Part Fifteen

The day went slowly. Everyone was tired of research, mostly tired of not finding answers. Angel and Buffy never left each other’s sides as doubt of the success of the ritual began to creep into their minds. They sparred in the training room for a while, working out the nerves that fluttered inside. Conversation was kept at a minimum by silent agreement.

Just before nightfall Spike showed up. Taking Angel aside for a moment while Buffy returned a book to its shelf, he told him. “Can’t bloody well kill you if I don’t know where you are. You’ve never told me where this thing’s going to happen.”

“We don’t know,” Angel admitted.

Spike looked slightly amused. “Still? All these little busy little bees buzzing around and you still haven’t gotten the invitation?”

Angel shook his head, frustrated. “Maybe it’s not really going to happen. Maybe we got all worked up for nothing.”

Spike shrugged and walked to the fridge, helping himself to a mug of blood and a box of Wheatabix. The night continued to crawl by, everyone having pretty much abandoned research as the evening grew later. Oz sat on the floor meditating, as Willow said he had done the night before, holding the wolf in. Inspired, Willow began to chant, asking the gods for guidance and help. The moon rose high in the sky.

Hours had passed when Cordy, sitting at the table playing solitaire, suddenly shouted from the front of the shop. She doubled over as a vision struck. Everyone rushed to her side. “What do you see?” Gunn asked, holding her hand.

“Out back. Vampires. And a family. Gonna kill them all. Go!” she shouted, pointing to the back door. Everyone ran to the alley behind the shop and witnessed two vampires preparing to make a meal of a family of four.

Buffy raced to them, quickly followed by Angel and Spike. Xander and the rest hung back by the door, prepared in case the fight should come their way.

“You guys didn’t get the memo, did you?” Buffy asked the vampires. They had whirled around as the door to the magic shopped open and now stood, the family backed against the wall. “The one that said no one eats people in my town?”

“We killed the messenger,” one said.

Buffy looked mildly surprised. “Wow…one who’ll actually banter with me.”

The other vampire looked confused and turned to his partner. “We ate a messenger? Who was it? That old lady?”

His friend rolled his eyes. “Idiot,” he hissed.

“Help us,” the mother of the family cried out weakly.

The less-intelligent vampire turned around. “Shut up!” he screamed at her. As he turned, Buffy struck, whipping a stake out from beneath her sleeve. He was dusted before he could even turn back around. Angel took advantage of the commotion and grabbed the other vamp by his shoulders. Swinging him around until he crashed into the brick wall, Spike popped up underneath Angel’s arm and drove a stake through the vamps’ chest.

The three fighters stopped and looked at each other. “We ate the messenger?” Buffy asked, smirking.

They turned and walked back into the shop, taking seats once again at the table. Suddenly Angel looked around. “Where’s Cordy?” he asked.

Everyone turned to look around the shop. “Cordy?” Xander called out.

“Change that to where are Cordy and Gunn?” Buffy said, moving swiftly around the shop. “Cordelia? Gunn?” she shouted. She turned back to her friends. “They’re gone.”

“I’ll look in the training room,” Giles said and rushed to the back.

“Maybe they’re out front?” Oz asked and walked to the front door. He stepped outside, looking up and down the street.

“Where would they have gone? Maybe her vision was a painful one?” Anya asked.

Angel shook his head. “No, Gunn wouldn’t have taken her anywhere without telling us.”

Everyone stared at each other, a little shocked and scared. The sound of a door shutting came from the back of the shop. “Giles?” Buffy called. “Did you find them?” There was no answer. She took a step towards the training room. “Giles?” she called, softly. Fear entered her heart and she rushed to the training room, followed by everyone else, only to find it vacant.

“Oz!” Willow cried, running back to the front of the shop. She threw open the door to find an empty street. “Buffy!” she cried. “He’s gone! Where is he? He’s gone

“I don’t know,” she said, grasping her friends’ hand. “But we’ll find him.” She turned to Angel. “Vamps?” she asked him.

He shook his head, uncertain. “That doesn’t feel right,” he said.

“Anyone else starting to feel like the cast of Clue?” Xander asked, panic rising in his voice.

“Everyone stay here,” Buffy ordered. “Spike, Angel, we’ll do a perimeter search. Spike, you check the roof. Angel, out back. I’ll go out front.”

As they moved quickly to each of their locations, Spike climbed up the ladder at the far end of the shop that led to the roof. He pushed open the trap door and slowly climbed out, keeping an eye out for an ambush. He moved silently around the roof, careful to check behind the massive air-conditioning unit where anyone could easily hide. “Nothing,” he muttered, standing on the edge, looking out over the street. Movement below caught his attention. It was Willow, walking slowly down the street. What the hell is she doing? “Hey! Red!” he yelled out to her. Willow continued to walk woodenly.

More movement to his left. It was Xander, walking as stiffly as the witch was. Spike stared at them. “Where the bloody hell are you going?” he shouted. No reply. He watched them walk, watched as Anya, then Wesley followed them a few moments apart. “Okay…time to get the poof and the Slayer,” he said to himself, and darted back down into the shop, just as Buffy and Angel ran back inside. They stared at the empty room where they had left four people just minutes before.

“This way, they’re leading you,” Spike told them, heading for the front door.

“How did they get past us? We weren’t gone more than a few minutes. I didn’t see anything!” Buffy shouted as they ran down the street.

“No will of their own!” Angel shouted back. “There! Look!” Up ahead was one of the many Sunnydale cemeteries. Wesley was just entering the front gates, trailing Anya by only a few feet. The three slowed down and crept along the fence, watching their friends carefully. Entering the cemetery they took a sharp turn and went up a hill that overlooked the town. Standing in an incomplete circle were their friends. They watched silently as Anya and Wesley took their places, completing the sphere. The circle was wide, with perhaps five or six feet in between each person.

Spike, Buffy and Angel hid in the trees, observing. Their friends stood, facing inwards, staring ahead. They didn’t blink. They didn’t move. All outside sound had ceased and the night was eerily quiet. The full moon overhead provided light, but the circle had a glow of its own; white light centered over each person.

“I guess you got your where and how part, love,” Spike whispered to Buffy

She turned to him, dread in her eyes. “I’m not ready for this.”

He gave her a sad smile. “I think you are.”

She gulped and turned to Angel. “Oh God,” she whispered, placing her hands on his chest.

He hugged her to him, hard. “You can do it,” he said, his voice breaking. “I know you can.”

“So can you,” she told him.

He nodded but she saw the uncertainty in his eyes. They turned with one last glance at Spike, and walked to the circle. “God help you,” Spike whispered as they walked off. He waited for them to get just outside the circle, then moved in more closely. If Buffy would need him, he wanted to be nearby.

Buffy stopped before they could enter and peered around Willow to see inside. She turned to Angel once more. “I love you,” she told him. “Remember that.”

“You too,” he told her, squeezing her hand.

They entered in between Willow and Oz, and a warm, tingly feeling came over them. The energy inside the circle was powerful. Buffy looked around at her friends. “Will?” she called softly.

“I don’t think they can hear us,” Angel said to her. She waved her hand in front of Willow’s unblinking stare. No reaction. Slowly she backed away and made it to the middle of the ring.

“What do we do now?” she asked, holding his hands tightly. “How do we know when to start? Or, what to do for that matter?”

“I don’t know…I guess we just wa—aaagghh!” he cried as he pitched forward. He fell to his knees and Buffy stumbled backwards. “Oh God,” he whispered painfully. He raised his head to her. “Buffy…”

She scrambled back to him and knelt. “You can do it,” she told him. “You can! Fight him!”

He swayed, then crashed into her. She held him closely. “I love you, I love you,” she repeated over and over.

Angel moved back from her and fell to the ground, writhing in pain. He twisted from his stomach to his back to his stomach again, clawing at the ground. After a moment he quit thrashing as much until he lay on the ground silently, his back to her.

“Angel?” Buffy asked quietly, taking a step to him.

He lifted his head off the ground at her voice, then pushed himself to his knees. Running a hand through his hair he made note of his surroundings. Suddenly, as if sensing she was behind him he turned to her, a look of love in his eyes. “Buffy?”

She nodded, offered him a smile, and her hand to help him stand up. He smiled back at her, took her hand and caressed it lovingly. He moved onto one knee as he struggled to stand up, then suddenly tightened his grip on her hand, crushing it. But she was ready for him. Taking advantage of his grip she pulled him toward her with all her might, sending him crashing to the ground behind her.

He looked up at her, his eyes hurt, pain shooting through his body. “What did you do that for? I…I---oh, never mind!” he laughed suddenly. “I can’t keep this up…I’m just so excited to see you again, Buff!” he cried jubilantly, springing to his feet. “It’s been such a long time. You don’t call, you don’t write…”

“Sorry, Angelus…been busy. Killing a lot of your friends, actually,” Buffy said, her eyes steely but her voice light.

“Is that so?” he asked, dusting off his jacket. “Looks like you’ve brought all yours out for my big night…nice of you to bring food to the party.”

“You know you’re not getting out of here alive,” she told him. “Only Angel and I get to perform that trick.”

He walked over to Willow and went to poke her cheek when his hand was repelled from her by an invisible field. He turned to Buffy, a wicked gleam in his eye. “I’m eating her first,” he told her.

“Not gonna work this time, Angelus. I can banter all night, although for your sake, you might want to get this over with before sunrise. Nothing you say is going to throw me off my guard. In the end, I’m still going to kick your ass.”

He raised his eyebrows. “Well, look at you. All grown up now, aren’t you Buff? And still all alone, from what I understand. Hell, even I left you…again! Yes sir…I was alone for a long time too. Well,” he said, considering, “there was Darla. Sadly, she couldn’t turn me, it wasn’t perfect happiness, but the night was still…memorable. Gonna have to look her up,” he paused, glanced at her mockingly. “Tell her I’m back in…well, just back.”

“Good luck with that,” Buffy said, stiffly, trying to keep her voice light. She hadn’t known that Angel and Darla had been…reunited in that way. Of course, Angelus was probably lying.

“Oh! And let’s not forget the last time you and I were…intimate. Oh, wait. You don’t remember that, do you?”

She remained on alert, in fighting stance. “What?”

“The day! The day that wasn’t!” he cried, circling her. “You know! God…you’ve been hinting enough about it these last few days…the day the Powers That Be made me mortal. The day you and I last made love…made plans for our future. Until I decided that being a vampire was more my style and asked for the day back. You don’t remember…they saw to that. Good for me, actually. The look on your face right now…I tell you! I wish I had a camera.”

Buffy was floored. “You’re lying,” she spat at him, but she knew it was true. Somehow, despite common sense, she knew that day had existed in some reality.

“You know I’m not,” he said, grinning. “But, enough about me,” he said, springing forward. He threw punches at her, then kicked her legs out from underneath her. She crashed to the ground, landing on her back, and bent her knees. Kicking out with both legs she knocked him backwards and sprang to her feet, backing up.

Suddenly his eyes gleamed a bright orange and he gasped in pain. She remembered this look. “Buffy?” he rasped.

“Buffy…it’s me, do it now…” She grabbed her stake from the small of her back and rushed to him, ready to dust him when he fell to the ground in agony again. “He’s coming…I can’t,” he started to say, and collapsed to the ground. When he looked up, he was Angelus again.

“Ah ah ah…doesn’t work that way!” he said, wagging a finger at her, and jumped up, meeting her head on. She punched him in the face, once, twice, ducked his punch and received a kick to the ankle. She flipped backwards, putting some distance between them.

“Angel!” she shouted. “Angel, you can do it! Please!”

“Angel’s not home right now,” he said, moving closer to her.

“It’s not so hard this time, you know,” she said to him.

“What’s that, my love?”

“Killing you.” She ran and jumped in the air, kicking straight out. He fell to the ground and rolled to the side. She ran straight for him grabbing him by the feet. Pulling with all her might she flipped him end over end. He landed on the ground with a crash but rolled quickly to the side, dodging a kick. She backed off to the far end of the circle. Angelus stood and they faced off.

“Angel,” Buffy said calmly. “I don’t want to hurt you anymore.”

He looked surprised. “Was all that supposed to hurt?”

She ignored him. “Angel, fight it!” she shouted to him.

He rolled his eyes. “Oh, would you Just. Stop. Yammering!” he cried. “Angel can’t win. His mortal side isn’t strong enough, Slayer. What? Did you think his love for you would win over my hate?” Her eyes flickered but she remained silent.

Angel walked over to Cordelia. “I can’t believe how much I’m going to enjoy draining Cordy. She talks more than you do. Not as cute, but still…quite the hottie. Maybe I’ll turn her…locating Darla could take a while…I could use a distraction.”

“Are you done yet?” Buffy asked, placing her hands on her hips, bored. “’Cause frankly, this isn’t turning out to be quite the party I had expected.”

Angel turned to her, raising his eyebrows. “No? Huh. I guess you’re right. Really, I thought it would be over by now. Well, that you’d be over by now. At this point in the evening I’d pictured myself gutting Xander, but…I’m flexible.”

“Flexible, huh? Let’s see,” she said and charged him. Just as she reached him she ducked and flipped him over her back. Turning quickly she grabbed his arms and rolled him over onto his stomach, wrenching his arms behind him. There was a resounding pop as his shoulder dislocated. She straddled him and grabbed his hair then slammed his face into the ground. “Oooh…guess your shoulder doesn’t bend that way,” she taunted, wrenching his arm even harder. He shouted in pain. “Now, you were saying…” she began when he bucked, throwing her off balance. She landed hard on her hip, releasing his arms as she fell. He was on her in a moment.

“I remember you were pretty flexible, Buff,” he hissed, his face inches from hers. “A little naïve, a little…oh, let’s say…inexperienced, but limber as hell.” Fear entered her eyes as he held down her arms, straddled her legs, immobilizing her. “Whaddya say…want to show me how grown up you are?”

She struggled beneath him. “Go to hell,” she whispered.

“I at least expected an original comeback, something with a little punch. But…it’s understandable. You’re not on your game right now, what with the impending death of yourself, all your friends…most of the city…” He grinned.

She closed her eyes, swallowed hard. “So that’s the plan? Kill me, then kill all my friends?”

He shrugged. “Something like that. Let’s not count out the idea of turning Cordelia. Maybe Willow, too. Vamped Willow was…delicious. All that leather, I guess. Maybe I’ll start a harem…”

“How soon are you going to kill me?” Buffy asked.

He gave her a remorseful smile. “Now, now…where’s the fun in that if I just tell you?”

She cocked her head to the side, looking behind him. “Well, I only ask because since Spike here is planning to shove that stake through your back, so it might be kinda difficult,” she said. Angelus whipped his head around behind him and saw…nothing. Buffy made her move. She thrust both her legs up as hard as she could, kicking him in the groin. Screaming in agony he released her arms and fell to the side in pain. Buffy rolled in the opposite direction and sprang to her feet. “Sucker,” she said, and grabbed him by the ears, hauling him up to his feet.

She reared back and delivered a spin kick to his chest. He stumbled backwards, not prepared for the one-two punches she next delivered to his face. Blood seeped from his bottom lip and he wiped at it, saw it on his hand.

“First blood…’bout time,” he said, weaving on his feet. “Doesn’t mean a thing.”

“Just that now you’ve managed to piss me off,” she said and blocked a punch. Darting behind him she kicked his backside and sent him face-first into the dirt. “Not looking quite on your game anymore, Angel…that shoulder bothering you?” she asked, and kicked the shoulder in reference

.

“Just catching my breath,” he muttered and rose quickly. As he turned to face her he was greeted with a slamming fist to his jaw that snapped his neck back.

“You really should have learned,” she said, advancing and punching him across the face again, “bothering my friends, even just talking about it,” another punch to the face, more blood, “that just gets me all cranky.”

Angel, dazed, looked blankly at her, weaved on his feet, struggling to keep himself upright. “Angel will never do it,” he told her.

“You’re wrong,” she said, and jumped straight up in the air, delivering a kick to the center of his chest. He flew off his feet and onto his back. Again, she straddled him, holding his arms down with her knees. “Angel!” she shouted, punching him across the face. “Angel! Do it! Now!” She punched him repeatedly.

“He’s going to kill me! He’ll kill my friends, your friends! Anyone we’ve ever cared about!”

Angel’s head lolled to the side, bloody from her hits. She stopped her assault. “Angel,” she said softly. “If he wins, he kills you.”

A low laugh came from the man beneath her. “It’s no use, Buff. He’s weak. He’s always been weak. It’s the demon inside that gives him his strength. He knows that. He can’t give it up. He couldn’t then, he can’t now.”

She stared at him for a moment. Slowly, she rose, releasing him. Walking backward to the middle of the circle she kept her eyes on him as he pushed himself up. Her chin came up. “Then kill me.”

He raised an eyebrow at her. “I’m sorry…what you said, it sounded like ‘kill me?’” he asked.

She nodded. “Kill me, then. You were right. I can’t do it a second time. I’d rather be dead.”

He looked at her nervously. “Well, this is a pleasant turn of events…gee…I don’t know…well, okay!” he cried and rushed her.

She closed her eyes, praying silently. A primeval wail reached her ears and she her eyes flew open. Angel was on the ground, writhing. Buffy didn’t hesitate. She retrieved her stake and ran to him. Angel flipped over onto his back and looked up at her. “Do it!” he shouted, pain searing through him.

“Angel?” Buffy asked, looking for confirmation.

“Can’t hold him…please…now!” he screamed and closed his eyes.

She said a silent prayer and staked him through the heart.

Part Sixteen

She pulled the stake back and waited for him to turn to dust. Angel’s body stopped twisting in pain. Buffy lingered, staring. He lay on the ground, limp, eyes closed. His body remained.

Backing up slowly, she looked down at the bloodied form of Angelus. All comprehension left her. Stumbling, she tried to make her way out of the circle but the force field held her inside her group of friends. She spun, searching in vain for a way out, her mind reeling, numb.

Dumbly, she stopped and stood, trapped. Turning, she looked back at Angel, lying on the ground, dead. Finally she walked calmly back to him and knelt at his side. She lifted his head and cradled it in her lap, stroking his hair. She began to rock, the bob and weave motion of a person in severe shock. She wanted to cry but no tears fell. She wanted to scream but her voice would not work.

Minutes passed. She continued to rock, to stroke his face, feel the growing coolness in his lifeless body.

“Congratulations,” a voice said behind her. The sound pierced her narcosis and she turned to find the source of the words. Behind her stood Jenny Calendar.

Buffy stared at her. “Wha…?”

“It’s time,” Jenny said, lovingly. Buffy stared at her mutely. Jenny opened her hand to reveal an Orb of Thessula. “Disperta! Acum!” she shouted. Buffy’s gaze shifted to the crystal globe. Light began to fill it. Stronger and stronger, the light grew bright, casting an eerie glow around its holder. The light began to travel in a fluid stream towards where Buffy sat.

Suddenly beneath her, Angel stirred. He jolted awake and began thrashing, a low mewling sound emitting from him. The mewling became cries of agony as the light from the Orb touched him. His body lifted off the ground, held him in midair. The light surrounded him, rushing over and around his body. Buffy sprang to her feet and backed up. She reached her hand out to Angel, to help him, but Jenny stopped her. “Not yet,” she said.

Angel was suspended in air, the light wrapping around him time after time until she could barely make out his form. And then the screaming subsided. The light began to dim and his body lowered. He touched down on the ground and lay, curled up, shivering. Buffy glanced at Jenny and ran to him. She threw herself on the ground and wrapped her arms around his shaking body. “Angel?” she whispered.

With the sound of her voice Angel jerked and looked up at her. “Buffy?” he asked hoarsely.

Tears streamed down her face. Angel slowly pushed himself up and sat, staring at her wondrously. His hands reached for her face, touched. His fingers ran over her cheeks, making sure she was real.

“Are you okay?” he asked her sincerely. “You were going to let him kill you?”

She looked sheepish. “I was hoping that would get through to you. Lucky for me…”

Though weakened, he grinned at her and shifted to sit up better. He then noticed their audience. “You…” he said to Jenny.

“Me,” she said back, her voice tender.

“The Rumani…”

“We have righted the way of things,” Jenny said. Angel rose unsteadily, pulling Buffy up with him. She put an arm around his waist, supporting him though she was as shaky as he was.

“Why?” Angel asked, his breath coming more slowly now.

Jenny smiled at them. “This is how it should be,” she said. “You killed me, when you were meant to save me. My father could not give you death, the Powers forbade it, the prophecy needed to be fulfilled. So they did the next best thing. They restored your soul.”

Angel looked confused. “Save you? Your father?” he asked weakly, confused.

“Death is not the end of a soul, Angelus. You should know that. When you killed me, the favorite daughter of the clan, you altered destiny. You were to be the one to save me that night.”

“Favorite dau…” Realization dawned. “You’re the girl, the gypsy girl, the daughter I fed from the night my soul was restored.”

Buffy, quiet all this time, spoke. “You were reincarnated,” she said.

Jenny nodded. “I was sent here, after the way was changed, to make sure that Angel was redeemed by stopping Acathla. I failed. And Angel killed me for a second time. But you’re too important,” she said, walking to them, “you had to be given the opportunity to overcome your demon.”

“Important? Why?” he asked, standing on his own now.

Jenny smiled again. “Because you’re the Champion. And you are the Chosen. They are one and the same, in both of you. You are two halves of a soul that have once again found each other. Together you will save the world,” she said simply. “When you were born, Liam…Angel,” she corrected, “you were destined to be the Champion to lead the fight against all evil. You would fight for a thousand years until the End of Days was over. You’re the key to making sure that the good guys win. You both are, I should say.”

Angel and Buffy exchanged glances, not entirely sure of what they were hearing.

“Buffy, the Chosen, is your other half. Together you will be unstoppable, though the battle will be long and hard. Together, the Ten are sure to win.”

They looked around at their friends, still immobile, deeply locked in the trance. “The Ten? We’re all needed, together?” Angel asked.

“It is time,” Jenny said again. “Take what you need from the eight.” She held the Orb before her and again shouted, “Mirante…secumin…acum!”

The Orb began to glow and laced shafts of light around Willow. Willow blinked her eyes and stepped forward to Angel. She smiled. “I bring the magic. Do not ignore the dark power, instead, find in it an ally. Let the mystical forces be your servant,” she said, and stepped back in place.

The light moved to Oz. As Willow had, he blinked, coming out of the trance, and stepped forward. “I bring the animal, cunning and swift. Let the instinct and prowess be your servant.”

Cordelia was next. She stepped forward and touched Angel’s cheek. “I bring the sight. May your eyes be open to the future and may you not be blinded to your enemies. Let vision be your servant.”

The light moved to Gunn. “I bring the weapon. Strength will be on your side. Let your strikes be swift and true and may the sword be your servant.”

Giles stepped forward. “I bring intelligence. A true warrior must be more clever than his opponent, and smart enough to realize his limitations and weaknesses. Let wisdom and knowledge be your servant.”

Light swirled around Wesley and he walked to Angel. “I bring guidance. Let your heart and your mind work together for the greater good. Let nobility be your servant.”

Anya followed him. “I bring the saint. Your beliefs are tools, they guide you. Do not want, the way will always be found. Have faith. Let sacrifice be your servant.”

Finally, the light moved to Xander. He moved to Angel and smiled his sheepish Xander-smile. “I bring the heart,” he said simply. “For without heart everything else is without meaning. Heart is what guides all the rest, is what has led you to where you are today. Let passion be your servant.”

He stepped back and the light moved to Angel. This time, however, it did not bring pain. It filled him, consumed and gave of him. He glowed, light splaying from his fingertips. And as quickly as it began, it was over.

“It is righted,” Jenny said.

“My heart…” Angel said, a look of joy coming over his face. He turned to Buffy and took her hand. Placing it on his chest she felt the strong beat. She weaved unsteadily on her feet and he caught her with both arms, holding her close to him as she wept.

“With the gifts from your friends you are restored,” Jenny said. “You are now bound to your destiny. To fight for the greater good.”

Angel looked up at her suddenly. “But, how? I’m no match for anything now.”

Jenny smiled and shook her head. “Wrong. You have their gifts. You are magic and animal, spiritual and strong. You are sensible and perceptive, you are intelligent and true. You are noble and swift. You are the Champion, as you were to always be.”

She turned to Buffy. “The Chosen already possesses these things. Now, so does he.”

They stood in the circle, absorbing the shock of her words, of the events that had unfolded. Angel turned to Buffy, stunned. He held up his hand, turned it from front to back, marveling. She reached up and took it, held in with her own, and kissed it. His other hand stroked her cheek and for the first time she felt his warmth.

“Unbelievable,” she whispered.

“Yeah…” he said softly.

She looked up into his eyes, wiped a streak of blood from his face. “Are you okay?” she asked.

He gave a short laugh. “You could say that.”

They turned back to Jenny. She was smiling at them.

“Thank you,” Angel said, weakly. “That doesn’t even begin to express it, but…”

“Ms. Calendar…Jenny…why us?” Buffy asked.

Jenny smiled again. “Since the beginning of the mortal world, when demons began to get pushed down, sent back to Hell to make way for the dominance of Man, it has been said that ten warriors would join together and lead the fight to keep them there.” She shrugged. “You are The Ten. Although it’s taken several hundred years for you all to finally find each other.”

Buffy looked confused. “What?”

“For hundreds of years your souls have been seeking each other out, trying to get everyone together. But then Darla changed Angel and his soul was lost. Your souls,” she said to Buffy, then indicating their friends, “couldn’t find his because it wasn’t there anymore.”

“I don’t understand…what you mean our souls have been searching for hundreds of years?” Buffy asked.

“You said it earlier. Reincarnation. Souls don’t leave this earth until their destinies are fulfilled. The ten of you have been born and reborn countless times while you sought each other out. When Angel was turned his soul was lost. It made it impossible for all ten of you to find each other, though at one time we had seven.”

“Past lives?” Buffy asked, not sure if she believed what she was hearing. “We’ve all known each other before

Jenny nodded. “In one form or another.”

“So if I hadn’t been changed, if I had never met Darla, The Ten would have formed over 250 years ago?” Angel asked.

Jenny shrugged. “Probably not right away. It might have taken many more years for you all to wind your ways to each other. But it would have been easier. We restored your soul to help them find you.”

A voice came from behind her. “You didn’t make it any easier on us. Seclusion, isolation. Really, the hermit thing only works for Quasimodo.” Whistler stepped out from behind Jenny. “So they sent me in to help you on your way. God, did you really screw things up.”

Jenny chimed in again. “We thought, when you and Angel became involved, Buffy, and when Wesley arrived in Sunnydale, that it was about to happen. The only thing missing was The Weapon—Gunn. And he was on his way.”

“But leave it up to you two. The love-in ensues and destiny gets altered once again. Ah, well. You’ve kept a guy in a job, I can say that,” Whistler said.

“And you were going to recurse me until I killed you,” Angel finished, staring at Jenny.

Jenny nodded. “So Willow did it for me. She’s come such a long way…more powerful than I ever was.”

“But it’s a funny thing about souls. They have no sense of direction, short attention spans. You losing your soul again, even for just a little while, sent everything all willy-nilly. You left, though everything inside you told you it was wrong,” Whistler said, looking at Angel pointedly, “and our psychic friend and the Brit followed you. At least you all stayed together this time.”

“And there you found Gunn,” Doyle said, from behind them. “And me, I might add.”

Buffy and Angel whirled around to face him. “Doyle,” Angel said softly, happily.

Doyle stepped up to Angel and embraced him, smiling. “Heros come in all different packages, my friend,” he said, holding Angel’s shoulders and looking him directly in the eye. “I mean, look at this motley crew. I was sent to watch you, help you figure things out, just like Whistler. And to make sure Cordy got the visions.” He let go of Angel and walked over to Cordelia, still staring ahead, blankly. “Ah, the fair Cordelia. Still hell on wheels, ain’t she?” he asked, glancing back at Angel, grinning.

Angel nodded. “But she’s different now…since you.”

Doyle’s eyes saddened slightly. “I loved you,” he told her. He turned to Gunn. “Treat her like the queen she thinks she is,” he said to him. He walked back over to them. “Anyway. It’s taken some time, but here we are.” He turned to Buffy. “And I have a gift for you, gorgeous.”

“A gift?” she asked.

“A memory,” he told her, and touched her forehead. The memory of that day, the day Angel’s humanity was restored, flooded her brain. A demon…mixing blood…a kiss on a pier, passionate love in his kitchen, a broken table…peanut butter, ice cream, more love…and a fight, Angel…almost killed…she saves him… What happens to the Slayer? What happens to all mortal beings…albeit sooner for her. He asks for his life to be taken back so that she may live. A tearful, pain-filled goodbye…and a man with the only memory of that day.

Angel watched her as it hit her, the pain and the love. She turned to him, stunned. “I knew,” she said. “I knew there was something…missing…from me. That day, when I turned and left you in your office, it didn’t feel right.”

He nodded knowing exactly what her gift had been. “I’m sorry.”

She hugged him fiercely. “Don’t be. I’m just now remembering. You’ve lived with this for a long time.” She pushed back from him. “How could you? Give that up, I mean.”

He shrugged, slightly embarrassed. “You needed to live.” She stared at him, love bright in her eyes.

“Well. As they say, our work here is done,” Jenny said. “Finally, I made things right.” She smiled at them, then turned slowly and walked to Giles. “See me,” she said to him, and he blinked suddenly, coming out of the trance.

“Jenny?” he whispered, unsure.

“Rupert…” she said lovingly.

“Jenny, is it really you?”

“It’s really me. But I’ve come to say goodbye.”

“Goodbye? Wait, I...”

“Shh…I know,” she said, placing a finger to his lips, “You’re happy now, I’ve been watching. I’m glad for you, Rupert, truly. But I couldn’t go without saying goodbye.”

“Go? Please, Jenny…”

“It’s okay,” she said tenderly, stroking the side of his face, “I’ve done what I was sent here for. But I never got to thank you.”

“Thank me?”

“For loving me. For letting me love you.”

“I don’t know what to say,” he said hoarsely, emotion filling his throat.

“Don’t say anything…just, close your eyes.” He hesitated, then obliged her. She leaned in and kissed him softly on the lips. When he opened them, she was gone.

Doyle hugged Angel and kissed Buffy on the forehead. “I wish I could stay,” he told them. “Bounce your kids on my knee and all that.” He looked at Giles, then to Cordelia. “I can’t do that, what the gypsy did. Tell Cordy…tell her I’m watching her. She’s doin’ good. I’m proud of her,” he said, emotionally. Angel nodded.

“What do we do now?” Buffy asked.

Doyle grinned at her. “You’ll figure it out. There’s only so much we’re gonna do for you. Go with your instincts.”

“Come on, Irish,” Whistler said, slinging an arm around Doyle’s shoulders. “Let’s go get a drink.” With one last lingering glance, they turned and walked out of the circle, disappearing as Jenny had.

A powerful wind kicked up and one by one the group opened their eyes, free of the spell. Looking around, dazed, they found Buffy and Angel standing in the middle of them, their eyes locked. Sunlight filtered through the clouds, hit his skin. He grinned slowly. Smiling back she reached up and kissed him.

Willow and Cordelia exchanged happy glances. Xander was the last to wake up. He looked around blearily. “Did it work?”

"So Ms. Calendar was there?  She's the gypsy girl, reincarnated, that
you killed that made you lose your soul in the first place?" Cordelia asked
later that morning.  Day had broken and sunlight flooded the streets of
Sunnydale.  They had made their way back to the magic shop and Buffy and Angel
filled them in on what they had missed while entranced during the ritual.

Angel nodded.  "She's the girl, the favorite daughter.  They
reincarnated her in the form of Jenny Calendar and sent her here.  She was supposed to
watch us, to make sure that this time things went differently that The Ten
found each other."

"And we all have been reincarnated ourselves?  We've been in other
people?" Willow asked, a hint of nervousness in her voice.

Buffy nodded.  "Over and over again, trying to find each other so we
could do what we did tonight."

"Past lives neat," Oz said more to himself than to the group.

"Way neat!" Cordelia cried, sitting up.  "I wonder who I was maybe
Marilyn Monroe!  Or Cleopatra!"

Everyone rolled their eyes.  "I can probably help you with that,"
Willow told her, "you know, we could do a spell sometime to find out who we were."

"I just wonder which of us met up before which of us were friends in
past lives," Gunn mused.

Wesley turned to Buffy and Angel.  "So we each provided an aspect of
ourselves for Angel, so that he now possesses all the attributes of a
warrior?"

They nodded.  "Guess I owe you guys for that," Angel said.

"I feel a fruit basket coming on," Cordelia muttered.  "What?" she
cried when Angel glanced at her.  "I keep telling you, no one wants a fruit
basket.  Jewelry.  People, I want jewelry."

 "Does this mean that Angel is now a werewolf with visions and is a
revenge demon?" Oz asked.

Giles shook his head.  "No, I seriously doubt it.  I think it means
that he's taken from us that which we possess or do best€¦the spiritual
strengths."

Anya suddenly gasped and whispered urgently into Xander's ear.  He
blushed deeply.  "Yes, I still have it," he told her and turned back to the
group.  "So!  Still, as rituals go, very cool.  I am the heart,"  he said,
lowering his voice.

"You are the doofus," Cordelia corrected him, but her tone was teasing.

Buffy looked confused.  "You remember that part?" she asked.  Everyone
nodded.

"The last thing I remember," Willow told her, "is sitting here waiting
for you guys to come back, after Cordelia and Oz and everyone disappeared. 
And then all of the sudden we were standing in a circle in the
graveyard talking to Angel.  But it was like, I just knew what I needed to do€¦what to
say."  Everyone nodded again.

"That pretty much sums it up," Wesley agreed.

"Ms. Calendar said that Angel wasn't supposed to have become a
vampire?" Oz asked.

Buffy shook her head.  "Nope.  He was supposed to have been hero-guy,
to save her that night from whatever really was going to try to kill her."

"That would be me," Spike said, raising his hand, walking in from the
back.  "All set to kill her when Darla stops me€¦wants the girl for her
darling boy instead."

Angel shook his head.  "Can't be you.  If I hadn't been changed, then
Dru wouldn't have been, and then she wouldn't be your sire.  You would have
been dead by that point."

"Unless Spike and Drusilla were always meant to be vampires€¦maybe it
would have happened anyway," Willow said.

Giles put his head on the table.  "I don't have the energy for
paradoxes."

"So, Angel," Gunn said, changing the subject.  "What now?"

Angel shrugged.  "No idea," he admitted.  He looked down at Buffy. 
"Last time I was human I had one thing on my mind€¦"

She grinned.  "Definitely, definitely hold onto that thought," she said
coyly.  He kissed her again.

"This is astounding, truly," Wesley said.  "You're human, but with the
strength you possessed as a vampire."

"Vamp-like," Cordy said, thoughtfully, "but without the pesky side
effects of bursting into flame in sunlight, and you know, wanting to kill everyone
all the time."

"And now you can eat garlic," Anya told him.  "Hey!  Now you can eat!"

"And hold a cross without getting burned," Gunn said.

"And see yourself in a mirror," Willow added.

"But just so you know," Oz said helpfully, "a stake through the heart
or beheading?  Probably still kill ya."

Angel looked at Oz sideways.  "Thanks."

"Here to help."

"Are you guys going back to LA tonight?" Willow asked.

Cordelia, Gunn and Wesley exchanged glances then turned to Angel who
was completely engrossed with Buffy.  "Probably not," Cordy told them,
rolling her eyes.  "I'd imagine you're stuck with us for another few days." 
She turned back to them.  "Him?  Might be more like weeks."

Gunn snickered.  "Months."

Wesley shook his head.  "Years?"

Buffy and Angel broke their kiss and looked up.  "What?" Angel asked
innocently.

"Nothing," Willow said, giving her best stern glare to Wesley, Gunn and
Cordelia.  "We're happy for you."

Buffy grinned.  "Me, too.  I'm happy for us."

"So what now?" Xander asked.  "I mean, check us out.  We're a team. 
We're the almighty Ten for crying out loud!"

"It's just The Ten, you sot," Spike said, "Nothing special."

"Unwanted undead," Xander zinged back.

Spike rolled his eyes and turned with a huff to Buffy and Angel. 
"Thought you two might want to know€¦ checked out the warehouse.  More than
half the vampires have made tracks.  Others are probably on their way home as
well." 

"They just left?" Gunn asked.

"Yeah.  Guess since Master didn't exactly have a successful business
trip they've decided to skedaddle," Spike said.  "Fickle little fanatics,
aren't they?  Can't get a good army together anymore."

"Well, that's good," Buffy said.  "Did enough fighting tonight.  Last
night, whatever."

"Nobody messes with The Ten," Xander said dramatically.  Everyone
ignored him.

"Can we go to sleep now?" Cordelia asked.  "It's like 6:30 in the
morning and I haven't even seen a bed in twenty-four hours."

Giles nodded.  "Yes, sleep."

They rose and gathered their belongings.  Buffy and Angel remained
seated, engrossed in each other.  "Best day ever," she told him.

"The best," he agreed.  "Guess I'm not going to get used to that
sleeping at night thing today."

She shook her head.  "I'm exhausted.  We should probably go home, too. 
We can talk about all this stuff later on."

He was looking at her with a strange smile on his face.  "What?" she
asked him.

He kissed her nose.  "I love-Cordelia!" he cried suddenly, jumping to
his feet. 

Buffy looked deflated.  "Nice way to tell me," she said.

He glanced back at her.  "No, I wanted to tell her, about Doyle."  He
strode up to the front door just as Cordelia was exiting.  "Cordy," he called. 
She stopped and turned. 

"I forgot to tell you€¦I wanted to do it in private," he said softly.

"What's up?" she asked impatiently.

"Doyle was there," he told her. 

Her expression changed from one of annoyance to one of tenderness. 
"What?" she gasped.  "When?"

"Towards the end.  He came to help explain what was going on.  And he
had a message for you," he stopped and looked at her meaningfully.

"What!?" she cried, smacking him on the shoulder.  "Now is not the time
for dramatic pauses!"

Angel winced and rubbed his shoulder.  "He said to tell you he's
proud of you.  And that he watches you, he likes Gunn.  He's happy for you."

Cordelia slumped, her heart swelling.  "Really?" she asked in a small
voice.

He nodded. 

She smiled suddenly.  "Thanks," she said, and kissed him on the cheek. 
She turned to walk out of the door, where Gunn waited for her.  Thinking
twice, she glanced back at Angel.  "Oh, and by the way, I can't believe you
even thought about turning me into a vampire, I don't talk that much, and
I'm way cuter than Buffy!"

Angel was stunned.  "How do you remember that?"

She raised a perfectly manicured eyebrow at him.  "Hel-lo?  I'm the
visionary, remember?  She who sees?  I just didn't tell you about that
one," she said, and sailed out into the street.

***

Buffy and Angel took their time walking back to the mansion.  Angel was
enjoying the sunshine entirely too much, and she was more than happy to
oblige him.  "Watch the skin though," she warned him.  "No sunlight to
speak of in 200 years you'll fry."

They entered the mansion and faced each other.  "Are you tired?" Angel
asked her.

She nodded.  "Pretty much not at all." she admitted.

He smiled and walked to her.  "Me either."  Shyly he took her hand and
leaned in to kiss her.  Just before their lips met he whispered, "I love you." 
The kiss began slowly, tentatively.  His lips brushed over hers,
seeking permission.  She gave it, kissed him lovingly in return and wrapped her
arms around him, holding him close to her. 

"Don't ever leave me," she whispered to him.

"Don't worry," he said, his breath coming quickly.  Breath!  She felt
the change in him just before he stiffened a bit.

"What?" she asked, pulling back from him.

He laughed shakily.  "Nothing, really.  I just- I just noticed that
I'm breathing and that it's hard to do when I'm around you."

She smiled.  "Huh, score one for the Champion."

"Lots of changes," he said, deep in thought.

She nodded.  "Lots of things that are going to change."

"I want to be with you," he told her.  "We've got a lot of things to
talk about."

She looked at him skeptically.  "Things that are so important that we
have to talk about them right now?"

He didn't hear her.  "Where are we going to live?  I mean, we're moving
in together, right?" he glanced at her for confirmation, then kept going,
"and what about the business?  I can't ask them all to move down here.  And
we'll have to get married, married, wow. Huh I'd never seriously
considered that before."

"Married?" the one word had caught her complete attention and made her
just a tiny bit nervous.

He turned to her.  "Well someday maybe?"

She smiled at him sympathetically.  "Poor Angel.  You're having an
over-load."  She kissed him.  "We can work this all out later."  She
didn't seem to be getting through to him.  "Angel!" she said sternly.  "Take
me to bed." 

That got his attention.

She leaned in and kissed him gently, but as all their kisses did, it
quickly intensified.  "Sorry," he apologized, then moaned as she undid his belt
buckle and her fingers brushed his stomach.  They stumbled towards the
bedroom, trying not to lose contact with each other as they undressed. 
She unbuttoned his shirt and he undid her belt.  Shoes were cast
aside clothing created a trail.  They reached the bed and he lifted her gently and
laid her down, quickly moving to lie next to her.  His fingers traced her
jaw-line, his eyes locked with hers.  "I'm going to make you happy," he swore to
her. 

"Right now, or forever?" she teased.

"Both.  I'm serious.  Always.  We'll never do that again, be apart for
so long," he said, his eyes determined.

She nodded, then looked down as her fingers lightly skipped up and down
his chest.  "Why am I nervous all of the sudden?"

He grinned sheepishly.  "I don't know but I am too."  He kissed her
hand.  "I think because we're back at the beginning everything's new."  There
was a pause before he leaned in to kiss her again.  "Now close your eyes." 
The kiss deepened.  She moaned and stroked his back as his hand ran up her
thigh. He covered her with his body, marveling in her perfection, and began
the dance that would last them long, long into the night.

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