Title: Second Chance At Redemption

Author: Hadlee May

Summary: Takes place after Season Finale. Spike gets what Angel's worked for, but it's not over for Angel. The powers give him a task. And if he succeeds, humanity is his. The only problem, the task is a 16 year old girl, who just happens to be a hopefully reformable demon named Lilith.

Disclaimer: Angel's not mine. I wish he was, but he's not. The only one I own is Lilith. If someone from another WB show makes a guest appearance, I'll let u know, so no one sues me for steeling a cute cast member.

AN: This idea came to me while reading Gilmore Girl fiction. Originally, it had been a cross over, bringing Jess, who is a rebellious nineteen year old guy join the good fight, giving him a purpose. Maybe later. LOL. Then I thought I might have enough to deal with having Connor in the story. So, yeah. Anyways, this is my first posted Angel fiction, and actually, it's the longest I've ever been able to right, so applause for me. The story starts with the end of Not Fade Away, which is the prologue. CH 1 is in this chapter, and it begins with a special meeting with the powers that be. Yeah, so, Enjoy and REVIEW! REVIEW! REVIEW! Please. ; )
-Hadlee

Prologue

Spike walked in silence, stepping out of the alley way without Angel, who was focused on something else, noticing him. "Boo." He stepped into view. Angel turned to look at his grand childe.

"Anyone else?" He asked the blonde vampire, turning his head slowly towards him. Spike shrugged, "Not so far." He said, then, his eyes on the older vampire, "You feel the heat?" Spike questioned, breathing in the air, the stench of apocalypse in the air, filling his lungs. It was an unnecessary action, but one he occasionally participated in.

Angel was quick to agree. "It's coming." The brooding vampire was sure that every demon and vampire in the city could feel it. The end was near.

"Finally," Spike chuckled, "Got ourselves a decent brawl." The quip was light hearted, and Angel understood. Spike, though not always on good terms with the older vampire, had grown close to him, finally respecting and understanding his motive. His words meant one thing to Angel. They were a team. Both vampires heard Gunn approach and turned towards him.

"Damn!!!" He threw his home made battle-axe over his shoulder, panting heavily, "How did I know the fang boys would pull through." Angel stepped forward, noticing that Gunn's steps grew weaker. He rested up against a wooden cart and smiled, despite his obvious injuries. "You're luck we're on the same side, dogs!" Just like Gunn, always positive. "'cause I was on fire tonight!" His breathing got heavier, and he weakly added, "my game was tight." He stood up, but nearly collapsed. Angel and Spike caught him before he fell, they placed him on the same box he'd been leaning against moments ago. Spike looked at Gunn's wounds.

"You're supposed to wear the red stuff on this inside, Charlie boy." Spike commented. Gunn rolled his eyes at the comment, looking down at his wounds.

"Any word on Wes?" He asked. His question was answered by Illyria, who jumped down, landing perfectly on her feet from a chain link fence behind Angel.

"Wesley's dead." She informed. Angel's face clearly shows his pain, heart break. His friend is dead. Gunn cries softly, and Spike let's his head fall, paying silent respects to the fallen warrior. Illyria continued, her voice confused. "I'm feeling grief for him." There's a loud noise in the back ground and the friends look up at the sky, streaked with lightning, the rain still falling over them. "I can't seem to control it. I wish to do more violence." She stated. Spike smirked.

A crowd of demons grew closer, "Well wishes jut happen to be horses today." He smiled slightly.

Angel finally spoke again, "Among other things." He commented, looking at the crowd. Coming their way is hundreds, possibly thousands of demons, al shapes and sizes. A winged dragon flies overhead. Gunn, despite his pain decides to joke.

"Ok," He smiles, his axe ready, "you take the 30,000 on the left…" He's not serious, and the smile falls from his face. The man knows that his minutes are numbered. But he's come to far to give up.

Illyria looks skeptically at him. "You're fading." She informs him, "You'll last 10 minutes at best." It's true, he knows it. "Then let's make 'em memorable." He stands.

Angel steps forward, taking his place as the leader of the group. Spike, Gunn and Illyria follow. Spike is standing to the right of Angel. The vampire's right hand man. Gunn stands slightly behind him, Illyria close by on his left. The hordes of demons approach closer. The time is getting closer, the apocalypse beginning soon.

"In terms of a plan?" He asks Angel who looks determined.

"We fight." He said, as if it were the only logical thing.

"Bit more specific." Spike pressed for clarification.

Angel steps forward bravely. "Well, personally," Angel looks up with a smirk, "I kind of want to slay the dragon." He speaks as the demons begin to attack. "Let's get to work." He said and swung his sword at the demon closest to him. Illyria, Spike, and Gunn followed, their best all that they could give.

Angel opened his eyes in confusion. He hid his eyes from the bright light that came from every square inch of the room. He knew immediately where he was, and groaned. Just what he needed. The world most likely ended and the oracles felt a sudden need to see him.

"Good morning, Angel." Said a familiar voice. The vampire looked up, startled.

"Cordelia?" He questioned, trying to stand up. His body hurt like nothing he'd experienced. It was almost as though he was human, except he knew better. His heart still remained un beating in his chest and the need for breath was non existent.

"At your service." She said, smiling her beautiful smile. Her hair was longer than the last time he'd seen her; the day the powers had given her to set him back on track. The day that she gave him the visions. He was silent.

"Oracle?" He asked. She shook her head, giving him a tight lipped smile.

"Not really. Not like one of the oracles, I'm your oracle, or for lack of better word, your guide." She said. Angel was confused, Cordelia smiled happily. "Yeah, so I'm sure you're wondering how it all ended." Angel nodded, sitting up, though extremely uncomfortable. "Well, you won, sort of." She winced.

"Sort of?" He questioned.

"The powers stepped in." She informed. He nodded.

"What about everyone else?" He asked, almost hoping she wouldn't answer the question. No news was good news.

"Well, Illyria…she's a brick house, made it with barely a scratch." She started. "Gunn…he didn't make it. He lasted about ten minutes, and he collapsed. His body couldn't handle it."

"And Spike?" He asked.

"Human." Angel figured that was how it was going to be. He'd signed over his shanshu in order to get where he had gotten the group. To start the war that would ultimately destroy one of evil's strongest strong holds. The still ensouled vampire had worked so hard, and given up so much for the prophecy. But, inside, he wasn't bitter. Without the shanshu, it gave him a longer opportunity to help the helpless. It was something he feared he'd do until his dying day. "Don't worry, Angel, the powers aren't giving up on you." She commented, catching his attention.

"No?" Angel had always felt they'd given up on him years ago.

"No. You're getting one more chance to prove your self worthy. If you don't, you'll have to wait a few hundred more years.." She smirked.

"Okay."

"Anyways, the task." She was getting straight to the point. Cordelia the guide waved her hand and an image appeared to the left of her. "This is Lilith. She was born around the time you were born, though she was a demon, born immortal." Cordelia began. "She was raised by her father, one of the more evil demons of his time… it seems she was happy to follow in his footsteps."

"Okay, what, do I have to kill her?" Angel asked.

"The opposite. The powers are going to put her in your hands." Cordelia said matter of factly.

"She's spent a while in hell, and we figure that she's good enough to be put into someone's hands down here. The powers decided that you're good."

"Huh." Angel commented.

"Well," Cordelia sighed then waved her hand again. A girl, medium height appeared, her hands held with cuffs made of the world's strongest metals. They disappeared and she looked up at Angel, then at Cordelia. "Lilith, this is Angel. Behave. He's a good guy." The word good guy brought a scowl to Lilith's space.

Angel looked at Cordelia puzzled, and Cordelia shrugged. "Have fun." And suddenly, both him and Lilith were no longer in the oracle's chamber, but in the alley way where the battle had happened. There, he witnessed Illyria fuss over Spike's humanity. No one noticed them at first.

Illyria was the first to notice.

"Who is she?" She pointed to the girl, dressed in a light blue dress, streaks of white sporadically placed in her hair. Angel sighed, smiling at his two friends before explaining what was going on.

AN2: Stupid me, I wrote another AN, even though it's not good writing etiquette to do so…Anyways…I liked how I did this, and I know how I want it go…and I'm seriously considering adding a Gilmore Girls character in it, at least his name…Maybe he's a vampire…or I don't know. Lilith will like the fact that Jess (who would be the only one I consider putting in this story, because he's bad…) annoys the hell out of Angel. Haha.
I also plan to sometime, hopefully next chapter, move what's left of the A-Team to Italy. Rome to be exact, that way Buffy will unknowingly get in the way of Angel's redemption…yeah. Fun. I bet Jess would annoy the hell out of Buffy, too. Connor is gonna be in this too. Angel will bring Connor with him. Yeah. Well, if you have any suggestions on how this story should go, then let me know in the review, or by emailing me. I love email.
I got a new one that I might use for this.
Alex.Kapranos.is.sexy at gmail dot com