Hello everyone! I know it's been a while, but I've been quite busy with school and then I got a job, so I don't have a lot of time to write, but I finally managed to finish this chapter. I thank you guys for being patient with me.

Anyway, this chapter is really just focused on one person, and although it's not incredibly long I think it's a good chapter. But in the upcoming chapters I hope to resolve the fate of one character, bring back an old character that I think is pretty well disliked (but I think it makes sense that they would make an appearance), and get these people out of this freaking dimension!

So read on, and please, please, please review!

The Chance of a (Life)time

He felt a little groggy. He also had no idea where he was. The only thing he knew was that the floor in this place was cold and hard.

"Ugh…" He groaned. He opened his eyes, but could barely make out anything due to his blurry vision. He sat up after his vision normalized and analyzed the room.

The room was circular, old- almost Greek looking, and empty of people. Also, there were no doors.

Where were the others? Where was she? What the hell happened? He stood up, remaining completely confused.

"Hello?" He asked, sounding more worn out that than he realized.

There was no answer for a moment, but then someone broke the silence.

"Well, you made it!"

It came from behind him, but he didn't need to turn around to know who it was. That voice was unmistakable, at least to him. But this voice also confused him.

"I thought you were-"

"Dead?" She interrupted.

"Yeah," he replied, turning around and facing her.

"I guess it depends on how you look at it," she said in an amused voice, but there was also some unhappiness behind it. "But if you're talking about what happened only moments ago, for you at least, then no. I'm not dead. That was just an elaborate hallucination put together by the senior partners."

He didn't reply.

"You know, it seemed very easy for you- killing me, that is," she said mockingly.

"I realized that it wasn't you, that none of that was real."

"I know. I would never say anything like that to you."

"I know." He took a step towards her, but unexpectedly, she took a step backwards.

"I'm sorry," she said sincerely. "I can't… It's a… thing."

He knew that would be his only explanation he'd get.

"Angel," she said hesitantly, "You do understand what's happening right now, don't you?"

Honestly, he hadn't really thought about it. But, it couldn't be happening… Could it? No. It had been in the making for so long that he'd never truly believe it until it was over.

"I know what you're thinking, I mean, it's written all over your face. But it's real, Angel, it's real."

"Cordy… I just… What are you now? One of the powers?"

"I'm, well… I'm just a higher power. Let's leave it at that for now, alright?"

He thought about that, but moved on briefly, "Is this real? I don't think I can tell anymore."

"It is real, but I could be lying," she joked.

"Well, I'll put my faith in you." He looked around the room and then at her, "So, this is it? I'm finally…" He trailed off for a moment, "I'm finally becoming a human?"

"And therefore, fulfilling the Shanshu, yes." She answered.

"I wish I could touch you, hug you."

"Angel," she said softly, "so do I. But," she spoke more loudly, "we shouldn't waste time. This isn't just a birthday party at Chuckie's that you can do over again next year. This is a once in a lifetime thing, honey."

He smiled, but before he could say anything someone cleared their throat and it wasn't him or Cordelia.

"I, uh, don't mean to interrupt, but I figured that it was time."

Cordy smiled brightly at her, "It's okay Tara, perfect timing actually."

Tara… It took Angel a second to place the name, but he remembered her being talked about in association with Willow. So this was Tara…

"It's nice to finally meet you. I've heard a lot about you over the years." She seemed shy, but incredibly nice.

He sighed and then said dryly, "I can imagine that it hasn't all been good."

She tucked her hair behind her ear, "No, but I understand why." Tara had never really been the one to see things in black and white.

"Well, thanks, I guess…" Angel wasn't really sure what to say now. "I'm sorry about Willow."

Tara flinched at her name, but she quickly composed herself. "Thank you. She'll be all right… eventually."

Angel didn't understand that, but he decided not to prod. "So, how does this work anyway?"

"Well," Tara answered hesitantly, "first of all I just want to make sure that you're sure about this."

He wasn't expecting anyone to ask that. And though it might seem like an easy answer, it wasn't. Now that he thought about it, had anyone ever asked him that point blank?

"In a word, yes, I'm sure."

She examined him closely, "No more super strength, heightened hearing, smelling? No more saving people? With you human you leave Buffy and Spike, Faith, and some other slayers to be the super heroes." She wasn't trying to deter him from this. She was just trying to help him understand what he was giving up, and to prepare him because no matter how much he wanted it, the transition wouldn't be easy.

"I'll still help, maybe not like before, but I know that they can handle anything that comes their way."

"What if you're like the new Xander of the group?" Cordy blurted out.

Tara gave her a pointed look, to which Cordy mouthed back, "What?"

"Anyway," Tara cut in before Angel could reply, "If you're sure, and I think you are, then we should start."

He nodded his head, completely forgetting about Cordelia's comment. This didn't seem real to him.

"Are you ready?" Tara asked.

After a moment he replied certainly, "Yes."

Back in the Senior Partner's dimension…

Buffy was just sitting there thinking and waiting for the others to return from unconsciousness.

Angel's dream had finally come true. She was happy for him, she really was. She loved Spike as the badass vampire that he was. Mortality just didn't seem like it would suit him. Could she see Spike holding a job, or going to school? No, not unless any of that had to do with killing demons. Their relationship wouldn't be the same if he was human. But, he was deserving of the prophecy, and that's what bothered her. Maybe he's not as deserving as Angel, but deserving none the less. How would this affect him? Would he be jealous? Insecure? She had no idea. Would he expect her to get back together with Angel, or had he finally gotten over that? The latter was the worst possible outcome of Angel receiving the reward of the prophecy because she and Angel were done with their romantic relationship.

She continued to sit there alone with her thoughts until someone returns to join her in consciousness.

Angel was standing in the middle of the circular room. If he had a beating heart it would be going a mile a minute right about now. It was actually happening.

"Okay boss, this is it. If you feel weird or tingly, I think that's normal." Cordelia assured him.

"You think?" He asked.

"Well, how would I know?" She retorted.

"This can't go wrong. And I mean like, it really can't. It's impossible," Tara declared cheerfully.

"Okay, so…" Cordelia started to say.

"Yeah." Tara replied.

Although Angel didn't understand that, they certainly did because the two women went and each took a place by Angel, and they turned to face each other.

"Are you nervous?" Cordelia asked him.

"Uh, yeah, a little." He responded.

"Don't worry, Angel," Tara comforted him. "This'll probably be kinda anti-climactic. I mean, not that this isn't a big deal because it really is, but-"

"It's okay, Tara." Cordelia said, cutting her off. "And she's right. Sorry if you were hoping for a parade."

"I always was one for theatrics," he uttered dryly.

Tara took a few deep breaths and then started in an uncommon booming voice, "Powers, hear us- your loyal servants. We have brought you Angel, Angelus, Liam, the prophesized, so that he can achieve his destiny. He has fulfilled the Shanshu prophecy. He has saved many and more, and he will most likely continue even in a human state. He is deserving of this reward, this redemption, as you have determined. Now is the time, for he has been waiting and dreaming a long time for this moment."

They obviously heard her because after she finished a light shined down on Angel, and then Angel himself started to glow.

If there was anything brighter than him or the light, it was Cordelia's smile. She was beaming.

Angel could feel it happening. It felt magical. His body was slowly waking up, and after years and years of being dead, it felt very odd. Now the light was slowly fading. The transformation was almost over. And then Angel felt something else, but he didn't get much time to think about it.

"A-Angel," Tara said, and to Angel, she sounded almost sad. "Could you give them a message from me? Tell them that I'm always with them, and I'm proud of them for how strong they always are, and t-that I'm sorry… That I'm sorry for everything they've had to go through. Tell them that they were the best family someone could ask for."

He smiled and nodded. He hadn't yet fully understood that he was leaving this place.

"Angel," Cordelia said, "I'm so proud of you."

"Cordy, no, I don't wanna go back yet, there hasn't been enough time here."

"But you have to," she said sweetly. "I'm always watching over you…"

"Cordy-" He could feel himself fading back to the previous dimension.

"And I love you, Angel. Don't forget that."

"Cordy…" He said drowsily. "You're amazing."

The last thing he could hear her say was, "Live. Have fun with your new life, Angel."

And then she was gone.

So, a few reviews ago someone asked about Willow's decision to trust that woman, and I meant to answer but I forgot. Anyway, I think that Willow was pushed into a corner and she had two potentially bad situations to pick from (because if the woman was telling the truth and Willow chose not to help then she would feel like it was her fault, and I don't think she deals with guilt too well) and she, having grown up around Buffy and all the heroics, decided to take action and do the right thing. Also, I think having been separated from the rest of the group had had an effect on her, and she was probably just really sad (I know I never really showed that because I didn't spend too much time on pre-Dark Willow, but that's my fault), and so yeah it was a good and bad decision that she made. It's late so I'm not sure if that made sense, but let me know if it did or whatnot.

If you ever have any questions, I'll totally answer them :)

Again, please review!