Disclaimer: I do now own Marvel Cinematic Universe, Buffyverse or anything else you may recognize

Thank you to everyone who has favorited, followed or reviewed this fic so far.

So finally, last chapter's here, hope all enjoy, and thanks a lot to Brainstorm Sorcerer for his help with the chapter and the whole story in general.

Chapter 18- A promise

Matt stood in his apartment, managing to shave himself without seeing, and the beard was gone, though he kept a light stubble still, and the hair were cut off but were still longer than usual, reaching up to the bottom of his neck.

He put the shaver and walked out, meeting Faith, who looked him up and down, noting his new look.

"I like it", Faith said about his look as Matt smirked.

"Knew you would", as they walked to each other and then-

SMACK!

"This is for being such a hero", Faith said as Matt sighed, holding his cheek, then she grabbed him by the face and kissed him, which he returned, the two now happy to be with each other again.

"Heard you became Daredevil now", Matt said and Faith nodded.

"Yeah", she muttered to him.

"I don't know exactly what you did as Daredevil, but I know you did great", Matt then said and Faith smiled as they shared another kiss.

Matt's reunion with Karen and Foggy had been quite heartfelt as well, with hugs and kisses on the face, and then they decided to have a 'welcome back' party at the rebuilt A-Base, with the Avengers, Defenders, Team Angel and Scoobies all attending.

The cake was there too, just the kind that Matt really wanted- the cake had red icing and "Welcome Back!" in white, and chocolate and fudge hidden beneath it as well, and Matt was the first to taste it, followed by Faith, and then Tony.

"This is so good it's a sin!" Tony said as all of them chuckled at his antics, like usual.

"Now you are singing, my beloved Devil!" Lorne said, putting his arm around Matt and leading him to the stage and karaoke which he had basically forced the Avengers to set up. "Right here, I had this done just for you! You must do this!"

"All right, fine", Matt said as he took the mic and taking a deep breath, managed to belt out another song with his amazing voice, and Lorne joined him because that's just how excited and happy he was to have his singing buddy back-

"When all you got are broken dreams
Just need a second chance
And everything you want to be
Gets taken from your hands
We hold on to each other
All we have is all we need
'Cause one way or another
We always make it you and me

This life could almost kill ya
When you're trying to survive
It's good to be here with ya
And it's good to be alive-"

When it was done, there was applause for their duet by everyone as Tony muttered to Steve. "Can we hire them both to sing at all parties?"

"Honestly, not opposed to the idea", Steve said as the two friends shared a chuckle.

And then the mingling began as Gunn pretty hung off of Luke Cage's arm practically for most of the time, grabbing a selfie at every kind of angle, and Fred was exasperated.

"You are such a child", she muttered as he chuckled.

"I can see that", Luke nodded in agreement.

"Hey take this, and snap a shot", Gunn said as he gave her his phone to snap a picture of them both together, and now she was even more exasperated.

"Charles, I'm gonna-"

"Hey, let's do an arm wrestling pose, what do ya say?" Gunn asked as he held up his hand, and Luke rolled his eyes before doing the same, and the two were in a faux arm-wrestling position as an exasperated Fred snapped a picture of them.

"Can I have one of your shirts?" Gunn then begged as Luke and Fred both rolled their eyes.

"Sure kid, I'll make sure to get you some", Luke nodded in agreement as Gunn's smile grew brighter.

Faith and Jessica ended up running into each other again.

"Bitch", Jessica snarled.

"Boozy", Faith snarled back in reply.

The two looked at each other with narrowed eyes and folded arms, then chuckled instead and shook hands, and Jessica walked off, taking a swig. "Later, Devil girl."

"Sure", Faith muttered.

Matt found Danny and stood beside him, overlooking the party as Matt muttered to him. "So I heard you fought my girlfriend."

"More or less. She put up a great fight." Matt smiled with pride as he and Danny found Faith talking with Angel with Cordelia now.

"You held back didn't you?"

"Just a little bit." Matt hummed, before both men started chuckling. "Good to have you back, man."

"Excuse me, who are you?" Foggy asked Spike as he and Karen looked at the Vampire.

"Name's Spike, mate", Spike said with a mock bow. "Vampire with a soul, at your service."

"Vampire?" Karen asked. "You're one to-"

Spike took Vamp face, making them gasp, then took normal face and walked off with a chuckle. "See you around."

"How the hell did Matt get another Vampire for a friend?" Foggy wondered.

"Yeah, it's weird", Karen nodded.

Anya, who was nearby, overheard, and walked to them. "Well it's not uncommon. Sure I was a thousand year old Vengeance demon until I lost my amulet."

The two nodded weirdly as Xander walked next to Anya. "So I see you guys met my wife, Xander Harris."

He held out his hand and both shook it, then he told them. "We'll be on our way."

"What? No, I wanna talk mo-"

But Anya was pulled away as Foggy and Karen found their way to Matt.

"Hey, bud?" Foggy called out.

"Yeah?" Matt turned to him.

"You know how we wanted to be more informed on your other life?" Karen asked and Matt nodded. "We're over it."

"Wong!" Willow walked to her mentor and the two shared a hug and kiss on the cheek happily.

"Good to see you again, Willow", Wong said before turning to Tara. "You must be Tara, she always spoke highly of you."

"You too", Tara said as she held out her hand and Wong shook it. "Thank you for taking care of my Will."

Willow smiled as Wong just said. "It was my pleasure. She is one of my greatest students."

"Thanks", Willow said, flattered. "So, how are you nowadays?"

"Well, I went to Lorne's club a few times", Wong revealed to the two Witches. "Before it was wrecked…three times." He shot a glance at Team Angel over it.

"Sorry to hear that", Tara said. "Have fun."

"I will", Wong muttered as the two waved at him and walked off, hand-in-hand.

Strange appeared beside Wong, who was standing with his hands behind his back.

"Not one word."

Strange opened his mouth but a deadpan from Wong stopped him.

"Okay...," Wong nodded and went to mingle, "Dad."

Wong's shoulders tensed before shaking his head annoyed, and went forward, even as Strange chuckled and the Cloak too making laughing gestures.

Steve approached Matt and sat down beside him. "So, how's the faith?"

"That's a bit of a private question." Matt joked, referring to his girlfriend, and they laughed a little before Matt calmed down and told him. "Stronger than ever."

"Happy to hear it, Matt", Steve said with a smile and then, the two clinked their glasses together.

Tony and Fitz were with Faith as Fitz asked. "So, how's the suit?"

"Functional, although I can't help but think that it makes my ass look bigger."

"Well…." Tony trailed off.

Matt walked up behind Faith and whispered. "I could check that for you."

She smirked, then chuckled and gave him a very light elbow as he chuckled too.

Natasha and Buffy had entered a little staring contest, with all the Scoobies betting on Buffy, while Bucky, Sam, Wanda and Rhodes had bet on Natasha.

"Come on, Buff, you can do this!" Xander cheered for her.

"I know you can, go!" Willow cheered too.

"Buffy, show her why you are the Slayer!" Dawn added.

"You can do this!" Peter nodded too.

"Show 'em what you got!" Tara chuckled too.

"Make us all proud to call you our Slayer!" Anya said.

"Come on, Buffy!" Spike cheered for her too.

Bucky, Sam, Wanda and Rhodes were as cool as cucumbers, standing behind Natasha, who was standing as calm as ice.

Buffy, on the other hand, was shaking, the urge to blink getting stronger than ever, but the Black Widow was completely motionless, and the Slayer finally gave in and blinked first.

The four Avengers behind Natasha high-fived as Xander groaned. "Oh come on!"

"Why Buffy, why did you disappoint?" Spike asked.

Buffy turned to them with a glare and asked. "Any of you want to enter a staring contest with her?"

That shut them all up as Sam said. "Now pay up."

"Oof", Willow muttered.

"Deal's a deal", Bucky reminded.

"Now you must honor it", Rhodes added.

"So, pay up", Wanda nodded too as the Scoobies started doing so.

"Maybe Giles and Natasha can enter a staring contest", Tara then suggested, and all eyes turned to Giles, as he sighed, while Natasha smirked.

Then all of the Scoobies made puppy eyes at Giles and he gave in. "Children."

And with that, the Black Widow and the Ripper entered a staring contest of their own.

Matt and Bruce sat next to each other, Betty talking to Pepper and Tony as Bruce said. "It feels nice to know someone else with the same condition."

"It's certainly a unique situation."

"Hulk's transformations were triggered by anger, and that anger usually dictated how he initially acted, it's why he use to smash so much. But what about you, what's your Devil like?"

"Abaddon is...curious. Before me, no one in my family ever activated the curse Mephisto placed on us. The first time Abaddon appeared, I was angry and fighting for my life, had no control over anything. Then, when I needed him, he saved my life. Three times so far."

"Took a long time for me to finally accept Hulk, nice to know that someone was able to get it down quicker than I did."

"Wouldn't say that I have anything down. I still can't call on Abaddon unless certain conditions are met."

A while later, Spike put an arm around Matt. "So, how are we doing, my best friend?"

Angel heard and pulled Matt out of Spike's grip. "He's my best friend!"

"Best friend who beats you up?" Spike asked as the two glared at each other.

"Still more of an interaction than any he had with you", Angel responded, and the argument began as Matt quietly moved away, the two Vampires nose-to-nose, as Buffy and Cordelia watched them in amusement.

"Well, was nice to have you back and all", Lorne said to Matt, tapping his shoulder.

"Yeah, so what are you going to do about Caritas? Will it be reopened again?" Matt asked.

"Unfortunately, no, I'm going to Las Vegas", Lorne revealed, surprising Matt.

"Really?" Matt asked. "Why?"

"Just, there's a gig, feel it'd be better than here", Lorne told him.

"Have you told the rest of the team?" Matt asked.

"I am going to, very soon", Lorne told Matt. "Either way, you are back, so is baby Connor, you have it strong with Faith, and Angel and Cordelia have come together, and can only go forwards from there, all of your lives are coming together properly now."

"Guess so", Matt sighed.

"And the Devil inside is good, just hope he and you work it out sometime, find harmony inside, ya know? And I'm not talking about Cordelia's friend", Lorne said as he and Matt shared a chuckle.

"Thanks", Matt said as they hugged each other. "Take care of yourself, Lorne."

"Will do", Lorne assured him.

"And stay in touch!" Matt added, and Lorne nodded again.

Matt then tapped his shoulder and walked off as Angel, who'd heard, came up to him. "So, you're leaving?"

"Yeah, have to", Lorne said before pulling Angel aside. "So, you and Cordelia, you are together at last."

"Yeah, seeing where it goes", Angel nodded.

"Well, I know you two love each other", Lorne said, and Angel's eyes narrowed. "You two are so obviously connected. You finish each other's sentences. You laugh at the same jests. When you grieve, when you are hurting, her heart breaks for you. So, like I said, relationship has started, but there is a lot of love to unpack, make sure to tell her."

Angel nodded, then told Lorne. "Take good care of yourself - and keep in touch."

Lorne assured. "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.

After a while, the party was over at last with Matt thanking every single one of them, and then the next day he made a personal request to Strange, who agreed with a sigh.

Matt knocked on the door, and after a few seconds, it was opened by Wesley, who was surprised to see him, since Matt was the last person he expected to see, or second-last. Matt was now suited, with red glasses and a cane, but hair longer than before.

"Hey, Wesley."

"Matthew." Wesley said out of surprise more than anything.

Matt lowered his head. "I...heard what happened."

Wesley's features hardened as he expected a verbal lashing.

"I understand."

Wesley's face showed his shock, something he thought Matt could not tell.

"Fred and Lorne told me everything, the reasons why you did what you did. While I can't say I approve...I understand. You thought what you were doing was right. You were trying to save the life of an innocent child. You did the same as I would, though I can't condone you meeting Holtz after what he did."

"There's no need," Wesley interrupted him, "Bar Angel, no one can hate me more than I hate myself. If only-"

It was Matt's turn to interrupt. "Don't waste your time on ifs." Wesley looked at him. "There are so many ways this could have went down. But look at what happened: Connor's back, and Holtz, Justine and Sahjhan are in Hell. Things could have been worse, but they aren't. Focus on that."

Matt nodded on that, and hesitantly, Wes returned it.

"Take care of yourself, Wes."

"And you too, Matthew. I'm happy you are back, truly."

"It's good to be back."

With that, Matt left as Wesley closed his door, feeling a bit better, though Matt wondered why the hell were Wesley and Lilah sleeping together?

Matt soon walked through the portal back to his home as Strange groaned. "I am not a taxi service, but I'll keep an eye out for you."

"Thanks", Matt said as Strange portaled away, and then Faith arrived, now wearing an apron.

Matt couldn't see it but when he touched her, he felt it. "Are you wearing an-"

"Your mom's coming to visit, of course I'm gonna impress her", Faith said as the two chuckled. "Come on."

And with that, Faith started preparing some food along with Matt and cleaning the windows and table and chairs, and in a bit, the apartment was ready for a hosting, and then there was a knock on the door as Matt opened to reveal Maggie.

The two shared a smile and hugged each other as Matt side-stepped. "Mom, this is Faith, you have met her once, but now the circumstances are better."

"Hello ma'am", Faith held out her hand, and Maggie shook it with a smile.

"Nice to meet you, Faith, properly that is", Maggie said as she was let in, and Matt closed the door while she commented to Faith. "The apron doesn't suit you."

"Well, I just wore it to impress you", Faith quipped as some more chuckles went around.

"You don't need to impress me, if Matt loves you, then you must be good", Maggie told Faith genuinely as Faith nodded in appreciation and put the apron away, the three sitting down for dinner.

"Tell me more about yourself", Maggie requested.

"Well, when Matt was gone I was Daredevil", Faith shrugged.

"And she was really amazing at it", Matt added.

"And here I thought Jack was a little rough around the edges", Maggie said in good humor, delighted to know Faith more. Matt definitely had the perfect girl for himself.

Suddenly, Matt got a sensation and sniffed sulphur and brimstone, then growled. "Mephisto."

And then in a flash, Mephisto appeared in his human form, but a portal opened at the same time and Strange walked out of it with ghost Stick.

"Got ya this time, you bastard!" Stick snarled at Mephisto as he and Strange glared at each other.

"You", Maggie recognized Mephisto, eyes wide in horror.

"Yeah, me, happy to see me?" Mephisto asked with a chuckle.

Same time, Los Angeles

Angel had gone out to patrol, and saw someone in a shawl cowering as a Vampire tried to attack the person, but Angel staked him, then assured the person. "You're all right."

The person suddenly threw off his shawl and tased Angel, making him grunt before he pushed the person away and recognized him. "Ah, you are Holtz's lackey, still after me?"

The lackey though, seemed to be blank, and Angel sighed as some more surrounded him, all of them looking blank and emotionless.

"What the hell?" Angel muttered as one charged him but was spin kicked out before he backhanded another out, and leaping, kicked two away before flipping the last one to the ground.

Angel then heard clapping, and turned around as someone walked out of the shadows, and his eyes widened in horror as he saw who it was.

"Drusilla?"

"Hello, daddy", Drusilla greeted him in her usual crazy tone. "Heard I have a grandchild now."

Angel walked to Drusilla. "Dru, I will-"

She suddenly brandished another taser and tased him hard, as Angel groaned, and she decked him, and Holtz's men then got up, all tasing him together while she said. "They only listen to me now."

Cordelia was returning home in her car when the traffic stopped while she glowed from the inside. So she got out of the car, looking around. "What the hell?"

Don't be", Cordelia jumped and gasped on seeing Skip, "frightened."

Cordelia told him. "It's a little late for that!"

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

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

Skip told her. "I think you know."

Cordelia said. "I'm dying."

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

Cordelia asked. "Not dying?"

Skip said. "No."

Cordelia punched him. "Say that part first!"

Skip told her. "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."

Cordelia asked. "Me?"

Skip told her. "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."

Cordelia realized. "The glowy thing."

Skip said. "Which you used well - to fight evil."

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

Skip said. "I think you do."

Cordelia told him. "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."

Skip said. "Yes."

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

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

Cordelia said. "Now I'm really scared."

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

Cordelia shook her head. "Oh, no, I'm not."

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

Cordelia snapped. "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?"

Angel groaned as his eyes opened to the sound of a screw-gun. Holtz's men were tightening the screws on it. He was lying on his back inside a metal casket. Thick steel cables were wrapped over Angel's ankles, thighs, abdomen and chest, confining his arms at his sides and holding him motionless.

"Dru, why are you doing this?" Angel asked.

"Well, you know, I was dusted, daddy, dusted by it, stones, dust", Drusilla laughed insanely as Angel realized being killed in the Snap and resurrected had turned her crazier than before, and she had sensed it before it got to her. "Then I came back, heard I had a grand baby, wanted to meet him."

"Stay away from Connor!" Angel snarled.

"Why? He's family? Remember what you did to mine?" Drusilla reminded and Angel sighed.

"I'm sorry."

"Oh, you will be! And there's also the time with the fire", Drusilla reminded.

"Why are Holtz's men working for you? Your hypnosis wasn't this powerful", Angel commented.

"Damaskinos", Drusilla now rambled. "He tied me up, had people put needles in me, he wanted to make another one."

"Another what?" Angel asked.

"Daywalker", Drusilla revealed to him. "Didn't do much", Drusilla then tapped her head. "But it did do a lot here." She laughed insanely. "Don't worry, I will take care of your grandbaby after I do to your family what you did to mine."

"Stay away from them!" Angel snarled but the lid came down on him.

Cordelia was angry. "Of course, why would the Powers let me enjoy my life when it has finally come together?" Skip looked at her as Cordelia now confessed. "I'm in love! With Angel!"

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

Cordelia asked. "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?"

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

Cordelia then asked. "Can you at least tell Angel for me?"

Skip shook his head. "Sorry. Not allowed."

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

Skip asked. "Cordelia."

Cordelia 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."

Skip assured her. "You're doing the right thing."

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

Skip replied. "Just say yes."

Cordelia said. "I already have."

Golden sparkles appeared around Cordelia as she started to float up in a corridor of white light.

Mephisto faced everyone as Strange said. "You're not taking him anywhere."

"Wasn't going to, just came here to talk", Mephisto said. "I will admit, I did not see this coming."

"Must be mad, all those grand plans you had for him, wasted", Matt quipped.

"What are you talking about?" Mephisto asked him.

He replied. "Abaddon, not the Destroyer you always thought he would be."

"You thought I would wait three hundred years only for my spawn to become a failure? No, that won't happen, it will NEVER happen! Abaddon will embrace what he is, death and destruction personified, and when that day comes, I promise you will eat your own words, Murdock, as the Devil destroys everything you hold dear!" As is his human guise began to lose it's shape, Mephisto swore, "When you call on my power, and I know you will, Abaddon will finally complete his purpose!"

And in a burst of hellfire, the Lord of Lies was gone.

But Matt stood firm. "No, he won't."

"How can you be sure after all that?" Maggie asked.

"Because I have faith", Matt said, as he and Faith smiled at each other and held hands.

"At least the shit is gone for now", Stick muttered.

"Yeah", Strange nodded, neither of them realizing that his presence had allowed another power to start its dark plan.

Gunn walked down the steps to the lobby, cell phone in hand as Fred asked. "Angel didn't come back, did he?"

Gunn just looked at her. "No."

Fred was surprised. "He's gone too? Did you ask Lorne if... No, because Lorne doesn't live here anymore. Not used to that yet. - but - we should probably get a hold of Cordelia."

She then cooed at baby Connor as Gunn smiled at him too, then informed her. "Yeah, I've been trying. No one's answering."

Fred told him. "I don't like the sound of that."

They were standing all alone in the lobby with baby Connor as Fred asked. "Where did everybody go?"

"I assure you they will come back", Groo said as he arrived, but he didn't seem convinced either.

Skip watched Cordelia rise up inside the cone of light.

The metal casket drifted deeper into the ocean. Angel's face was seen through the window as the casket descended.

Cordelia was smiling as she disappeared above with a small flash of light.

The top of the casket disappeared into darkness, then a soft swoosh was heard.

The end of this fic finally, started happy, ended sad.

Wesley/Lilah still happened so I added a little reference to it.

Also, anyone noticed that Matt only wore his suit 4 times in this fic- Chapter 1, 'Billy', 'Dad' and when Riley returned.

So, explanations now- Drusilla here was abducted and experimented on by Damaskinos from 'Blade II' so that he could produce a Daywalker, and it increased her hypnotic powers to the point weak-willed people will follow her command (and Holtz's people are pretty weak-willed considering how easily they followed him), so those like Gunn or Matt won't be susceptible to her hypnosis.

Then, Drusilla also got dusted by Thanos and came back, and heard of Connor, and these experiences have made her crazier than before, so she replaces teenage Connor in sending Angel down into the ocean, and shall be an antagonist at the start of my Angel Season 4 fic, only the start.

Strange and Stick were supposed to keep an eye on Cordelia, but Skip got an opportunity when both of them got distracted by Mephisto's arrival, hence he ended up approaching and taking Cordelia while Strange and Stick helped Matt, Faith and Maggie with Mephisto, so Cordelia goes too.

And like that, Cordelia ascends and Angel descends, poor them both, but at least I gave them some time before it happened, unlike canon.

So I will have 2 stories after this, one for Buffy Season 7, and one for Angel Season 4, and both will be posted and updated simultaneously, and overlap quite a bit, and I will be improving Angel Season 4.

For one, Cordelia's character is not going to be ruined, plus Connor is still a baby so not a chance of THAT happening!

Angel Season 4 in my opinion had interesting concepts but horrible execution and of course Cordelia's character assassination.

But this story has now come to an end, and hope it was enjoyed by all.

Thanks a lot to Brainstorm Sorcerer for his help with this story.

And thank you to everyone who favorited, followed or reviewed this fic, or supported me in any way while I wrote it, it means a lot, as always.

I will write the sequels when I get an opportunity, and then we shall meet again.

Until next time.

Stay safe from the coronavirus ya all!