Time After Time

Part Twenty-One

Spike kept a close watch on the Slayer. In the last year of her life as Buffy Anne Summers, the two had been closer than ever, and it seemed to him that that closeness had stayed with them into her next life. They were bound by one thing.

Their love of Angel.

Deep in his undead heart, Spike had always loved Angel, in the way that a childe loved their sire. His precious Dru was his sire, but Angelus had been the one that had taken over his childe's duties in that area. Truth be told, Spike had always wished that Angelus had been his sire, not his grandsire, because that was the kind of love he held for the elder demon.

His love for Buffy was that of a brother, a link to Angel, the Angel that gave a damn about a recent accomplishment, or what part of the world he'd recently terrorized. Okay, so maybe the soulful Angel wouldn't be exactly happy about it, but at least he'd care...

Buffy was almost his sister, the younger girl whom he'd looked after and messed around with, gossiping and just telling stories to. They'd even gone patrolling together near the end, sometimes staying over each other's places, just to hang out and stick a tape in the VCR and have a good laugh, tossing popcorn at each other.

There had been one night, back when Buffy's mother had still been sick, that the young Slayer had broken down in tears, her emotions finally getting the better of her. And it all centered around Angel. It had finally hit her, that her support system was nowhere to be found, that no matter how everyone else tried, they could never match him, nor make her forget him.

And that was the beginning...

From then on, they had worked out what it was that caused them to detest each other. Not only was there that Slayer/Slayee thing, but there was Angel. As one in Angelus' lineage, Spike carried a part of her beloved Angel inside him, and as Angel's mate, Buffy carried a part of the elder vampire inside her. Spike was suddenly Buffy's bestest-new-big-brother, as she once put it.

And that relationship was something that no one, save Angel himself, could touch.

For two decades, Spike had been without his 'little sister', and now she was back. As soon as the battle was over, he'd have a chat with her about her inopportune demise...instruct her in the ways of saying, 'Goodbye'.

*~*~*

Angel was thankful that his soul was secure, because just dealing with this Buffy, a happy and carefree Buffy, gave him pure joy. Even though he had wanted her life to be well-lit and fruitful, he could tell that the darkness that surrounded her daily, hadn't dimmed her spirit, and love of life. In fact, she seemed to love and appreciate life all the more, not waiting for the darkness to claim her, but searching it out and crushing it with her bright light.

For so long, he had awaited the day when he would finally be human again, be able to be the future that he'd wanted for Buffy, sunlight, children, love. After her death, though, he had become a shell of himself, one that didn't care whether he received his reward or not, because Buffy was his focus, his reason for being, his very existence.

Until one day when a small child had wondered into the hotel, begging for his help. A young, blond girl, who reminded him so much of his lost love, that she got through to him, through the wall he'd built abound himself, and down to his soul, where Buffy had lived, and would continue to live on...

She couldn't have been any more than six or seven years old, but she'd strolled into the hotel, bold as any adult over the age of twenty, and had demanded to see the 'angel' who was the boss. It hadn't been until he'd shown himself, that she'd broken down and begged for him to help save her older brother from a gang of half-breed chaos demons. Apparently, she'd heard about him from her parents, who had been discussing his recent good deeds, both of them Watchers.

The girl, Ariadne, had made him realize that people still needed him, and he needed to be needed. He'd go on, if only to pay tribute to Buffy's cause, to help people, lost souls, find themselves again, love their loves, as he and Buffy were unable to do. Live their lives, as Buffy would never be able to do...

His resolution had paid off, and here he was, again, back with Buffy, their future set to be bright and long, if only they could get past this not-so-minor set-back of the oncoming battle.

Hopefully, fate would be kind this time around...

*~*~*

Their time had finally come.

Ever since Buffy was five years old, and her memories had resurfaced through her dreams, she had dreamt of the time when she and Angel would be back together, when she could see all of her friends again, let them know that she hadn't left them.

She'd missed out on so much. Birthdays, Christmases, weddings. Twenty years had passed, and it showed. Except on Angel and Spike. So much had changed since that night when she'd dealt with the gym-full of vampires back in Hemery. She'd gotten over her fear of Slaying, and had faced so many demons, including her very own Angel.

Slaying wasn't a chore any more. Like Kendra, Buffy had become immersed in the slaying game. But unlike, the Jamaican Slayer, Buffy knew when to switch to 'normal' mode, so she could be a sister, cousin, niece and daughter. Buffy often thought of the past Slayers, and what their lives had been like, she'd even gone so far as to study some of them.

Buffy had come to the conclusion, that no matter how lucky they'd deemed themselves, whether it be the length of time they'd stayed alive, the existence of family, or the demons they'd killed, Buffy was the luckiest. She had a great bunch of friends, she'd experienced love like no other, and she finally had the supportive family she'd always longed for. She couldn't really blame Joyce for her prejudices, since her new family were much like herself, and fought demons, as well. But she'd always wanted the family unit she'd only read about in books, where the parents would support the children in whatever endeavor they were interested in, or whatever pursuit intrigued them.

She had it now, and she wouldn't trade it for anything in the world...

The only thing that was in the way of her future happiness, was Hell. Literally. Very soon, it's minions would find them, and try to swallow them and their cause whole, making it possible for Hell to reclaim it's playground and roam free, snacking on the oblivious citizens of the world.

Buffy vowed that this would be their final major confrontation. They'd win this battle, even if it was just through sheer determination, just so everyone would wake up to another day in their hectic lives, blissfully unaware.

She turned around, basking in the attention that she knew Angel was giving her. She smiled at him, content that she'd returned to him, offering him his salvation and her love. Buffy was certain that everything would finally turn out all right for them.

Surely the Powers That Be wouldn't have brought her back, only to have her fail them all...?

Part Twenty-Two

This was it, only twelve more hours to go...

Everyone went off in their own little groups, their families, just being a regular family, as if for the last time. No one fooled themselves into thinking that they'd all be coming back...

Willow and Tara went off, Xander and Anya took their children to their suite for an hour or two of just being a family. Cordelia and Wesley took their three children up to one of the rooms, since they'd decided to stay for the night, not really wanting to chance going outside and coming across one of the many demons that now wondered the streets.

Giles took an uncomfortable Joyce up to his room. Reginald lead Marina up the stairs and into their suite. He'd convinced the other Watcher to stay. The Charmed Ones gave each other a big hug, before moving off with their individual families, back to their rooms. Buffy was torn. On the one hand, she wanted to be with her family, but on the other, she wanted to spend her last few hours with Angel and Spike, just talking.

It was her family that made her decision for her. Piper and Leo crossed the room to their daughter and gave her a warm hug. "It's okay, sweetheart, we understand," Leo told her.

Piper pressed a kiss to her daughter's temple. "We've had you for nineteen years. You should spend some time with Angel, just in case..." the witch couldn't finish. Leo pulled his wife to him and kissed her.

"I love you guys," Buffy whispered to her parents and her sister, who was hovering nearby. Melinda smiled at her older sister and gave her a hug. Buffy watched her family go, as Angel stepped behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist.

"We'll make it, Buffy," Angel murmured in her ear, aware of the pain that was coursing through her veins as she thought about the coming battle.

Spike watched her facial expression change, quickly hardening with determination. "I know."

*~*~*

Later That Night...

Willow turned over in bed, facing Tara. Her lover and confidant was still awake. "Do you think that we'll get through this alive?"

Tara reached over and swept a lock of hair out of Willow's sleepy eyes. "We've asked the goddess to protect us, but there' will be at least two deaths among us before the battle is over..."

Willow closed her eyes, trying not to ask herself who they may be...

*~*~*

"They're going to kill us, you know," Anya stated as she held onto her husband. The two of them had put their children to bed not half an hour before. "No one has ever been able to defeat them."

Xander swallowed, before answering. "We've beaten the odds before, and we'll do it again..."

He leaned over and kissed her, sweeping her into a passionate embrace. Hoping to wipe away the thought of the world's possible destruction, he made love to his wife, for possibly the last time...

*~*~*

Cordelia and Wesley were laying in their bed, spoon-fashion, still wide awake. Wesley held onto his wife, contemplating life after the battle. "I'm glad that I had a chance to talk to Reginald before..."

"Before we die?" Cordelia whispered huskily. "I wish that I'd gotten to talk to my parents about everything before they'd died. I don't think that they ever knew how much I loved them, despite the way I used to be..."

"You'll see them again, one day..." Wesley responded.

"Yeah..." she murmured softly, hoping that that day wouldn't come anytime soon.

*~*~*

Giles lay on his bed, thinking about his life. Once again, he was alone. Once upon a time, for a very short while, he'd had Jenny. Maybe he'd get to see her again...

*~*~*

In the privacy of her room, Joyce sat on the edge of the bed and cried. No matter what the others said, she knew that they were just delaying the inevitable...

*~*~*

Kate was also awake and alone in her room. She was looking out the window, to the busy street below. People were fleeing for their lives, knowing that something was happening, but were unable, or unwilling to stop it.

For the first time, Kate realized that, in her bitterness, she'd shut everyone out of her life. If she died tomorrow, who would mourn her?

*~*~*

Reginald contemplated the naked woman in his arms. He loved Marina more than anything, but even he had to admit that she was a rigid Watcher. She'd been brought up as a new breed of Watcher, not knowing any better, but he still loved her.

He tightened his grip on her warm body as she lay sleeping. "I love you, Mari. This is probably the last time I'll get to tell you, because for some reason, I know that I won't survive the coming battle. Never forget me..." he murmured softly, then pressed a kiss to her forehead.

He didn't notice the tear escaping beneath her eyelids...

*~*~*

Phoebe looked across to where her daughter lay sleeping. She'd seen the destruction that tomorrow would bring, and even though she hoped to prevent the deaths of her new friends and family, she knew that it was meant to be. This was one premonition that she wouldn't be able to prevent...just as she'd been unable to prevent Cole's death five years ago. She'd felt that same inevitability then.

She turned away, slowing wandering back to her own bed. When it all came to a close, she would have lost three new friends, and a member of her family...

*~*~*

Prue and Daniel were seated in the lounging area between the two rooms of their suite. They held up their glasses of red wine and toasted each other. "To us." They touched glasses and smiled sadly.

"May we all find our way..." Daniel murmured.

"May we all cope with what's coming," Prue added.

They both took a long swallow.

Part Twenty-Three

Leo wondered if his bosses knew what the outcome of the battle would be. He'd kept watch over his extended family for so many years, now. He and Piper had been married for nearly twenty-two years, and still, he couldn't get enough of her. To know that this may be the last time they were this close...

He wasn't going to die. He knew what the afterlife held, and he couldn't wish it on better people, but Leo was already, technically dead, and losing his family meant losing them for good, not until the next lifetime, because there would be no other lifetime for him.

If they were to fail tomorrow, Leo didn't want to exist to see the ramifications...

"Leo..." Piper murmured in her sleep.

The Whitelighter closed his eyes and held his wife tighter. "It's okay, Piper...everything's fine. Sleep now..." he murmured in her ear, hoping that he was right, and that everything would be fine...

*~*~*

Spike laid on his bed, just staring at the ceiling. He was alone. For someone who had lived for more than a century, he had always had company, but not so now. As he thought about the others, he realized that they'd almost all had someone.

It was a lonely life, being immortal, a vampire. If he survived, if they all survived, then it would be fine. But if most of them died, he'd still have Buffy and Angel, hopefully...and if Buffy died, Angel would be no more, no matter how much anyone tried to stop him, Spike knew that Angel would be unable to handle Buffy's death, yet again...

As he drifted off to sleep, he heard a familiar voice lurking at the edge of his dreamscape. "The moon whispers, my Spike, all sorts of nasty things. They're going to die...I miss you, my Spike..."

*~*~*

"I still can't believe that this is happening, Angel," Buffy murmured as her vampire gently tugged her in the direction of their bed.

Angel pressed a kiss to the top of her head as he noticed the moisture in her bright eyes. "We guess those plans for getting you to fifty are probably out..." he chuckled sadly.

She shrugged. "It doesn't matter. I've had everything that I could possibly want in a lifetime, but I'd like to know that if I do die tomorrow, then the world will be safe, no more End Of Days battled popping up every twenty years."

"No getting reincarnated for each fight, huh?"

She twisted her lips in an unladylike smirk. "It becomes tired after a while, and while surprising my ex gave me a big thrill, I don't think I want to go through that again..."

Angel sighed, "Yeah, I know what you mean..."

Suddenly, Buffy didn't want to talk about the future, or the lack, thereof. For the very first time in a long time, she just wanted to be a normal girl, standing in front of her boyfriend, needing him to love her, to take away all thoughts of the past, present and future, and just be one with her...

"Angel..." she murmured, her eyes pleading with him.

He understood and felt the same. "Tonight is just for us, Buffy, no demons, no death, no interfering family, just the two of us, blanketed by our love..."

"That's nice," she whispered as she reached up and placed her arms around his neck. She'd never noticed before, just how well they fit together, especially with her added height. This time around, Buffy was a good five foot seven.

Angel smiled at her, love shining in his chocolate-brown eyes, as he reached down to cup her adorable chin, lifting her face upward, bringing her forward for a kiss.

Buffy whimpered as she tasted the emotion coursing through his veins. There was an undeniable hunger, longing, but there was also an unequaled rush of love and tenderness.

As Angel gently lifted her onto the bed, slowly lowering himself upon her, there was no singular, no Buffy, no Angel, only one entity, filled with a love that not even time could sever.

Their clothes were gone in seconds, scattered wherever a careless hand let each garment fall. Angel pressed a kiss to her neck, feeling the rapid beat of her heart as the blood flowed beneath the skin. Buffy's hand held his head there, waiting for the bite that would surely be as sweet as the vampire who would form it.

And sweet it was, as Buffy felt his fangs easily slide into the soft skin of her neck, slowly sipping at her Slayer blood, rich and smooth going down. Perfect, just like the woman who lay in his arms, trusting him with her life's essence.

Buffy felt a warm rush of liquid between her legs as Angel inserted a knee between her thighs, making room for his large frame. She cradled him as he came to rest, his manhood nudging the opening to her womanhood, seeping with the need to be inside her welcoming heat.

Angel moaned as he slowly entered her, one smooth thrust that her body accepted eagerly, needing him as much as he needed her, a part of each other, forever. Buffy closed her eyes to the outside world, her entire being focused on the pleasure that was pulsing around her body with each thrust of Angel's body, each sip by his cool mouth, each touch of his long fingers.

Her nails dug into his back, little moon shaped wounds that bled slightly as she tightened her already painful grip. At the very last second, Buffy climaxed, raking her fingernails down Angel's back as he spilled his seed into her body and took one long, final swallow of her blood.

Buffy slowly lost consciousness and fell into the world of black, with a content smile on her face...

The irony of it wasn't lost on Angel as he kissed his beloved and held her close as he, too, slept.

Part Twenty-Four

Angel awoke the next morning, he and Buffy headed downstairs for a quick breakfast before waking everyone else up. Both were surprised to find Spike already in the dining room, with an unexpected guest...

"Dru..." the vampire murmured in confusion. "What are you doing here?"

The vampiress smiled distantly. "The moon is covered in blood...it whispers of death...the demons don't like us anymore, my Angel..."

Spike kissed his princess. "Don't worry, Pet, we'll fix that right up." He turned to Buffy and Angel. "I hope you don't mind, but I didn't want to put her out..."

Buffy smiled sadly. "It's okay, Spike." The Slayer understood that even after so many years, he still adored his Dru. He'd die for her, just as Angel would for Buffy.

Dru resumed her rambling. "At the end of the day, the demons will scream their pain, and the blood will flow like wine...!" she giggled as she stood from her seat and began slowly spinning about the room.

As Buffy watched the three vampires, she realized that they shared more than just a past, they were a family, and despite Drusilla's insane nature, she would always be welcome, if she wasn't out to destroy the world...

"Miss Edith tells me that I must help the Slayer...the mean one that fills my Angel's heart...she worries that we'll all be no more. But the moon whispers victory...the demons will be no more...no more demons...no more demons..."

Angel and Spike looked to Buffy. They knew that Drusilla was never wrong. Buffy nodded. They would eventually win not only the battle, but the war. The question was, at what price???

*~*~*

Buffy had gathered everyone together for one last instruction. "Okay, guys, no matter what you think, I want you all back here alive. Don't sacrifice yourself because it might help, know that what you're doing is the right thing, above all else, and maybe, just maybe, we'll get through this..."

Buffy noticed her Aunt Phoebe look around at certain people in the group. She slowly realized that her aunt knew what was going to happen. Phoebe caught her eye and shook her head, there was nothing she could do...

The Slayer sent a silent prayer and goodbye to those that would die, as a lone tear slipped down her cheek. "The world would probably thank us, if it knew what was happening," she whispered huskily. "So, if anything happens to any of us, this is goodbye, and good luck."

Buffy led the group out of the buiding in straight into the first day of the rest of their lives...

*~*~*

Buffy knew that they were coming, she could feel them. She could tell that the others felt the same. Drusilla just stood be Spike and giggled, while watching, waiting. "Here they come..." she whisperd in awe.

They were a few blocks away from the hotel. Buffy knew that as soon as the group was out in the open, someone would report back to the Scourge and their new leader, and they'd come running...

So predictable...

They waited as they heard the loud marching of the Scourge. For demons, they were loyal and dedicated to their cause, some thing that didn't often occur in a demonic society, but Buffy was sure that she and the others would win in the end.

And so they waited...

And waited...

Until the large group came their way and stopped dead.

Buffy stepped forward, as did the demon that had previously killed her. Out of the corner of her eye, she vaguely noticed the small group within the troops, carrying the machine that she knew was deceptively small. Unlike their first and second ones, this weapon was small and easy to carry. Fortunately for them, it was also easier to shield.

The Slayer heard the feint sound of her family chanting, pouring their powers into the spell that would hold the machine for as long as was wiccanly possible for the Charmed Ones, of all generations. Except for Buffy herself. As always, she was in the lead when it came to fighting, and Angel was by her side.

"So, they've sent yet another inept child to defeat me. The previous Slayer was supposed to have been the most powerful, yet, but still, I killed her. How do you expect to fare?" the demon spoke to her, what could only be interpreted as a smirk, on his face.

"Well, see, that Slayer wasn't too happy with what happened nineteen years ago, and guess what? She's back, with a vengeance..." Buffy flipped forward and kicked the demon in the head, throwing him offbalance with the unexpected attack.

The troops came forward and began fighting with the others. The Charmed Ones and their group moved back, as did the second group of fighters, taking up their crossbows and aiming at the demons that were a danger to their friends.

The fight was on...

Leo, Angel, Kate, Spike, Xander and Drusilla were out ther fighting, while Anya, Cordelia, Willow, Wesley, Daniel and Tara had found their way to the rooftops, with their crossbows. Merry, Zoe and Elizabeth had cast the knowledge spell on their fighting friends, and were glad to see that it seemed to be working. They'd cast it just before they'd left the hotel, so that they'd have time to devour some martial arts knowledge before he fight. As it was, the three almost-witches had their hands full trying to protect the Charmed Ones from being harmed while they concentrated on their forcefield around the weapon that was almost at full power.

The demons hadn't yet realized that it would be unable to do anything, the forcefield was, thankfully, unseen to the demonic eye.

The lead demon came at Buffy once again. Angel, who was keeping one eye on his love, was staked in the chest, narrowly missing his heart. Buffy gasped in horror as she saw the event take place. She froze the demon Hell-bent on taking her out and kicked him back about fifteen feet, then rushed over to the fallen Angel. She picked up his sword and swung it around, taking the head of the demon responsible. She quickly dropped it, and knelt down beside him. Buffy closed her eyes and gathered up all the love she had for him and concentrated. "Please, let this work," she whispered, as she placed her hands over his wound.

The Slayer sighed in relief as she felt her fingers tingling. Her father had told her that under the right circumstances, if she was desperate, she may have inherited some of his powers, and apparently, Leo had been right.

Angel gasped as the pain faded. He pushed Buffy out of the way with a roar as Kaltar, the demon that had once killed her, now unfrozen, came after her with his sword.

Part Twenty-Five

Angel intercepted Kaltar's sword, just in time to stop it from running it through his lover. Buffy quickly got to her feet while Angel was dueling with the demon, and ran her sword through him. She knew that it wouldn't kill him, but it would slow Kaltar down long enough for her to recite the spell she and her aunt Phoebe had written specifically for him.

Seeing that Buffy had everything under control, he went to help the others. Even though he knew that Drusilla was never wrong, even if he knew Buffy would defeat Kaltar, he couldn't see how they would defeat the Scourge...

*~*~*

Buffy stood in front of the fallen demon. The sword in his stomach had him on the ground in pain, for the time being. She knew that she had only a minute or two before Kaltar would be able to get up and try to finish her off for the second time this century.

She pulled the tiny red birthday candle out of her back pocket. Her parents had taught her to go with whatever would work, and the candle was small enough to easily carry, but would burn long enough for her to defeat the demon. Buffy searched her pockets for the lighter she thought that she had put there before they'd left the hotel. "Shit!" she looked around for something to use to light the candle, trying not to panic.

She looked down at the candle in her hand as she noticed a flash of light go by her. The candle was lit. Buffy looked around, then spotted her cousin, Andy. He winked at her before going back to helping with the shield.

Buffy breathed a sigh of relief, silently thanking the Powers That Be, or whoever, who'd given her the idea to give her cousin powers...

She pulled the vial of holy water that she wore on her necklace off and poured it onto the demon, a representation of the cause she fought for, then recited the spell.

"You who has killed me in body, but not spirit,

Be gone from my sight, and this world,

Banished into the realm of the unholy.

With this holy water to bind you, thus,

Journey to the other realm, where

You shall stay for eternity,

By all that is holy...

So mote it be."

As a second generation Charmed One, Buffy had never ended her spell's with a 'So mote it be', but for some reason, it had felt right to do so in this instance. She watched as wind gathered around Kaltar, spinning into a whirlwind and taking him to Hell.

She turned away from the sight in satisfaction. He wouldn't have the chance to kill her again... "One down, a couple of hundred to go..."

Seconds later, she reeled back in shock. Standing in front of her, on the other side of her battling friends, stood an army of vampires, armed with swords and crossbows...

"Oh-oh...scratch that..." she murmured.

*~*~*

"Bloody Hell!" Spike cursed when he saw the group of vampires. It took him a second to recognize them. His gaze shot over to his princess as he shoved a sword into the demon he was fighting.

Drusilla was just standing there, smiling serenely at the her minions... "Oooh, goodie...they're here..."

*~*~*

Angel let out an incredulous laugh as he saw the vampires over the shoulder of one of the Scourge. "She always did like evening the odds..." The demon went to sever Angel's head from the rest of him. "Oh, no, you don't," the vampire muttered as his attention went back to his opponent.

*~*~*

Drusilla giggled as another demon tried to behead her. They just didn't understand that they wouldn't win. Her kind would join the fight because she told them to, and they didn't like being hunted down and killed just because they weren't pure demons. It was an insult, being put in the same category as humans...

The vampiress ducked away from the sword that was aimed at her neck, then scratched the eyes out of the demon who had tried to make her fit into an ashtray. The demon's eyes enthralled her. They were tiny, hidden by a thin layer of skin, very much like eyelids. She popped one into her mouth, but quickly spat it back out. She whimpered at the foul taste, then picked up the sword of the Scourge demon and cut his head off.

She stood back and admired the bloodshed around her. Her minions were being but down, but they weren't going without taking other demons with them. Drusilla giggled as she saw one of the Slayer's friends receive a sword in the stomach...

"One down, three more to go..." she trilled, dancing in a slow circle...

*~*~*

Anya screamed as she saw her husband fall to the ground, breaking her friends' concentration. Her children followed their mother's gaze, then quickly turned away. They shut out their emotions and continued with their tasks. They would grieve later, for if they didn't, it wouldn't be long before everyone else followed...

*~*~*

Angel closed out the image of one of the Scourge sending Xander into the hereafter. He hadn't been close enough to stop it, but Angel regretted Xander's death, no matter how much they'd envied one another. Death was always a terrible thing...

*~*~*

Buffy cried a silent tear for her friend. She hadn't wanted to think about the ones who would perish in this quest for life, but it still hit her hard when she'd seen Xander on the ground. She and everyone else would have to go through it another three times, yet, if her Aunt Phoebe was correct in her premonition...

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