Cordelia and Angel watched in horror as he died, such a painful death. Cordelia felt the pain as he did, her insides ripping out as his screams of agony were heard. She reached out hoping he would grab her hand but she saw him deteriorate into nothing. Such a horrible death, there wasn't even a body to bury, no closure in a funeral.
//All alone, staring on, watching her life go by, when her days are gray and her nights are black, different shade of mundane//
But yet she could still feel him on her lips, it was the most beautiful kiss she had ever had, even if it was a final one. It was as if she were Rogue and his life force was absorbed into her.
//A bleeding heart torn apart, left on an icy grave and the room where they once lay face to face. Nothing could get in their way//
She was full of regret. She kept thinking, "if only I had said something sooner and not put up those emotional walls, maybe there could have been something." But now, of course, it was too late.
//But now the memories of a man are haunting her days, and the craving never fades. She's still dreaming of a man long forgiven, but not forgotten//
She watched the video tape of the commercial many times that night, just trying to memorize his face. (He was handsome, she thought) Trying to memorize his voice. (She never realized how much she dug his accent) The worst part though was she cried whenever the end came and he asked, "is that it? Am I done?" She was like this for awhile, slowly though she learned to mask her depression, went back to work. She knew that Angel never really bought it, but she continued with the charade, trying not to be a cry-Buffy. She was Cordelia Chase after all, and she shows no fear, she shows no regret, no remorse. Unfortunately, she felt those things.
Yes, she was surprised when Wesley showed up. (She did snicker though when she saw him in biker clothes, and a rouge demon hunter? Whatever) She couldn't believe that this was a guy she spent so much time and energy pursuing.
Sure he was handsome, but that was it. He wasn't sweet the way Doyle was. He couldn't talk to her the way Doyle did, and he was no fun to mock like Doyle was. He just wasn't Doyle.
//No, you're not forgotten//
*Forgiven Not Forgotten - The Corrs
Part 1: Maeve
There was Maeve, running. She was always running. It was hard for her not to run. She had always believed that when things got rough and you knew that people would be happier without you, you ran. It's how the world worked according to her.
//Anastasia says she's dying to get out, been doing this for too long//
She had hitchhiked herself all the way from New York to Los Angeles. She had always wanted to see LA, she was a writer and wanted to write movies. She needed to be there.
//I would if I could, I would if I could//
Maeve had never been one to find herself in trouble, she wasn't a troublemaker, tried not to make waves, she just had a wanderer's soul. Her eyes seemed to scream it. She liked being a loner, she didn't even mind sleeping on the streets.
That brings us to the night her life changed completely, a total 180.
Well, it all started when she was wandering alone at night, as usual. She saw the normal people you would see sleeping on the streets and the rest. No big shocks. She was minding her own business until this man, who seemed to be ten years older than her grabbed her arm. She knew this routine. She shrugged her arm and said, "get off of me pedophile! I'm 16, do you know how long one goes to jail for on statutory rape? Well, it's a very long time I assure you and they tend to believe the young innocent girl." But this time he wouldn't let go, he was too strong for her. She turned to face him. He wasn't human.
He was what she could only describe as evil, pure evil, his face was scrunched up, but his body was almost human, he opened his mouth to reveal fangs. Maeve panicked and tried to run, but he was stronger. "Well, well, well, aren't you feisty. I always like my food to be jumpy!" Adrenaline was kicking in for her.
A man had saw all of this happen and ran over with a stake to stop him. It was Angel. But this was not an ordinary day. Just as Angel was running to help her he saw how the girl reacted. Without even realizing it she had protected herself, in a way Angel did not comprehend.
Just as the vampire was about to sink his teeth in she had put her arms up and a strong bluish-clear force field formed to protect her, and the vamp bounced off of her and fell against the ground. The vamp, not understanding, got up and tried to go again, but at that second he was dusted. Angel had staked him and he was no more.
Maeve opened her eyes and saw the shield, she lost her concentration and it disappeared. Angel was dumbfounded. "Are you all right?" Angel asked.
"I think," she replied like a deer caught in the headlights. "What just happened?"
"A vampire attacked you, but you protected yourself with some sort of shield. How did you do that?"
"Vampire?" Maeve said and collapsed from a combination of lack of energy, an increase in fear and shock. Angel caught her, grabbed her backpack and returned with her to his office, Angel Investigations.
*Anastasia Says -Darling Violetta
PART 2: THE CHOSEN ONE
Surprisingly, Cordelia was there. Unbeknownst to Angel Cordelia had been spending quite a few of her nights off sitting alone in the office lamenting on what could have been with Doyle, and watching the cassette tape of the commercial. "Cordelia? What are you doing here? It doesn't matter, I'm glad that you are, come here and help me." She saw him carrying a young girl of about 16 into the office. Cordelia grabbed her bag from Angel and shoved some papers and books off the couch to put her down on.
"Angel, why didn't you just bring her to the hospital, what afraid you might rob the blood bank?" Angel didn't react to the comment. He had too much to think about.
"She just collapsed in fear after I staked a vampire that was about to eat her. She'll be fine when she wakes up. But more importantly this: when she was attacked she put up her hands and this force field like thing surrounded her and guarded her from the vampire in enough time so I could stake him."
"Blue force field? What do you mean, like a shield? She has shielding powers?"
"You know what this is about?"
"Not directly, but I know of it. According to legends Merlin possessed that power."
Angel laughed. "You know the Arthur Legends?"
She realized what she said. "We had to read them in school and, and, all right I'm a closet fantasy geek. Happy much? Excuse me for having braces in the seventh grade. Anyway, all I know is that Merlin had those powers. But that's myth."
"Merlin was real though. Haven't you learned that nothing is ever just a myth, or just a legend?"
"Okay, well anyway, are you implying that she's the next Merlin?"
"I don't know. I just think we should wait until she wakes up so we could see who she is and where she's from." Maeve slept for the rest of the night, it was the warmest and most comfortable night she had spent in months. She didn't wake until the next morning.
When Maeve woke up she was confused, she had no idea where she was. She saw a man in the kitchen making breakfast and a young woman at the table. She was confused. "Excuse me?" she said timidly walking into the kitchen. "Where am I? What happened to me?" She said rubbing the lump on the back of her head.
"You're finally awake!" Cordelia exclaimed. "We were wondering when you would come to. I'm Cordelia, and that broody guy over there is Angel. This is Angel Investigations. We help the hopeless."
"That's great and all, but I'm not helpless. So however I got here I don't care. Nothing could compare to that nightmare I had while I slept about that vampire, so I'm just gonna go. Thanks though, if you did anything nice or out of the way for me. I'm gonna take off and not cause you any more trouble. I don't like being a hassle."
"What do you remember of that dream?" Angel asked.
"Um, nothing but that there was what I think a vampire who tried to attack me, than I don't know I somehow shielded myself than a mysterious man put a wood stake-like thing through his heart. It was probably from watching too many movies on TV the previous night at that hotel I snuck into."
"It wasn't a dream."
"You're kidding me right?"
"No, we're not. And just to prove it-" Angel morphed into vamp form. Maeve screamed in terror and started to run. But Cordelia stopped her.
"Chill, chill," she said, "he's a vamp with a soul. Big curse thingy. He won't hurt you."
"What do you people want with me? What's going on?"
"Look, here's the deal: while Angel was out patrolling and fighting evil, righting the wrongs yadda yadda yadda. He saw you being attacked by one nasty vamp and when he went to try and save him, well you saved yourself by creating some sort of force field thingy around you. Now we want to know how."
"Look, I don't know. I'm not sure about anything that happened last night. I've never experienced anything like that before. I'm sorry, but it was probably a fluke." Wesley entered then and saw this girl here.
"Hello, Hello. Why, who's this here?" He asked.
"That's what we're trying to find out," he paused. I'm Angel, this is Cordelia, and that's Wesley. What's your name?" Angel asked Maeve.
"Maeve McCulluh. Look, I don't know what you think I am, but I'm nobody. I'm just a runaway who wants to be left alone in peace. Please, can I just go?"
"Angel, Cordelia, what's this about?" Wesley stupidly asked.
"Last night when I was out I saw her get attacked by a vampire but she must have invoked a power of hers and caused this shield to go up around her and we need to know what's causing this."
"Did you say shielding powers?" Wesley said. "I've heard of this, I think I know what this is about," he said as he started to search for a book. He came back with one and opened it up. "Here it is: tell me Maeve have you ever been able to tell what other people are feeling?"
"Yeah, of-of course, doesn't everybody? I thought that was a natural human characteristic?"
"Tell me, what is everyone feeling in this room right now?"
"Well, he's lonely, very depressed. He wants redemption for something he did a long time ago. You, you're interested, very inquisitive, you seem to be really interested and have zippo confidence in yourself. But Cordelia, I sense much pain in this one, not to go all Star Wars or anything. Did you just lose a loved on?" Cordelia's face went from normal to crest fallen. "I'm sorry, forget I said anything."
"Well, as we can see, as well as having shielding powers, she's empathic. But there's one way for sure we can tell about the last power." Wesley trailed off. He picked up one of Angel's axes and threw it at her feet. Maeve freaked and jumped into the air, but she didn't come down. She had levitated. When she realized she was off the ground she fell.
"Yes, she has to be! Yes! Yes!" Wesley screamed.
"Wesley what is it?!" Cordelia couldn't take it anymore
"She's the Chosen One isn't she Wesley?" Angel asked.
"Chosen One?" Cordelia and Maeve asked at the same time.
"Yes, it's all right here," Wesley said pointing to the book showing it to the two. "Merlin prophesied this before he died. 'In the fifth month of the second millennium the End of Days will come. There will be no stopping it. All will perish, unless the Chosen One, a young girl, a magical manifestation of myself, comes to lead the army of Good against the dark forces. If she is successful than the world will be spared, if not, the world as you know it will end.'"
"Wow, Merlin never lacked on warnings, did he?" Cordelia said.
"What does this mean?" Maeve asked. "You can't possibly think that I'm The Chosen One, do you? Honestly? I'm nobody, just a runaway trying to get by. As for all that freaky stuff I did, it was probably a fluke. There was probably a scientific explanation for it. I don't know what, but there is. I'm nobody special. I can't 'lead the army of Good' I'm nobody." Maeve picked up her bag. "I'm leaving." Angel stopped her.
"You're not nobody Maeve, you are the only one who can save the world from destruction, you think you're nobody? You are somebody, a somebody who's gonna save the world. Only if you make that decision to."
"You're right maybe I am the Chosen One. Maybe- Oh Can I use your bathroom, I've got a girl emergency."
"It's right there." Cordelia said pointing to the bathroom. Maeve took her bag and went into the bathroom.
"We need to train her." Angel said. "Right now she's a scared teenager who can't comprehend what's happening." But Wesley wasn't listening.
"I found the Chosen One! We have to call the Council. If they realize I'm the one training her they'll have to re-hire me, and I will no longer be the laughing stock of the Watcher's Council!"
"First of all, we found the Chosen One. Second of all the Watcher's Council doesn't need to be a part of this. If you don't recall the Council doesn't in particular like me. Besides, I'm training her because I know what she feels, how her mind works. I was just like her. A loner who thinks she's nothing. I was like that until a woman told me different. Of course the result could have been better."
"Now wait a minute, I was trained by the council to be a watcher I know how to train-" Cordelia had gone in to check on Maeve and came out of the bathroom.
"You haven't got anybody to train. She took off through the bathroom window."
PART 3: Coming to Terms
"I'll go find her." Angel said. "Where do I look?"
"Angel, look, no offence, but maybe a human should go after her," Cordelia said.
"All right, I'll go," Wesley said.
"Let me clarify, I think I should go." Cordelia picked up her bag and left.
She left, Wesley tried to make a play to follow her but Angel stopped him. "It's best for her to go." Wesley whimpered but agreed. She was the best choice.
//When your day is long, and the nights, the nights are yours alone//
Cordelia was unsure where to start looking, but then she remembered the necklace around Maeve's neck: a cross. She went to the nearest church. She entered St. Margaret the Blessed and saw in the last pew Maeve crying. Cordelia sat down next to her.
//And everybody hurts, sometimes. Sometimes everybody cries//
"How'd you know I was here?" Maeve asked staring forward.
"Lucky guess from your necklace."
"My Grandma gave it to me, she said it would always protect me from the forces of darkness. It's not like I'm some freaky Catholic who'll spout out all that junk. Being in a church makes me feel close to her. She was the only person that ever loved me."
"What about your parents?"
"My Father was an alcoholic asshole who couldn't care less about anyone else and my mother, well my mother is a different story all together. After my Father turned alcoholic she became very depressed and angry all the time, I couldn't take it, and I had to split. I hitchhiked from New York to LA."
"Why LA?"
"I don't know actually. I felt drawn here, spiritually."
"By the PTB?"
"Yup, the Powers That Be. They must truly be fucked. I mean, you and your friends-" She paused. "Do you really think that I'm this Chosen One or whatever they think I am?"
"Honestly? Yes, if Angel believes it, I'd have to say yes. He's not the kind to assume those kinds of things rapidly and without thought. Besides I've seen you in a vision."
"Huh?"
"I get visions, messages from the PTB. They guide us, me and Angel, in our quest to right the wrongs and stuff."
"Huh. You saw me?"
"Yup."
"Doesn't mean anything."
"I take it, you're the kind that believes in a Higher Power, destiny, and all that? You know a Divine plan?"
"Yeah, I guess so."
"Than can't you believe this is yours? You know it's the truth. Look inside yourself. You can't deny who you are." Whoa, she thought, I just had a major Giles attack.
"I guess not."
"Why don't you believe it?"
"I have a hard time believing that the Higher Powers could pick anybody, and they picked me."
"Have a little faith. You have some serious strength qualities and a great fashion sense." Cordelia pointing out use of color coordination. "Most depressed runaways tend to dress all in black and that is so 1997."
"Thanks, I guess. But you're right. I do know it inside of me."
"All right, let's go back." Cordelia and Maeve got up to leave. Maeve did the sign of the cross, then started to leave.
"Cordelia, wait a second. I want to light a candle." She turned towards the candles. Maeve dug some change out of her pocket and put it in the collection bin. She picked up the stick lit it up and went to a candle, did the sign of the cross. "This is for you Grandma. Give me your strength. Amen." She picked up her bag and left with Cordelia.
//So hold on. Hold on. Hold on. Hold on. Hold on...//
*Everybody Hurts -REM
PART 4: CONFESSIONS
"I shared my sob story with you. Want to share yours with me?" Maeve asked.
"I don't know what you're talking about," Cordelia responded.
"Yeah you do. You know that sharing your feelings is what any rational, sane human does when coping with grief. Besides I know the pain inside of you, I can feel it. If you don't release it, you will never be able to destroy it and it will eat you up and then you'll be nothing more than pain. Hurt and pain can do that, it happened to my mother. I will not let that happen to anyone else. It's a fate worse than death."
"Yeah I guess so," she paused. "His name was Doyle."
"Ah, I knew it, a him. Tell me about him."
//He's uncool and unsophisticated, he's a tightrope walker on an open track. He's a maze of curiosity, he is the living breath that cures my appetite. I find that I can't eat, and I can't sleep, when he's not around.//
"Well, He drank far too much, and couldn't dress to save his life, and he was half-demon, which I was so okay with but still shouldn't have kept from me for like ever." She paused. "But he was really sweet. Not to mention handsome as anything. He wasn't rich but he made up for it in charm. He could make me smile, and he was really smart. He knew exactly what to say to me to make my skin crawl, and I knew what to say back to him. He also had the most adorable Irish accent that towards the end would make me go week at the knees."
"I hear a 'but' coming."
"But, I never told him. I masked it with sarcasm, humor, and insults. It seems every guy I like I have to insult to death. Wonder what that's about? I didn't even know how much he cared for me until the end. He kissed me goodbye. That's how I became a seer, he left me his most valuable possession. The most horrible thing about this whole situation is the whole 'what could have been' factor. God, I miss him."
"According to Greek mythology, whenever you think of the dead they can hear you in the Underworld, I've always believed that, he can hear you now. He knows how you feel about him." She felt the pain in Cordelia at that moment, she hated being empathic. "Look, it'll take time but one day it won't hurt as much and you might even be able to see yourself with another person."
"No. Never. Not anyone like him at least. Every time I truly care about a person something terrible always happens. Especially the fixer uppers. That's it only perfect guys for me now. No more falling in love."
"Maybe your right, but just remember no one's really dead as long as you keep them alive in your heart. That's what someone told me when my Grandma died."
"Who?"
"I don't know. This guy about a year or two older than me who was really good looking but I was too upset to flirt with. It was the nicest and most beautiful thing anyone ever said to me at the time. I never saw the guy again though."
"Interesting." They were back at Angel Investigations. "We're back."
"Cordelia, what I told you about my Grandma can we keep between you and me?"
"Completely. As long as what I said about Doyle stays completely between you and me."
"It's a deal."
*When He's Not Around - The Corrs
PART 5: TRAINING
"Concentrate harder," Wesley barked at Maeve.
"I'm trying! I can't do it with all of that negative energy you keep spitting out!" At that moment both the sword she was floating and herself, which she was levitating, fell. "Ow!" she said as she fell.
"That's happened because you didn't concentrate hard enough."
"Thanks for the input Yoda."
"The sarcasm is not necessary." If anything, Maeve despised training. But not when Angel helped her. He understood that she had to find an inner peace if she was ever going to master her powers. He liked to Zen with her and meditate to make her relax before she started, it actually helped her focus her energy. Besides Maeve got a kick out of floating an meditating, she love doing the Dali Llama thing.
But whenever Wesley trained her he would make her jump right to the fighting, throwing things at her and making her float more than one object, really putting off her energy. Maeve almost felt sorry for him. He was only doing this to show the Watcher's Council that he was capable of training someone, Maeve wasn't a slayer, but the Chosen One! Wow, that would get him back in for sure. "Pathetic, really," Maeve thought.
PART 6: The Meeting
Maeve had left to go get coffee for the morning, that was her job.(among her other talents when she did a case with Angel and everyone) She loved getting the coffee. It meant that she got to roam the city by herself, it was almost like being in the streets again for her. There definitely was a draw to the streets for her because she was always a drifter. Though she didn't even attempt to runaway again because she knew finally that you can't escape your destiny.(Remind anyone of a certain Slayer?)
She had gone to the Starbucks down the street and picked up four coffees in the shop and some muffins. She was walking when all of a sudden, out of nowhere, someone ran into her and knocked her down.
"I'm so sorry," the young man said. "Did I knock your coffee over? I'll pay for it."
"No, no, everything's fine." Little did he know that the only reason that she wasn't covered in coffee was because she floated the coffee in the air when he banged into her and she recovered it a short bit after. Maeve finally got a look at him. She knew him.
"Well, my name's Ryan the klutz and you are?" He said friendly.
"I know you," Maeve said in shock. "It's you."
"Sorry?"
"'No one's really dead as long as you keep them alive in your heart.' You said that to me at my Grandma's funeral back in New York. It is you!"
"That's right. You were the girl who looked so depressed at that funeral. I remember I felt drawn to that cemetery for some odd reason and saw you there crying and I had to say something and I said that."
"Well thank you, it really helped," she paused, "wait the funeral was in New York, this is L.A. How'd you get out here? This is beyond freaky."
"Well, how did you?"
"Ran away from home a year ago after the funeral."
"I ran away two years ago from Massachusetts, went to New York than decided to go to LA. I just felt drawn to it."
"By the PTB?"
"What?"
"Nothing."
"At least let me walk you to wherever you were headed."
"All right." They started walking.
"Never did tell me your name."
"Maeve." She paused. After the-" she started.
"Celtic Goddess of sovereignty and power," They both said at the same time. They were so close to one another their lips almost touched.
"Let's not forget fertility," Maeve added than pulled away.
//You're the closest to heaven that I'll ever be, and I don't want to go home right now.//
They continued walking and talking until they reached Angel Investigations. "Well, this is me."
"You live at a private eye place? What is this 1940's film noir?" Ryan asked.
"The guy who runs it is really nice and let's me stay there and eat there in exchange for some work."
"Oh, that's cool. Say, what are you doing tonight?"
"Might have to work, my boss is kind of a night person."
"Oh, okay," he turned to leave.
"But if you're here at say around 9:00 maybe I could do something."
"Great, I'll be there." He walked off and Maeve went inside and saw Cordelia standing right there at the door peering out the window. It startled Maeve.
"God, you scared me Cordelia. Shouldn't startle people like that."
"Come on spill, who's that?"
"That's Ryan, he's, you'll never believe this, the guy who came up to me at my Grandma's funeral and comforted me. Wild, huh? He wants to see me tonight though, I told him at 9:00. Think the boss man will need me?"
"Don't worry, I'll take care of it," she said.
*Iris -Goo Goo Dolls
PART 7: A Call From the Higher Powers
The Powers That Be had called Doyle to them. He could kick himself for all the time he had spent cursing them for giving those visions. He could see now that they were truly a benevolent and good power.
They needed something from him?
"Me?" He asked, he was just a lowly messenger in life. What could they possibly want from him?
They wanted him to go back. But it was his choice and his choice alone, he wasn't forced to go back, but if he did there were stipulations.
"Of course," thought Doyle, with the Powers That Be there are always stipulations.
They needed him to go back so that he could fight for them in the End of Days, it was coming quick and they needed every good soul to fight and help, and they needed Doyle to prepare the way since he knew the people taking care of the Chosen One.
There was a but though. He would be made completely mortal, he would be the same as he was in life (even the demon side) sans the visions. (they were Cordy's now) The issue: he would be protected (i.e. the second he was mortal he wouldn't get hit by a Mac truck) but once the battle took place, it was up to him, they were not allowed to participate in the battle, it wasn't their place. The world could only be saved by those who dwell on it, not the Higher Ones.
If the world was saved and he survived the battle he would be rewarded with a second chance at life.
But first they needed his acceptance.
//I would give up forever to touch you, 'cause I know that you feel me somehow//
What could he say? He could see friends, family. Cordelia.
He was more happier that moment in death than he ever was in life. He was going home.
Would he accept? You bet he did.
What? Did you think he was gonna say no?
*Iris -Goo Goo Dolls (What can I say? I dig the song)
PART 8: The Return
Doyle landed on earth sore. He was sent immediately back on earth the second he told them he agreed to the terms. He had landed in an abandoned warehouse wearing the exact same thing that he had died in, the Powers That Be must not have wanted anyone to see a mysterious man suddenly appear out of nowhere from the sky.
He was in blinding pain from that fall, almost wished that he could have a vision now, but that part of his existence was over, he existed now only because the Higher Powers needed him to fight in the epic battle that was about to take place. He needed to tell Angel of his mission. But, he also needed to see Cordelia. He couldn't wait to see her.
He got up in blinding pain and ran out of the warehouse and out into the light of day. It was gorgeous, he couldn't believe he had the opportunity to see it again. It was truly breathtaking. There was only one other site that could top it and he was on his way to see it.
He didn't walk to the offices, he ran. He didn't want to waste another second of life.
He reached the office and saw the raised letters on the door and he ran his fingers over them and gasped. He turned the knob and entered not knowing what to expect. But he could relax a little bit, for he was home.
PART 9: Welcome Back
//She moves like she don't care, smooth as silk, cool as air. Oh, it makes you wanna die//
Cordelia was laying on the couch asleep, she looked perfect in the eyes of Doyle. He walked up to her, knelt down, stroked her cheek, and said, "Hey princess."
//your heart beats like a subway train. Oh, don't you wanna take her home, don't you wanna make her your own//
Her eyes fluttered open and, still in a dream state she kissed him on his lips sweetly with passion. "So far I like this dream," she garbled out.
//She's like a millionaire, walking on imported air. Oh, it makes you wanna die. Maria you got to see her go insane and out of your mind.//
"Princess, this isn't a dream," Doyle said recovering from that kiss. That kiss, it was so much more than the last one they had shared, this time it was Cordelia that initiated and she wanted him so much, he could feel it.
She shook from her dream state and saw that he was real. "You're dead! You can't be hear, you're dead!"
"Not anymore, it's complicated."
"Your dead! Your dead!"
"Okay, we get the point. Cordy, it's all right, it's really me."
"Help! Angel! I´m having a major case of the Haley Joel Osment´s! I see dead people!"
Angel came running up from his apartment with Maeve in tow.
"Cordy, who dat?" Maeve asked.
"Doyle?" Angel asked.
"That's Doyle?" Maeve said. "Jeez, Cordy you said he was fine, but my God he's damn fine. You- wait, hold up, you said he was dead."
"Yeah, he died, I saw him die, why aren't you dead?"
"Look, the Higher Powers sent me back to earth."
"But why?" Angel asked.
"look, I'll tell you all later, first I want to talk to someone alone." He said gesturing towards Cordy.
"Come on Maeve, you need to train."
"What are you talking about, we just did, 'sides I want to listen."
"Maeve," Angel said in a tone that she knew meant not to argue.
"Oh, all right, I'll just listen in at the door."
"So, you're back for real," Cordy said after they left the room a little shocked.
"This is a bad thing?" He asked nervous of the answer.
"Absolutely not," she said. She then walked up to him and kissed him passionately on the lips.
//Maria, you gotta see her, go insane and out of your mind. Regina ave Maria a million and one candle lights//
In that moment he memorized the shape of her lips and felt her for the first time, and she was beautiful. Well, he knew that, but know he felt it on the inside. It was perfect, as they shared that kiss it was like time stood still and all was right in the universe finally.
But unfortunately, only for that one solitary moment.
The End of Days was coming soon, and nobody was safe from that, not even two people in love.
*Maria -Blondie
PART 10: Secrets Revealed and A New Soldier is Found
Ryan and Maeve had seen each other many times since their second meeting. Doyle and Cordelia had seen each other many times as well, of course. Ever since Doyle had come back he had been living in Cordy's place where they had had their own "perfect happiness" if you catch my drift. (I really hope I don't have to spell it out for you) The two of them were happy and for once Doyle had nothing to worry about and nothing to fear. Whenever he was with Cordelia it just all seemed to go away. He never knew such happiness and neither did she.
For the first time Maeve felt inside Cordelia and instead of pain and inner turmoil she felt that Cordy was at peace and happy and most of all she was in love. Maeve loved happening upon a person who was in love, when she felt inside of them she could feel their euphoria and it was beautiful.
But Ryan still knew nothing of Maeve's destiny, who she really was. It just didn't pop up into normal conversations. She wanted to tell him but she just didn't quite know how to tell him that she's the Chosen One sent to earth as the metaphysical reincarnation of Merlin to lead the Army of Good against the Army of Darkness. Hallmark just doesn't make a card for that.
But the problem was, it kept coming up. Either he wanted to do something with her that night and she had to work or train she never knew what to tell him. She didn't know if she should. It was all too much for her and to make matters worse she was falling in love with him, hard. She was truly torn.
But fate, as she does, twisted and solved her problem for her-- in a way.
Maeve was in the main office as Wesley was training her. That night there was no business. He wanted her to float in the sir and shield, something that was very tricky for her. She could float and empath, float and float, but shielding used a lot of energy and was still very much connected to her adrenaline and fear and needed to truly be tapped into so that she can do it on will.
Remember how fate intercedes always at the most convenient moments? (That's sarcasm for you folks) Well it did just then.
Ryan entered the room just as Maeve was floating and shielding. He was just a tad bit shocked, he dropped the book he was carrying and stood frozen in shock as he watched Maeve levitate. She opened her eyes just then and saw Ryan standing there in shock, she fell to the ground hard. "OW! Ryan! I can explain."
"I think I'm gonna get out of here, now." He left kind of wierded out not knowing what the hell just happened.
Maeve got up and tried to follow him. "Maeve you have to train, where are you going?" Maeve bent down and picked up his book, an old battered copy of Macbeth and said "to return a book and explain a few things." She ran out the door to look for him.
She exited and looked to the left and right trying to think where he might have gone. That is, until she realized that he was sitting out on the stoop trying to comprehend what was happening.
"You dropped your book," Maeve said.
"What are you?" Ryan asked.
"Truth?"
"Complete."
"Well, legend holds that there will be a Chosen One, i.e., me, who is a metaphysical reincarnation of Merlin who in the fifth month of the second millennium will lead the army of Goodness against the army of Darkness in an epic battle that could end the world as we know it."
"A Merlin prophecy, huh? He never did lack on those warnings." Maeve laughed thinking of the last time she had heard someone say that. "This doesn't make any sense. Magic, Chosen One's, Army of Darkness, this stuff isn't supposed to exist."
"Well, believe you me, it exists all right. Not to mention the evil, it's real. Oh, while I'm being all confessional I think you ought to know that my boss, Angel, he's a vampire as well."
"Um, ex-squeeze me? Bakin‘ Powder?"
"Don't worry, a cursed one with a human soul." She sees the strange look on his face. "Long story, I'll tell you some other time. But right now he's working for redemption for all that he did when he was evil by helping and protecting the innocent." There was silence for a minute.
"That friend of yours Cordelia, what's she?"
"Oh she and Wesley are humans, don't worry, completely mortal. But Wesely‘s an ex-watcher."
“Huh?”
“Another long story.”
"What about that friend of hers, Doyle? I swear but I thought you said he was dead."
"Oh, he was. The Higher Powers brought him back though for the End of Days so he could help fight. Not to mention that he's half-demon. But with a human soul."
"What next, you're gonna tell me that werewolves are real?"
"Well..." She said thinking of that friend of Cordy's, Oz.
"Figured. The weirdest part of all this? I don't know, I'm not that shocked. It's like I've known this for a while. It's bizarre. This all makes a lot of sense now." He did always figure that there was some truth to all this stuff, but it never clicked 'till now when she spilled on it all.
I've said it once I'll say it again: fate is one twisted bitch. At that moment at night a vampire lunged at them and tried to eat Maeve. She reacted quickly trying to use her resources, but this vamp knew what she was, he wasn't going to let her trick him. He wanted to take her out lickety-split and be a hero among other vampires and demons alike for killing the Chosen One.
He lunged at Maeve, but Maeve was quick and set up her shield. He fell back hard on the ground and got up to try again. But Ryan stood up and fight.
There was only one way to describe what he did: he kicked ass! Man, he pummeled that vamp and he stood up to fight him. Ryan ducked all his throws and delivered some killer attacks. But, he didn't know how to kill it.
Maeve realized this and yelled, "here, a stake," she saw some broken wood pieces and lifted them and promptly floated them into his hand. "Through the heart!" Maeve screamed. He did so promptly and the vamp dusted.
"Okay." Ryan stared at the stake than at her, it was so surreal for him.
"What? You have to stick a stake through a vampire's heart in order to kill it. What?"
"Still getting over the fact that you telekinetic."
"Oh, well, it's cool. You don't hate me, do you?"
"What? No, a little wigged, yeah. But why would I hate you?"
"Oh, well, I guess not." Maeve got a glazed look over her face and when she came to she had a realization.
"What?" Ryan asked.
"You."
"What?"
"I know your destiny."
"'Scuse me?"
"You're supposed to fight in the battle."
"What battle?"
"The battle for the world."
PART 11: We Need to Mobilize
Maeve walked into the office with Ryan hand in hand.
"Angel!" Maeve yelled.
"What?" He asked as he came up from downstairs.
"Where's Doyle and Cordelia? I don't want to have to repeat myself a thousand times."
"I'll call them."
Twenty minutes later she was standing in front of a mini-crowd consisting of Angel, Cordelia, Doyle, Ryan, and Wesley.
"What is it?" Angel asked.
"I had what I can only describe as, I don't know, a psychic flash of some sort, I don't know. Anyway, we have to prepare."
"What do you mean?" Doyle asked.
"The army. They're trying to tell me we have to, for lack of a better term, mobilize. It's coming soon, they told me."
"Who?" Cordelia asked.
"The Powers That be," Maeve answered.
"Oh yeah."
"So, what are you saying?" Wesley asked.
"We need to raise an army against the Forces of Darkness. A good one, and damn quick."
PART 12: Calling the Slayer
They needed to do it. They knew that she was meant to fight. This was a Slayer kind of thing.
Problem was nobody wanted to do it.
I don't think I need to tell you why Angel didn't want to do it.
Cordelia didn't like Buffy and vice versa.
Buffy hated Wesley.
Buffy didn't know Doyle, Maeve, or Ryan.
As you could see, they were in quite a predicament.
Somebody had to do it.
They elected Doyle.
"Why me?"
"She barely knows you so there's barely any emotional attachments," Cordelia replied.
"Why don't you?" Doyle asked.
"Well, how 'bout I put it to you this way, if you don't I won't-" she whispered something into his ear.
"So, where's the phone?" He said bumbling through the office for it while Cordelia had a big grin on her face.
Doyle rang up Giles's home number.
"Hello?" Xander asked on the other end.
"Yes, hello. Is this the right number, I'm looking for a man named Giles?"
"Oh, yeah, I'll get him."
Giles was in the other room and came in.
"Giles! The phone!"
"Yes, Xander I hear, you don't have to shout bloody murder every time the phone rings my hearing is in perfect condition."
"Yeah, well I heard that when you get older you start to lose your hearing."
"Thank you Xander," Giles said as he took the phone. "Hello?"
"Hello, is this Giles?"
"Yes, speaking, who is this?"
"A friend of Angel's. There's trouble in L.A. We found the Chosen One and she says we need to mobilize."
"I understand, we'll be right there."
PART 13: They're He-e-re
Buffy, Willow, Oz, Giles, Xander, and Anya arrived in L.A.
Buffy was not prepared for this. Half of her wanted to run but that pesky duty part of her told her that this was serious stuff. She couldn't believe herself, the lives of every good, mortal soul hung in the balance, and she was fussing over seeing the love of her life.
He was getting coffee from the machine when she walked in. He couldn't help himself, she was beautiful. She hadn't changed since the last time he saw her. The time when he-he.. No, he wasn't going to go there. Not now, not when they had a task at hand.
"Angel."
"Buffy."
"Are you two just gonna have a staring contest or can the rest of us come in?" Xander asked.
"Oh." She moved.
"Thanks," Xander said. "Hey, where's Cordy?"
"Oh, in there."
"I think I should say hi, like we all should. Now," Giles prodded giving the signal for everyone who wasn't Buffy to leave.
"Oh, I don't think that's.." Angel started. But it was too late, Xander had already opened the door to discover Doyle and Cordy necking on the couch in their. "I tried..."
"Hi Cordelia," Buffy said.
"Buffy, and everyone," she said as her lips parted from Doyle's. "Doyle, this is everyone. Everyone this is Doyle."
"Hi," they all said in unison.
"Hi," Doyle said embarrassed.
"You know what, I think we should maybe see this Chosen One. Now," Giles said, and they all grumbled in cooperation.
"Maeve's downstairs," Cordelia informed everyone.
"Well, then let's go there. Preferably now," Doyle said. They went downstairs and found Maeve there talking to Ryan in near kiss momentum.
"Wow, we must be on a bad timing streak," Willow commented.
"Hello, I'm Maeve, this is Ryan, and I have no idea who you people are, isn't that nice?"
"This is the Chosen One," Buffy said incredulously.
"Yeah," Maeve said.
"Angel, she doesn't even look over 16," she whispered loudly to Angel
"Who are you and why are you insulting me? Especially insulting one with telekinetic powers?"
"This is Buffy," Angel said.
"Oh. Hey, Buffy the Slayer. Well, hey. Sorry."
"I'm just glad you didn't go all Carry on me."
"Ah, well, never mess with someone whose motto in life is 'don't take crap from anyone.'"
"Yeah that seems sensible," Xander piped in.
"I'm sorry if I came off as a mega-bitch but, you just seem too young to deal with this."
"Out of curiosity, how old were you when you became a Slayer?"
"Oh, Fifte- I see your point. Shutting up now."
"Look, I know that I'm young, but I can handle it," she paused. "Want proof?" She got that look on her face of concentration that she gets when she wants to use her telekinesis in a serious manner.
She concentrated hard and one by one every piece of furniture in the room was off the ground and floating, and so was she! She had gone 100% telekinetic and she was seriously impressing some butt! She finally could do it. She had control over her powers and it was amazing, truly amazing the power that she wielded.
"Wow, kinda puts my floating a pencil thing to shame," Willow said.
Maeve came down and let everything down as well. When she was out of the trance she said, "neat, huh?"
"I love her when she gets all powered out," Ryan said.
"That was- wow, I could study witchcraft all my life and never even begin to wield that power," Willow said in awe.
"Well, this isn't witchcraft, these powers weren't meant for that. That's just one of my gifts I was given to help fight in the Battle."
"That was amazing." Willow asked.
"Yes, I trained her well," Wesley, who appeared out of nowhere, said.
"What are you doing here? Last time I saw you, you were going back to England with your tail between your legs," Giles said.
"Excuse me? You trained me well? If it weren't for Angel I would have never had found my inner concentration and all that New Age jazz. You just barked orders at me." The Scooby Gang snickered.
Some things never change.
PART 14: A Call to Arms
"All right, we need to organize an army of hundreds." Maeve was met by blank stares. "What, you thought it was gonna be the twelve of us against a whole army of hundreds of the darkest most horrible things you've ever seen?"
"Well... No I guess not," Oz said.
"Okay, we'll have stick to our strengths," she went down the list. "Willow and Oz, I want you to check out every magik shop in the LA area, and tell them to contact every witch, warlock, sorcerer, sorceress whatever they ever met, we'll need every Wiccan we can get." Maeve had really taken to this leadership thing.
"I'm on it."
"Anya, do you still have any demon contacts?"
"Of course, I was a demon for about 1100 years."
"Well, do you know of any that would be willing to help our cause?"
"I did meet a lot in my day, even the ones with good souls, I'll see what I can do," Anya replied.
"Great. Xander, I was told a few years ago you went all army commando?"
"But of course," Xander answered.
"You requisitioned a lot of stuff, right?"
"Yeah," he said.
"Do you think you could get some more?"
"Yeah, I'll get on it."
"Buffy, Angel I need you two to do some research. Roam around town, or the sewers if you have it, look for anything that looks like evil, get all the information you can on it. Use physical force if necessary. Whatever. Got it?"
"All right," they said tentatively.
"Giles, Wesley, research duty. Find out anything you can on what's gonna happen when this all goes down."
"On it," said Giles.
"I think my talents could better be used in another area-"
"Good God man, just listen to girl and do some research," Giles said.
"Okay," Maeve said, "Doyle, go through all the names in your book find out everything you can, maybe enlist some help, I don't know."
"I'll see what I can do," he said.
"Cordelia, you, me, and Ryan are gonna try to contact all the people the Powers That Be are bombarding me to contact and tell them they have to fight." She looked around the room at all the awed faces looking at her trying to comprehend he orders she just gave. "Everybody got it?"
"Yeah," they all replied.
They never understood that strong leadership was also apart of being the Chosen One.
This was the result of their mission of that day: they had built an army and found out who was leading the Army of Darkness. There scouring had paid off, they knew who was running this shindig, our buddies over at Wolfram and Hart. Turns out the "senior partners" over there prefer the Dark Side of the Force.
"So, Wolfram and Hart is an evil organization. Lawyers, huh, would've never have guessed," Maeve said.
Willow and Oz had contacted over one hundred covens and most, you know the non-wanna-blessed-be's that hadn't thought they were insane, had responded and were on the way so that they could have a good witch front.
Doyle was the one who found out about Wolfram and Hart when he freaked out an old "associate" when he showed up asking questions as a ghost. A successful ploy.
Angel and Buffy roughhoused a lot of guys but ultimately found out nothing.
If only you could see the artillery that Xander acquired. One could do some serious carnage with the amount and kinds of weapons that Xander got.
Giles, and Wesley turned up nothing new, just the prophecies they all knew.
Maeve, Ryan, and Cordelia had successfully recruited every single one of the people the Powers That Be had told Maeve was supposed to fight for them and were on their way to L.A.
All they had to do next was wait.
PART 15: A Question
//A heart full of love//
Cordelia and Doyle were laying in bed together that night quiet, in perfect harmony. It was obvious that Doyle wanted to ask her something, but she was oblivious to what.
//A heart full of you.//
"Cordy?" Doyle asked.
"Hmm?" Cordelia asked as she sat up. He got up and started pacing. He took a small package out of the drawer and kept pacing back and forth.
"Well, you know I love you."
"You do?" Cordelia asked incredulously.
//A single look and then I knew//
"Of course," he said reassuring her that he did.
"Wow, no one's ever said that to me and really meant that. Most guys I dated told me that so that they could get it on with me but you really mean it."
"Of course I do." He gulped. "Do you-"
//I knew it too. From today. Every Day.//
"Of course. And you know me, I don't lie. I'm brutally honest."
"Than this shouldn't be too difficult."
"Doyle, just spit it out."
//A heart full of love, A heart full of song, I'm doing everything all wrong//
"Well, I've been thinking a lot about the whole the world might be ending soon thing and I don't want to die with regrets."
"So, what are you saying?" Cordelia asked trying to get to the point.
"Well, I was just wondering if you would like to, maybe if you don't have anything better to do, marry me?"
"WHAT?!" Cordelia asked.
"Well, you know it's just that maybe we could-"
"Well, where's my ring?"
"'Scuse me?"
"Ring! Did you honestly think I'm gonna marry someone who's not gonna give me a ring?" Cordelia said incredulously. "God! How long has he known me?" She thought to herself. It registered in Doyle's head and opened up a drawer and dug out a small black box. He opened it to reveal a small band with a tiny stone on top. He showed it to Cordelia.
"Well, it's not as big as I would've hoped it would be. It's not much to brag to my old friends about, but oh well, I guess it'll do." She got up, stared at it, and paced back and forth rambling. "There's so much to do and so little time to do it in. My God, couldn't you have asked a little sooner? Then maybe I would've had enough time to plan this thing. But, I work best under pressure." Doyle was confused by her rambling.
"Is that a yes?" He asked afraid of the answer.
"What? Oh, yeah of course, keep up."
"Really?" All Doyle heard was yes.
"Yeah, what you thought I was gonna say no?"
"I didn't know."
"Well, it doesn't matter because I need to find a dress, figure some place to have this thing-" he wasn't listening to her he had gone up to her and kissed her so passionately on the lips that it silenced her. They were like that for a few minutes while the world turned. Doyle had done it, he had asked her. He only hoped he knew what he was getting into.
//For it isn't a dream, not a dream after all.//
*A Heart Full of Love - Les Miserables
PART 16: The Announcement
The next morning Cordelia and Doyle had gone to the office with the intent of informing everyone that they were getting married, in 3 days. (They wanted to do it before the world might end)
They had walked into the office and saw Maeve and Ryan necking on the couch. Cordelia coughed to tell them that they were there.
"Oh, hi." Maeve said embarrassingly.
"Hi," Cordelia answered back.
"Can we just forget that happened?" Maeve asked.
"Yeah, let's," Cordelia paused, "where's everyone we need to make an announcement."
"Downstairs," she paused, "why are you two so happy and excited?"
"How'd you know that?" Cordelia asked.
"Hi, empathic."
"Oh yeah, well we'll tell everyone together, let's go." They walked downstairs. They saw everyone down there milling around.
Cordelia coughed. They didn't notice. She coughed again. They still didn't care. "Hey, listen to me!" They finally stopped and looked. "We have an announcement to make." She cleared her throat and stated very clearly, "Doyle and I have decided to get married." There were surprised faces all around then happy congratitorial ones. They all shouted their congrats out. Everybody went up to them and hugged and congratulated the two.
"When?" Maeve asked.
"Three days, oh and don't worry the stores will be opened late this evening for when you go out and get a gift."
"Gee, Cordelia, that's really thoughtful of you to tell us," Xander quipped in sarcastically.
"I know, being around him must have made me more of a better person." Doyle rolled his eyes. "OH! I have so many people to call! So much planning to do!" Then at that moment a vision hit. "Ah!" She screamed in terror as the impending vision hit. She put her hands to her head to try and stop it but it was useless as the pictures flashed before her eyes. She could barely comprehend them and she fell over in agony while Doyle tried to help her. The Scooby gang had no idea what was going on.
"I'll call 911," Buffy piped up reaching for the phone.
"Don't, she's just having a vision," Angel said.
"Visions?" Xander asked. "When did that happen?"
"Real long story," Doyle said. When her vision stopped and Doyle handed her the aspirin bottle from the desk.
"What did you see?" Angel asked.
"Death."
PART 17: Where A Vision Can Take You
"What was it that you saw?" Doyle asked.
"It was the big thingy that- that- killed you." It was still hard for her to get it out. Doyle put his arm around her to sooth her, "but it was bigger and had more doohickey's on it, plus there were a lot of them and they're prepared for our attack. They know that we're coming and they have enough demons and evil souls to help protect them. They don't even care that when the time comes, they will be incinerated as well as the humans. I saw them testing the machines on people, I could feel the pain of the flesh being burned layer by layer," Cordelia relayed to everyone."
"Wait, can we go back to this whole Cordelia gets visions thing?" Xander said.
"Xander! Focus." Anya said.
"Point taken," he replied.
"All right. Did you see where it was?" Angel asked.
"It smelled like disgusting. Like sweat and fish meshed together and the buildings looked old and decrepit and icky-"
"The old fishing district," Angel said.
"Buffy, Ryan, Doyle- you three come with me to do a little spy work. We gotta figure out how to stop these things and how to destroy them from doing it."
"I'm up for a good fight," Ryan said.
"You know I always am," Buffy said.
"Let's go," Doyle said.
PART 18: The Old Fishing District
(Note: I'm from New York and have no idea if there really is an old fishing district in L.A. if anybody is from the area you can scream at me and correct me)
"So what are we looking for exactly?" Ryan asked. They were on their way to the old fishing district
"Your basic evilness," Buffy replied.
"Oh," he replied back.
"So, you and Cordelia, that's gotta be weird," Buffy said, "someone actually wants to marry Cordelia. Never thought a male would do that sanely and without being tied together."
"Oh well, someone had to do it I suppose," Doyle said. "Besides do you see that look in her eyes. It's beautiful, I can see her soul in thee. I love her so much."
"Whoa, you really do. Well I actually do hope you two are happy," the Buffster said.
"Well thanks, cuz we will," Doyle said.
"Since we're on the subject, Ryan, you and Maeve seem hot and heavy, heavy on the sparkage, what's up between you two?" Buffy asked trying to get the lowdown on everyone's personal relationship standings.
"Or down, by the way I find the two of you on the couch," Angel said.
"I think I love her, she is the most beautiful, smart, funny, amazing person I've ever met. My God, she's- she's so amazing I can hardly describe her," Ryan said.
"So, I guess everyone's happy with the one they love these days," Buffy said looking at Angel wishing that they could be together. She didn't want to think about it anymore. "So Cordelia gets visions, what's up with that?"
"A couple of months ago I died, in the most literal meaning of the word. I actually went to the other side and was there for a month or two. But in life I got visions from the Higher Powers, but when I died the Powers knew that she was the person I trusted most and they gave her the same power."
"Wow, wait dead?"
"Well, you were technically dead too, remember?" Angel said.
"Oh yeah," she said. Thee was an awkward pause in their speech. "Gotta love those awkward pauses, huh?"
"You know I do," Ryan said. "So, Slayer huh? That's," for lack of a better term, "neat."
"Yeah, really neat. Lots of carnage, graveyards, out of curiosity, why are you here? I mean most of us are here because we have to."
"Maeve said it was my destiny. I figured, you don't mess with destiny. You can't win."
"Well, took me a wee bit longer to figure that one out." Buffy said. "Wait, your destiny?"
"Maeve said that whoever it was up there told her to tell me to fight for the world, and I knew inside of me that it's true. I'm finally a part of something bigger than myself, I'm grateful for that. Even if it means I've gotta fight."
"Wow, that's kinda noble."
"I guess, I don't know. Look, can we just find the evil and figure out how to stop it?"
"That's what I want to do most," Doyle said feeling odd at the sentiments that Ryan said. After all, up until that night on the boat he had felt the opposite and now, he didn't know what to believe anymore. He was torn between his prior creed of not getting involved and the one he adopted just recently of, well in trekkie terms, "the lives of the many outweighs the life of one." He was just doing what was necessary so that the Powers That Be will let him stay on earth with Cordelia, God he loved her. He regretted all the pain he had caused her. That was the main reason he was apprehensive about the whole Armageddon deal thing. He didn't want her hurt again.
"So where do we-" Buffy started.
"Quiet!" Angel said. "I smell fear. We're close."
PART 19: The Truth About What This Is
"There's something about this I don't get," Doyle said. "I mean, I've known a lot of demons and most of them are not to keen on the whole dying thing. It just seems odd that they're all okay on this whole die for the cause thing. It's just not there style, especially the half-breeds who will die when the light touches them."
"Maybe the machines are decoys. You know, to keep us busy while they are busy doing something else that will really bring forth the apocalypse,” Ryan suggested.
They got closer and discovered that the machines were decoys, the fear Angel smelled was that of humans being used as food for vamps and other demons. Something was up and they didn't know what.
Meanwhile, back at the office Giles was a little uneasy and was pawing through another book. "What are you doing?" Cordelia asked. "We already know how these guys are going to end the world. Why are you still researching it?"
"Because there's something unsettling about this, and vaguely familiar. The Chosen One, End of Days, why can't I remember what?"
"Because this is a cut and dry- evil has machines, wants to destroy world, we stop them kinda thing?"
"Thank you Cordelia but it's not," he found what he was looking for in the book, "of course, I'm so stupid, I knew this all seemed familiar. Cordelia those things you saw in your visions, they were decoys. This battle takes place every 1,000 years between the Forces of Good and Evil, it's tradition. The Evil Forces challenge the Good Forces and they fight, if evil wins though they will reign the universe and all will be lost because with evil in charge the battle will never be fought again." Giles paused. "Oh dear."
"What?"
"Every girl who has lead the army of Good has died in battle, it's fated that she gives up her life all the time, she has never survived the Battle."
PART 20: So Much Life To Live
(I'm honestly not trying to plagiarize Prophecy Girl in this part, just drawing parallel)
"Maeve's going to die?"
"Most likely."
"What?" Maeve said, who as it turned out was listening in on them the whole time.
"Maeve, look, it's just a prophecy, they can be changed."
"How?"
"Well, Buffy was fated to die, but we got around it obviously, there are ways to stop it."
"There are?"
"Look, what will be, will be. This doesn't necessarily have to happen, we honestly don't know what will happen."
"How did the others die?"
"I don't think-"
"How did they die?!" Maeve said suddenly inflicting some force.
"All by the hand of Bethos, the leader of the Evil side, he's seemed to have made it through the battle every time unexplainably."
"Well, this'll be the last time, we'll take him out before he does to me, find out how we do that."
"All right," Giles said , he had understood that no matter what Maeve wanted to believe that there was a way to prevent her death and if Buffy's near death proved enough, prophecy's can be shifted, changed. He had to for her sake figure out a way to kill Bethos, she was so young. He went on it right away. Maeve left and Cordelia followed her.
"Look, Maeve, are you all right?" Cordelia asked.
"Yeah, why wouldn't I be?" Maeve said choking back tears.
"Well, you just found out that you're fated to die during the battle."
"Well, it doesn't necessarily have to happen, life is sporadic, things change." Cordelia gave her a look with her eyes. The tears finally let loose on Maeve.
"Yeah, of course I'm not okay. I don't want to die! I have barely lived yet! I've never seen Paris, London, Ireland, Wales, Italy, or anywhere outside the US! I haven't done anything yet! I need more time to live! I have so much left to do. I finally find a person who I can say I truly love and I know loves me and I finally find some place where I feel I belong and feel that I'm finally making a difference and now- now I have to leave and it's not even my decision! I've always been able to decide when I can leave but now I can't! I don't like not being in control," she released. "I just can't die now." She broke down crying.
Cordelia had no idea what to do, she had definitely changed from the self-centered bitch she used to be, but not to the point that she knew how to comfort someone who had just been given the supernatural death sentence.
"Look, Maeve, don't cry like that, it could be worse."
"How?" Maeve said between sobs.
"There could be a plague! Three plagues!" Maeve just gave her a funny look.
"Look, I'm not very good when it comes to making people feel better but I know this: you can't worry about the future and how things will turn out because you never know, there have been times when we've been able to find our way around that kind of stuff, you just have to keep faith. Besides, you can't say you've never done anything with your life, just think of all the people you've helped. I mean, Maeve you just have to push it out of your mind and try to think that this won't be the end, it just won't 'cause I know in my heart that you will live and you will be happy and you will get to go to Europe, with Ryan. I know you will be happy, you have to believe that too. I do."
"I hope your right. I honestly do." A thought entered Maeve's mind. "Ryan. We have to get them out of there, they don't know what's going on-"
"Don't worry, we figured it out," Ryan said behind her with Buffy, Angel, and Doyle in tow. Maeve ran into Ryan's arms and started crying again. Cordelia motioned for everyone to leave and she wrapped her arms around Doyle and walked out.
Maeve and Ryan needed to be together and they needed to talk for awhile.
PART 21: The Star Wars 'I Love You'
"Maeve, what is it? I may not be empathic but I do know that your upset."
"I'm supposed to die during the battle."
"What?"
"Every thousand years there is a Battle against good and evil, and one chosen one will come forth to lead the army. But she will always die at the hand of Bethos, the one who will always lead. That's the just of the prophecy."
"Well, prophecy's stink. What else can I say?"
"This isn't funny Ryan. I don't want to die." She was in tears.
"Look, your not gonna, Maeve look at me," he lifted her tear stained face up to him and looked into her eyes, "you're not gonna die. I won't let you."
"It's fate though. You can't argue with words like 'fate' and 'destiny.'"
"Oh yes I can. It's fate that brought me to you, I know it won't take me away so soon. I love you."
"I hate to get all Star Warsian on you, but I know."
"Right, empathic."
"It comes in handy sometimes."
"I imagine."
"I love you too, that's why I'm upset the most. I don't want to leave you."
"You're not, all right? So let's drop the subject okay?"
"All right. I love you."
"Everything's gonna be okay, alright? I don't ever want you to say that your gonna die again. Not now, not ever. You hear me?" There was genuine fear in his voice, he wasn't going to loose the only person he had ever loved and honestly loved him back.
Ryan never wanted Maeve to leave him. He would do anything for her to be safe from harm.
PART 22: Punishment Over
Two days and counting to the end of the world. It was also one day until Doyle and Cordelia were going to get hitched. They figured that since neither of them wanted to die with regrets they would do it as soon as possible. If it was up to Doyle they would have run down to the courthouse that afternoon. But Cordelia wanted a church wedding. She wanted a party. She wanted to be he center of attention.
"Do I have to wear a suit?" Doyle asked her with fear in his eyes.
"No, you can wear exactly what you're wearing now," she said sarcastically, "of course you have to wear a suit! Jeez."
Cordelia had spent hours at the mall picking out just the right dress for it. She had dragged Buffy, Willow, Anya, and Maeve with her, since they were basically the only females who were in L.A. who weren't posers, or like older versions of the "cordettes" from high school. Who could be called "friends" to her, sorta.
They had pretended it was not fun, but secretly the four girls relished in the thought of helping Cordy out with a wedding dress. They went full scale girl on this expedition.
This was not a big wedding, so Cordelia could not go all out like she planned on when she was five year old walking around her big back yard with a pillow case on her head, carrying some wild daises and making her friends walk behind her as they all hummed The Wedding March.
She was not as rich as she was then. Her parents weren't even coming. Her father was in jail, and her mother was too sick from the Epstein Barr syndrome to come down from Sunnydale to L.A. None of her other family would be there either, she didn't really have any other than hr parents on this side of the country. (The rest were in New York) So, it was just gonna be the Scooby Gang, et. all.
When Cordelia asked about Doyle's mother. Doyle had said, "she's not coming" with so much contempt in his voice even Cordelia knew not to prong that topic any longer.
So Cordy searched. She found the perfect dress. It was a above the knee, off-white dress without sleeves. It had stitching all over it and was gorgeous, not to mention on sale. (She shuttered at that, Cordelia Chase was happy to see something on sail? She didn't really like that thought)
When she tried that dress on, it all seemed so real finally. She was happy. She finally felt free, no more punishment. Maybe, she thought she was finally atoned.
PART 23: The Wedding
//Say it´s true. There´s nothing like me and you. I´m not alone, tell me you feel it too//
Cordelia picked up her flowers and walked into the back of the church. It was peaceful in there. The serenity washed over her. The alter had white roses all over it, Doyle had made sure of it, they were her favorite. The fragrance wafted in to the back and it was absolutely intoxicating.
//And I would runaway. I would runaway, yeah... yeah. I would runaway. I would runaway with you.//
There was nothing fancy in the church. This was definitely not like the wedding she had envisioned when she was 5 years old walking around in the back yard humming the wedding march with a pile of dandelions with a pillow case on her head. This was absolutely nothing she had dreamed of.
//Cause I am falling in love with you. No never gonna stop falling in love with you.//
But she didn't care. That frightened her a little bit, she didn't care. Wow, that was a new Cordelia, one who didn't care that the man she was about to marries entire life savings was stashed in a sock in the bottom of his drawer.
//Close the door. Lay down upon the floor, and by candlelight, make love to me through the night.//
It frightened her that she was actually in love with him. But no matter. She got herself up and walked herself down the aisle to meet Doyle at the alter. There was a ceremony but it was really boring to Cordelia.
It didn't matter anyway, the ceremony ended and they said their "I do's"
They might be the last two people to utter those words.
//And I would runaway, runaway, yeah, yeah, yeah, I would runaway...//
*Runaway - The Corrs
PART 24: And I Feel Fine
//It's starts with an earthquake, birds and snakes, and airplanes, Lenny Bruce is not afraid//
They all walked. Maeve was holding herself in a different way. It was her instincts kicking in, it was her moment.
But she was still just a sixteen year old girl, scared beyond all belief. The echo of the prophecy echoing in her ear, “no girl has ever survived.” She shuttered and squeezed Ryan´s hand hard, scared as anything.
It was like the parting of the Red Sea when she walked through he crowd. She let go of Ryan´s hand and uttered “I know what to do.” She walked through them purposely. And when she got to the make shift podium she knew exactly what to stay.
There was instant silence when she spoke, they all respected her to a point which seemed incredibly incomprehensible to her. She spoke. “Good evening all. We have a hard battle ahead of us. I´m not gonna lie, it´ll be hard. But we have the strength and determination to beat the crap out of evil. Here is the strategy...” She went on about how the strategy worked, without boring you all with a big military thing, let´s just say the plan was to beat the crap out of the other guys. But Maeve had broken it all down into waves of each group with a special skill. According to Angel's books the way to win was to force the other side into complete and total submission, an all out military victory.
//It´s the end of the world as we know it. It´s the end of the world as we know it. It´s the end of the world as we know it.//
It would be tough but they knew they could handle it. They had to.
“Is everyone clear?”
“Yeah!” Screamed the crowd.
“Than let´s go kick some evil ass!” Maeve screamed. That was the enough for them. Maeve went up to kiss Ryan. Doyle kissed Cordelia. It was time to start an epic battle.
//And I feel fine.//
*REM - It´s the End of the World As We Know It (And I feel Fine)
PART 25: The Battle Begins
It began. “First wave!” Maeve screamed. That was the signal for a group of witches to attack, led by Willow. They shouted in Latin and a big explosion went off. That dusted about 30 or so of the vampires they had deployed. But that was just the first attack.
Maeve knew who she was reserved to fight. It was Bethos. It was fate, she had to deal with it.
When the witch´s were done Maeve screamed “Hand to hand!” That was when everybody ran out and just attacked the bad guys. (As you can see I´m not very good at writing the action scenes)
The bloody gruesome battle began. All our familiar Scoobsters were holding their ground. Even Cordelia was keeping her own, sticking mainly to the little weak ones though.
Than came Maeve´s date with destiny. A demon came strait toward her. She knew who it was. It was Bethos.
It had begun.
PART 26 - Death
“The Chosen One,” he uttered.
“Big ugly demon guy with a world domination bent. Nice to meet you too.”
Maeve found her center and levitated off the ground to a safe distance. She telekinetically lifted a knife to her side quickly. She was prepared.
Off in the distance, Ryan had just axed a demon and saw Maeve pitted against Bethos.
He ran to her.
Maeve thought she was prepared. She flung the knife at him but he caught it and ripped her down.
“You think you can beat me little girl? I have killed every single other girl who has ever tried to do so.”
“Yeah, and lost the battle.”
“Laugh now, you´ll be dead soon.” He knocked her flat down to the ground, he left her weak and vulnerable.
Ryan came through pushing everyone out of the way. He was not gonna let her died.
But Bethos must have sensed him coming. Because when Ryan sent the fatal blow to Bethos, he had delivered Ryan one.
They both fell down, mortally wounded.
PART 27 - Mark One Loss For the Good Guys
Maeve laid over Ryan´s body. He was killed instantly. There wasn´t even a good-bye. All around her as she wept there was carnage and violence. After Bethos was killed, the evil side was pretty much beaten to submission. It wasn´t too hard, when the leader falls, the rest follow.
Everyone faired pretty good. Cuts and bruises to Willow, Oz, Xander, and Anya. Angel was a little beaten up. Giles, Wesley, Doyle, pretty much unscathed. But Buffy and Cordelia, they had some more serious injuries. Buffy had a couple of broken fingers and a toe, nothing that Slayer´s fast healing couldn´t fix with a day of rest. Cordelia though looked like she had broken an arm or shoulder. Doyle had run to tenderly care for her. But they were ALL thankful to be alive and GRATEFUL that they won the battle.
It was Cordelia with her makeshift sling that first asked frighteningly where Maeve was. None of them knew of what had transpired between Maeve, Ryan, and Bethos.
She was hunched over Ryan´s body sobbing like no human with a soul had ever sobbed before. She was inconsolable as she cried for the loss of her lover.
She was responsible. She was responsible. It was the only thought in her head, the only one.
//Oh where oh where could my baby be? The lord took her away from me//
Cordelia saw her. “Maeve! Oh Maeve.” Cordelia gasped in the sight of Ryan´s earthly remains.
“Come on, help me get him up!” She was frantic and in denial. “Come on!” She screamed. “He´ll be all right, he will.” She stopped making logical sense. “Help me, we need to get him to the hospital! Come on!” It was more sobs now than screams. Ryan was gone.
//She's gone to heaven so I got to be good. So I can see my baby when I leave this world//
“Maeve, he´s gone.” Maeve looked at Cordelia and just wept.
“No, no, please no.” Cordelia put her hand on her shoulder. Maeve laid on top of Ryan´s body. She placed her lips on his and kissed his still warm lips. “God, no.”
//I held her close I kissed her our last kiss. I found the love that I knew I had missed//
She let him down gently. She took her fingers, and gently closed his eyelids that were still wide open. He looked like he was sleeping-- so peaceful. The tears streamed out, Maeve stopped trying to hold them in. Nothing else mattered anymore. Ryan was dead.
//Well now she's gone even though I hold her tight. I lost my love, my life that night. Ohohoh, Woah, ohohoh//
*Pearl Jam - Last Kiss
PART 28- Gravestones
Maeve had barely spoke in the time that Ryan had passed.
Don´t even ask what they told the police about the battle. Fast talking got them out of any further questioning.
It was difficult to think about Ryan, for Maeve. Cordelia tried to help her, but to no avail. “I‘m not ready to talk Cordelia. Please, respect that.” Doyle held her back-- understanding the pain in her.
Maeve wasn´t receptive. She went to Ryan´s grave.
“I brought you flowers, my love.” She knelt down and put them on the fresh grave. It was small, they couldn't afford fancy. Just a simple marker:
Ryan Daniels
Born: April 18, 1980
Died: May 15, 2000
“If there is beauty in death it is to die saving others.” -Anon.
Tears were streaming down Maeve´s cheeks, it stung against her hot cheeks. These weren´t the first tears she cried for him, and certainly not the last. “I miss you so much.”
“He misses you too,” a strange old man wearing bizarre clothes said.
It startled Maeve. She turned and saw who it was. He was an older man wearing what looked like something they´d wear circa 800 CE. “How do you know?”
“I spoke to him.”
“That´s not funny, and if you don´t mind I would LIKE to be alone.“
“I´m not joking.” She walked over to him incredulously.
“Do you know what it is like to hold your lover in your arms and see the light fade from his eyes?” Anger turned to depression. “Because, guess what? I DO! I know what it is like to know true, honest to God love, and then have it ripped from my arms! I do! Lucky me! I do the universe a favor and it screws me! It screws me!”
She cried and any anger she had left for this old man collapsed into self-pity. She fell into his arms and he held her. Not like a lover-- but a friend. She felt bizarrely close to this strange man. She cried even more tears and it all poured out of her.
“Yes I do know,” the man said. “Her name was Nimue, and she was taken from me.” Maeve recognized the name and backed away from the man and stared at him-- fully believing what he would say next.
“Maeve, my name is Merlin.”
PART 29 - Loneliness
“What?” Maeve said.
“I´ve traveled to see you. You´re lucky, you´re the special one. I specifically knew you´d be the one to end the fight. There will never be a battle again. No more chosen leaders.”
“How?”
“You broke the curse. You and Ryan and your friends. It was you all.” Maeve tried to look thrilled, but it comforted her little. She knew it was selfish, but damn it, she had suffered so much.
“Did it have to come at such a price.” She motioned to Ryan´s grave.
“When you inherited my powers you inherited my fortune. Phenomenal cosmic powers, horrible life. There are no words to tell you why or comfort you, except-- I know how it feels.”
“I never really did buy the whole ‘locked in a tower of air by Nimue, who tricked you into it by using your love for her´ thing. Not really.”
“No, she died while helping me battle against an evil warlord before my Arthur days. I held her in my arms and watched her die. The pain never leaves.”
“But, you´re with her know, at least, right?”
“Yes, it was my reward. Don´t think you won´t be rewarded the same way when it´s your time Maeve. But you have so much more life to live. More people to help. You, Angel, Cordelia, Doyle, and even Wesley. You all have a destiny to fulfill.”
“I know. I guess wallowing in self-pity can´t help.”
“No, it won´t. But, maybe this will help you go on. Ryan?” Out of nowhere Ryan appeared.” Maeve ran to the apparition. She touched him to make sure he was real, and he felt so warm.
“I came to tell you that even though I´m gone, I love you and I want you too.”
“Oh, Ryan.” She kissed him and didn´t want to let him go. ”Please don´t leave.”
“I have to, but I´ll wait for you, always. ‘Sides, you´ve got stuff to do. Merlin did you tell her?”
“Just about to.”
“What is it?”
“Cordelia was trying to tell you something. She's pregnant. The child growing in her womb, though is very special. She´s been given gifts. When she is old enough she will end it all, she will vanquish the great evil and bring true peace to the world.”
“Wow, what do I need to do.”
“Maeve, you still have your powers, you need to help protect that baby. Many people will try to destroys it. No harm can come to Cordelia or the baby, or all is lost. Maeve, you must help protect her.”
“I understand. You have to leave now, don´t you?”
“Yes, I do,” Ryan said with a tear coming down his cheek. Maeve went up to him and kissed him passionately ‘till it hurt. “I love you. Remember: No one is really dead unless you keep them alive in your heart,” he said.
“I love you.” She opened her eyes, they were both gone. She turned and looked at Ryan´s grave.
The single daisy she had laid on the grave had grown into many beautiful flowers. The miracle really had occurred.
PART 30 - The End is the Beginning is the End
//Closing time. Open all the doors and let you out into the world.//
Maeve walked back to Angel Investigations finally at piece with herself and Ryan´s death. She would never forget him-- or the pain of losing him. But she knew that her energy would be better served for a higher power.
//Closing time. Turn all of the lights on over every boy and every girl.//
When she finally arrived she walked in and saw Cordelia sitting at her desk writing something. She perked her head up when Maeve walked in. “Are you all right?” She asked.
“I think I ought to ask you that. Congratulations.”
“How did you know?” Cordelia was beaming in joy.
“Let´s just say a little birdie told me. Have they left yet?”
“No, they´re going to in a few minutes.” They, of course, were referring to the old Sunnydale gang. They had stayed a few extra days for Maeve´s sake, but had to leave in fear of Sunnydale going to hell. And in Sunnydale, that´s a literal expression.
“Better say goodbye then.” They walked out and saw them all getting into the car-- ready to leave.
Buffy hugged Maeve goodbye. “Take care, all right?” Buffy didn´t have to say anything. She knew the pain of losing the love of your life and she knew there were no words of comfort she could say to her to make her feel better. She just hugged her and said a silent prayer.
“I will if you do.” The rest said there goodbyes. Being it had come to night fall, Angel came out and just stared at Buffy. They needn´t words to express what they wanted to say to each other. Words weren´t necessary. They knew it couldn´t be and they got in the car and left. Angel just stared at the car until it was out of view.
//Closing time One last call for alcohol so finish your whiskey or beer//
The five of them just stood there for a few seconds. Cordelia walked up to Doyle and pulled him aside for a minute.
She was scared. “Do you have to go back?”
“Nope, I pulled in my end of the bargain. I´m here to stay-- or until I kick the bucket again.” He laughed.
“That´s not funny.”
“Sorry princess. But your stuck with me.”
“Damn strait. All three of us, right?”
“Three?”
“Surprise.”
“What?” Doyle had gone non-verbal.
“I´m thinking if it´s a little girl- Fiona, a little boy- Francis after his father. But, I think it´s a girl.”
“Girl? Oh my God!” Doyle went excited and picked her up and spun her around. “Baby? Oh, Cordy, I couldn´t be happier!”
Angel, Maeve and Wesley had been listening and just smiled at there happiness.
“Congrats Cordy.” She turned to leave. It suddenly occurred to her that maybe she wouldn´t be welcome there anymore-- regardless of what Ryan and Merlin told her.
“Where are you going?” Angel asked.
“I thought I´d get my stuff and--”
“And what? We´ll be needing you to work tonight. Tomorrow too,” Angel said.
“Really?” She never expected this: to be wanted somewhere.
“Of course, you´re family,” Cordelia said.
//I know who I want to take me home//
So, with that decree, Angel, Cordelia, Doyle, Wesley, and Maeve walked back inside.
For this is not an end. More of a beginning. A new one for everyone.
//I know who I want to take me home//
Doyle and Cordelia were getting a new life-- a beautiful baby girl who will bring peace and love to the world.
//I know who I want to take me home//
Angel was getting a surrogate daughter out of Maeve.
//I know who I want to take me home//
Wesley was getting a new start-- understanding that the Watcher´s Council wasn´t necessary to fight evil.
//I know who I want to take me home//
Maeve, well Maeve was getting them all. A new family to go with her new beginning. Her new beginning with people who loved her and understanding something a young man had told her once:
“No one is truly dead if you keep them alive in your heart.”
//Closing time. Every new beginning comes from some other new beginning's end... Take me home.//
*Closing Time - Semisonic