The countryside outside of Sunnydale wasn't unpleasant. A lot of people would have even have called it beautiful, especially at this time of the afternoon. If it had been between Los Angeles and anywhere else, Cordelia probably would have thought so,too. But it somehow it was difficult for her to think about scenery when she was on her way to the Hellmouth. Actually the pit of darkness and despair which served as a mystical convergence for all sorts of evil and nastiness didn't really bother her too much. That kind of stuff had never really hurt her. Not really. The people who lived there were another story.
She dug in her purse, and almost missed seeing the sign. 60 miles to Sunnydale. Good. In a little over an hour, she'd be on her way back home. Well, not home per se, she'd be going to the Hyperion. But it still counted. Funny how that happened. Get somewhere where they accept you and more importantly need you, and suddenly you're home. Sunnydale may be her hometown, but LA was her home in a way that Sunnydale had never come close to being. Oh well, she thought, it's not like I'm ever moving back.
She finally managed to dig the phone out of her purse. It had been hiding between her compact and her bottle of holy water. She turned down the volume on the Plymouth's CD player, Barry Manilow's voice slowly dying out, she hit #1 on her speed dial. God, Barry Manilow. What kind of effect was Angel having on her? She was going to have to buy him some new CDs. As the phone rang, she pondered if Angel was more of a Sting guy or an Elvis Costello guy. Either would be an improvement. She had to admit it, though, Angel was right. The words to "Mandy" are kind of pretty.
"Angel Investigations, we help the ho"
"It's me, Wesley."
"Cordelia. Are you there yet?"
"Pretty soon. Angel's not up yet?"
"I've got him down in the basement looking for a book. That should keep him occupied for a few hours."
"You hid the book, didn't you?"
"I'm sitting on it."
"Oh like he won't notice that."
"Trust me, it'll be plenty of time for you to get back in time for the party."
"Tell me again, why couldn't Giles just mail it to us?"
"One, I didn't want Angel to be the one to open the mail and two, do you know how much it costs to mail an eighty pound broadsword? It's scandalous."
"But the money it cost to fill the tank on this car isn't highway robbery?"
"Cordelia, you know Buffy doesn't drive. This was just an economical way to kill two birds with one stone. You pick up Buffy and Dawn, and bring them here for the party and pick up the sword at the same time."
"I know, I know. Why does she have to come anyway? Where was she last year during his birthday?"
"She was dead, Cordelia."
"Oh yeah, I guess that's a good excuse. Listen, Wes, if I ever turn 249, I'm really hoping you'll give me something with a little more sentimental value than a sword. Or at least something that goes with my wardrobe."
"If I'm around, I'll be sure to remember that. It's practical. Besides, I thought we agreed we should save the really big presents for when he turns 250."
"Yeah, I guess it's hard to know what to get a guy who's turning a quarter of a millenium."
"Oh, and Cordelia, I just spoke to Giles. Buffy asked that he tell you that if you see Spike, you are not to mention anything about Angel's party tonight."
"Does she think Spike would try and come?"
"Most likely. Actually, Giles seemed to want him to come. It seems that ever since Buffy got back, Spike is insufferable if either she or Dawn leave town. Buffy apparently just doesn't want him to worry."
"Huh Spike worry that's different."
"It sounds as if it's the norm these days."
"Yeah, well, I'll believe that when I AAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"
The vision struck, and struck hard. Cordelia bent forward in pain, as the vision sheared through her skull. In her mind, she saw a tree getting larger and larger. A tree, what did that mean?
She looked up. Oh. That tree.
As the Plymouth's hood crumpled under the impact, the phone flew from Cordelia's hand, landing in a ditch by the side of the road. Cordelia couldn't hear Wesley's voice on the other end, screaming her name. Cordelia couldn't hear anything.
****
"WHERE IS SHE?!?"
The doors that led into the Sunnydale Intensive Care Unit let out an audible crack as Angel slammed them open. Looking around, he saw Giles standing at the nurses' station.
"Giles, where is she??"
"In there, " he said, pointing to the next set of doors. "Buffy and Xander are "
Angel was gone before Giles could get out the words "with her." Giles looked up to see Wesley and a young African-American man he presumed to be Gunn slowly walking through the entrance.
"Hello, Wesley."
"Rupert .how is she?"
"I'm afraid her condition is quite grave. Hello, I'm Rupert Giles," he said, extending his hand to Gunn. "I wish we were meeting under better circumstances."
"I'm Gunn. And just how bad a circumstances we talking about?"
"She's on life support. The respirator is breathing for her. It's only a matter of time."
Gunn hung his head. "Damn!"
"She's down there," he said, pointing them in the direction Angel had just gone. "Wesley, would you stay a moment? I'm afraid the hospital is in need of some information."
"Of course. What do they need?"
"They're trying to contact her family. Someone .someone needs to make a decision, they said."
The full gravity of Giles' words hit Wesley. This was worse than he had ever feared.
"I know her father is in prison," said Giles.
"Yes and they don't talk. Her mother died last year "
"They found her insurance card in her purse. They were able to get the information from the insurance company, but I don't recognize the name of her next of kin. Does she have an uncle, or a grandfather that's she's mentioned to you?"
"What's his name?"
***
Wesley walked through the second set of doors and saw Gunn standing against the wall, pounding his fist. Xander sat slouched on the floor, his head between his knees. Taking a deep breath, Wesley turned the corner and looked inside the room.
Cordelia lay there, paler than Wesley would have thought possible. Her head was a dark mass of bruises, and there were casts on both of her arms. Wires ran from the bed to a number of beeping and whirring machines and I.V.s. Her face was barely visible under the breathing apparatus.
Angel's head was buried in her stomach. He looked as if he had not so much kneeled beside the bed, but collapsed upon it. He was crying as Wesley had only seen him cry twice before. One of those times felt eerily similar to this.
Buffy's head turned toward Wesley as he walked in the room. She stood bent over Angel, her hands on his shoulders.
"Wesley "
"Buffy "
"He he won't talk to me I can't get him to "
"I know, Buffy. Let me try "
Buffy slowly walked toward the door where Giles now stood with a nurse.
Wesley knelt down beside Angel. "Angel Angel listen to me .Cordelia needs you to do something for her You think you can do that? She needs you to do this ."
Angel slowly raised his head, and looked at Wesley through a wash of tears. "She needs me Yeah .what .what do I need to do "
"The nurse here needs you to sign a few things, so that you can make the decisions that need to be made ."
"What decisions what are you talking about?!"
"Angel you know what I'm talking about."
Angel stood, and looked at Wes, then quickly at Buffy before settling on Giles and the nurse. Gunn and Xander stood behind them
Giles nodded his head, indicating that the nurse was to whom he should speak.
"Go ahead," said Angel
"Are you Mr. Liam Chase?" asked the nurse.
Buffy's eyes widened.
"Yeah .yes .yes, I am."
"Mr. Chase, you were listed as the next of kin of Miss Cordelia Chase."
"Yes," he said, reaching out for her still hand. "We're family."
"If you'll just fill out these forms "
Angel looked to Wesley. "Wes, could you just ."
"Of course. I'll let you sign when I'm done."
Angel turned at looked hard at Cordelia's still frame. He knew what the forms were for. They wanted him to let them turn the machines off. They wanted him to turn Cordy off.
That was not going to happen.
He quickly turned to Buffy.
"Where's Spike?"
"Probably at home watching TV with Dawn .why?"
"Bring him down here. NOW."
"All right, all right, I will." Spike seemed like the last person Angel should have wanted to see.
She looked to see what was in his eyes, but he was no longer looking at her. He had returned to staring at Cordelia.
Buffy walked out in the hall to where Gunn, Xander, Giles and Wesley waited.
"Okay, Wesley," she said. "Explain. Liam Chase?"
"You didn't think Angel was his real name, did you?" asked Gunn.
"He never told me what his original name was. I thought maybe he forgot."
"It's all right, Buffy. Until recently only Cordelia knew," said Wesley.
"And we only found out when Cordy called him that when she was reading him the riot act," said Gunn.
"Okay, but Chase?" asked Xander. "Why'd he take Cordy's name?"
Wesley leaned against the glass and watched Angel sitting next to Cordelia, holding her hand. "Like he said the two of them .they're family they needed a name for Angel when we actually made Angel Investigations into a licensed business, one that hadn't died 250 years ago in Ireland. So he took hers."
"But what kind of family we talking about, here? Uncle, brother, cousin what?" asked Xander.
"Xander.." said Buffy. "It doesn't matter. Listen, Wesley, he wants me to go get Spike. You have any idea why?"
"None. I'd just do as he says. Right now it's best not to argue with him "
"I guess you're right."
***
"Angelus .Buffy said you wanted to see me." Spike stood in the doorway of Cordelia's room. He had been careful to put out his cigarette before coming into the hospital. From what Buffy had said about the cheerleader's condition, he knew Angel wasn't going to be in a very tolerant mood.
Angel didn't turn, instead keeping a steady gaze at Cordelia.
"You're going to help me, Spike "
Spike slowly walked into the room, and crouched next to Angel.
"Help you what, mate."
"Get her back."
"Yeah well I know you don't what to hear this but I've never been one to sugarcoat .unless you want to turn her into a vamp, I don't see anyway."
"There's one way "
"What?"
"When was the last time you heard from Amelia, Spike?"
"It's been at least 90 years, mate. Why?"
"The Bands. Last time I saw her, she had a set."
"Whoa, hold on, what are you saying? Those are only a legend, mate, you taught me that."
"Every legend has a basis in fact, Spike. Vampires once thought the Slayer was only a legend, too."
"Yeah, but as vampire legends go, this is a doozie. This is like bleedin' Atlantis, we're talking here."
"You and I. We're going to find her."
"Are you sure you want to do this?"
Angel turned and looked directly into Spike's eyes. "We both know if I do this, what this means for you, too, Spike. Tell me you don't want that."
Spike stood and walked toward the door.
"I'm not going to be the one to tell her what it means. And it's not my soddin' suggestion unless of course, its' the one that works, then of course it's my idea."
"I'll tell her."
"When? Before you leave, or after the show's over?"
"Find them first."
"I'll make some calls. You going to be up to going if I do find her?"
"Say the word. The quicker this is done, the faster Cordy's back."
"All right."
***
Angel hadn't moved. He held her hand, and occasionally wiping away a stray hair from her face. Buffy stood in the doorway, watching him. She looked up to see Spike coming down the hall with Dawn. In Dawn's hand, Buffy could see where she was trying to hide a packet of blood.
"Teaching her to steal, now, Spike?"
"It was her idea."
"And it's a good one," said Buffy. "I don't think he's eaten in two days."
"Well, good thing about being at a hospital," said Dawn. "Plenty of blood to feed your vampires."
"At least there's one good thing," said Buffy.
Spike looked in on Angel.
"Any change?"
"No "
"And what about him?"
"He won't move. I tried to get him to go for a walk he just looks at me."
"Let me try," said Spike.
Surprised, Buffy motioned Spike in. "Be my guest but don't upset him. He already owes the hospital for the chair he threw through the window down the hall."
Spike stepped in, and startled Buffy by closing the door behind him.
"Hey mate ."
"What "
"I found them. Or at least, I found her."
Angel turned to Spike, and growled lowly.
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah. It's not going to be easy. She's not just going to hand them over."
"She'll give them to me."
"This is Amelia we're talking about. She's not one to play patty-cake with."
"I'm not going to play games."
"No, we won't."
"We?"
"You know I want this, what it means. Plus, I like the cheerleader. Always have. In for a penny, in for a pound and all that."
Angel chuckled slightly. "She'd be touched."
"I'm sure she would be. Time's a wasting. We're going to have to do this quick and fast or not at all."
"Let's go."
***
"And you have no idea where they went?" asked Wesley.
"No," said Buffy. "They just came out of the room, told me to look after Cordy and said they'd be back as soon as they could."
Dawn rolled her eyes. Buffy had left out the big smooch that Spike had laid on her.
"Wesley, Willow and I had an idea," said Buffy.
"Yes?"
"We thought if maybe someone went to LA and got some stuff from Cordy's apartment it might seem a little less sterile in here."
"You're probably right .Gunn has to go back to LA for some family business, you could ride with him."
"But I told Angel that I'd watch Cordelia."
"I'm sure he'd understand, Buffy. You're just trying to make Cordelia more comfortable."
Cordelia's apartment was much different that what Buffy expected. It didn't have the flashy modern décor that Buffy had always imagined Cordy would end up in. It was simple, and understated, in fact.
"So what should we get," asked Dawn.
"Makeup," said Xander. "Cordy may be in a coma, but like she'd say, that's no excuse not to look good."
"Okay. I'll get some clothes, maybe some things from her night-stand," said Buffy. "Xander?"
Xander looked at the mantel. "I think she'd like some pictures, don't you?"
Grabbing a small box, Xander looked at what he had to choose from. There was he, Willow, Buffy, Oz and Cordelia right after the Mayor destroyed their school. Smiling big with their weapons and diplomas. Cordelia, Angel, and Doyle at some restaurant. A picture of Angel, Gunn, and Wesley mugging for the camera. They all looked like people having a good time. It was the last picture that caught his eye, though. It was a picture of just Angel and Cordelia. Angel was smiling what passed for Angel's smile but Cordelia .Cordy was looking at Angel. He had his arms around her waist, and she was looking back over her shoulder at him. Unbelievably, Xander thought Angel looked happy in the picture. They both did, actually.
"Uhhh .Buffy, Xander .come in here for a minute, " said Dawn.
They followed her voice back to the bathroom. Steam rolled out the door as Buffy opened it.
"Dawnie, what are you "
"Look," Dawn said, motioning to the mirror.
Xander looked, and saw a message writing itself in the moisture.
"How is she?" it asked.
"Buffy, what is this?" asked Xander.
"Gunn told me about this. Dennis, is that you?"
A `YES' formed in front of them.
"She's pretty bad," said Dawn.
They heard a tapping from the kitchen. As they walked in, they saw a pencil floating above the counter near some post-it notes. On the first note was the question, "Angel?"
"He took off," said Xander. "Nobody knows where."
The next note said, "To save her."
"I hope so, Dennis," Buffy said.
Dawn was smiling. "This is too cool "
Another note started to write itself. "Give something to her?" it asked.
"Sure," Buffy said. "What?"
She heard a knocking in the bedroom. She followed it until she was standing beside Cordelia's bed. Suddenly, she felt something hit her foot. Looking down, she saw a book sliding from under the bed. She bent down, and saw that there was a post-it already on the cover. "Read this to her" it said.
Buffy opened the cover and saw the pages covered with Cordelia's handwriting. "Is this her diary? Dennis, I can't. It's hers. It's private."
Setting the book down on the dresser, she turned only to be smacked in the head by another post-it. Peeling it off her forehead, she read. "Angel's not there to remind her. Please."
"Okay, Dennis, I'll do it," she said.
"Hey Buffy, come here," yelled Dawn.
She walked into the kitchen where she saw Xander examining a bag of blood in the light.
Buffy laughed. "I guess we're not the only ones who keep blood in the fridge for when company comes."
"She put something in this," said Xander, opening the bag. "I'd swear it smelled like cinnamon."
"Put it back. Gunn should be back by now."
Xander slid the bag back into the fridge, and closed the door.
"Hey, look," said Dawn. The magnets on the door of the fridge spelled out "THANK U".
Buffy looked around. "You're welcome Dennis. We'll send her your love."
As they walked out, they heard the door lock itself behind them.
"Can't beat that security system," said Xander.
"We got everything let's go," said Buffy, leading them to where Gunn waited in the car.
***
Buffy sat at Cordelia's bedside. This was awkward with a capital AWK. She and Cordelia had never been the closest of friends. They had a grudging respect for each other, but beyond that, it was Xander and their mutual knowledge of what really went on in Sunnydale that made them friends.
So when she opened Cordelia's diary, she didn't know what to expect. The picture falling out definitely wasn't one of them.
Buffy bent down to look at it. On the back was written the word "Someday". She turned it over and gasped. It was a picture of Angel. Staring into the sunset. Looking closely at the picture, she could see the Gem of Amarra on Angel's hand. So he had worn it. He looked to be completely entranced in the sunlight. He probably didn't know Cordelia had even taken the picture. What did that mean, "Someday?" Could she not remember what day it was, or did she mean it would happen again someday?
She set the picture back between two pages of the book. Opening to a random page, she started to read out loud.
"I'm scared. He fired us today. Even me. He needs help but he just won't take it, the stubborn ass "
Buffy went on to read about Darla, Angel's epiphany, and their experience in Pylea. Then she read about when she had died.
"He's going to want to shut down on me. But I won't let him. Because I'm not going to lose him again."
Every entry seemed to revolve around Angel in one way or another. Buffy couldn't believe that the Cordelia who had written this was the same girl she knew in high school.
Finally she came to the entry dated the day before the accident. "Going to go get Angel's present and pick up Buffy tomorrow. Buffy better not hurt him. I really don't understand how she did it the first time. I just know I'm not going to give her a second chance. I love him to much to let her hurt him again."
Wow. She went back and read it from the beginning, from the day she arrived in LA up until he fired them. It was all about Angel. Cordy was all about Angel. She knew more about him in two years as his friend than Buffy had known in three years as his girlfriend. There were long passages, detailing Angel's memories of his sisters, places he's seen, and things he wanted to do. None of which he had ever told Buffy. Of course, she had never asked.
***
Buffy was asleep in the chair beside Cordelia's bed when Spike woke her by kissing her on the forehead.
She reached out blindly and grabbed him by the throat. On seeing who it was, she smiled.
"Long time, no see."
"Yeah," Spike said. "Glad to see your reflexes haven't diminished while I've been away "
"Where have you been?
"Angel and I went on a little treasure hunt."
"Where is he?"
"Out in the hall, talking to Giles and the other Watcher."
Giles stared down at what he had in his hands. Two arm bands of a metal he couldn't identify. One solid white, the other solid black.
"Are these what I think they are?"
"The Bands of Tralerian," said Angel.
"I thought they were a myth," said Wesley.
"They better not be."
"Angel," said Giles calmly. "What do you intend to do with them?"
"What do you think, Giles?"
"Usually, I wouldn't hesitate .but she is unconscious, Angel. Are you sure she is willing to deal with the consequences?"
"What about the consequences of not doing it, Giles? She'll die."
"Doing what?" asked Buffy from behind them.
"Yes, well, hello Buffy," said Giles. "Angel is planning to use the bands to save Cordelia's life."
"So that sounds like a good thing but I'm guessing there's a downside seems there always is with these things."
"No," said Angel. "No downside."
"We don't know if Cordelia would want this," said Wesley.
"Wes it's our only shot "
"Will someone please tell me what's going on?" asked an exasperated Buffy.
From behind her, she heard Spike's voice. "He's staking his claim."
"What?"
"Yes, Buffy," said Giles. "What Angel's proposing is something that well it hasn't been done in at least 900 years."
"And that is, Regis?"
"He's binding himself to Cordelia."
"Binding .like how "
"He's claiming her as his. What's his is also hers," said Wesley.
"So that's it. He adopts her or something, and she's healed."
"More like marries, luv," said Spike. "Giving her everything. Lock, stock, and barrel. His immortality, his strength, his healing ..without her, he won't be able to live."
"You mean "
"I'm claiming her as my mate."
Buffy's eyes glazed over. She plopped down on the floor next to the wall. "Huh?"
Giles sat down beside her. "Long ago, vampires didn't hide like they do now. Bindings of this type between humans and vampires were common. In exchange for immortality, the human agrees to provide the vampire with a permanent source of sustenance."
"Sustenance ?"
"After the bands are placed upon their arms, they can never be removed. And only Cordelia's blood will be able to sustain Angel."
"But she won't die?"
"She'll live as long as Angel does."
"Huh "
"Buffy say something," said Spike.
Buffy looked up at him, then back at Angel. She could see the impatience in Angel's eyes.
"What are you waiting for? Do it."
***
Xander sat at Cordelia's bedside, wondering what had happened. So much had changed. Most of all, Cordelia.
He could tell by the way that Gunn and Wesley spoke about her, that she had become someone he didn't really know. And Angel you'd have thought Buffy had died all over again. Come to think of it, Angel wasn't the one that reacted badly when Buffy died. Well, everyone reacted badly, it was a bad thing. But Angel hadn't broken down, hadn't been angry at the world. During the funeral he had simply held Cordy's hand, and looked at the ground. No, it had been Spike they had had to worry about. And not in the way that they had when he was trying to kill them. Xander laughed to himself. It's true. I was actually worried about Spike because I care for the guy. Not in the wussy way, but in the way that he was part of the family now. Xander liked the sound of that word, family. That's how Angel had described Cordelia. And strangely enough, it not only seemed true, it seemed right.
"Xander?"
He looked up to see Willow and Buffy standing in the doorway.
"Yeah?"
"We've got to get Cordelia ready," said Willow.
"Ready ready for what .Don't tell me Angel decided to pull the plug?"
Willow walked toward Cordelia, and bringing a brush out of her purse, began to gently stroke Cordelia's hair.
" so you're going to get her all gussied up before she dies?" asked Xander. "What's going on...?" he said, looking to Buffy.
"Angel's not going to pull the plug," said Buffy.
"He's not?"
"No."
"So then what "
"He's not going to pull the plug. He's going to marry her."
"Oh well, then, carry on. I mean she has to look good for her wedd wait a second he's going to marry her?"
The room was dark except for the lights of the life support machines, and the five candles spread around the room. All of Cordelia's friends stood around her, lining the walls. Willow finished lighting the last of the candles, and turned around, looking at Angel.
"It's ready "
"You're sure?" said Angel. "I don't want to screw this up."
"I'm sure."
"I mean, no offense, Willow, but this is a complicated thing here, you know, it's "
"Angel," said Buffy. "Look at me."
He turned his head, impatient. "What?"
"You see me, right?"
"Yeah "
"I'm here, right.."
"Yeah, so "
"So I was dead. Deader than a doornail. Deader than you. And Willow brought me back. She can do this."
Angel realized she was right. He looked down at the redhead.
"I'm sorry, Willow, I'm just nervous, I guess."
"Hey, no biggie," she said, smiling. "Besides, I've never officiated at a wedding before. It's kind of cool."
"Is this really a wedding?" asked Xander from where he was leaning against the wall. "I mean she can't even say I do."
"Yes, she can," said Spike.
"She can?" asked Dawn. "How?"
Giles stepped forward, and placed a hand on Cordelia's forehead. "She still has a choice, you see. She can accept the bond, and live .or reject it, and die."
"I don't understand," said Gunn.
Wesley turned to him. "According to the legend, the bond only works if both parties are truly willing. Vocalizing is of no import, in any case. Only the vampire can initiate the bond."
"So how are we going to know if she wants this?" asked Xander.
"Easy," said Spike. "She won't die."
"I still don't like this," Xander said, staring at Angel.
"Fine. Don't. But don't try to stop it," said Angel.
Wesley stepped between the two of them. "Xander, I think you're misunderstanding something."
"Oh, like this isn't totally caveman? He might as well drag her off by her hair and that would hurt a lot more since she cut it "
Wesley shook his head, baffled at the carpenter's logic. "No you don't understand. Cordelia is the one with the power here."
"No, I guess I don't understand. Enlighten me."
"Angel is really putting himself at Cordelia's mercy, in so many ways. Hers will be the only blood he can survive on. She will be as fast, as powerful as Angel is, but without the weaknesses. And if she dies, he dies. By doing this, Angel's trusting Cordy with his life .for eternity."
"Oh "
"Why do they have this ritual in the first place?" asked Buffy. " I mean, why would a vampire ever want to give that to a human? It's not like they all have souls like Angel."
"Same reason anyone wants to , pet."
"And why's that, Spike."
"Love."
"Uh-Huh .tell another one, evil dead," said Xander.
"Don't you get it,people? This is pure "
"Pure?" asked Willow.
"Yes one things vampires got right over the humans in the touchy-feeling department. This was only ever done out of true love. Selfless, non-possessive love. And trust."
"But I'm being selfish," said Angel. "I can't let her go."
Xander sighed, and stood next to Angel. "It's not selfish."
Angel looked him in the eyes. "It's not? Wouldn't she be at peace?"
"You really think this is the way she wants to go out?"
Angel looked down at her.
"No, I guess not."
"Hell no," said Gunn. "Besides it's not just you."
"No," said Buffy. "It's not. We all want her to live. And believe me as a person recently dead, I can tell you. The peace is nice .the peace is good .but," she said, looking around at her friends in the room "life is better."
Spike reached down and squeezed Dawn's hand as he saw Buffy stare into his eyes.
"Life's definitely better," she said.
***
Willow began to chant from the book in front of her. Giles handed one of the bands to Spike, and one to Buffy, as Angel removed his shirt.
As the sound of Willow's voice slowly died out, she nodded to Angel.
He stepped forward.
"Your purpose here?" said Willow.
"To give what is mine "
"And what shall you take "
"Only the blood of life she gives me "
Damn, Xander thought. There go the vows I was going to say to Anya.
"And if she gives you naught?" asked Willow
"Then I shall die."
"So go give what you can .and take what you need," said Willow formally. She nodded to Buffy and Spike.
Buffy placed the white band around Cordelia's left wrist, and looked over her shoulder to see Spike placing the black band on Angel's right wrist. She could tell Angel was nervous. She laughed quietly to herself, then leaned down and whispered in Cordelia's ear.
"Okay, the bracelet's new. Angel's old, and hey, I'm not using him anymore, so you can permanently borrow him. Your gown is .kinda blue, I guess. So we're set ." With that, she kissed her gently on the forehead.
"What's she saying to her?" asked Angel.
Spike put both his hands on Angel's shoulders. "Most likely giving her blessing, mate. Don't worry about Buffy."
"I really don't have to worry about her anymore, do I?" said Angel, slightly grinning.
"No mate, you don't."
Angel nodded. "I'm glad."
"Now go on, mate .the bride's getting' cold."
Buffy lowered Cordelia's gown off of her shoulders like Willow had told her to, then walked up to lean against Spike. They watched as Angel strode toward the bed.
He reached for her right hand, and interlaced her fingers.
"Cordelia," he whispered . "let me do this for you. I know it's selfish of me but I can't lose you. I just can't."
He took her other hand, and as the bands got closer to each other, they started to emit a strange amber glow. Everyone but Angel and Spike gasped as they felt a distinct rush of warm air rush into the room. Visible lines of power began to trail up the length of Cordelia and Angel's arms.
"Angel, " said Willow
Angel didn't look at her, but nodded.
"You .shall forever be my sole companion .my sole need .my sole mate "
Xander whispered to Willow. "He didn't just say soul-mate, did he?"
"Shhhh," said Willow. "He's not done."
"As my strength sustains you, so shall you sustain me "
"Then take what you need," said Willow. "And give what you have ."
Angel took a deep breath, and began to feed.
***
"God," said Gunn .
"Ohh," said Dawn "Look at their wrists!"
The bands were locked together, strangely alive. Angel brought their locked hands up, resting her wrist on his shoulder. His tattoo was eerily visible under the light. The colors in the bands began to move. The black melded into the white like a drop of blood in a pool of milk. They swirled together until both bands were a deep crimson red.
The blood rushed down his throat, coating him in her warmth. He felt her heart beat quicken, and her hand reach around, scratching down his back. She was warm. She was alive. And she was his.
Suddenly, he felt himself began to go. His sense of reality began to shift. He was losing his soul. In his despair, he hadn't even dreamed of the possibility of perfect happiness. Now that it was here, it seemed inevitable. He was once again going to be the soulless creature that took joy in cruelty, and reveled in other's suffering.
But just as his soul began to leave, he felt her. Like a warm current in a cold stream, Cordelia moved through him. She seemed to wrap herself around his soul, and bring it back into him, into his blood, into her.
He felt his breath against his shoulder. He almost thought she was laughing.
Rising up from her neck, he shifted back to his human face.
She reached up and fiddled with his hair.
"Hey," she said.
"Hey "
She smiled. "Happy Birthday, Angel."
***
"Angel?"
"Yeah, Cordy?"
"What's going on?"
"Cordy I "
"I mean, it's kind of nice you with the no shirt thing, and the candles are a nice touch .but why is everyone here watching? And where is here? Why am I hooked to all these machines? And what's with giving me this nasty hickey? I didn't think you were into that? Are you into that?"
"Cordelia I "
"Do I want to know this?"
Angel rose and looked back at their friends.
"Guys I think I need to explain this to Cordelia alone."
They all nodded, and left..
"So what's the deal? I mean, look at me "
"Yeah look at you "
"I don't understand, Angel."
"How do you feel?"
"I'm okay, I mean .good .really good in fact .I don't think I've ever felt better."
"I'm glad to hear it."
"Angel tell me what's going on ."
"You were in an accident "
"I was Oh, God I wrecked the Plymouth .Angel, I'm so sorry "
"Don't worry about the car. How are you?"
"I'm fine, Angel I told you but I wasn't, was I?"
He sat back, and smiled at her. "No, you weren't."
"So I take it you sitting on my bed with no shirt on not that I'm complaining, mind you has something to do with me being better."
He reached and lifted her arm, showing her the now crimson band.
"It's got everything to do with it."
She saw the matching band on his arm.
"What did you do?"
"I made a choice. The only choice I had, really."
"What kind of choice."
"I made a commitment."
"What kind of commitment? Like a New Year's Resolution ?"
"A bit more permanent."
"So "
He took her hand ."So I was selfish. In order to keep you, I had to make you a promise."
"You .I didn't ask you to make me a promise "
"No but I made it anyway ."
"What kind of promise?"
"That I'd never leave you ."
"Never Angel, I can't ask that of you I mean I don't know if I can take that .I mean, I'll get old, I'll look great but I'll still be old and you might fall in love, and want to be with her, and how's she going to like you hanging around with your pathetic vision having best friend?"
"That'll never happen."
"You will fall in love again. I know you, Buffy didn't do that much damage."
"No you're right on that. There is love after Buffy ."
"Good .now what ?" Cordelia couldn't finish her question. The smile on Angel's face was too big, too .happy.
"I mean you'll never grow old."
"Huh You didn't?" She checked her pulse. "Whew I'm not a vamp."
"No you're not a vampire."
"So what's this I'll never grow old stuff?"
"You're going to look like you do now until the day we die."
"Okay but that still doesn't .wait, the day WE die?"
"That's what I said."
"Explain."
"See these," Angel said, indicating the bands.
"Yeah "
"We're bonded "
"Bonded .what's that mean ?"
"It means .it means that our lives are linked."
"They already were, Angel. The visions?"
"Were just the start. Wesley told me there might be more, we just never thought it'd be this "
"What is this?"
"I've bound myself to you."
"So what, we're destined to see each other at the office every day for eternity?"
"More like God, how do you tell someone this after the ceremony "
"Ceremony? You mean we're "
"Married. Or at least the vampire version "
Cordy blinked her eyes, and looked away
"But I'm not a vampire ."
"No and now you never will be ."
"But I'm going to live I got the guy and I won't grow old and I feel great ..so what's the catch ."
Angel turned his back to her.
"Me."
Cordelia rose from the bed, and ripped the various monitors and I.V.'s out. Gripping his arm tighter than Angel would have thought possible, she turned him to face her.
"What do you mean, you're the catch "
"For this to work Cordy "
"Say it "
"I have to drink your blood."
Cordy got a puzzled look on her face. "Duh already did that," she said, "Look, I've got the hickey to prove it. That's seriously nasty, by the way "
Angel hung his head.
She lifted his chin, and looked at him.
"What aren't you telling me?"
"I told you. I have to drink your blood."
"I don't understand."
"I can't survive on anything else "
"Than blood? Isn't that kinda the gig for you grr types?"
"No, Cordy I can't survive on anything but YOUR blood now."
Cordy stepped back . "Whoa so you're saying "
"I'll starve to death on anything else."
"How could you do that, you "
She smacked him hard on the side of his head. He flew against the wall.
She looked down at her hand, then ran to pick Angel up of the floor .
"I'm sorry, Angel, I didn't think I mean, how "
"You have my strength now "
"Angel this is so stupid. I mean, what if we're not together .you'll die."
She held his head in her lap.
He looked up at her, and laughed.
"That was kind of the idea .I was worried you wouldn't be okay with it."
"Angel "
"Yeah "
"You have to promise me two things "
"Anything ."
"Okay the first is that you tell me the truth Is this something you can live with I mean, it's kind of a commitment "
"I don't think I could live without it ."
"You didn't have to "
"You were going to die if I didn't Cordy and I "
"Oh ."
"Besides .there are a lot worse commitments to make ."
"Like what ."
"There was this record club I joined one time ."
Cordelia smiled and looked away, laughing.
Angel's face suddenly got serious.
"What else?"
"Huh "
"You said two things "
"Oh this thing won't come off, will it?" she asked, indicating the band.
"No Do you want it to?"
Cordelia looked down at him, exasperated. "No, silly I just need some new clothes. I mean this is ridiculous. I'm going to have to tailor my whole wardrobe around this accessory."
***
The first time Cordelia caught Buffy with a punch, Buffy was shocked.
It actually hurt.
"That was good, Cordy ."
Cordelia smiled, as she continued to circle Buffy. Giles and Wesley stood watching, as they were wont to do. Being Watchers and all.
"She's improved remarkably in only three days," said Giles.
"Yes," said Wesley. "When Cordy wants something, she goes after it "
"And she really wants to learn how to fight? I mean that just doesn't "
"Seem like Cordelia? Two years ago, I would have agreed with you. But she's changed. Being around Angel, what she's had to do "
"Hardened her," said Giles.
"I prefer to think of it as refining her," said Angel as he walked in and stood next to the Englishmen.
"Are you certain she should even learn?" said Giles. "I mean now that her life and yours are linked "
"It wouldn't make much sense for her to not be able to defend herself" said Wesley. "Besides knowing Cordy, Angel didn't have much of a say in it, did you?"
Angel grinned slightly. "Nope. None at all."
He watched as Buffy repeatedly tossed Cordy to the ground. Cordy wasn't used to her new quickness. It left her off balance, especially when she tried to attack. Not that her attacks were exactly black-belt, either.
"Honey," said Angel.
Both girls turned.
"Oh," said Buffy, realizing she wasn't being spoken to.
"He's talking to me," said Cordy, quietly yet sternly.
"I know "
"You better, " whispered Cordy.
Buffy watched as Angel brought Cordelia a towel. She couldn't believe how comfortable they were with each other. Angel smiled more than she had ever seen before. Then she realized. He was happy. Truly happy, and he hadn't lost his soul. Figures.
They all walked back into the magic shop and took seats around the meeting table, Cordelia sitting in between Angel's legs on the stairs. Buffy sat at the other end of the table, and hoped someone would say something, anything, soon.
"So Cordelia," said Giles. "Have you noticed anything different since the change ?"
"Other than the fact that I'm not dead?"
"Yes .other than that "
"Well I can kick YOUR ass now," she smiled, using a towel to watch sweat from her face. "But I might have been able to do that before "
"Anything else?"
" I don't seem to need to eat as much I can hear and see better ."
"Angel," said Wesley "Have you noticed anything?"
" I can feel when she enters a room. I always could to some extent, but now I can feel her coming. I find myself showing up when she wants to tell me something ."
"And you're happy," said Buffy.
Angel breathed deeply . "Yeah .I guess I am "
"You guess?!" asked Cordelia .
"Wait a moment," said Giles. "Are you saying that the curse is permanent?"
"I don't know, Giles. I know my soul tried to leave when we bonded. But Cordy stopped it."
"She .stopped your soul from leaving?" asked Buffy.
"It felt like .like she just reached up and grabbed it back."
"That may be a one time occurrence," warned Wesley. "When in the midst of the binding, you two were "
"It wasn't, Wesley" said Angel.
" Angel, I don't understand "
"What's there to understand, Wes," asked Cordelia. "As long as I'm around, his soul isn't going anywhere."
"And you're sure of this how ?"
"They've tested it," said Buffy.
If vampires could blush, Angel did.
"Oh," said Wesley "oh that's fantastic ."
"Yes," said Cordy, grinning widely. "It is "
Buffy turned away.
Cordy got up and walked over to the Slayer. "Damn, Buffy, I didn't meant to "
"Didn't mean to what, Cordelia. I mean he is basically your husband now, I mean you should .Cordy?"
Cordelia's eyes were glazed over. It didn't look as if she even knew Buffy was there.
"Cordy?"
Angel walked quickly up to Cordelia and took a hold of her.
"Cordy you all right?"
Cordelia shook her head for a second.
"Sorry vision "
"You had a vision," said Wesley. "And it wasn't painful "
"No .hey, bonus ."
"What did you see?" asked Giles.
"Oh," said Cordy, looking at Buffy, "It's bad."
"What did you see? And why are you looking at me?"
"It's Spike. He was on fire. He was dying,"
***
"Cordy, could you tell where he was?" asked Angel
"No I just saw Spike flames I didn't see where "
"I don't understand, " said Buffy. "It's almost dark. Why would he be on fire? I mean, no sun, no crispy vamps, right? And look," she said, as she hopped on the couch and pulled back the curtain in the small window above it, "it's dark darkie-dark Angel didn't go poof .well, Spike says you are a poof, but that's totally different I mean he said I have stupid hair, too "
Cordelia was surprised. She hadn't seen Buffy like this before.
Giles had.
"Buffy," he said. "Get a hold of yourself. Now do you have any idea where Spike would be right now?"
She looked up at her Watcher, and took a deep breath. "He was supposed to meet me and Dawn at Xander's in about thirty minutes. We were all going to the movies."
"Spike's going to the movies?" asked Wesley.
"With you and Dawn?" asked Angel
"And Xander?" wondered Cordelia.
"Yes he is. We go to the movies every Tuesday. Have for the last three months. It makes everything seem It makes things more normal for Dawn. A routine. Xander and Anya were supposed to go with us tonight I'm trying to make him and Spike get along better. I figured two hours in the dark and one of them's not dead it'd be progress."
"Spike's already dead," said Angel.
"Funny," said Buffy.
"So what are we waiting for," asked Cordelia. "Let's amscray out to Casa del Xander. Unless you want him to burn up.
"NO," said Angel and Buffy in unison.
"Oh-kay, then" said Cordelia. "Let's go."
"We'll call ahead, and tell Xander to keep him inside if he gets there before you.." said Giles.
Cordelia, Angel, and Buffy all hurried out the door and piled into Angel's newly acquired 59 T-Bird Convertible. There was a moment of awkwardness when both Buffy and Cordelia went for the front seat.
Buffy realized her faux pas, smiled and hopped in the back.
They pulled up in front of Xander's apartment building just as Spike came into view in front of them. Buffy was almost out of the car when the first set of tasers hit Spike. He fell to the ground, his muscles tensed in pain.
As the T-Bird rounded the corner, Angel could see five men standing in front of Spike. Two held the tasers, two held what looked to be flame-throwers, and the fifth man held a stake. He thought the man with a stake seemed liked someone he should know.
"STOP!" yelled Buffy. "Let him go."
"That would be unwise, Miss Summers."
"Last time I checked, you worked for me, Travers. Or I don't work at all."
"Are you saying that you would defy the Council because of this vampire?"
"When haven't I defied the Council?"
"Touché. Let him go."
"Are you sure, sir?" said one of the men with the flame-throwers.
Xander and Anya came running from the apartment complex, Xander with an axe, Anya a crossbow.
"What'd we miss?" asked Xander.
Anya looked around excitedly "Do we skewer them, Buffy? Will there be skewering?"
"As the Americans like to say," said Travers, looking at Buffy, "she's the boss."
"Damn right, mate " said Spike. "I recognize you you're that poncey bugger who held out the info on Glory "
"Quentin Travers," said Angel.
"Ah, yes the infamous Angelus. My Miss Summers you seem to be collecting vampires."
"She's not collecting anything, buster," said Cordy. "He's mine."
Travers winced at the statement, and gave Cordelia the once-over. She saw him linger for a moment over the band on her wrist, and then look at its mate on Angel's wrist.
"So I see."
"Why are you here, Travers? What do you want from me?" demanded Buffy.
"Such an ego on you Americans." said Travers. "As fond as I am of our visits Miss Summers, I am not here to see you."
"So why aren't you at the magic shop talking to Giles." asked Xander..
"Because, I'm not here to see Rupert, either."
Buffy was confused. "What then why?"
"I'm here to see Mr. Harris."
***
Xander sat at the table, and watched as the British guys huddled in a corner. He saw Giles look up at him, then nod his head. This wasn't the night he had planned. He had planned to watch some good old-fashioned rauncy American teen romantic comedy with some good old fashioned flatulence and good old fashioned sex jokes tonight. And Anya had promised to let him fondle the bosoms. It got him out of listening to Spike all night, though. Spike always talked during the movie. He had ruined American Pie for him. Some line of bull about the flute girl and Willow. He still wished he was at the movies. He didn't like this. This was too secret society too British.. It was giving him the good old fashioned creeps.
"I get it," said Xander ."I'm the Prisoner, right I'm Patrick McGoohan .You say I'm Number 6 but I know I know I'm really Number 1 and then some creepy balloon thingies are going to come toss me out of a plane."
"In a way, Xander you're right " said Giles as he, Travers, and Wesley sat down at the table with him.
"I'm Patrick McGoohan? Or you're going to throw me out of a plane?"
"No, Xander," said Wesley. "You're number one."
"Well, yeah. I'm number one. Number one what?"
"Mr. Harris," asked Travers, "how long have you worked with the Slayer and Mr. Giles here?"
"Going on six yeah, six years I guess."
"And how many demons do you think you've encountered?"
"Oh I don't know .a few thousand?"
"That is why I am here."
"You want to see demons?"
"No I wanted to see you."
"I still don't understand."
"Xander," said Giles. "Quentin is here to make you an offer."
"What kind of offer. I won't do anything Buffy doesn't want me to "
"This has nothing to do with Buffy at least not directly." said Wesley.
"Then what?"
"We would like to offer you an official position, Mr. Harris."
"What, you're going to pay me for helping Buffy?"
"Xander," said Giles "they want you .to be honest, the Council needs you .to be a Watcher."
"A Watcher me? I don't understand. Buffy doesn't need a Watcher and even if she did, what about Giles "
Giles took off his glasses, and rubbed the bridge of his nose. "As Wesley, said this has nothing to do with Buffy."
"Mr. Harris, " said Travers, standing. "you have been involved in countless hours of research of the paranormal and the occult..."
"Yeah, I guess so "
"And this is really the crux of the matter .you have, as Miss Summers so aptly put it on my last visit, clocked more 'field time' than anyone we might possibly train as a Watcher. According to Rupert's Watcher's Diaries, you have personally killed 21 demons, and over 140 vampires."
"140? Really?" asked Xander, looking at Giles.
"That number is actually low, Xander. I only recorded your kills that Buffy told me of. And there were times I was lax in the keeping of the diaries during Buffy's first split from the Council .and when Buffy was dead "
"Oh "
"And that number, Mr. Harris," continued Travers, "is four times more than the Council can attribute to any non-Slayer human since the 18th century .although I've heard tell that Mr. Wyndham-Pryce and his associates are cutting quite a swath through Los Angeles."
Wesley smiled at the acknowledgement.
"So if Wes is doing such a good job why not put him back on the team. He already knows the secret handshake."
"For a number of reasons, Xander," said Wesley. "I don't want to be a Watcher, foremost among them. I have a job in LA that I'm very happy with. And perhaps more importantly, you have worked with Buffy far longer than I did."
"So?"
"So, Mr. Harris, " said Travers. "Buffy Summers is the greatest Slayer in recorded history. She has lived to an older age -- with a few interruptions -- than any other Slayer. Much of that is attributable to you and your friends' help. Before Miss Summers, Slayers were never part of a team. The Council is ill-equipped to know how to even train a Watcher to facilitate such a group. However, it is obvious that future Slayers should emulate her example. And as Miss Summers is the greatest Slayer who ever lived, Mr. Giles has proven himself the greatest Watcher. And so you have had on the job training from the best."
"I can see that So what, do I have to go to England or something?"
"So you're interested "
"Well yeah "
"Xander " said Giles, "before you say yes, there is something you should know."
"What? I have to wear tweed and use big words..?"
"What no, no there will be no further training. If you accept, when you leave here tonight you will be a Watcher."
"What's the hurry?"
"One of the reasons that Mr. Travers here was so quick on the draw with Spike tonight is there is rumor that there will soon be an attack on the Slayer."
"By who?"
"Wolfram and Hart," said Wesley. "They've been after Angel for years now for what reason we don't know."
"We intercepted some communiqués with their office in Barcelona that featured a very unique symbol," said Travers, throwing a folder in front of Xander.
"Do you recognize it?" asked Wesley.
"The Order of Aurelius," said Xander. "That's the group "
"That Angel and Spike are descended from," said Giles.
"So that's why you shot Spike with those electro-thingies."
"Tasers, yes. We had heard that the Slayer and he were working together, but it was unclear what the exact relationship was "
"Well, it's unclear to all of us but yeah, he's been helping. So other than the obvious, what's this have to do with me? I mean why the recruitment pitch all of a sudden?"
"Because, Xander I was told of this last week, before Cordelia's horrible accident. We now suspect that "
"That Wolfram and Hart did something to the car?"
"We examined the wreckage, Xander," said Wesley. "The brake lines had been cut."
"So they were trying to get Angel out of the way," said Xander.
"No," said Wesley seriously. "We suspect that Cordelia was the target."
"Cordy? Why?"
"With Cordelia gone, Angel would be cut off from the Powers that Be. An added bonus would be that he would be destroyed emotionally."
"And this attack on Buffy is just the icing on the cake..?"
"They want Angel enraged they want him out of control "
"They want Angelus."
"Yes."
"So that still doesn't explain why you want me to be a Watcher."
"We have a counter-attack planned, Xander. But we can't tell Buffy or Angel. If they were to act any differently, it would compromise the plan. We need Wolfram and Hart's attention on the two of them for this plan to work."
"So I guess we've got to keep Cordy out of the loop too," said Xander.
"Why do you say that?" asked Travers.
"They're bonded," said Giles.
"What she knows " said Wesley.
"Angel will know eventually," said Xander. "So what's the plan?"
"Giles " said Travers. "It's your plan."
"Yes, well," said Giles, not used to the deference that Travers was showing him, "it's a plan I'm fairly sure you won't like, Xander. But I assure you it is necessary "
"What is it "
"You and Spike "
"Me and SPIKE?"
"And one other "
***
She winced as the door slammed shut behind her. Looking up she saw Spike standing in front of her, a cigarette half hanging out of his mouth. Why the hell was he here? Another man stood next to him, his back to her.
"That her?" asked Spike.
The man next to him turned around. She gasped. This was the last person she expected to come for her.
"What the hell are you doing here?"
Spike could tell she wasn't angry. She was scared.
Xander looked at her, a slight smile on his face.
"Now, Faith .is that any way to greet your Watcher?"
***
"Where's Spike?" asked Dawn
"He isn't here?" asked Buffy. She set her bag down in the hallway, and looked to where Dawn was sitting in the living room.
"No. I checked his crypt and he's gone."
"I don't know. He didn't tell me he was leaving."
"He didn't tell you?"
"No, Dawn. I'm not his keeper."
"No you're his Slayer," said Dawn, a smirk on her face.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"You know what it means "
Buffy's face went flushed. "I'm not his anything "
"Yet "
Buffy shook her head. "C'mon we'll see if anyone else has seen him."
They made their way to the Magic Shop, Dawn holding tightly to the handle near the top of the SUV's window. Buffy might own it now, but she wasn't any better at driving it.
She tried to hide her relief from her sister as they finally pulled up in front of Giles' shop.
They walked in to find Wesley behind the counter.
"Wesley," said Buffy cautiously."What are you doing here? Where's Anya?"
"Oh Anya .yes .I believe she and Xander went out of town for a little tźte-ą-tźte."
"A what?"
"A tryst, a "
"They went out of town to have sex, Buffy," said Dawn.
"Oh," she said. "I don't get it. They have sex here all the time, and lord knows they don't mind if we know about it."
"Yes, well I think Xander was in a romantic mood "
"Isn't that a scary thought," said Buffy. "So Wes what about Spike? Have you seen him today?"
"He went with them "
"What?"
"He's kidding, Buffy. Aren't you, Wes?" asked Dawn.
"...Uh Yes yes I am "
Buffy shook her head, relieved. "Thank God. But thanks for the imagery. So is Giles around?"
"I believe he wanted to discuss something with Angel."
"So he's at home?"
"I think so, yes."
Buffy turned to her sister. "Maybe Giles knows where he went let's go "
As they walked out the door, Buffy headed toward the SUV. Dawn stood still at the door.
"Dawn c'mon "
"Buffy I kind of feel like walking "
"Oh .Okay "
Dawn smiled as the relief washed over her face.
***
They knocked on the door. There was no answer.
"You think they're asleep?" asked Dawn.
"Cordelia should be up by now "
"Well, Wes did say that she's pretty much a night owl now."
"Yeah," said Buffy flatly. "Keeping Angel's hours."
She reached up into the sconce next to the door and picked the spare key from inside.
Opening the door, they walked back toward the stairs.
"Oh NO, you don't!" came Cordelia's voice from the floor above.
They looked up, and saw Cordelia running across their field of view, clutching a towel to her body.
"Cordy!!" yelled Angel. "Get back here!"
Dawn's eyes widened as Angel chased after Cordelia, wearing only the bracelet that bound him to her.
Buffy reached over and covered Dawn's eyes with her hand.
"Uh UMM " Buffy cleared her throat loudly.
Very slowly, she saw Angel's face come leaning out of the upstairs hall.
" .Hi ."
Cordelia's face peered over Angel's shoulder.
. "
oh
..hey Buffy
"
Buffy had never seen Angel blush before. Of course she was probably blushing more than he was. Cordelia smiled widely.
Dawn tried to sneak her eyes around Buffy's fingers. Buffy's other hand quickly came up to provide even more "protection."
"Have you guys seen Spike?"
"He gave Gunn a ride back to LA last night I wouldn't expect him back until tonight."
"You're sure?"
"Yeah, Buffy," said Angel. Cordelia handed him a towel from around his back, and covering himself, he walked down to meet them. Buffy had to stop Dawn from "pretending" to tie her shoes as Angel came down the stairs.
"He didn't tell you?" asked the vampire.
"No, .he didn't."
"He'll be back, Buffy."
"I know "
"So why the look?"
"What look? I've got no look. Well, I've got a look, it's my look. But it's not that "look" kind of look."
"Okay .whatever don't worry about Spike. He's been a big boy for a long time now. He can take care of himself."
***
Gunn drove. Spike sat next to him, watching the lights of the cars going the opposite way on the interstate.. Xander sat in the back between Anya and Faith. Xander was getting dizzy from all the movement Anya was doing trying to look around him at Faith.
"Where are we going?" asked Faith.
"The Hyperion" said
"What's that?"
"Angel's office" said Xander.
"Is he going to be there?"
Spike turned in his seat and looked back at the raven-tressed Slayer. She was like a sportscar, he thought. Powerful. Fast. Easily broken.
"No. Peaches is in Sunnydale. Where I ought to be."
"Why?"
"Why what?" asked Xander.
"Why is Angel in Sunnydale and Spike here? Why did you pick me up? And why are you of all people my new Watcher? How do I even know you're not giving me some line of bull, playing Giles for a night?"
Spike saw the stormclouds roll over Xander's eyes. Ah. So this is what it took for the prat to grow a backbone.
"Faith," said Xander sternly. "Given our history Why would you think there is any *possible* way I would voluntarily come down her to pick you up if I wasn't either insane or a Watcher?"
"I can think of one reason," she said, giving his leg a slight squeeze.
He forcibly removed her hand from his leg. Putting his arm around Anya, Xander looked Faith dead in the eyes. "That was a long time ago, Faith."
"I still remember."
"So do I but I've had better since."
"OOOOHHH " whispered Gunn to himself. He looked in the rearview mirror back at the girl they had just picked up. She looked like that one hurt.
Spike smiled. This was interesting. It was times like this that he actually liked the Harris kid. He may be a wanker at times, but he had to admit, when it came time to stand up, the kid was always there. This particular time he was lying, but Spike didn't hold that against him. If he was engaged to an ex-vengeance demon, he'd lie, too.
They pulled into the rear of the Hyperion.
"You're sure nobody's watching this place, Harris?"
"Yeah. Gunn's crew came by last night and checked it out for us."
"The lawyers are only interested in Angel and Cordy. As far as they know they think Cordy's still in the hospital and Angel's with her."
"How's that work? " asked Gunn.
"Red " said Spike. "Gotten mighty powerful, she has."
"Cordelia's in the hospital?," asked Faith.
"Not anymore," said Anya.
"Is she all right?"
Xander stopped walking and looked at Faith. She really wanted to know. "Yeah it was touch and go, for a while, but Angel came through for her."
"What'd he do?"
"Let's just say this, pet," chuckled Spike. "Give the cheerleader a while -- and now she's got a long while -- and she'll be able to go toe to toe with you."
"I don't understand."
"It's a long story, I'll tell you inside," said Xander.
Gunn took out his keys and opened the door.
"Fred. You in here?"
"Yeah hold on just a second."
Xander looked up to see a cute yet disheveled young woman walking down the main stairs. She looked as if she had forgotten which shoe went on which foot.
"This is Fred?"
"Winifred," said Gunn. "You guys hungry?"
"Yeah, sure I guess what do you guys feel like?"
Gunn held his hand up. "No I said are you hungry. I didn't say what do you want."
"So we can't order for ourselves?" asked Xander.
"Go ahead .tell Fred what you want she'll whip it up for you ..anything "
"Anything?"
Gunn smiled. "Sure go buck wild."
"Ooooh," said Anya. "I like buck wild. Do buck wild, Xander."
Spike stood against the back wall watching the neophyte Watcher giving the woman his food order. Looking across the lobby, he saw Faith doing the same as he was. Except she had a look in his eyes. A look he thought he would have recognized had mirrors applied to him.
"Spike," said Xander. "Will you stay here with Faith for a minute. I'm going to go call Giles and finalize some details, give a status report, that kind of thing "
Spike watched as Xander walked into the office, and Gunn led Anya upstairs to show her her room for the night. The girl called Fred flitted off to the kitchen.
Which left Spike alone. With Faith.
"So "
"So," he said
"Is this some kind of Dirty Dozen mission. Let all the no-good psychos do their dirty work for them?"
"Nice opinion you got of yourself, there, pet."
"So you guys got me out for kicks? I don't think so."
"You were getting out anyway, from what I hear tell. And as far as Harris, that was a done deal, too. Only difference now is that the present situation .we're needed here."
"That doesn't explain you."
"What do you mean, luv?"
"Last time I heard, you were the 'big bad'," she said, making air quotes with her hands. "I knew you got that chip but still "
"You know nothing about me, pet."
"I know something "
"What you think that night in the Bronze when you were prancing around, glowing in the fact that you were wearing Buffy's skin? You think that you know something from that?"
Faith quietly nodded. "You knew that was me?"
"I knew it wasn't Buffy."
"You didn't know."
"Oh, Buffy's got that in her more that you do, I'd wager but she doesn't use it willy-nilly like you ."
"So what?"
"So, pet I've seen Buffy when her heat is up .smelled her and I don't think you can quite get there..."
"Oh really," said Faith. "And why is that?"
"Because to be truly passionate about something about life sex .killin' any bloody thing you've got to feel it in your heart .in your gut, twisting and turning you to its will and that's what Buffy's all about."
"Your heart doesn't even beat .what are you, some Billy Idol Freud wannabe? Wanna show me your cigar?"
"My heart may not beat but it's alive probably the biggest part of me that is yours from I've seen you don't even like to admit you've got one .but you do."
"Oh, I do, do I? Forget you!" She walked quickly back toward the office where Xander was on the phone with Giles.
She got two steps when she heard Spike's voice say something that stopped her in her tracks.
"How long you been in love with Harris, pet?"
"What?" she said, turning slowly around.
"I see it. Every time you look at him."
"You see crap, buddy."
"Don't lie to me, kitten. I know about love. It doesn't have to be right, it doesn't have to feel good. Probably wouldn't be love if it did. But I know it when I see it."
"Oh, and how's that?"
"You asked me why I'm here."
"Yeah."
"Same reason you haven't walked out that door."
"You'd try and stop me and I don't feel like a fight."
"Who, me? Go on not my idea to bring you along on this little jaunt. Be my guest, door's right there."
She stood there, stock-still.
"But we both know you won't go anywhere, don't we, pet?"
"Yeah yeah I guess we do. And why is that?"
"Love, pet. It's what makes the world go round".
She stood there, studying him.
"It's B, isn't it? You're in love with Buffy."
Spike took a drag of his cigarette and let it out.
"Guilty as charged."
He sat down on the steps, and shook his head as she came and sat next to him.
"Does she know?"
"Oh yeah. Had the full blow-out soap friggin' opera."
"So are you together?"
"In some ways yes some ways no."
"So you're not getting any, in other words."
"I get what I need."
"What's that mean?"
"Pet, one thing I've learned in all my years on this soddin' mud ball. If you love something .go the whole way and really do it and not wuss out...that's enough."
"So she doesn't love you back and you're okay with that."
"Like I said she gives me what I need. She knows I love her. And she treats me with respect. She doesn't mock it, make fun of it. She knows it's real. She respects it. And in the end respect is all you need."
"Ya think?"
"If you respect yourself .whatever you feel there's no shame in that because it's something true. Once you admit you feel it .no matter how wrong you think it is .you gotta respect it. Because it's you. And if you don't got you you don't got much, do ya now?"
"And B justs "
"She doesn't look at me like some sort of monster, pet. She looks at me like a man. And that's more than a vampire deserves."
"So what are you telling me?"
"I watched you tonight. Everything Harris said twisted in you. From what Buffy's said about you, you've made your share of mistakes, now am I right?"
"Yeah "
"You wear them like weights around your neck, draggin' you down that'll be the death of you, girl. You can wear them .just don't let them wear you."
Faith sat there in silence.
"Why are you telling me this stuff? I mean, you love B I'm not her favorite person."
"Neither was I at one point in time, pet. What can I say, you remind me of meself."
She looked through the glass of the door into the office at Xander.
"So what do you think? I got a shot?"
"At him? I don't know. But if you feel it and own up to it that's the best part. Knowing you're in love and not being ashamed of it."
"What about than Anya chick?"
"Pet...Harris is here, isn't he?"
"Yeah, so it's just for B."
"Harris may be a white hat, but he's no saint. If he didn't want to be doing this, he wouldn't."
"You think he wanted to be my Watcher, then."
"Kitten I think part of him had to."
"Oh yeah?" she said, raising her eyebrows. She winked slyly at him. "Which part do you think?"
"The part that you stole from him."
"What do you mean?"
"Was it his first time, love?"
"What?," she said, looking sideways at him. How did Spike know about that .well, it's not as if she hadn't implied as much. And B probably told him. "Yeah yeah it was."
"Harris isn't the kind to waste that. He doesn't want to think he did."
"So what are you saying he's "
"Got hope for you, kitten. I can see it when he looks at you."
"I can see he hates me."
"He doesn't hate you. Far from it."
"I'll believe it when I see it."
"Stick around, play your cards right I'm sure you will."
"That what you did with B?"
"Still playing my hand."
"And how you doin' ?"
He smiled at her. "Won more than I lost."
"Hey guys, dinner's ready!" yelled Fred.
Xander walked out of the office and walked with Faith and Spike into the main dining room. Spike watched as Faith tried but failed to make eye contact with Xander.
They sat down, at the table and Gunn soon joined them.
"Where's Anya?"
"She went to help Fred bring in the plates. So what did you tell Fred you wanted."
"Some pizza. Just figured it was easier for her to order it than cook something."
"You like hard or soft-shelled pizza?"
"Huh?" asked Faith.
"Here you go, " said Fred.
Xander watched as Fred and Anya put two large trays of tacos in front of them.
"Dig in," said Fred.
"This is .pizza " said Xander.
"Right," said Fred. "Pizza tacos."
Xander looked at Gunn. "You knew?"
"Don't matter what you say you want, man. It'll come out tacos."
***
"Angel, are you in here?"
"Buffy? I'm up here "
Buffy looked up and saw Angel standing at the top of Giles' stairs.
"Where's Cordelia?"
"She's on the phone, rescheduling some of our appointments at the agency."
"Oh so you can talk?"
"Yeah ..yeah, what is it?"
"Let's sit down "
They moved into the living room. Buffy sat down on one end of the couch, and Angel sat down in the recliner. Not where she expected him to sit.
"So what's up?"
"What I want to know .I guess what I need .How'd you know?"
Angel smiled. Same old Buffy. "How'd I know what?"
"That it was over between us I mean, I totally know it is I'm sure of that," she said, watching Angel finger the bracelet on his wrist " but how'd you make the decision to go on?"
"I didn't really. I just I was faced with a situation she was gone and you I'm sorry, Buffy I wasn't thinking about you "
"But that's good, right?"
"I guess."
"So it was easy "
"I wouldn't say that .it just wasn't a choice, really. I didn't have to think about it. Why? Are you having problems "
"No I mean, yes I mean well, you met Riley, right?"
"Yeah "
"Well, I made a mistake with Riley. I tried not to get hurt. I figured if I tried to act like normal girl, I'd work with his normal guy, and we'd be normal couple but "
"You're not normal."
"No and I finally figured out .I don't want normal normal isn't "
"Life. Your life isn't normal. It only makes sense that a normal relationship wouldn't satisfy you."
"How do you do it?"
"What?"
"I mean Cordelia's not a Slayer "
"She's not normal, though, Buffy. She has visions, she grew up here, with you vampires are as normal to her as 70% off sales at Bloomingdale's "
"You're right. That's not normal "
"Cordelia "
"No. 70% off "
Angel smiled.
"So," said Buffy, "you figure I just have to find a guy that's used to my .junk "
"I guess."
"So I guess that narrows my choices to .Xander taken .Oz hiking through Timbuktu Wesley no Giles eww "
"There's Spike "
"Spike YOU are actually suggesting Spike as a boyfriend."
"I can see he loves you, Buffy. What happens between you two other than being your friend is none of my business."
"I never thought I'd hear you say that."
"I never did, either. I just thought about what would have happened if you'd have tried to stop me bonding with Cordy I woudn't have liked it."
"I just you wanted it so much more more than I've ever seen you want anything "
"I love her."
"I know. Does she ?"
"I think so "
"Angel, I know you guys have.."
"Not yet, Buffy."
"But you said "
"We just figured if everyone thought it was a done deed, we could take it at our own pace besides I'm kind of nervous "
"You're nervous?"
"Yeah I mean she's stuck with me forever literally what if I'm no good?"
Buffy sat back and blinked. "Well, if it helps, I thought you were good."
"You were 17, Buffy. It was your first time. You had nothing to compare me to "
"But since then, I've had "
"Buffy, I don't want to know "
"Well, anyway I guess you're right .they weren't that good, now that I think about it "
"Well, as Cordy would say 'Share much'?
Buffy smiled. She really had rubbed off on him. "I get your point."
"Angel?" she asked.
"Yeah "
"You think I could be as happy as you and Cordy are?"
"I think so I actually think you might already be "
"Spike? You think so "
"Buffy he's not going anywhere, is he? You're his world "
"I I guess so it's just so hard to believe "
"What, that he loves you, or that he won't leave?"
"Both I mean one, no soul .two, even you sorry but even you left "
"Buffy he wouldn't leave even when you were dead. I think you should give him a little credit."
"Speaking as an ex-boyfriend or as a grand-sire here "
"Both you both deserve to be happy."
"You do, too. I'm happy for you for both of you."
"Thank you."
Cordelia looked on from the top of the stairs as they hugged. A tear rolled down her eye. The day she had dreamed about for three years had finally come. Angel had officially made his choice. And he chose her.
***
Spike looked impatiently up at the elevator. He hated the things. Bloody death-traps, they were. He looked over at Anya next to him, dressed very provoctatively. Hmm he didn't envy Xander his choice. The other Slayer (not his Slayer, mind you) was going to give Anya a run for her money. This was one show Spike was looking forward to watching.
The doors finally opened. As Spike and Anya exited the elevator, they were met by a tall woman wearing very severe heels.
"Hi, I'm Lilah. They're waiting for you in the next room."
The doors opened in front of them. A pale old white man sat at the head of the table. That wasn't what drew Spike's attention. It was the two women standing next to the windows, just out of the sunlight.
"Darla .Dru ."
"My darling Spike," said Drusilla. "You've been a naughty boy "
Twenty-five stories below, Xander was feeling a bit cramped.
He could feel Faith's breath as it they squeezed together through the narrow opening. And she could feel him.
"We should've gone one at a time," said Xander.
"Why, that was fun. I liked it."
"I know you did."
"I bet you did, too."
"Drop it, Faith. Time to go to work."
"Fine it's right up here "
"You're sure "
"Yeah I've been here before, remember? Besides, didn't Red download a blueprint for you this morning when she got to the hotel?"
"Yeah but you know evil sneaky "
She laughed. "Yeah "
The passageway before them opened up into a hallway. On either side were doors with different symbols on them.
"Okay what is this?" asked Faith. "Demon motel?"
"No," said Xander, looking at the symbols. "File rooms quick, look for this symbol," he said, showing her the symbol of the Order of Aurelius.
They jogged down the hall, quickly scanning the doors for the symbol. At the next to last door, Faith found it.
"Okay, now what?"
"Knock down the door?"
"Why me? You're the guy "
"You're the Slayer "
"Oh yeah," said Faith, as she kicked to door in. They looked in, and saw a single box sitting in the middle of the floor.
"That it?"
"I guess so. Giles didn't know what it would look like."
"Reassuring."
"Yeah "
"We ready to book?"
"Yeah I'll just check on Spike and Willow hold on Spike says he needs more time "
"Telepathy. What a trip. So I guess we just sit tight "
"Yeah "
"Xander "
"Yeah, Faith?"
"That night I'm sorry "
"Which night is that, Faith "
"Both of them all of them I I lied when I said it was just skin "
Xander looked at her. He thought she might even mean it. "Good that's great but it's in the past, Faith. Why bring it up now?"
"Because I didn't know if I'd ever get to tell you "
"I'm your Watcher, Faith. You'll have plenty of chances to tell me a lot of things I don't want to hear "
"You so you didn't want to hear it, I was just trying to "
"Faith I know and I ..really, it's not that I didn't want to hear it I just right now I can't hear it."
"Why? We're all alone. No vamps, demons, nothing ."
"That's not what I meant."
"So you going to tell me what you meant?"
"I meant Anya "
"Anya "
"Yeah, Anya my fiancée .who I'm in love with Anya "
"Xander, I "
"If you `d have said it a year ago it might have made a difference "
"A year ago you wouldn't have listened "
"Probably not but Faith that's in the past for both of our sakes it's gotta stay there "
Faith hung her head. Then looked up . "NO."
"No what? It's not in the past?"
"No it's not going to stay there because I'm not in the past I'm right here in front of you " she said, pushing him up against the wall "And like you said you're my Watcher so you're going to have to watch me everyday you're constantly going to have to think about it "
"That's just it, Faith. It's an it. Anya and me we're an us."
Faith blinked, stunned.
Xander's face suddenly changed.
"Time to go?"
"Yeah. Grab the box, I've got to do the honors."
***
Spike looked around the office. Darla and Dru seemed to be enjoying the corporate life
"What are you doing, here, Spike?"
"Came to deliver a little warning "
"Oh you did, did you?"
"Yeah stay away from the cheerleader and the Slayer or we're going to have us a family row, boys versus girls and you know us boys, we play rough."
"So the bitch secretary's alive?" asked Darla.
"Yes," said Anya. "And she could beat you up now "
"Oh really, " said Drusilla. "What's Daddy done "
"Went and got you a new step-mum, luv. One that doesn't like you very much."
"And who is this," asked Darla. "The other slayer?"
"No," said Spike. "Why bring the light guns I always say when you can bring the heavy artillery?"
"And what's that mean?"
"This is Anyanka."
"The vengeance demon?" asked Lilah.
"The same," said Spike.
"She looks human," said Darla. "Smells human. You're lying."
"Am I? Guess you'll just have to test her."
"Guess I will."
"Anya, pet?"
"Yes, Spike ."
"Time to go "
"Good ."
Spike could feel the tingling in his head as Willow relayed his message to Xander. He looked over at Anya and smiled as their bodies began to shimmer and fade.
The sounds of the explosion didn't come until seconds after the actual blast. Before Darla and Drusilla could even react, they fell 20 stories as the Wolfram & Hart Building exploded.
Wesley looked up from his position on the Magic Shop sales floor, to see a shimmering light in the training room. Right on time.
He walked back to see Willow sitting in the middle of the floor in a lotus position. Around her stood Xander, Faith, Anya and Spike. Hanging onto Spike was a very scared woman. A woman Wesley recognized.
"Hello, Lilah "
***
"So, Lilah what's the plan?"
She looked up at the people surrounding her. The only ones she recognized were Angel, his two employees and Faith, who sat there with a Cheshire Cat grin.
She had no answer for Angel's question.
"There isn't one now."
"Oh, come on two years of giving me grief and Wolfram and Hart's gonna give up just because we blew up their building?"
"They're all dead there's no point."
She saw a small blond sitting against the wall quickly glance at the small redhead sitting next to her. The blond took a hold of the redhead's arm and led her out of the room.
Willow could tell Buffy was upset.
"What's wrong?"
"What's wrong, Willow? What's wrong! You guys blew up a building. With people in it!"
"They were evil."
"All of them? The secretaries? The janitors? It was on CNN, for God's sakes. You're like the Unabomber or something."
"You mean Timothy McVeigh. The Unabomber was the mail bombs."
"That isn't funny, Will. People are dead. Lots of them."
"I know. It was necessary."
"That's not your call, Willow .not like that "
Willow looked away, exasperated. "Listen, Buffy. Xander was the one that set the bomb off why aren't you lecturing him or Spike"
"Because Will you could have stopped it you transported everyone out everyone you cared to and left everyone else to die. I can tell Xander thought you were getting everybody out and Spike "
"I don't care about Faith and what about Spike? Gonna excuse Spike just cause he's a vampire or is it because he's good in bed? You never know Buffy, I might."
Buffy's face reddened. "I have not slept with Spike."
"But you're going to."
"This is not about Spike. You know what I mean, Will. You played God."
"So? We've met a god, remember. I wasn't too impressed .listen, why aren't you lecturing Angel he doesn't seem too upset about it "
"Will, I "
"Just forget it, Buffy "
Before Buffy realized it was happening, Willow faded out in front of her.
"Don't you poof out on me!"
She looked around to see Spike standing in the doorway.
"You you got some explaining to do, Mister."
"I know I do, luv. But right now I think we have another problem."
They walked into the training room, where Cordelia stood, talking on a cellphone.
"When? Okay Yes, I'll bring her," she said, hanging up and smiling sheepishly at Buffy.
"What's going on?" asked Buffy.
"That was Darla "
"I thought she ."
"She survived," said Angel.
"And so did Dru," said Cordelia. "Buffy, she wants you and me at the Santa Monica Pier, tonight."
"Or what?"
"Or she kills Lorne, Gunn, and Fred."
Cordelia looked up and saw Angel in a corner talking to Spike.
"Whatever you two are thinking, forget it. They'll know if you're around."
Angel looked at her out of the corner of his eye. "This is about us, Cordy. It's not your fight."
"What the hell do you mean, it's not my fight? They've got my friends!"
"Poof's right. He and I should go," said Spike.
"Thank you, Spike." said Angel. "For the support, not the poof comment."
"You're welcome, mate."
"Cordelia's right," said Buffy. "As long as the two of you are involved with us, we'll never be rid of those two bitches."
"That's why it's our fight, Buffy." said Angel.
"No, Angel " said Cordelia. "We both know that we're the ones they want. And knowing how sappy you two are you'd probably let them go."
"We are not sappy well, at least I'm not," said Spike.
"Spike, you've got more sap than Aunt Jemima," said Buffy. "I'm with Cordy this is an old fashioned fight over boys. We gotta let `em know you two are ours now."
"Let them know?" asked Cordelia. "I was planning on killing them."
Buffy smiled. "That works, too."
***
Cordelia pulled Angel's new Thunderbird up to the pier and stopped. She looked around at the seaside carnival rides that towered over them. Sighing, she popped the CD out of the player and put it back in its case.
"Cordy, can I ask you a question?"
"Sure, Buffy."
"Why did you make us listen to Barry Manilow's Greatest Hits the whole way down here?"
She smiled at her blonde friend. "Just because. It got me in the mood."
"Barry Manilow's your fighting music?"
"I guess so."
"You're getting as weird as Angel."
Cordelia laughed. "Thanks."
They stepped back and opened the trunk. Buffy took out a belt fitted with stakes, and a large knife, while Cordelia took a large sword out of the back seat.
"You're sure you want to use that, Cordy? I mean, it's not as easy as it looks."
"Yeah. I like swords for some reason. Now that I'm stronger, they feel right."
"Okay .so which building was it?"
Looking around, Cordelia squinted as the sun set behind them. "I don't know but I think we're about to find out."
Buffy looked up to see a demon in a very flashy suit come running toward them.
Buffy was about to step forward and attack him, when Cordelia stopped her. That was surprising. Still more surprising was the hug the demon gave Cordy.
"Oh, Puddin' am I glad to see you."
"Where are they, Lorne?"
"In the second building on your right, past the ticket booth. But where's the Big Guy?"
"Angel's not coming."
"But Cord..." Lorne stopped talking as Cordelia brought the sword up in front of her.
"Lorne we'll me you at the club, later. And tell the boys back there too," she said, motioning behind her.
She looked over at Buffy. "You ready?"
"Well, Gung-Ho Cordelia " laughed Buffy.
Cordy smiled, and rubbed the bracelet on her wrist. "I've even got the kung-fu grip let's go."
Lorne watched as they walked toward the carnival behind them. He turned around, and quickly found what Cordy was talking about. Tapping on the blackened window of the DeSoto, the window was soon cranked down.
"Hello, Lorne," said Angel. "Good to see you got out."
"Yeah well, they let me out, as tour guide. Listen you two going to let them go in by themselves?"
"They don't want us anywhere near it," said Angel.
"So why are you guys sitting out here?"
"We don't always do what they want," said Spike.
"Yeah, well I wouldn't worry about it."
"And why's that, mate?"
"Because," said Lorne. "Cordy's pissed."
Buffy and Cordelia stood in front of the entrance and looked to each other.
"It figures " said Buffy.
"The Funhouse," said Cordelia. "How .unoriginal. Haven't I seen this in like 40 horror movies?"
"I guess you go with what works shall we?"
Cordy smiled. "Allow me " she said, and kicked the door open. It flew against the back wall and hit with a loud crash.
"So much for the element of surprise," remarked Buffy. "You're really getting off on this super-strength thing, aren't you?"
"You never told me it was so much fun "
"Fun's just starting "
They stepped inside. There was a sign leaning against the door, written in blood. "This Way " it said.
As soon as they stepped through the door, Buffy knew they were in trouble. A wall slammed down between them, separating them.
In front of each of the two women, invisible to the other, a spotlight flashed on.
In front of Buffy stood Drusilla, in a long silver gown. She licked her fingers. Buffy smiled as she saw the blood-red French cut manicure.
"Got dressed up for me, Dru? I'm touched," she said, looking around. No Cordy, anywhere. This was not good.
"Oh I'll touch you, dearie "
"Can we hurry this up?"
"Don't worry, your friends aren't going anywhere they're wearing lovely shackles "
"From your private collection, I'm sure. Can we just get on with it."
"Why in such a hurry, dearie I'm in no hurry at all last time I nicked me a slayer, I didn't have time to savor it .I'm going to take my time this go round "
Buffy twirled the knife in her hand, looking down at the blade. "Well, it's like this I promised Spike that when I got home I'd tell him all about killing you. When we were lying in bed. Right after I screwed his brains out." Buffy looked up to see Drusilla's face redden. "And he tells me he hasn't had a good lay since he became a vampire..."
Cordelia had to laugh. "Darla .that outfit what is it, nostalgia night?"
Darla looked down at her skirt. "You don't like?"
"Well, if you're wanting to appeal to the whole fat man in a raincoat demographic, I think that Catholic school girl is the way to go but me it just makes me want to put you out of your misery."
"Oh, I'm not going to be the one in misery, tonight."
"Oh, hey," said Cordelia, "speaking of fashion accessories, what do you think of my new bracelet?"
She lifted up the Band of Tralerian for Darla to see.
"That that's not "
"Yeah, I was surprised, too. But when a guy like Angel says he wants to be with you, and love you FOREVER, I mean what do you say? But of course, you know what I'm talking about. I mean you were with him for how long? Oh but that's right he killed you, didn't he? Then you came back, and he stilled kicked you out of his bed you know it's strange, you know the first place he went afterwards don't you?"
Darla stood silently, her eyes burning holes in Cordelia's forehead.
"He came after me. Seems all he wanted to do was make up with me. Thanks Darla it was really nice of you to suck in bed so bad that it made Angel realize it was me he wanted."
"Shut up, girl."
"Oh really what are you going to do?"
"This..."
Suddenly the lights in both rooms flashed on. Cordelia looked around. All she saw was herself. Lots of herself. Darla laughed as the strobe light began to pulse.
Cordelia suddenly couldn't see Darla at all.
"Oh "
"...hell" said Buffy. Vampires. With no reflection. In strobe-lit hall of mirrors.
***
Cordelia could hear Darla laughing .well, the joke was on Darla.
"You realize, Darla...if I die, Angel dies."
She heard Darla snort in disgust from somewhere behind her.
"He's made his bed. Might as well die in it."
Cordelia found the lights too intense for her newly acute vision. Darla was probably wearing sunglasses. So she decided to close them. And suddenly she saw much more.
She could feel Darla's movements in the air. She could hear her hair as it moved. Angel's vampire senses. But there was something more. Something hers. She could see Darla somehow. Just the outline of her but she could see her. Oh Darla was in such trouble.
Darla snuck up behind her. Cordelia felt Darla's hands move toward her shoulder. Cordelia smiled and shoved the sword behind her, catching Darla in the gut.
Darla fell to her knees. Cordelia turned around and looked down at her, smiling.
Darla looked up, confused. "You won't win "
Cordelia pulled the sword back. "Angel loves me."
Those eyes saw Darla explode into a pile of dust.
Buffy was not faring as well. Drusillia had never been an orthodox fighter, and sightless fighting was not Buffy's strong suit. When she finally did see Drusilla it was too late. All she saw was Drusilla's eyes
"Be in me," Drusilla had said
Buffy couldn't move. She was sure she was going to die. Suddenly the mirror behind Drusilla shattered and Cordelia stepped through.
Drusilla moved quickly to disarm Cordelia, dropping an exhausted Buffy to the ground.
Grabbing Cordelia by the throat, she again attempted her mind games.
"Be in me," Drusilla intoned.
Cordelia just looked at her. "Is that some kind of lesbian come-one, because girl...you're not my type." she said, slamming Drusilla into the far wall.
"How?"
"Seer's eyes, bitch."
Drusilla reached down and grabbed Buffy. Shifting into game face, she held the unconscious slayer in front of her as a shield.
"Darla's dead, Dru it's over."
"No no ."
A hand suddenly burst through the back wall and wrapped around Drusilla's throat.
"Yeah," smiled Cordy. "It is "
The hole got larger and Angel's head suddenly emerged.
"You okay?"
"Yeah...I felt you coming."
"I know."
The lights suddenly came up and the door opened. Spike rushed in and picked Buffy up off the floor. Looking down at the bruised forming on her face, he took a deep breath and turned to Cordelia.
"Cordelia hold her for a moment, please."
Cordelia nodded, and took the slayer from his arms.
He walked up to Drusilla and stared at her.
"Let her go, Angel."
"Spike "
"Just let her go "
Drusilla shrank, afraid.
"Aww .no .don't be afraid, baby .it's me "
Drusilla looked up at him, hopeful.
"I know my Spike "
Her words were silenced as Spike wrenched her head from her shoulders and she exploded in a pile of dust.
"Nobody hurts Buffy."
***
They all sat around the table in the Magic Box, relating the details of the battle.
Giles touched Xander on the shoulder, signalling him to follow him to the back.
"Yeah?"
"Xander I I'm afraid your position as a watcher..."
"What .they don't want me anymore?"
"No no, quite the contrary ."
"So .what's the deal?"
"The Council has decided that Faith's services are needed ."
"Damn straight they are I mean, I know she screwed up, but she's "
"Xander "
"Yeah ."
"Her services ARE needed in New Orleans "
"New Orleans? But that ."
"You and she shall relocate "
"But Anya..?"
"Xander. Whether Anya goes is up to her. But I'm afraid if you want Faith to remain in good stead with the Council .you and she must go "
"Great."
"Xander "
"Yes."
"If it's any consolation .I hear etoufee is wonderful."
"Yeah "
Angel watched as Cordelia showed Buffy the sword move she used on Darla it was funny, two so girly girls were two of the most powerful warriors in the room.
His view was interrupted by Spike stepping into his line of sight.
"Yes, Spike?"
"Time to return that favor, mate I'm calling in my marker."
Angel straightened. "All right. What do you need?"
"Two things."
"Okay, what's the first thing?"
"Your blessing."
"My blessing? What for?"
"The second thing. I want to find Amelia."
"You want the other set of bands?"
Looking back over his shoulder at Buffy, he smiled. "Damn straight I do."
"Do you know what you're getting into?"
"Did you?"
Angel shrugged. "A piece of advice?"
"Sure," said Spike. "Why not?"
"Go buy some clothes for her."
"Clothes, I want to "
"So the band won't clash."
"Aaah .You are Cordelia's husband, aren't you?"
Angel put his arm around his grandchilde. "So do we want to invite the girls along? Make it a family vacation?"
"Family?!" asked Spike, looking at his smiling grandsire. He realized the feud between himself and Angel was over. "Sure why not?"