I own none of the characters of Angel.
Over the next few months we put a plan together to destroy The Circle of the Black Thorn and Wolfram & Hart. Wesley was researching The Senior Partners to see if they were capable of being destroyed and if so what was the best way to do it. So far he seemed to think that they were destroyable which was good news. We have been staking out Wolfram and Hart since I woke up, waiting for Illyria to make an appearance. Cordy seemed pretty certain that Illyria would still be brought from the deep well so we waited every night for her to show. If things went according to my coma vision when she was resurrected she would bolt from Wolfram & Hart and when she did we would grab her.
"So this demon thing will help us?" Connor asked me. It was our night to do the stake out.
"Illyria and yes she will help us. In my vision Fred was killed so Illyria could live and she ended up being a great asset to our team when we brought down The Circle."
"Maybe she just helped because it was Fred."
"The only thing about Fred that remained was her looks. Illyria looked just like Fred but that's it. Her thoughts, her actions, were all Illyria so it had nothing to do with Fred. My only concern is Illyria developed a connection with Wesley, which I believe was a big reason why she chose to help us. If we can't duplicate that bond she may not help us." I told him.
"Will you be able to duplicate that bond?"
"I hope so. I have all of the information from my vision that I have passed on to Wesley so hopefully he'll be able to duplicate the bond."
"And if he can't?" I glared at my son.
"Always the positive one aren't you?"
"Just being realistic."
"Well I guess that we'll just deal with it when it happens." We sat in stubborn silence for a few minutes.
"What was it like, your vision?" He finally asked me.
"Now that I'm back in my normal life it was really weird but while I was living my vision it was normal. I was miserable. The two most important people in my life were gone. You had another life with no memories of me and Cordy was in a coma. Even though I still had my friends I felt so alone. During my vision when the powers brought Cordy back to me some of my loneliness disappeared. Finally I was at a good point in my vision and then everyone died."
"It must have been bad."
"I don't ever remember feeling so much pain and grief before, something that I never want to feel again. No one should have to feel that kind of pain."
"I'm sorry dad." I had to bite back my smile. This is first time that he has called me dad since I woke up from my coma.
"You have nothing to be sorry for Connor."
"Yeah I do. I tried to kill you a few times. I sank you to the bottom of the ocean for three months for crying out loud and I slept with the woman you love."
"Yeah Connor you did try to kill me a few times and yes you did sink me to the bottom of the ocean and I forgive you for that but as far as sleeping with Cordelia, there is nothing to forgive Connor. First of all it wasn't Cordelia that you had sex with, it was an evil being using you to help bring a vessel of evil into the world to destroy it. You're a man and you reacted as any man would when a beautiful woman is putting the moves on you. It's in the past so let's leave it there okay?'
"Okay. Thanks dad."
"No problem son." Suddenly I saw movement from outside of Wolfram & Hart's building. I immediately recognized the outfit. "Connor, it's her." He started to get out of the car but I reached out and stopped him. "She has to be dealt with carefully. I'll let you know if I need you." He nodded and I stepped out of the car. I slowly approached the new Illyria and I was shocked to see the face of Eve, my former vision liaison to The Senior Partners.
"Illyria."
"Who are you to approach me?"
"My name is Angel and I'm a friend."
"I am Illyria. I don't have friends. I have people who serve me."
"You're going to your kingdom aren't you?"
"How do you know that?"
"This is going to sound crazy but we've been through this before. You're kingdom is gone. It's been destroyed."
"You do not speak the truth."
"I know what I'm talking about."
"Stupid low life human." She replied giving me a shove that sent me flying into my car.
"Oww." I groaned pulling myself up off the ground and climbing into the car.
"That went well." Connor smirked.
"Shut up." I muttered. I drove to her former kingdom and we got out and waited for Illyria to come back out. About twenty minutes later she was walking towards us.
"How did you know?" She asked me
"I've told you, we've done this before."
"I find that impossible."
"So do I but it's true. I also know that your shell isn't strong enough to hold all of your power and if you don't let my friends and I help you, you will die."
"I believe you." She admitted. I guess since I told her about her kingdom and I was right I gained her confidence.
"Will you let us help you?" She nodded. I breathed a sigh of relief as we walked to our car. I had another key player in my plan to destroy The Circle.
--
"Are you sure you have to go?" Cordy asked me. I pulled her to my chest and kissed her deeply. These last few months with Cordy since I have been out of my coma have been amazing. My only regret is that we are unable to make love but I wouldn't trade our kisses for anything in the world.
"Yeah Cor, I have to go." I was driving to Sunnydale when the sun set to help Buffy in the upcoming fight and then ask Spike to come up here and help me. "We need him Cordelia. We can't when this fight without him."
"You have me. Couldn't I replace him?"
"I love that you want to help but Spike barely made it out in my vision so no offense baby but you wouldn't survive and I'm not willing to risk you." She wrapped her arms around my neck.
"You won't let me go with you will you?"
"No way in hell. We will be destroying the Hellmouth. It's going to be dangerous."
"I know. That's why I wish you wouldn't go."
"If I don't go then Spike will die and be trapped in the amulet and then we might lose him forever. I can't take that risk."
"I love you. I love you for saving the world and protecting me."
"I love you too."
"When are you leaving?" I glanced at my watch.
"About an hour." Grinning wickedly she pushed me back onto our bed and climbed on top of me. Even though we couldn't make love we were able to happily partake in lots of oral sex. Oral sex with Cordelia made me happy but not perfectly happily. The only way I could be perfectly happy was if I was inside of her, which unfortunately would never happen again.
Two wonderful hours later Connor and I were on our way to Sunnydale. Connor knew that when Cordy was concerned I was rarely on time because if I could I would spend hours in bed with her and the possibility, though a small one, of me dying was present so we made sure we had an extra special goodbye and thankfully my son waited patiently in the lobby until I came down.
"I can't wait to meet the ex girlfriend." Connor said smugly.
"This isn't a social call Connor. We're going to help and convince Spike to come back and help us."
"Come on dad, aren't you even a little bit excited to see your former woman?"
"Now Connor, I'm not. What Buffy and I had was a long time ago. I'm in love with Cordelia."
"Wow, I wish I had your problems." He smarted.
"No Connor you don't." I said softly. My son has no idea of the weight that I carry on my shoulders everyday. The guilt I feel over all of the people that I had killed, the lives that I couldn't save, it flows through my veins like blood. The fear that I live with every day that my love for my friends, Connor and Cordelia will one day kill them is sometimes to much to bear. Connor really has no idea what my problems are.
"So this Spike vamp is he good or bad?"
"Spike is an ass." I replied.
"You didn't answer my question."
"Technically, he is good but that is up for debate. He had a microchip implanted in what I'm assuming is he brain, although I surprised that he has one."
"Dad."
"Anyway this microchip keeps him from being evil and he has a soul." I said bitterly.
" I thought that you were the vampire with a soul."
"So did I."
"Did you make him?"
"No I sired Dru who sired Spike."
"So you're like his grandfather?"
"Yeah, something like that." I sent a glance to my son. He clearly wanted to chat some more about my past but I wasn't in the mood. "Look why don't you get some sleep it's going to be a long night." I suggested.
"I'm not tired."
"Must you fight me on everything?'
"Fine." He huffed. He crossed his arms over his chest, closed his eyes and laid his head back against the seat and in five minutes he was snoring softly. I spent the remainder of the trip enjoying the silence.
--
"Angel what are you doing here?" Buffy asked, shock evident in her voice.
"I'm here to help."
"Who is your sidekick?"
"I'm not a sidekick." Connor spat.
"This is my son, Connor."
"I heard that you had a son." She stared intently at Connor. "He looks like you."
"Poor kid." Spike rang in.
"Shut up Spike."
"Angel how can you help us?"
"Look I have an amulet. This amulet can help close the Hellmouth."
"Great. Thanks mate." Spike attempted to reach out and grab the amulet from my hand but I held it tightly.
"Not so fast dumb ass."
"Give me the damn amulet and let me save the world."
"Listen to me. You wear this amulet and you will die."
"How do you know that?" Buffy whispered
"I was in a coma and during that coma The Powers That Be sent me a vision. In that vision Spike you wore the amulet and were killed. You then were turned into ghost and eventually helped me destroy a group that were going to destroy the world."
"I helped you? Unlikely. That wasn't a vision, it was a dream."
"Look Spike we don't have time for this bullshit. I need your help."
"Captain forehead, the champion of the world needs my help?" He snorted.
"I can't destroy this group on my own. The rest of my team is going to help but it's not enough. We can't do it without you."
"I'm sorry I missed that last part. Can you repeat it?" I sighed irritably. He couldn't ever just make things easy.
"ENOUGH." Buffy shouted.
"Are they always like this?" Connor asked her and she nodded.
"Look we don't have time for this stupid argument. Can we do what needs to be done?" Spike and I nodded. "Good. Once we're done then you two idiots can argue until the sun comes up."
--
Hours later after we had successfully closed The Hellmouth and Spike was alive so Connor and I collapsed exhausted on the ground.
"I bet you wish that you took a nap don't you?" I shot him a glare. "Or did you take a nap when you disappeared to your room with Cordy?"
"Shut up Connor." He really was taking Cordy and my relationship really well. I slowly sat up and when I did I saw Spike and Buffy kissing and I smiled. It made me smile because she had found happiness again.
"Take a picture it will last longer." Spike commented when he caught me watching them.
"Screw you Spike." I pulled myself to my feet.
"Do you two ever stop fighting?" Connor asked.
"No." Buffy, Spike and I answered at the same time and Connor laughed.
"I'm starving." Xander announced.
"Me too." Connor piped up.
"Come on let's eat." Everyone jumped up and followed Xander but I hung back, wanting to talk to Buffy.
"Connor's a good kid." She told me when were alone.
"He's getting better."
"So I guess you know that I'm with Spike now."
"Yeah I got that when I saw you two kissing." I didn't tell her that I found out during my coma vision.
"Are you okay with that?"
"I'm not part of your life anymore Buffy. I don't have the right to an opinion."
"Maybe not, but your opinion still matters to me."
"Does he make you happy?" She nodded. "I find that hard to believe."
"He's not the same vampire that he once was Angel. He's a good man."
"If he makes you happy then I'm okay with it."
"What about you Angel, are you happy?" I was slightly nervous about telling her about Cordy because if I was honest with myself she scared me and I know she could take me down in a heartbeat.
"I am."
"Do you have someone in your life?"
"I do."
"Will you tell me about her?"
"It's Cordelia. She is my someone."
"Cordelia who?" I sent her a glare and she sighed. "Really Cordelia?"
"She's changed Buffy. She isn't the same woman that you knew in high school. She has grown into a selfless woman. She's amazing."
"You're in love with her." She accused.
"I'm in love with her."
"What makes you think that it will work with her when it didn't work for us?"
"I don't think that. She deserves so much more than what I can give her. I'm just waiting for her to figure it out and when she does I'll encourage her to leave and find what she deserves because I love her and I want her to be happy. So until that happens I'm going to enjoy what we have."
"Do you really believe that will happen, that she will get bored and leave you because I thought you said that she had changed?"
"She has changed Buffy. She won't leave because she's bored. She probably won't leave but eventually she'll want and need more then I can give her and when that happens I'll encourage her to leave me and find what she deserves."
"You think she is the one?"
"I really do." We walked in silence for a few minutes before Buffy spoke.
"I hope that doesn't happen. You deserve to be happy." I sent her a small smile. "So tell me about what's going on in L. A. and why you need Spike.
Before I could answer her question Spike joined us and I filled them both in on why I needed Spike's help. After a lot of arguing between Spike and myself and Spike and Buffy he reluctantly agreed to help only after I promised Buffy that Spike would return safely.
The ride home was pure torture. Spike and Connor really got along and they spent the entire ride home giving me a hard time. They were both lucky that we got home when we did because I was ready to throw them both out of the car.
"Is my suite ready for me?" Spike asked when we walked into the lobby
"The cage is all ready for you." Cordy answered as she walked over to me. I smiled proudly. That's my girl. I quickly kissed her.
"I want the best suite available." Spike continued on.
"Shove it Spike." I muttered. I was tired of listening to his mouth. "If you want to crash find your own damn room on the fourth or fifth floor. I'm going to grab a few hours of shut eye cause I was up working all damn night unlike some losers." I said looking right at Spike. "Let's all meet back here at four to go over final details." Everyone nodded and I headed up to my room for a long overdue shower.
"Hey are you okay?" I heard Cordy's voice from the other side of the shower curtain.
"I'm fine."
"Need some help to reach those hard to reach places?" She asked opening the curtain and poking her head in.
"I got it. I'll be done in a minute" She slowly closed the curtain and I finished my shower. After I dried off I threw on my boxers and went to my room with the intention of falling right into bed for a few hours of sleep but my plan was changed the minute I saw Cordy curled up in a chair, knees pulled up to her chest and tears falling from her eyes.
"Cordy, sweetheart, what's wrong?" I knelt on the floor next to her.
"You're going back to her aren't you?" She sobbed.
"Going back to who?" She stared at me through her tears. "Oh hell Cordy do you mean Buffy?"
"Who else would I mean?" I had only seen this vulnerable look on her face a few times before.
"Why do you think that?"
"Since you came home you haven't been acting like yourself."
"I'm exhausted and irritated. Being stuck in a car with Spike wore on my nerves. That's all. Buffy is with Spike now and I told her that I was in love with you." I placed a finger under her chin and lifted her head so she could look at me. "I'm in love with you Cordelia, only you." She pulled herself up off the chair and wrapped her arms around my desk.
"I'm sorry. I just thought that when you saw Buffy everything you felt came back you would realize that I wasn't who you wanted to be with anymore."
"It's you. It will always be you Cordy." She lifted her head off of my shoulder and pressed her lips to mine.
"I love you." She whispered softly.
"I know. I love you too." I grabbed her hand and led her over to my bed. We crawled under the blankets and she laid her head on my chest. I snaked my arm around her tightly and we both quickly fell asleep, holding each other tightly.
After my nap Cordy and I went down to the lobby and I was shocked to see Buffy sitting next to Spike. Cordy automatically reached for my hand and squeezed it tightly, staking her claim to me.
"Buffy what are you doing here?" I asked
"After you left I decided that since you helped me the least I could do was help you." I briefly considered rejecting her help but we needed all the help that we could get.
"I appreciate it."
"What, no argument?"
"Nope. Fred gather everyone up please. We start in five." I decided to send Buffy with Gunn to kill the senator and her vamp associates because that is what she does best, she kills vamps. In vision the vamps proved to be too much for Gunn so hopefully this time with Buffy's help Gunn would make it out alive.
When everyone gathered in the lobby we went over the plan in painstaking detail. I wanted everyone to know exactly what they needed to do to survive because their survival was the most important thing to me. My vision made me realize that a good, safe, happy world without my friends wasn't a good thing for me, for anyone.
"Is everyone sure about this?" Everyone nodded but Cordy. "Does everyone know what they need to do?" More nods. "When you're done we'll meet back here. Good luck." I watched my friends walk to the door. "Guys." I called and they turned around. "Thank you." I told them solemnly, hoping like hell they made it out alive. When we were alone I turned to Cordy.
"I'm coming with you."
"No you're not."
"The last time you went through this you needed help. Since Connor is otherwise engaged I'm helping you."
"All I need to do is get in Wolfram and Hart, set the explosives, say the spell and get the hell out. I can handle it." Wesley had found a potion and spell that would extract and then destroy The Senior partners.
"What about if Hamilton is there? You will need my help."
"Cordy, it's too dangerous. I'm going to be attacked the second I walk in that building. I can't risk you getting hurt."
"I want to take that risk. I sat around last time you went through this and I watched everyone that I cared for die. I'm not doing that again." She had tears in her eyes and I knew that I had to let her help.
"Okay Cordy. You and I, we'll do this together. Just promise me that you'll me careful. I love you too much to lose you."
"I'll promise as long as you promise the same thing. I feel the same way. I love you too much to lose you." We made that promise to each other with a soft kiss. When we broke apart I grabbed her hand. "Let's go."
--
"This is so not good." Cordy muttered when we walked into Wolfram and Hart. We were surrounded by demons who would take great pleasure in killing me.
"I'll deal with these assholes while you handle the other thing." I whispered. She nodded and we went to work. I began swing my sword killing anything that moved. For every demon that I killed another two showed up and they were kicking my ass. I tried not to worry about Cordy but I couldn't help it. It had been awhile since I had seen her. Finally, as a sword was plunged through my abdomen I heard her yelling for me and I knew we had to get the hell out. I pulled the sword out of my abdomen, jumped to my feet and ran for the door. I met Cordy halfway there and we linked hands and ran.
"Less then two minutes Angel." She screamed when we got outside. I picked her up and ran as fast as my vampire legs would go. We needed to be as far away from the building as we could when it exploded.
"Did you say the spell?"
"Yeah and the potion is right on top of the bomb." Before I could respond wolfram and Hart exploded and the force threw Cordy and I to the ground.
"Are you okay?" I had shielded her from the ground with my body so I was on my back and she was on top of me.
"I'm fine. Are you okay?"
"I'll live."
"Is it over?" I lifted my head and I didn't see any more demons coming after me and I saw a weird purple smoke floating above the burning rubble, which according to the books Wesley read is all that's left of The Senior Partners.
"It's over." I whispered and pulled her to my face and kissed her until a sudden pain shot through my body. It was so severe that I unconsciously pushed her off of me and rolled into a fetal position.
"Angel." I heard her scream from a distance.
"Arghhhhhhhhhh." I groaned.
Just as suddenly as the pain started it stopped and I felt a strange yet familiar beating in my chest. My heart was beating.
Thanks for reading and all of your great reviews Please keep them coming. (Please)