Future Complications

by Country fan 7

Sequel to "The Future has come to Past' - After spending four months in the ground, Liam returns a changed man. He now fights Wolfram and Hart with his parents, Buffy and Angel, and a friend from his past, to stop the evil law firm before they send his future to hell. As he deals with this, he must also deal with an enemy from his father's past that ruined his brother's life.

26. Love Thought Deprived

Chapter 26: Love Thought Deprived

So here is where you find out about Delia's fate after Justine had her captured. I also tried my hand at a little M rated content in this chapter. It was my first time so if it isn't as good as other M rated stories you've read, don't judge. Unless you think it's good. I put in a Angel and Buffy moment here because hey, it's a Buffy and Angel fic.

About a dozen or so men were in an old abandoned wooden building. Some of the men were talking amongst themselves. Others were sharpening swords and axes. A few were sparing with one another. They were training for a fight they would face soon. The door to the place burst open and was knocked off its hinges. Three figures appeared in the doorway. A blonde petit woman with an axe in hand, a brown haired man with glasses who also had an axe, and dark haired man with piercing green eyes, a black coat, and held a type of axe with a knife at the end.

"Honey, I'm home." Liam called out. The men in the building grabbed their weapons and a fight ensued. They were no match for the three that just entered. Wesley and Buffy took out a few of the men, but Liam seemed to be a one man army, taking out man after man that came at him. Soon there was only one guy left. He was big and had two axes in hand. He twirled them around in his hands in an intimidating manner. Liam shook his head, placed his makeshift scythe in his left hand and drew his pistol, shooting the man.

"Nice job Indy." Buffy commented.

"We have to find Delia and Justine." Liam said.

"Present." They heard a female voice say. They all turned to the voice and saw Justine come out of a room with a gun pointed at Delia's head. Delia had her hands tied behind her back and she looked bloody and beaten. Rage rose in Liam's body seeing his wife the way he did. Her shirt was torn open and he could see deep cuts on her body. Her face was beaten and bruised. And he could tell that one of Delia's arms seemed to have been dislocated.

"Delia. What did you do to her?"

"Oh nothing. Just injected her with a special cerium that temporarily deprives slayers of their powers."

"The Cruciamentum." Both Buffy and Wesley whispered.

"You drugged my wife?" Liam accused.

"She tried to escape and killed four of my men. It was nothing personal. Well….maybe it was a bit personal."

"Let her go. It's over Justine." Wesley said.

"I thought I killed you."

"For a brief moment then so did I. Until a friend of mine saved me."

"Well that's great and all but you guys aren't getting out of here alive."

"Funny. We were going to say the same thing to you." Buffy said.

"You know he kidnapped him. He kidnapped your son." Justine taunted. "The great Wesley Wyndham-Price, the shining beacon of all that's good and pure. But wait, no! That's before he betrayed his closest friends. Before he betrayed you. A demon slave-whore."

"You were always a slave, Justine. You just couldn't see the chains." Wesley told her.

"Thanks, Swami, I'll meditate on that."

"You think she would be disappointed?"

"Who?"

"Your sister. That's where it all began, isn't it? Sister murdered by a vampire, consumed by a need of revenge..."

"For justice!"

"Is that what you call it?" Liam asked. "You think justice is trying to kidnap a man's son and raise him to hate his parents? You think Justice is killing off a man's family and letting the world go to hell all for a vendetta?"

"I'm saving the world."

"No you're not." Liam lowered his weapon and stepped closer to Justine and Delia. Justine pushed the gun into Delia's head. "Justine, I've seen the future. I'm from it. What you are doing, what you will do will seal the fate of the entire world. My parents are key in the earth's survival. If you kill them now, the world goes too. Are you really willing to let that happen?"

Justine didn't look convinced. "I don't believe a word you say. Now drop your weapons, or I kill her." Nobody moved. Liam clutched his scythe in his left hand and his pistol in the other. He could easily raise it and shoot at Justine, but he didn't know if he would be quick enough to kill Justin before she shot Delia. "She dies!"

"Wait! Wait!" Liam dropped his scythe and pistol to the ground. Buffy and Wesley did the same. "It's me you truly want. You can have me. Just let her go." Delia looked up at Liam. Their eyes met. She knew what he was doing. He was giving himself up again, for her. She could read his eyes. They were filled with fear. Not from the fact that he could die. But from the fact that she could die. He truly loved her. And she loved him. She maneuvered her hands that were tied behind her back.

"Wait." Delia said. Justine looked to her. Delia looked right at Liam. "Liam, remember…" Liam looked at his wife. "I love you." She gave him a weak smile. Liam saw it in her eyes.

"Delia..." Delia bowed her head. Then she slammed the back of it into Justine's face. She quickly brought her foot back and used it as a hook to trip Justine back. They both fell. Delia landed right on Justine. Justine gasped and fired her gun. Delia's head jerked to the side, blood spurted on the wall. "DELIAAAA!" Liam screamed. Liam rushed over to his wife and pulled her off of Justine. He saw something that surprised even him. Delia had a hidden wrist blade underneath her left forearm sleeve of her shirt that she used to stab Justine in the stomach as they both fell. It retracted back into place and Liam held Delia, checking her wound. The bullet did little more than graze Delia's right temple. That was good. However blood seeped out of the wound. That wasn't good. Buffy and Wesley came over and checked on Justine. Her eyes were open but she wasn't moving or breathing. Delia's blade pierced her side, killing her instantly as they hit the ground. Buffy let out a sigh of relief. Liam held Delia in his arms as she opened her eyes and looked at him.

"You're ok baby." Liam said to her as he stroked back some hair on her mostly good side. "It's just a graze. You'll be ok."

"Justine?" Delia asked weakly.

"Dead." He answered and smiled. "I can't believe you had a hidden blade on you."

Delia smiled. "What can I say? I had a good teacher." Liam smiled at the compliment. "They didn't check my wrists for weapons. They should have."

"Yeah. They should have. You constantly surprise me."

"I'm full of surprises." Delia used her husband's catchphrase. Liam laughed at her using it. She smiled too before her eyes closed.

"Delia?" Delia's head slumped back. "Delia. Delia." Liam patted her face to get her to wake up. "Come on baby, don't do this." Delia didn't say anything. Buffy and Wesley stood behind Liam watching the scene before them. "Delia, don't trick me. Not after everything. Don't trick me again. Ok, you got me back for being in a coma. Don't be in one yourself." He gently shook Delia, tears welding up in his eyes. "Delia, no." Liam began to cry and held his wife's body. "It should have been me. It should have been me." He repeated. "Delia please." He kept begging. Tears fell from his eyes. "Open your eyes, please. Open your eyes." Delia laid there in his arms. "Don't do this, please." Buffy and Wesley looked on the sad scene before them. Buffy was crying again and was being held by Wesley who mustered up the bravest face he could make. Liam sat crying as he held his wife's body. Unable to accept the concept that she would die. After spending two years in the past, trying to save his family, he was about to lose the most important of them all.

Wesley looked at Liam holding Delia, seeing her wounds and watching her die. Then a thought occurred to him. Not just a thought, but a memory. He remembered when he was dying from Justine's throat slash, Liam chanted something and his wound healed up.

Wesley let go of Buffy and crouched by Liam. "Liam, she can be saved. Can't you do the spell that healed me to heal her?" Wesley asked. Liam stopped crying and looked to Wesley with a face of realization. He was so focused on his wife dying that he completely forgot about the fact that he might be able to heal her. He gently laid Delia down and held his hands over her head wound. He started chanting and a blue glow emanated from his hands. Buffy and Wesley watched with anticipation. It didn't look like anything was happening. Buffy shook her head and held a hand to her mouth. Wesley closed his eyes and bowed his head. Liam kept chanting as he continued to cry. Delia's wounds weren't healing up. Then all the wounds on Delia's face started to heal. The blood that came out of Delia's head wound receded back and the graze mended itself.

"It's working." Buffy said happily. Wesley lifted his head and looked at Delia's wounds healing. Liam kept chanting and the wounds on Delia's face healed up completely. It didn't look like she was even harmed. Liam moved his hands down to Delia's torso and kept chanting. Her cuts healed up as well. Liam stopped chanting and starred at his wife's body, praying that it had worked. At first Delia didn't do anything. Fear gripped Liam's insides. Suddenly she stirred. Liam held his breath for something more.

Delia started to move. Liam let out his held breath in relief. Buffy smiled at Delia. She opened her eyes and looked at the three. She felt her head where her gunshot wound use to be. "Guess I didn't die." Delia said weakly. Everyone had a smile grow on their faces. "Cool." She said and made everyone laugh. Liam smiled and carefully lifted Delia up and hugged her. Delia still felt weak, but tried to hug him back.

"I'm sorry Delia." Liam said to her. "I am so sorry. I should never have sacrificed myself like I did. You are what's most important to me. I promise I'll never do it again."

Delia chuckled. "We both know that's a promise you can't keep."

"Maybe so. But I'll try to not do it again." Liam kissed his wife and cupped her face. "I can't lose you Delia."

"Then take me to bed or lose me forever." She teased. They both laughed and got a laugh from Buffy and Wesley. Buffy came forward and bent down to Delia.

"Delia." Buffy said. Delia looked towards Buffy.

"Hey mom." Delia said, making Buffy laugh. She leaned forward and hugged her daughter-in-law. She was quite happy to have her back. She and Delia weren't close, but she liked the way Liam was when he was around her. She liked how Delia made him happy.

"Wes, you wanna join in on the hugging?" Liam asked him. Wesley laughed again.

"I believe after everything we've been through in the past two days, we could all use a rest and get to hugging later." Wesley said.

"Oh come on Wes, there free." Delia said. Wesley smiled and bent down to hug Delia. Everything seemed to be better than it ever could be with all of them. And it was all thanks to Liam. Wesley was still part of the team, Connor was safe, both Liam and Delia managed to survive and save Buffy and Angel whom both were together and happy now. Everything seemed great to them.

Liam and Wesley helped Delia up to her feet. Liam took off his coat and placed it around Delia. They gathered up their weapons and started to head on out of the hideout.

"I'll call the police and notify them to all this." Wesley said taking out his phone.

"No." Liam said. Wesley looked to him. "Let's not worry the police about this just yet. Let's first take Delia back, get her into bed, and check on Connor. That's our priority at the moment."

"Alright." Wesley said putting his phone back into his pocket. "And then we'll notify the police."

"Yes." Liam aid and led Delia out with Buffy and Wesley behind him.

"So what does this mean now?" Buffy asked on their way to the car. "Does this mean that now, Angel, Connor, and I can live and the future won't go to hell?"

"Well, the odds that the world won't go to hell have increased dramatically." Liam said. "But there's much I have to go over to make sure that we've done what has been needed to be done."

"So not out of the woods yet, hunh?"

"No. But I can see the edge of it."

"Well, that's enlightening." Wesley said cheerfully. "How about we get right on it and save the future here and now."

Both Delia and Liam turned to look at him. "How about we sleep for like a week before we do anything too strenuous." Delia suggested.

"Seconded." Both Liam and Buffy said.

"Right." Wesley said as he opened trunk to Liam's Charger. Buffy and Wesley put the weapons in as Liam helped Delia into the back seat.

…

Everyone was gathered around the lobby. Angel was pacing nervously with Connor in his arms. He didn't like waiting around. Especially when it involved one of his sons and his wife. He should have gone with them. They had been out longer than they were supposed to be, he estimated. Fred walked up to the rest of the gang waiting in the middle of the Hyperion's lobby. "Still no answer on his cell phone." She said.

"That's bad right?" Angel said. "It could mean that he's hurt or, or, he's dead. Oh god."

"Angel, calm down." Cordy said. "It could just mean that he turned it off because he's doing something stealthy."

"Maybe we should head back out, go to where Holtz' lair was, see if we can pick up the trail of where they are." Gunn suggested.

"A wise plan. I will assist with tracking." Groo said.

"No." Cordy said.

"But if Delia was kidnapped, and if she was hurt, and if Buffy, Wesley, and Liam found her..." Fred started.

"They did."

The lobby doors opened and Buffy and Wesley came in with Liam behind them holding up a limping Delia who was still wearing his coat.

"Delia." Groo said.

"You found her." Cordy said.

"Wasn't all that hard." Liam said bringing Delia further into the lobby.

"Did they hurt you?" Fred asked Delia.

"Hurt is putting it mildly." Delia said as Liam put her on the settee.

"What happened?" Angel asked.

"Wesley took out the guards patrolling the perimeter." Buffy started to explain. "He was really quite the shot." She said sounding impressed.

"Well, I was one of the best sharpshooters at the Watchers Academy." Wesley said proudly. "You have to be precise to get the vampire in the heart."

"Well you got all three of the six you shot at."

"Three outta six?" Gunn said.

"Three for three actually." Liam clarified not taking his eyes of Delia as he continued to check her for any more injuries. "The other three needed to be taken out up front. He took out a third of what was in the hideout."

"Wow." Fred said impressed.

"Way to go English." Gunn said patting Wesley on the back.

"You are a brave warrior Wesley." Groo said. Wesley smiled at the praise he was getting.

"Well, I can't take all the credit." He said trying to sound modest on purpose. "Liam was the true great warrior tonight. Killing most, saving the damsel. But in no small part due to a rogue demon hunter such as myself." Delia giggled at Wesley and Liam tried unsuccessfully to hide a snicker.

"Ok, so what really happened?" Angel asked smiling.

"Everything that mom pretty much said was the truth." Liam said. "Wesley is quite the watcher. I'm surprised that the council canned you."

"Well to be honest, back then I was…not quite what an actual watcher should have been."

"Starchy suits and bumbling idiocy." Cordy said.

"But I would have him on my team any day." Liam commented making Wesley smile again.

"So what happened to Delia?" Gunn asked wanting to know the specifics.

"Justine tried to get me to talk about Liam. I refused and broke from my restraints and killed four of her lackeys. Then she knocked me out and injected me with a cerium that deprives me of my slayer powers." Delia explained.

"There's a cerium for that?" Fred asked.

"The Watcher's used it in the Cruciamentum." Wesley explained.

"A rite of passage for a slayer." Buffy added. "I went through it on my 18th birthday. Nearly got killed in the process."

"And I was injected with it." Delia continued. "Justine asked me again about Liam and I gave her nothing. Then she started to carve me with a knife." She opened up the coat to reveal her torn open shirt and her torso. Luckily she was wearing a bra.

"I don't see anything." Cordy said.

"Are you sure?" Gunn said with a raise eyebrow and a smile looking at Delia. That got him a well-deserved slap to the back of the head by both Fred and Buffy.

Liam smiled at Gunn's slap. "I healed her." Liam explained. "She was beaten and bloody. Once we took care of the toady team, Justine came out with a gun pointed at Delia's head. Delia was able to muster up some strength and slammed her head into Justine's and then trip her. Justine was stabbed by Delia's hidden wrist blade and the gun went off. Delia was grazed and I healed her right up."

"But I still fell weak and like crap." Delia said.

"I bet you do." Liam said smiling.

Cordy went over and sat next to Delia. "Do you want anything?" She asked.

"An aspirin, sleep, and possibly…." Delia was cut off as a number of commandos busted through the doors, all pointing guns at them. "A team of trained commandos." Angel curled around Connor while Buffy took position to defend them. Liam did the same with Delia. Cordy held Delia as more commandos came in through the balconies. All of them formed a circle around the team, pointing guns at them.

Liam looked at all of the commandos. "Whoa. And I thought insurance salesman were pushy."

…

In a van parked outside of the hotel, Linwood and Gavin were watching the ambush on a couple of screens. The whole thing was being recorded by cameras on the commandos.

"Torture me with magic, wipe my memory, cuff me to a track in the way of an oncoming train, and let me go. Chowder head!" Linwood said. "I want the baby, the man with the green eyes, or the woman in the black coat." He said into a comlink.

…

"Roger that." A commando replied. Liam overheard the orders given. Liam narrowed his eyes and looked around at every commando surrounding them.

"Everyone, gather around Delia." Liam ordered. Everyone did without question.

"Move in on the targets." The leader gave the order. The commandos closed in.

Liam clenched his fist tight, making it crack. "Everyone hang on." He said. Everyone grabbed a hold of someone. Liam lifted his fists and slammed them on the ground, and with a little bit of magic help, created a shockwave that made the AI team stumble and caused the commandos to lose their balance and fall to the floor. Liam straightened up and shook his hands at the pain that brought him. He brushed it off and pulled out his tomahawk and knife, clasping them together and extending them.

"Nice." Gunn complimented.

A few commandos got to their feet. Liam ran for the first one and sliced his throat with a clean swing from his scythe. He brought his weapon down on the second commandos head, embedding the axe head in it. He pulled it out and casually pushed the commando to the floor. He threw his scythe like a Frisbee at the next commando, getting him in the chest.

…

"Kid's pretty good." Gavin said watching Liam take out three commandos.

"Oh, I can't wait to get my hands on him, cut him open, see what makes him tick." Linwood said watching.

…

Buffy decided that she had enough and joined the fight. She grabbed the gun of a commando that just got up and knocked him out with it. She dropped the gun to the floor, not particularly liking them, before engaging some more commandos. Angel handed Connor over to Fred and helped out his wife and son. Wesley, Gunn, and Groo followed suit. They all grabbed weapons and began a fight with the commandos.

"Abort! Abort! Abort! Abort!" they heard a commando say. The rest of the team that were still alive fell back to the doors and went out them.

"What? Not even stay to finish it?" Gunn said. Buffy went to Fred and gathered Connor up in her arms. Cordy still held Delia as everyone looked around for more commandos. Cordy looked around for someone else.

"Hey." She said getting the attention of everyone. "Where's Liam?" she asked.

…

"Where's Liam?" Linwood and Gavin heard Cordy said through the comlinks of one of the dead commandos.

"Where is he?" Linwood asked.

"He doesn't appear to be on any of the cameras." Gavin observed.

"Except that one." Linwood pointed to a camera and saw Liam coming over the van. "Drive! Drive!" The driver jumped behind the wheel, but Liam ripped the back doors of the van open before he could get the engine started. Liam reached in and pulled Linwood out. "Hey! Yeah, okay. Easy. Easy. Easy. Now we're even." Linwood said.

"Even? We are far from even." Liam said menacingly. "I told Lilah to tell you that my family is off limits. If you so much as bump into any one of them on the streets, I will destroy everything of Wolfram and Hart until the only thing left is your burning carcasses. And you had better thank God that I am a fair man. This is your final warning. Come after my family again…..and you're dead. Understood?" Linwood nodded fearfully. "Humh. I don't think so. Let me give you a slight demonstration of what happens if you come back." Liam through Linwood into the van, climbed in, and closed the doors. The van started shaking and rocking from side to side. Screams were heard coming from the van. The van stopped shaking and Liam came out from the back with a satisfied look on his face. "Now that's what I call a party van." Liam walked away. In the van, Linwood was on the floor groaning, Gavin was lying against one of the walls and the driver was slumped in the driver's seat. All of them had beating marks on them.

…

Angel, Wesley, Gunn, and Groo came into the lobby after dropping the dead bodies of Wolfram and Harts commandos off in a dumpster. Wolfram and Hart would be back to gather them up. Buffy was rocking Connor in her arms. Fred was on the settee with Delia who was still being held by Cordy.

"Any word?" Angel asked his wife.

"Not a word." Buffy answered. "God, I hate it when Liam does this. He sneaks off to do god knows what."

"He probably has his reasons." Cordy said.

"And he did." Everyone turned to the voice and saw Liam coming from the lobby doors.

"Liam, are you ok?" Cordy asked first.

"I'm fine. Found Linwood outside and showed him firsthand what would happen if he and Wolfram and Hart come after my family again."

"Liam…" Buffy said.

"Relax. I just roughed him up a bit. Not a big deal." After a beat. "For the moment."

"So are we to expect any Wolfram and Hart any time soon?" Gunn asked.

"Doubt it." Liam said going over to the settee and kneeling by Delia. "How are you?" he asked concerned.

"Mad." Delia answered.

"Why?"

"You didn't save one for me."

"Could you fight any of them?" Delia looked down. "Exactly. Now physically how are you?"

"She's fine." Cordy answered. "No one got within ten feet of her."

"Thank you Cordy." Liam smiled at her. Cordy smiled at Liam. Groo looked away from the sight he was seeing.

"Yes, thank you everyone for my safety." Delia said. "Now can I go to bed? I feel like I need to sleep."

"I'll help get her into bed." Cordy said and helped Delia stand up. Both she and Liam helped Delia up the stairs towards her and Liam's bedroom. Groo watched them go with a slight frown.

…

Cordy helped Delia to her room and asked Liam if she could help with anything else. Liam refused her offer and said he would do everything himself. He told her to go home to Groo. Cordy do so. As for Delia, Liam helped her out of her clothes and ran a hot bath from her to soak her sores in. Delia was still pretty weak from the torture and the cerium given to her. Liam helped her into the hot bath and started to voluntarily clean her. H grabbed a wash cloth and started to clean Delia.

"I can take my own bath." Delia said to him.

"I know. But you're still weak and I want to help." Liam told her still washing her back.

"Is this you trying to make up for nearly dying all the time?"

"No. This is me taking care of my wife after she'd been drugged and beaten. I would have done this even if I haven't been willing to sacrifice myself. The rest of my family is safe and I want take care of the family that I've neglected."

Delia smiled. "So this is you trying to make up for neglecting me?"

Liam sighed. "Yes. I'm sorry."

"I already forgave you. I know how much you care for your family."

"You are my family. You should come first."

"But wouldn't that go against your policy about taking care of every one of your family or none at all?"

"That's for when I'm saving them. Not when I'm caring for them. There's a difference." Liam finished washing Delia's back and moved to her arms. "When it comes to people saving family, it's all or none. When it comes to loving my family, my wife comes first. First and always."

Delia smiled up at Liam. "Thank you."

After finishing her bath, Liam helped dry Delia and got clean pajama clothes on her. He helped the best he could to brush her hair, until Delia just told him to let her do it in the morning. Liam carried her to the bed and gently laid her down. He got himself ready for bed and climbed in next to her, bringing her close to him. He held her as Delia held his arms and snuggled in close to him. Liam placed a few kisses on her shoulders and neck.

"I'm so sorry." Liam said again.

"I forgive you. Just don't ever do it again." Delia said.

"Never." They laid in bed together until sleep consumed them both.

…

Cordy entered her apartment.

"Hi, honey. It's me! And I got your favorites: Tuna and ice cream. How about tonight you try 'not' mixing it together?" Cordy said dropping her stuff on the table and turning to see Groo standing in the bedroom, wearing a brown leather jacket. "Oh, there you are. Wow. You like nice!" Groo slowly raised his head to look at her. "What's wrong?"

"I am. Wrong. For you." Groo answered.

"What?"

"I am not the one you love. He is."

"He is? Who he?"

…

Angel went to answer a knock on his door. "Yo. Hey! Lorne. Come on in."

"Well, you're in a good mood."

"Yeah. Connor's safe. Liam and Delia are ok. There isn't any reason for my not to be cheery."

"Well, I'm glad everything is going great for you and for Liam. You both have done a lot for this world. You all deserve some happiness."

"You bet."

"Well, I thought, I'd stop by and say arrivederci, Angel-hair."

"You're really going?"

"I'm really going."

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be." Lorne held out a CD. "Here, I got you and Buffy a little something to remember me by."

On the CD was a picture of Lorne, smiling while holding a microphone. Angel read the title. "Songs for the love Lorne. Oh, I get it. Lovelorn, because your name is Lorne."

"Yeah, my publicist's idea. Her name is mud now but the tunes are good. And, ah, and that's not my real gift. This is: Buffy loves you. The way you feel about her is pretty much exactly how she feels about you. I know that you've been having doubts ever since you two got back together. You two are so obviously connected. Bubela, all I'm saying is: stay open. Connor's safe. Liam seems to have the whole future thing under control. Your whole life is coming together. Sometimes things do work out. I got to skiddoo."

"Take good care of yourself, and keep in touch."

"I'll drop you a line. Let you know where to send the gift basket." Lorne waved over his shoulder as he walked towards the door. When he shut the door, Angel smiled.

…

"I love Liam? What are you talking about? I - love... you know... us." Cordy told grew. She was shocked by his statement that she was somehow in love with her best friends son form the future who was also married.

Groo just looked at her. "You two are so obviously connected somehow. When he grieves, when he is hurting, your heart breaks for him."

"I do that for anyone. That's just who I am."

"In my heart I have known the truth for some time. I believed that is was towards Angel. But I saw how you cared for Liam. Even with his marriage to Delia, you still care for him. I've just been - struggling - to find the courage to do what is right."

…

Liam and Delia were sleeping soundly in bed. Or so it seemed. Liam lifted his head and looked to his sleeping wife. She was sleeping peacefully. Liam smiled at her before climbing out of bed. He put on his work clothes. His dark blue jeans, combat boots, black shirt, and coat. He put on his weapons belt and left his apartment.

…

Cordy was driving down a crowded freeway, honked at the car in front of her then pulled all the way from the right, across the middle and into the left lane.

"Slow poke! I'm late. I'm late. And it's not a date." She told the driver. Cordy lifted a hand in front of her mouth to check her breath. "We're just gonna talk like two grown-up adults. Two grown up adults trying to save a relationship." Suddenly Cordy began to glow from the inside. "Oh, no! No, no, no! Not now!" White light streamed out of its windows, pulling across traffic and over onto the left shoulder while everything around it slowed and came to a stop. Cordy, no longer glowing, looked around her and saw that her fellow motorists are frozen in time. "Oh, shit."

…

In the building that Delia was rescued from and that Justine and her gang were killed in, bodies still littered the floor. There was a deadly silence to the room. Everyone laid in the same positions that they died in. The door to the building was still lying on the floor, almost broken. A shadow of a figure appeared in the moonlight that streamed into the doorway. The figure walked in. The only sound now heard in the room was his boots as he walked in. The figure stopped just a few feet from Justine's dead body. He didn't do anything. He just stood there starring at her. Justine still laid on the ground in the same position as when she died. Her eyes still open. The figure looking down was Liam. He looked at Justine, not with an angry look, not with a murderous look, but a sorrowful look.

"I was going to let you live." Liam said to Justine's dead body. "After twenty years of your presence in my dreams, seeing you kill my entire family, making me live in a hell, after all the shit you've done, I…was going to let you live. After all this time, I imagined that when I first met you for the first time since I was child, I expected to see a woman that was so evil I couldn't explain how she was even created. But instead, I saw who you really were. You were nothing more than confused, lost, misguided. I wanted nothing more than to hate you for everything you've done to me. But seeing you holding Delia with a gun to her head, I looked into your eyes and saw that you were still in pain. From your sister's death. Believing that what you were doing was right. In that instance, I didn't hate you. I pitied you. I felt so sorry for you. You were a lost soul and Holtz manipulated you. I'm sorry that I couldn't…." Liam sighed. "Didn't try to save you before. But I was going to let you live." After a beat. "Guess that proves who the better person was. I actually…wished that you didn't have to die. But even though you did, and even though you are responsible for what happened to me and my life, I'm still compiled to do even this to you." Liam went to Justine side and bent down to her. He closed her eyes and made the sign of the cross in the air. "No one should leave this world without being delivered some act of kindness. May the lord see fit to reunite you with your sister. May you finally know the truth to the world and may he who is almighty grant you the peace that was taken from you. Rest in peace, Justine Cooper." Liam finished and stood up. He had tears in his eyes but kept a straight face. He turned and exited the building. Outside, Liam pulled out his phone and called the police. After calling them, Liam walked to his charger he had parked across the street. He got in and drove. He stopped at a light and looked around. His gaze fell upon an alley that was familiar to him. He was never in it before, but it looked like another alley was in before.

…

May 19, 2026

London, England

Nighttime

Liam was fighting in an alley with a black clad man. Liam had his tomahawk and his knife out. The man he was fighting had a sword drawn. Liam's tomahawk and the man's sword clashed together. Liam tried to slash with his knife, but the man quickly parried the blow. Liam tried slashing with his tomahawk. The man dodged the blow and slashed with his sword, cutting Liam across the chest. Luckily Liam was wearing his light weight armor underneath his shirt. They stood in fighting stances ready for the next person to move. The man Liam was fighting with stood looking confident. Liam couldn't see his face because of his balaclava but Liam could see his eyes. They didn't look at all scarred. They were perfectly focused. Liam's on the other hand, were filled with rage, anger, and hate. It had only been a few months since Liam joined Kathy's team in England. He had been training at first and tonight was one of his first missions. He had come face to face with one of the Crow members. Liam was here to kill the man and end his reign that he had in the city. He had been running a small team of the Crows in London to take out slayers when they were least expecting it. They usually got their target. Tonight it ended. But Liam was here for more than just to kill assassins. He was here to find out about Justine. The woman who killed his family.

Liam ran at the man and tried to slash at him, but the Crow member simply moved out of the way and parried Liam's next slash attack.

"You're distracted. Unfocused." The Crow taunted. "You can't possibly be able to defeat your enemy without a cleared mind."

"Thanks Qui-Gon. I'll use that." Liam shot back before reengaging his enemy. What his enemy said was true. Liam wasn't going to get anywhere if he couldn't focus. Liam tried slashing a few more times, but the man just dodged them all. On his final strike, the man dodged and slashed Liam on the back twice. Liam fell to the ground on all fours. His armor protected him but Liam wouldn't last if he didn't change his tactics.

"You're good kid. But not that good." The man raised his sword for a clean blow to the neck. As he brought it down, Liam parried the blow with his knife and jabbed him in the neck with his tomahawk. He didn't hit him with the sharp part, but at least he made his enemy go back a bit so that Liam could regain his composure.

"Nice line, but it's 'you're good kid, real good. But you'll always be second best'." Liam went after his opponent again. He tried slashing at every open spot, but the Crow member was quick to dodge every blow. The Crow tried to slash at Liam's side, but Liam blocked the blow with his knife and tried to chop at his opponent's neck. The man grabbed Liam's arm and stopped the blow. They stayed in that position until Liam decided to play dirty. He kneed the man in his crotch. The man groaned and Liam broke free from his hold and chopped at his collar again, this time making his mark. The man went to his knees and Liam grabbed his shirt, pulled off his balaclava, and pulled him up to eye level. "I wanna know about Justine. Where is she? Where can I find her?" Liam demanded.

"I'm sorry, where you hoping for a confession?" the Crow said before his head slumped back and he died.

"Worthless piece of shit!" Liam yelled to the dead body. "I only wish you'd suffered more! You met the fate you deserved! I hope yo…."

"Liam, enough." Liam heard a voice from behind him. He turned and saw his sister there, glaring at him. Kathy walked over and made Liam let go of the body. The body dropped to the ground. "Show some respect." She said to him.

"Respect? He works for the organization that killed our family. He works for Wolfram and Hart who threaten to send this world to hell. Do you think they would have shown any of us respect?"

"We are not the Crows or Wolfram and Hart. You are not one of them. Do not become them. On my team, we show respect to the dead. Friend and foe." Kathy took a knee by the dead Crow and made the sign of the cross. "May the lord see fit to grant you second chance. May he show mercy and you know the true ways of the world. Rest in peace." Kathy got back up and looked at the body. "We do not disrespect the dead, Liam." She faced him. "To disrespect the dead is to disrespect all who have died for any cause. Even our own." She took a few steps forward so that she was inches from Liam. "You respect the dead so that you don't disrespect all who have died. Including mom. If I hear you disrespect the dead again, I will disown you as my brother. Understood?"

Liam bowed his head in shame. "Yes." He said.

Kathy brushed past Liam. She stopped before leaving. "And by the way, Justine's dead. Wolfram and Hart killed her to gain control of the Crows. All your work has been for nothing. Sorry." She left the alley. Liam closed his eyes and let a few tears drop from them. He didn't realize that if he disrespected the dead, he would also disrespect his own parents and his brother. Not just that, he had missed his chance to kill the woman who caused him so much pain. The man he killed died for a cause just as the same as they did. He deserved some respect. Some act of kindness before leaving this world. Or else, he would be no better than the people he was fighting against. Liam vowed to himself that day that he would never disrespect the dead ever again.

…

Streets of LA

Present Day

Nighttime

Liam remembered when he disrespected the day and vowed he would never do it ever. Kathy was usually right when it came to that kind of stuff. She had been fighting longer than he did and studied about their parents fighting styles and how to be warriors like them. But she also learned about all of their mistakes. One included them sometimes disrespecting the dead. Kathy and Liam knew of their father's dark side and knew that they inherited some of it in them. They never wanted to become it. So they did everything they could to be as good as possible. That meant respecting the dead. Even their enemies.

The light turned green and Liam drove off. He would stop at one more place before heading home.

Liam opened up a hospital morgue locker and pulled out a tray. In it lay a burned carcass. The label it had was a John Doe. Liam used his FBI ID to get into the morgue and search for the one body he still needed to respect. The autopsy report said the man died from a fall as a car plummeted into a causeway before exploding. Liam starred at the burned remains of Daniel Holtz. The man that helped ruin his brother's life. Liam remembered Connor and his father telling him about Holtz. They told him about Holtz, driven on revenge, to kill Angel and make him suffer like Holtz did. Liam grew up hating Holtz for what he did. But he also felt pity for him like Justine. He was man that had lost everything and had only one thing left in his life. Life wished he could have helped Holt in a better way, but he knew that it was a lost cause. Holt could never be reasoned with.

Liam made the sign of the cross above Holtz' body. "May the lord see fit to grant you mercy and reunite you with your family. May you finally find peace. Rest in peace, Daniel Holtz." Liam said. He put the tray table back and closed the locker door. Liam had finally finished one of his main missions in the past. His family was safe. His parents were together and alive. At one point, Liam believed that after doing this, he might be done and be able to go back to the future. A better future. And there might possibly be one. But it was too big of a might to say 'to hell with it'. Liam needed to be sure that the future was safe. Even if his parents were alive, he needed to be sure that Wolfram and Hart didn't enact their apocalypse in his future. He had to find the Orb of Danzalthar. He had to find it, and destroy it. To prevent anything bad in his future.

…

Cordy, now dressed in white dress gown, got out of the car and walks over to look into the window of a car at a woman frozen in the act of fixing her lipstick.

"Don't be frightened." A voice said and Cordy jumped and gasped.

"It's a little late for that!" Cordy said looking at skip.

"Sorry. You remember me? I'm..."

"Yeah. Skip. You tend to remember your demon guides. What is going on?"

"I think you know."

"I'm dying."

"No. No, you're not - dying."

"Not dying?"

"No."

Cordy punched him. "Say that part first!"

"Sorry. It's not the end. It's the beginning. You're a great warrior, Cordelia. The battle that we're all a part of is fought on many different planes and dimensions. You've outgrown this one. You've become - a higher being."

"Me?"

"You. You took on the visions, and even when you could have traded them in for a happy, normal life, even when they were killing you, you wouldn't let them go. The big test came when the Powers made you part demon. They bet the farm on you. Power corrupts. And they gave you a lot of power."

"The glowy thing."

"Which you used well - to fight evil."

"And only that one time as a night light. - Bad dreams. - Skip, I don't understand."

"I think you do."

"It's ridiculous. - I'm just a somewhat normal girl - who - has visions, glows, and occasionally blows things up with her crazy new power." Skip looked at her. "I'm a higher being."

"Yes." Skip answered.

"And when you say I've - outgrown this level that sort of implies..."

"You're moving on to a new one."

"Now I'm really scared."

"I know. But I also know you're ready."

"Oh, no, I'm not."

"Ah, the universe begs to differ. And deep down inside, I think..."

"Yes! All right? Stop saying I know! - Maybe I do know. 'Maybe.' If given enough time, I might even get 'used' to the idea, but - I don't have enough time, do I? No, of course not. Why would the Powers give me time to save the best relationship of my life? I'm trying to prevent Groo from leaving."

"What you're being called to do - transcends love."

"How is that fair? I can't leave without telling him! I won't. - He has to know how I feel! Why does this have to be now? He thinks I love Liam!"

"There is work to be done in the higher realms."

"Can you at least tell Groo I love him? Can you tell my friends?"

"Sorry. Not allowed."

"Then I'm not going. - How can they possibly do this to me now? - This is the last test, isn't it?"

"Cordelia."

Cordy turned to look at Skip and he tapped his left wrist. "I ever come face-to-face with those Powers That Be, we are going to have a talk, a big talk."

"You're doing the right thing."

"I'm scared. - But I know it's right. I know somehow it's all gonna be alright." She sighed. "What do I do?"

"Just say yes."

"I already have." Golden sparkles appeared around Cordy as she started to float up in a corridor of white light.

…

Angel was sitting on his and Buffy's bed looking at the CD Lorne left them both. Lorne gave him some advice about his and Buffy's love. Angel loved her. He would always love her and always will. He felt like an idiot to have left her in Sunnydale after graduation. He should have stayed. Maybe if he had, Willow might have found the spell to bind his soul sooner. But that didn't happen and Angel and Buffy still ended up together. With a little help from their future son. Angel was happy, and there were no consequences. However, he knew that Lorne was right. He still held doubts about his and Buffy's relationship since they got back together. Even though they now had a child and would have more in the future, he still couldn't help feel that he still wasn't enough for Buffy. Like he still could give everything to her. But those thoughts were going to go away very soon. Tonight, Angel would profess his love to Buffy. He had already done it, but tonight, he was going to truly show her. He wasn't going to have doubts, he wasn't going to have fear, he wasn't going to hold back at all. Tonight, he would tell Buffy just how much in love with her he really was.

The door opened and Buffy walked in with Connor in her arms. She was singing Sleepsong to him. Angel looked up at her. She placed Connor I his bassinet and finished singing to him.

"Buffy." Angel said making Buffy turn to him.

"Angel, I didn't really see you there in the dark. Why are you sitting in the dark?" She asked.

After a beat. "I was just thinking." Angel said.

Buffy turned on the lights. "About what?"

"Us."

Buffy had a worried look on her face. "Please don't tell me that you're thinking of leaving me again."

"No." Angel said immediately, standing up. "God no. Just the opposite."

"Oh."

Angel put the CD on the table and walked over to Buffy. "Buffy, I have to be honest with you. Ever since we got back together, since we got married, since Connor and Liam, I've had doubts."

"What?" Buffy said in disbelief.

"Just hear me out. It's been….it's been wonderful being with again. Being able to love you without anything keeping us apart. But I always had a feeling that it wouldn't last. Just like every time in the past we've tried, something's always prevented us from being together."

"Mostly it's been you." Buffy said.

"I know. What I am. What I have to live with. My choices. The last one being the biggest."

"Yeah. Cause if my memory is right, you told me and I remembered how you became human for like an entire day, had the best sex of our lives together, and you still gave it all up for me."

"Because I love you so much. Buffy I could never be as happy as I am with anyone else but you." This brought a smile to Buffy's face. "But I still felt like that it couldn't last." Angel sighed. "But Buffy, tonight I realize a truth that I wanted to believe for so long and now do." Angel stepped closer to Buffy so that she and him were inches away. "I love you."

"You're just now realizing this?"

"No. I mean…I've loved you. I still love you. I've just been holding some of it in. But not anymore. I love so much Buffy Summers. I wouldn't dare imagine my life without you and would never do anything to ruin it. I love you. Unconditionally, without a doubt now, with all my heart and soul. I love you." Buffy had tears of joy in her eyes. Angel never liked making Buffy cry. But it was these moments when her tears were because he just made her feel as happy as she could possibly be that he could tolerate. "I love you." He said to her again. And he meant more at that moment than any other time.

"I love you too." Buffy cried softly and with a big smile. Angel bent down and captured her lips in a fiery kiss. She kissed back with so much passion. Neither one wanted to deny each other even the smallest amount of love they could offer each other. Buffy leapt up onto Angel and wrapped her legs around his waist. Not breaking the kiss, Angel moved them both to bed and closed the double French doors that separated the bedroom from the sitting room where Connor slept soundly. Angel laid Buffy down gently and continued kissing her. He moved from her lips to her neck and kissed her scar, making her moan in pleasure. His hands found their way to the hem of her shirt and he pulled it up over her head. Their tongues dueled for domination in their mouths. His hands found her pants and he unbuttoned them. She arched her hips up so he could slide them past her hips. Angel tossed the pants to the floor and Buffy grabbed onto his pants. She unfastened his belt and slid them off. The only thing left between them were there undergarments. Soon, they were gone too. Buffy moaned again as Angel brought his hips and hers together. Angel moved slowly and passionately. Buffy wrapped her legs around him and held tight with each thrust Angel made. The both of them had made love before. When they were dating, when they got back together, when they were married, but tonight was something different. It was better than anything they had ever done before. Angel kissed Buffy again as he made love to her.

…

Liam walked into his and Delia's room. It was dark in the bedroom. Liam took of his coat and weapons belt and put them down softly, hoping not to wake his wife. He set them aside and took off his work clothes. He put on a pair of sweatpants and turned to his bed but found empty sheets. Panic gripped him as his mind thought up all sorts of possibilities.

"Delia?" he almost growled as he imagined his wife being in danger, again.

"Liam" a soft voice sounded from the bathroom. "Is that you?" Liam literally flew to the bathroom, almost talking the door of its hinges. Entering the bathroom he saw Delia sitting by the tub on the floor rubbing her thigh exposed by her half open robe. She had a sheepish expression on her face.

Cursing loudly he went to her side. "What happened?" Liam held her shoulder with one hand and ran his other hand frantically all over her. "Are you okay? What are you doing here?"

"I'm fine, I'm fine. I was just looking for you." Delia assured him.

"Oh." Liam sighed on relief before frowning. "But why were you sitting by the tub?"

"We'll, like I said I was looking for you, I went to the bathroom and um..." Delia bit her lip and mumbled the rest. "I lost my balance and fell."

"Fell?" Liam asked skeptically.

"Yeah, well needless to say I am not my hundred percent. In fact, I am not even in my fifty percent. No, I am a negative percent." Delia furrowed her brows. "Do negative percentage even exist?"

"I don't know." Liam chuckled as he picked her up in his arms. "You would have to ask Willow."

"Hmm" Delia held on to Liam's neck as he placed her on the bed, causing him to sit next to her.

"You should be sleeping" Liam chided.

"That is exactly what I was doing before not finding you in bed." Delia scowled. "Why weren't you in bed?" Liam winced. He was really hoping that she didn't notice his absence. "Liam?"

"I, I needed to do a few things." Liam began to explain.

"What things?"

After a beat. "Do you remember what Kathy taught us about the dead?"

Delia instinctively knew what Liam was talking about. "She always told us to respect them."

"That's what I did. I went back to Justine and gave her final rites before calling the police. Then I did it with Holtz' burned corpse."

"But they ruined your family's lives."

"No one should leave this life without being given some act of kindness. And you should never disrespect the dead. Even if you hate them."

"You sound like Kathy."

Liam smiled. "She was always a great teacher."

"So were you." Liam smiled again. Delia groaned and leaned against her husband. "You okay?" Liam gave a light shrug. Delia looked up from her place beneath his chin. "I didn't know where you were. I got scared." She said in a meek voice.

"I am sorry baby" Liam kissed her forehead.

Delia traced his cheek with her fingers. "I thought you left me."

"Why would you think that?"

Delia pulled away and hugged herself. "You did it a number of times before." Delia mumbled not wanting to reveal her worst fears. Liam gave her a look. "I know that those times there were legitimate circumstances, but what I mean, I am turning out to be more of a liability than help." Liam started to protest, but Delia cut him off. "I mean with my want of normalcy. The end of the world is around the corner and I am dreaming of picket fences. And vacationing on the beach." She laughed without mirth. "Seriously, I mean we are in the past, trying to protect the future and I have you tanning by the beach? Let's not even mention my hesitation over the tea leaves oh and my adventure of Russian Roulette with Justine. You could have died because of it. Instead of saving your family you would have died saving me. And now I am tripping over flat surfaces. I wouldn't be too surprised if you cut me off. In fact, it would be more helpful to you and your family if you did."

"You are part of that family. I told you that before." Liam said firmly. "You are the most important part of that family"

"No I am not. I am your weak link, your Achilles heel." All of Delia's insecurities, worries and fears were visible in her voice.

Liam pulled her back into his arms. "His heel was Achilles' one link to humanity. It what kept him grounded." Liam looked at Delia. "And you are my link to life, to sanity. You keep me grounded to sanity and reason even when there is chaos all over. Without you I would have been lost a long time ago, became a shell in Anne's shelter. No matter what, I could never leave you, not even if I wanted to."

"You might not have a choice." Delia whispered.

"Nothing is going to make me leave you." Liam promised. "Not the powers, not Wolfram and Hart nor" Liam looked into Delia's eyes with determination. "nor a changed past."

Delia's eyes widened as she realized what he said. "You know?" Delia said, "How? I…"

"Shh," Liam held a finger to her lips. "I am not leaving you, ever"

"But" Delia protested, too afraid to hope.

"No buts, I am not leaving you. Ever."

"But, Liam are you…"

"Delia, if you say but one more time, I am going to have to spank you" Liam threatened with mock seriousness.

Delia gave a small uncertain smile which soon turned mischievous. "Liam"

"Hmm..."

"BUT" Liam glared at her and pushed her down lithely on the bed. Delia gave a loud but short yelp before Liam fused his mouth with her with a growl. Delia moaned and entwined her fingers through Liam's soft thick hair. She roamed her hands over his sculpted back. Tongues dueled for dominance while Liam's fingers crept down and opened up Delia's satin robe with a tug on the strings. Liam left Delia's lips, letting her take the forgotten breath, and trailed his own down the curve of her neck. His tongue tasted the salty sweetness of her skin while his hand crept up to her breast. Delia mewled and pulled on his hair. Liam lifted her up in a sitting position, never breaking contact, and pulled the robe off her. He laid her back down and Delia tugged on his sweatpants. Liam helped her in taking off his pants. He unclasped her bra and took it off. All that was left was her panties. Liam felt Delia's raised thigh and grabbed onto her panties from behind, taking them off. Both of them were now bare to each other. "Liam" Delia moaned.

Liam chuckled and neared his mouth to her ear. Biting softly on her earlobe he crooned. "I won't leave you." Liam trailed his mouth down Delia's body, all the while repeating his words, demanding her to believe.

"Liam, Liam, Liam." she chanted, his name a litany on her lips.

Liam crept up to her and caressed her with painful softness, his eyes filled with devotion. "I will never leave" Liam said one final time and joined with her, taking them both to the closest thing to heaven. They both remained wrapped around each other. Delia played with Liam's hair as he nuzzled at her neck, while all the time thrusting in her with as much love and passion that he believed he had deprived her. "Liam"

"Yes"

"I believe you."

And there you have it. Delia's alright. Liam and her are in love. Angel and Buffy are in love. Connor's safe, and Cordy….well…you already know. This story is almost done. Wes till have the Trio to deal with in Sunnydale. And that's where it starts next chapter. The Summer's family going to Sunnydale and dealing with a number of issues. Comment and Review.

Also, I'd like to give credit to the intimate moment between Liam and Delia is this chapter to the actual Delia Winters. A viewer who has helped me whenever I've gotten stuck as well as given me info to make her character in this story. Delia, thank you very much. I'd also recommend that you read her story, Don't Forget Me. It's a good read. Stay tuned.