YALL... ITS FINALLY HERE!!!!

I don't think I've updated since the end of September 😳😭 I'm so sorry for making you guys wait!! Life has been crazy hectic. At my job I'm basically in charge for the next couple months and have been for all of November and December so far. So it's been a huge change.

But y'all don't care about that. So anyways... get ready for the most epic long chapter you have ever read this entire series. Over 8,000 words!!! It's basically the last episode of season 2 and I'm so freaking happy we got this far!! I'm so proud of this book and how many of y'all support my stories.

Please please know that I enjoy and love all the comments and will always try to reply to every single one. Don't be a ghost reader!!! Pleaseeeeeeee say something. Let me know how you're feeling!!

I love y'all and hope you guys enjoy!!

3rd Person's POV

Buffy walks through the park with her head down. A car drives by as she steps into the street and watches it pass. When she turns back she sees a police car coming, but doesn't run, instead hoping that the officer won't notice her.

He does, though, and turns on his lightbar and lets the siren give a brief loud tone. He pulls the car aside, stops and gets out. Buffy ignores him and keeps walking right past the front of the vehicle.

The officer draws his gun, slamming his door closed, "Hold right there!"

Buffy spins around to face him.

"Put your hands on your head! Do it!"

She stares at his gun, frightened, and begins to raise her hands.

Suddenly the gun gets kicked out of the officer's hands. He gets kicked in the face and in the shin, then grabbed and thrown onto the hood of his car, where he lies unconscious. His blonde attacker faces a surprised Buffy and smiles.

"Hello, cutie."

...

"Angel!... Shit... Angelus!" Laney sobs quietly as she looks around the room trying to tune out the cries of pain coming from Giles.

Laney pulls on the rope wrapped around her wrists as she sits with her back to a headboard. She looks around the room pouting.

This was his room.

Angelus.

How did she get into this predicament?

Freezing, Laney hears the door open. She looks to her right and sees the devil himself strut into the room wearing the evilest grin he could.

"You called?"

"Angel..." Laney bites her lip wincing forgetting that she had a busted lip. She sighs and shakes her head then peeks through her eyelashes at Angelus, "Please stop."

"Stop what, short stack?" Angelus walks over to the bed and sits down beside Laney's legs.

Laney quickly pulls her legs up to her chest and away from him as his hand goes to pat her knee. He chuckles at the gesture and raises an eyebrow waiting for an answer.

"Giles... please leave him alone. I know a good bit of what he does when it comes to the Acathla... I'm sure I can help figure it out."

"You would risk waking Acathla and killing thousands of innocent people... just to save him?"

Laney stares at him blankly as he grins.

"Well that's just beautiful. But no-"

"Please! I-I'll help you... whatever you need. I'll help. Just stop... leave him alone. I'll tell you everything. I'll help you figure out how to... stop Buffy."

Laney wanted to vomit just saying those words. To pit against Buffy resulting in the young slayers death... that was cold. But what else could she do? Buffy had shown multiple times that she couldn't and wouldn't stop Angel on her own. Not the people who could've helped stop him... were kidnapped by the monster himself.

Angelus freezes thinking for a moment. That would get rid of the little pestering problem that the slayer was.

"Tempting... but I have something better in mind."

"What?"

Laney goes still as Angelus moves closer to her. His right arm over her legs and left arm reaching up to move a strand of loose hair from her face.

"I'm feeling a little peckish... willing to help?"

Laney stares blankly ahead not trying to make eye contact with him as a tear slides down her cheek.

She nods so softly that Angelus almost doesn't notice. He smirks and leans down smelling her neck. Angelus vamps out and looks at Laney as she looks at him in fright.

"Good girl."

...

In the park once again, Spike takes a step toward Buffy, and she immediately decks him twice in the face. He grabs her by the shoulders to restrain her, but she brings her knee up into his gut.

"Now, you hold on a second!"

He gives her a good shove away from himself. She reaches into her coat and pulls out a stake. Spike jumps back and holds up his hands in surrender.

"Hey! White flag here. I quit."

"Let me clear this up for you. We're mortal enemies. We don't get time-outs." Buffy glares.

"You want to go a round, I'll have a gay old time of it. You want to stop Angel... we're gonna have to play this a bit differently."

Buffy still holding the stake questions, "What are you talking about?"

"I'm talking about your ex, slayer. I'm talking about putting him in the bloody ground."

Buffy chuckles lowering her stake, "This has gotta be the lamest trick you guys have ever thought up."

Spike shrugs, "He's got your Watcher. Right now, he's probably torturing him."

Buffy frowns and crosses her arms over her chest, "What do you want?"

"I told you. I want to stop Angel..." He snickers, "I want to save the world."

"Okay. You do remember that you're a vampire, right?"

"We like to talk big." He indicates himself, "Vampires do. 'I'm going to destroy the world.' That's just tough guy talk." Spike looks down at the officer and ignores him then walks over him and sits on the hood of the police car, "Strutting around with your friends over a pint of blood. The truth is, I like this world."

He pulls the cigarette pack from the officer's shirt pocket, "You've got... dog racing, Manchester United."

After pulling one out and he drops the pack on the officer, lights the cigarette then takes a drag and exhales, "And you've got people. Billions of people walking around like Happy Meals with legs. It's all right here. But then someone comes along with a vision. With a real... passion for destruction. Angel could pull it off. Goodbye, Picadilly. Farewell, Leicester Bloody Square. You know what I'm saying?"

Buffy nods, "Okay, fine. You're not down with Angel. Why would you ever come to me?"

Spike stands and takes another drag, but doesn't look at her, "I want Dru back. I want it like it was before he came back. The way she acts around him..."

"You're pathetic."

He punches her in the face. She punches him right back.

Buffy glares, "I lost a friend tonight! Two!"

Spike scoffs, "I wasn't in on that raiding party- Wait two?"

"Laney! He took Giles and her too. And now I may lose more!"

"Huh... I didn't know he took the pet... that was actually unexpected."

Buffy tries to ignore the inquisitive look on Spike's face as he mumbles about Angelus taking Laney as well.

"Look, the whole earth may be sucked into Hell, and you want my help 'cause your girlfriend's a big ho? Well, let me take this opportunity to not care."

"I can't fight them both alone, and neither can you!"

Buffy punches him hard in the jaw, making him flinch. He straightens back up and feels his jaw, checking for blood.

"I hate you."

Spike smirks, "And I'm all you've got."

The police officer begins to stir on the hood of the car.

Buffy looks down briefly, "All right. Talk."

Spike turns to the officer, "I'm just gonna kill this guy."

Buffy clears her throat loudly. Spike faces her.

"Oh, right."

Buffy raises her eyebrows at him, "Let's get inside."

...

Giles shakes his head holding his ears as he tries to get Laney's screams out of his head. Never did he think they would be in this situation. Never did he think he wouldn't be able to save her. Angelus had finally won. He had weakened the Scooby Gang and ultimately separated them. Hurt the brains of the group, left the brawns alone to fight an un-winnable war.

"Angelus! I know you hear me!"

The door opens making Giles look up at the top of the stairs. Angelus walks down wiping the side of his mouth with a smirk.

"Sorry I was little occupied. Make it quick, I promised I wouldn't be gone long."

Giles bites the inside of his cheek, "Leave her. Whatever she is offering, she doesn't know what she is doing."

"You both are so needy. I'm stuck in a rout here... do I torture you or her? Uh I'm not very good with decisions like this." Angelus jokes as he walks around the basement.

"Me... leave her be. She can't help you. She won't be Drusilla... you know this. She is too level headed-"

"Well that's not very nice."

Giles groans in pain as his head is pulled back by his hair. Drusilla smiles down at him.

"And I said you were a cute puppy..."

"I apologize. What I meant was that... she won't be by your side. She will fight against you. If you turn her... I know that's what you've been thinking about."

Angelus stands staring quietly at Giles as he thinks, "I guess then I would just have to find another person's life to bribe... I'm sure you and I both know who that would be."

Giles says nothing.

"Isn't he meant to be coming back soon? I might send one of my guys to go find him. Throw him an early welcome back celebration. Maybe give Laney his head on a platter."

Drusilla smiles clapping, "Oh how I love parties!"

Angelus smirks once again having the upper hand, "Don't worry I'll leave her alone for now. Until I get bored again. So you better hope you suffice my needs."

...

Spike and Buffy walk down the street to her house. They eye each other as they head up the walk to driveway. Just then Joyce pulls up in her Jeep and sees them from her open window.

"Buffy?!"

Buffy gives her a glance, but goes right back to watching Spike.

Joyce stops the car and gets over, "Where have you been? Are you okay? The police were here! I've been looking for you!"

"Mom, let's, let's go inside, and I can explain."

Joyce looks around hysterical, "Who is this man?" She looks to Spike and frowns, "Who are you?" Turning back time Buffy, "Are you okay?"

"Mom! I'm-I'm okay."

"Buffy, terrible things have happened. What were you doing?"

Spike looks between the two and frowns, "What, your mum doesn't know?"

Buffy glares at Spike.

Joyce looks to Spike, "Know what?"

Buffy faces her mom, "That I'm, uh... in a band. A-a rock band with Spike here."

She shoots Spike a look making him nod and smile, "Right. She plays the, the triangle."

"Drums."

"Drums, yeah. She's, uh, hell on the old skins, you know."

Joyce unconvinced, "Hmm. And, uh, what do you do?"

"Well, I sing."

"You know what? Why don't we go inside, and, and we can talk about this."

She starts toward the door, and Spike follows.

"I'm, I'm not sure how I feel about this."

Buffy turns around to face her. Suddenly a vampire rushes across the porch, pushes Buffy and Spike aside and jumps down the steps at Joyce, ready to fight. She screams and does some fast backpedaling. Buffy grabs him by the shoulders from behind and forces him around to face Spike.

She pulls out a stake while Spike gives him a series of punches to the face. Spike's last blow sends the vampire spinning around and staggering away. Buffy thrusts the stake into his chest, and he instantly crumbles to ash. Joyce just stares in shock. Spike steps down from the porch and looks at the pile of ash.

Spike huffs, "One of Angel's boys."

Buffy nods, "Yeah, probably watching me. Or you."

"Yeah. He won't get a chance to tattle on us now."

Joyce stares utterly confused, "Buffy... what... is going on?"

Buffy looks at her mother for a moment, exchanges a look with Spike and realizes that it's time. She steps up to her mom and looks up at her, hoping against hope for understanding.

"Mom... I'm a Vampire Slayer."

...

Giles sits in a chair with his hands bound behind his back and bleeding from rope burns. Over his shoulder Angelus sits in a chair and watching Giles as he cleans his glasses. He breathes on the lenses, polishes them clean and inspects his work.

"Rupert, buddy... I'm here to tell you, I'm impressed."

Angelus chuckles as he drops the cleaning cloth, gets up and goes over to Giles.

"Hey. Uh..." he slides on the glasses, "How you holdin' up?"

Giles looks up at him weakly, "Never... better."

"Glad to hear it." Angelus kneels next to him, "Now..."

Giles breathes painfully.

"Tell me when it hurts."

Upstairs Laney stirs awake and slowly sits up noticing her hands had been untied from the rope. She rubs her raw wrists and groans as she feels a pain in her neck. Looking around the room, she notices a mirror and slowly creeps over to it. Gasping quietly she raises her hand up to her neck. Dried blood seeped from two small holes shaped like fangs. Feeling her hair slightly move across her back she tenses up.

"I think my mark looks good on you... don't you?"

Laney balls her hands into fists as they rest down by her side. She breathes in deeply as she feels Angelus kiss her shoulder.

"Rupert is a good sport but I'm really bored now..."

Laney is turned around and pushes against the wall with hands on her waist keeping her in place.

"Guess it's your turn again."

Closing her eyes tightly she tries not to look at the monster who she knew as her best friend. He wore the same face. Had the same voice. The hold he had on her felt the same. But instead of feeling safe as she once did... now she was terrified and wanted to die. She wanted it to be over.

"I'm gonna count to five. And you're gonna open your eyes and let me see those beautiful brown orbs... if not I'm gonna have to go down to the basement and rip Giles' out of his skull."

Laney lets out a scared sob as she shakes her head still eyes closed tightly.

"Angel please..."

"5..."

"I-I can't..."

"4..."

"A-angel please don't make me... please come back..."

"3..."

"Oh god... Angel... you promised... you promised me you wouldn't hurt me."

"2..."

Laney feels his hands move from her wait to her face. Her face rested between his hands as his thumb ran over her cut lip.

"P-please...."

"1..."

Laney quickly opens her eyes. As they flutter open she swears she saw a small glimpse of Angel break through just for a moment.

"Don't worry... he won't hurt you anymore."

"Angel?..."

His eyes gleam with a small hint of brightness making Laney sigh relieved.

Until she felt one of his hands move to her neck. Her necklace from Angel is ripped off instantly.

Laney watches as he lets her go and stares at the necklace in his hands while he walks around the room. She slowly moves and tries to cower back into a corner as she keeps her eyes on him.

"No... y-you..."

Angelus smirks looking up from the necklace. He enjoyed tricking his victims. It brought him joy. It made him feel like he was invincible.

"We're going to have so much fun."

Laney screams as the door is slammed closed leaving her to fend against the monster all alone.

...

The silence is deafening. Spike looks around some more. Then Joyce has a spark of recognition on her face and looks over at Spike.

"Have we met?"

Spike faces her, "Um... you hit me with an axe one time. Remember?" He makes an axe holding gesture, "Uh, 'get the hell away from my daughter.'"

He lowers his arms making Joyce smile and let out a chuckle.

"Oh."

Spike sighs with boredom.

"So, do you, uh, live here in town?"

Buffy walks into the room with her arms crossed. They both get up.

"I-is Willow all right?"

Buffy nods to her mom, "Yeah. She's fine." She turns to Spike, "All right, talk. What's the deal?"

"Simple. You let me and Dru skip town, I help you kill Angel."

Joyce snaps her head confused to Buffy, "Angel? Your boyfriend?"

Buffy shakes her head, "Forget about Drusilla. She doesn't walk."

"There's no deal without Dru."

"She killed Kendra."

Spike stares surprised then chuckles, "Dru bagged a Slayer? She didn't tell me!" He smiles at Joyce, "Hey, good for her!"

Once he gets a look from Buffy he loses the smile, "Though not from your perspective, I suppose."

Buffy looks with contempt, "I can't believe I invited you into my house."

Joyce sighs relieved, "So you didn't k*ll that girl."

"Of course not."

"Did she explode like that man out there?"

"She was a Slayer, Mom."

Joyce nods, "Like what you are."

Buffy gives her a thin smile and a nod.

"Look..." Spike pulls Buffy aside, "This deal works for me one way. Full stop. Me and Dru for Angel."

Joyce still confused, "Honey, a-are you sure you're a Vampire Slayer?"

"I'll take her out of the country. You'll never hear from us again, I bloody well hope."

Buffy ignores her mother, "Fine. Get back to the mansion. Make sure Giles and Laney are all right."

"I-I mean, have you tried not being a Slayer?"

They both look at her.

"Mom!"

Spike sighs in exasperation of Joyce.

Buffy to Spike, "Be ready to back me up when I make my move."

He walks around her toward the door.

"If Giles or Laney dies..."

Spike stops and faces Buffy.

"...she dies."

He gives her a final stare and heads out the door.

Joyce stands still trying to make sense of it all, "It's because you didn't have a strong father figure, isn't it?"

"It's just fate, Mom. I'm the Slayer. Accept it."

"We should call the police." She heads for the kitchen.

"No. We're not calling the police."

Joyce stops and faces her daughter, smiling, "Well, now that we know that you're innocent, it's..."

"What? You thought I was guilty? Jeez, feelin' the love in this room!"

"No, I didn't think that. It's just... now we have proof."

Buffy sighs exasperated, "We have my word, Mom. Not proof."

Joyce heads for the kitchen again, "Look, I am sure that they will understand."

Buffy follows closely, "Get them involved, you'll get them killed."

"Well, you're not gonna hurt them, are you?"

"I'm a Slayer, not a postal worker."

Her mother picks up the phone, and Buffy slaps her hand onto the switch hook.

"Cops can't fight demons." She takes the phone from her mom, "I have to do it." Buffy puts the phone back in its cradle.

Joyce stares demanding, "Do what? Buffy, what is happening?"

Buffy doesn't want to deal so she waves her hand nonchalantly, "Just have another drink."

She turns away from her mother and starts to walk off. Joyce throws her glass aside in anger, and it breaks on the floor.

"Don't you talk to me that way!"

Buffy stops in her tracks.

"You don't get to just dump something like this on me and pretend it's nothing!"

Buffy looks at her, "I'm sorry, Mom, but I don't have time for this."

She starts for the door again, but stops.

"No! I am tired of 'I don't have time' or-or 'you wouldn't understand.'"

Buffy faces her.

"I am your mother, and you will make time to explain yourself."

"I told you. I'm a Vampire Slayer."

Joyce huffs haughtily, "Well, I just don't accept that!"

Buffy steps closer, "Open your eyes, Mom. What do you think has been going on for the past two years? The fights, the weird occurrences. How many times have you washed blood out of my clothing, and you still haven't figured it out?"

Joyce raises her voice angrily, "Well, it stops now!"

Buffy raises her voice also, "No, it doesn't stop! It never stops! Do-do you think I chose to be like this? Do you have any idea how lonely it is, how dangerous? I would love to be upstairs watching TV or gossiping about boys or... God, even studying! But I have to save the world... again."

"No. This is insane." Joyce takes Buffy by the shoulders, "Buffy, you need help."

Buffy throws off her mom's arms, "I'm not crazy! What I need is for you to chill. I have to go!"

Joyce shakes her head, "No. I am not letting you out of this house."

"You can't stop me."

Joyce grabs her, "Oh yes I..."

Buffy shoves her back into the island, making her knock over several things. She heads for the door, opens it and steps out.

Joyce stares angrily, "You walk out of this house, don't even think about coming back!"

Buffy just gives her a long stare and leaves.

...

In the hospital room, Willow is sitting up in her bed with Oz in the chair next to her. Xander is sitting on the far side of the room.

Cordelia paces thinking about what her best friend could've been going through, "So Buffy's going for the big showdown, huh? Wish we could help. You know, without dying."

Xander shrugs, "I don't see how."

Willow sighs, "I wanna try again."

Oz frowns, "Try what?"

"The curse. We never got to finish it. Maybe we can restore Angel's soul."

Xander shakes his head, "I don't like it. You're talking about messing with powerful magic, and you're weak."

"I'm okay."

"You don't look okay." Xander turns to Cordelia, "Does she?"

Cordelia frowns, "You should listen to him. The hair, it's so flat, and the lips..."

Xander to Cordelia, "Could we stay on topic here, honey?"

"What?"

"Look, it's not a good idea."

Willow shrugs, "There's no use arguing with me. Do you see my resolve face?" She gives them her resolve face, "You've seen it before. You know what it means. This can help Buffy. If we turn Angel back soon enough, we can stop him from ever awakening Acathla."

Oz gets up, "Okay, I pretty much missed out on some stuff, didn't I? Because this is all making a kind of sense that's... not."

Willow turns to Oz, "Go with Cordy to the library and get my things. She'll fill you in."

"Sure." He kisses her hand, "I'll drive."

He walks out of the room with Cordelia close behind. Xander gets up.

"Xander, go to Buffy. Tell her what we're doing. Maybe she can stall."

"But I..."

Willow points to herself, "Resolve face."

Xander gives in and sighs, "Be careful."

...

In the basement of Angelus' mansion, Giles is still tied to his chair, and hangs his head weakly.

"You know, I can stop the pain. You've been very brave..." he puts his hand on Giles' shoulder, "but it's over."

Angelus walks behind Giles and leans down to whisper in his ear, "You've given enough. Now let me make it stop."

Giles sits panting and shaking with pain, "Please!"

Angelus kneels to face him, "Just tell me what I need to know."

Giles huffs weakly, "In order... to be worthy..."

Angelus whispers, "Yeah?"

Giles weakly, "You must perform the ritual... in a tutu."

Angelus glares at him. Giles doesn't back down.

"Pillock!"

Angelus stands up angrily, "All right. Someone get the chainsaw."

Spike wheels himself in, "Now, now, don't let's lose our temper."

Angelus glares, "Keep out of it, sit 'n' spin."

Spike chuckles, "Good one. Look, you cut him up, you'll never get your answers."

Angelus shakes his head, "Since when did you become so levelheaded?"

"Right about the time you became so pig-headed. You have your way with him, you'll never get to destroy the world. And I don't fancy spending the next month trying to get librarian out of the carpet. There are other ways."

"Enlighten me."

"Hmm." He looks over his shoulder, "Drusilla? Sweetheart?"

She comes in behind him and walks up to them.

"Do you want to play a game?"

She puts her arm on his shoulder, and they both look over at Angelus.

Moments later, Drusilla kneels behind Giles patting the sweat from his forehead.

"Is that better? Hmm? Poor thing." She runs her finger down his cheek, "Let's see what's inside."

She runs her hand up the back of Giles' head and over the top. She closes her eyes and concentrates on reading his thoughts. It doesn't take long for her to discover something useful. She gasps and removes her hand.

Drusilla whispers into Giles' ear, "Of course."

She stands up and goes around to his other side and holds up two fingers to hypnotize him.

"Look at me."

Giles turns his head weakly to look away, trying to resist. She comes around the rest of the way in front of him, waving her fingers.

"Mm-mm-mm-mm."

Finally Giles can no longer resist and looks at her. She waves her fingers around some more and draws them in toward her own eyes.

"Be... in me."

In his weakened state Giles quickly falls under her spell. She looks into his eyes and smiles.

"Hmm. See with your heart."

She covers his eyes with her hand, and when she takes it away he sees Jenny kneeling before him. At first he can't believe it, but then accepts it.

Giles smiles, "Jenny! I thought I'd lost you."

Dru/Jenny shushes him quietly, "Shh. I'll never leave you."

Giles tries to get up, "We have to get out of here."

Dru/Jenny calms him, "No-no-no-no-no. Slowly."

She brushes her hand over his temple, down his cheek and over his lips.

Giles stares into her eyes, "It can't be you."

Dru/Jenny, "Did you tell Angel? About the ritual?"

Giles starts breathing erratically as he looks around desperately, "No... he will hurt Laney. We can't tell him. We have to get... him away from Acathla."

"Why? Is he close to figuring it out?"

Giles nods, anxious to go, "Later."

Dru/Jenny stares imploringly, "Tell me what to do."

Giles looks at her, helpless and confused.

"It's all right. We'll be together... finally. We'll have everything we never got to have... Never got to feel..."

Giles still says nothing.

Dru/Jenny sighs, "Laney will be okay... Just tell me what to do."

Giles pleads desperately, "We have to get Angel away from Acathla."

"Angel himself? He's the key?"

Giles nods weakly, "H-h-his, his blood... H-he mustn't..."

"Shh." She kisses him.

They kiss passionately. Angelus and Spike watch, pleased with the result.

"Blood. Of course. The blood on my hands must be my own. I am the key that will open up the door. My blood. My life." He considers, "Okay... kill him."

He turns to go making Spike clear his throat.

"Uh, but what if he's lying?"

"Yeah. Good point. Alright, don't kill him." Angelus leans down to Spike and chuckles, "You know, I kinda like having you watch my back. It's kinda like old times."

They both look over at Drusilla, still kissing Giles.

Spike frowns, "Uh, Drusilla..."

She keeps kissing him.

Angelus rolls his eyes, "Honey..."

Spike glares, "We are finished here, ducks."

She stops and looks back at them sheepishly, "Sorry. I was in the moment."

Giles opens his eyes seeing Drusilla and realizes that he's been tricked. He murmurs no to himself as he looks down at the ground shaking his head. He had just gotten himself and Laney killed.

"How's the slayerette? You didn't think to tell me you took her too? I would've enjoyed torturing the little pest."

Angelus chuckles, "Didn't think you would have been this wounded. Seeing as you have Dru here... you're not jealous are you?"

Spike chuckles, "Of course not. Just wished I would've been included. I had a bit of anger I could've taken out."

"Still can. She's upstairs. Have at it." Angelus shrugs before pulling Dru to the stairs.

Spike watches the two leave then looks back at Giles who cries quietly to himself. Spike rolls his wheelchair a little closer to Giles who looks up at him with defeat.

"Please... if you don't help me. Help her. I know you feel some kind of way about her. Don't let him hurt her anymore than he has."

Spike doesn't say anything as he slowly wheels himself backwards. He uses his vamp hearing and notices that nobody was near the living room up the stairs. He quickly gets out the wheelchair and walks up the stairs then hurries up the next set of stairs to the second floor.

He creeps softly to Angelus' room listening out for Angelus and Drusilla. As he gets to the closed door, he hears soft sobs and sniffles. Slowly opening the door, he pauses eyes on the hurt girl then quickly closes the door back.

He gulps lightly before shaking his head and turning back around walking down the hall.

...

Outside Angelus' mansion, Buffy walks toward the mansion at a determined pace with the sword wrapped in a cloth.

Suddenly Xander comes running out of the bushes on the hillside and jumps into the street in front of her. She startles and takes a reflexive step back.

"Xander!"

"Cavalry's here. Cavalry's a frightened guy with a rock," He holds up a large rock, "but it's here."

Buffy holds up a stake. He tosses the rock aside and takes it from her.

Xander nods, "That's better."

"You're not here to fight." She starts walking, "You get them out, and you run like hell, understood? I can't protect you." She pulls off and discards the cloth, "I'm gonna be too busy killing."

Xander looks at the sword, "Now, that's a new look for you."

"It's a present for Angel."

"Willow." He stops, "Uh, she told me to tell you..."

"Tell me what?"

Xander pauses to think. He saw how determined Buffy looked to stop Angel.

"Kick his ass."

Without a word she continues walking. Xander hesitates a moment and then follows.

...

Inside the main hall of the mansion, Spike sits in his wheelchair as Angelus and Drusilla stand at one end near the large fireplace. Behind Acathla two other vampires stand on either side. Angelus begins the ritual.

"Acathla... Mundatus sum... pro te necavi. Sanguinem meum... pro te effundam..." He steps slowly toward Acathla, "quo me dignum... esse demonstrem."

"Now, Acathla..."

Drusilla hands him a knife.

"You will be free."

He draws the blade across the palm of his hand and winces in pain, but doesn't take his stare off of the demon. He drops the knife.

"And so will we all."

Behind a nearby vampire, Buffy hurries in quietly behind him. She raises her sword and decapitates him with a single swing. He crumbles to ash as his head falls to the floor.

Drusilla and Angelus turn their heads to look. Buffy meets their gazes.

"Hello, lover."

Angelus stares bored, "I don't have time for you."

"You don't have a lot of time left."

"Coming on kind of strong, don't you think? You're playing some deep odds here. Do you really think you can take us all on?"

"No. I don't."

Spike gets up out of his wheelchair behind Angelus with a determined look on his face and whips him hard across the back with an andiron.

Angelus cries out in pain and collapses to the floor. Drusilla twists her head to look at Spike. He continues to whale on Angelus as hard as he can. Buffy starts for Drusilla, but the first vampire attacks her.

She spins around to face him, but he punches her and she falls to the floor. She trips him when he comes at her again and maneuvers to her feet, ready to fight. He comes at her again with a series of punches, all of which she easily blocks. Spike keeps pounding on Angelus.

"Painful, isn't it?"

He keeps swinging the andiron. Drusilla begins to freak, and jumps on Spike, taking him down to the floor with her.

Buffy's assailant backhand punches her in the face, and she goes staggering into a chair by the wall. She quickly recovers to block another swing, brings her knee up into his gut and kicks him in the face, knocking him to the floor. She spies a pile of broken wood fragments and goes to it.

The vampire gets to his feet just as Xander comes into the room and surprises him with a punch. Buffy picks up a suitable piece of scrap wood and gets back into the fight.

Xander backs off to go look for Giles. The vampire ducks a roundhouse kick and blocks another kick. Spike and Drusilla get up from the floor and face each other off.

"I don't want to hurt you, baby."

She grabs him by the throat and shoves him into the wall. He slaps her arm aside and punches her in the face.

"Doesn't mean I won't."

Willow casts her stones and gives Oz his cue. Cordelia keeps waving the burning herbs and incense.

"Quod perditum est, invenietur. Not dead... nor not of the living. Spirits of the interregnum, I call."

Xander pushes aside a curtain to another room and finds Giles still tied to a chair.

"Giles!"

Giles' head is tilted back, and he is very weak. He lifts his head slowly. Xander crouches behind the chair and begins to untie the ropes.

"Xander?"

"Can you walk?"

"You're not real."

Xander scoffs, "Sure, I'm real."

"It's a trick. They get inside my head, make me see things I want."

Xander has untied the ropes and goes around to look into Giles' face.

"Then why would they make you see me?"

Giles considers, "You're right. Let's go."

He groans as Xander gets under his arm and helps him out of the chair.

"Come on."

They make their way through the main hall as fast as they can and out the door.

Giles pauses, "Laney... you have to find her."

Xander nods, "I'll go back in a minute. Let's get you farther away first."

Buffy and the vampire continue to fight. Drusilla swipes at Spike with her hand and leaves four parallel scratches across his cheek. She follows up with a punch that knocks him to the floor.

Angelus wakes up and groans in pain. He rubs his eyes and looks up at Acathla. He gets to his feet and goes over to the demon. Buffy is still fighting the vampire. She blocks a kick from him, punches him, spins around and punches again, and he falls onto his back. Buffy quickly follows him down with her stake and jams it into his chest. He bursts into ashes.

Behind her Angelus takes the last few steps to Acathla and grabs the sword stuck in his chest by the hilt with his bloody hand. A blindingly bright light emanates from it, and Buffy looks up from her kill in time to witness Angelus pulling the sword from the demon's heart. With a few telltale sparks the light is suddenly gone. Angelus whips the sword around in his hand and holds it up to look at it. Buffy scrambles to get her own sword. Drusilla looks up from her fight and gazes at Acathla with a smile.

"Oh... Here he comes."

Spike comes up behind her and grabs her around the throat with his arm, choking her.

Willow continues her chant, but starts to feel weak, "Gods, bind him. Cast his heart from the... evil... realm."

Buffy holds up her sword and faces off with Angelus. He holds his own ready to fight her also.

"You almost made it, Buff."

"It's not over yet."

"My boy Acathla here is about to wake up. You're going to Hell."

"Save me a seat."

She thrusts at him with her sword, but he parries and swings around with a thrust of his own, which she also parries. They clash blades several times, and Buffy ducks a wide arcing swing from him. They face off again and trade one thrust and parry after another. Angelus tries another arcing swing from above, but she easily ducks and sidesteps out of the way. They face off again in front of Acathla and trade a few more blows.

Angelus tries a swing from above a third time, and again Buffy ducks it and escapes to the side. She jumps up on a low table and swings at him again. He parries, and swings at her legs. She jumps up and over his blade and lands on the floor. He tries for her legs again, but she blocks his attempt with her blade.

Again they trade several swings, and
Angelus tries a wide swing again, and this time cuts her superficially on the arm. He tries to take advantage of her distraction and comes at her with his sword held high, intending to swing from above, but she drops to the floor and rolls out of the way, so he only manages to smash a bowl on a table behind her. Buffy kicks his legs out from under him and scrambles back up.

He turns to face her still on his knees and swings three times in rapid succession, all of which she parries. He swings a fourth time, and this time Buffy knocks his sword into the table with her parry and pins it there. He backhand punches her in the face, and she spins away. He pulls the sword from the table and swings it hard at her. She blocks it with hers, and kicks him in the gut, making him double over.

She jumps over him into the clear, and raises her sword to continue the fight. He thrusts, and she parries. Then he kicks her in her sword arm, and she stumbles back a step.

Willow gets weaker as she chants and breathes heavily, "Return. I call on..."

Oz looks worried, "Willow?"

Cordelia frowns, "Are you okay?"

Without warning Willow's head snaps back and she looks up with her eyes wide open. Her head snaps back down and her eyes stare into the Orb. She begins to chant steadily in Rumanian as though possessed.

"Te implor, Doamne, nu ignora aceasta rugaminte."

Oz turns to Cordelia, "Is this a good thing?"

"Nici mort, nici al fiintei..."

Cordelia stares freaked out, "Hey, speak English!"

"Lasa orbita sa fie vasul care-i va transporta, sufletul la el."

Buffy hits the ground and scrambles back to her feet as Angelus slowly advances. She thrusts, and he parries. She spins around and swings at him, and he blocks her. Her sword bounces off of his and falls with the tip onto the low wall of a planting bed. Angelus stomps on the blade before she can raise it again and knocks it from her grip. He spins around and elbows her in the face, knocking her back into a stone table, which collapses and falls with her.

Deep thundering growls and noises come from Acthla as he begins to wake.

Drusilla begins to lose consciousness and slumps over in Spike's arms.

"Sorry, baby. Wish there was another way."

When she begins to fall he catches her, lifts her into his arms and starts to carry her out. On the way he passes the doorway to the atrium and glances outside. When he sees them he stops to take a better look.

Buffy is backing up against the wall without her sword while Angelus slowly and deliberately advances on her holding his.

"God, he's gonna kill her."

He watches for another moment, then shrugs and heads for the garage with Drusilla.

Angelus plays with his sword, idly pointing it at Buffy. She looks up at him, frightened.

"Now that's everything, huh? No weapon... No friends... No hope."

Buffy closes her eyes and steels herself for whatever's coming.

"Take all that away... and what's left?"

He draws the sword back and thrusts it directly at her face. With lightning-fast reflexes she swings up with both arms and catches the blade between the palms of her hands. She opens her eyes and meets his.

"Me."

She shoves the blade away from her, and the hilt of the sword hits Angelus in the face. He staggers back, and she hops to her feet and kicks him in the chest. He stumbles back even more, and she reaches down and picks up her sword. She swings it around and thrusts at him, but he manages to parry. They exchange several blows, blocking each other.

Buffy spins around and swings her sword down at him from above. He holds up his own to block, but she hits it hard and he falls to one knee. She swings again, and he blocks. She spins around with a roundhouse kick to his side, and he collapses to the ground.

Outside the garage, Spike smashes through the door with his car. The windows are all painted black. He screeches into the street and guns it. Drusilla is lying unconscious in the passenger's seat.

Spike concentrates on the road and whips around a corner. When heading straight again he looks over at her and scoffs. He then peeks over his shoulder and looks at an unconscious body that had been covered by his black leather jacket. Clearing his throat he turns back around and continues driving.

Buffy kicks Angelus, and he comes flying in through the door, hits the floor and rolls to a stop. Before he can get all the way back to his feet Buffy leaps in and swings her sword at him. He almost misses parrying her blow, and he steps back to get his footing.

They exchange a few more swings. Angelus misses a block and gets sliced on his hand.

"Asa sa fie! Asa sa fie! Acum! So it shall be! So it shall be! Now!"

The Orb glows brightly for a brief moment and goes dark. Willow suddenly relaxes, and looks around blankly.

Angelus drops his sword and holds his cut. Buffy does a high kick to his face, and he falls backward into Acathla and lands on his knees before her.

Buffy raises her sword to dispatch Angelus, but stays herself when he suddenly gasps loudly and groans in pain. She sees his eyes glow bright red for an instant and go back dark. He looks up at her, but quickly collapses to the floor, crying. Buffy stares down at him, but still holds her sword raised behind her. Angel raises himself back up, his eyes heavy with tears, and looks into her eyes.

Angel speaks softly as he sobs confused, "Buffy? What's going on?"

She just looks at him, confused but not yet ready to lower the sword. He looks around a bit and gets to his feet.

"Where are we? I-I don't remember."

Finally Buffy realizes that the curse has worked, and she slowly lowers her sword.

Buffy smiles softly, "Angel?"

Angel sees her wound, "You're hurt."

She looks down at her wound and feels his gentle touch on her arm. She ignores her cut, looks back up at him and steps closer. He embraces her tightly.

"Oh, Buffy... God."

She still isn't completely sure that it's true, but accepts the hug.

"... I feel like I haven't seen you in months."

Finally she accepts it, closes her eyes and breathes out a deep sigh.

"Oh, my God, everything's so muddled. I..."

He holds her even more closely. He sighs deeply and kisses her on the shoulder.

"Oh, Buffy..."

She cries into his shoulder and hugs him back. Behind him Acathla lets out a low rumble. Buffy opens her eyes and stares in shock as Acathla's face contorts. His brows angle down, his eyes glow red, his mouth opens grotesquely and the swirling vortex to Hell opens, small at first, but growing steadily in size and emanating a deep, red glow. Buffy lets go of Angel and looks up into his face.

"What's happening?"

Buffy whispers reassuringly, "Shh. Don't worry about it."

She brushes her fingers over his lips and across his cheek. She lays her hand on his cheek and kisses him softly. He returns the kiss, and it becomes more passionate.

Behind them the vortex has grown to about five feet across and continues to get larger. Buffy breaks off the kiss and looks deeply into Angel's eyes.

Buffy smiles and whispers, "I love you."

Angel whispers back, "I love you."

She touches his lips with her fingers again.

"Close your eyes."

She nods reassuringly, and he closes his eyes. She tries hard not to start crying, and kisses him again gently. She steps back, draws back her sword and thrusts it into his chest. His eyes whip open in surprise and pain, and a bright light emanates from the sword. She steps away from him. He reaches out to her and looks down at the sword thrust completely through him. He looks at her imploringly, completely bewildered by this turn of events. She can only stare at the sword protruding from his chest, and slowly steps further back.

"Buffy..."

Behind him the power of the sword begins to swirl into the vortex. Buffy steps further back, still looking only at the sword in his chest and not into his face. The vortex has enlarged to about twelve feet across, and the two energies begin to interact. Angel still holds out his hand to Buffy. When the vortex finally meets him it suddenly closes into Acathla's mouth without so much as a spark, taking him with it.

Buffy stares at the stone demon for a long moment, a light of awareness dawning in her eyes as she truly realizes what she has done, what she has lost. She begins to sob, her heart breaking.

...

Combat boots hit the pavement as they step off the bus that had driven the person into Sunnydale. It was still night so he knew he had to be cautious at this time.

As the bus drives away, the boy looks behind him to see a car with blacked out windows. He frowns staring at it. It was weird. The windows weren't just tinted but painted black. Shrugging the boy begins to walk away and as he reaches into his bag to grab his map, suddenly someone jumps out in front of him.

The boy's quick reflexes make him punch the person who lets out a curse.

"Bloody hell!"

The boy rolls his eyes and reaches deeper into his bag pulling out a stake, "What do you want Spike?"

Spike glares at the brunette boy holding his nose, "Colby was it?"

Colby raises an eyebrow then sighs pushing past the vampire, "I don't have time for this."

"She's not home, pretty boy."

Colby freezes and then quickly turns around grabbing Spike by his shirt, "What the hell are you talking about? What do you know?"

Spike stares at the boy slightly impressed at the confidence and strong grip, "Hands off."

Colby lets Spike go then nods, "Well talk."

"She's not home... but I can take you to her."

Colby frowns at the secretive vampire, "I don't trust you."

Spike chuckles lowly, "She said the same thing..." Colby tilts his head making Spike give him the most honest stare he could manage, "Seriously mate... let me take you to her."

Colby stares at Spike in confusion and awe before nodding and grabbing his stuff following after the vampire that sometimes had a heart.

...

Laney lays trembling holding her arms close to her body. She feels a hand touch her shoulder making her lash out immediately.

"No!"

A hand covers her mouth quickly making her freeze.

"Hush now pet... I'm only here to help."

Laney stares at Spike confused and slightly concerned that he was only tricking her as well.

She shakes her head making him look at her in wonder.

"You don't want to get out of here pet?"

Spike peeks at her body for a moment before looking back at her eyes. He felt himself tense as he realized she had bruises everywhere, bite marks on both sides of her neck, the same black eye, and her busted lip was bleeding profusely. She pulls the sheet around her tightly as she looks away.

Laney pouts before whispering hoarsely, "I don't trust you..."

"Well I'm all you've got... so you have to."

Laney gasps awake as she looks around the dull room. She frowns in confusion as she realizes she was now in a hospital room.

What happened?

"Hey baby... you're okay now..."

Laney feels her eyes water immediately recognizing the voice.

"Colby?"

Colby smiles softly running his hand through her hair as he stood beside her hospital bed.

"I'm home beautiful."

You guys!!! Season 2 is over!!!

Who is ready for season 3?!? I know I am!!

Ahhh I'm so sad this one is over though. We got through so much trauma 😭 but don't worry good times are around the horizon.

Fav character of the series so far?

Least favorite? 😒

Who do you want to see more of? Don't say spike because we all know he goes on his little trip 🥺 but he will be back!!!

Future predictions?

Any special requests...