Disclaimer in part 1

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


"Hey mom, I'm back."

"I'm in the kitchen sweetheart. How does hot chocolate,popcorn and watching our favorite old movie sound?"

"Um ok. What's up mom?"

Coming out of the kitchen, Joyce smiled, "I thought it would be nice to spend some time together before tomorrow.You know- just in case."


"Yeah mom, there seems to be a lot of that going around. Shoot, there's the phone. I'll answer it and you get the stuff ready for the movie."

Buffy ran to the phone, picking it up on the fifth ring."Hello?"

"Oh Buffy! I was going to hang up. How's it going?"

"Oh you mean since the last time you saw me an hour ago? Fine and how are things with you and Percy?"
"Good. I just wanted to see if you're ok.You know, since talking to Angel and all.So, what's going on between you and Oz?I'm not upset or nothing, just curious."

"You and everyone else!I don't know Willow.I really don't. I still, and always will, love Angel. I just don't feel *that* way about him anymore. You know?"


"Yes, but do you about Oz?"
"I- I think so Will. I feel all tingly and excited when I see him. And, Wills, he kissed me. Just a short kiss but my heart pounded, and my head jumbled and my palms got all sweaty. Heck! I couldn't move for a few seconds afterwards either.I don't know what that means, but I'd like the chance to find out."

"It sounds like you have strong feelings for him Buff. I'm thrilled. I want two of my favorite people to be happy, and if they can be happy 'together' then great, even better! How does Angel feel about it?"


"He was sad, he tried to hide it but I could tell. But all in all, he'd be happy for me.Are you sure Willow? I know you have Percy but Oz was your first everything. Are you sure you would be ok with the idea and reality of him and me?"

"Of course Buffy! I know that after the whole Xander thing it wouldn't seem like it but, I would truly love to see you two get together. About tomorrow, if something happens, it wont be your fault.You know that right?"

"Why does everyone keep saying that?! Nothing is going to happen if I have to ban all of you from coming!"

"Buffy, you can't stop us from helping. I just want you to know if something DOES happen, it wont be your fault. Well, I need to go. Percy and I are going to watch our favorite movie."


"Bye Willow, give Percy my love. See ya in the morning."
Buffy hung up the phone, and turning, saw her mom sitting on the couch waiting for her.
"That was Willow, just wanted to say goodnight. We ready to chow and watch the movie?"
"Yes, just you and me. It's been such a long time. After this whole angel thing, let's do it again.OK?"
"You bet mom, it's a date."


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


"That is such a good movie! Well,I'll clean up the snack stuff, you go on to bed. See you in the morning Buffy."

"OK mom, love you."
Buffy gave her mom a kiss and went to the stairs, stopping when the phone rang again. "Hello?"
"The Buffster! What are you doing out of bed."
"Xander, I'm answering the phone. And before you ask, no, I don't know what is going to happen with me and Oz, and yes, I know that if anything happens tomorrow, it wont be my fault. Anything I missed?"

"No geesh, go to bed, you're grouchy."
"I'm sorry Xand.You know I love you very much, it's just that everyone keeps telling me the same thing and it feels like no one has any faith in me."

"Oh Buffy, no, it's not that! You always come through for us. It's just, this is big Buffy. Bigger than the mayor even. I-we all, just want you to know, that if something DOES happen, it wouldn't be because of something you did. Now go to bed. Can't have my Buffy looking all bleary eyed in the morning."


"Night Xand, say hello and goodnight to Anya too."
"Oh, don't forget Spike. He's staying here with us tonight."
"OK, Spike too. See you all tomorrow."
Turning back to her mom Buffy told her,"If the phone rings again, I'm in bed and not to be disturbed. Got it?"

Buffy made it to the middle of the steps before it rang again.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


"I got it mom. I got it.Hello?"
"Buffy, how are you doing?"
"Oz! I-I'm fine.How are you? Good I hope."
"Yeah, I'm doing well. I just wanted to say goodnight and make sure you're not upset or anything."
"You mean because of Angel?"
"Well, yeah.I do."
"No, I'm good. We had a good, honest talk and I think we both got the closure we needed.We're ready to move on now."

"Oh? Closure huh? That's good! I mean, isn't it?"

Laughing, Buffy reassured him," Yes, that's very good."
"Cool.I have to practice with the Dingoes but I'll get to Giles after that. Goodnight Buffy. Have very pleasant dreams."
"You too Oz, you too."

Hanging up, Buffy decided to call Giles before he got the chance to call her.

"Giles? It's me Buffy. I didn't wake you did I?"
"No Buffy you didn't. In fact, I was getting ready to call you."
"Gee, how'd I guess that?"
"I just wanted to let you know that-"
"No matter what happens, it wont be my fault.I know Giles, I know."
"Well, that's good dear. I'll let you go on to bed then.Oh, um it-it's not really my b-business, but what is going on with you and Oz?"

"Giles, as soon as this is all over, I'll be able to tell you all. For now, we're friends who may, or may not become more. Goodnight Giles, see ya in the morning."

"Night Buffy. Tell your mother the same would you?"
"You bet."
Hanging up the phone once again, Buffy went up to bed. This time, the phone didn't ring.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


The next morning found them all straggling into Giles. Angel was already awake and Spike had to stay at Xanders until sunset.

"I can't believe I'm about to say this, but I wish Spike could be here sooner.When is Oz supposed to be here Buff?"
"And I would know because.....? OK,he'll be here after the Dingo's practice is over."
"Well now, see that wasn't hard Buff.Well Giles, all who can be here is so lets get the show on the road."

The group, minus Oz and Spike, got down to business.


"OK, the binding spell is for two reasons right? The first being to distract the angel while Willow does the casting spell and the second is to protect you after you become his distraction. Am I getting the point?"


"Yes Buffy, that is pretty much it. The thing is, neither spell is going to mean one blasted thing if you can't beat him. I don't know how it's possible but it HAS to be for this to work."
Shaking his head Angel put in his thoughts. "I don't like it, we have two good spells,neither which will mean a thing if Buffy can't destroy a fallen angel.Then we have this angel that our weapons aren't going to do much to. Sending Buffy in on odds like this are foolish and a risk that we shouldn't even consider."

"Hear hear! So what do we plan to do about it?"
All turned to see Oz standing there with an intense look on his face.Setting his guitar case down, he walked over to where Buffy sat and took the seat beside her,casually grabbing her hand between the two of his. He rubbed his thumb in slow circles on the palm of her hand, as a spoke.
"I think a better plan is needed and that keeping Buffy at a church for now is a good idea. I was reading up on this stuff between sets and I read that a fallen angel can't step foot on holy ground."

Giles scratched his chin as he considered Oz's idea. "Well, that's not all that bad of an idea. We need to protect the people of this town though and if she's not available, he will go after innocent victims. What about that little church in the woods? We can have the conflict take place in the woods surrounding it. I can perform the spell a few miles from that spot and if needed all can run to the church for protection.It's not foolproof,I'll g-grant you b-but it does lend an alternative that could prove l-life saving."


Everyone nodded their heads in agreement as Angel looked at Oz gratefully. Buffy took her hand out from between Oz's, and slowly stood up.

"I thank you all for all that you have done, now I have some demands to give. First, I want Giles to be in the least amount of jeopardy possible. So, this means that Cordy and Percy will go to the spell casting spot in Cordy's car and provide back up if and when needed. Second, Willow is going to be doing something to piss this guy off as well,so I want the rest of us to be there with her.She comes first, I can look after myself. Lastly, I think Anya and my mom should stay in the church unless absolutely needed. Besides, if we need rides to the hospital, it'll be nice knowing that someone is available.Objections?"


Joyce and Anya both jumped up, displeasure on their faces. Anya beat Joyce to the punch.
"No way! I want to be helping and make sure that Xander isn't hurt.I will not stay in the church while all my friends and my love go out and risk their lives!"

"I agree with Anya, we all agreed to help,and agreed freely.We didn't sign up to sit in a church and listen to a battle go on as if it didn't matter. No way little girl are you getting me to agree to those terms!"


Shaking her head Buffy opened her mouth to retort,only to find Xander's hand stopping her from speaking.
"I understand Buffy's point but so do I Anya's and Joyce's. So, I think that Anya should help with Giles and company and that Joyce should help out Buffy and her troop. That way,everyone is happy. I'm happy to know that Anya won't be in the biggest battle,but she is still helping.And Buffy can be happy to have her mom near the church while her mom can be nearer Buffy. So, no arguing allowed.Next problem Giles."


Smiling to see Buffy flop back down in her seat in shock, Giles looked at Cordy." We need to get more food and drink to keep us ready.Also, we'll need to move our supplies and things to the two different sites. Cordy, you guys will need to go get the food again and then move some of the needed ingredients for the fight. I have to head off with Angel to the Priest so he can bless a few things. It'll be sunset in 20 minutes so we need to get ready. Willow, you and Oz and Xander will need to move your stuff and set it up. Buffy, you need to stay here and meditate while waiting for Spike.He can give you a ride out to the woods. You must understand that your complete being must be centered on this battle. The weapons we have are ones you are all familiar with so no practice there is needed. Any questions?"



Everyone nervously looked at each other and then shook their heads no, in near unison.Satisfied, Giles nodded his head and got up. "There is no plan on the fight itself I'm afraid. I wish there was more to do or say about that but there just isn't. We just have to... wing it.Lets go."


Everyone hugged and headed out the door, thoughts all the same, Would this be it? Would they see each other again?


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Buffy hadn't been alone for five minutes when Spike came walking through the door.Looking around he asked where everyone was. Unable to sit still any longer, Buffy grabbed his hand and yanked him out the door again.


"Come on, I'll give you the plan on the way."
"So that's bloody it! That's all we have to fight this wanker? Well, I never thought I'd admit this to you pet, but you amaze me.If it can be done, you can do it."


"Thanks Spike, I guess I can feel free to admit that I'm glad to have you on the team helping. You have become a true friend.I want you to promise that if something happens to me, you'll look after the others."

Smiling his cocky grin,Spike leaned over and,kissing Buffy, snorted "I knew you had the hots for me. How about a quick stop at the quickie motel?"


"Spike, the only thing stopping me from staking your ass is that I know you're joking. Now keep your eyes on the road, I want to make it to this fight in one piece."


Spike pulled up to the church parking lot where Oz's van already sat. Stopping Buffy before she got out, Spike smiled and murmured,"You have my solemn promise Buffy. I have considered you my friend for a time too."


Buffy impulsively hugged the vampire and then jumped out of the car to meet up with the others.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


The group laughed and joked as they prepared everything. As the time neared, Oz grabbed Buffy's hand and pulled her off behind a tree.


Pulling her close, he looked into her eyes and, still without speaking,leaned forward and pressed his lips to hers. They clung together for a few minutes before, reluctantly, they broke apart.

"I didn't want to go into this battle without letting you know that I care, deeply. Lets get out there.My wolf senses are acting up a bit.Something is coming."


They all stood together, side by side.Their union with each other complete. Buffy,Willow,Joyce, Spike,Oz,Xander and Angel all took up a fighting stance as the air around them seemed to crackle and burn with heat like tension. The hair on the back of their necks stood on end, as their stomachs,human and vampire alike, did a flip-flop. And then, there he was. The last thought they each had before all hell broke loose was one of mind numbing fear.


Is this the night we die?


Next Part