TITLE: Lost Champions

 

AUTHOR: persistenceofmemory

 

DISCLAIMER: * I own nothing, Joss and Co. own all. This is how I think this season should end*

RATING: R

PAIRINGS: A/S

Part 1.

Spike sat at his normal table in Mrs. Kitty’s Wiggle Room, knocking back pints. He was on number five, sure the alcohol didn’t effect him like it did humans but he would still have a hangover in the morning. He really didn’t care, the only person in his life that actually liked him was gone and the only remotely interesting person was gone too. He had just ordered another pint when he heard her voice.

“You really shouldn’t drink so much pet.” She said. He looked up at her, her long black curls were hanging lose around her shoulders. She wore that old white lace dress she always loved and her black wool jacket. He could see Miss. Edith’s head poking out of her pocket.

“Your not her.” He took a drink from the new beer, as he looked away from his lost love.

“Am I not?” she cocked her head to the side, a confused look played across her face as she started to spin around in circles examining her self. Spike turned to face her and gave her a give -me –a – break – how –stupid –do –you –think –I –am look. “Alright I’m not Drusilla. What tipped you off?” She stopped spinning.

He took another gulp of his beer, secretly hoping that if he got even more hammered she might go away. “Drusilla, is dead. She died a few months ago, I felt her pass.”

“Ya. Sorry about that. She was becoming a problem so we sent a slayer after her.” She said as she sat down in the chair next to him.

“Alright I’ll play along who are you and who is we.” Spike set the beer down and looked away from the stage as Lola, his favorite dancer walked off.

“Maybe we should go someplace more...” she paused and looked around “Clothed. How about your place?”

Spike laughed. “You may look like Dru but you aren’t her, and this ‘aint a date so my place is out of the question. Besides if we went to my place we wouldn’t be more clothed.” Still chuckling he took a deep drink from the beer.

“Well I could be any one you want me to be. Tell me whom you would take home. I just need to talk, but if I have to sleep with you to get you to listen that’s fine. I have orders to do anything in my power to get you to listen.” She sat back waiting for his answer.

“Well that changes everything.” he said sarcastically.

“Really?” she moved forward in her chair.

“No” he said flatly. “The only person I want you can’t give to me and as a matter of fact how do I know your not the First?”

“The First what?” she had that confused Drusilla look again as Spike just stared at her. “Oh! The First Evil ya, she’s moved on to another dimension. The one with nothing but shrimp I think.”

“She?” now Spike was the confused one. “I thought it had no specific gender.”

“Well, kinda we just go by the form it takes most often. In your case it was the slayer.”

“Right then.” With that he finished off the last of his beer and stood up to leave.

“So,” she said as she got up to follow him. “We going back to your place?”

“No, we aren’t going anywhere I however am going home.” Spike was desperate to make the annoyance leave but she persisted. When they were out in the parking lot she pined him against the wall of the club.

“Look I have to get this message to you at all costs or...” she stopped she didn’t want to say it, that would make it real.

“Or what I don’t have time for games you either tell me or I leave.” He was getting really annoyed. All Spike wanted to do was go home and sleep off his coming hang over.

“Fine, but first we go back to your place. Deal?” she extended her hand to shake his.

Spike rolled his eyes. “What choice do I have, deal.” He left her hand hanging in mid air. If he was going to do this he would do it under extreme protest.

* * * * * *

Angel was in his big comfy bed in his pent house apartment, by all means he should be sleeping but he hadn’t slept since Fred died or disappeared or whatever had happened and now Gunn. He rolled over on his side and saw someone he hadn’t seen since his son was born. He jumped out of bed, his back flush against the wall. He felt cold all of a sudden and remembered he was naked, he grabbed a pillow off of the bed to cover himself. He tried to speak but all he could squeak out was, “D- Darla?”

“Sorry if I scared you.” She said that wicked Darla gleam in her eye.

“Your... your not Darla. She died, several times actually.” He said slowly inching away from the wall and towards the door.

“Ya, I know. If your cold you can come back into bed, I don’t bite, well,” she laughed softly “Not in this form anyways.”

“Who are you?” Angel asked staying rooted to his spot.

“I’m here to give you a message from the Powers That Be.” She said as she sat up, the sheet falling away to revel her black lace bra.

“The Powers.” Angel sighed half heartedly as he dropped the pillow that was covering him. “The Powers.” He said it a little louder that time. “Now what in the hell do the Powers That Screw You Over want with me.”

“We want our champions back, the senior partners have been trying to take you out of the game for years and they finally succeeded. We can’t have them in possession of our two strongest champions what with the final apocalypse coming now can we?” she slid off the silk sheets and out of the bed. As she started to walk over to him Angel inched back towards the wall. “Oh would you relax, my orders are to get this message to you at all costs. Even if I have to sleep with you.”

“I’m not interested besides I’ve slept with the real Darla many times I don’t need a repeat with the cheep knock off.” Angel had figured that this was just a bad dream so why not be a jerk.

“This isn’t a dream.” She had read his mind. “So don’t be a jerk, what I have to say is important and you will listen no matter what.” Her voice was cold, much like the real Darla.

“Fine I’ll listen but that doesn’t mean I do whatever this message says, got it?” Angel said his voice coated in anger. This was not the time for the Powers to be butting into his already screwed up life.

She paused to consider her options. “Fine.” She hissed through gritted teeth.

* * * * * *

“Um... this is... nice.” She lied as she walked in to Spike’s small, rather dirty apartment.

“Could you be an even worse liar?” Spike grunted morosely as he slumped his jacket on the bed and plopped down on the lumpy couch.

“Can we skip the small talk? I’m supposed to give you the message from the Powers That Be and go.” She said sitting down next to him on the couch.

“Speaking of this message of yours, you said that you would tell me why you must get it to me. What are the Powers going to do to you if I don’t get the message?” Spike smiled, playfully cocking his head to the side. He was very drunk now so he decided to have some fun with the fake Drusilla.

“They said that this was our last chance to redeem our selves. If we fail they will throw my sister and me into hell, until the last apocalypse anyways. On earth that would be weeks, months maybe, in this particular hell dimension it would be billions upon billions of years.” She sighed, shifting on the lumpy couch.

“Wow.” Spike said, he actually felt sorry for the girl, damn soul. “What did you do to piss them off so much?”

“We created you.” She stood up, it was very hard to get a comfy spot on that couch.

“What?” Spike shouted in disbelief.

“Your whole line actually, starting with the Master and moving down to Darla and so on. We just supposed to keep the master safe from the first vampire; she was looking to sire him. He was a very important King way back when, but we decided to have a little fun with him.” She looked over at him and saw his confusion.

“So you let her sire him? Then made him sire Darla, then Angelus and so forth?” Spike said counting off his family on his fingers.

“Ya.” His jaw dropped in disbelief. “What? We were only kids and the youngest powers up there I might add. We were also wicked powerful, but they fixed that after Drusilla, the real Drusilla made you. After they got done with us we barely had power enough to give Angelus a soul.”

“I always wondered why that happened.” Spike was starting to accept the idea that he was just a puppet for this girl’s amusement maybe it was the beer.

“Well we had to give him a soul. It set into motion his journey to become a champion, yours also I might add.” She sat back down and sank deep into the couch she was really tired. The longer she was on earth the more energy she burned.

“Okay, that surprisingly explains a lot.” Spike said, putting a comforting arm around her. She may not be his Dru but at least he could treat her like his Dru, considering he was drunk and probably wouldn’t remember any of this in the morning. “Alright I’ll listen, what is your message?”

        * * * * * *

“Walk away.”

“What? I can’t do that!” Angel yelled.

“Why not?” she asked standing up from her spot on Angel’s couch. They had moved into the living room by now. “Whoa, head rush.”

“Okay, you just told me to leave Wolfram and Hart and go back to Angel investigations.” Angel said as he began to pace in front of the couch, he was still naked but he really didn’t care any more. “Now why would I do that?”

“Okay ya no what, I thought you would be happy. You hate this place! At least I thought you did, I guess I was wrong.” She gave a huge sigh as she fell back onto the couch, she was tired and if her energy kept draining at this rate she wouldn’t be able to last more than another hour.

“Well if I leave then I leave Gunn in a hell dimension being tortured to death every damn day, I leave Wesley with Fred- or Illyria or whoever, which will not end well. I leave Lorne drowning his sorrows in Sea breezes by the gallon and now I have Eve and Lindsey to unload somewhere and on top of that I leave...” he stopped, dreading what he was about to say. “I leave...”

“Spike.” The fake Darla said, not reading his mind, more like reading his heart.

“Ya, I leave Spike.” Angel sat heavily into an armchair. “And on top of leaving every one I love, my contacts die, the money goes poof and I lose my garage along with my car collection.” He brought his hand up and pinched the bridge of his nose. “And I don’t think I’m strong enough to do all that, the loved ones thing, although leaving the cars will be hard to.”

Darla rolled her eyes. “Men.” She sighed.

        * * * * * *

“Leave Wolfram and Hart? That’s the big message that you were sent to deliver?” Spike said in shock. “But what about Gunn? I can’t just let him rot in that holding dimension thingy. What about Wes, Lorne, Fred and...” he couldn’t think of anything else, well he could but he refused to say it out loud. “What about Angel’s cars, now I hate the poof but he does have really good taste in cars.”

“That’s not what you were going to say but yes, he does have good taste in cars.” She had seen Angel’s garage, it was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen, and she had seen heaven for crying out loud.

        * * * * * *

“Look, Angel... would you look at me!” she stalked over to where he was sitting, grabbed Angel’s head and forced it upwards until he looked her directly in the eyes. “I never said that you had to give all that up.”

The cold look in Angel’s eyes softened. “What do you mean?” he asked as he looked at her with child like innocence.

“Look...” she paused “You have to realize something here, this is the biggest deal the Powers have ever cut with any one much less two of their champions. They will give you Gunn back, they will keep all of you contacts, all of the money and all of the cars. They will even bring Fred back.”

“Y- you can do that?” Angel didn’t believe what she was telling him. “How?”

“Were the powers That Be, we can do anything. We will give you anything you ask for, anything and everything, just name it, and hell we will even give you another seer. All we ask is that you work for us not them.”

        * * * * * *

“What’s the difference?” Spike said sticking his hand down the front of his pants to scratch himself.

“What’s what difference?” Drusilla asked looking at him in disgust.

“The difference between working for Wolfram and Hart and working for the powers? If you’re giving us all the same privileges and resources, then what’s the difference?” Spike said taking his hand out of his pants and opening yet another beer.

“You’re kidding me right?” she said in disbelief. “You’ve said it yourself several times. Heroes don’t sit back and just accept that the world is screwed. They act, they do, they change things. You guys haven’t been doing that. Just look at it this way. Life is just one big chess game between The Powers That Be and the Senior Partners, our champions are our pieces and with the Senior Partners it’s demons. You and Angel are our King and Queen, we can’t win without you two. Besides in this deal you get Gunn and Fred back. You will get everything you could ever want or need. We will even make his soul permanent if you agree to fight with us.” She said with a playful gleam in her eyes.

“Wait I thought our souls were already permanent?” Spike was confused “Oh and just for the record which one of us is King?”

“Why does that really matter? And your soul is permanent but his isn’t, not really. One moment of pure happiness and poof, Angelus is back.” She said snapping her fingers.

“Wait hold up. Why is mine permanent and his isn’t? Not that I care.”

“Because yours was won as a prize, his was a curse. But all I’m saying is that if we made his permanent, you could be together. No Angelus every time you give him a happy, just you and him.”

“What makes you think that I’m in love with Angel?” Spike tried his best to act shocked as he shifted uneasily in his seat. How did she know?

“I’m an all knowing ultimate being of pure power, I know everything, hence the all knowing part, besides we created you that way.” She giggled. “I know how much you love him, and he loves you just as much.”

“Really?” he said, his voice full of hope.

        * * * * * *

“He really loves me?” Angel couldn’t believe what he was hearing.

“He really, really loves you. And as soon as you leave Wolfram and Hart your soul can’t be removed no matter what, not by magic, not by sex. Absolutely nothing.” She smiled gently. “His was already permanent so no harm there.”

“I’m going to have to talk to the gang but...” Angel stopped, some part of him still thought that this was a dream. If it was he never wanted to wake up.

“That’s fine, you have twenty four hours to make your decision. In the mean time stay here until the work day starts okay?”

“Okay.”

“The Powers might have fun messing with you, slayers, champions and vampires with souls are our finest creations. We don’t want to throw that all away.” She said with a soft smile, something Angel had never seen on the real Darla’s face. “I will be back in twenty four hours for you choice. Bye.” With that she disappeared and Angel was left sitting by himself.

        * * * * * *

“Wow.” Spike was in shock at what he had just heard. “Wow.”

“I know.” The fake Dru was standing in front of Spike, who was currently lost in thought. “Angel is getting the same message from my sister, you have twenty four hours to confer with him and the others, then you have to chose.” She stopped and waited until Spike snapped out of his daze. “You shouldn’t wait until tomorrow, go to him now, talk, shag whatever. Just chose, us or them.” She turned to leave.

“Wait how...” Spike didn’t get the chance to finish the thought before she disappeared, not out the door just gone.

Spike didn’t even think he just sprang up from the couch, grabbed his coat and ran to his car. As he was driving towards Wolfram and Hart he started to think. “Am I only doing this ‘cuz I’m drunk? No I’ve got a headache so I think I’m sobering up.” He was speaking to himself trying to rationalize why he was driving ninety miles an hour towards his sire, whom he hates. “No use trying to make sense of it Spike, just that you love the great poof and he loves you, hopefully.” Spike said reassuringly to himself.

When he got to Wolfram and Hart it was pouring rain, Spike leapt out of the Viper he had stolen from Angel and ran towards the underground garage. He punched the elevator button so many times he almost put his fist through the wall. After what seamed like hours the elevator arrived and Spike jumped inside. When he got up to the main lobby he ran full speed into Angels office and took yet another slow elevator up to the penthouse. When the lift finally stopped the doors seamed to take forever to open so Spike squeezed himself through and found Angel sitting in an armchair, naked.

Angel looked up to see what the noise was. “Your dripping on my carpet.” He said quietly.

“What?” Spike huffed, catching his breath when he looked down and saw that he was soaked from head to toe from the rain. “Oh, sorry peach-, oh bugger it, why do I always start a fight with you?” Spike said as he removed his black leather duster and pulled his muddy boots off. “I got a visit from some chit that looked like Drusilla, she said that you love me as much as I love you. Was she right?”

Angel said nothing for a moment that seamed to last forever to Spike. “Take your wet clothes off and put them in front of the fire, you can stay here tonight while they dry.” Angel stood up and walked towards the bedroom. “I’ll go get dressed and we can talk.”

“Now wait just a soddin’ minute,” Spike said angrily as he ran over to where Angel was standing. “I just said that I love you. Do you feel the same way or not?” Spike’s eyes met Angel’s for an instant before they dropped to the floor in disappointment. “I guess I was...” before he could finish his sentence Angel planted a scorching kiss on Spike’s cold wet lips.

“If I say it now, nothing will keep me from bedding you.” Angel smiled. “And then I will lose my soul and cause another apocalypse. Lets wait until we’ve decided what to do about Wolfram and Hart. Okay?”

“Kay” Spike said as a smile spread across his lips.

“Good. Now take off your wet clothes and put them by the fire.” Angel gave Spike a peck on the cheek and began to walk towards the bedroom again.

“Yes sire, but you have to do something for me to.” Spike said with an evil gleam in his eye.

“Oh? And what would that be childe?” Angel asked with a playful smile.

“Don’t get dressed, don’t talk. Just take me to bed and hold me like you used to.” Spike said leaning his head on his sire’s chest.

“I can do that.” Angel said smiling down at his childe. When Spike had put his wet clothes in front of the fire the two men walked towards the bedroom together. They climbed into bed and Angel slipped his arm around Spike’s middle and kissed the back of his boy’s neck.

“Sire?” Spike asked sleepily.

“Yes childe?”

“I’m sorry that I bugged you everyday last week while you were trying to work.”

Angel chuckled quietly. “No you’re not but thanks for saying it. Now sleep or you’ll have a vicious hangover in the morning.”

“All right, goodnight Angel.” Spike said softly as he shifted in bed so he was face to face with his sire.

“Goodnight Spike.” With that Angel planted another burning kiss on Spike’s lips. They both may be only room temperature but every kiss that they have shared could have melted the paint off the walls.

        * * * * * *

Part 2.

The next morning both vampires rose with the sun and dressed in silence. The walked into and out of the elevator hand in hand. Spike sat in one of the chairs in the conference room that was attached to Angel’s office while Angel went to talk to Harmony.

“Harmony... Harmony!” Angel growled as the blonde ditz flipped through the pages of some fashion magazine.

“Ya boss.” Her head snapped up to reveal a big fake smile.

“I need you to call every one and get them here, Lorne, Wes, even Illyria get them all. I want them in my office in half an hour do I make myself clear?” his voice was cold and harsh, he even saw Harmony wince because of it.

“Y- you got it boss. Anything else?” she asked as she inched away from the elder vampire.

“Ya actually there is, you get in there to. I need my whole team.” Angel smiled as he saw the grin across her face widen at the thought of being included.

“Right away boss.” She said triumphantly as she picked up the phone to call the others. As she was doing so Angel walked back to his office and over to Spike. He put a comforting hand on his childe’s shoulder.

“You ready to do this?” he asked, his voice smooth and inviting.

Spike looked up at his sire. “I’ve never been more ready in my entire life.”

“Good, ‘cuz I’m scared as hell.” Angel and Spike both laughed at this.

Spike stood up and pulled Angel into a hug, as they left the embrace Spike said, “Everything will be fine, I promise.” He smiled at Angel and gave him a quick kiss.

“Uh... did I miss something?” Lorne asked as he and Harmony walked into the office.

“Right on time.” Angle said as he glanced at his watch. “Harmony where’s Wes with Illyria?”

“Oh they will be here in a minute Angel.” Harmony smiled, she had actually convinced them to come to the meeting, she was very proud of herself.

“Good work Harm.” Spike winked at his ex. He was happy that everything was going smoothly, he wanted to get out of the belly of the beast once and for all.

“Alright I’m here what do you want Angel?” Wesley grunted as he entered the room a few moments later with Illyria in toe.

“Every one take a seat.” Angel motioned towards the conference room and every one did as they were told, even Illyria. Spike and Angel stood together at the front of the room. “Last night one of The Powers That Be came into my penthouse.”

“Ya and one came to me as Drusilla.” Spike added.

“They made us an offer, and we have until midnight tonight to accept or reject. The Powers dressed her up as Darla, probably hoping that would make me accept their offer but I wanted to ask you guys first.”

“Hold on a second Angelcakes.” Lorne said holding his hand up to stop Angel. “I think we’ve already déjà-ed this vu. You might remember oh say a year ago when Wolfram and Hart handed us the keys to the kingdom. And since then we have lost two friends, three if you count Cordy, and gained one very mean demon ex. goddess. I don’t think I can take any more offers from higher powers whose to do list includes cause apocalypse. But hey, that’s just me” he leaned back in his chair as the others soaked up what he had just said.

“I know, we had a hard time trusting them too.” Angel was trying to reassure them to some avail.

“Ya I even thought mine was the First Evil for a second.” Spike said trying to back Angel up as best he could.

“Point is their offer is real and it’s the best we will ever see. Its gets us out of here and we don’t have to give up anything, the contacts, the money or anything else we might have gotten while working here.” Angel ticked off their newly acquired luxuries on his fingers. “The powers will also give us a new seer. And best of all we get...” Angel was cut off by their new link to the Senior Partners.

“Oh, are we having a department meeting? Because the Senior Partners explicitly request that I be present at all department related functions or meetings.” He said with a smile.

“As I was saying,” Angel paid no regard to the man and kept talking. “If we take this we can get Fred and Gunn back.” At the mention of their names Angel had the undivided attention of everyone in the room.

“We can get her back?” Wesley said slowly, not believing what he was hearing.

“If she comes back,” Illyria said coldly. “If she comes back into this shell I will have no where to go. I will die, I have never died before. Death is a stupid human trait and I will have none of it.”

“Relax Illyria.” Spike said getting tired of that bitch mucking up the works. “I’m sure we will be able to arrange another body for you. Or if you like we can put you in any other dimension you please.”

“Wait, hold on a second.” Lorne almost shouted. “Angel I thought Gunn said that a void in that holding cell thing was imposable. How are we going to get Gunn out? We can’t put some other sap in there. Wait, can we?”

“I don’t know how it will work but it will. The Powers might like to screw with but this is a genuine offer.” Angel was trying to keep his voice as steady as humanly possible. “We need to take this guys. I want Fred and Gunn back, they are our friends we need them here.” Angel lowered himself into a near by chair with a heavy sigh.

Wesley stood up. “All I care about is getting Fred back, if you lot want Gunn back it’s your choice.”

“You gotta be kidding me.” Spike shouted. “Wes mate, didn’t Angel eventually forgive you after you kidnapped his son and handed him off to that vampire hunter Holtz?”

“Well what was I supposed to do? The prophecy said the father will kill the son, and that has absolutely no relevance to this situation.” Wesley said stiffly.

“All I’m saying is when we get Fred back, there will be no reason to hate him. So why not forgive and forget?” Spike was hoping to make some headway with Wesley but it seamed unlikely.

“I could honestly care less.” Wesley’s voice was cold as he sat back into the chair. “But I’m with you, all the way.”

“Well that’s three votes of yes, anyone else.” Spike looked around the room waiting for someone to speak.

“We wont do this unless every one is with us.” Angel said hoping that might convince people that they were needed for this to work.

“Let me see if I understand this.” Lorne paused, trying to think of the right words. “If we take this, everything goes back to the way it was. We go back to the hotel, we run a detective agency, someone gets visions and we save people. This is the plan yes?”

“Wait just a moment.” Every one had forgotten about the Wolfram and Hart flunky standing at the door. “You’re all leaving?”

“Ya were leaving ya pounce.” Spike came to the group’s defense as he sauntered over to the very tall, very well dressed man.

“No, no, no. You can’t leave. Unless the CEO of this branch, that would be you Angel, dies or is in any way unable to do his job you can’t leave for another four years. It’s a five year contract.” He gave a big oafish smile.

Angel got up from his chair and casually walked over to the man. “Sit down Spike I got this one.” He said, Spike reluctantly obeyed. “I’ve got a news flash for you.” He smiled up at the taller man. “I’m already dead, besides I know what clause your talking about and if you read the fine print on my contract,” Angel said happily as he walked into the other room and over to his desk.

He unlocked the top drawer and pulled out a packet of papers as think as the last Harry Potter book and began flipping through the pages. When he found what he was looking for he walked back over to the group and placed the contract on the table. “You will see this.” He began to read from the contract. “Article sixty six, page six hundred and sixty six, paragraph six, Clause of CEO Death and I quote ‘If said Wolfram and Hart CEO at any time in his/ her life/ unlife has ever been reanimated/ executed then reverted back to their former state they are considered dead by this and all other Wolfram and Hart legal branches. Even if said time of change is supposedly nonexistent or occurred in an alternate dimension. If said CEO holds to this clause then his/ her contract is null and void there by releasing aforementioned CEO and any other parties’ he/ she has brought to this or any other Wolfram and hart legal branch at any time during their five year contract.’” Angel looked at the taller man, his mouth was hanging open with a blank stare on his face. “Last year little miss electro girl Gwen jumpstarted my heart, I was technically alive for half a second, so therefore we are off the hook. We don’t have to stay if we don’t want to, now get out of my office.” He said all this with a smile on his face and a song in his heart.

“H- how did you know about that clause?” he stammered.

“I read the contract.” Angel still had that evil Angelus smile, he had won, he had beaten the Senior Powers at their own game.

“But no one ever reads the contract, at least not all of it.” He still couldn’t believe this was happening, he had only been here three days and he had already messed up, the Senior Partners were going to kill him, literally.

“Well I haven’t been sleeping to well since Fred died so I thought maybe there was something in there that could bring her back. I read all two thousand pages, all of the three million seven hundred thousand nine hundred and sixty two words. And instead I found all sorts of little gems that I could use against you.” Angel heard Spike snorting with laughter behind him. “Now, get out of my office.”

“Ta, ta mate, don’t forget to write.” Spike squeaked trying to hold back tears, he was laughing so hard at the look on the big idiot’s face he could barely speak.

“Now lets get back to business people.” Angel said as their ex. Link to the Senior Partners ran out the door, a look of shock still firmly in place on his big dumb face. Angel moved the heavy contract aside and sat down. “Harmony, you’ve been quite. What do you think?”

The attention of the room turned towards the blonde. “Um...” she stammered, she might talk a lot but not when everyone was looking at her. “Well Fred was my best friend, actually she was my only friend. Well since Cordy died, anyways I want her back, and Gunn to. You guys are the closest thing to a family that I’ve got left, and Angel if you think this is best for everyone than I’m with you one million percent.” she smiled.

“Well put Harmonica!” Lorne said as he started clapping. Angel and Spike were in shock, that was the most intelligent thing the ditz had ever said. Working here had really done her some good, as unlikely that seamed.

“Well, Lorne it’s your turn now. Yes or no.” Angel’s voice was calm.

Now Spike still being Spike, soul or not still had to say something. “Ya mate, and mind you, you are the deciding factor here. It’s all or none remember, the fate of everyone you love is in your hands.” Spike said with a wicked smile as Angel shot him a dirty look.

“Oh gee wiz thanks Spike, look guys I want to do this as much as you do but,” he stopped he didn’t trust his voice, he needed to relax. He needed a sea breeze. “We’ve been fooled many, many times by the Powers, and there will be a catch. That’s the way the universe works. A big deal like this just doesn’t fall into your lap. That’s what happened with Wolfram and Hart and we all know how that ended. The universe doesn’t just hand you the world, you have to pay a price.” His voice was shaking. He wanted Fred and Gunn back more than anything but he was afraid of what they might have to give up to do so.

“We understand Lorne and whatever consequences there are, we will face them together, Fred and Gunn and everyone. I will not let anyone die because of this, I’m done losing friends, we all are, now, yes or no.” Angel’s voice was steady, he wanted this so bad part of him didn’t even care if they all had to suffer the consequences.

Lorne took a deep breath. “Yes.”

“Yes!” Spike shouted jumping up from his seat to hug Angel.

Angel slid out of his childe’s grasp. “Later.” He whispered so that only Spike could hear. “So we all agree. Good.” Angel looked at his watch, nine AM. “We have fifteen hours to clear this place out. Lets move.”

“Um... you lost me there mate.” Spike said, a confused look on his face.

“Well, we want to make sure that they don’t get this place going again for a while, at least until Angel Investigations is back on it’s feet. So we are going to rip this place apart.” And with an evil smirk Angel began to lay out the plan. “Wes, you take Illyria and clear out that vault full of magic stuff, take anything that you want, oh also get those books that can be any book in the world, we need those too. Harmony, you go down to that lab and get all of Fred’s notes. Take anything shinny that looks useful and tell everyone in the building to go home even security, got it?”

“Yup.” She said as she Wesley and Illyria left to do their appointed tasks.

“Spike, go down to my garage, take every car and drive them over to the Hyperion, leave the Hummer and the two bigger SUV’s we will need them to transport stuff. When your done get back here A.S.A.P. and clear out all the weapons in the building, anything you can find that’s sharp, poisonous or magical. Oh and also go around to everyone’s offices and grab their Rolodex, Harmony’s too, okay?”

“Got it mate.” Spike turned to leave but was stopped by Angel.

“Spike...” Angel said as he pulled Spike into a kiss.

Spike said nothing but gave Angel a soft smile and trotted out the door towards the elevator.

“Okay Lorne that leaves you and me. We are going to clear out the archives. So lets go.”

“Um... Angel, the Wolfram and Hart archives are huge. It would take days and about a hundred people to clear them out.”

“Well, we will have to get as much as we can.” Angle said ushering Lorne out the door as Harmony’s voice came over the loud speaker.

        * * * * * *

Part 3.

It was eleven thirty and Angel was just pulling the hummer into the packed parking lot of the Hyperion Hotel. “Common Spike we’d better get everyone to help unload.” Angel said, his voice weary.

“This is that last of it right?” Spike could hardly keep his eyes open, he didn’t even think he would have the strength to get out of the truck much less carry a whole bunch of really heavy books and weapons.

“Ya this is the last. Then we can sleep.” Angel groaned as he got out of his prized hummer. A few moments later he, Spike, Illyria, Harmony and Lorne were unloading the back of the truck, Wesley was inside sorting the stuff they had brought in. When they had emptied the hummer they all fell on to the various couches and chairs in the lobby of the hotel.

“Owwie!” Harmony and Lorne moaned together.

Angel and Spike were curled up together on the love seat. Wesley was letting out soft moans of pain in a nearby recliner and Illyria just stood in the corner muttering something about human weakness. They had only just sat down when the grandfather clock in the foyer struck midnight and all the lights in the building went out.

“So much for a subtle entrance.” Spike grunted.

“Well they are punctual, you have to admit that.” Angel joked, but as soon as he and Spike started to laugh he regretted it, every inch of his body hurt and he winced in pain.

“Well this is a lively crowd.” The fake Darla said.

“Yes quite.” Drusilla giggled. “So have you lot made your choice?” She asked sweetly.

“Give me a sec.” Angel groaned as he stood up. “Okay I’m up. Yes we’ve made our choice.”

“And that would be what then?” Darla asked.

“Hay I thought you were all knowing or some shit like that, why do you have to ask?” Spike said sarcastically, getting up from his spot on the couch with a heavy groan.

“We can’t read your minds unless you want your mind read, it’s the whole getting screwed over in the fine print thing. So what’s your choice?” Drusilla said impatiently.

“Were going to take your offer, on two conditions though.” Angel told the fake Dru and Darla. “You have to give Fred her old body back, the way it was before Illyria. And second you have to put Illyria in another dimension, anywhere she wants. Can you do all that?”

“Yes that can be arranged.” Darla said calmly. “And now, lets get to the consequences.” she said with and evil smirk.

“Told you there would be consequences.” Lorne grunted from behind them.

“Ya Lorne I got it.” Angel snapped. “Sorry, I just want to get this over with so we can all get some sleep. Now what is the consequence?”

“Instead of giving you a new seer someone will have to bear the gift of foresight. It’s a painful gift but it will be worth it for all the lives that you will save.” Dru said.

“One of you needs to volunteer to take on this burdened.” Darla added.

“I’ll do it.” Harmony snapped up from her seat almost instantly. “I’ll do it.”

“Harmony we can’t ask you to do that.” Angel said as a worried look crossed his face. He had lost two people to those visions, he might not love Harmony like he did Cordy or Doyle but she was still his friend. And he had refused to lose another friend to those damn visions.

“Your not asking, I’m telling.” Her voice full of force that was alien to the blonde. “Angel I want this, this is the only way I will be useful to you guys. Besides I’m a vampire I can take the pain.”

“Ya says the girl who was complaining about her owwies not ten minutes ago.” Spike teased.

“I don’t care, I’m doing it regardless.” She said, her mind was set. For the first time in her life she would be useful and this was the way.

The fake Darla and Drusilla started to laugh. “You can’t have visions!” Darla laughed.

“And why the hell can’t I?” Harmony snapped.

“Because only a creature that has a soul can have the gift of fore sight! You are a vampire, you don’t have a soul.” Drusilla giggled.

“Then give me one. As a vampire I pretty much suck, so a soul won’t damage me much.” Harmony was dead serious, when she became a vampire nothing really changed, accept the fact that she couldn’t tan anymore. So what was the worst part about getting her soul back?

“Um Harm, luv.” Spike said slowly. “Don’t you remember when I became caporal again? How every thing went wonky. The world can barely handle two vampires with souls much less three.”

“Actually...” Darla paused “A third vampire with a soul would reset the world’s balance. That’s actually doable, okay, we accept your offer. Oh and there’s two more things, we can’t just pull Gunn out of that holding dimension without putting someone else in his place. Now it can be any one in the world.”

“You also need to give us another body to put Illyria in. It can also be anyone in the world.” Drusilla said.

“Lindsey and Eve.” Angel said a little to quickly.

“Okay that can be arranged now, we’ll get Harmony a permanent soul. As of now the Senior Partners have no control over any of you what so ever.” Drusilla smiled. “You are at the full disposal and call of the Powers That Be. Have a nice life.”

“Wait a second. Where are Fred and Gunn and why is Illyria still here? You said we would get them back the way they were and you would put her in Eve’s body in another dimension.” Angel said impatiently.

“Will you hold your horses? We were getting to that, it’s goanna take a minute okay?” Angel glared at Darla and Dru. “What we’re only a few thousand years old we haven’t been at this very long give us a break.” Darla turned to face Drusilla and they joined hands. “By the Powers that Be we bring our fallen warrior back to the arms of our champions. Return her mind and body unchanged from what has befallen her.” They said in unison.

Drusilla let go of Darla’s hands and walked over to Illyria. She placed a hand over where Fred’s heart would be and began to chant. “Remove this plague set it upon another form and let the shell become a body once more, remove this plague set upon another form and let the shell become a body once more...” She said this four more times then Illyria let out a blood- curtailing shriek. In a blinding flash of light Illyria was lying on the floor, but it wasn’t Illyria, it was Fred or her body at least.

“Fred!” Wesley tried to run towards her but was stopped by Angel’s strong arms.

“It’s just her body Wes, you have to wait. Just hold on a few more minutes.” Angel whispered into his ear trying to calm Wesley. He stopped struggling against Angel’s strong grip and waited for the fake Dru and Darla to finish.

“Almost done.” Darla said reassuringly as she walked back over to Drusilla. They joined hands again and began to speak again in unison. “Bring his body and fill the void, take him back to this earthly plane.” With another brilliant flash of light Gunn’s body was lying on the floor next to Fred’s. It was just as lifeless as hers.

“Um... question.” Spike said raising his hand. “Why are they oh you know dead?”

“Will you people be patient? This is a really hard spell. Do you know how difficult it is to reanimate two bodies then bring three souls back to earth?” Darla snapped. They continued with the spell. “Fall from the Either the souls of Winifred Burkle, Charles Gunn and Harmony Kendall. Bring them back to the plane on which we stand. As Powers guarding the earth let our will be so, release these souls.”

* * * * * *

Part 4.

Yet another flash of light more brilliant and blinding than the previous times, came over the lobby of the hotel, it was as if the room was submerged into the sun. Angel and Spike clung to each other for dear life as Lorne jumped to protect Harmony out of fear that the light would turn her to ashes. When Wesley ran to make sure that Fred’s body was all right he got the shock of his life as pair of skinny arms snaked their way around his neck. Her lips brushed against his ear as she said, “Wesley, I love you.” Her voice was raw and raspy but that could not hide the fact that it was Fred speaking, not Illyria.

As the light began to dim Wesley was still blinded but he could start to make out Fred’s features, she was the same old Fred, his Fred. He leaned down and kissed her deeply as the blinding light finally went out and power was restored to the building. But as the light went out, one final flash filled the room, followed by a blast of energy that propelled bodies towards the walls.

“Alright who’s not blind?” Spike asked the room. “Cuz I am, oww Angel where the hell are you luv?”

“I’m right here Spike” Angle called. He had ended up ten feet away from where he and Spike were. “Where are you I can’t see a thing. Damn it I’m a vampire I have night vision not solar flare vision.”

“Relax Angelcakes I can see.” Lorne said from the tipped over couch where he and Harmony were sitting, it got tipped over in the blast. “Every one is fine, no Illyria and no bad Darla and Drusilla impersonators.”

“Are Gunn and Fred okay?”

“Um... well let’s just say that Fred and Wes are making up for lost time.” Lorne joked as he walked over to Gunn. “Oh my gods, guys we have a problem. Gunn can you hear me? Gunn?” Gunn wasn’t moving and Lorne assumed the worst.

“What’s happening? What’s wrong with Gunn?” Angel said as he attempted to get up and walk towards Lorne’s voice.

“No Angel stay put, you might hit someone. Oh yuck, um...Gunn looks okay, he just hit his head on the wall, probably happened ‘cuz of that big blastie thing.” Lorne said quickly hoping not to startle Gunn.

“Uh... ugh... Lorne?” Gunn groaned in pain as he attempted to get up. “What... was the yuck for?” He asked slowly, his voice shaky.

“Um... I don’t think you want to know but um... your noggin has a nice hole in it.” Lorne cooed attempting to gloss over the minor skull fracture that Gunn probably had.

“What?” Gunn choked. “What are you...Ahh!” Gunn let out a scream as he touched his hand to the spot on his head that was supposedly cracked open.

“Oh don’t be such a baby.” Lorne snapped. “We will have you fixed up before you can say look Fred’s back!”

“Fred?” Gunn was starting to get confused, he was blind, there was a hole in his skull and now Fred was back? “Where is she? Fred are you okay?”

Fred broke away from Wesley and called across the room to Gunn. “I’m fine Charles, I’m fine.” She said gently.

“This is great really but Lorne can I get a body count or a damage report?” Angel called to the wall, he still couldn’t see where Lorne was. “Dead bodies, piles of dust? Anything?”

“Mostly everyone’s alright. Um... Gunn’s maybe got a minor skull fracture, Spike might have a broken wrist, Wesley’s bleeding from somewhere, Harmony has a gash across her stomach, but you, Fred and me look okay.” Lorne said walking around to check everyone out. “As far as I can tell Gunn’s got it the worst. We’d better get him to a hospital.”

“No.” Gunn winced as he tried to sit up. “I’ve had enough hospitals to last me a life time. Can’t Wolfram and Hart just patch me up?”

“Okay but I don’t think that this will be covered by medical.” Lorne joked.

“Why not? Where are we?” Gunn was starting to regain his sight, as he looked around he couldn’t make a positive ID on the place they were in, his vision was still very blurry.

“Gunn” Angel grunted as he picked up Spike off of the floor to lay him on the nearest couch. They had both regained their sight by now. “We made a deal with the Powers That Be.”

“Well that has bad news written all over it.” Gunn chuckled then winced, he had managed to lean against the wall with Lorne’s assistance.

“They gave us you and Fred back. They also dumped Illyria in another dimension wearing a brand new Eve suit.” Angel said walking over to help Harmony off of the floor. When she was seated comfortably in a chair that wasn’t knocked over Angel walked over to help Lorne with Gunn.

“And oww, why would they do that?” Gunn was really confused now. Why were the Powers helping them? All they seamed to do was mess things up.

“Well, we walked away from Wolfram and Hart, so we’re back in the Hyperion working for the Powers. We made a deal, it’s a long story one that you will hear when we’ve got everyone patched up.” Angel said as he walked to the kitchen to get medical supplies.

“What?” Gunn shouted.

“He said that...”

“Ya I heard him Lorne, but what I don’t get is why the Powers would take us back after we sided with their arch enemy? It doesn’t make sense.” Gunn groaned as Lorne helped him over to a chair.

“Well, actually, Lorne can you grab this thing on top here?” Angel was walking back towards the group, his arms full of medical supplies that he soon set down on an end table, he then began to sort it. “Actually they approached us, they said that the last apocalypse was coming and they wanted us back on their side.”

“Hold up you lost me there. Last apocalypse as in final?” Gunn asked in shock.

“Ya.” Angel nodded.

“The last, as in after this one no more world go boom?”

“Ya.” He nodded again.

“Wow. And they gave you guys Fred and me back to make you chose them?”

“Ya, that’s how it went down.” Angel smiled, this was the first time he had really realized how good it felt to leave Wolfram and Hart.

“But how did you get out of Wolfram and Hart? We’ve only been there for a year, it’s a five-year contract. No matter what the Powers could do they couldn’t get us out of that. And who did you put in my place in that holding dimension?” Gunn’s head was spinning, he still had all the lawyer smarts intact and he thought he had lost it all.

“Well Gunn, our highly intelligent boss read our contract and found a way to get us out and we also stuck Lindsey in your place.” Harmony said wincing from the gash in her stomach.

“Gunn I’ll explain it all later, let’s just get everyone fixed up okay?” Angel was starting annoyed with the twenty questions. He walked over to Gunn and began to examine his head.

“Oww, Angel watch it man, Oww!” Gunn shouted in pain.

“Sorry, well good news and bad news. Good news, it doesn’t look like there’s a fracture, looks like just a gash.” Angel said in a cherry tone.

“What’s the bad news?” Gunn moaned.

“You need stitches. The corner of the wall took a good chunk out of your head, almost through to the bone. But we can fix it, it will be as good as new.” Angel reassured Gunn who despite his dark skin looked very pail at the thought of stitches. “Lorne will you go get a needle and thread from the first aid kit. Gunn you sit tight until Lorne gets back to stitch you up, I’m going to check on Harmony.” He started to walk over to Harmony and called back to Fred. “Fred, are you okay? Cuz we need all the healthy people we can get.”

“Ya Angel I’m fine, what do you need me to do?” She called back.

“Can you see to Wes? Find out where he’s bleeding from.”

“Okay.” She said as she turned to Wesley. “Take off your shirt.”

“Wouldn’t you like to do that in private?” Wesley joked.

“Well you’ve obviously lost a lot of blood, oh never mind I’ll do it my self.” She said as she grabbed scissors out of the first aid kit and cut Wesley’s shirt open. “Oh God, Angel.”

“What is it?” Angel ran over to Fred to see what was wrong. “Oh God.” There was a big gash in Wesley’s chest not far away from his heart.

“Get the needle and thread.” Fred commanded Angel. “I lost you once, I’m not going to let you go so soon.” She said.

Wesley looked down at his chest. “Interesting.” He said dully. “How in the world did that happen I wonder.” He asked no one in particular.

“Probably from the blast, here.” Angel said, handing Fred the needle and thread. “Oh here Wes, you might want to drink that we don’t have any anesthetic.” Angel gave Wesley a rather large bottle of single malt scotch. “Oh Fred you can use that to sterilize the wound too. I’m goanna tend to Spike.”

“Okay, I’ve got this covered.”

“Ugh!” Wesley howled in pain as Fred poured the scotch onto the wound and began to sew.

“Oh sorry!” Fred apologized.

“Oww!” Gunn grunted in pain. “No fair! How come Wes gets anesthetic and I don’t?”

“Hey.” Angel said gently as he kneeled in front of Spike and began to tend his wounds.

“Hey yourself. Ugh.” He moaned softly.

“Sorry baby.” Angel cooed. “Let me see your wrist.” Spike did as he was told. “Well it’s not broken just sprained, I’ll wrap it up and you’ll be as good as new by tomorrow.”

“Sounds good. Oww.” Spike moaned again. “Be careful luv.”

“Sorry. Maybe it’s not me, maybe your just being overly sensitive to get attention.” Angel joked.

“Maybe.” Spike said with an evil glint in his eyes.

“Well you can drop the act ‘cuz I’m... just... done.” Angel smiled at his childe. “Now if you feel up to it do you think you could help me tend to Harmony?”

“I think that can be arranged.” Spike grinned.

“Thank you.” Angel kissed Spike’s wrist then his lips. They both walked over to Harmony who was bleeding badly.

“Harm you goanna be okay?” Spike asked, the worry quite clear in his voice. The blonde didn’t look good, she was very pail even for a vampire.

“I’m just going to open your top up so I can get to the wound better.” Angel said soothingly trying not to startle her as he unbuttoned her shirt. “Spike, get me a glass and a wet rag.”

“Okay.” Spike was already up and half way to the kitchen.

“What... what’s the g-glass for?” She stammered, she was weak from the massive loss of blood.

“Well, we are going to run your blood off into a glass for you to drink. Thanks.” Angel explained as Spike handed him the things he had asked for. “We don’t have any blood here so yours will have to do until morning, if that doesn’t work me and Spike will feed you.”

“Sounds good boss.” She said with a halfhearted smile.

“I’m not your boss any more, I work for you. You get the visions I save the victim.”

“I... I kinda like that.” Harmony mused. “Miss. Kendall.”

“Sounds good.” Spike chuckled holding her hand while Angel cleaned her wound.

“Oww.” She moaned.

“Sorry, here drink this.” Angel handed her a glass full of her own blood. She gulped it down, a sour look on her face.

“I’ve never had my own blood before. Tastes kinda funky.”

“It gets better as you get older.” Spike said gently as he began to stroke her arm to create friction. She was cold even by vampire standards, a little heat would do her good.

“Okay Harmony, I’m almost and... done. Here.” Angel finished dressing her wound and handed her another glass of blood, which she chugged gratefully. “You wont need stitches but you will need bed rest, at least a day and a half of it. I hope the powers don’t have any needs before your better.”

“But knowing them they probably will.” Lorne called from across the room.

“Most likely.” Angel sighed. “Okay, is everyone patched up?”

“Ya.” Fred said, she had just finished stitching up Wesley.

“Same here Angelcakes.”

“Good. Now lets get everyone into a room, we all need sleep. Spike, you take Harmony, Lorne can get Gunn and Fred I’ll help you with Wes.” Angel said as he walked over to Fred. “Spike take Harmony to room 164, Lorne take Gunn there to. Fred, you and me will take Wes to 165, you can stay there with him.”

“Angel.” Lorne said as he pulled Gunn up off the couch. “Can I stay with Harmonica and Gunn to night? You know just to make sure that...” he trailed off.

“I understand Lorne. It would be good to have someone healthy watching over them tonight. When this is all over you and Harmony can have a room together.” Angel had sensed Lorne’s attraction to Harmony since the moment the two had met.

“Thanks Angel. Um... what room will you be in?”

“I’ll be in 166 with Spike.” Angel grunted under Wesley’s weight, he and Fred were lifting him off of the chair he was in and began walking towards the stairs.

        * * * * * *

Part 5

“Goodnight love birds” Spike joked. He had just closed the door to Wes and Fred’s room when a pair of strong arms snaked their way around his middle. “How are Lorne and the others?” He asked quietly.

“Their fine.” Angel whispered into his boy’s ear. “How are you feeling?”

“Wrist’s already half healed. How ‘bout you?” Spike said as he turned to face Angel.

“Well, I would feel a lot better if...” Angel said softly. Before he could finish he felt Spike’s cool lips on his own.

“Talk later, shag now. I want to test out the new and improved soul of yours.” Spike said with that evil Spike grin. He took Angel’s hands and walked him towards the bedroom.

“Spike people are trying to sleep, if I remember correctly you are quite loud.” Angel joked trying to evade his childe’s grip to no avail.

“Oh common! You know just as well as me that Fred and Wes are about to do the exact same thing. Besides, we have to celebrate... somehow.” Spike said playfully.

“Okay, only if you promise me that you will try to be quite. Deal?”

Spike smiled. “Deal.” With that he pulled Angel into the bedroom. As soon as the door was locked his hand flew to Angel’s belt. Spike quickly had his sire’s belt off and started on the buttons of his shirt.

“Spike wait.” Angel said, starting to breath heavily.

“What is it? Mind you your really killing the mood.”

“What if the Powers lied? What if they weren’t even the Powers? What if the Senior Partners are trying to get me to lose my soul?” Tears were welling up in Angel’s eyes, his breathing was getting heavy. Angel had never been this scared. It would be hell to have Spike but not be able to express his love for the childe.

“Shh, Angel.” Spike pulled Angel into a hug. “Shh. You said it yourself, this was the real deal.”

“But...” Spike cut him off.

“Look, even if it isn’t true, wouldn’t you at least give it a chance?” Spike said, his lips quivering in that Spike pout. “Please? For us?”

“Okay.” Angel sighed.

“Good.” Spike smiled as he claimed his sire’s lips and once again began to unbutton Angel’s shirt soon after moving to his pants. In a few short moments the floor was littered with clothing and loud groans of pleasure were emanating from the bed. The red glowing numbers on the clock read 1:20.

* * * * * *

Part 6

Spike was moaning loudly in time with Angel’s thrusts, they both came loudly for the seventh time that night. Angel scraped his dull human teeth on Spike’s shoulder in satisfaction.

The numbers on the clock glowed 2:40 when the moaning and groaning stopped and was replaced by satisfied panting then another soft moan from Spike. The muscles in his back tensed as Angel pulled out of his childe.

“That... was...so... when’s round six?” Spike huffed.

“Wow.” Angel panted.

“I know. Was it always that good?” Spike asked, still out of breath.

“Well that’s how I remember it.” Angel chuckled moving Spike’s head onto his chest so he could stroke the boy’s hair. “Spike.”

“Yes Angel?”

“I love you.” He whispered.

“I love you too.” Spike whispered back.

        FIN

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