Twilight & Temptation

By: Larilyn

Rating: PG-13

Timeline: Takes place after the Buffy ep "As You Were," and the Angel ep "Loyalty". "Hell's Bells" and "Sleep Tight" and every thing after haven't happened and won't happen in this little fic-verse.

Disclaimer: Buffy belongs to Mutant Enemy and UPN, blah, blah, blah. Angel belongs to Mutant Enemy and the WB, yada, yada, yada. Its Joss's toy box; I'm just raiding it for fun. The spell used in this fic came directly from the shooting script for Becoming Part Two, written by Joss Whedon. No copyright infringement is intended. Margaritaville is Jimmy Buffett’s baby.

Summary: Sequel to "Moonlight & Mohra" The Powers that Be have some plans that may ruin Spike and Buffy’s newfound bliss.

Classification: S/B, A/C

Notes: If you haven’t read Moonlight, here’s a quick recap. Spike is human now and all is well. See? Easy to follow. Seriously, this sucker is unabashedly fluffy with whipped cream on top, but there is a plot. I promise.

Twilight & Temptation Part Two

Buffy spooned up the milkshake and then threw it back down into the glass, causing it to splatter all over her companions. She did this repeatedly until a soft voice stopped her.

 "Buffy?" Willow asked, "Is the shake some kind of demon we don’t know about? Cuz yer killing it."

Buffy looked up into the faces of her two concerned friends. "Sorry."

"Its okay, sweetie," soothed Tara.

"I’m just Miss Grumpy Pants today."

 "Actually," Willow said, "You’ve been Miss Grumpy Pants for about two weeks."

"I know, I’m just. I guess I’m lonely."

"Oh God!" Willow apologized, "Its cuz we moved out isn’t it? We can move back in if you want us…"

 Willow’s lover put her hand over the read head’s to quiet her. "Its not because of us, honey. Its William. Right Buffy? Have you talked to him yet?"

 "No." Buffy swirled her melting milkshake around in the glass. "I don’t want to get in another fight."

"I don’t think avoiding him is too healthy either." Tara advised. "Call him, Buffy."

***

"Angel? Can you get that?" Cordelia asked as the phone rang out, echoing through the lobby.

 Angel cast a quick glance at his seer who was trying to coax his son into taking a few steps into Fred’s waiting arms.

"Angel Investigations. We help the helpless."

At the other end of the line was a voice he hadn’t expected to hear. "Angel?"

 "Buffy? Hi. How are you?" he asked nervously.

 "Um…" she seemed nervous as well. "Is William around?"

 "No he’s out with Faith." Instantly realizing he’d said the wrong thing he added, "Working. They’re working hard. Killing things. Vampire things. You know."

 "Its ok. I get it." She said angrily. Before Angel could try to smooth things out with her, he heard the dial tone in his ear.

 "Oh good job." Cordy mocked. "You’ve been alive some two hundred odd years, Angel. You’d think by now you’d have learned a little tact."

 "At least some grace under pressure." Fred added.

 "He’s gonna kill me." Angel moaned.

 Cordelia reminded, "You’re already dead."

***

 Simultaneously, Spike and Faith drove stakes into the two last vampires in the gang. With a whoosh, they exploded into dust.

 "Synchronized staking," Faith commented.

"Go team." Spike shot back.

"You are really, really grumpy today Wills." Spike humphed at her and stalked toward his car. Faith was surprised at this, since they had finally caught up with the gang of vamps that had eluded them for weeks.

 "She still hasn’t called, huh?" The brunette asked.

 "Nope." He said as he slid behind the wheel of the car. "She won’t. Too convinced she’s right."

 "Well she’s not. Right I mean. And if you ask me, B’s always been a little too self righteous for her own good." Spike didn’t answer. In a softer tone, Faith added, "I’m really sorry about all this."

 "Not your fault, luv."

 "Actually, it is." Faith stared at her knees as she explained. "I kind of screwed her over, you know. With Angel & Riley. Other stuff too."

 "Well you never made a pass at me."

 "Actually…" Spike raised his eyebrows at her and shot her a questioning look before he had to turn back to the road. "I kind of borrowed Buffy’s body. You were at the Bronze…"

"Pop me like a champagne cork? That was you? Bloody… I knew it wasn’t Buffy. I mean it was really odd behavior for her. But then she said something, or you said something, that convinced me it was." In a mocking voice he added, "That would be wrong." Faith smiled wistfully. "Bloody good impersonation."

 "Could you do me a favor and not tell B about that? She’d completely wig."

 "Your secret is safe with me. Besides, she’s not speaking to me anyway."

***

 "Did you find it?" Wesley asked with concern as the pair walked through the door.

 "Key from my vision." Spike tossed it to the former Watcher.

 "Very good." Wes commented. "I’ll see if I can find out what it’s for, and why it was so important to those vampires. By the way, William, how do you feel?"

 "Almost as strong as I was as a vamp. Faster too."

 "Interesting," Wes said as he disappeared into his office.

***

 "Jonathan!" Buffy screamed from inside the office that she and Spike used to share.

 The short young man ran to check on her. What he found was Buffy standing amidst a mess of paperwork. "Where the hell is the Lipton file? I’ve looked everywhere."

 "Um," Jonathan was almost afraid to tell her, "its in your right hand."

 "Goddamn…" Buffy mumbled. Then her voice rose again. "That will be all Jonathan."

 As he left her office and entered the reception area, he began, "What a b…"

 He stopped when he saw Buffy’s younger sister enter through the office’s front door on her way to her evening shift.

 "Its okay." She said, "You can say it. Buffy’s been a total bitch lately."

 "When is Spike coming back?" he begged.

"I’m not sure he is. Buffy won’t talk about it."

 "It was more fun being evil." Jonathan mumbled. A guilty conscience had caused him to turn in Warren and join the staff of Angel Investigations. "Maybe we should call the LA office. Find out what’s going on."

 "Not a bad idea," Dawn agreed.

 Buffy stormed out of her office. "I’m going to go out a look for that urn for Mrs. Lipton. Dawn, I’m not paying you to stand around and gossip. Jonathan, go home. I’m not paying you overtime."

 As the front door slammed behind Buffy, Dawn and Jonathan simultaneously declared, "What a bitch."

***

 "I’ve got it!" Wes proclaimed as the employees of Angel Investigations gathered around him. "The key is to the Kouti para Peirasmos."

 "Never heard of it." Spike said.

 "Actually, you have. The literal translation is the Box of Temptation. It’s Pandora’s box."

 "No problem then," Gunn said. "Pandora released all the baddies. The box is empty."

 "I don’t believe so," Wes explained. "According to the myth, Pandora slammed the lid shut. The greatest evil still lies trapped inside."

 "So if the vamps opened it, it would’ve been way bad." Faith proclaimed.

 "I’m with Gunn." Spike said. "The key is here. The box is somewhere else. Let’s have a drink and celebrate."

 "William," Wesley asked, "In your vision, did you see this object?" Wesley showed Spike a picture of an intricately engraved box.

 "Not in my vision, no. In Sunnydale, yes. Its in the same cavern where I found the Gem of Amarra."

 Angel grumbled under his breath.

 "Hey! How many times do I have to apologize for that, Peaches?"

***

 "You found it." Dawn said as Buffy entered the office, brandishing Mrs. Lipton’s urn.

 "Yep, found it. Have no idea what’s so special about it though."

Dawn looked over Buffy’s shoulder at the plain, brown, urn. "Its kind of ugly."

 Buffy questioned, "An antique? Maybe something that belonged to her Grandmother?"

 Dawn made a face. "Maybe it is her Grandmother."

 Buffy tentatively opened the lid and peeked inside, not knowing that she had just released a powerful force. "Nope. Its empty."

 "Good, cause I was getting a creepy feeling."

 The entity sitting unnoticed in the lobby smiled.

 "Call Mrs. Lipton, have her pick it up."

**

 "I can’t believe you found it!" Mrs. Lipton caressed the urn. Buffy stared at the woman, trying to place her. Spike had conducted the initial interview and this was the first time Buffy had seen the woman, but she was sure she recognized her. It hit her. "Mummy hand lady!" She said without realizing she’d spoken out loud.

 "Excuse me?" The woman asked.

"Nothing, sorry."

 The woman opened the lid and looked around Buffy’s office expectantly.

 Buffy looked around too, curious as to what the lady was expecting to see.

 Mummy hand lady’s face fell. "I knew it was too good to be true." She dropped the urn into the trash, where it broke into several pieces.

 As the woman exited through the reception area, she walked right past the man waiting for the Slayer. Buffy called out, "You’re still gonna pay me, right?"

 As soon as Mrs. Lipton left, the bald, well built man stood and faced Buffy. He looked like a Harley rider.

 "Hi," Buffy said, "Listen, I’ve had a really bad night, so unless this is an emergency, make an appointment with Dawn."

 "I don’t need you to work for me. I’m here to work for you."

 "We’re not hiring at the moment. But you can leave your resume."

 "I am sure you don’t understand."

**

 "Wasting away again in Margarita-ville. Looking for my lost shaker of salt. Some people claim that there’s a woman to blame. But I think, hell it could be my fault."

 Spike sang his heart out, while Faith, Gunn, Fred, and Wes watched uncomfortably. Lorne came up behind their table and commented, "I thought you said he still had a soul."

 "I like this song." Said Wesley.

 "You would." Shot Faith.

 "How’s he doing?" Fred asked Lorne.

"Not bad," the green skinned demon replied, "He’s in tune, and the crowd seems to like it."

 "I don’t think that’s what Fred meant," Gunn explained.

 "Oh. He’s heartbroken, miserable and really drunk. Don’t tell me you needed an empath to tell you that."

 "Some people claim that there’s a woman to blame but I know, its my own damn fault."

**

 "Ugh," Anya said in disgust, "I hate Genies. They’re all, I’m gonna give you three wishes. Like wishes grow on trees." Anya and Buffy peeked into the living room where Xander and Dawn sat uncomfortably with Buffy’s strange house guest. The leather clad Genie waved.

 "So he’s the real deal?" Buffy asked as she ducked back into the dining room.

"I didn’t check his ID." Anya said drolly.

"But Genies really exist?"

Anya placed her hands on her hips and lectured, "This from the girl who slays vampires for a living. Who’s standing next to a thousand year old ex-demon and who’s best friend is a witch-a-holic. Not to mention Spike."

 "Lets not mention Spike."

 "Still not speaking, huh?"

"I’m still angry," Buffy explained, "I mean is too much to wish that my boyfriend be one hundred percent human?"

 "Uh Buffy…"

 The Slayer continued, "I mean, I’ve done the vampire boyfriend thing already and we all know how well that turned out. Not that I wish anything but perfect happiness for Angel."

 "Buffy!" Anya warned.

 "Well not perfect happiness, cause you know, Grrr."

 "Buffy!"

 "What?"

 The ex-demon pleaded, "Stop saying that!"

 "Saying what?"

 Anya placed her hand over Buffy’s mouth and whispered, "Wish."

 The two women again peeked into the living room. The Genie smiled and waved.

 "I don’t think he heard you," Anya sighed.

***

 The blonde Seer leaned heavily on his Champion as he rambled on and on. Spike had way more alcohol than Faith had thought possible and she was beginning to feel drunk off the fumes. "I mean, its the back of my head! Blown off! Nobody deserves a big vision- caused hole, right?"

 Faith patted the ex-vampire’s hand sympathetically and glanced around Caritas. Fred, Wes and Gunn had retreated to the bar. No help there.

 "And she’s all, ‘You lied to me, Spike’ and ‘get rid of the visions, Spike.’ Who does the girl think she is? The flipping Powers that Be?"

 "Maybe I should take you home," Faith attempted.

 He ignored her, "I know the girl thinks she’s God, but she’s not you know. And its just a little vamp blood. No big. Its not like I’m evil."

 "You know what I think?" she asked loudly.

 "Whassat, luv?"

 "I think its time to go home."

 Spike stood up, wobbling from the effects of the alcohol. "Right then." Faith stood to support him but he slid from her grasp back down into the chair and whined, "I can’t go home, Faith-y! She kicked me out like a stray dog in the street. God I wish I were dead."

 "Ok. Cut that out. You are not a stray dog."

 "Might as well be…" Spike groaned in pain and put his hands to his head.

 "Starting to feel the tequila Wills?" she asked.

 He screamed in agony and Faith watched helplessly as she realized that the pain was from a vision. Spike collapsed unconscious onto the floor.

**

 Cordelia swept the fine, brown hair away from the toddler’s face. From the doorway, a deep voice asked, "Are you sure you didn’t want to go to Caritas with the others?"

 "Angel," she patiently said as she rose from Connor’s bedside, "I would have gone if I wanted to go."

 "I just feel like I sandbagged you."

 "You were worried about your son. Who, by the way is fine. No fever." She held up the ear thermometer for Angel’s inspection.

 "Thanks." He murmured. "I don’t know what we’d do without you. I know we can be a burden."

 "I consider taking care of you two a privilege, not a burden. I love Connor, Angel. Almost as much as you do."

 "Being his surrogate Mom…"

 "Is my pleasure." Cordy got on her tiptoes and gently kissed the vampire on his cheek. Impulsively, she pressed her lips against his. For a moment, he returned the kiss.

 Sooner than Cordy would have liked, he pulled away and begged, "Cordy, we can’t."

"I know. It was just..." She shrugged.

 Before she knew what was happening Angel groaned and clutched his chest.

 "Angel?" she cried as he fell to his knees.

 "Go," he croaked, "take Connor and run."

 "What?" she asked, horrified.

 "Go." His face was hidden from her.

 His head jerked up and revealed his game face. Cordelia took a step back, and another when the beast before her grinned evilly. Angel was gone.

 Cordelia turned and ran toward the baby, hoping to escape with him. Angelus reached forward and pulled her feet out from under her. "Where you going, Cordelia?"

 The woman kicked and screamed at her attacker. Fear consumed her and she felt a white heat burning inside her. An explosion of white light sent Angelus flying across the room. Cordy grabbed the screaming child and fled. She didn’t register that the explosion had come from within her.

***

The Summers phone rang insistently. Dawn leapt from the table, eager to avoid the awkward conversation at the dinner table. "I’ll get it!"

 Xander turned to Buffy’s house guest, "So living in an urn. That’s gotta suck."

 The Genie cast Xander a tired look.

 Dawn emerged from the kitchen and announced, "Buffy, its Spike."

 "So do not want to talk to him."

 "No," Dawn’s voice trembled, "Its about Spike."

 For the first time, Buffy noticed the stricken look on her sister’s face. She raced to the phone.

 ***

Fred thanked God that Angel had left his cell phone in the car, which Cordy had stolen.

 "Cordelia and Connor are on their way," Fred informed the group of friends gathered in the hospital waiting room.

 "What about Angel?" Gunn asked.

 "He’s not Angel." She said simply.

 "Angelus?" asked Wes.

 Fred nodded and the group let the horrible information sink in.

 "Someone needs to call Buffy, about Wills." Faith said quietly.

 "I did." Fred promised. "Right before I talked to Cordelia. She’s on her way."

 "I almost hate to mention this," Lorne tentatively said, "But this is a public building…"

"Angelus can walk right in." Gunn finished.

Cordelia commanded, "Head to Sunnydale, all of you. He’s never been to Xander and Anya’s house. Fred do you remember how to get there?" The physicist nodded. "Stay indoors at night. I’ll stay here until William wakes up."

 "No," Faith said, "I should stay. I’m better prepared to protect him then you are. You should go."

 "I’m staying." The Seer insisted.

 Wesley began to argue, "Cordelia…"

 "I am not losing another member of this family. I’m staying." It was useless to argue with her.

***

 Buffy paused when she saw Faith standing guard outside Spike’s door. "What are you doing here?" she asked, trying to keep the cold edge out of her voice.

 "Angel watch," Faith explained cryptically, "Cordelia will explain."

 Faith opened the door for Buffy and the two Slayers heard Cordelia’s voice, "Then there was this flash and boom, Angelus flew across the room. It was really cool. If you wake up, I’ll show you. Please, William wake up."

 Buffy saw that Cordy had Spike’s hand pressed to her tear stained cheek. Cordy looked up at the two Slayers, "Buffy. God I’m so glad you’re here. Talk to him, make him wake up."

 For the first time, Faith noticed the large man that had followed Buffy into the room. "Who are you?" she asked.

 "Call me Gene."

 "I’ll explain later," Buffy promised. She sat down at the edge of Spike’s bed and said quietly, "Not playing fair, my love. Getting me all worried. It worked. I’m here." She took his hand in hers and squeezed. She asked Cordelia, "What happened?"

 "I wasn’t there." Cordy nodded toward Faith.

 Faith nervously explained, "I think he had a vision, except he didn’t vamp out. It was weird."

 "Weird is the word of the night," Cordy murmured.

 This jostled Buffy’s memory, "Faith said something about Angel."

 Cordelia nearly cried when she told Buffy, "He’s turned into Angelus again."

 Delicately, Buffy asked, "Did you…?"

 "No. He just turned. I have no idea what could have caused it."

 The wheels began to turn in Buffy’s head. "I do." With Slayer speed she had the Genie trapped in a choke hold. "How many wishes do I have left?"

 "One." Choked the Genie.

 "Dammit!" Buffy released him and he massaged his neck. "This is my fault. I wished for this." Quickly, she added, "Accidentally."

 "How do we fix it?" Faith asked without judgment.

 "We still have the soul restoration spell." Buffy mused.

 "I thought Willow was on the Witch wagon," Faith asked.

 "And it nearly killed her." Cordy added.

 "Tara might be able to do it." She turned to the Genie. "I’m using my last wish. I wish that the demon aspect that the Oracles gave Spike was back."

 "Done." The Genie swung his jacket over his shoulder. "And now that my prison has been destroyed, I’m a free man." Over his shoulder he added before he left, "Its been real."

 "Gee," Faith complained, "I expected something a little more Robin Williams-y."

 "Buffy?" The three women turned to face the patient, who was sitting up in bed.

 "Hey." She smiled. Buffy kissed her lover tenderly. "How are you feeling?" She asked as she ran her fingers through his golden blonde curls.

"Fine. I’m… Angel!"

 "Its okay, sweetie," Cordy soothed, "We know."

 "He’s going after Pandora’s box!"

 "Didn’t know that." Faith voiced. With a smile, she added, "Nice to have you back partner."

***

 "Dawn?" asked Spike with concern as he waited in front of the hospital with the two Slayers for Cordelia to bring the car around.

 "She’s staying with Xander & Anya. Angel doesn’t have an invite there. She’s fine."

"Xander and Anya’s is gonna be awfully crowded," mused Faith.

Buffy gave her a questioning look and Faith explained, "Wes and the others are on their way there now."

Buffy nodded in understanding. "As soon as the sun rises, some of them can go to Tara & Willow’s apartment. He’s never been there either."

"Will & Glinda moved out?" Spike asked.

"Yeah. Got their own place."

"Dawnie ok with that?"

 "She’s there more than she’s at home." Buffy laughed to cover her loneliness. Out of the darkness a strong arm grabbed her around the neck and pulled her close.

"Hello lover." The voice from her past growled.

Buffy elbowed Angelus in the gut and he bent over in pain. She spun and kicked him in the face and sent him flying.

Faith and Spike fell into their battle stances, waiting for another attack when Angel’s black convertible came screeching around the corner and plowed into Angelus. "Get in!" Cordelia yelled as the vampire lay sprawled on the concrete.

***

 Cordy pulled the car into the alley behind the Hyperion. "We need the key to Pandora’s box."

"I’ll get it," volunteered Faith.

 Spike instructed, "Its in the cigar box Freddie gave me for my birthday. Its sitting on the nightstand…"

 "Next to your bed. I know." Faith started to get out of the car when Buffy stopped her.

 "How do you know its next to his bed?" She turned to Spike, "How does she know its next to your bed? She spend a lot of time in your bedroom Spike?"

 He sputtered to defend himself when Faith spoke up, "Oh my God! Get over it! He’s in love with you, ok? Desperately, completely, pathetically in love with you. Grow up."

 "Grow up? Me? Oh that’s rich coming from you…"

 Cordelia suggested with forced cheerfulness, "Why don’t we all go get the key?"

 Spike & Cordy fled inside while the argument continued. Buffy screeched, "I wouldn’t have anything to get over if you weren’t such a…"
***

 "We probably shouldn’t have left them alone," Cordy said, "They’re gonna kill each other."

 "Good." Spike insisted, "Then we can have a nice quiet ride back to Sunny D without having to listen to them bitch at each other."

 Spike punched the insistently flashing answering machine. The recording of Cordy’s angelic voice rang out, "You have reached the offices of Angel Investigations Incorporated. No one is available to take your call at this time. Please leave a detailed message including your name and phone number and one of our associates will return your call as soon as possible."

 Beep.

 "Angel? Angel, its Fred. Please pick up. Its about William. Something’s happened. We’re at Cedars Sinai…"

 Spike stopped the message and commented, "That’s how he found us."

 "Lets hope he didn’t find the key, too."

***

 They were still going at it when Cordy & Spike returned.

 "I’m telling you, I don’t think of him that way!"

 "And why not? He’s extremely handsome!"

 "You are completely irrational," Faith screamed.

 "This coming from the cover girl of Sanity Fair."

 "And have we solved anything?" Spike asked sarcastically. Faith and Buffy glared at him. "Guess not."

 The Slayers sat back in their seats and crossed their arms over their chests. Cordelia took them in and commented acerbically, "Pouting? Oh that’s mature."

 Spike informed them, "The key is gone. He’s got it and is probably on his way to Sunny D."

 He climbed into the back seat next to Buffy, who promptly grabbed the back of his neck and pulled him into a passionate kiss. When she released him, he stared at her, dumbfounded. "You’re… mine."

 He gave her a crooked smile, "Always have been, Goldilocks."

 In the front seat, Cordy and Faith exchanged triumphant smiles.

***

The Scooby Gang and the Fang Gang sat assembled in the Magic Box. Nightfall was less than an hour away. They listened intently while Buffy briefed them.

 "We’ll split up, Spike and I will head for the cavern to try and recover the box before Angelus finds it."

 "I’m going with you." Voiced Faith.

 "Fine." Buffy said. "The rest of you, to Tara’s apartment to help her with the restoration spell. You do still have it, don’t you Will?"

 "On my hard drive." Willow promised.

 "You might need this." Anya produced an orb of Thesuleh and placed it in Tara’s hands.

 "Tara is going to need all the help she can get to do this spell," Buffy explained. "To hear Willow & Cordelia tell it, its pretty brutal. That means everyone has to be in the circle."

 "Circle…?" Gunn asked.

 "I’ll need to use your energy to power the spell," explained Tara.

 "If we run across Angelus; Faith, Spike and I will try and keep him busy until restoration is complete. Are we all clear on the plan?"

 "One question," Wes asked, "Does anyone besides William know the location of the Kouti para Peirasmos?"

 "I may have left a minion or two alive," Spike admitted.

 "Then time is of the essence," The former Watcher said.

 Buffy mumbled, "Isn’t it always?"

***

Willow sat in her living room, nervously awaiting the outcome of the spell being performed in her kitchen. She bounced Connor on her knee. "My girlfriend is gonna get your daddy back, Connor. I promise."

***

 "Well, well, well." Angel cooed. If it isn’t the chosen two and their pet vampire."

 "I’m not a vampire." Spike growled.

 "Aw, come on, Spikey. There’s got to be a little evil left in you. What do you say we have some fun with the Slayers?"

 Spike threw a punch. It landed square on Angelus’s chin, knocking him back a bit. Angelus countered with a right hook that sent Spike flying into the wall.

***

 Tara lit the last of the candles and looked around her circle of power. Fred, Lorne, Dawn, Gunn, Anya and Xander watched her expectantly. Wesley stood to her right. "Are you ready?"

 "Ready as I’ll ever be." Tara began, "Quod perditum est, invenietur…"

 Wesley translated, "What was lost, shall be found. Not dead, nor not of the living. . ."

***

 Angelus picked up Faith and threw her into a table. Heavy jewels rained down upon her.

 "Race you Lover." The demon dared, as he and Buffy both eyed the box.

 "I sent you to hell once, you bastard. Don’t think I won’t do it again." Buffy lunged at him.

 He grabbed the box before she did.

***

 Wesley continued to translate for the witch, though they were both feeling weakened, "Gods, bind him, cast his heart from the demon realm…"

 "Its about to get good," promised Cordelia.

***

 Spike leapt onto Angel’s back, choking him with his left arm while his right reached into his sire’s pocket, extracting the key. The box tumbled to the floor. Angelus threw him off and mercilessly kicked him until the two Slayers attacked from each side.

 Angelus grabbed Buffy in a headlock and sank his teeth into the tender flesh of her neck.

 Faith came at him with a stake.

 "Faith, no!" Buffy cried.

***

 Tara’s eyes glowed with the power emanating from her. The flames of the candles shot high into the air.

 Tara chanted in an otherworldly voice, "Te implor Doamne, nu ignora accasta rugaminte! Lasa orbita
sa fie vasul care-I va transporta sufletul la el!"

 Wesley continued to translate, his hands shaking with the power that was flowing through them all, "I call on you, Gods, do not ignore this supplication! Let the orb be the vessel to carry his soul to him!"

***

 Faith dropped the stake and grabbed an ornate gold crucifix. She pressed it to Angelus’s face and listened in satisfaction while it hissed against his flesh.

 The vampire dropped Buffy directly onto her unconscious lover.

 Angelus looked down at Buffy and Spike and then smirked at Faith. "Got to be honest. I’ve really developed a taste for brunettes."

 Faith challenged, "Come and get it."

 He smacked her across the face and while she was reeling from their impact, he grabbed a gold plated dagger from the treasure.

***

 Willow peeked into the room and watched as her lover chanted the room that she had long ago, "Este scris, aceasta putere este dreptul poporuil meu de a conduce…"

 Wesley screamed in echo, "It is written, this power is my people's right to wield…"

***

 Buffy shook off the fogginess and rose to fight with her fellow Slayer. She cast a quick, concerned look at Spike, who was beginning to awaken as well.

 Faith was at a disadvantage. She was unarmed and Angelus had sliced her in several places. She would not survive much longer.

 Angelus pulled his arm back, preparing to plunge the dagger into Faith’s chest.

 Instinctively, Buffy stepped in front of it.

***

 Tara’s voice didn’t sound like hers when the final words were spoken, "Asa sa fie! Acum!"

"Let it be so! Now!"

 The orb glowed, blinding everyone in the room.

***

 Angel gasped in pain, and then in shock when he saw the knife buried in Buffy’s abdomen.

 "Buffy?" he cried. Faith’s cry echoed his own. "Oh God, B?"

 Hearing the others’ anguished voices pulled Spike out from the last bits of his unconsciousness. He crawled over to her side, sobbing. "Buffy?" He pulled her limp body into his lap and began to rock her, "C’mon luv. Hold on. You can hold on."

 "What have I done?" Angel cried. "Buffy, you have to be ok."

 Faith fought of her own desire to join the to men in hysterics long enough to persuade the men to carry their fallen comrade to the street and call an ambulance.

***

 "Angel?" Cordelia approached the vampire standing on the roof of the hotel. "You okay?"

 "At least I didn’t kill anybody."

 "That’s always a good thing." Cordy let the silence engulf them for a moment and then added, "Willow called, Buffy’s going to be fine. Faith too." Angel was silent. "Angel, no one blames you for any of this. It wasn’t you. It wasn’t your fault." After a beat she added, "It was Buffy’s fault."

 "What?"

 "Long story," Cordy promised.

 "Cordelia," Angel turned to her and lovingly played with her hair. "If I had hurt you…I don’t know what I’d…"

 "Shhh," she wrapped her arms around him and demanded, "You don’t have to say anything."

***

 Faith and Buffy rested in adjacent hospital beds. Both Slayers were recovering quickly from their wounds.

 Spike watched the two women from the door.

 "You can come in, Wills," Faith said with her eyes still closed. "I’m not asleep."

 "Me either." Added Buffy. She opened her green eyes and smiled warmly at him.

 Spike sat on the edge of Buffy’s bed and told them both. "Angel and the others headed back to LA this morning."

 "How’s Angel?" Buffy asked.

 "Guilt ridden."

 "Pretty much the same then," smiled the brunette Slayer.

 Spike returned her smile.

 "Poor guy," Buffy said, "First the evil thing and then he loses his two best employees."

 Faith gave her a confused stare.

 "We have an extra room at the house, Faith. Whaddya say? Want to work for William and me?"

 "B. I don’t know what to say."

 "Say you’re tempted."

End