Disclaimer: All characters created by Joss Whedon. I don't own them, I just make them do stuff to entertain myself.

I'm not dragging the battle scene out, in fact, quite the opposite. And I'm not giving Spike the usual self-flagellation trip. So on with the show. There'll be an epilogue after this and then I'll be done. Enjoy.

-P—

It was an all for all brawl. Angel and Spike attacked from one side, whilst Buffy and Dawn fought in tandem. The beast landed blow after blow, snarling, spitting and roaring at its opponents, well aware it was fighting a losing battle. Blood spattered the hall from every side and within minutes the monster was on its knees. Dawn and Buffy stood back as the boys finished the job, watching as side by side, they punched their fists into the beast's chest cavity, ripping out its black heart.

It disintegrated, which was not be unexpected and the two vampires landed on the floor. Spike was up first, snarling and waiting for the next opponent until he realised there was none. Dawn was the first to run to him, hugging him. Buffy helped Angel up and hugged him, much to his surprise. Then she pulled away.

'We need to finish the ritual.' She looked between the four of them, feeling the confusion and abating anger from her mate. Then the hall became as it was, and Wesley stepped from the fountain once more.

'Actually, you already did.' The ex watcher stood before them, smiling broadly. 'They're really not happy about it. They've been planning for this for a millennia. And you've thrown a spanner in the works.'

'But we…' Angel looked confused.

'You're already linked to one another. Buffy is mated to Spike. You are Spike's grandsire and you reinstated the family claim, the same as you did with Dawn. And Dawn was made from Buffy and Spike and therefore, is already connected to them. The circle is complete. You've won.' He sighed. 'This doesn't bode well for me, but I knew what I was getting into. As much as I am having to be their pawn….I was rooting for you.' Angel stepped forward, not noticing the complete confusion on the Summers girls faces.

'Wesley…' The Brit held up a hand.

'Don't apologise. You did your part. The world is saved. Some of it may need salvaging but I can tell you it will be a while before you have a problem of this magnitude again.' He smiled at Buffy. 'You truly are an extraordinary Slayer, Buffy.'

The Slayer stopped and tilted her head to the side. 'What do you mean that Dawn is made out of me and Spike?'

Wesley smiled. 'She is yours and his. The monks made her out of both of you. Spike's feelings for her were never manufactured. He would care for her as naturally as you do. She is your daughter.'

'Can I still just be sister?' Dawn asked quietly. 'No offence, Buffy, but you aren't mom material.' Buffy frowned and Wesley cleared her throat.

'She will be one day.' He said, and moved swiftly on as Buffy stared at him in shock. 'Spike will recover. The Wolf, The Ram and The Hart have no further interest in him.' Angel raised an eyebrow. 'Nor you Angel. You've all proven….it's just not worth the effort. They'll try again next millennium I think.' Without warning, flames began to lick at his shoes. 'I have said too much. I'm afraid it's my time. I bid you farewell and good luck.'

'Wes…' Angel started. His friend shook his head.

'Now, now Angel. You of all people know, a rogue demon hunters work is never done.' With a smile he was consumed by the fire and the four were back out in the field, surrounded by confused slayers and their friends, the demons all gone. Injured girls were all over the place and the sky was a brilliant starry blanket. Xander was the first to approach.

'What the hell happened? You were in there for like, five minutes, and then everything disappeared.'

The quartet looked at each other. Buffy gripped Spike's hand as he growled in approval.

'How about, let's get everyone back to the house, and we'll explain all?' The Slayer said, smiling at her friend and then to Giles and Willow. A exclamation of pain turned her attention back to her one time first love. He had fallen and was writhing on the ground in pain. 'Angel?'

Everyone rushed to his side, looking down at the fallen vampire as he seemed to be filled with an ethereal glow. He shook and shuddered for a few minutes, before going still as a corpse. Seconds turned into minutes and Buffy frowned, gripping Spike tighter as his expression grew concerned and the growling started again. He let go of Buffy and knelt down beside the fallen brunette, touching him gently and listening for any signs of life.

When Angel sat bolt upright, gasping for air, Spike was so startled, he fell backwards with a yelp. Dawn giggled, as did Buffy, and Angel looked at him in confusion and then clutched at his chest. He smiled broadly, motioning for Buffy to put her hand where his was. At the look on her face, he smiled even more.

'The Shanshu.'

-P—

'So, Angel is human now?' Xander asked. 'How does that work? I thought he signed the prophecy away?' He looked to Giles for an answer but the old man shrugged and looked to Buffy. Willow stepped in, smiling at her best friend and the glow that seemed to have overtaken her as she sat on Spike's lap in the office. Spike was still, very much with the crazy, but wasn't dangerous now. Although Giles didn't look too happy about his Slayer being mated to William the Bloody.

'Maybe it's just the way it works. They tried to take away his hope but they couldn't really have the power to take away his destiny.' The red head smiled, but she looked tired, as they all did. Giles took note of the circles underneath the witches eyes and Xander's. Most of the others, including Dawn and Angel, had already gone to bed. He sighed and looked at his Slayer, rolling his eyes as she had fallen asleep in the crazy vampires embrace.

'We should all get some rest. We'll debrief in the morning and figure out where to go from here. The world is saved but is in need of some healing.' He stood up, effectively dismissing everyone. As Spike noticed the others leaving, he picked Buffy up and followed them. He stood for a moment, wondering where he was supposed to go. Giles cleared his throat. 'Maybe I should take her.' He was answered with a snarl and Spike stalked off with the slayer in his arms, in the direction of the basement. Giles sighed and decided not to comment or follow him.

Instead, he went to bed, refusing the consider the outcome of everything until the morning.

-P—

Buffy was woken by the door opening and the smell of bacon wafting in. She woke up and stretched, feeling her vampire asleep next to her, and smiled at the nest he'd made them before they had slept. Looking up, she saw Xander carrying a breakfast tray with a full cooked English breakfast on it, with two of everything and a cup of the sweetest smelling coffee she'd ever known. She leapt to her feet and hugged her friend. He smiled as she let go.

'You okay Buff?' He asked, looked over her shoulder at the still wounded and crazy vampire. 'How's dead boy?'

She rolled her eyes and took a sip of coffee, making a over exaggerated noise of pleasure. Spike stirred at that and she grinned again. 'He's fine. I'm fine. It's nice to be fine.' Buffy paused and looked at Xander. Then she noticed the mug of blood on the tray. 'You're okay with this?' She asked tentatively.

He sighed and smiled sadly. 'I know what it's like to deny something for so long you end up losing it and you feel like nothing will be right again. You deserve happiness Buffy. You always have. And I know he'll give it to you.' He shrugged. 'Or I'll stake him.'

Buffy giggled, and then jumped as Spike came up behind her with a supernatural speed. Xander suddenly noticed that the vampire was naked and backed out of the room very quickly. Spike growled at the scent of blood and swiped the mug, downing it in seconds. Then he looked at Buffy, who looked down and then up again rapidly, going bright red.

'Well, I see you're up.'

-P—

Xander tried to ignore the sounds coming from the basement behind him as he made his way up the stairs. He was fairly certain the whole house could hear it and he shuddered. As he reached the top of the stairs, he noticed the front door was open. He moved to shut it and spotted Angel, stood in the morning sunshine, arms thrust wide open. A giggle from behind the former carpenter made him turn and he saw Dawn, sat on the stairs, laughing at the former vampire. The one eyed Scooby shook his head and turned towards the kitchen, spotting a Willow on his travels.

The red headed witch smiled at him broadly and offered him a coffee, which he gratefully took. After a few moments of silence, he spoke up.

'Why didn't Spike get that Shanshu thing?'

Willow brightened. 'I looked that up. Apparently it wasn't clear which one it was for, until Angel signed it away. Spike didn't want it anyway. Can you imagine him being human? He doesn't do normal.' The witch smiled. 'Buffy's needs him anyway. Her and normal are unmixy things.'

Xander nodded. 'I'm glad that after nearly a decade, we figured that out.' He sipped his coffee throughtfully. 'Did you see Angel? He's totally gonna get sunburn.'

'Is that possible in England?' Dawn wandered into the kitchen. Willow nodded and launched into a lecture about proper skin care. Giles walked in on it and sighed.

'You know, it doesn't rain all the time here.' He said, with a note of exasperation in his voice.

'Sure seems like it.' Dawn said, her mouth full of toast. She swallowed hard and skipped out of the kitchen with another piece in hand. Giles shook his head and watched her leave.

'I need to get those four in the gymnasium and test their abilities now they are linked. Angel assures me he can still feel the connection between them.'

Xander looked at the Watcher and then towards the door. 'I can't believe Dawn is Buffy and Spike's though. That's a little disturbing.'

'I can quite believe it. I often wondered where she got her keen ability of being so irritating from.' Willow chuckled at his comment. Giles looked at his watch and picked up his tea. After taking a sip, he looked again at his watch. 'I suppose I should go and get Buffy and Spike up for this testing.'

'NO!' The two Scoobies chorused. Giles looked at them in alarm. 'They, really really, need their rest.' Willow mumbled, going a bright shade of red, as did Xander. Giles' eyes bugged for a second, before he removed his glasses and started polishing them.

'Very well. I shall wait.'

-P—

Buffy lay in post coital bliss next to her vampire, who purred contentedly and traced lazy patterns over her stomach. She didn't even care if he was practically still crazy right now, he was here and with her. Not to mention, being not of the sane didn't seem to hinder his bedroom skills. He smiled, as if sensing her thoughts, and kissed a slow path down her neck.

'I'd never forget how to make you scream, Slayer.' He nuzzled her, ignoring the look of shock on her face. 'My mate, my Buffy.' He whispered and licked the bite mark on her neck languidly. She sighed and arched, forgetting her reaction to his first words. Then she came back down and smacked him on the chest.

'You're sane again.'

'I'm getting there.' Spike smirked. 'Without you, I'd be nowhere.' He kissed her again but she pushed him away.

'You know, Angel is human. And Dawn is our daughter.' She raised an eyebrow and he shook his head.

'Buffy, I was off my rocker, not deaf and blind. I know that. And I don't care.'

'You wouldn't want….the shoeshine thing?' Buffy asked slowly, one hand on his chest, waiting for his answer. He sighed and gathered her into his arms.

'A long time ago, I told someone that you needed monster in your man. I'm a vampire, I have a soul and I fight for you. If I was human, I'd go batshit crazy. What would I do? Knit? I don't think so. Angel has wanted his redemption for so long.' He kissed her long and deep. 'As far as I'm concerned….you're mine. You're my Shanshu.'

She blushed and rolled them over so she was on top.

Needless to say, they were very, very late for Giles' tests.

-P—

Just a epilogue to follow now. Hope you've enjoyed this one. I'm just glad I got it finished finally!