Time After Time

Part Sixteen

"Okay, well it makes sense that we're partnered with someone who matches our strength, and go from there, since-" Angel broke off, seeing Leo shake his head. "What's the matter?"

Leo sighed. "That's not how this works. The End Of Days isn't really about strengths and weaknesses. I mean, it is, to a point, but it's a true battle between good and evil, and for evil to win, there must be a positive surge. Love, trust, that kind of thing. The best way would be to be with someone who trusts you, or whom you trust, the least."

Kate glared at Buffy's father. "Tell me you're kidding."

Leo shrugged. "I could be wrong, but I'm just calling it as I see it. I'm sure that Buffy, Piper and the others have come up with their own plan, but this seems to be our strong point for the moment, trust and love."

Buffy chose that moment to walk in. "How are we going in here?" she asked as she sat down in Angel's welcoming lap.

The vampire pressed a kiss to his lover's cheek. "We're fine. We've got a few ideas, but we'll need to know what you have worked out with the others before we can finalize."

Buffy nodded. "I just wanted to check that you'd come up with something. We're pretty much done, so I'll call everyone else back in and we'll combine."

"Sounds like a plan," Angel chuckled at his very Buffy-like comment.

*~*~*

"So, we all agree that the kids are too young to be in the thick of things?" Buffy surveyed the group. They still had a fair bit to work out for a team about to face the battle of their lives within two days...

Several of the adults nodded, while the kids glared at them. Buffy also agreed. "Okay, then. We'll work it so that Zoë, Elizabeth and Merry can do the spells for the twenty-four hour knowledge, leaving the Charmed Ones free to form the shield, and that includes the junior generation, Andy, Melinda and Penny."

Their eyes were wide, suddenly realizing that it was no longer just their parents fighting, and for the first time, the world, not to mention their new friends' lives depended on them getting a single spell correct and lasting...

"Also, groups..." Buffy started hesitantly. "This was the best that Angel and I could come up with...

"Angel and Kate, Spike and Xander, Anya and Cordelia, Willow and Wesley, Daniel and Tara...

"Now, I know that most of you are getting along much better, now, but it still remains that you trust each other the least, no matter how minor. Unfortunately, we're suddenly a very trusting group..." Buffy huffed, put out that it wouldn't really help them in the battle, but still pleased that most of her friends were getting along more since her rebirth.

The Slayer blushed as her stomach growled. Angel chuckled. "Well, since that's all sorted out, I suggest that we adjourn to the dining room..."

"A hungry Slayer is a careless Slayer..." Xander joked.

The group wandered into the dining room. Cordelia took one look at the group of people that had gathered in the room and sighed. "Maybe we should order out..." she suggested.

They all agreed with a laugh or an amused glance. Prue's offer to pay was gratefully accepted, while Angel and Spike went to the kitchen to get their meals. Spike's disgruntled voice could be heard by all. "Hey, mate! Where's the Wheat-Bix?"

Angel snorted. "As if I'd have any after last time."

Spike began yelling at his grand-sire. "I've got no bloody Wheat-Bix for me blood! How the Hell do you expect me to have me morning mug of goodness without some bloody texture to go with it???"

"Add some of those chocolate drops in the cupboard! It's one of my favorite variations... Blood just isn't the same without chocolate."

Buffy and a few others turned slightly green at Angel's inadvertent revelation. He ate chocolate with his blood... Buffy shuddered at the thought. Then something occurred to her, not that she was bitter or anything...much! "Hey, Angel! Do you ever have your blood with peanut butter or ice-cream?"

Angel stuck his head in the doorway of the dining room and glanced to Cordy and Wesley. "How did you know?" he asked his lover.

Buffy stared at him. "I just took a wild guess...and by the way, ewwwww!!!"

Kate rose her hand hesitantly. "I'll second that..."

"You're not the only one..." Piper agreed, suddenly concerned about the being that her daughter had gotten herself involved with.

For once, Leo was the one unconcerned. In fact, the Whitelighter was trying to keep a straight face...

Part Seventeen

Cordelia had ordered them two dozen pizzas. Everyone was full, except Xander, who noticed that while the pizza had disappeared, his flat stomach still had room for more.

Anya, who was chatting to Buffy about the ins and outs of being reincarnated, still had an untouched slice of pepperoni pizza on her plate. Figuring that his wife had had enough, he reached over and went to take the slice. The ex-demon spun around in her chair and slapped his hand, shooting daggers at him with her eyes. "All men should be eviserated...and if you don't remove your hand from my pizza, I'll start with you."

Xander carefully withdrew his hand back to safety...

Buffy grinned at her friend, remembering his horendous appetite when it came to fast food...and certain types of pizza.

Angel's voice broke through her musings. "Okay, everyone, we've had a long day and tomorrow promises to be even longer, so I suggest that we all go to bed and get a good night's sleep." The vampire turned to Cordelia. "Do we have enough beds?"

She shook her head. "My brood can all head home, since we only live a couple of minute away, so there'll be enough room for everyone else."

Angel nodded his agreement. "Okay, well that's settled, so we'd better get a move on. I'll be getting everyone up at six so we can do some hand-to-hand training. Giles, Wesley, I'll need your help, as well."

The two ex-Watchers nodded their affirmation, then everyone headed for their beds, or in the Wyndam-Price's case, their cars.

*~*~*

"I thought that we'd never get them to bed," Buffy giggled as she and Angel snuck into his room after checking all of the locks on the doors and such.

"Shh..." Angel tried to keep his lover quiet until they had reached the solitude of his bedroom, locking the door behind them, knowing that Leo and Piper were sleeping in the next room, so noise wasn't an option, unless they wanted Leo banging on the door.

Buffy grinned as she shoved the vampire against the wall and began kissing him, thrusting her tongue into his cool mouth as she tried to unbutton his shirt. Angel groaned as he felt her fingers caress the smooth skin of his chest, his erection hard against the hard plane of her stomach as he pulled her to him, holding her close until she'd had enough with even the idea of foreplay and went for the fly of his pants.

Angel grabbed the hem of Buffy's spandex top and pulled it up and over her head, forcing Buffy to stop what she was doing long enough to remove her top and bra. Buffy whimpered when she saw that Angel was wearing underwear, impatiently pushing them down far enough for his hard cock to spring free in her small hands.

The vampire moaned in sheer pleasure as she encircled him, gently squeezing. Angel roughly hiked up her skirt and growled in appreciation when he encountered her heated flesh and nothing more. Buffy let go of his aching manhood and wrapped her arms around his neck as Angel cupped her ass and hefted her up, her legs instinctively going around his hips.

He held her tight as he turned around, moving Buffy between him and the wall, with a dull thud as her naked ass hit the cool wall. Just as Buffy sank down onto him, they felt a slight movement through the wall and heard a voice yelling, "Hey! That's my daughter you've got in there, so I don't want to hear it!"

It was Piper...

Buffy giggled as Angel groaned and walked backwards, he and Buffy still connected, and fell back onto the bed behind them and gratefully fell onto it, forcing him deeper into her core...

*~*~*

It was four o'clock the next morning when Buffy awoke to the most pleasant sensation of Angel's tongue gliding across the smooth skin of her inner thigh...

She groaned when she noticed the time. Her inner self was battling between demanding sleep for the coming fight, and demanding he take her that very second. Her more illogical self won out. Buffy easily accomodated him when he eased into her body, his lips touching her own as he smiled down at her, his expression showing her the world of love, respect and adoration that he held for her...

Buffy sighed as she gave herself up for yet another blissful experience at the hands and body of her guardian Angel...

*~*~*

It was ten past six and everyone was present, except for the younger children, Merry, Andy, Elizabeth and Alex, who needed their sleep, since they were all under the age of thirteen.

Angel and Buffy had gone down to the basement and pulled out the training equipment, mats and things that Angel had bought, knowing that a day like this would come.

It was time to get started. Angel and Cordelia started passing out the swords that Angel had collected over the years. Buffy stood at the front of the room, with a familiar sword in her hands, the one she had used to defeat Acathla, and also Angel. "Okay, I want everyone to do this, and that goes for my family as well. We don't know how well everything will work, so it would be useful to know how to put up a fight. But the thing that has to be learnt first and foremost, is defense, because without defense, how do you hope to save yourself? Even though we want them dead, we don't want it at the cost of all of us, got that?"

Buffy smiled grimly as everyone nodded.

Part Eighteen

Buffy and Angel decided to perform a short demonstration for their benefit. No one had seen the pair spar since Buffy's reincarnation, and looked forward to it, if the stories and memories of their previous hours of training was anything to go by.

They pulled the mats aside for the moment, seeing no need for them, then got into positions directly in front of each other, eyes locked as Buffy made the first move. Angel was ready for her, but was caught off guard by the slamming of the door and two angry voices.

Buffy's seeing the advantage and being used to interrupted fights, took charge and pinned Angel to the ground, her sword at his throat. "All too easy..." she grinned as Angel glared at her humor.

"A-hem! What are you doing here, Miss Wyatt? You were not to leave the Council's care without first discussing it with either of your Watchers."

Buffy groaned as she recognized the voice of Marina, her female Watcher. "You can't train a fully trained Slayer. We've already been through this, so why don't you both go home and let me do my job, or haven't you noticed that we're on the verge of an all-out demonic war???"

Marina looked at her charge with disdain. "I've seen the number of demons that roam these streets, young lady, and there does seem to be a slight increase of activity, of late, which just reaffirms the Council's need to have you trained and ready to fight."

"What is it about the English that gives them that 'understatement' gene?" Angel muttered to himself. He slowly got up from beneath Buffy and faced the two Watchers. "For a group who are supposed to be well informed, you're pretty behind in the information area. You happen to be telling the reincarnated soul of Buffy Summers, that she needs to be trained and that you know more about being a Slayer than she does."

"Who?" asked Reginald.

Cordelia began coughing in disbelief, as her husband stepped forward and stood up to the two Watchers. "We've had nothing to do with the Council for nearly twenty years, and it will remain that way until such time that they prove themselves worthy and responsible for not only their actions, but their attitude toward the Slayers and Watchers."

"And who might you be, her protector?" Marina raised a delicate eyebrow.

Wesley chuckled. He couldn't believe for even one second that he or Giles had ever been that bad... "No, that would be the dark-haired male standing behind me and glaring at you. I used to be a Watcher myself, as did the white-haired gentleman to your left, also glaring at you." He pointed to Giles. "In addition to that, I'm also your partner's uncle, I believe. Wesley Wyndam-Pryce, not particularly pleased to meet you, unless you have some useful skills that will aid us in saving the world tomorrow, because if not, I will have to ask you to piss off until such time that you have grown a brain. Good day to you."

He turned on his heel and stepped back to his place next to Cordelia, who kissed him on the cheek. Quite a few of the others were trying to refrain from bursting out in delighted laughter. They couldn't remember Wesley ever telling anyone off as well as he just had.

"While your mouths are hanging open and I can get a sentence in, Buffy Summers, also known as the Slayer who survived for seven years, killing the highest number of demons and vampires, especially those with power." At the blank faces, she tried something else. "Quit the Council..."

"Oh, yes, I seem to recall a Slayer quitting the Council some years back..." Marina admitted thoughtfully.

"I remember," Reginald grumbled. "It nearly split my family apart, because my parents argued over who was in the right when Uncle Wes was fired, then went to work for the vampire, Angelus."

"That would be me," Angel told them. "If you have a problem with that, then you can do what Wes said and piss off. Frankly, though, we could use your help, if we're to avoid this planet becoming Hell's picnic ground."

Without consulting Marina, Reginald abruptly changed his tune. "Lead the way." At Angel's surprised expression, he suddenly smiled. "I always did support my mother when she sided with Uncle Wes."

*~*~*

Giles, Wesley, Reginald, Marina, Spike, Buffy and Angel, all took a group of two or three into a different room, along with a mat and weapons, to train. The greater number of teachers was to their advantage, since they couldn't hope to train large numbers.

Leo went off to see what other information he could get about the coming battle. The Whitelighter wasn't looking forward to the battle, and silently wondered if his daughter was up to the task. Buffy was still his little girl, and just because she was the best Slayer on record, and had almost grown up, didn't stop him from wondering if she would come home this time around.

The countdown was at twenty-three hours and counting...

Part Nineteen

Leo gazed lovingly at his wife. This was something that he wasn't sure that they'd survive. It was up to all of them to see that the world would wake up to just another day of their oblivious lives and go on, even at the cost of one of their own.

He watched Piper as she conversed with her two sisters, Prue and Phoebe. He had been their Whitelighter for twenty-two years, and not once had he felt the depth of fear that was brewing in his heart.

If Buffy was killed again, there would be no second chance. This was their second and final attempt to put a stop to the End Of Days, and it wasn't going to be pleasant.

No, if he was lucky, he'd still have his family.

If not...

*~*~*

Melinda bit her lip as she listened to the dull thuds that came every few seconds or so. As she lay in bed, she thought about what was coming. They were all getting ready for the fight, and she would join them, they all would.

But Mel was scared.

She was scared of what was coming, of what would happen, of what she had to do. But most of all, she was scared of loosing her family, her sister, Buffy, and her parents. She loved them so, very, much. They were all she had, them and the others.

She was scared of being left alone in a world full of big, bad things...

*~*~*

Daniel kept a close eye on his wife, Prue. Not for the first time, the businessman wished that he'd never been told about the darker side of life. But he couldn't very well say that he regretted it. He had a wife he loved, and a son that he adored. He'd led a full life, and if it was to end in the name of the world, then so be it.

He just hoped that they won the war. He hoped with everything in him, that if both he and Prue perished, that one of the others would take care of their son. Daniel realized that they may also perish, but while one of them was alive, there was still hop...

*~*~*

Andy couldn't help but listen to the training. He was so excited. He didn't really understand what was going on, but he knew that it was bad. Still, it didn't faze him, because it was what his family did. They always went out and got the bad guy. And soon, he was going to go out with them to help...

It didn't occur to him that they may not make it back...

*~*~*

Penny watched from the staircase. She'd already lost her Dad, she didn't want to lose her Mom, as well. She was old enough to know all about her family's other 'business', and had always known the pride that came with being a Halliwell.

On the other hand, until recently, she hadn't had to deal with the other side, with the death of it all, when a member didn't come home from a fight, and never would. No, Penny would be there to help her mother and the rest of her family and her cousin, Buffy. She wouldn't let them down like she'd let down her father.

She wouldn't let them die. She was old enough to protect herself, and no one else would have to leave because she wasn't adult enough to take care of herself.

She wouldn't let them sacrifice themselves, again...

*~*~*

Joyce drank in the sight of her daughter, twenty years later. Buffy had changed on the outside, and on the inside, she'd just gotten tougher. She'd regretted so many things when dealing with Buffy, but more often than not, she'd wind up hopping mad.

This life wasn't good or her, it wasn't good for anyone, but here Buffy was, in yet another life, another body, battling the forces of darkness, the same one that had gotten her killed.

Joyce knew that it would kill her again, somehow. She wouldn't stand over her daughter's grave and say 'I told you so', because Buffy was still her daughter. Her life was chosen for her, and there wasn't anything you could really do about it.

But that didn't mean that she had to like it. But Buffy did. Watching her plan her attack and work everything out with the others, Joyce had to wonder just how much Buffy reveled in the killing and the fighting.

She couldn't help but wonder if she'd already lost her daughter to the darkness...

Part Twenty

Marina couldn't help but watch Reginald, sadness in her gaze. It was so obvious who's side he was on, and it wasn't hers. He was a Watcher for Christ's sake, not a Warrior, and he shouldn't be concerning himself with anything but helping her train the Slayer to the Council's liking.

Did he want to follow his Uncle's path and be fired from the Council, only to become one of these wandering ex-Watcher's, hiring themselves out to demons, of all creatures...?

She refused to believe that he had totally abandoned her. He wouldn't choose them over her, not now, not when there was only one month left before their wedding...

*~*~*

Wesley kept his eye on his family. Not only Cordelia and their children, but his nephew, as well. Then, of course, there was Angel, Buffy and all of the others, too. They were all his family, and would die for each other if the need arose.

After all these years, he still couldn't believe that he and Cordelia had married and had produced three wonderful children, and despite the numerous demonic energies found in their vicinity, they were happy and well-adjusted.

He had his nephew to worry about, as well, now. As a young Watcher, Wesley had often driven out to see his brother and sister-in-law. He's never gotten on with his older brother, Harold, but Victoria had always been friendly. And now, twenty years later, here he was with a family of his own, worrying about whether or not they'd make it to next week.

He'd led a spectacular life, and he'd lay down his own life if his family could experience that and live on in a world not run by Hell...

*~*~*

Merry, Doyle and Michaela were sitting on their beds in the room they'd been given. They knew what was coming and accepted it. Part of being the children of Cordelia Wyndam-Pryce, was knowing what was coming.

From as far back as any of them could remember, their parents had told them that they could talk to them about anything, that they didn't want to be parents who knew only the 'typical' things about their children, so when 'other' things happened, they went straight to their parents.

They weren't so different, not really. They could do certain things, magical or supernatural, that had almost always been a apart of them.

They knew what was coming, but this was one time when they wouldn't talk to their parents.

They didn't want them to find out just how scared they were. Not only for themselves, but for everyone else, too...

*~*~*

Tara looked over her group of friends. She hadn't always been one of them, but for the last twenty years, they had been her home, and her heart. She couldn't believe that they had readily accepted her, despite her less-than-bubbly nature.

She had quickly become a part of their circle, aiding with the evil that came along. If they'd been this prepared for the previous battle, maybe Buffy wouldn't have died. Tara didn't fool herself into thinking that she was at fault. It wasn't anyone's fault. They just hadn't known what was coming, and Buffy had gone in blindly, not knowing that her death was imminent.

They were all ready, this time. Weapons, plans, magick. This was their night to bring back the full power of the light back to the world. Willow was her light, her reason for being. Tara lived for love, friends, family, lovers...it didn't matter to her.

She and Willow had no children of their own, no adoption, no nothing, but there were Xander's children, and Cordelia's children, and they were plenty enough to spoil in years past. She found herself wondering if maybe bringing children into this world, knowing what was really out there, lurking in the darkness of night, was the wrong thing to do.

It didn't matter now, though. Nothing did. What's done is done, and now it was time to make things right. There was no point on dwelling on the past, because, in days, there may not be anyone left to remember...

*~*~*

Anya viewed everyone with a different attitude. She's seen countless battles and skirmishes, that hardly amounted to anything. Of course, she hoped that everyone survived, but she knew that if they didn't, life would still go on, whether it be pleasant, or not.

This one would go down as one of the worst gang wars in history, she knew, because an army of five thousand demons could go marching through the streets, and people would rationalize what they had seen, or had not seen.

After twelve hundred years, only technology had changed. Deep down, people were the same. They didn't want to know what went bump in the night, unless it came and bit them on the ass, then they'd call someone else to come and take it away, and then forgot about it.

Not so, her family. The ex-demon had taken steps that if her family and friends perished, the world wouldn't forget them. And they were all her friends, even Cordelia. After two decades, Anya had finally come to terms with life and love. Cordy was one of her best friends, and not just her husband's ex-girlfriend. They were both married and had children they adored.

Anya just hoped that it stayed that way...

*~*~*

Kate looked on in mild curiosity. She'd known about them for twenty years, and not once had she wanted to help in the way that she should have. For some reason, it didn't bother her.

Yes, she would work with Angel for the coming battle, but there had always been too much hostility between them, for them to finally become friends again. Maybe she would be killed in the next few days, releasing her from all the bitterness in her life, but that was a selfish wish.

Truth be told, Kate didn't want to fight. For as long as she could remember knowing about the darkness, she had wanted the knowledge to all be taken back, out of her mind and body.

And for the millionth time, she wanted to be just like everyone else, not knowing what evil would lay claim to the world if Angel and his troop lost and the demons took over their new picnic grounds...