Chapter 5 
 
 

Chapter 5

It was around seven o'clock when Elizabeth finally slammed the door to the O'Connor household. She'd said goodbye to everybody, even Alexia. Now all she had to do was say goodbye to her parents.

"Elizabeth, is that you?" Buffy's voice called from the kitchen.

"Hey, Mom." Elizabeth forced herself to smile. "How was your day?"

"The usual." Buffy shrugged. "Did you have fun at school today?"

"It was school, Mom. Learning experience. Not a whole lot of fun in that." Elizabeth told her.

"You are my daughter." Buffy laughed. "Just don't tell your father that. He'll think a demon has somehow possessed you."

"Funny." Elizabeth sighed. "Mom, can I ask you about something personal?"

"Sure, sweetie." Buffy motioned for them to sit down. "This isn't one of those talks where you tell me that you and Nick are having sex, is it? Please, god, tell me it isn't."

"Mom, no! Nick and I aren't having sex." Elizabeth assured her. "It's actually about you and Daddy."

"All right." Buffy nodded. "What do you want to know?"

"Okay, I'm just going to come out and say it, so you can yell at me if I'm out of line, here." Elizabeth babbled. "Did you ever think that, maybe, things would've been better if you and Daddy had, you know, not had me?"

"What?!" Buffy yelled. "Elizabeth Faith O'Connor, how could you ever insinuate such a thing?"

"I don't know.I just..Sometimes, I feel like things would've been better if I'd never been born." She sighed. "Maybe then you and Daddy would never have had to worry about Cordelia. Then he wouldn't feel the need to keep things from you."

"What are you talking about, Elizabeth?" Buffy asked her. "What sort of things has Angel been keeping from me?"

"Cordelia told him that you were in danger from him and he wanted me to protect you." Elizabeth described. "I know Daddy would never hurt you, but he still has those doubts, Mom. He still thinks he's a threat to us. Cordelia's prodding doesn't help matters, either. Why can't she just leave our family alone?"

"Elizabeth, in some twisted way, Cordelia loves your father. How could she not?" Buffy smiled. "As for your father, he only does these idiotic things because he loves us. I've learned to accept it. Maybe you should, too."

"Mom--" Elizabeth objected. "There's something I need to tell you..You and Daddy. You'll probably think I'm doing drugs or something, but I need to tell you anyways. Where is Daddy?"

"In his office." Buffy nodded. "I'll get him."

 
**** "Okay, I'm well aware that this is going to sound borderline, but I'll just get to it." Elizabeth babbled as she paced throughout the living room.

"You can tell us anything, Elizabeth. You know that." Buffy urged her.

"Okay." She nodded. "I saw Faith tonight."

She watched as Buffy and Angel burst out laughing. Elizabeth muttered something in Gaelic and stomped her foot.

"Honey, Faith's dead." Buffy reminded her. "You know that."

"Mom, you of all people know that strange things happen. So, why is it that my seeing Faith is so ridiculous to you?" she asked.

"Honey, it's not." Buffy shook her head. "Faith.How can you even be sure it was her? You only met her briefly before she died and you were so little then."

"I remember her." Elizabeth crossed her arms. "I knew I never should've said anything. Daddy, you believe me, right?"

"I don't know, Elizabeth. It is a little out of place." Angel told her.

"Says the former vampire who terrorized the earth for centuries." Liz reminded them both. "Fine, you know what? No more. Faith was right when she said I'm the only person who's not blind to people's faults. 'Cuz you both are sure as Hell blind to mind."

"Elizabeth!" Buffy scolded her.

"No, don't." Elizabeth held up her hand to keep her from continuing. "I guess things do really change, right? Goodbye, Mom. Dad. I'll see you in the future."

After yelling that last sentence at her parents, Elizabeth stormed off to her room.

Picking up her leather jacket, Elizabeth attached her mother's antique silver cross to her neck. She took her money from her hiding spot and slipped out the bedroom window.

Oh, yeah. Things were definitely changing. **** Elizabeth walked slowly to the park that night, trying to collect her thoughts.

Was this really the right thing to do? Was she really ready to leave her family and friends behind? Could one person make that much of a difference?

Honestly, she had no idea. She'd never been involved with something this big before. Sure, she'd done a couple spells with Aunt Willow, and helped her parents fight off some demons, but someone always had her back.

She didn't have that now. She was alone. All alone. And she was going back into the battlefield.The battlefield of her parent's relationship.

"I'm here, Faith!" Elizabeth called out. "Come on."

Faith appeared behind her. Elizabeth turned around, Slayer instinct taking over.

"Just like your mom to the core." Faith chuckled. "You say goodbye to everybody?"

"Yeah." Elizabeth muttered. "I'm ready to go back in time, Faith."

"I'm not ready to let you." A voice called and Elizabeth turned around.

"Nick." Elizabeth stated. "What are you doing here?"

"Lizzie, you know I can't let you do this." He told her.

"You don't have a choice." Elizabeth shook her head vigorously. "This is my decision and you're not a part of it."

"Are you really ready to sacrifice everything you've worked for for the last eighteen years, Liz?" he asked.

"No, I'm not." She told him sincerely. "But I will. Family's more important than that, Nicholas. I love my family more than anything. I will sacrifice everything for them. I'm sorry if you can't understand that, but that's just the way it is. If you'll excuse me, I have to stop a whole bunch of people from making the biggest mistakes of their lives."

"Liz--" Nick objected.

"Goodbye, Nicholas Osbourne." Elizabeth kissed him softly, one last time. "I wish I could say 'I'll see you in the future' but we both know that's a big fib."

She wiped the tears from her eyes and moved towards Faith.

"I'm ready, Faith." She assured the higher being. "Let's do this."

"All right, kid." Faith nodded her and took her hand.

They disappeared from sight and Nicholas cried. He'd finally lost his only love.
****

"Where are we?" Elizabeth asked when they entered a dimly lit room. The walls were gold, covered in Egyptian calligraphy.

"This is where the Oracles once occupied." Faith told her.

"The Oracles?" Elizabeth shook her head again. "The ones my father met when he first came to Los Angeles?"

"The vaery same." Faith smiled proudly. "They raised you right, Elizabeth."

"Thanks." Elizabeth smiled. "And I know. I know Mom didn't always see eye to eye with you, Faith. In some ways, I think she pretty much envied you."

"How do you figure?" she asked.

"Faith, you were the second Slayer. You think Mom liked having all that responsibility on her shoulders, that she liked saving the world on a daily basis? She hated it, you know? Before you went all evil, I think she was gonna ask you to take over, to stay in Sunnydale so that she could have had that normal life she wanted so badly."

"I would have stayed." Faith answered.

"I know." Elizabeth nodded. "So, where are these PTB people anyway?"

"They're a bunch of souls, Elizabeth." Faith admitted. "The Powers That Be is all the souls that were taken in the early days, when the first vampire had risen. The Powers That Be do not take human form. They communicate through messengers."

"Like Doyle." Elizabeth nodded.

"Exactly." Faith nodded. "The PTB want to show you some moments before you go back. So, you know exactly what you're up against."

"All right." Elizabeth consented. "Show me."

"Okay." Faith put her palms to Elizabeth's head. "Here we go."

"You are the Slayer. Into each generation, a Slayer is born. One girl in all the world, a Chosen One."

"I have both been there and done that and I'm moving on."

"Who are you?"

"Let's just say I'm a friend."

"Maybe I don't want a friend."

"I didn't say I was yours."

"Can you at least tell me your name?"

"Angel. Pretty name."

"She did it. I'll be damned."

"That must be Angel."

"I can just see him in a relationship. 'Hi, honey. You're in grave danger. I'll see you next month.'"

"He's not around much, it's true."

"When he is around, it's like the lights dim everywhere else."

Flashes of them kissing, Angel's game face shows.

"You're in love with a vampire? What, are you out of your mind?"

"Can't a vampire ever be a good person? Couldn't it happen?"

"Tell her about the curse."

"You come near us and I'll kill you."

"I've killed a lot of vampires. I've never hated one before."

"Feels good, doesn't it? Feels simple."

"I invited you into my home and then you attacked my family."
"Why not? I killed mine. I killed their friends, and their friends children. For a hundred years, I offered an ugly death to everyone I met and I did it with a song in my heart."

"What changed?"

"Fed on a girl about your age. The Elders conjured the perfect punishment for me. They restored my soul."

"What, they were all out of boils and blinding torment?"

"When the demon takes your body, it doesn't get your soul. That's gone. No conscience, no remorse. It's an easy way to live.I canted to kill you tonight."

Flash of Buffy baring her neck to him.

"Go ahead.Not as easy as it looks."

"This can't--"

"Ever be anything. I know..One of us has to go here."

"I know."

Flash to their 'goodbye kiss'.

"See you around?"

"A vampire in love with a Slayer? It's rather poetic.in a maudlin sort of way."

"Buffy will face the Master and she will die."

"I quit.I resign. You can find someone else to stop the Master from taking over."

"It's not that simple."

"What do you know about this? You're never gonna die!"

"You think I want anything to happen to you? You think I could stand it? We just got to figure out a way--"

"I did. I quit, remember? Pay attention."

"Buffy, if the Master rises--"

"I don't care! I don't care. Giles, I'm sixteen years old. I don't wanna die."

She exits the library. Flash to the Master's lair. Flashes to him drinking her. Flash to Angel finding her lifeless body in the pool of water.

"She's dead."

Flash to Xander reviving her.

"Let's go."

"How do you know where the Master's going?"

"I know."

"You were destined to died. It was written."

"I flunked the written."

"You're that amped about Hell? Go there!"

Flash to the Master dying. Flashes to Angel in Buffy's bedroom the following school year.

"I missed you."

"I missed you."

"Angel, there is no us. I'm sorry if I was supposed to spend the summer mooning over you, but I didn't. I moved on.to the living."

"Why are you riding me?"

"I don't trust you. You're a vampire."

"You have to trust someone. You can't do this alone."

"I trust me."

"..Jealous? Like a two hundred and forty one year old being jealous of a high school junior?"

"Are you fessing up?"

"Maybe it bothers me a little."

" I don't love Xander."

"Yeah, but he's in your life. He gets to be there when I can't. Take your classes, eat your meals. He gets to see you in the sunlight."

"You wanna have a date?"

"Date? I didn't say date."

"Right. You just want to have 'coffee' or something?"

"Coffee?"

"I knew this was gonna happen."

"What do you think is happening?"

"You're sixteen years old, I'm two hundred and forty one."

"I've done the math."

"You don't know what you're doing. You don't know what you want."

"I think I do. I want out of this conversation."

Flash to Angel grabbing her arms.

"This isn't some fairytale. When I kiss you, you don't wake up from a deep sleep and live happily ever after."

"No, when you kiss me, I want to die."

"You gave her the brushoff. You're 240 and you don't have time for a cup of coffee?"

"See? You made him do that thing where he's gone!"

"Do you love me? Do you?"

"I love you. I don't know if I trust you."

"Maybe you shouldn't do either."

"Maybe I'm the one who should decide."

"You really don't care what happens a year from now? Five years from now?"

"Angel, when I love into the future, all I see is you. All I want is you."

"I know the feeling."

"The girl and him.it ends now! Do what you must to take her from him."

"I will see to it, Uncle."

"I love you. I try not to, but I can't stop."

"I can't either."

Buffy, maybe we shouldn't--"

"Don't. Just kiss me."

"You okay?"

"The pain is gone."

"There is no humanity in him."

"Angel?"

"Yeah, baby. I'm back."

"No more of this 'I've got a soul' crap?"

"What can I say? I was going through a phase."

"One moment of true happiness, of content, one moment where the soul that we restored no longer plagues his thoughts, then that soul is taken from him."

"Then if that happens, then Angelus is back."
"I realize now it was arranged to be so."

"Buffy loves him."

"Now, she will have to kill him."

"Uncle, this is insanity! People are going to die!"

"This can't be you."

"We've already covered this subject."

"Angel, there must be some part of you, inside, that still remembers who you are."

"Dream on, schoolgirl. Your boyfriend is dead. You're all gonna join him."

"Leave Willow alone and deal with me."

"Things are about to get very interesting."

"He came here to kill us."

"She's stronger than any Slayer you've ever faced. Force won't get it done. You gotta work from the inside. To kill this girl, you have to love her."

Flashes of Buffy and Angel making love.

"Angel was supposed to pay for what he did to my people."

"And me? What was I supposed to be paying for?"

"I didn't know. I swear I would have told you."

"Curse him again."

"It can't be done. I can't help you."

"Then take me to someone who can."

"You can't do it. You can't kill me."

"Give me time."

"This is all my fault."

"No. I don't believe it is.I know that you loved him, and he has proven more than once that he loved you."

"Make a wish."

"I'll just let it burn."

"He misses you. He doesn't say anything to me, but I know he does. And I don't want him to be lonely. I don't want anyone to."

"I didn't know I was going to fall in love with you.Oh, god. Is it too late to take that back?"

"Do you want to?"

"I just want to make things right with you."

"It's a present for a friend of mine."

"What are you gonna give her?"

"His soul."

"Sorry, Jenny. This is where you get off."

Flashes of Angelus snapping her neck. Flashes of Buffy and Giles fighting Angelus.

"Are you trying to get yourself killed? You can't leave me. I can't do this alone."

"In all my years as a Watcher, I've buried too many people, but Jenny was the first I've loved."

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry I couldn't kill him for you, for her when I had the chance..Angel is gone. Nothing's ever gonna bring him back."

"The curse."

Buffy hands him the paper with the translation on it. Flashes of Kendra dying, Willow getting injured.

"The big moments are gonna come, you can't help that. It's what you do afterwards that counts. That's when you find out who you are."

"I never should have let her do that curse."

"I want to try again."

"I want to save the world."

"If Giles dies, she dies."

"No weapons, no friends, and no hope. Take all that away and what's left?"

"Me."

Flashes of Willow chanting, Angel getting his soul back.

"I love you."

"I love you."

"Close your eyes."

Flash to Buffy stabbing him with a sword. Angel disappears, and she starts to sob. Flashes of her running away, fighting, flashes of her coming home to Joyce.//


"Stop!" Elizabeth pulled away, tears evident in her eyes. "I don't want to see anymore."

"You have to." Faith objected. "You have to see the rest. You have to know what you're prepared to face."

"O-Okay." Elizabeth agreed reluctantly. Faith put her palms to her forehead once more.

"...As if I even could have gone to you, Xander. You made your feelings about Angel and I perfectly clear."

"I'm sorry your honey was a demon. Most girls don't hop a greyhound over boy troubles."

"Time out, Xander."

"I'm Faith."

"I'm gonna go out on a limb and say there's a new Slayer in town."

"Angel was cured...When I killed him. Your spell worked at the last minute, Will. I was about to take him out, and something went through him, and he was Angel again. He didn't remember anything that he'd done.But it was too late and I had to.So, I kissed him, and I killed him."

"Goodbye."

Flashes of her setting the Claddaugh ring on the floor of the mansion. Flashes of Angel coming back, naked.

Flashes of Buffy patrolling, see & capturing Angel. Flashes of Pete trying to kill Buffy, and Angel saving Buffy.

"Buffy? (Sobs) Buffy."

"I'm not going to tell Giles and the others that you're back. They wouldn't understand that you're.better."

"I don't even get why you care about Homecoming when you're doing stuff like this."

"Because this is all I do. This is what my life is. You couldn't understand.

"I could pick up a yearbook someday and say,' I was there. I went to High School, I had friends, and for one moment, I got to live in the world. And there'd be proof-proof.that I was chosen for something other than this."

"We know Angel is alive."

"You were spying on me? What gives you the right?"

"What gives you the right to suck face with your demon lover again."

"Angel's alive."

"The vampire?"

Flashes of Faith trying to kill Angel, Angel saving everyone's lives,

"He did save my life, so that sorta makes me like him again."

"You're not friends, you'll never be friends. You'll be in love 'til it kills you both. You'll fight, and you'll shag, and you'll hate each other 'til it makes you quiver, but you'll never be friends. Love isn't brains, children. It's blood. Blood screaming inside you to work it's will."

"I violently dislike you."

"We're not friends. We never were..What I want from you, I can never have."

"There's got to be some way that we can still see each other."

"There is. Tell me that you don't love me."

Flashes of him not saying anything.

"Buffy, please. Just this once, let me be strong."

"Strong is fighting. It's hard and it's everyday, and we can do it together."

Flashes of them walking in the snow.

"I do know it's important to keep fighting, and I learned that from you."

"But we never--"

"We never win."

"Not completely."

"We never will."

Flashes of Angel and Buffy kissing.

"Check out the lust bunnies."

"Good night."

"Don't worry, big guy. Just keeping her warm for you."

Flashes of Faith watching the shaman lose Angel's soul.

"So, where's the books?"

"Actually, there's been a slight change in plans, Buff."

"Buff? You just called...No."

"Bondage looks good on you, B."

"You had to tie me up to beat me. There's a word for people like you, Faith: Loser."

".So, I slay, I behave. I do the good little girl routine and who does everybody thank? Bufy."

"That's not my fault."

"Everyone always asks, 'Why can't you be more like Buffy?' But did anyone ever ask why can't you be more like Buffy?"

"I know I didn't."

"How you get him, Faith? Majick? You cast some sort of spell? 'Cuz in the real world Angel would never touch you and we both know it."

"Think about that when you're boyfriend's cutting into you."

"All your little friends are going to be kibbles and bits."

"I never knew you had so much rage in you."

"I'm the world's best actor."

"Second best."

"You think we missed anything?"

"I think we know everything she knows."

"You played me!"

Flashes of Buffy and Faith fighting.

"What are you gonna do, B? Kill me? You're not ready for that.yet."

"You still my girl?"

"Always."

"In 243 years, I've loved exactly one person."

"Me."

"She's a brightening young girl, and you want to keep her from the life she should have until it's passed her by and by God, I think that's a little selfish."

"I'm never getting out of here. I'm a Sunnydale girl, no other choice."

"It's a good fight, Buffy. And I want in."

"I kind of love you."


"There are some hard choices ahead. If Buffy can't make them, you're going to have to."

"Who are you to tell me what's right for me? You think I haven't thought about this?"

"Have you? Rationally?"

"No, I'm just some swoony little schoolgirl, right?"

"You know that's not it. I'm trying to think with my head instead of my heart."

"Heart? You have a heart? It isn't even beating."

"Don't."

'Don't what? Don't love you? I'm sorry. I didn't know that I got a choice in that. I'm never gonna change, I can't change. I want my life to be with you."

"I don't."

"I can't believe you're breaking up with me."

"I can't breathe, Will. (sobs) I feel like I can't breathe."

"You want me out of your face?"

"Isn't even a little hard for you?"

"How can you ask me that?"

Flashes of Angel getting shot with Faith's arrow.

"It's poison. I can feel it."

"The only way to cure this thing, is to drain the blood of a Slayer."

"Come to get me? You gonna take me to Angel? You know you're not going to take me alive."

"Not a problem."

"Look at you. All dressed up in big sister's clothes.Give us a kiss."

Flashes of Faith and Buffy fighting, Buffy stabbing Faith with a knife.

"You did it. You killed me. Still won't help your boy though. Shoulda been there, B. Quite a ride."

"I think the pain is less now."

"I'd like to be alone with him."

"Buffy."

"I won't let you die, drink."

Flashes of Angel vamping out and drinking her. Flash to Buffy waking up in the hospital.

"I'm not going to say goodbye. If we survive, I'm just gonna go. Do you understand?"

Buffy holds her hand up, motioning for him to say no more. Flash to the Ascension, Master being defeated.

"He made it through the fight."

Flash to Buffy seeing Angel before he walks away.

"You have a scar."

"Yeah, right..."

"So what I'm wondering is, does this always happen? Sleep with a guy and he goes all evil. God, I'm such a fool."

Flash to Buffy leaving Giles' apartment.

"So, what do you think?"

"She sounds good."

"Where are you going?"

"To watch her."

"It's not fair. You know that's what she'd say. You can see her but she can't see you?"

"Believe me, I'm not getting the good half of this deal. To be on the outside looking in at what I can't... Well, I'd forgotten how bad it feels."

"It was like old times."

"Yeah, especially with Angel being here and everything."

Flashes of Angel turning human, Buffy and Angel making love, Angel almost dying.

"I'm here to beg for her life."

"It is not our place to grant life and death."

"And ask you to take mine back."

"You're asking to be what you were? A demon with a soul. Because of the Slayer."

"It is a matter of love. It does not concern us."

"Yes, it does."
"There is one way.but it is not to be undertaken lightly."

"We swallow this day, as though it never happened. Twenty four hours from the moment the demon first attacked you, we take it back."

"What'll stop us from doing the exact same thing?"

"You. You alone will carry the memory of this day. Can you carry that burden?"

"I'll never forget.I'll never forget."

"So, let's just stick to the plan. Keep our distance until a lot of time has passed. Given enough time, we should be able to--"

"Forget?"

"Yeah.So, I guess we've covered it, right?"

"Guess we did."

"And that's all there really is to say."

"Yeah. That's it."

"Willow, listen. I love you, I will always love you and Xander, but this is the work that I have to do. Tell Giles I figured it out and I'm okay. And give my love to Angel.Tell him that I'm so sorry. Promise me, Willow. You have to take care of him now. You have to take care of each other. Willow, the hardest thing in this world is to live in it. Continue to be brave. Live on. For me."

"Can I say it? I wanna say it! There's no place like--"

Flash to Willow standing up from the nearby couch.

"Willow?"

"What's--"

"It's Buffy."

"Angel, Willow's on the phone. She's alive. Buffy's alive!"

Faith removed her hands away from Elizabeth. The teenager had evident tears on her face.

"You see, Elizabeth?" Faith asked. "There are things you don't know. Things you have to figure out on your own."

"Just.let's get this done." Elizabeth murmured, wiping away the tears.

"All right." Faith said, as she lit a candle. "I call on Alessa, Goddess of all things pure. Please take this offering and make things right. Goddess, move time and space. Make this world a better place."

"Here I come." Elizabeth whispered and Faith watched as she disappeared, and there was nothing left of the daughter that her friends had lost. 

Chapter 6 
 
 

Chapter 6

Elizabeth landed on both her two feet in a local graveyard. She brushed off the apparent grass stains off her clothes and continued on.

"I must be in Los Angeles." She murmured as she saw Angel Investigations. "Here I come, Daddy."

She walked in the building and Wesley looked up. Elizabeth had to restrain herself from hugging her uncle.

"Can I help you, Miss?" he asked her.

"Where is everyone?" she asked. "Angel, Cordelia? Where are they?"

"They're out on a case. Can I help you?" he repeated.

"No, I'll wait." Elizabeth sat down.

"What's this about?" he asked, trying to make conversation.

"I need to talk to Angel." She repeated. "I'm sorry, Mr.?"

"Pryce. Wesley Wyndam Pryce." He introduced himself even though Elizabeth already knew exactly who he was.

"It's nice to meet you, Wesley." Elizabeth flashed her brightest smile.

"Have we met?" he asked.

"I don't think so." Elizabeth shook her head.

"You look awfully familiar." He commented right before Angel walked in.

*Daddy!* Elizabeth's mind screamed out and frowned when she saw Cordelia.

"You shouldn't have followed me, Cordelia." Angel argued.

"I'm fine, Angel. We're alive, right?" she commented. "It's all good."

"Angel--" Wesley interrupted. "This young woman has been waiting for you."

Angel turned to look at Elizabeth. He knew he'd seen her before, but from where?

"Can I help you?" he asked her.

"Yeah, you can." She nodded. "I'm not from around here, you see. I'm from the future. A future in which you and your family are in risk of dying."

"Time travel's impossible." Cordelia muttered.

"Says the seer who lives in a world with vamps and demons." Elizabeth retorted. "We're not far from the End of Days, Angel. You know about the prophecy, you know what it means. A Slayer is going to die. You know which one, too."

"What exactly is your mission here?" Angel growled at her.

"I've been sent by the Powers That Be to make things right." Elizabeth explained. "In the future, Faith's dead and you're freaking out because."

"Because what?"

"Because Cordelia told you lies about people." Elizabeth snapped.

"I would never do that." Cordelia protested.

"You will." Elizabeth warned her and turned back to Angel. "You have to stop it."

"How?" Angel asked. "What do you expect me to do?"

"I think you know." Elizabeth warned. "In the future, Miss Chase has you wrapped around her little finger. My mother could die because of her. Don't you care about innocent people dying?"

"I do, Elizabeth." Angel nodded. "But how do I know you're really from the future?"

"Two days from now, Willow is going to call here to tell you that Buffy's alive." Elizabeth explained. "You two will meet somewhere between Sunnydale and L.A."

"Buffy's back?" Wesley asked.

"She will be." Elizabeth promised. "That's not all. Lorne will tell you about kyerumption and Fred will tell you about moira. Two warriors who meet and seal their destiny as soulmates. They're going to try and push you and Cordelia together."

"How do you know all this?" Wes asked, amazed.

"Hello, from the future?!" Elizabeth snapped. "Look, don't let your guard down, okay? Just trust me when I tell you that no good can come if you and Cordelia get together. The future will cease to exist, and so will a lot of people, including Buffy Summers."

"She'll die?" Angel asked.

"You already know the answer to that, Angel." Elizabeth reminded him. "I'll cease to exist, too. Along with Willow, Xander, Giles, Doyle.All the people you care most about."

"Where are you going?" Angel asked.

"I've got others to see, Angel." Elizabeth told her father. "Especially one incredibly soon to be risen brassed off vampire Slayer. Maybe I'll stop back by. Don't forget what I've told you."

"Thank you, Elizabeth." Angel told her.

She walks out and is able to get around the corner, before Faith appears. She is looking extremely pissed off.

"What?" Elizabeth asked.

"Rule number one, never tell anyone the truth. Your cover's been blown, Liz." Faith told her. "Cordelia knows who you are now. She'll come after you now. You've got to be ready for her. She's never wanted Buffy and Angel together, not even when she was dating Xander Harris."

"So, she'll come after me?" Elizabeth nodded. "My parents taught me to fight well, Faith. I'm not afraid of her."

"Cordelia fights dirty, not like the fighting you're used to." Faith told her. "Are you prepared for that?"

"I will be." Elizabeth assured her. "I'm ready for anything that comes my way, Faith."

"Good." Faith smiled. "Look, I have to get back. You're on your way to the 'Dale?"

"Yeah, I'm going to catch the next bus out of here." Elizabeth explained.

"All right." Faith nodded her consent. "I'll see you soon, Elizabeth."

"Later." Elizabeth agreed.

*Here I come, Mom.* she thought and a big grin formed on her face. *One down, one to go.* 
Chapter 7 
 
 

A/N: Elizabeth will be singing in this fic. I'm not going into detail about when or how, but she will be using her great vocal skills. One of the songs is Amy Studt's "Just A Little Girl" (from the S7 previews) and all other songs are property of Hilary Duff and her music career. Also, quotes have been taken from Bargaining Part 2 & Carpe Noctem and I've twisted them around to use to my advantage. Ha ha.

Chapter 7

Elizabeth walked to the Summers residence and looked around. No one was home, not even Willow or Tara.

*They're raising Mom.* Elizabeth realized and ran.

When she got to the cemetery, no one was there. All traces of the Scooby Gang were gone, save one. Buffy Summers' grave.

Elizabeth was drawn to it instantly. She knelt down and touched the headstone, tears forming in her eyes.

"I know I'm doing the right thing, Mom." She cried. "I know you'll be proud of me."

She looked down at the grass. There was a big hole that she never noticed before.

"She's alive. Where would she go?" Elizabeth asked aloud. "Think Elizabeth, think!"

".But you came back, Mom." Elizabeth smiled. "How did you?"

"I had to crawl out of my grave." Buffy told her. "Someone no one wanted me to experience, not your father, not Aunt Willow, or Uncle Xander."

"But you did." Elizabeth said. "And you survived."

"Barely. I wanted to die that night." Buffy continued. "I went up to Glory's tower and almost killed myself. If it wasn't for Xander, I would have."

"Glory's tower." Elizabeth said, running.

She found her mother climbing to the top when she got there. She followed, climbing to the top and looking to see if Xander was going to surface after all. No signs confirmed her conclusion and she continued to climb.

"Buffy?" Elizabeth choked out as Buffy replayed the events of her death in her mind. "What are you doing?"

"Is this Hell?" Buffy asked.

"What?" Elizabeth asked, thrown off by the question.

"Is this Hell?" Buffy turned around and faced her.

"No! Mo--Buffy, no!" Elizabeth took a step closer. "You're here.with me. Whatever happened to you, whatever you've been through, it's.it's over now. You're."

The tower shakes again and Elizabeth continues, "We have to get off this tower, Buffy. Now."

Buffy turns away from her and looks down again.

"It was so.clear.on this spot. I remember.how.shiny.and clear everything was." Buffy murmured and shook her head. "But.now.now."

"Buffy, please. Listen to me." Elizabeth begged her and Buffy doesn't move. "You told Angel he had to be strong.and believe me, he's tried. And it's been so hard without you."

"Everyone's tried, and we can't survive." Elizabeth cried. "Just don't jump, please. I'm sorry, okay? Everyone will do better, try harder! If you're with us. Stay, please. I need you to live, Buffy. Live! Live for- "

Elizabeth is cut off by the tower shaking once more. The tower is starting to crash, piece by piece.

"Buffy!" Elizabeth is shocked when Buffy turns around.

"I know you." She told her. "I've seen you before. In my dreams."

"I believe that." Elizabeth nodded. "And I'll tell you everything as soon as we get off this tower, I promise. Deal?"

Buffy doesn't answer her. Instead she grabs Elizabeth, leaps off of the tower and grabs the rope. They fall from the rope and land on some cardboard.

Both girls are gasping for air now and Buffy watches as the towel crashes. She grabs Elizabeth, and they both run before the platform falls on the cardboard.

They go around the corner and collapse on the ground once more, gasping for air. Elizabeth looks up at Buffy's face.

"Buffy?" Elizabeth asked.

Buffy looks at her, confused. Elizabeth smiled happily.

"Buffy!" Elizabeth hugged her tightly. "You.You.You're really here. You're alive, and you're home. You're back home." Buffy continues to look confused and doesn't look very happy that she's back home.

Chapter 8

Two days Later

"So, who exactly are you?" Buffy asked Elizabeth.

The whole Scooby Gang, including Giles and Joyce were gathered around in the Summers' living room, looking at Elizabeth.

"My name is Elizabeth." She told them. "I'm from the future."

"The future?" Xander laughed.

"Time travel isn't possible." Willow countered.

"Neither is cursing vampire's with souls, but you managed that just fine." Elizabeth looked to Willow.

"I've come back here to change things." Elizabeth continued. "I don't have time for petty questions."

"Got a mouth on her." Anya stated.

"Thank you, Anyanka." Elizabeth nodded. "If you don't believe me, I can tell you. In three days, Angel is going to call this house, looking for Buffy."

"Angel?" Buffy looked to Willow. "Did you--?"

"Not yet." Willow shook her head. "I wanted to wait a couple days. Make sure you were okay."

"Don't wait, Willow." Buffy shook her head. "I don't want him to think I've gone to Slayer Hell for another minute."

"All right." Willow agreed. "I'll call him now."

Meanwhile, in Los Angeles..

"Fred, I've been meaning to talk to you about something." Angel sits down next to her. Fred sets her book down and smiled at him.

"Okay." She nodded and waited for him to speak. When no answer came she continued, "Is this about how you're not like other men- what with that curse and all.and how you're really fond of me, but that's as far as it goes?"

"Uhm.yeah." He shook his head.

"Cordelia already explained it to me." She chuckled. "She said you'd probably just screw it up."

"Oh, she did, did she?" Angel sighed. "And she's probably right."

He watches her sigh and look down.

"What?" he asked.

"It's like something out of Fitzgerald." She explained. "The man who can have everything but love.Well, maybe in some ways you're better off, because love is.Well, in a way it's everything.but, it's also heartache and disappointment. Ande those are good things to avoid."

Cordelia comes hurrying out with a shocked look on her face. Angel and Fred turn their heads to look at her.

"Angel, Willow's on the phone.She's alive! Buffy's alive!" Cordelia said breathlessly and hurried back inside.

Angel and Fred stared at each other for a second.

*Elizabeth was right.* He thought and jumped up and ran into the hotel after Cordelia.

"Buffy? Who's Buffy?" Fred asked aloud.
T.B.C.

See? Alas, I must end the chappie here.  Stay tuned.
 
"Do you believe me now?" Elizabeth asked Buffy. " I mean, what more proof do you need?"

 

"It's not a matter of believing you, Elizabeth." Buffy shook her head.  "Believe me, its not!"

 

"God, Mom!" Elizabeth yelled. "Buffy.  I--I mean, Buffy."

 

"That wasn't a Freudian slip, Elizabeth." Buffy stared back at her.  "So, you're my daughter?"

 

"Yes." Elizabeth nodded. "I wasn't supposed to tell you."

 

"Why exactly are you here, Elizabeth?" Buffy asked.  "And who sent you?"

 

"The PTB sent me." Elizabeth sighed.  "And I told, I came back to change things.  Mainly your impending death."

 

"My death?" Buffy clutched her hands on the countertop.  "I'm going to die? For good this time?"

 

"Supposedly." Elizabeth nodded her response.  "Which is why I'm here, Mom? You can't give up, and you can't let her win."

 

"Her?" Buffy repeated.  "Who are you talking about?"

 

"Cordelia Chase, Mom." Elizabeth blurted out.  "She wants Daddy all to herself and she'll stop at nothing to get him, even if it means taking you and I out of the picture immediately."

 

"So.." Buffy sighed with relief. "Angel's your father."

 

"Yeah, and a great one at that." Elizabeth smiled.  "And you two are together and happy.  And that'll continue as long as we stop Cordelia."

 

"Cordelia's many things, Elizabeth, but harmful isn't one of them." Buffy explained.  "She didnt even know how to dust a vampire until she was eighteen."

 

"Well, she's gotten a little more ambitious since then.  I swear, sometimes, you and Dad are so dense." Elizabeth grunted. "She's going to kill you, Mom, and I'll be damned if I'm going to allow that to happen. Don't go see Daddy when he calls.  I'll go in your place."

 

"Why?" Buffy asked.

 

"I just think she'll try something." Elizabeth shrugged.  "Let me take care of her, Mom."

 

"Liz, you're a civilian." Buffy reminded her. "I can't risk you."

 

"You wont have to." Elizabeth shook her head.  "I'm the product child of vampire and a vampire slayer.  You and Dad taught me to fight.  If anything, I'm strong.  I know things that you don't, Mom.  Cordelia's, one of them.  Believe me when I say that you just have to trust me on this."

 

"I do trust you, Elizabeth." Buffy assured her and patted her knee. "I don't trust me.  I've always broken the rules in some form or another.  What if I fuck this up too?"

 

"I have faith in you." Elizabeth smiled.  "Dad does, too.  Mom, you and Dad have the power to change things.  I'm just a messenger."

 

"You're more than that. You're my child." Buffy cried. 

 

"Yeah." Elizabeth hugged her.  "Hey, I don't want to see tears here.  No crying, okay? We make it through this and you can bawl all you want.  Thank god you're only emotional for four days out of the year."

 

"Four days?" Buffy shook her head.  "What four days?"

 

"The anniversaries of Jenny's death, your wedding, my birthday, and your birthday.  You never celebrate it, Mom, but you still cry on your birthday for hours on end.  Dad usually makes it a point to be on a case during your sobfests or something.  He doesn't ever mention anything of it, though I do know the reason why he tends to be the absentee father slash husband."

 

"Why's that?" Buffy asked.

 

" 'Cuz your birthday is like a joke.  Anything that can go wrong, does go wrong.  Daddy lost his soul, you lost your Slaying powers, blah blah blah." Elizabeth rolled her eyes.  "Don't look at me like that, okay? It's freaky."

 

"You have his nose." Buffy commented.

 

"And your eyes." Elizabeth nodded. "I look more like you, or so everyone says."

 

"You do." Buffy nodded.  "Although you do have his stubbornness and his I-have-to-make-all-the-deciscions-without-consulting-anyone-first mentality, which I hate, by the way."

 

"It's in the jeans, sorry." Elizabeth apologized. "So, Dad's gonna call soon.  You'll let me see him instead of showing up?"

 

"I guess." Buffy shrugged.

 

"Mom, please.  Don't follow me." Elizabeth warned.  "Cordelia's going to do something both pathetic and dangerous.  I don't.....Look Mom, if I don't make it back, I need someone to make sure the future is changed.  I need a second front and I need you to run it."

 

"Elizabeth, you know I can't let you go into the battlefield fighting blind." Buffy reiterated. 

 

"You have to." Elizabeth argued.  

 

Just as Buffy was about to speak again, the phone rang.

 

"That's Dad." Elizabeth told her. "You gonna answer it?"

 

She watched as her mother picked up and carried on a brief conversation with the vampire on the other end of the line.  She hung up moments later and turned back to Elizabeth, who knocked her unconscious with one of Grandma Joyce's vases.

 

"Sorry, Mom. You'll thank me for this later." Elizabeth told her as she stole car keys, Buffy's keys, and tied her mother up to a barstool.

 

"Come on, Chase.  Better make your move." Elizabeth cursed as she walked out of the Summers residence.  "Sides, I'm really fucking tired of waiting."

 

T.B.C.

 

This was a quickie finish to this chapter.  I've been so consumed with RL that I haven't had time to update a lot.  Sorry, and please send feedback/criticism.

 

Also, isn't it ironic that my TL (Team Leader) at work looks and acts exactly like nice S3 Cordy (the one who was there for Angel when Buffy died and came back, the good listener of Fred) before she became infatuated with Angel and though they were "in love" with each other.