastic self, but…have you tried opening your eyes?”
Oh god, what had he done? Had he dragged them all into the pits of hell with him? Was that what his damnation was to be? To know that his actions would cause eternal suffering to the ones he loved? And Spike?
“Come on, Ange. Just try opening your eyes. It’s okay. We’re all here.” Xander’s voice – soft, sensual, reassuring. So brave. So much suffering, yet so… Angel tried opening his eyes, just for fun.
“I’m here,” he whispered, looking up into seven concerned faces. “Why am I here?”
Buffy smiled down at him. “Because hell decided it had something better to do?”
Angel tried to sit up, grateful when Xander took his arm and assisted. “I thought… I destroyed the books. I should be in hell.”
“Nope, no hell,” Willow said.
“Are you sure? Hell can be very deceiving.”
Spike nodded his agreement.
“What just happened?” Angel asked. “Is Giles still evil?!”
Xander helped Angel to a chair at the table and sat next to him, keeping his hand in his.
“Giles is no longer evil,” Rupert Devel explained. “When you destroyed the books you broke the hold they had over him.”
“So, it’s really over?” Willow asked.
“Completely,” Rupert answered.
“Bloody great! Who’s for a movie?” Spike said, rubbing his hands together.
“Wait,” Buffy said. “I don’t get. Not understanding here. I thought that anyone who tried to slay the books would go poof.”
“Under normal circumstances, yes,” Giles said, taking another seat at the table. His cramp was acting up again. “But it seems that Angel found the only loophole. Only a true love of mind, body and soul - a perfect connection - can defeat the evil of the Damned. Remember?”
“I’m not getting that. ‘Splainy. Plain English, please.”
“Erm, well, I think that explanation would be up to Angel,” Giles said.
“The ultimate sacrifice in the name of love,” Angel whispered, loudly enough that everybody heard. “I couldn’t risk…I couldn’t let…” Angel fixed Xander with the most serious expression that Xander had ever seen. And considering that this was Angel? It was damn serious. “I love you too much to... I couldn’t bear to think that…”
Xander squeezed back at the hand that was squeezing his. “You really just tried to sacrifice yourself…for me?”
There was silence for a while, eyes dropping to look at the floor while Xander stared at Angel in awe and Angel stared back at Xander with unabashed love.
Finally, it was Buffy who broke the silence. “You…? You love him?”
Angel nodded.
“And he loves you too.” This time it wasn’t a question.
Xander finally drew his gaze away from Angel. “Buff. Oh, god, I’m…”
“Don’t be. It’s all good. For both of you. I wish you all the happiness in the… Although, feel free to shower me with gift vouchers if either if you is feeling guilty.”
“Hey, no fair, Buffster! You know Angel will be feeling guilty, just by default.”
Buffy smiled and bent down to hug her friend.
“Buffy, are you…? It’s just that, you’re taking this *really* well. Do you want to talk about it?” Angel asked.
Buffy straightened herself up and shook her head. “It was time for us to move on. I guess I’m just kinda bummed that you got there first.” She took a deep breath. “Especially since I was suddenly close.”
Buffy tried not to grin as she headed to the door. “I’m going home, guys. If anyone needs an escort, then I suggest you get your asses in gear. This Slayer is so ready to slay some sheep. Gotta be better than counting them.”
“Bloody hell, that bird’s puns get worse by the day.”
“I think I’d have to agree with you there, Spike,” Giles said.
“Hold up. Did Buffy just say that she was close?” Xander asked as he whipped his head around to face the door. “Close to what? Madness? Splitting up the lesbian couple from two doors over?”
Wesley gave him a quizzical look.
“The Sims,” Xander explained.
Giles adjusted his glasses and looked thoughtful. “Maybe she means that she, you know…”
“Likes someone?” Cordelia supplied. “Bet your ass, she does. The Buffy-Angel thing was way over. So totally two years ago. Of course she’s going to move on.”
“I wonder who it is,” Willow mused.
“Well, I think you should go get escorted home and find out. Get that gossip, Wills.”
“Xander!” Willow scolded. “Not before you tell all about you and Angel. Is he good in…?” At Giles’ lifted eyebrow and Spike’s smirk, Willow stopped. “Okay, I’ll grill Buffy. But you have to give it up too, Mister.”
Xander saluted.
“I can’t believe you’re gay,” Willow said, suddenly squealing. “Now we can be gay together!”
“Um, Wills? You do know how this works, don’t you? Tara did mention it?”
“Oh, my god…Tara! I can’t wait to tell her! And she always said that you were so gay, Angel.”
“I’m not sure how to take that,” Angel said with a confused look.
“I can’t believe I didn’t see it before,” Willow said, suddenly becoming serious. “You two are in love.”
Xander smiled and turned back to Angel. “Yeah, we are.”
Spike gagged.
**
“Alone at last,” Angel observed as he glanced around Xander’s apartment and lightly kicked the door shut.
“Looks like it. Just us.”
It had been two days since the events at The Magic Box and Angel had been able to stay in Sunnydale for a while longer. Wesley had left on a coach the next day and had promised to call if anything undesirable turned up.
Spike and Cordelia were still in town, mainly due to the fact that Cordelia refused to get on a bus and had also refused to let Spike drive her in his Desoto, which was probably wise.
Rupert Devel was also still in town, taking in the sights and sounds of Sunnydale. Apparently, it was his first time on a real Hellmouth. This made Xander wonder how many times he’d been on a fake one. Rupert had also been spending his time vampire hunting. Seeing as he despised the devilish creatures so much, it made sense that he’d revel in the opportunity to hunt them when they were in such abundance.
He was yet to dust even one.
Still, he was having a fantabulous time trying.
“Us time, huh? Sounds…wonderful?” Angel said
“Yeah. Naked us time sounds even better.”
“Much better,” Angel said as he slipped his coat off and dropped it to the floor.
“I’m gonna need much more naked than that,” Xander purred.
Angel pulled off his sweater. “Better?”
“Kinda. Now off with the rest.”
Angel smiled and toed off his shoes. “I might need a hand with the rest.”
Xander grinned and unbuckled Angel’s belt and slipped it from the loops. The zipper was next and then Xander was sliding Angel’s pants to his ankles. “Just think, one month from now and we can do this every day. Or sometimes even twice. And after a few months, once a week!”
Angel tipped back his head and laughed. “And after a few years, once a month and total silence over breakfast.”
Xander laughed with him and tugged at Angel’s pants where they were caught around his hairy ankles. “Years, huh?” he suddenly said, a wistful look spreading over his face. “This really is for good?”
“Of course,” Angel said, tugging at Xander’s arm until he got up. “I hope you never thought otherwise. I love you.”
“I know. And if I didn’t know before, I know now. I can’t believe that you…did that, for me.”
“I couldn’t live without you, Xander. And it’s kind of a hero, champion thing.”
“Oh, well, I wouldn’t want to be the one that makes you break tradition,” Xander said with a big grin. “Right, okay, you’re naked now…except for one sock. I think it’s time that I got with the naked so that we can play naked games. Just the two of us.”
~RING RING~
“Ooh, hang on. That’ll be Willow. She went for dinner with the Buffster.” Xander rushed across the room and left Angel standing naked, except for one lonely sock, in the middle of the room. “Hello? Willow! How’s my girl?! And more importantly, did you get the gossip?”
Angel rolled his eyes but listened intently anyway.
“Really? You’re kidding me?! No way! Buffy and…No! Angel, can you believe this?!”
Angel wasn’t sure that he did.
“Are you sure about this, Wills? Did you daydream again? Really? Rupert Devel?!”
The End
