Title: Afterlife
Part title: The Answers

Author: GMB loves Angel

Spoilers: Iwry (as always), the last four eps of Angel season 2, the bachelor party, Hero, the gift... that's kinda it...

Rating: PG-13

Timeline: A few months after the gift...

Authors notes: This fic series will go between two worlds. Here's my version of what happened after the gift... I admitt it I'm completely hung up in Pylea... Iwry happened a season after than it did in the show...

Dedication: To Dawnie, for her wish for a new part... And to Sarah Mclachlan, because her CD, Fumbling Towards Extacy is playing in the background and it's very inspiring...

Buffy had no idea were she was. She only knew that this was somewhere she'd never been before. It looked like what she imagined the Greek temples must have looked like inside. The entire room was covered with marble, from top to bottom. Light seemed to come from somewhere, but she couldn't seem to figure where. Everything was bright. Right in front of her was an endless hall and in front of it stood two figures, dressed in togas. Their faces were gold and silver colored skin.

- Come before us… lower being…

- Why am I here? Or, why are we here?

- What have you brought us?

- Um… excuse me? Doyle, do you get this?

- I think they want a gift. It's a custom with the Oracles. They are messengers for the Powers that Be. The tradition is that you call them forward and give them a gift for their answers to your questions…

- Ok, first of all, I didn't call you guys forward. Second of all, if you want a damn gift, why don't you just take something you like from me? That's what you're good at… Because it was you, wasn't it?

- Ok, Buffy… pissing them off, not a good idea…

- I don't care, they took her…

- Indeed we took your daughter, but not without purpose.

- Why?

- Careful, warrior. You will only have one question answered tonight. Choose wisely.

- Where is she? Is she all right?

- She's on her way back…

- What does that mean?

- Warrior, you've been given your questions answer. If your companion can just ask his, you can leave.

Buffy looked at Doyle. He seemed to be unsure of what to say. She couldn't understand why. He had clearly stated for her what he would ask.

- Is it possible for us to return to our world and if we can, what will happen?

Buffy stood in awe. He asked her question. He didn't ask for himself, but for her… Why? She didn't get it…

- You are both warriors of the world. Died to save someone else. Here is your purpose to spend eternity. However, you are not prisoners of this world. You are free to enter or leave any world you may desire, when the door is open, of course. However in any other world than this you will age and you will die. No sooner than anyone else in the world. You are free to search for any world you may desire, but remember, knowledge can be a curse… Choose wisely…

- But what if…?

- Good-bye, warriors…