I will remember
This is a "what if?" scenario that I've thought about a lot for the past month, and finally I thought I should just write it down. I've written two stories about Angelus before, but this one will have Angel and Buffy as the main cast, and it will take place both in Sunnydale with the Scooby gang and in LA with Angel investigations.
It begins with the episode "I will remember." and follows what I think could have happened if Sarah and David actually had gotten their wish fulfilled by Joss Whedon. Namely that this ep actually doesn't end with an extremely irritating time-slip(which made SMG cry in frustration), but instead ends with them finally being able to be together. But with Angel having to deal with being a human, though I will work in a few problems into that "human" state as well, because of the many other aspects-of-the-demon he could have gotten from the Mohra demon.
The truth of the matter is that the only person who didn't want Buffy and Angel together was Joss Whedon, and even though he has a magical mind, that is something I intend to remedy.
So here is my take on this "What if?" scenario.
Angel stepped through the gateway and found himself in a small, white, marbled room. At the other end was another gate with what seemed to be an unending corridor, and in front of it stood the two oracles. They looked like antique statues, with curly hair and perfect shapes, but with a cold and distant look.
"Come before us, lower being.", the man said, his voice dripping with contempt.
Angel looked back at the light filled gate, just as it went back to solid stone. He turned back to the oracles, thinking that this might not have been a good idea after all.
"What have you brought us?", the woman asked.
"Was I supposed to..." Angel began, but the man interrupted him.
"You call us forth and bring us no offering?", he looked as if his contempt for the simple creature had been verified.
Angel ransacked his brain, and then his thought went to his brand new watch. He took it from his wrist and held it up for them to see.
"I brought you this.".
The woman held out her hand, and the watch sprung from his own into her hand. She and the man inspected it critically before she gave him a small smile.
"I like time," she said as she held up the watch. "There's so little and so much of it.".
They stepped down from the stairs and walked closer to Angel. Making him feel uneasy as they scrutinized him.
"Well?" the man asked, his voice now neutral.
"What's happened to me?", Angel asked quickly, before they tried to take his shoes as well.
"It's true then brother." the woman said to the man, ignoring Angel. The man responded seemingly equally oblivious to Angel's question.
"He's no longer a warrior.".
"It was the demons blood. It wasn't the Powers That Be that did this?". He looked up at the oracles, vary of their icy stares.
"The Powers That Be.", the man repeated disgusted. "Did you save humanity? Avert the apocalypse?".
"You faced the Mohra demon, life goes on." The woman added with a smile as she continued to circle Angel.
"My life as a human? I'm not poisoned or under some spell?".
The man watched him suddenly curious, and the woman held up her hand and looked as if she was talking to someone else.
"The auguries say no, but you are not human. What happened it was meant to be.".
"Not human, then what am I?".
"You will live as any mortal man." the man answered, and the woman continued. "Privy to all the attendant pain and, pleasures. Though time will not be your doom.".
"So I'm not mortal?", Angel tried to wrap his head around the concept. He was alive, but he wouldn't die like anyone else.
"The strength of the old demon has left you, the powers of the new one are in your blood.", the woman started to walk away.
"That which we serve is no longer that what you serve.". The man gave him a small nod as if he wanted to thank Angel for his service. "You are released from your fealty.".
And so they both walked through the opposite archway.
"That's it?" Angel asked them, completely perplexed by their cryptic answers. "I'm free?".
The man simply waved with one hand, and Angel felt himself being thrown backwards through the archway behind him, and through the light. He landed on Doyle, who seemed confused by seeing Angel.
"Hey, it didn't work?" he asked as he helped Angel back on his feet.
"Yes it did.".
"You just when in this instant.", Doyle looked from the gate to Angel, and back.
"What?", Angel thought he must have been there at least a few minutes.
"Look at your watch.".
"Ha, I can't do that Doyle, next time remind me to bring a gift.". Angel was still a little pissed, that watch had cost fifty bucks.
"Knew I had forgotten something.", Doyle muttered. "So what happened? What did they say?".
"They're a little confusing but, it's real. I'm free.".
"I can't believe this.". Doyle was still watching Angel sceptically.
"Me neither. But they said something about the power of the demon runs in my veins.".
"What did they mean by that?", Doyle's mind was suddenly filled by a green Angel in a samurai costume.
"No idea, but the essence is that I'm free. Now I've got this whole new life spread out before me." he paused and looked back at the still skeptical Doyle. "I don't know where to begin.".
"Right, its overwhelming." he answered a little sarcastically, trying to figure out what the hell he was supposed to do with his life now. "You kan do pretty much whatever you want now. So the question is; what do you want?".
Angel looked back, his mind already racing with all the things he wanted to do. Finding Buffy and eating ice cream was definitely on top of the list. So he stormed out, leaving a lost looking Doyle behind.
"Now what am I supposed to do?", he muttered as he slowly followed Angel out into the streets.
This was definitely awkward.
Angel had found Buffy, and in the spur of the moment he had grabbed her and given way to all his restrained emotions in the most amazing kiss he had ever experienced. And Buffy seemed to have been so completely stunned by the sudden kiss that she hadn't even had time to ask him how he could walk in the sun all of a sudden.
The kiss had been nice. But now they found themselves on opposite sides of his kitchen table, drinking tea, and trying their best to figure out what to say. For lack of anything to do, Angel decided to pour himself more tea.
"Would you like some more?" he asked carefully, holding up the kettle for Buffy.
"No.", She answered quickly, adding a "thank you" as he put the kettle back down.
The silence dragged on, and finally Angel couldn't hold it back any longer.
"I'm really sorry I kissed you like that.".
"You are?", Buffy seemed even sadder by his sudden outburst.
"Not for the kiss itself," he tried to explain, feeling he should have kept his mouth shut.
"Good.", Buffy answered, visibly relieved. When she realized this she tried to explain. "Cause, as far as kisses go I thought it was well above average.".
"It was incredible," Angel said before he could stop himself. "It's just, I... I think, maybe we'd be asking for trouble rushing back into things. Not that I don't want to rush, believe me.".
"Right." Buffy agreed, trying to muster up some self control. Was he really going to spoil everything with his stupid logic? "I mean you spoke to the oracles, and they did say that you were cured for good.".
Angel had not revealed the thing they had said about him taking on the aspect of the demon, and he didn't know if it wasn't exactly what was happening now that did it. Maybe the whole eternity thing was just some bogus the demon had made up, he seemed to have died easily enough.
"But how do we know they really speak for the powers?" she continued, trying her best not to throw the tea cup at his head for putting her through this. "I mean, they could be... Pranksters.".
"Or there could be another loophole." Angel added nodding, trying to figure out why Buffy was clenching her cup so hard.
"Exactly, and then the two of us are in even deeper, and its "grr" all over again.".
"Would be smart to wait a while." Angel agreed, looking everywhere but at the girl sitting three feet away from him. "See if this mortal thing takes.". He was really getting annoyed at his own stupid logic.
"Exactly.", Buffy gave him a smile at the thought of him finally being a human, but soon tried to cover it up. "And even if it does it's still complicated.".
"You're still the slayer, and I'm not sure what I am now. I don't know what my purpose is.", he looked into the distant future, and for the first time in many years he was drawing a blank. "I can't just wedge myself back into your life in Sunnydale, it wouldn't be good for either of us.".
Here it comes, she thought. He was back to the sewer talk, thinking everything he did was for her, even though she always said that all she ever wanted was to simply be with him. Now she could have so much more, and he was on full roll to drop everything they could have out of some stupid fear of her getting hurt. Which was equally parts sweet, and irritating.
"Not to mention the fact that you just started college, and what about slaying. If you had me to worry about you might not be as focused.", Angel's rant went on.
"Are you going to pull out a pie chart on me now?", Buffy asked, unable to take more logic reasons for not being happy. "Cause I get it, it's not necessary.". She swallowed the lump in her throat, and bit back the tears of anger.
Angel rose from his chair, trying to figure out what to say to her as he sat down on the chair right beside her.
"I'm not saying I don't want you Buffy, you know how much...". But she looked away from him and shifted away in her seat as well. "I'm just saying, it's worth the wait to know that it's right. I need to be sure you won't get hurt again.".
He felt as if he had nothing left he could say, and if he tried he was afraid that the sadness in her eyes might make him change his mind.
"You know it's a good thing I didn't fantasize about you turning human only about ten zillion times." she stood up and walked over to the kitchen stove. "Cause today would have been a real let down.".
She leaned on the stove, and tried to marshal her will again as she stared at the ceiling, determined not to cry.
"So how does the mature plan go?" she asked sarcastically. "You call me, I call you, what?".
"We stay in touch.", Angel agreed, and he stood up to stand beside her. "Just not...".
"Literally." she finished. "Funny. OK, I better...".
"Right," he breathed heavily. "Remove the temptation.".
"So we'll talk soon?", she asked, and out of old habit placed her hand on his.
That little touch was, in the end, too much for both of them. They both looked down on their suddenly entwined hands, and then back into each others eyes. A few seconds passed, and then Angel let his hand drift up along her arm, until it came to rest on her back, and then they were kissing with all the passion only possible by star struck lovers. And everything after that was a blur of kissing, some pretty interesting sexual positions and for some reason an excess of food.
Angel stepped out of bed to get something to drink, thinking to himself how all this human stuff was completely new, when suddenly Doyle came razing down the steps. He began to talk, but Angel quickly hushed him and they stepped away from the bedroom door.
"That Mohra demon regenerated more than just you.", Doyle said, out of breath and having an almost frantic look on his face.
"What?". Angel suddenly got a bad feeling, he knew that whatever the demon could do might affect him.
"I had a vision. It regenerated itself.".
"Where?", Angel began pacing up and down, trying to figure out his next move.
"In the tunnel where you fought it. Then it was in some kind of factory, I thought it tasted like salt." Doyle answered, and added. "Could have been the margarita."
"It needs a lot of salt to live.", Angel agreed, still pacing. He chose to ignore the margarita thing.
"It was very much alive in this vision.", Doyle added, trying not to freak out as a demon who was supposed to be dead had come back to life again. "And angry if I might mention.".
"I'll have to kill it again.", Angel answered, trying to sound as calm as possible, and it granted him an immediate, doubting look from Doyle.
"Yeah, but you're human now. They released you.".
"You want to let that thing roam free?" Angel asked as he began to put his clothes on.
"But if it can regenerate itself, how can you kill it?", Doyle asked, trying his best to point out the obvious flaw in Angel's plan.
"We'll figure it out. Just grab the book of Kelsor. I'll drive.".
But Doyle didn't move, and he glanced from Angel to the bedroom door.
"Doyle?", Angel asked as he noticed that he hadn't moved.
"Don't you think we aught to bring someone... Supernatural?", He asked, glancing at the bedroom door again.
Angel moved over to where he stood and looked at the sleeping Buffy. And he had never seen anyone as happy and content in his entire life.
"Don't you want to wake the girl?", Doyle whispered, glancing nervously at Angel.
"Not for the world.", Angel whispered back as he shook his head.
OK, so going after the demon without Buffy seemed like a bad idea now, Angel thought as he ducked under another of Mohra's swings with the flail. He didn't have time to think much else as the flail smashed through the wooden lid over some kind of container, and he and Mohra burst through and landed in the dust.
Now it seemed like a really bad idea.
Mohra put his foot on Angel's back and began to talk in a raspy voice.
"The end of days has begun and cannot be stopped.". He drew another sword from his belt and held it ready for the killing blow. "For everyone of us that falls, ten shall rise.".
And as if she was an angel from the heavens, Buffy suddenly jumped into the pit and landed a kick on Mohra's back, sending him rolling across the floor. She grabbed the sword he had dropped and gave him a murderous gaze.
"You've hurt my boyfriend.", she hissed angrily, gripping the sword tighter.
"A great darkness is coming.", he rasped back, letting his flail swish through the air at an incredible speed.
"You've got that right.", Buffy deadpanned.
The following sword fight was an amazing example of Buffy's skill, as she easily blocked and countered every attack Mohra made. She even began taunting him, knowing how much it frustrated all demons.
"Come on! Is this the great warrior of darkness?".
She didn't even seem to be needing the sword as she sent Mohra flying into the wall several times with her deadly kicks. But he was stronger than she thought and grabbed one of her fists and sent her flying into the wall, he then grabbed her throat and held her up for Angel to see.
"Together you were powerful, but alone you are dead.", he hissed in her ear, and smashed her head into the wall. "What do you think of the great warrior now?".
"Little bland. Eat salt.", Angel said as he rose up and tossed a handful of salt in Mohra's eyes. As the demon screamed in pain he grabbed Mohra and threw him away from Buffy.
She gave him a quick smile of gratitude, and then almost dropped her chin as she saw that his wounds had already healed and he seamed to be back in full health.
"The jewel Buffy," he whispered to her as he and Buffy circled Mohra as he got up and eyed them suspiciously. "You have to smash the jewel, I distract him and you do it.".
"OK honey.", she agreed, and grabbed the flail from the ground.
Angel launched himself at Mohra and managed to throw him on his back, and as he remembered all his marshal arts techniques he rolled over Mohra and smashed his head back against the ground. Buffy was already looming over them, and with a perfectly aimed swing she hit the jewel with the flail. Mohra's face immediately began to erupt and distort as a bright light shone from the jewel and from inside his body, and within seconds he had disappeared.
"You are alright!" Buffy shouted to Angel, somewhere between a question and a statement. "How?".
"The Oracle's said that I would get the power of the demon. And that the power runs through my veins.", Angel answered as he checked his body for the bruises and cuts that had been there only moments before. "Mohra regenerates himself, so I must have gotten that power too. And it seems to be healing pretty fast.".
Buffy extended one hand and touched the spot where there had been a nasty cut, but where there was only smooth skin now. And then she swung her arms around his neck and gave him a deep, long kiss.
Above them Doyle was grinning as he watched them kiss. Then he walked away from the pit, momentarily forgetting that they might actually need his help to get out of it. He whistled happily to himself as he walked back to the office, he had to tell Cordelia that Angel investigations was back in business.
"Please repeat that because I'm not sure I follow.", Xander said to Buffy. They were all gathered at Giles's place because Buffy had wanted to tell them something important.
"What part?", Buffy asked, trying not to be offended by the equally stunned and unbelieving gazes that met her from her friends.
"The whole thing actually, if it's not too much trouble?". He looked around at the others, and their equally baffled gazes.
"So Angel is human now?", Willow asked carefully, knowing all to well how touchy Buffy could be when it came to the subject of her ex, or rather boyfriend again.
"We don't know. He says some oracles told him he was still immortal, only that he's actually living and breathing.". Buffy answered, trying to keep a calm composure. She wasn't thrilled at all by their reaction. She had at least expected Willow to show some kind of positive reaction.
"Did he say this before or after you had sex?", Xander asked bluntly, never one to miss an opportunity to criticize Angel.
"Before.", Buffy answered, a dark glint flashing in her eyes as she stared back at Xander.
"Cause we all know how good Angelus is at playing us.", Xander continued, but Buffy cut him short with a an angry outburst.
"It's really Angel. OK?", She took a deep breath to calm herself.
"Calm down Buffy," Giles said soothingly, trying to damper the bad mood in the room. "We all just want to know that it's not just some evil trick. So you say he's alive, but he's still not human, is that correct?".
Buffy gave Xander a last burning glare, before she turned back to Giles and nodded.
"He says this Mohra demon's blood mixed with his, and it gave him some powers. He can walk in the sun now, but he's not as strong as he was. Instead all his wounds heal within seconds, even the really bad ones only need a few minutes to heal.". She saw how Giles seemed to loose himself in his thoughts. Then he looked back up again.
"We've seen this before Buffy, with you." he stated as he walked over to his bookshelf, and started to search for his book describing the demonic assassins. "When you gained the power to read thoughts.".
"Yeah, that was... Creepy.", Xander muttered as he remembered how they had to find someone who wanted to poison them all, and how Buffy had heard every unwanted thought he had.
"Yeah, not one of my best days.", Buffy agreed as she sat down on the couch next to Willow.
"So you're really back together again?", Willow asked, her face finally lighting up as she was assuming her role of best friend again. "That's great.".
"Yeah," Buffy agreed, smiling a little embarrassed. "Feels kinda nice to not have the "problem" hanging over our heads the whole time. Ehm... You know what I mean.". She tried to hide her blushing face in her hands, and then stood up to stand beside Giles.
"He's decided to stay in LA, help fight the evil over there with Cordelia and that Doyle guy.", she was most anxious to hear his thoughts on the matter as it was Giles who had suffered the most because of her and Angel's mistakes.
Giles didn't respond, but instead took out the book of Kelsor and leafed through the pages until he found the Mohra demon.
"Is this him?", he asked as he put the book on the table, the others gathering around him.
"Yes, that's the guy, or girl for all I know.", Buffy said as she glanced at the drawing of the demon.
"Then I would say that Angel is in for a bit of a surprise if he has caught an aspect of the demon from this one.". Giles said gravely.
Liked it? Review and let me know your thought's. Should I continue it canonical or sway a little from the given path? Should I do an Episode by episode rewrite, or more of a loose continuation where I move a little in between each ep?
Give me a review and let me know what you think.