Part 16
Black Arts
***** The Warehouse *****
Buffy, Angel, and the gang walked back into the warehouse slowly. It was pitch black and silent. All that was visible were the shadows and outlines of objects. In a far corner of the warehouse, Buffy saw something sprawled out on the floor, a body.
“Guys this is getting a little too much on the creepy side for me,” Cordelia said as she dug her nails into Xander’s arm.
“Ow! Ow! And did I say Ow. Cordelia can you loosen up on the Vulcan death grip please,” Xander said trying to pry her hand off his arm.
“No. I think Cordy may be on to something. I don’t remember it being so….” Angel implied walking to the center of the room.
“Morbid,” Buffy interrupted. “There’s something on the floor.” They walked over to the figure on the floor. The moonlight shined onto it’s back. Buffy turned the body over so that they could see the face.
“Oh my God! It’s Spike,” Willow exclaimed. Buffy kneeled down and lifted his head to lay her lap.
“Spike. Spike, open your eyes…. Come on you’re starting to scare me….. Spike wake up please,” Buffy said with tears in her eyes as she shook Spike to try to get him conscious.
“Love if you shake me any harder then I’m gonna get brain damage,” Spike said opening his eyes.
“God!” Buffy yelled as she got up off the floor and helped Spike up. “Don’t you ever, ever scare me like that again Spike.” Buffy slapped Spike in the chest repeatedly in the girly way not the slayer way.
“Geez Pet. I was just knocked out here. Did I miss the bulletin that said ‘beat up the helpless vampire day,” Spike said sarcastically backing away from Buffy.
“Okay now that we have retrieved the missing link, can we go?” Gunn said looking around the room.
“I don’t see why not,” Giles replied.
“Uh guys. I hate to be the burier of bad news but Riley is gone,” Oz said looking over towards the bed.
“What?! That’s impossible. I chained him up before I left,” Angel implied.
“You should know by now that anything’s possible,” Riley said stepping from behind a pillar.
“How?” Buffy asked in complete and utter shock.
“I told you that I had a surprise for ya Buff….Well while I was in the jungle, I happened to dabble a little in the black arts. It’s amazing….you think you’re worthless and never realize how much power you truly contain until one day you meet this all powerful shaman and he teaches you abilities that have been hidden within yourself. It’s amazing really. All the power, all the energy, total control….right at your fingertips. It’s such a rush,” Riley ranted. “I loved you so much that being in that jungle without you just drove me insane. I wanted you to love me more than anything in the world, so I figured a love spell. However, let’s face it we all know those don’t really work so then, I met this strange man named Holtz. As it seems he is also out for revenge on Angel. So, we decided to join forces and figured that we would try this little scheme. To get rid of Angel but then that failed. So I killed Holtz….. Now I’m pretty much leaning to my last alternative. If I can’t have you, then no one will.”
“God you’re pathetic,” Buffy said.
“Buffy I don’t think it’s such a good idea to make him mad. I mean if he has as much power as he claims,” Cordelia remarked.
“Power. Please, the only the power he has is ability to piss me off,” Buffy implied.
Riley raised his arms high above his head and started moving his hands in a circular motion as if he were rolling a ball. He chanted to himself softly and leaned his head back with his eyes closed. Then a big ball of fire was in between his hands and when he raised his head, his eyes were pitch black. Then he threw the ball over at the pillar that was next to Buffy.
“Or I could be wrong,” Buffy said looking at the concrete crumble before her eyes.
Once again, Riley began to concoct the same spell that he was doing before when Angel ran over and bulldozered him. Then Xander, Spike, Gunn, Giles, Oz, and Wesley ran over to try to hold Riley back but one by one Riley threw them across the room. Riley threw Spike so hard that he was knocked through the wall. Cordelia and Willow ran over to Xander and Oz to see if they were all right.
“Oh Xander are you okay,” Cordelia asked.
“No. I think my arm’s broken,” Xander replied.
“He’s too powerful. How are we gonna stop him,” Oz said. He looked around the room and noticed Giles, Wesley, and Gunn were all unconscious.
“You know Buff, I starting to realize why you like having these superhuman abilities,” Riley smirked as he was punching Angel repeatedly. Finally, Angel dropped to his knees with blood all over his face.
“Why don’t you just leave everybody out of this? This is between you and me,” Buffy said.
“You know Buffy, if I were you I would be a little bit more worried about my own life rather than everyone else’s,” Riley implied.
Riley formed another fireball and this time he was aiming at Buffy. She stood there frozen in place, petrified with fear. Riley released the fireball but just then Angel jumped up off the floor and dashed out to Buffy. Angel knocked her out the way and intercepted the flaming ball, knocking him into a pillar.
“Oh God! Angel!” Buffy yelled hysterically.
“Okay now I know that I swore off magic after we tried to help Connor but I think this is a special circumstance,” Willow said walking forward.
“Ah. Willow, I was wondering when I would face you,” Riley said gleefully.
“Kick his ass Will,” Xander said routing her on.
Willow turned her back to Riley and put her arms down to her side with her palms spread. “Goddess Hecate, work thy will……..” Willow turned around and faced Riley. Her eyes were pitch black as his were but she was more intense.
“What the hell,” Riley said realizing that Willow has become an extremely powerful Wicca.
Willow rose her hands and pointed straight out at Riley. “Before thee let the unclean thing crawl,” Willow yelled and then a orange light come from her fingertips. The light hit Riley in the chest and he shrunk down into a itty bitty little rat.
Willow walked over to Riley and picked him up. “I’ve learned a few things since you’ve left Riley,” she said smiling down at the rat form of Riley.
“Thank you so much Willow,” Buffy said.
“Yeah Willow you really saved the day,” Cordelia said walking over to them.
“Is it over?” Giles asked getting up off the floor.
“Yep, thanks to my good buddy the witchy Willow,” Xander said picking her up in a bear hug.
“That’s ex witch to you,” Willow said smiling. Xander put her down and then she ran over to Oz and hugged.
“Well it’s a good thing it’s over cause I would have hate to have kicked his ass,” Wesley said holding his side.
“Yeah Wesley, I sure he was terrified of you. The way you just fell to floor and were knock out…had him shaking in his pants,” Cordelia said sarcastically.
“That was wild man,” Gunn said. “The way that guy just went psychopathic and then…. oh man Willow you are one bad ass chick.”
“Can someone help me here,” Buffy said trying to get a groggy Angel to his feet.
“Yeah, I will,” Spike said climbing back through the hole in the wall. He walked over to them and put Angel’s arm around his neck. “Let’s get him back to the hotel and in bed.” Then the gang walked back onto the streets and headed back to the hotel.
Part 17
In Love
*****Angel Investigations *****
Arriving back at the hotel, Spike and Buffy helped Angel back to his bed so that he could recuperate. Gunn, Wesley, Giles, Xander, and Cordelia sat down on the couch and talked about Connor. Willow placed ratty Riley in a little cage they picked up, on their way from the warehouse.
“Hey Willow, can I talk to you,” Oz asked grabbing her arm.
“Sure……is there something wrong,” Willow replied walking into the kitchen with him.
“No not really, it’s just well…..” Oz stuttered.
“Oz what’s the matter,” Willow said concerned, stepping towards him.
“Okay…you know how I told you that the reason I needed to stay with Angel was because I was in trouble and I didn’t want to talk about why at the time….” Oz stated.
“Yeah, I just figured you would tell me when you were ready. It seemed really serious and I didn’t want to push,” Willow said.
“Okay well you see that whole in trouble thing….it was kinda a lie,” Oz implied. Willow looked up at him with shock in her eyes from the fact that he had lied to her. “I’m not in trouble.”
“You lied to me,” Willow said hurtfully.
“Just let me explain okay. See I arrived in Sunnydale the day before I came here and the whole reason that I went back there was because of you. I knew that you were with Tara but I missed you so much…I just wanted to see your face, hear your voice, look into your pouty eyes… Anyways I told you that I saw Tara but what I didn’t tell you was that she told me what had happen with you two…with the whole break up,” Oz explained. “Okay so I was like wow. Maybe now I can get another chance….you know maybe now we could give us another try. But I knew that it wasn’t the right time; I knew that your heart would be hurting and I didn’t want to push all these feelings on you until I knew that you were ready…capable to handle the emotions. So my plan was to just see how things would go and decide if I wanted to pursue you.”
“You were going to pursue me,” Willow said cracking a smile. “I never thought I was the pursuey type.”
“Believe me Will. You are so the type…. Okay so I arrive in L.A, see you, and it’s like boom. Instant love, once I your sweet Willow face…I knew that I couldn’t leave you again without at least trying….. I love you Willow Rosenberg and all that stuff that happen in the past, I just want to leave it there. I want to focus on the future, I want to be complete again, and most of all…I want you,” Oz proclaimed. “The question is what do you want.”
(Upstairs)
Buffy tucked Angel in the bed and kissed him on his forehead. Spike was standing at the door, staring in disgust. Quickly he walked over to her and grabbed her by the arm.
“I need to talk to you love,” Spike whispered in Buffy’s ear. Buffy looked up at him trying to decide if she wanted to leave Angel’s side. Finally she started to follow Spike out when Angel tried to lean up.
“Buffy, w-w-where are y-you going,” Angel said hoarsely. His voice was very weak and extremely faint.
“Shh. Don’t try to talk. I’m just going downstairs for a minute to talk to Spike. I want you to rest…I’ll be right back, I promise,” Buffy said walking back over to him and putting her hand on his chest to get him to lay back down.
Angel looked over at Spike grimly and said, “don’t be long.”
Buffy smiled and said, “I want.” She leaned down and kissed him on his forehead again. Then she followed Spike out the room and shut the door behind her.
(Outside Angel’s room)
Spike was about to speak when Buffy waved her hand and pointed down to where Giles and the gang was. He looked back up at her and she mouthed ‘talk softly’.
“Okay Buffy, I came to a new conclusion tonight,” Spike whispered.
“Oh yeah, what’s that,” Buffy murmured, intrigued about what Spike was about to say.
“You love me,” Spike said abruptly.
“Excuse me,” Buffy said quietly, trying to contain her laughter.
“Oh come on Buffy, there is no possible way that you can deny your feelings towards me. I saw how upset you became when you saw me on the ground at that warehouse,” Spike proclaimed.
“Feelings? Okay these are the feeling I feel for you…disgust, shame, dreadful…did I say disgust,” Buffy ranted.
“Okay love, let’s not get cruel,” Spike began. Buffy was about to protest but Spike cut her off. “Here me out. I know that I have made some huge mistakes recently but I did those things because I thought that it would give me you. I am so sorry for consorting with Riley, believe me I know I messed up and that it will take time for you to forgive me. I am willing to wait but I need you to face up. We have shared too much, done too much….we mean too much to each other. Tell me I haven’t lost you to him.”
Buffy sighed, sat down on the floor, and leaned back against the wall. Spike sat down next to her.
“Say something Buffy,” Spike said.
Buffy looked up at him and caressed the side of his face with her hand. “Spike you haven’t lost me,” Buffy implied. Spike looked up hopefully but the expression on her face told the truth. “You haven’t lost me because you never had me. Not fully anyway… It’s just that I needed comfort and needed affection, I was lonely and you were there for me. I really appreciate that. I’m not gonna lie and say that there isn’t something between us because there is. I care deeply about you…. you have strangely become a very important person in my life. I can’t imagine what my life would be like without you and I never want to find out….. You have to understand something…I need you as a friend, I need you to watch my back. I don’t want anything more from you….the sexual advances stop. It’s over.”
(Kitchen)
Willow was looking down at the ground, not knowing what to say. So many feelings were running through her body and everything has been so muddled since Tara broke up with her. Oz walked over to her and lifted her chin with his hand so that she would look into his eyes. Willow was crying and then she leaned in and kissed Oz. The kiss become more passionate and intense. Then Willow finally pulled away and smiled at Oz.
“I didn’t know what to say,” Willow said.
“So does this mean what I hope it means,” Oz asked smiling.
“Well I’m willing to give it another try if you are,” Willow replied.
“Oh I’m so willing but are you sure you’re ready,” Oz said. “I don’t want to rush anything…if you need time.”
“I’m so ready. All those sweet things you said that you wanted, I want them too. I want them with you….I want you,” Willow stated and they leaned in for another kiss.
“A werewolf in love,” Oz said softly to himself as him and Willow walked out the kitchen to join the others.
(Upstairs…Outside Angel’s room)
Spike looked over at Buffy. His eyes were watery and his hands were trembling. He hasn’t felt so much pain since Drusilla first left him.
“Do you honestly believe that you have a future with Angel,” Spike asked with hurt in his voice.
“No. But I don’t want that kind of future from you either. I am ashamed that I let things go that far and these past months have been filled with regrets. Like I said I need you in my life and I understand why you did the things you did but you have to understand something. As much as I’ve tried to fight it, to deny it, and to get over it….I’m in love with Angel,” Buffy explained. “I don’t want to be with you in that way and it would be unfair to you if we didn’t get this out in the open. Try not to take it too personal….”
“Don’t take it too personal,” Spike interrupted. “Wait let me guess, next you were gonna say ‘it’s not you, it’s me’ right. Honey I have heard the song and dance before. How can I not take this personal…you’re rejecting me for a forbidden love.”
“Spike please calm down, you starting to yell. I tried to explain how I feel as clearly as I can. Now I guess you have to make a choice. You can either have me as a friend and nothing more or you can have me as nothing at all,” Buffy said firmly.
“So we’re giving ultimatums now. God Buffy you put me right on the spot,” Spike said sarcastically. “You know I don’t take ultimatums all that well.” Spike stood up and started down the stairs. By now Giles and the gang were looking at them to see what all the commotion was.
“Spike please don’t be angry with me. I thought you understood,” Buffy yelled from the top of the stairs.
“Yeah I understand…..I need a drink,” Spike replied and slammed the door behind him. Buffy rushed down the stairs and went out the door.
The gang watched Buffy leave and then everyone relaxed as if all the tension had left the room.
“What did we miss,” Oz asked sitting down in a chair. Willow sat down in his lap and leaned into him.
“I don’t know but my guess is that it was a fight about Angel,” Cordelia replied.
Cordelia started to explain to Willow and Oz what they had overheard between Spike and Buffy when Angel came stumbling down the stairs.
“Angel…what on earth are you doing? You should be in bed, you are still very weak,” Cordelia implied.
“Yeah I know but I heard Buffy yelling and I wanted to see what was going on,” Angel said.
“Man don’t you know curiosity killed the cat,” Gunn remarked.
“Well then I guess it’s a good thing I’m a vampire and not a cat,” Angel replied. “How’s Connor?”
“He’s still sedated.. give him a few more hours and he’ll be awake,” Wesley stated.
“So where’s Buffy,” Angel asked.
“Well her and Spike got into it…he stormed out, she stormed out after him…you know same old same old,” Xander said.
(Outside)
Buffy sat on the steps staring up at the clear sky. Angel opened the door, walked out, and sat down beside her.
“What are you doing out of bed,” Buffy asked smiling at him.
“Looking for you,” Angel replied. “Are you okay?”
“Fine..why do you ask,” Buffy said.
“I heard you and Spike fighting… and it seemed not to be going so well,” Angel said.
There was a moment of pure silence and then Angel spoke. “You care for him don’t you? I could tell at the warehouse,” Angel said looking away from her.
“Yes, I do care for Spike. I tried to explain to him that he was important to me,” Buffy proclaimed. Angel looked down at the ground sadly and Buffy noticed his face expression. She grabbed his hand and he looked back up at her. “But that there was, is, and never will be a loving relationship. I made one of the biggest mistakes of my life by sleeping with him and I told him that it was over and it would never, ever happen again. I tried to let him know that he was a friend and that I didn’t want anything more than a friendship from him.”
“But you were about to cry when you seen him on the floor at the warehouse,” Angel said.
“Angel,…. Spike has helped me out a lot and has done a lot for me. We have shared many experiences and he has been there when you weren’t. Tell me this, if Cordelia was down on that floor, wouldn’t you be upset,” Buffy said.
“I see what you’re saying,” Angel remarked.
“You’re close with her and I have become close to him. I mean I told him things that I haven’t even told Willow,” Buffy stated. “Anyways the point to the whole story is that Spike got mad when he learned the truth.”
“And the truth is..” Angel said.
“That I am still in love with you,” Buffy replied. Angel leaned in and they began to kiss. They moved closer to each other as the kissing became more intense. Then a bright blue light flashed before them and they pulled away from one another to see what it was. Buffy’s eyes began to water as she saw the figure that stood before them. Speechless, Angel just stared at the saintly visionary.
“Mommy…” Buffy stammered with tears rolling down her cheeks.
Part 18
Second Chances
***** Angel Investigations *****
Buffy and Angel stared in amazement on the steps of the building. How was this possible, how could this angelic woman be in their presence. Joyce Summers had died a year and half ago but she now was there, standing before them with a loving smile on her glowing face.
“Mommy…. is, is it really you,” Buffy asked with tears rolling down her face.
“Yes my darling, it’s really me,” Joyce replied walking towards her daughter and opening her arms to her. Buffy fell into her mother’s warm embrace.
‘This, this right here….the motherly comfort, this was what I missed the most,’ Buffy thought. ‘The scent of your perfume, the look you would get when you knew something was up, the way you made blueberry pancakes…the little things that I always took for granted. I could stay like this for an eternity, please never let go.’
Just then, her mother pulled back and caressed the side of her daughters cheek, wiping away the tears. “Oh Buffy, you have become exactly what I hoped you would. I am so proud of you,” Joyce said smiling. “And look at you…so beautiful, but you have always beautiful.”
“I’ve missed you so much….there’s so much that I want to tell you,” Buffy said softly.
“I already know…I’ve been watching. You are doing a wonderful job, although you have had a few bumps in the road,” Joyce remarked.
“Mom, what’s going on… is this for real, are you really here,” Buffy said still not being able to believe her eyes.
“Ah, my sweet little girl…..I’m here for now but just to bring you a very special gift,” Joyce implied.
“What is it,” Buffy asked.
“You two….I never knew have truly special the two of you were until I watched you day in and day out from up there. You have sacrificed so much…your life, your freedom, your dreams, and even your love. A love that is so special that not even death can tear you apart. You two are connected for an eternity, you do know that. Angel is your destiny just as you are his. It was a love written in the stars. There has always been one obstacle standing in the way and that’s just bad timing,” Joyce explained looking at both Buffy and Angel. “But now to get back to the matters at hand. It’s time that you something in return for all your selfless acts. Angel, you are the champion among champions. No one has ever given so much of themselves and overcome so much as you. I know that you have been working for your redemption and as much as I would like to say that this is your time, I afraid that’s not true. There is still so much that must be done and you have been chosen to do it. Believe me though….your time for true happiness will come, you just have to be patient.”
“Well if it’s not my redemption, then what else could you possibly give me,” Angel asked.
“A second chance to have a family….a son,” Joyce replied.
“What?” Angel said.
“Yes. I am going to give you your son back. You deserve it. And to my precious daughter, I am going to give you an ease of mind,” Joyce stated.
“What are you talking,” Buffy asked still crying. Joyce walked up to her and leaned in to her ear.
“You didn’t come back wrong Buffy, just a change in molecular structure has enable Spike’s chip to detect you and you are a great sister. Never forget, timing is everything,” Joyce whispered. Then she stepped back and smiled at them both. “Now Angel, go to your son…he needs you and Buffy I am always with you.” Then just as quickly as she appeared, she was gone again.
“No mommy, please….don’t,” Buffy said dropping to her knees. Angel kneeled down beside her and placed his arms around her.
Then Cordelia stepped outside with Connor in her arms. “Angel…look. It’s a miracle. He’s okay… it just happened all of sudden he started crying and then…. I don’t know how it happened,” Cordelia said, shedding tears of happiness. Angel hopped up off the payment and took Connor in his arms, staring with utter joy.
“I know how,” Angel replied.
“How?” Cordelia asked.
“You wouldn’t believe me if I told you,” Angel implied smiling down at Connor.
THE NEXT DAY
Xander sat on the couch as Cordelia walked down the stairs. Wesley, Giles, and Gunn stepped out the kitchen and joined them.
“So he’s still up there,” Xander asked.
“Yep. Angel refuses to leave from Connor’s crib,” Cordelia replied. “What about Buffy?”
“She won’t come inside. She hasn’t moved from that spot since the whole Joyce encounter,” Xander said placing his arm around Cordelia as she sat beside him.
“Well it’s understandable…this has to be traumatic on her,” Giles said.
“But she’s been out there all night and all day,” Xander said.
“So is anyone going to try to talk to her,” Gunn asked.
“When Buffy wants to talk, I’m sure she’ll let us know but until then I think we should give her some space,” Wesley replied. “So Giles what are your plans?”
“You know you always welcome back at la casa Buffy,” Xander commented
“Well since all seems to be good, I don’t see why I can’t return to England. I have a flight in a hour,” Giles said. “I am coming back in a month or so to visit.”
“How are you holding up,” Xander said to Cordelia.
“I’m fine but what about you…you were the one who has been knocked out a lot lately,” Cordelia implied stroking his head when he was recently hit.
“Hey after six years of battling evil, I’m immune to it,” Xander remarked.
“Oh for God’s sake will you two just get on with it,” Wesley said.
“Actually there is something I would like to talk to you about….in private.” Xander said as he stood up and put his hand out for Cordelia.
“Um, okay,” Cordelia said and accepted his hand. He led her into the office and shut the door behind them.
(The Office)
Cordelia sat on the desk waiting for Xander to say something. Xander paced back and forth jittery, with a very ‘deep in thought’ face.
“Xander while we’re young,” Cordelia stated.
“Okay…um Cordelia. I don’t really know how to say this so I’m just gonna spit it out……is it just me or do you feel this incredible connection. I mean it just seems like we have something between us, something that was never completely gone. Just please tell me you feel it,” Xander proclaimed taking Cordelia’s hand.
Cordelia didn’t say a word just stared into Xander’s eyes. “Cordy?….Oh God, I just made a complete fool of myself,” Xander said pulling away from her.
“Xander no. You didn’t make a fool of yourself,” Cordelia said. “I just…you kinda surprised me and yes I do feel something. I have always felt something Xander, even after everything we said to each other. But Xander, don’t you think that maybe you’re rushing this…you just broke up with Anya and I don’t want to be the rebound girl.”
“I don’t think so….in some sense I don’t think I ever got over you. I know that I was in love with Anya but I think to some extent that there was a fraction of my heart that always belong to you and will always belong to you,” Xander explained. “Okay I know this has to sound strange cause even when we were in a relationship, we didn’t talk much about our feeling. But I hope that you know that I loved you and my only problem was, was that I didn’t realize how much until I lost you. Did you love me?”
“Yes,” Cordelia said with her voice shaking. “Xander, everything your saying is very sweet…”
“Why do I feel a ‘but’ coming,” Xander interrupted.
“…but there is still the whole Anya situation. I know that your heart is broken and as much as I would like to be the one to mend it, I don’t think it’s fair…to you or to me,” Cordelia implied.
“How is this not being fair….we are giving us another chance. Come on Cor. What da ya say?” Xander said giving her the puppy dogface.
“Oh Xander…”Cordelia said.
“What?” Xander asked suspiciously.
“You are so cute,” Cordelia replied and then grabbed him and kissed him.
“So that’s a yes, right,” Xander said once they pulled apart from one another.
“Why do I always fall for losers,” Cordelia said and they wrapped their arms around each other.
“Cause…we’re just so darn irresistible,” Xander implied. Then they went out the office hand in hand.
(Outside the Office)
Cordelia and Xander joined Willow and Oz who had finally came down from upstairs.
“Hey guys. Have a productive night and half the day in the bedroom,” Xander smirked, moving his eyebrows up and down in a mischeify way.
“That is none of your business Xander…what about you two? You’re looking awfully chipper,” Willow said.
“What can I say…we’re just jolly people,” Xander implied. “Where are Giles, Wes, and Gunn?”
“Giles went to try and talk to Buffy. Wesley and Gunn went to get some food,” Oz replied.
“I really am starting to worry about Buffy. She has been out there all night and now it’s almost sunset again,” Willow said.
“You think Buffy’s bad, you should see Angel,” Cordelia stated.
“Hasn’t come out of the bedroom huh,” Oz said.
“He hasn’t set 3 feet away from Connor,” Cordelia said. “I swear Angel is..”
“Coming down the stairs,” Angel said walking down to where the others were.
“Oh Angel how are you,” Willow asked.
“I’m fine. Cordy will you go watch Connor while I talk to….” Angel began but then hesitated and started looking around the room. “Buffy?”
“Outside,” Oz said.
“Xander, you want to help me,” Cordelia said heading up the stairs.
Xander looked back and forth between Willow, Oz, and Angel. He then smiled and dashed towards the stairs.
“Are they..” Angel asked.
“I think so,” Willow replied.
“I swear, it’s like talking to a brick wall,” Giles said coming in the door.
“What time is it,” Angel said.
“Um 6:27…” Willow stated looking down at her watch.
“Ah. Sunset. I’ll go talk to her,” Angel said and headed towards the door.
Part 19
The Key
***** Angel Investigations *****
Angel stepped outside and saw Buffy still on her knees, in the very spot that he left her yesterday. He walked over to her and kneeled down beside her.
“Buffy, why don’t you come in with me,” Angel said.
“You know what I’ve been out here doing for the last 20 hours,” Buffy said softly once she looked up at him.
“What?” Angel asked.
“Thinking,” Buffy replied. “Everything would be so different if you never left me. My life would be…not necessarily better but very different.”
“Buffy, I….” Angel began.
“I’m glad you did,” Buffy interrupted. “cause once you left me, your life became better. I mean you made these incredible relationships with amazing people, even Cordelia…and I believe that you helped mold them into who they are today just as they have changed you. You are a wonderful man..”
“Except that I’m not a man,” Angel said.
“Yes you are. In every sense of the word. It doesn’t take a heart beat or being able to breathe or to have a reflection to be a man,” Buffy proclaimed. “A man is someone who takes responsibility, who helps others in need, who can own up to their mistakes…you are a man Angel and a father. Angel I am so happy that you have your son back, you truly deserve.”
“Buffy what is all this praise about? I mean don’t get me wrong I enjoy hearing myself referred to as a man but……does this have something to do with Spike,” Angel said.
“What,” Buffy said almost astonished by the question.
“Well you told me that you were in love with me but yet you seem to have all these feelings for him. And after everything that Spike’s has done lately…,” Angel exclaimed.
“I told Spike that I could never forget how he betrayed my trust but that I would over look it,” Buffy stated.
“But how can you just let him plotting against me roll off your back,” Angel said.
“Well I suppose the same way I let you terrorizing me and my friends for months roll off my back,” Buffy said defensively.
“I don’t want to fight with you,” Angel implied.
“I don’t either but you keep attacking me about this Spike thing,” Buffy said.
“Buffy the way you overcame the horrible things that I did when I turned was because you knew it wasn’t me and you loved me just as much as I loved you…so I’m guessing that the way you can forgive him for this is that you have deep feelings for Spike,” Angel said.
“I thought that you understood when we last talked. I told you where I stood with Spike and why things are so complicated…… In the last two years Spike has really proven himself to be more than just a blood sucking fiend. He has really helped me out, not just with the fighting… but with Dawn. What happened between Spike and me….the sex……it was a mistake but I felt like that’s what I needed in order to feel. Then you came back and I knew that wasn’t true cause every time I’m near you all I do is feel…I feel this incredible flutter in my heart. As much as I hate to admit it, Spike has earned friendship status but I told him that my heart belong to another,” Buffy explained.
Angel leaned in and they kiss. “I love you,” Angel whispered as they pulled apart. “I never stopped and I don’t think I ever will. You know that there was a point in time when I was so lonely that I actually thought I was falling for Cordelia,” Angel confessed.
“Cordelia? Really….do you,” Buffy said confused.
“No. Just as friend nothing more. You are the main person that has changed my life. I want you in my life….” Angel said.
“After my mom left, I was pretty much stunned,” Buffy interrupted. “But I’m really glad that she came because that little motherly speech that she gave us really put things into perspective for me. She was right, you know……about….”
“Angel! Buffy! I’ve got it! I’ve got it!” Wesley yelled running towards them with bags in his hand. Gunn was running behind him picking up the food that Wesley was dropping.
“You got the food,” Angel said sarcastically.
“Well that too but that’s not what I mean. Okay just let me catch my breath,” Wesley said panting. Gunn finally caught up to them.
“Damn Wes, you’ve been dropping food all the way from the market,” Gunn said.
“Sorry but while I was in the market, it just dawned on me…like a light bulb went off in my head,” Wesley stated. “Did you get the animal crackers that fell by the mailbox? I really hate to have lost them…they’re my favorite.” Gunn shook his head yes.
“Wes…is there a point to your light bulb,” Buffy asked.
“Oh yes…” Wesley replied, still a little out of breath. “well remember when you said that Whistler told you that Connor was the key to your redemption.”
“Yeah but Whistler never makes sense…he’s like a riddle you constantly have to figure out,” Angel implied.
“Yeah well I just figured out the riddle,” Wesley stated.
“What? You mean you actually know what he meant,” Angel said.
“Yeah, I was reading one of the books that we just had shipped in last week. There was this passage in this one book that I didn’t think about at the time but when I was in the market that passage just popped in my head and then it all connected,” Wesley explained.
“Well what did it say,” Buffy asked.
“Let’s go in and then I can show it to you and Giles,” Wesley replied.
“What do ya say Buffy, wanna go in,” Angel said.
Buffy hesitated at first but then said, “Sure, let’s go.”
(Inside)
Giles, Willow, and Oz were sitting down on the couch when Angel, Gunn, Buffy, and Wesley rushed in through the doors.
“What’s the big hurry,” Willow asked.
“Wesley solved the riddle,” Buffy replied.
“Riddle? There was a riddle? I didn’t know there was a riddle,” Willow stated.
“What’s this all about,” Giles said getting up off the couch.
“Okay Whistler told Angel that Connor was the key to Angel’s redemption. Naturally no one knew what he meant til Wes remembered this passage that he read in a book,” Gunn explained.
“Really….” Giles said taking his glasses off and cleaning them.
“What did it say,” Oz asked as he and Willow walked over to the table that Wesley was at looking through a stack of books.
“Okay here it is,” Wesley said picking up a book and flipping through the pages. “Bingo…” Wesley passed the book over to Giles pointing to a paragraph in the middle of the page.
“If thy life were drained through thy blood and thy death were artificial, making ye a creature of the night,” Giles said reading the text. “then with the fruit of life shall thy be redeemed…”
“Man that’s some prophecy,” Oz remarked.
“Then it says….a man shall walk among the creatures who has the aspects of both worlds. His heart will not beat and he will yearn for the taste of blood, yet through remorse and compassion he will become a warrior. A child, being too pure for the mortal world, will be born through hatred. When the moon is in complete alignment with the planets, darkness shall fall and the spawn of this man shall mature and die, to return to the heavens and rule as a God. With this death the soul of child shall redeem the father.”
“So Connor’s like this baby God,” Oz said.
“Well in a sense, I suppose he is,” Giles implied.
“Wow…I mean Angel’s son will become this supernatural phenomenon,” Buffy stated.
“Yeah but he has to die,” Angel remarked. “I can’t let him die.”
“Angel you have time to spend with him now. There is no telling when this will happen. It doesn’t say in the book,” Giles said.
“Besides Angel, it’s all for the best. Connor will rule the heavens, he is meant to more than a mortal. This must be the big test that you must complete to get your redemption. When the time comes will you be willing to give up your son and let him become his destiny,” Wesley proclaimed.
Angel walked upstairs and entered his room. Then Cordelia and Xander came out the room, Cordelia fixing her hair and Xander buttoning his shirt.
“Oh hey Buff,” Xander said following Cordelia down the stairs. “You better now?”
“Yeah. I just was sorting things out, that’s all,” Buffy implied.
“We were starting to worry about you,” Xander said.
“No need to, I’m fine. It’s Angel we should worry about,” Buffy said.
“What’s wrong with him,” Cordelia asked. “He literally threw us out the bedroom.”
“He’s going to have to make the hardest decision a father will have to,” Buffy replied.
Part 20
Always
***** Angel Investigations *****
Cordelia sat on the couch with her head buried in her hands. Xander was trying to comfort her while the rest of the gang stayed separate from them, figuring that she needed her space.
“Giles…what’s up. You have something face,” Buffy said, noticing that he looked uneasy.
“As it seems, my plane will be leaving in twenty minutes and it looks like that’s my cab’s out there, so I think it’s time for my departure,” Giles said to everyone.
“What? You’re not even coming back to Sunnydale to visit for a while,” Buffy said walking up to him.
“I’ll be back,” Giles said leaning in to hug her.
“I’ll miss you,” Buffy said softly. “Call me when you get in.”
“You take care of yourself, you hear,” Giles whispered just before they pulled apart.
“Have a nice flight,” Willow said as Giles grabbed his bag.
“Goodbye all,” Giles said walking to the door.
“Not goodbye, just see ya later,” Xander commented. Giles let a little chuckle and then smiled one last time at everyone.
“Yes, see you later,” Giles said as he opened the door. “Please give Angel my best.” Giles walked out the door and got into the cab. Buffy, Wesley, Willow, and Oz walked over to the door and waved as the cab pulled off.
“You know, as much leaving that goes on in my life, you think it would be easier to let um go,” Buffy remarked as they walked back into the room.
“But it’s not,” Oz said as he placed his arm around Willow’s shoulder.
“No…. it’s not,” Buffy said. “Cordelia are you going to be okay?”
“It’s just not fair,” Cordelia said raising her head, with tears in her eyes and her makeup smeared. “We just got Connor back and now we have to lose him all over again just so he can become some damn god!”
“Cordelia, it is his destiny,” Wesley said.
“Yeah well screw destiny,” Cordelia yelled. “Destiny sure as hell has screwed us over enough. I mean it was Buffy’s destiny to be a slayer and be a freak all her life…”
“Oh thanks Cordelia,” Buffy interrupted.
“…it was Oz’s destiny to be a werewolf, it was Willow’s destiny to be a Wicca addict..,” Cordelia ranted. “..it was Angel’s destiny to never be able to experience true happiness unless he plans to go on a killing spree, and it’s Xander’s destiny to be a….”
“Okay hun, I think we get the point,” Xander said cutting her off.
“Well there has to be a way out of it. I mean a loophole or something. Have you even tried to look for a way?” Cordelia asked.
“I’m sorry but there is nothing,” Wesley replied. “I just hope Angel will be willing to let him go.”
“Why….does Angel have some sort of say in this,” Cordelia said.
“Not really, Connor will become a god, there’s no question in that. Connor is pure, not tainted by hatred or evil. Angel must be completely pure of heart when the time comes but if Angel resents the greater power or even if for a moment he is scornful about what must come, then he could possibly lose his only chance for redemption,” Wesley explained. “See this is the big test. Angel must give up his son for the greater good with no anger inside him. He must be willing to lose Connor and if Angel can do this with no remorse then he has proven himself worthy for redemption. Angel will be human….”
“When? When will this take place,” Gunn asked.
“There is no telling. It could be next week. Next month, next year, or even three years from now….that is why I suggest that Angel spend as much time with Connor as possible. Savor these final moments that he has with him so that he can cherish them forever,” Wesley proclaimed. Buffy walked over to Xander and whispered in his ear. Xander whispered back and then she went up the stairs.
“I know it’s the right thing to do,” Cordelia implied. “but this is an innocent baby…”
“That has a greater plan than being a mortal. Think of all the great things that can come of this, Connor will be a God,” Wesley stated. “Do you know what that means?”
“Why don’t you tell me,” Cordelia said.
“It means that he will have a purpose, a place…. he’s not meant to be here, Angel wasn’t meant to have a child but somewhere there was a slip-up and Connor was sent to this time. He is meant to have power, control, superiority….he is meant to rule the heavens,” Wesley exclaimed.
“Isn’t being the son of a soul tortured vampire enough,” Cordelia said.
“I guess not. Not in this case….we just have to trust in fate’s plan and hope that everything works out for the best,” Wesley stated.
“Yeah, well I’m slowly beginning to lose my trust,” Cordelia implied.
(Upstairs)
Buffy peeked her head into Angel’s room. He was sitting on the bed with Connor in his arms, just staring at him and smiling.
“How can I let you go…you are my son,” Angel said not taking his eyes off Connor. Connor gazed into his father’s face and started giggling. Angel let out a long sigh. “But I know what I must do…..I’ll miss you so much.” Angel leaned down and kissed Connor on his forehead.
Buffy closed the door, not wanting to intrude on any of his time with his son. She knew that he was going threw something that she could never even contemplate until she had a child. She could see the pain in his face and hear the sadness in his voice. This was the time that he needed to spend with his son. Buffy walked down the hall and into Fred’s room, where she had been staying.
(Downstairs)
Gunn and Wesley walked into the office, to take care of some new cases that came in earlier. Willow, Oz, and Xander were sitting on couch still trying to comfort
Cordelia when Spike walked in.
“Whoa what’s with all the pain I’m sensing in here,” Spike said slamming the door. Spike stumbled towards the others; he seemed to be a tad bit on the drunken side.
“Have you been drinking,” Willow asked.
“Oh I may of had one or two drinks,” Spike replied, flopping down on the couch.
“Let’s try 13 or 14,” Xander smirked.
“Sod off why don’t you….besides there is no harm in drowning my sorrows with a drink,” Spike stated. “I’ve had my heart broken here people. I think I should receive a little slack, so just drop dead.”
Xander started to speak but then he was jerked down to floor as if someone threw him to the ground. He started gasping for air and his whole body was trembling.
“Xander! What’s wrong,” Cordelia said lifting his head into her lap.
“Don’t take me so literally mate, I didn’t really mean drop dead,” Spike said.
Everyone stood up around Xander. Oz and Spike helped him onto the couch and laid him down. His whole body was ice cold and he turned pale.
“Xander, God what’s the matter,” Cordelia asked, her voice started to shake.
“An…” Xander replied hoarsely.
“What’d he say,” Oz said.
“An--ya…..” Xander repeated.
“It sounded like he said Anya,” Willow remarked. “Xander what’s this have to do with Anya?”
“It’s her…” Xander strained. “Stop her.”
“How do you know,” Cordelia asked.
Xander winced in pain when he suddenly received three deep cuts across his chest. “I just know,” Xander replied. Cordelia ran into the kitchen and got a dishtowel. She ran back to Xander and put it over his wound to stop the bleeding.
“Oh, I get it…ex vengeance demon, ex boyfriend,” Willow stated.
“Well she seems to be active again,” Spike remarked.
“Buffy! Buffy!” Cordelia yelled. “Wesley! Gunn! Buffy!”
All at the same time Buffy ran down the stairs, Wesley and Gunn ran out the office and said, “What’s wrong?”
“It’s Xander,” Cordelia said with tears welding in her eyes. “I think he’s dying.”
“Xander said he thinks it’s Anya,” Willow said with her eyes also watery.
“A woman scorn,” Buffy remarked. “Okay who’s going, who’s staying?”
“Oz and me will go,” Willow stated.
“Okay the rest of you stay here and watch after Xander, make sure he doesn’t get worse,” Buffy said.
“I’m going to,” Cordelia implied. Buffy and Willow both looked at her in disbelief. “Guys, I have to. Maybe I can reason with her.”
“Okay,” Buffy said sincerely. “Spike, Gunn, Wesley...please watch out for Xander and if Angel ever comes down, then tell him were we are and we’ll be back soon. But don’t disturb him while he’s in his room, only tell him if he comes out….he needs all the time he has with Connor.”
“If Xander gets any worse, then please call me on my cell phone,” Cordelia said to Wesley.
“Okay,” Wesley said earnestly. “Good luck.”
“Bye guys,” Oz said.
“Be careful…watch your back,” Gunn stated.
“You’ll be fine Xander…..I promise,” Buffy reassured him.
Cordelia leaned down to him and kissed his clammy forehead. “When everything is better, make sure we have sex,” she whispered in his ear.
Xander let out a whisky chuckle and grabbed his chest from the pain. Cordelia was about to walk away when Xander grabbed her hand and kissed it. Then laid his head back down and closed his eyes.
Buffy, Willow, and Oz were waiting at the door. Spike walked up to Buffy and handed her the keys to his car.
“Don’t wrecked pet,” Spike said solemnly.
“Spike I’m trusting you to watch after Xander. The key word here being trust,” Buffy said as she took the keys from Spike’s hand.
“Don’t get yourself hurt you hear,” Spike said.
“Please Anya can’t take me, Demon or no demon,” Buffy remarked.
“I didn’t mean Anya…I meant driving,” Spike smirked. They shared a smile and then Willow, Cordelia, Oz, and Buffy started out the door. “Buffy!” Buffy turned back around at looked at Spike. “You can trust me.” Buffy nodded her head and then closed the door.
TWO HOURS LATER
***** In Sunnydale *****
Buffy, Willow, Oz, and Cordelia pulled into the driveway at Buffy’s house. Willow, Oz, and Cordelia all had a face expression of relief on their face. Dawn opened the door and stepped onto the pouch, followed by Fred and Tara.
“Buffy, on the way home I am driving,” Cordelia said getting out of the car.
“Oh come on, it wasn’t that bad,” Buffy said as they all walked towards the house.
“I think I have a neck spasm from all the jerking,” Oz remarked rubbing the back of his neck.
“Buffy, I’m so glad you’re here,” Dawn said and hugged Buffy once she reached her. “I’ve missed you so much.”
“I’ve missed you too. Are you okay…anything strange happen since you came back,” Buffy asked.
“No not really. Anya is staying in your room. We didn’t think you would be back so soon and Tara’s not always here so I said Anya could stay until you got back,” Dawn replied.
“Oh…that’s nice. Where is Anya,” Buffy said walking into the house and looking around.
“I don’t know. Since yesterday, I haven’t seen her,” Dawn stated. “Where’s Xander?”
“He stayed in L.A….” Cordelia said.
“Why?” Dawn asked.
“Because he, he…he” Willow stuttered waving her hands for someone to help her out.
“He’s not feeling to good….right guys,” Anya said coming into the house.
***** In L.A. *****
Xander was continuously shivering on the couch. He face was sweaty and his hands were clammy. Every time he coughed, it sounded weak and shallow and he had to grab his chest from the pain.
“Cordelia……Cordelia,” Xander said incoherently, grabbing Gunn’s hand who was sitting next to him.
“No, no man…I’m Gunn,” Gunn said snatching his hand from Xander. “Cordy went to talk to your demon girl.” Xander laid his head back down and closed his eyes.
“How’s he doing,” Wesley asked bringing a wet cloth to wipe Xander’s forehead with.
“Not to good, if he can mistake a black man for a hot-to-trot white woman,” Gunn replied taking the cloth from Wesley and placing it onto Xander’s forehead.
“They had better do something fast,” Spike remarked. “It doesn’t look like he’s gonna make it for much longer.”
(Upstairs)
Angel was staring into Connor’s face, trying to memorize every detail, every single feature of his son. Angel wanted Connor’s sweet innocent face etched into his mind.
“I love you so much, yes I do,” Angel said talking baby talk. “And Aunty Cordy, she loves you too. We’ll miss you so much, but Uncle Wesley was right. You must fulfill your destiny.”
“And you know that cute little dark blonde you’ve seen around lately. That’s Buffy Summers, the girl of my dreams. We had a rocky relationship but it finally seems like we’re back on track. Don’t worry, I’m sure she already loves you. Who could resist your cute little face,” Angel ranted. “I’m pretty sure that you were routing for me and Aunty Cordy to get together but now that Buffy has come back to my life, I’m sure you see how much we mean to each other. Besides Xander, you know that strange fumbling guy, he and Cordelia have always had this strange relationship. Kinda like kismet. Just like me and Buffy. How about we go downstairs so that you can get better requited with Buffy.”
Angel took Connor into his arms and walked out the door.
(Downstairs)
Angel walked down the stairs and noticed that Gunn and Wesley were huddled around the couch. He saw that Spike stood to the side, not looking too interested in what was going on.
“Wes, what’s going…” Angel said but then stopped when he noticed Xander on the couch. “..on. Xander, what’s wrong with Xander?”
“Xander says that he believes Anya’s back to her old tricks. Cordelia, Willow, Oz, and Buffy went to try to straighten everything out,” Wesley said.
“Well did Giles go with them too,” Angel asked.
“No. He went back to England. He wished you the best,” Wesley replied.
“I hope they get back soon. I really needed to talk to Buffy,” Angel stated as he sat down in the chair.
“What’s the matter, need some of slayer satisfaction? Oh yeah that’s right, you can’t have any,” Spike smirked. “Unless it’s a stake through the heart that you’re after and if that’s the case then I’ll gladly volunteer my services.”
“Why are you back in my hotel,” Angel asked harshly.
***** In Sunnydale *****
Buffy grabbed Anya by the arm and led her into the kitchen. Cordelia followed them into the kitchen while Willow and Oz remained in the living room with Dawn and Tara.
“Anya, you have to stop this,” Buffy demanded.
“Stop what,” Anya said snatching her arm away from Buffy.
“Anya, you’re killing him,” Cordelia implied.
“Why don’t you just shut the hell up, you Xander stealing vagrant,” Anya yelled. “This is all your fought…. if you just would have stop batting your eyes at him and pushing your way back into his life by finding all this excuses to get me away from him…”
“Anya just stop it,” Buffy interrupted. “Stop attacking Cordelia.” Buffy stops in mid-sentence. “God I never thought I’d say that…..huh anyways back to what I was saying..You’re the one that let Xander go, you broke up with him.”
“Only because I didn’t want to be the one that was broke upie. That’s my worst fear…having a man break up with me, well that and bunnies. Besides, I can read between the lines. I saw the feelings that they still harbored for each other. I can still sense these things, you know, just because I didn’t still have my powers doesn’t mean that I can’t sense when unfaithfulness is brewing,” Anya exclaimed.
“Anya, listen to me…..Yes it is true that Xander and I are back together but Xander did love you and you broke his heart when you left,” Cordelia said.
“Yes and I’m sure you were happy as daisies to be the one to pick up the pieces,” Anya smirked.
“Anya I was uneasy about starting a relationship with Xander so soon because I knew that he still cared so deeply for you. Xander and I had a very long talk before we decided to try it again,” Cordelia explained. “I mean we didn’t even realize that we still had feelings for each other until you pointed it out but we would have never acted upon them. I understand why you are so angry…..believe me I’ve been there. When I walked in on Xander and Willow kissing, I couldn’t breathe. All I wanted was revenge but instead I ran away to L.A. Sure I claimed it was because I wanted to explore my acting career but the real reason was because I couldn’t stand to be in the same town as Xander Harris. He hurt me that much…..but that was the past. We have worked past all that…..”
“You know this is all very touching but if you think that for one second I’m just going to let him get away with hurting me and not pay then you have another thing coming,” Anya interrupted.
“Anya, we didn’t plan for this to happen. It just did okay….No one wanted anybody to get hurt…but this is not the answer,” Cordelia said with tears streaming down her face. “Please Anya, I know you still love Xander…don’t do this to him.”
“Of course I still love Xander. I just want this aching pain inside me to stop. I just don’t understand why any human being would subject themselves to this kind of torture,” Anya proclaimed. “If I just had my powers then I could erase all this…”
“Wait! Anya are you saying that you don’t have your powers back, you’re still just a human,” Buffy exclaimed.
“Yes I am still just a pathetic mortal. And you see, just like a human when something bad happens who do you blame…..the ex demon,” Anya said pointing at herself.
“Well then why were you talking about all this revenge and that Xander needed to pay,” Cordelia asked.
“Well I mean I may not be causing all this pain towards Xander directly but I did kinda make a wish,” Anya muttered softly.
“What? You wished this on Xander. How? Who? Why?” Buffy said incoherently. “Well leave off that last part, I know why but how? Who?”
“Well you remember that vengeance demon friend of mine. The woman that was coming to the wedding….Halfrek. Well she visited me after she heard about the breakup and offered me a chance to let him suffer. I just wanted him to feel as much pain as I felt,” Anya stated.
“Well unwish it,” Cordelia said.
“Why should I. So you and Xander can go on with your marry little lives,” Anya said bluntly.
“Anya listen to me very carefully. You are my friend but I’ve known Xander a hell of lot longer than I’ve known you and I am a slayer…I can make you hurt in ways that you can’t even conceive, now call on your little friend and unwish it before Xander dies,” Buffy ordered.
“You know I do love Xander….he meant a lot to me,” Anya said.
“Yeah and you know what Xander loved you too, but your feeble way of thinking, always assuming the worst possible thing and running your mouth…being so blunt and adjective all the time, that’s what made you lose Xander. Don’t ruin his life just because you can’t keep a grasp on reality,” Buffy proclaimed.
Anya looked away from Buffy and glared at Cordelia. Then she gazed down at the floor and fell to her knees crying. Cordelia kneeled down beside her and handed her a Kleenex.
“Anya please…don’t do this to Xander. You know he doesn’t deserve to be treated like this. He’s not like those other guys that hurt woman on purpose. Please Anya, unwish it,” Cordelia pleaded.
“You’ll take care of him…make sure he goes to work on time and if he starts to do that snoring, wheezing thing when he sleeps just slap him in the face and he’ll stop,” Anya implied.
Cordelia let out a little laugh and said, “I’ll watch out for him.”
“Good now Anya, don’t you have some unwishing to do,” Buffy stated.
“Oh very well,” Anya said as she got up off the floor. “Halfrek!….. Helfrek!…. Helfrek!”
Then there was a big poof of smoke and appeared Halfrek.
“Anyanka, how can I help you now. Thought of another torturous wish you want to bestow upon your cheating heartbreaking mortal,” Halfrek said. She looked to the side and noticed Cordelia standing there. “Hel-lo…you must be that man stealing L.A. tramp that Anyanka has told me so much about. I’ve heard so much about you.”
“I’m sure you have and just to set the record straight one more time….I did not steal Xander,” Cordelia insisted. “Oh and I prefer to be called Cordelia instead of L.A. tramp, if that’s all right with you.”
“Very well,” Halfrek replied and then turned her attention back to Anya. “Okay Anyanka what disease do you want invoked…rabies, hepatitis, or some thing like malaria.”
“No. I want to unwish the agonizing sickness, the slashes on his body, and anything else that you did to him,” Anya stated.
“Are you sure Anyanka,” Halfrek asked. “I just gave him a really bad case of syphilis.”
“Really? And can you still give him a tumor,” Anya said.
“Anya!” Buffy said sharply before Halfrek could answer.
“Oh. Yes, yes, yes….just undo it,” Anya replied.
“Okay but I am not making a habit of granting unwishes,” Halfrek implied. “Don’t ask this of me again.” Halfrek put her hands in the air and then snapped her fingers. “There…it’s done…..goodbye.” Then with another blanket of smoke she was gone.
Cordelia cell phone started to ring and when she answered it, she realized it was Wesley.
“Yes…how is…oh thank goodness,” Cordelia exclaimed. “Let me talk to him….Xander, are you okay….you sure…yes I miss you too….I will…do you remember what I told you to make sure of before I left…..well get ready…..okay see you soon.” Cordelia hung up the phone with a very big smile on her face. “Thank you Anya, thank you so much.”
“Yes well if you will excuse me I am going to drown my sorrows in a big bowl of ice cream…that is what you mortals do when you are sad right,” Anya said.
“Yeah…that’s what we mortals do,” Buffy said.
(In the Living Room)
Willow, Oz, and Tara were still standing in the same spots that Buffy had left them. A very strong sense of awkwardness filled the room. Dawn and Fred had went to watch TV. and as they saw Buffy, Cordelia, and Anya coming into the room, Dawn turned the TV. off and they walked over to the group.
“So what’s going on,” Dawn asked.
“Nothing…everything’s fine,” Buffy replied.
“So everything went as you ‘wished’” Willow stated obviously.
“Even Connor is back to normal,” Buffy told Fred.
“So then I can go home,” Fred asked.
“Yeah we are going to take you back with us…Dawn stay with Tara and I’ll be back as soon as I can,” Buffy said.
“Okay sure…I’ll miss you,” Dawn said and she leaned in to hug Buffy.
“I’ll miss you too,” Buffy said as she tightly embraced her sister. “And remember..no one with a Kool-Aid mustache allowed in the house.
“Okay,” Dawn said giggling.
“Don’t worry, I’ll take good care of her,” Tara implied.
“I know you will and I really appreciate this Tara,” Buffy said pulling away from her sister. “Okay guys everyone pile in the bat mobile.”
Just as Willow and Oz were about to follow Buffy, Cordelia, and Fred out the door, Tara grabbed Willow by the arm.
“I just w-w-wanted to say that I’m h-h-happy for you and Oz. I a-a-always knew that you and him would get back together,” Tara said. “No bad feelings between us.”
“Thank you....that means so much to me,” Willow said and leaned in and hugged Tara.
“Goodbye Willow,” Tara said softly.
“You will always have a piece of me with you,” Willow whispered in her ear and then they pulled apart.
“Bye Oz,” Tara said.
Oz slightly smiled and said, “Take care.” Then he and Willow went out and joined the others in the car.
As they started to pull away, with Buffy driving Spikes car and everyone scrunched into his small car, Oz said, “tell me again why we didn’t just ride in my van.”
TWO HOURS LATER
Buffy, Cordelia, Fred, Willow, and Oz pulled up to the hotel. Cordelia jumped out the car and ran through the front door. Xander stood up when she came through the door and she ran into his arms. They kissed passionately and intensely.
“Where’s Buffy,” Angel asked still holding Connor in his arms.
Cordelia tried to mumble a sentence but Xander just pulled her closer into the kiss, muffling her mouth with his lips.
“Buffy’s right here,” Buffy said smiling, standing in the doorway. Immediately a huge smile came to Angel’s face, he slowly and carefully handed Connor over to Wesley, and rushed to the doorway. He took her into his arms and they kissed, a kiss like never before. A kiss with so much love, so much devotion, so much anxiety.
“Hey guys…can we get by,” Oz said as he, Willow, and Fred tried to get around the lip locked couple in the doorway.
“Come on guys…move the smooching somewhere else,” Willow pleaded from behind.
“Mum, she’s right,” Buffy said stealing one more kiss. “So miss me?”
“I miss you when you’re gone for a second,” Angel said as they walked towards the Wesley and the gang.
“So Fred how was your stay,” Gunn asked.
“Oh, I had so much fun…it was just like a big slumber party…Dawn’s so cool,” Fred replied. Gunn took her bag and carried it to the couch.
Xander walked over to Buffy and pulled her to side. He whispered something in her ear and then pointed over at Cordelia who was standing impatiently at the door. Buffy smiled and nodded her head ‘okay’. Then they hugged and she kissed him on the cheek.
“Well guys as much as I would love to stay around and chit chat…well actually no I wouldn’t cause me and Xander have better things to do right now, like each other…so if you don’t mind,” Cordelia said pulling Xander by the arm to go out the door.
“Ohh.. okay guys see ya later,” Xander said just before Cordelia yanked him out the door.
“Those guys….there gonna…well,” Willow said making a weird face.
“Yeah Will, I think we got that,” Oz said as he grabbed her hand.
“Spike here,” Buffy said as she threw his keys to him. “Don’t go anywhere okay.” Then she started up the stairs.
“Yeah sure,” Spike said watching her go up the stairs.
“Well guys…me and Oz are out of here. He’s taking me around the world….to all those places that he’s been and I haven’t. It will be a good distraction from all the magic. I’m just gonna run upstairs and tell Buffy that I’ll be back in about two months,” Willow stated, then she kissed Oz on the cheek and went up the stairs.
FIVE MINUTES HAVE PASSED
“Willow better get a move on,” Oz said.
“I’ll see what’s keeping her,” Angel said starting towards the stairs.
“Do you want me to take Connor for a while,” Wesley offered.
“No. I got it,” Angel said holding Connor back and then he went up the stairs.
“Angel are you gonna be able to let him go,” Wesley asked.
Angel stopped at the top of the stairs and turned around to look down at Wesley. “I took a lot of time to think about this and I came to realize that you were right. As much as I will hate to lose my son, he must follow through with his destiny and I won’t resent the powers for that. They are giving me this time now to have a son and I will do what I have to do to show my appreciation…even if that means I have to give him up,” Angel proclaimed.
Wesley smiled slightly and nodded his head.
(Upstairs)
As Angel approached Fred’s room, he noticed that the door was cracked. Inside Willow and Buffy were have a discussion and a couple of words stopped him before he went inside. He stood outside and started to listen to the conversation.
“Are you sure,” Willow asked.
“Yeah…I mean for right now anyways,” Buffy replied.
“Well what’s Xander doing?” Willow said.
“Oh he and Cordelia are going to ravage each other immensely. He said he was gonna stay with her at her place for a while and then they would decide where to go from there,” Buffy stated.
“Where’s that….from the bed to the floor,” Willow smirked.
“Willow…” Buffy said amused.
“Did that come off as a tad bit sarcastic,” Willow asked.
“Yes it did,” Buffy replied.
“Good cause I meant it too,” Willow said. “I know after all this time…I can’t help it, I’m still a little protective over Xander when it comes to Cordelia…I guess it’s because I haven’t had a chance to get to know her since they all say she’s change… she still seems the same to me.”
“I know….I’m a little skeptical about Cordelia’s new self. You know she’s still kinda has her Joan Collins ‘tude but she makes Xander happy…besides you have Oz,” Buffy stated.
“At which I am so lucky…” Willow implied with a big smile on her face.
“Yes you are,” Buffy said. “Oh what are you going to do about Riley.”
“Oh well while you and Cordelia were talking to Anya, Fred mentioned how she always wanted a pet so I told her she could rat sit while I was gone….she got so happy,” Willow replied.
“Okay…now I want you to go out there, get that boy, leave L.A., and drink many mocha cocas for me,” Buffy stated.
“Well do,” Willow said and then she opened the door. Once she did, they saw Angel standing there with Connor and he just smiled awkwardly.
“Hi. I was just looking for Connor’s teething ring…I dropped it out here somewhere,” Angel said clumsily.
“Uh huh,” Buffy said not believing Angel’s story.
“Bye guys,” Willow said as she went out the door.
“Bye! Oh call me as soon as you stop at some exotic place,” Buffy yelled hoping that Willow heard her.
“Okay,” Willow yelled back.
Angel walked into the bedroom and closed the door behind him.
“Teething ring huh,” Buffy smirked.
“Well maybe I was listening just a little,” Angel said and leaned in for a kiss.
“Maybe,” Buffy implied and they kissed again. Angel looked over to the bed and saw that she had her bag out and was packing.
“What’s going on….you leaving,” Angel asked as his smile slowly faded from his face.
“Yes…I have to go,” Buffy replied. Angel looked away from her. “Angel listen to me.” Buffy guided him over to the bed and they set down. “Okay remember when we were outside talking and I told you that I did a lot of thinking about what my mom said.”
“Yeah but what does that have to do with you leaving,” Angel said.
“Angel she said that one thing that has always stood in our way was bad timing,” Buffy stated. Angel looked over at her. “She was right…you know she was right. As much as I would love to live in denial land, we have to face up to this. It’s not our time….I have responsibilities in Sunnydale and you have them here. We live in two totally different worlds and as much as we love each other, right now it just want work.”
“You not going to get back with Spike are you,” Angel asked.
“Angel there is only one vampire that I’m jonesing for. Besides we are not gonna lose touch like last time. I plan on keeping in constant contact with you and I won’t updates on this little guy,” Buffy replied.
“Are you sure you want to end this,” Angel said.
“I’m not ending it, just postponing….Wesley was right. There is no telling when Connor’s prophecy will take place and you should spend as much time with him as you can. I would just be a distraction and I wouldn’t won’t you to lose anytime that you with your son,” Buffy explained.
“So once again we must sacrifice our love for the greater good,” Angel said forcing a smile on his face.
Buffy leaned down and kissed Connor on his forehead and then she kissed Angel. “Our time will come….we just have to be patient,” Buffy said softly. Angel got up and walked to his room to put Connor in his crib. Then he came back in just as Buffy was zipping up her bag.
“Here let me get that,” Angel said picking up her bag.
(Downstiars)
Spike rose to feet once he noticed Buffy and Angel coming down. Angel signaled for Wesley to go upstairs and watch over Connor. As Wesley approached Buffy they said their goodbyes and he continued up the stairs.
“So love…what’s this all about,” Spike asked.
“We’re going home,” Buffy replied.
“We’re…as in you and me…together,” Spike said.
“What?..you expect me to walk all the way back to Sunnydale,” Buffy smirked.
“No well does this mean that…” Spike began.
“No. Nothing’s change and it’s not gonna change. It’s just me and Angel have decided to postpone our relationship so that he can spend all his time with Connor without having any distractions around,” Buffy explained. She walked over to the door and took her bag from Angel. The stood there for a moment, neither one really ready to let the other go again.
“Hey that’s works for me…ready,” Spike said walking past them as he went out the door and went to his car. “Come on let’s get back to good old Sunny-hell farm.”
“Well I guess this I should just go,” Buffy said reluctantly.
“Yeah….Call me when you get home,” Angel said looking down at the ground.
“Sure….” Buffy replied as turned away and started to walk off.
“I love you,” Angel said with his voice shaking.
Buffy stopped walking and turned around to looked at him. She couldn’t hold the tears back any longer. She walked back over to him and they kissed. They kiss was like no other kiss they have even shared….it was magical. It seemed to have took them to another world, where it was just them and they had no ties to the world. But soon reality hit and they pulled away.
“I love you too,” Buffy said as they looked into each others eyes. Angel slowly caressed the side of her face wiping away her tears. They kissed once more, this one not quite as intense and then Buffy started walking to the car.
“Buffy,” Angel yelled out to her. Buffy stopped at the car door and looked over at him. “You still my girl?
Buffy smiled remembering the first time he asked her that. “Always,” she replied.
Buffy got into passenger side with Spike in the driver’s side and then they pulled away from the hotel leaving Angel standing on the steps. Wesley walked out holding Connor, who was crying and handed him over to Angel. Angel cradled Connor and watched as the car drove away into the sunset. Then he drew a deep breath and a single tear slowly fell from his eye.
