Part Thirteen

Angel dragged Buffy into the bedroom and slammed the door.  She gaped at him, rubbing her arm from where his finger had dug into it.  “What the hell are you doing?” she shouted at him.

Angel paced.  “I can take that he’s here, helping you.  I can understand that.  He’s strong, he’s got connections underground.  But the touching.  If he ever touches you like that again, so help me, I’ll kill him,” he growled.

Buffy stared at him.  “What?”

“Oh, please,” he spat at her, “’Oh, great job down there, way to stake that vampire, remember that time?’” he mimicked.

Buffy continued to stare at him.

“And you just jumped in the sewer, head first, without even checking out the situation,” he said, continuing to walk around the room.  “And then he touched you.  Leaned in close,” he stopped pacing and walked to her, bracing her shoulders with his hands, “he doesn’t touch you anymore,” he ordered.

Buffy stared at him for a moment.  “This is about Spike,” she said slowly, understanding.

Angel stared at her dumbly.  “Yeah, it’s about Spike!” he cried.

Slowly a smile played across her lips.  She tried, unsuccessfully, to hide it.  The smile soon led to chuckling, which progressed into full blown laughter.

It was Angel’s turn to stare at her.  “This is funny to you.  Okay, I can see how—no, actually, I don’t see how.”

Her laughter slowed.  “You’re jealous…of Spike?”

“I’m not jealous!” he cried defensively.

“Are so,” she taunted, grinning.

“Am not,” he said, crossing his arms over his chest.

She rolled her eyes.  “Right.  You’re not jealous.  That’s why you dragged me to my bedroom, in front of everyone, I might add, and proceeded to make a speech that leaves me fully expecting the men in little white coats to be arriving any minute now.”

Angel said nothing.

“Spike’s just a friend, Angel,” she told him, leaning back against her nightstand.  “He’s not your replacement.  Not in any way.  He’s useful, and seems to keep showing up, so we let him work with us.  Yes,” she said, taking a breath, “he’s proven to be an asset more than once, but he’s still as big a pain in the ass as ever.  But ever since Dawn…he’s different, too.  Like he feels guilty.  She was his favorite.”

Angel continued to say nothing, just stared at the floor, unconvinced and angry. 

“I mean, so he kissed me that one time…” she said, and his head whipped up.  “Kidding,” she said, her voice small.  “Not jealous, huh?”

He was at her side in a microsecond, “No,” he said, and kissed her roughly.  Angel couldn’t get enough as he trailed kisses over her face and down her neck.  He nipped lightly at his mark and she sucked in her breath, then moaned deeply.  Her hands delved under his coat, seeking flesh as she brought her mouth to his again.

“Maybe you should show me some of the things he’s not allowed to do,” she whispered, her voice heady. 

He growled and relieved her of her jacket.  Angel lifted her roughly up onto the night-stand, knocking everything off of it in the process.  “This,” he said, kissing her savagely.  His hands moved beneath her shirt.  “And this,” he snarled.  Her legs wrapped themselves around his body, pressing him closer.  Her nails dug into his back.  He nibbled her ear, moved down to her neck again, then returned to her mouth, sucking on her bottom lip.  “This too,” he whispered as he pushed himself still closer to her, backing her completely against the wall.  Buffy moaned deeply as she struggled to remove his coat.  Suddenly the night-stand gave way and she fell to the floor with a crash, pulling him down with her.  They stopped, surprised, and looked at each other. 

“We broke the table,” Buffy giggled.

Angel smiled but cursed himself in his mind.  The second table we’ve broken, doing the exact same thing.

“Sorry,” he said.

“It’s okay,” she whispered.  “Worth it.”  She reached up and kissed him again.  “Don’t worry about Spike.”

Angel snorted.  “We’ll see.”

She smiled coyly.  “Although, if this is how you react when you’re jealous…my furniture bill’s going to skyrocket.”

He rolled his eyes and kissed her again.  “We should be downstairs,” he said reluctantly.

Her eyes lowered.  “I know.”

They righted themselves, leaving the dismantled night-stand where it fell.  They walked down the stairs and into the living room where they found their friends involved in research.  Everyone looked up expectantly when they entered.

Cordelia raised her eyebrows.  “I don’t even want to know.”

Buffy and Angel exchanged a guilty look.  “We had some issues to work out,” she said. 

Spike threw her a wicked grin.  “I’ll just bet you did.”

“Where do we stand?” Angel asked, ignoring Spike.

“Well, I haven’t gotten that far in the Codex, but there are few rather interesting parts,” Giles said.  “For one thing this refers to the Prophecies of Aberjian, ancient scrolls, that I believe…what?” he asked as Wesley walked to him and grabbed the book from his hands.  He scanned it quickly then looked up at Angel, disbelief on his face.

“The Prophecies,” he said to Angel.

“What?” Buffy demanded.

“The same Prophecy that says Angel will become human?” Cordelia cried, jumping up from her seat and walking to Wesley.

“Woah…what Prophecy?” Xander asked.

Buffy looked at Angel.  “There’s a Prophecy about you becoming mortal?” she asked.

He nodded, slowly.  “Apparently.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?” she asked.

“Prophecies don’t always come true.  I didn’t want to get your hopes up,” he said, weakly.

“Just so you know, after tomorrow night you’re going to develop a sore throat with all the talking you’ll be doing,” she said, slightly irritated.

“What does the Prophecy say?” Willow asked.

Wesley answered her.  “It says that Angel gets to live until he dies…until he becomes human.  The term is to ‘Shanshu.’  If I remember correctly it said that the vampire with a soul, once he fulfills his destiny, will Shanshu, or become mortal.”

“It’s his reward,” Cordelia explained helpfully.  “That part I remember.”

“Shanshu…?” Willow said softly, thoughtfully.

“What does it say in the Codex about the Aberjian?” Angel asked.

Giles read aloud. “’The souled one of the Aberjian will fulfill his destiny.  He will find the other half of his soul in the Chosen.  Together they will create the Triumphant.’”

Everyone was silent.  “What’s the Triumphant?” Gunn asked finally.

“I don’t know,” Giles said thoughtfully.

“A child,” Anya said softly, stepping forward.  “Congratulations,” she said to Buffy and Angel.

They stared at her, shocked.  “Create a…a what?” Buffy asked.

“A Triumphant.  A child of the blessed.  That’s been a rumor since back in my day, a myth, really,” Anya explained.  “The story went that the two greatest warriors of their time would give birth to the Triumphant One, the one who would lead the battle to rid the world of evil.”  She paused.  “It was like a demon ghost story, you know, to scare the little demons into behaving.”

“I need to sit down,” Buffy said shakily.

“Yeah,” Angel whispered.  They remained standing, staring dumbly at the people gathered around them.

“A baby…wow,” Willow said, glancing from Xander to Oz.

“Nothing like having your life all written out for you,” Oz said quietly.

“Are you sure?” Buffy asked Giles.

Giles consulted the book.  “That’s what it says, Buffy,” he said, as stunned as the rest of them.

“Wow,” Willow repeated.  “Yeah, I need to sit down,” she said, slowly collapsing though there was no chair to catch her.  Xander quickly kicked an ottoman and it saved her from hitting the ground.

“So we’ve gone from Angel’s going to turn, to he’s going to be saved, Buffy’s the other half of his soul, and now they’re going to have kids?” Gunn asked.  Giles nodded.  “Just so we’re clear,” Gunn said, settling into an armchair.

Giles had returned to studying the book.  “There’s a catch,” he said. 

“Always is,” Buffy said, her voice hollow. 

“’The souls will be tested, pitted against each other to determine their worth.  The demon will rise and it the soul must defeat in a battle of will.  The Chosen must spill the vampire’s blood only when the demon is subdued.’”

Wesley gasped.  “My God,” he said.

“What?” Cordelia demanded.  “Buffy has to kill Angel.  We know that.”

“Angel has to defeat Angelus,” Giles said gravely.

“What do you mean?” Buffy asked fervently.  Giles glanced at Angel.

“He means that I have to kill my inner demon, force him down again after he rises.  If I do, Buffy has to kill me as I am right now…as Angel,” the vampire said softly.

Buffy turned to him in horror.  “No,” she said pitifully.  “No.”

“You have to,” he said.

“I--I don’t understand.  How do you defeat the demon?” Willow asked.

“He’ll have to be stronger than the will of the demon.  Keep Angelus buried within him, not allowing him to surface.  If he can do that, Buffy has to kill the souled Angel,” Wesley explained quietly.

“Oh my God,” Cordelia whispered.  “So she’s going to have to actually kill Angel?  Not Angelus?”

Wesley nodded.  There was a pregnant pause as they absorbed this new information.

“What’s the problem then?” Spike asked from the back of the room.

“Not now,” Xander ordered.

“What?” Spike asked, standing.  His voice was angry.  “Are you going to tell me that shear willpower can’t keep him down?  You’ve got everything to lose if you don’t.  You’re the most stubborn bloke I’ve ever come across, you’re standing at the beginning of a new life, and you’re going to tell me you don’t think you can do it?” he cried, stomping over to them.  “You’ve got the Slayer back. You’ll get your mortality.  You’ll have a child someday, for crying out loud.  Not a big possibility in your current situation.”  He paused.  “And more importantly, you won’t have the guilt anymore.  I may not feel it, I may not understand it, but I know that’s what drives you.  Think of it, mate.  A clean slate.  Absolved.”

Angel stared at him.

“Wouldn’t you rather it be this way?” Spike asked seriously.  “To defeat the demon on your own rather than have the Slayer do it for you?”

Angel said nothing.

Spike turned to Buffy.  “You can do this, too, you know.  I know it doesn’t feel that way now, but it’s true.  Not just because you’ve done it before, and certainly not ‘cause you’ll want to.  You’re the bloody Chosen.  You’re the end-all as far as Slayers go.  And apparently you’re meant for more than just all this,” he said, throwing his arms out, indicating her life in its current situation.  His voice became more gentle.  “You’ll do it because you know it’s right, love.  Don’t need an ancient prophecy or some dusty scrolls to see that.  You’ll do it because…well, it’s what you do.”

She stared at him, wanting so badly to believe him.

Willow stepped forward.  “Spike’s right, Buffy.  I know this is hard.  I can’t even imagine what you’re going through.  But I believe in you.  I know you can do this.  The getting there’s the worst part, but think about what you’ll gain when all this is over.” She glanced at Angel. “That goes for you, too.”

Buffy gave her a small smile.  “Thanks, Will.”

“Ok, not trying to take away from the touching moments we’re having here, but we still don’t know what’s going to happen tomorrow night,” Cordelia said. 

Giles cleared his throat.  “Give me a little more time to translate the Codex.  See if I can find out anything about the Shanshu and the ritual.”

Willow got a strange look on her face, which Oz noticed.  “Will?” he asked, curiously.

She continued to look thoughtful when suddenly her eyes flew open wide.  She gasped and jumped up off the ottoman.  “Ohmigod!” she cried.  “I’ll be right back,” she called as she ran up the stairs to the second floor.

Everyone exchanged glances as Willow pounded up the stairs.  No one moved, not sure what to do.  Moments later Willow flew down the stairs carrying several books.  She skidded to a halt in the doorway to the room.  “Got it,” she said triumphantly.

Chapter Fourteen

Buffy flew from her seat as Willow walked into the room. “Got what?”

“It didn’t hit me until Giles called this thing a ritual, not a spell like we have been. That probably shouldn’t have mattered, but you know…there’s been a lot of stuff going on, I’m not at my best.”

“It’s all right, Willow. We’re all tired. What did you find?” Giles said.

“Well, you know Ms. Calendar wasn’t a practicing witch, but she did keep her hand in the mix a little bit, enough so that she knew what she was talking about. I mean, she recreated the curse for Angel. Well, several times in her files about Angel, rough drafts of the curse and stuff, it mentions the word Shanshu. But it’s in Latin and Rumani or whatever language the Rumani spoke, so I’ve never been able to really read it. Look,” she said, handing a journal and some loose papers to Giles.

Giles took them and excitedly began to study them. “Here it is…’The Ritual of Shanshu is meant for the Champion,’ and in parentheses it says “Angel,” ‘when the time is right he and the Chosen’, Buffy,” Giles explained, “’will be summoned. Once Shanshu is achieved the Champion will take that which he needs from the eight elements.’”

“Eight elements?” Gunn asked.

Oz furrowed his brow. “There are eight of us…eight to form.”

“What does Angel need from us?” Cordelia asked.

“I don’t know,” Giles admitted. They were silent, thinking. After a few moments, Oz raised his hand.

“Uh, guys?” he said tentatively. “I’ve been thinking about this a little bit lately. Been tossing this theory around in my head. We all pretty much come from different places. I mean, Willow, Cordelia and Xander are really the only three who are from Sunnydale. Buffy and Gunn are from LA. Giles and Wesley are from England. Angel’s from Ireland…and well, lots of places. I wasn’t born here. Anyone ever stop to think about the coincidence that we’re all a part of some written prophecy that’s well, old, and somehow we all ended up meeting each other years before it goes down?”

Xander looked at him quizzically. “Translation?”

“Think about it. Something big is going to happen tomorrow night. All the information we keep finding says that this has been destined to happen for who knows how long. But I’m thinking that this has been in the works…having us find each other, out of all the billions of people in the world. Why us?”

Willow nodded. “Like we’re meant to be friends? We were drawn to each other rather than to anyone else?” she asked.

“Something like that. This prophesy…it says Angel needs something from us. From us,” he said, looking at each member of their group. “That could be kinda cool,” Oz said. “I mean, unless it means that Angel needs like body parts or something, but…that kinda sounds like the rest of us are important parts of this thing. That we’ve all been drawn here together.”

“Yeah!” Xander said. “You and Mr. Champion over there aren’t the only ones who have destinies anymore!” he told Buffy.

“So you’re theorizing that it’s no coincidence that we’ve all come to know each other?” Wesley asked Oz. Oz nodded. “Astounding.”

“So we’re only friends because some prophecy’s thrown us all together? I don’t buy that,” Gunn said.

Everyone stood, thinking over Gunn’s words. “I don’t think that’s right,” Buffy said. “A prophecy may have brought us all together, but it couldn’t make us love each other. We don’t have to be friends to perform this ritual…right?” she asked the Watchers.

“I’m sure you’re correct, Buffy,” Giles said tenderly.

“We’ve become a family on our own,” Willow added.

“Of our own free will,” Wesley said.

“Even me?” Spike asked.

Giles rolled his eyes. “Yes, Spike, I suppose you could say even you.”

“But still…it was cool enough when Buffy and Angel were part of the Big Game of Life, now that we’re thrown in the mix…well, let’s just say, a whoo and a hoo for us,” Xander said, grinning. “Unless it does involve us giving Angel body parts.”

“I’m sure it doesn’t. I mean, what kind of Champion’s going to go around looking like pieces of us?” Oz told him.

“Lop-sided,” Gunn threw in. “Devastatingly handsome, but lop-sided.”

“You can’t have my hair,” Anya told Angel. “Or my eyes!” she added quickly. “And you can’t have Xander’s pe—“

“Ookay!” Xander interrupted. “Well just leave it at that. You can’t have Xander’s pee.”

“Anyway,” Buffy cut in. “Does it mention how we’re supposed to go about this little ritual?”

Giles furrowed his brow as he continued to read. “There are notes in the margin but I’m afraid they aren’t very clear. Several times the phrase “no will of their own” is written, but each time it’s surrounded by question marks. It seems Jenny didn’t know either.”

“Keep reading. Willow, I can help translate the Latin, as can Angel,” Wesley told her. She handed him the rest of Jenny’s notes and texts.

“So the rest of us just keep researching?” Anya asked. “Seems pointless.”

“Yes, Ahn, we keep researching. That’s what we do in times of crisis. Read books,” Xander said, steering her to an armchair.

“Right,” Buffy sighed. “Guess I’ll join in. Book me,” she said to Giles. He handed her a heavy, dust covered leather-bound book. She looked down at the cover. “Stop this crazy party train,” she muttered and took a seat on the couch.

Angel remained leaning on the arm of a chair, deep in thought. He rose a moment later. “I’m going to get some air,” he said, and walked to the front door. He stepped out onto the front porch, oblivious to the worried glances his friends exchanged. Buffy got up to follow him.

“Hey,” she said, and joined him on the porch steps.

“Hey,” he answered, glancing over at her.

“Some night, huh?”

He let out a short laugh. “I need a vacation.”

“I’m a bit prophecized out myself,” she admitted. She looked up to see the moon, one day short of being full. “Twenty-four hours from now…”

“Yeah. You’ll get to kill me for a second time. I think that’s even illegal in Texas,” he joked.

“Well, I’ve gotten used to ducking the law.”

He got quiet. “Can you do it?”

She thought about it. “I don’t think I have a choice.”

“You don’t.”

“Neither do you.”

“No will of our own,” he said softly.

They exchanged a tender glance, then turned back to staring at their hands. “Can you believe this is us?” Buffy asked.

“All written about and important? I mean, I didn’t even make it into my high school yearbook. Of course, that was mainly Cordelia’s fault, but still.”

“It’s funny. I can handle the mystical prophecies, turning evil then turning human, no problem,” he said casually. “It’s the simplest thing that I’m having a hard time with.”

“What?” Buffy asked him gently.

“The child.”

She looked down at her hands. “Oh.”

“It’s not that I wouldn’t want that, don’t think that,” he said, rushing his words. “I would love that more than anything. It’s just…I kind of gave up that dream a long time ago.”

She gave him a small smile. “You don’t hear about too many vampires passing out cigars, I guess.”

“Not often, no.”

“Well, it’s like you said earlier. Prophecies don’t always come true…I mean-“

“Buffy,” he said, taking her hand. She raised her eyes to meet his. “I believe it.”

His words, so simple, touched her to her core. “You do?” she whispered.

He nodded. “I don’t know why, but I do. I guess if we can make it through everything else that’s supposed to happen, that seems so easy…so natural. It can’t not be true. A Triumphant or not, I would like nothing more than to have a child with you.”

A tear escaped and she reached for him. He hugged her tightly. “Thank you,” she whispered.

“You’re welcome,” he said softly in her ear. She pulled back and kissed him gently.

“I think that’s the reason I’m going to be able to do this tomorrow night. Knowing that someday, we could have that…” she told him.

“It’s the reason I’m not afraid anymore,” he admitted.

***

She watched the exchange lovingly. “Perfect,” she whispered.

“They’ve found your papers, then?” the man asked.

“Yes father, they have. It’s only a matter of time. Willow…I knew she’d remember. So smart. One of my favorite students…” she said softly, reminiscing.

“You’re too soft when it concerns them, Janna,” the man chastised her.

“Perhaps. I just want to make it right. I failed them before. I didn’t keep them apart, I didn’t warn them what would happen,” she said, a hint of anger creeping into her voice.

“You couldn’t have known they would grow to love each other,” the man told her.

“But I did know, I saw it. Everyone could see it. They’re perfect together. It’s when they’re apart that things really go to hell.”

“They are destined to be with each other. That much is true. From the beginning, time and fate have worked hand in hand to see to it. Do not blame yourself for what happened so many years ago. As you can see, they have returned to each other. They just needed a little guidance,” the old woman said, approaching them from behind.

“Can he control the demon inside?” Jenny asked her.

The old woman sighed. “He has it in him. Now he has more reason than ever. He doesn’t know it, but the love for the girl was already enough.”

“So they will succeed?”

The old woman turned and looked out over the town, waited. “The Powers will not let even me see the outcome. We will have to wait.” She said finally and shuffled off, the man following her.

Jenny turned back to the town once again. “Make it right,” she said to the dark.

***

The evening grew later. As with the night before the group grew tired and Buffy decided it was bedtime.

“There’s one extra bed room upstairs, then couches and stuff down here. I’ll get some blankets and pillows,” she told them.

“Buffy…they can go home,” Angel told her.

“No they can’t…remember? Vampires out for our heads?”

“It’s fine. They won’t be harmed. I warned the vampires back in the sewers. Told them to tell their friends no one is to be harmed.”

“What makes you think they’ll listen to you?” Xander asked.

“I told them they had to wait…until tomorrow night,” he said, ashamed.

There was an uncertain beat in conversation.

“They won’t hurt us because they think you’re waiting to turn…so you can have a go at it,” Spike said.

“Something like that,” Angel said uncomfortably.

“Oh, that’s just great,” Xander muttered.

“Whatever,” Cordelia said, rising from the couch. “It’s bought you guys some time. I mean, Xander, Giles, do you really want to sleep on the floor, or in your own beds?”

“I’ll play Scout Leader…get your stuff,” Spike told them. “Make sure everyone’s all safe and snuggly tonight. Rather sleep in my crypt anyway.”

“Tomorrow, meet back at the magic shop. If we’ve got free passage until tomorrow night, and the plus side of daylight, we should be safe there,” Buffy said.

Xander and Anya headed out the door with Wesley, Giles and Spike quickly following them.

Cordelia and Gunn walked wearily up the stairs and into their room. Willow and Oz straightened up the books. “We’ll get it tomorrow guys,” Buffy said gently. They looked at her gratefully and headed to bed. “Goodnight,” she called after them.

Buffy turned out the lights and locked the doors before heading to the foot of the stairs. She turned to Angel. “Coming?” she asked. He nodded and followed her to her bedroom.

She left the overhead light off and flicked on her bedside light instead, which was now standing on the floor as a result of the broken nightstand. A soft glow filled the room.

“Remember the first time you slept here?” she asked him. He gave her a small smile.

“Yeah, I do. Do I have to sleep on the floor again?” he teased.

She grinned. “Not if you’re good.”

“At least I won’t be hiding in your closet in case your mom comes in…” he said before he realized what he was saying.

“It’s okay,” Buffy said quickly.

“No, Buffy, I’m sorry. That was insensitive, I wasn’t thinking.”

“It wasn’t. Really. She’s been gone for a long time. I know you didn’t mean it that way.”

“I didn’t.”

She smiled and held out her hand to him. “Let’s go to bed, okay?”

He nodded and took her hand. They came together slowly. “Do I have to turn my back while you change?” he asked.

She shook her head. “Can you do that and undress me at the same time?” she whispered.

He shivered. Slowly he unbuttoned her shirt and let it fall open. “So soft,” he murmured, running a finger over her navel.

She jerked. “That tickles.”

“Sorry.” His hands splayed her waist and he knelt in front of her, bringing his lips to her belly.

Butterflies fluttered in her stomach as he placed random kisses over her abdomen. She ran her fingers through his hair and held him close to her.

“God you’re beautiful,” he told her, looking up.

She smiled. “You make me feel beautiful,” she told him. He stood, kissed her deeply.

“Tomorrow night…”

“Shh…” she said, placing a finger over his lips. “Not now. More of this,” she ordered. “Close your eyes.”

He did as she asked and felt her begin to unbutton his shirt. Her hands ran over his chest, felt each muscle tense as she did so. She leaned in and kissed his lips gently, so gently. “I love you,” she whispered.

“I love you too,” he returned, his voice taut with emotion. He felt her move away from him, heard the creak of weight on the bed, and followed as she led him to her.

***

The next morning dawned bright and cheery, but not, luckily, in the room that Buffy and Angel shared thanks to closed blinds and curtains.

They woke, hearing movement in the hallways, and rose slowly. When they entered the kitchen a while later they found Cordelia and Gunn, as well as Willow and Oz, were already up and eating.

“Morning,” Willow said somewhat sleepily. “Waffles. Eggs. Toast. O- Neg.” She said, pointing to each.

“Breakfast of Champions,” Oz joked. He was greeted with sleepy stares. “Sorry, too early?”

“A bit. I’ll laugh in about twenty minutes after main-lining some coffee,” Buffy told him and started to fix herself a plate.

Angel looked worse than the rest of them and Willow commented on it. “Not used to sleeping at night,” Angel told her.

“I talked to Wesley this morning,” Cordelia said, taking a bite of waffle. “They’re already at the shop, but they said no hurry for us. Not that much left to look up I guess.”

“What are we going to do today?” Gunn asked.

Buffy shrugged. “I don’t know. We still don’t know the where, when, or how parts of it. And I have a feeling we’re not going to find out much else from reading books.”

“Ms. Calendar’s papers said ‘No will of their own.’ Maybe that means we should just let things happen,” Willow suggested.

“Could be. I’m just not real big on surprises,” Buffy said, pouring syrup on her waffles.

They continued to eat in silence, taking their time. A short while later breakfast ended. They packed up the books and laptops and headed out to the magic shop.

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