Title: Saving Paradise 
Author: Foxhunt2blue
Summary: Angel never believed in true
miracles, but to save Wesley's life he'll
find a faith in what was just a myth to
him...angels.
Rating: R for m/m slash
Pairing: Angel/Wesley
Spoilers: None really.
Disclaimer: Our wonderful Joss created them
I had nothing to do with it---wish I had. I
just play with the boys on occasion. I on
the other hand claim anyone you don't know.
Feedback: Please feed the baby slash ho' it
needs nourishment to grow! ;-)
E-mail: foxhunter2blue@y...
Author's note: This is the fourth in a series of
stories beginning with 'Deora Ar Mo Chroi'.
If you haven't read the previous three check
them out here:
 
http://www.geocities.com/rose_liz2001/MoChroi.html
 
Dedication: This one is for Joanne. A wonderful
friend who inspired this one with a special little
holiday card.
May you know only joy & happiness in the coming
year. Blessed be. :-)
 
 
The mind is it's own place, and in itself
Can make a Heaven of Hell, a Hell of Heaven
 
              ~John Milton, 'Paradise Lost'
 
~~~
December 20
8:00 pm
~~~
 
Angel stood with his head cocked to one side
rubbing his chin as he watched Wes climb to
the top of the ladder. 
 
"I can not believe you never enjoyed Christmas."
 
Groaning Angel rolled his eyes. "What is so 
hard to believe about that? I am a vampire after
all. How many vampires do you know that enjoy
the holidays?"
 
Wes paused at the top of the ladder and turned---
his brow raised---as he balanced with one hand,
the other clutching a ceramic angel. "I was talking 
about when you were mortal."
 
Angel turned away flopping on the sofa a look
of disdain on his face. "I try not to think about
that." He picked up the daily paper from the
coffee table, pretending to read it as Wes turned
back to the task at hand.
 
There were somethings he just had no taste for
when it came to discussions. His mortal past 
was one of them. To much pain and he had 
did a lot of digging to bury it in a deep, dark
hole in his subconscious.
 
Peering over the top of the paper he watched
Wes adjust the angel at the top of the huge
scotch pine in the corner of the room. A tiny
smile crept along the corners of his mouth
as he studied Wesley's ass clad in faded denim.
 
That wasn't a sight he was used too.
 
Wes never wore jeans---at least he never recalled
seeing him wear jeans. It was a different look
for him, but then a lot had changed about Wes
since his return from England.
 
"So you're going to sit there and tell me that
not once in your twenty-six years as a mortal
did you ever have a happy Christmas?" Wes
stepped off the ladder.
 
"Yes."
 
"Bullshit Angel." He snatched the paper out of
Angel's hands tossing it aside with a wicked 
grin.
 
"Did you?" Angel raised a brow.
 
"Did I what?" Settling on the sofa between 
Angel's thighs he leaned in brushing his lips
with a soft kiss.
 
"Have a happy Christmas." Angel smiled
against Wes's mouth.
 
Pulling away Wesley smiled back. "Of course
I did...when I was very small."
 
Angel reached out stroking Wes's jaw a 
thoughtful look in his eyes. "Tell me about
it?" He pulled Wes back into an embrace,
settling him between his thighs.
 
"Why the sudden interest?" Wes shifted 
against Angel's chest.
 
"Just curiosity...," Angel paused, "...about
why this is so important to you." His fingers
brushed through Wes's hair.
 
"Curiosity...," Wes sighed softly.
 
"Yeah."
 
"I guess I was five...I remember Philip going
out in a sleigh to get our tree for us. Philip
is my father's gardener. He was always so kind
to Dora and I."
 
Angel smiled as he tried to picture Wes as a
boy of five with chubby cheeks and those big
blue eyes. He closed his eyes humming softly
as he stroked Wes's nipples through his shirt.
 
"I pleaded with him to take me with him
until he finally gave in with my mother's
permission. Philip's wife bundled me up
and tucked me in the sleigh with a blanket
around me." Wes sighed snuggling into
Angel's embrace. "It was snowing just enough
to make it magical for any child. We rode
out to the edge of the woods, then trudged
into the tree line and we found this perfect
tree covered in snow. It was huge, full, and
the smell was...paradise." 
 
"Is that it?"
 
Wes grinned. "I know I wasn't much help, 
but Philip let me hold the rope as we dragged 
it back to the sleigh. When we got back to the 
main house he sat it up in the great room and 
Margaret...his wife...served hot chocolate
and fresh baked sugar cookies. I remember
sitting cross-legged in front of the fireplace
surrounded by the smell of pine, chocolate,
and cookies as the maids decorated the tree."
 
"Thank you Wes."
 
Wesley turned around in Angel's arms his
eyes shining with that memory. To Angel
he had never looked more beautiful.
 
"For wha...," 
 
Angel swooped in claiming his mouth in
a hard, deep kiss that took Wes's breath
away.
 
"I'm glad you had at least one happy
Christmas," Angel whispered against
his mouth. "But...,"
 
"But what?"
 
"Why can't we just have a star on the tree?"
 
"A star? Why?" Wes asked.
 
"Because...I don't believe in angels."
 
~~~
December 21
9:45 pm
~~~
 
Wesley sighed as he strolled down the street
wondering why it was so hard for Angel of
all people to believe in angels. 
 
All the years he had lived---all the things he 
had seen---not to believe in something so
basic as angels was unbelievable. To think
he had known Angel as long as this and he
had never suspected there was anything that
Angel didn't believe in.
 
He had tried to get Angel to go Christmas
shopping, but that had been like pulling
his fangs without novocaine. All the excuses
were amusing.
 
Paperwork---tons of paperwork.
 
Meeting with Gunn.
 
Fred wanted him to see something she had 
discovered in the lab freezer.
 
Spike was still bugging him.
 
He had used Spike as an excuse not to go.
 
That was when Wes had decided it was hopeless, 
so he had taken off on his own. He needed
the fresh air anyway.
 
He was about to hail a cab when he noticed the
small book shop. One that reminded him of those
he had visited in London as a student. It was the
display that caught his eye though.
 
Angels.
 
There was a volume in the window bound in a
dark burgundy leather stamped in gold script.
 
Visions: Historic Images of Angels.
 
Wes smiled. 
 
It was perfect, he thought, as he pushed open 
the door.
 
~~~
 
"Is that him?"
 
"Yes."
 
"Are you sure this will work?"
 
"Yes...he and Angel are lovers. What better
way to destroy Angel than to kill the most
important person in his life."
 
"Are you sure they're lovers."
 
"I have connections...trust me."
 
~~~
 
Angel was hunched over his desk rubbing his
aching eyes. He hated paperwork. All he ever
seemed to be doing these days was reams of
the fucking stuff.
 
A soft knock at his door caused him to lift 
his head.
 
"Come in."
 
When there was no immediate answer Angel
looked back up. Harmony was standing in the
door with an odd expression on her face.
 
"What is it?" Angel frowned when she stepped
aside to let a woman and a man enter. "Can I
help you?"
 
The woman flashed a detective's badge. 
 
"Detective Wynters...this is my partner Detective
Stoker. Do you know a...," she paused flipping
open a notepad, "...Wesley Wyndam-Pryce?"
 
Angel stood his gut twisting in a knot. "Yes...,"
 
"I'm sorry sir there was...," Wynters started.
 
"What's happened?!" Angel swallowed hard.
 
"Mr. Wyndam-Price was attacked outside a
book shop earlier tonight. He's at Cedar-Sinai."
 
Angel shook his head.
 
He was asleep---he was dreaming---this was
not happening.
 
"They're not sure if he's going to make...,"
 
Angel was already grabbing his coat and running
out the door.
 
~~~
December 22
1:15 am
~~~
 
Sitting slumped in a chair next to the bed Angel
stared at Wes and his soul ached.
 
Stabbed four times. The bastards had stabbed 
him four times, but the police thought it was
a robbery gone wrong. Angel knew better.
 
If it had been a simple robbery Wes wouldn't
be here---hooked up to these machines---dying. 
 
Wes had tried to fight them off though. The 
lacerations on his forearms were proof of 
that. Forty stitches total in both his arms.
 
This was the senior partners. 
 
It was always those unseen, unknown bastards.
 
"Angel?"
 
Looking up from his vigil his gaze settled on Fred
standing in the doorway. Her face was pale and 
streaked with tears and Gunn was standing behind
her---one hand resting on her shoulder.
 
Angel nodded, then turned back to the bed.
 
"How is he?" Fred's hand settled on Angel's shoulder
as she stood looking down at Wes's pale face.
 
"Not good...," he mumbled.
 
Fred pulled up a chair and settled in---her hands
fidgeting in her lap. "He's strong...really strong
Angel...and he's been hurt bad...very bad and 
survived. Everything will be fine...he'll be home
by Christmas and we can celebrate...,"
 
"He's not coming home," Angel whispered.
 
Gunn finally spoke up. "Don't say that Angel. 
English is one tough cookie for a book reading
boy."
 
"I'm serious. They found something in the blood
work they did...some kind of...of poison. They
had to intubate him a few hours ago...he was
having problems breathing."
 
"So what are you saying Angel? That this wasn't
a robbery?" Gunn shook his head in disbelief.
"Why would they take Wes out instead of going
straight for...,"
 
"Charles."
 
Gunn turned around looking at Fred. "What?"
 
Fred nodded at Wes, then at Angel and raised
her brows. When she got a vacant stare she 
repeated her actions and Gunn's eyes suddenly
got wide as he mouthed the words 'Wes and
Angel' then turned back to look at Angel with
disbelief.
 
Waving at Gunn she mouthed back 'almost 
two months'.
 
"Hey Angel being the head of legal and all maybe
I can get my hands on the police reports and
any evidence they collected at the crime scene."
 
Fred shook her head at Gunn when Angel didn't
even blink. Getting up from her seat she pushed
him towards the door.
 
"Go ahead and do that Charles. Could you see
if you could get the lab reports to with Wesley's
blood work. Maybe I can figure out what the
doctors here can't." 
 
Gunn leaned in whispering in her ear. "Is Angel
going to be all right?" He glanced back over his 
shoulder with a worried expression.
 
"I don't know...I just don't know."
 
~~~
December 22
3:00 am
~~~
 
"It wasn't the senior partners."
 
Angel growled as he looked up into Eve's face,
his eyes flickering gold in the dim light.
 
"What the hell are you doing here?" He stood
his hands clenching and unclenching into tight
fists. 
 
"They sent me to let you know they're looking
into this incident. They have no desire to see
Wesley die anymore than you do Angel."
 
"I should send your scanky ass back to them in
a bucket!" Angel's face shifted as he lost control
of his temper. Storming across the room he 
pinned Eve to the wall with one hand wrapped
around her throat.
 
"...angel...," she choked out as he slid her up
the wall by her throat.
 
"All those bastards have done from day one is 
play with me and mine! I'm sick to death of it!
I'm done playing games...Eve!" He spit out her
name with distaste.
 
Growling he let his incisors brush against Eve's
pale throat.
 
"...lis..sten...medu..dusian...," 
 
Angel glared at her purpling face, then released
her. Dropping to the floor Eve began gagging 
and coughing until she could get a breath.
 
"Go ahead you bitch! What the hell did they
send you to tell me?!"
 
Eve rubbed her throat as she stumbled to her
feet. "He...was attacked...with the Medusian
dagger." She coughed out in a rasping voice,
rubbing her bruised throat.
 
"Medusian dagger? What the fuck is that?"
 
"Do you know your mythology?"
 
"Yes...," Angel sighed his features shifting
back to human. "Medusa was one of three
sisters who were transformed to gorgons
because of their vanity. Perseus was the 
warrior who finally defeated her...he sliced
off her head."
 
"Well it's not just myth. The Medusian 
dagger was the weapon that Perseus used
to kill her. The blade was tainted with her
poisonous blood...," Eve walked around to 
the other side of Wes's bed, "...her vanity
came from seeking love so in a way her
blood was poisoned by love."
 
For a moment Angel could have sworn he
saw a glimpse of sadness in Eve's eyes.
 
"So why use it on Wes?" He reached out
his hand stroking Wes's pale cheek.
 
"Because of his love for you."
 
Angel glanced up---a look of horror in his
dark eyes. "Where the hell would you...,"
 
"...get an idea like that? Please Angel...you
don't think that the senior partners are blind
...do you?" She raised a disbelieving brow.
 
"What do they think they know?" He growled
low in his throat.
 
"They...we...know that you and Wesley are
lovers."
 
~~~
December 23
9:00 am
~~~
 
Fred stood pacing the floor in her office---she
was exhausted. 
 
Nothing made sense.
 
The poison was attacking his brain cells in a 
way she couldn't quite understand. It was as if
Wes were awake, but on a subconscious level.
 
She believed he was trapped inside his own
brain. Perhaps even hallucinating and unaware
that what he was experiencing was just that---a
hallucination.
 
"Hey girl anything new?"
 
Fred shook her head at Gunn. "What good am I? 
I mean really Charles...what have I accomplished
with all these tests? Nothing...Wesley is still 
dying and Angel is locked up in the penthouse...
he won't even let Lorne in...and I'm...," snort-
ing she threw her arms in the air turning to the
window.
 
"Hey don't be so hard on yourself girl." He 
started to reach out, then thought better of it.
"You're only one person."
 
"But I have a lab...and people...scientist 
people and I am a scientist person...and
it's...it's...god listen to me rambling and
scared...not boo scared, but just scared  
...horrified...Angel can't lose Wesley."
 
She reached back releasing her hair from the 
clip and shaking it out. 
 
"Look maybe it's not scientific...maybe it's 
mystical mumbo jumbo." Gunn leaned against 
the wall.
 
"Then I would need Wesley's help, but...oh...
yeah that's right Wesley is the one...the one 
who is dying and I don't have a clue about 
mystic booga-booga."
 
"I do."
 
They both turned to see Angel looking like hell
warmed over standing in the doorway. He was
holding a clear plastic bag up. "Eve seems to 
have some use though I doubt this is for the 
best."
 
"What is that?" Gunn raised a brow.
 
"Medusian dagger."
 
Fred stepped closer slipping her glasses on. 
"There's blood on it." She glanced up at Angel.
 
"Yeah...Wes's blood." 
 
"This is what was used on Wes?" Gunn frowned. 
"Where the hell did you get it? Cops didn't have
it I know that."
 
"Seems the senior partners are a bit upset that
someone was screwing with their plans." Angel
walked in dropping the dagger on Fred's desk.
 
"Who would be stupid enough to screw with 
the partners?" Leaning back against the wall 
Gunn sighed. "Then again who around this 
backstabbing pit of evil wouldn't."
 
"I don't know who arranged it, but a Servalan-
cian assassin demon was the one hired. The bitch 
is dead and the partners sent this to me via Eve."
Angel began to pace, running his fingers through 
his hair.
 
"So...," Fred lifted the knife carefully, 
"...there should be traces of the poison left 
on the blade."
 
"No," Angel stopped drawing in an unneeded breath.
"The blade is actually tainted so be careful when 
you handle it. The poison only activates when the
blade comes into contact with human blood...," he
turned away heading for the door.
 
"Have you been back to the hospital?"
 
Angel stopped at the sound of Fred's voice. "What
good will it do?" He whispered.
 
"He may know you're there."
 
Angel disappeared out the door without answering.
 
~~~
 
Wesley sighed softly as he rolled over smiling at
the feel of Angel's body---cool and smooth---at
his side. Opening his eyes he saw Buffy standing
at the end of the bed a look of disgusted shock
on her face.
 
"What are you doing?" He sat up tugging the
sheets around him.
 
"He said he loved me." Her voice was dull and
lifeless as she walked around the bed looking
down at Angel's smooth back.
 
Wesley's skin crawled at the hollow sound of
her words. "He did...he does...Buffy I don't
know what to say...," his voice faded as he
saw her lift her hand.
 
"No...he never did. He can't love anyone."
 
Her hand clenched the wooden stake tightly
as she lifted it over Angel's sleeping form.
 
"BUFFY!" 
 
Wes threw himself forward, but it was too
late.
 
The stake burrowed into Angel's back and
into his heart. Angel let out a scream that
tore into Wesley's heart.
 
For just a moment their eyes met, then Angel
melted away in a swirl of grey dust.
 
~~~
 
"CODE BLUE!"
 
Angel was heading down the hall when the
alarm was raised. Torn from his thoughts
he ran towards the ICU knowing in his 
heart that Wesley was the one coding.
 
As he reached the door the team of nurses
and doctors swept by him. The alarms
were drilling through his brain as a tech
grabbed his shoulder.
 
"Sir? Sir! You have to leave."
 
Backing away Angel felt tears well up in
his eyes. "No...if there's a God you won't
let him die!" 
 
Everything seemed to slow and blur.
 
"Clear!"
 
"Nothing!"
 
"Again! Clear!"
 
"Nothing!"
 
"I need you to start pumping."
 
"Up the voltage! Okay let's get him 
going!"
 
So many voices and all Angel heard
was that alarm screaming.
 
"Sir? Can you hear me? Come on
you need to sit down."
 
Angel looked up into a young woman's
eyes. They were the color of Wesley's
he thought, as he became lost in the soft,
blue shimmering with love.
 
"Who?"
 
"Call me Aliah." She smiled as she took
his hand guiding him to a chair.
 
"Are you a nurse?" He rubbed his eyes
trying to hold back the tears.
 
"You could say that." She handed him a
cup of coffee. "I help those in need."
 
Angel watched her as he sipped the coffee
wondering what it was he couldn't put his
finger on. She was beautiful, he thought,
with smooth coco skin that only emphasized
the blue of her eyes. Her hair was raven black
falling like waves of silk around her shoulders.
 
"Help?" He frowned. "No one can help." His
shoulders slumped as he set the cup of coffee
aside.
 
"Sometimes all you have to do is believe...,"
 
When he looked up Aliah was gone.
 
~~~
December 23
10:00 pm
~~~
 
"Angel? Wake up Angel."
 
With a groan Angel lifted his head looking
into Fred's concerned eyes.
 
"Hey." He glanced over at Wes's still form.
 
"I found something Angel...it's amazing...I
don't...I mean this has to be...it's all...
I'm...,"
 
"Fred calm down. What did you find?" Angel
stood grabbing her shoulders and squeezing.
 
She took a deep breath. "Angels."
 
"Angels?" He frowned as his hands slipped 
from her shoulders. Despair began to fill his
gut.
 
"Yes...I found a book. It describes the cure for
the Medusian dagger's kiss as they call it. There
is only one cure Angel...I don't know how to
do it though...I can't do it." Her eyes widened
at the sad expression that quickly became angry.
 
"What do you mean that you can't?! I don't
accept that!" Angel began to pace the room.
 
"It...well it has to be...," Fred stuttered 
softly.
 
"What?!" Angel screamed.
 
"You. It has to be you. Only an angel can cure
the poison, but at the request of the dying souls
lover."
 
"Jesus!" Angel flopped into the chair, running 
his fingers through his hair. "You don't under-
stand Fred...it's not that simple."
 
Fred knelt in front of Angel her hand patting 
his thigh. "It is that simple. All you have 
to do is speak the passage I found...I even 
had it translated to English...so it's going 
to be okay...right?" She handed him a sheet 
of paper.
 
"I...I don't believe in them." Angel scrubbed 
at his face in frustration.
 
"Them? I don't understand Angel."
 
He shook his head wadding the paper into a tight
ball and tossing it on the bedside table. "I don't 
believe in angels."
 
~~~
 
He was in a dark, dank basement bound to a
chair---unable to move---his heart pounding 
in his chest.
 
"Why?" Wesley sobbed.
 
"Because I can lover." 
 
Angelus stepped from the shadows his eyes
glittering in the grey light.
 
"I don't understand...what happened?" Wes
struggled against the ropes that cut into his
wrists. "How did this happen?"
 
"One moment of true happiness." Angelus
threw back his head laughing. "When will
you humans ever figure that out? You made
him happy my sweet...," Angelus ripped
open Wes's shirt---lowering his mouth to
his chest, "...lover."
 
His incisors scrapped across one nipple
causing Wes to moan. "No...,"
 
"Yes."
 
Angelus lifted his head---his mouth curling
into a cruel smile---his teeth skimming the
pulse in Wes's throat. 
 
~~~
December 24 
3:00 am
~~~
 
Waking with a start Angel looked up to
see Aliah leaning over Wes. Her hand
caressing his pale cheek.
 
"What are you doing here?"
 
She lifted her gaze to Angel's face. "I
could ask you the same thing."
 
Angel growled deep in the back of his
throat. "What the hell is that suppose
to mean?"
 
She stood up her lips curling into a 
soft, knowing smile. "I know what 
you are Angel...Angelus...Liam."
 
He shivered at the sound of his human
name.
 
"We've watched you through out time
endless...we exist even if you doubt us."
 
Angel watched in disbelief as Aliah faded
into nothingness.
 
"...all you have to do is believe...,"
 
~~~
December 24
2:00 pm
~~~
 
His gaze had been locked on the angel at
the top of the tree for hours now, but he
wasn't really seeing it. He was seeing Wes.
 
Whole and unharmed.
 
Laughing as he slipped the angel on the top
of the tree.
 
Warm and soft in his arms afterwards as they
made love on the sofa.
 
Wes's legs wrapped around his waist as he
slipped into his body. The tiny choked cries
that Wes made as he pumped his hips, his
tongue circling a tight nipple.
 
"I want him back," he whispered to the empty
room.
 
"Then why are you blowing off Fred's solution
Angelcakes?"
 
Turning away from the tree Angel shook his
head in disbelief. "So they have you on my case
now." Walking across the room he settled on
the sofa, grabbing one of the pillows and 
burrowing his face in the soft material. 
 
"It's not like you're the only one who's losing
someone sugar. Wesley is our friend as well."
 
Angel inhaled smelling Wes's scent trapped
in the soft pillow. "I know that Lorne...I can't
do what she's asking me to though."
 
Setting on the sofa arm Lorne adjusted the silk
scarf at his throat. "Can't or won't Angelkins?"
 
"I don't believe in angels." He turned away
so Lorne couldn't see the tears in his eyes.
 
"I'm not one for derogatory language, but that
is a crock of A-class Hollywood crap. And when
I talk about Hollywood crap...I know what I'm
talking about." Lorne frowned as he smoothed
his jacket. "If you love him Angel, then do what
you have too. If you want him to die, then walk
away sweetie. But remember this...another death
on your shoulders might just be the weight that
tips the scales. The senior partners are waiting
for that with bated breath like an Oscar nominee."
 
Standing Lorne walked away leaving Angel
with his dark thoughts.
 
~~~
 
It wasn't right.
 
He loved Angel.
 
Wes cried out as Angelus' incisors sliced into 
his throat. 
 
Better I die, he thought, than live with what my
love has done to him. He hadn't wanted this.
 
Angelus drank deep and long.
 
Moaning Wes started to give in to the darkness
as the blood flowed from his body.
 
"I need to be punished...I'm sorry...,"
 
~~~
December 24
11:30 pm
~~~
 
The doctor had told him that it was just a matter
of time. That Wesley's body was slowly shutting
down.
 
He didn't want him to die---not like this. In 
a tangle of wires and tubes. Alone and helpless 
in the dark with no one to tell him it would 
be okay.
 
So he had brought the paperwork to the doctor.
 
Now the tubes were gone. The machines were gone
as well and the room was silent. 
 
Outside in the distance he could here a radio 
playing as he crawled into the bed. His arms 
lifted Wesley cradling him close---one hand 
over his heart. He sat stroking Wes's hair 
back from his sweat dampened forehead as he 
listened to the distant song.
 
Silent night...holy night
All is calm...all is bright
 
"I'm so sorry Wes...," tears began trickling down 
Angel's face.
 
Round yon virgin...
Mother and child...
 
"It didn't have to be like this...,"
 
Sleep....in heavenly peace....
Sleep in heavenly peace...
 
It was as the song ended that he saw the wadded
sheet of paper on the night stand. Shifting he 
lifted the paper with one trembling hand and 
smoothed it out.
 
Wes's heart was slowing---his breath becoming
more labored.
 
Bowing his head Angel began to read.
 
"Her darkness has claimed my beloved.
In his heart Heaven has been turned to Hell.
I call to those who guard the gates...," he
swallowed hard, his voice cracking.
 
"In the darkness only you can find him.
Only with my plea can Hell be changed back
to Heaven...," beneath his hand Wes's heart
ceased to beat.
 
"Save the soul...the light of my heart...," 
Angel's head dropped as he pulled Wes closer.
 
He was gone. 
 
Angel wept for the first time in a long time.
 
"He has not left yet child."
 
Lifting his head Angel met Aliah's soft gaze. He
watched speechless as a golden light began to 
ripple along her skin---flooding the room---
chasing the shadows away.
 
"Take my hand and fear not what you see...," her
hand reached out to him in a gesture of hope.
 
Hesistantly Angel took her hand and he felt the 
light flow through him.
 
"Tell him child...tell him the truth." Her other 
hand lay over Wes's still chest.
 
"I can't...," he whispered.
 
"Tell him or you will lose him."
 
"I...I love you...," Angel choked out the words. 
"Don't leave me...,"
 
Light exploded outward as Aliah's wings spread 
out and around them. Angel cried out as he was
engulfed by her wings---the brush of feathers 
soft against his skin.
 
~~~
December 25
Christmas Day
12:01 am
~~~
 
They sat in the darkness each one of them lost 
in their own thoughts. 
 
The silver lights on the tree twinkled like 
stars in the night sky. A beautiful sight if 
any of them had been in the mood to celebrate.
 
"Why look at that girls and boys." Lorne stood 
staring out the window, one arm waving Fred and 
Gunn over.
 
Out across the city in the direction of the 
hospital was a single bright star. As they 
watched it grew brighter and brighter until 
it seemed to explode. A beam of gold light 
flowed down, then across the city.
 
"What the hell?!" Gunn wrapped his arms around 
Fred protectively.
 
"I think Angelcakes finally did the right thing."
 
Smiling Lorne sipped his cosmo as he settled into
the chair next to the tree.
 
~~~
December 25
Christmas Day
10:00 am
~~~
 
"Yes mom...yes...I'm fine don't be silly," 
Fred laughed softly as she glanced over her shoulder.
"Yes...I know. Tell daddy I love him...no...of
course...I promise. Love
you momma...Merry Christmas." She hung up 
the phone smiling wide.
 
"Now I know where you get that rattling nonstop 
tongue of yours girl!" Gunn let out a roar of 
laughter.
 
Fred smacked at Gunn playfully.
 
"Okay...they're on their way kids." Lorne 
bounced into the room with Harmony on his 
heels.
 
"Christmas! Oh I love Christmas!" Harmony 
danced in a circle holding a sprig of mistle-
toe over her head. "Who wants to give me a 
Christmas kiss?" 
 
"Harm love...have you forgotten you’re a bloody
vampire?"
 
"Oh blondie bear that doesn't mean I can't 
have fun. I mean presents and more presents."
 
Spike rolled his eyes as he strolled across 
the room ducking Harmony's puckered lips. 
Pouring himself a whiskey he hopped up on 
the back of chair tossing it back. "Bloody
stupid strumpet...," he grumbled.
 
The door opened and Angel came in pushing 
Wes in a wheelchair ahead of him.
 
"Oh look it's the pouf and his girlfriend." 
Spike snickered as Angel glared at him.
 
"Spike don't you have an appointment with 
a stake right about now?" Growling Angel 
looked around the room and sighed. "What 
is this?"
 
"Office Christmas party Angelkins." Lorne 
knelt down in front of Wes a grin curling 
his lips. "Merry Christmas Wesley. How are 
you feeling?"
 
Wes smiled tiredly. "I'm feeling...," he 
paused glancing up at Angel with a faint smile,
"...lucky."
 
Taking the hint Lorne began hustling the 
others to the door with a laugh. "Well 
boys and girls I think maybe we should 
pick this up at a later date. Wes needs 
his rest."
 
He winked at Angel sending Spike into a 
snicker fit.
 
"And he means that Captain Forehead." Wrapp-
ing an arm around Harmony Spike ducked out 
the door as a book whizzed by his ear. 
 
As Lorne closed the door he looked back.
 
"Take care Angel. We don't often get second 
chances."
 
~~~
 
Sitting down on the sofa Angel gently pulled 
Wes into his arms---tucking the blanket around 
them.
 
"Lucky...huh?" He placed a kiss on the top 
of Wes's head.
 
"Yes...I do." Wes shifted beneath the blanket. 
"You know the last thing I really remember 
is being in front of that book shop." He 
frowned.
 
Angel stroked his hair hushing him. "It doesn't
matter Wes...all that matters is you...getting
better."
 
"You didn't take it off." Wes sighed.
 
"What?" Angel raised a brow as Wes turned in his
arms kissing him softly.
 
"The angel...I thought you wanted a star?"
 
Angel sighed his eyes closing for a moment as he
remembered that conversation. "I changed my mind."
 
"Really?" Wes snuggled closer his eyes drooping.
 
"Yeah...really. Somethings are worth saving."
 
"Saving?" Wes looked up at him with a sleepy
expression.
 
"Let's just say...I believe now...in paradise."
 
The End