Disclaimer: I do not 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.

And once more, thanks a lot to Brainstorm Sorcerer for his help. And thanks to Bl4ckHunter for the Gorgon suggestion and another scene suggestion.

Now the BIG ONE is here!

Chapter 24- Let's go to work

"Then we're all agreed", Angel said as they lowered hands.

Spike quipped. "Yeah, we're all one big happy Manson family."

Gunn inquired. "We taking 'em all at once?"

"Can't. Circle of the Black Thorn is the most cunning, resourceful, and well connected group in this world. The real danger, is their latest recruit."

"What, you?" Spike asked sarcastically.

"A demon by the name of Blackheart." Matt immediately perked to attention. "He was created by-"

"Mephisto." Matt finished for him. They all look at him as the blind lawyer took off his shades and paced, as the Devil within talked to him. "Centuries ago, in a place called Christ's Crown, Mephisto came across a concentrated source of pure evil. He was so impressed that he shaped that energy into a "son" of his own. Mephisto taught Blackheart everything there is about evil, and he even went as far as to corrupt humans who were pure and good, but eventually he came in to conflict with Johnny Blaze, and the Ghost Rider destroyed him."

"How do you know all this?"

Matt tapped the side of his head. "Adam. He may not have been around as long, but since his awakening, he's been imbued with the knowledge of all things Hell related. It's a big step up from when he was limited to two word sentences." Matt said with a bit of pride before turning serious again. "But like if he was destroyed, how is he part of the Circle?"

"Because he wasn't truly destroyed." Angel revealed. "Blackheart was regenerating, but the Senior Partners decided to secure a valuable asset. They helped quicken the pace, gave him everything he wanted as he regained his power, even his own dimension, which funnily enough, belonged to the Beastmaster, before Adam turned it to Hell."

"So that's what Hamilton meant."

"Since then, Blackheart has been the most powerful ally the Senior Partners have ever had. A son of Mephisto, with that power, they can do almost anything. But from what I learned, the guy isn't exactly looking for a family reunion with dear old dad."

Angel then continued his speech. "Together, they'd vaporize us, but separated, they're just Demons."

Wesley had retrieved his shotgun, slinging it over his shoulder and walked toward Angel. "When do we make our move?"

Angel handed the pistol back to Wesley. "Soon. In the meantime, we have to keep up the infighting. The circle needs to believe we're coming apart at the seams."

Gunn asked. "What about Illyria?"

Angel crossed his arms. "What about her?"

"Move like this, wouldn't hate having Blue Thunder in our corner."

"Well, Fred is on our side, so Illyria will be too", Faith shrugged.

Lorne added. "Besides, she was babysitting Cordelia—"

"She was with Cordy?" Angel asked in alarm.

Spike assured. "Relax. The two of them were getting on well enough."

"Think he has a different concern", Stick realized.

"What is it, Angel?" Groo asked.

"You have to get over there now."

Wesley asked. "Why?"

"Cordy's dead."

Spike angrily walked up to Angel. "And how do you know that, Kreskin?"

"Because I killed it."

"What?"

Matt pulled Spike back. "I'll explain everything once we get back."

Angel asked Matt. "You remember when we first met?"

Matt smirked. "You mean when I first kicked your ass?"

"That's a matter of opinion."

"Then maybe I should bring up the hotel."

"Oh now I don't feel so bad about this."

Matt leapt and kneed Angel's chest, staggering him back. Angel threw a kick which Matt dodged and backed to avoid a sweep before trying to kick and knee Angel who got up and blocked both.

Angel tried to punch as Matt blocked and spun him to the other side but Angel freed himself. Matt punched as Angel blocked and tried to spin kick which Matt ducked to avoid, then flipping in the air, kicked Angel's head with both feet.

The two hit and parried each other's blows as Matt blocked an elbow from Angel but got a kick on the chest. Matt kicked back in return just as Hamilton walked in, seeing the fight.

"Sorry. Didn't know you were... in conference."

"I was just making a closing statement", all filed out the door, "unless somebody didn't hear me."

Angel then said. "Make sure Illyria doesn't get twitchy." He closed the door behind the others.

Hamilton then said. "Well, you've got yourself a problem."

"Nothing you have to worry about."

"Oh, not me. Your new friends. The Black Thorn. They're very concerned."

"Tell them to send me a memo. I'm busy trying to run a business", Angel sat at his desk.

"You can tell them yourself. They want to see you right now", Hamilton grinned, turning to the door. "No rest for the wicked."

Matt, Faith, Spike, Stick, Gunn, Lorne, Groo and Wesley came back to Spike's apartment to find it trashed.

Fred was lying on the bed, and tending to her was- CORDELIA!

But her hair were different, she'd the same hairstyle she'd gotten around the Shroud of Rahmon incident.

Connor was asleep nearby in a baby carrier.

"Cordelia?" Wesley asked in surprise. "You-"

"Yes, its me in all my glory", Cordelia said, looking at all of them with a smile and wink.

"The Cordelia who came to us was a reprogrammed cyborg", Matt revealed as all put the pieces put together.

"When that one disguised as my father came, right?" Wesley asked and got a nod.

"Yes, the firm took the cyborgs, and Cordelia's department modified one of those to look and act like her, and do what it was programmed to do, the glamor was very strong too, it would go off about 2 days after "death"", Matt explained to them. "And we replaced the real Cordelia with the cyborg after Angel gave up the baby."

All nodded, absorbing the explanation as Faith said. "Smart plan, real smart."

Cordelia then added, smirking. "And with me, the fabulous Cordelia Chase finally biting the dust, no way the Circle of lame names couldn't take Angel in after killing the love of his life."

"How is Fred?" Wesley then inquired.

"Yeah, she looks beaten up", Stick noted grimly.

"Who did this to you?" Spike asked as they filed around her.

"It was Hamilton", Fred groaned weakly as they looked at her. "And I've been better, but Illyria hasn't ever been beaten like that before."

"Yes, she must be angry", Groo agreed.

Lorne said. "You lot really scared me, you two", he looked between Matt and Cordelia, "and our fearless leader, you played us all, complicatedly!"

"Well, I think I get why they had to do it though", Faith said, understanding in her eyes.

"The reactions had to be believable", Cordelia agreed with a nod. "Plus, it must have been nice for Matt to put those acting chops of his to the test."

"I was already pretty decent before, had plenty of practice being blind, but Angel taught some things as I was teaching him some moves." Spike growled at the thought of Angel teaching HIS "best mate", and getting lessons in return.

"Singing, acting, does his own stunts, all in one handsome package, Hollywood does not deserve you." Lorne said and the atmosphere lightened up a bit.

In the secret meeting chamber of the Circle of the Black Thorn, the members gathered to begin a meeting.

Other than Angel and Gorgon, all chanted together.

"Of the world's woe, now convene. All is bound by the circle and its thorns. Invisible, inviolate, we, the seeds of the storm, at the center of the world's woe, now convene."

Sebassis was drinking a blue liquid from a champagne flute as he told Angel. "The circle does not abide secrets."

"Which is interesting for a secret society", Angel quipped.

"Remember your place, Vampire", Sebasssis clapped.

"My place is in the circle."

Sebassis told him. "This morning's insurrection did not go unnoticed."

"You mean my people."

"They tried to kill you. An embarrassing affront, to say the least."

Vail added. "And the stepping stone to disaster. You have ascended, Angel. You should not be burdened with this kind of—" he gasped, checking his tubes. "Aah!" He noticed the scrawny, pale slave wearing a blindfold and tripping over Vail's tubes. "Sebassis! Your manservant has become tangled in my bodily fluids again!"

Angel leaned forward and pushed the slave away from Vail.

"Eeeep!"

Angel asked. "My people are the problem?"

Sebassis nodded. "Some of them, yes."

"Some? Who missed the cut?"

Vail revealed. "We're interested in Mr. Wyndam-Price. He seems intriguingly interested in all this, and so does Miss Morgan."

Brucker added. "Mr. Gunn, on the other hand, does not, which is a pity. He had so much potential."

"He is not, however, our greatest concern."

Angel quipped. "If the next words out of your mouth are "Kill Spike", we just might have to kiss." He smirked.

Sebassis said. "Spike is not the threat." Sebassis revealed which threat he spoke of. "The spawn of Mephisto, Abaddon. A creature such as that can annihilate us all."

"If you didn't have Mephisto's other son in your corner." Angel retorted.

"Blackheart is unpredictable. However, thanks to the limiter of a human host, there was hope that a civilized agreement could have been established with Mr. Murdock."

"If the man's actions in the past were anything to go by, it was a foolish endeavor." Gorgon spoke up for the first time.

"Be that as it may, we have another concern, you." Sebassis signaled Izzy. "You've proven your loyalty to the circle. Regrettably, there's something stronger than loyalty... hope."

Izzy produced a cylindrical document holder, pulling a document out of it, and unrolled it on the table in front of Angel.

Angel knew what it was. "This is the Shanshu Prophecy."

Sebassis confirmed. "The original."

Brucker spoke its important contents. "The Vampire with a soul will play a pivotal role in the apocalypse."

Vail finished. "And as a reward, will become human."

Sebassis then spoke of his concerns. "A paranoid person might think you're trying to manipulate us in an attempt to fulfill this prophecy."

"I have no desire to become human", Angel said before adding. "My only real reason to do so is dead. You should know, you watched me kill her."

"Oh, good. Then you won't mind signing that pesky future away. Through that document, the prophecy can be undone. Your signature there will remove any opportunity that you will ever earn your once-precious humanity. Will you sign it?"

"Of course." Izzy took out a pen; Angel leaned forward, beginning to sign it.

Izzy grabbed the pen from Angel, stabbing him in the left hand with it as he gasped.

"It's gotta be signed in blood."

Angel grunted as he pulled the pen out of the back of his hand. He signed his name on the top of the document with his right hand.

Later, Angel was standing in his office alone, staring out the window, when Harmony walked in.

"Um...Angel? Just wondering where everybody is."

Angel asked. "You ever miss it? You were turned, what... 5 years ago?"

Harmony realized what he spoke of. "Oh, that. Yeah. Graduation night. I don't know. It's weird. Part of me always knew life would end after high school." Now it had happened literally. "I was very popular, you know. The whole "golden years" thing."

Angel sighed sadly. "I don't remember what it was like... being human. It was too long ago."

Harmony shrugged. "Not so great. Zits. Dandruff. Mortality. Although I do remember... my heart." She smiled. "And the way it would thump when I kissed a really hot boy for the first time." She nodded. "That was cool." Then she fondly added. "And now, even though I know it's not really possible, it feels like my heart beats just to skip one when I'm with Groo."

Angel turned around and nodded as Harmony asked. "Angel? Something's going down, isn't it? Tell me, what I can do to assist."

Harmony, to Angel, was proof one could be better without a soul too. She was still self-centered and annoying, but she had genuine feelings for Groo, and she was far from an evil person.

So Angel took a leap of faith.

"Do what you think is right."

Harmony looked down and started thinking as Angel said. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have to do something I really don't want to."

"You gotta be joking. Why on God's green and verdant Earth would I trust you, huh? Or you, me?" Lindsey asked Angel.

They were in the conference room where Angel paced and Lindsey sat at the table.

"'Cause it's not about us, Lindsey. It's about them. The evil stuff. The ones we've been fighting against forever."

Lindsey said. "You can't beat 'em."

Angel pointed out. "Maybe they're not there to be beat. Maybe they're there to be fought. Maybe fighting them is what makes human beings so remarkably strong."

Lindsey stood. "You're not talking about the kind of strength human beings have." He sat on the table's edge. "This is not about coveting your neighbor's ass, your buddy's job, the last Mallomar in the box. You're talking about fighting flesh and something that passes for blood demons with enormous power, and they will mow you down."

"They always wanted this world, and they'll never get it."

"You sure about that?"

Angel pointed out. "Give me the hell on Earth speech, Lindsey. I know how bad things are, how much sway the demons hold. I happen to be the greatest mass murderer you've ever met."

Lindsey shrugged. "Never given you props for that, have I?"

"There's always going to be power, and there's always going to be corruption."

"So again I ask you—"

Angel gave his offer. "'Cause it's not what I'm expected to do. 'Cause you're good in a fight. And let's say we come up rolling 7s and this does go our way. We tear up this firm, someone's going to have to step in. I know that's what you want. Now, I'm a lot more comfortable with the thought of you in that position than anyone else, even Lilah."

Lindsey realized what he meant

"The Devil you know."

"That'd be you. Well, I know one more, but for the job, its you."

Lindsey then asked. "And what if you roll snake eyes?"

Angel shrugged. "You'll talk your way out of it. You'll tell them I forced you to help me. Tell them I made my scary face."

Lindsey revealed. "Believe it or not, I was actually talking about you. You don't care about being squashed like a bug?"

Angel realized. "You haven't heard a word I've said. For, like, years back." He remembered the time he'd pretended to doze off when Lindsey had come to him over the blind kids, and Lindsey had gotten payback for it now.

"Well, you get a little speechy, all right? And I breeze out. I got the Cliff Notes—honor and humanity. Absolute good. I heard it." Lindsey stood up and walked behind Angel. "So here's the plot twist—I'm in", Lindsey finally said.

Angel was still surprised. "Why?"

"Everybody goes on about your soul. Vampire with a soul. Nobody ever mentions the fact that you're really a Vampire with big brass testes." Lindsey smirked and continued. "This is gonna be a circus. I mean, win or lose, you're about to pick the nastiest fight since Magus tried to shape the Universe in his image. And that you don't do without me. If you want me, I'm on your team", Lindsey finally accepted.

"I want you, Lindsey", there was a beat as Angel turned around. "I'm thinking about rephrasing that."

"Yeah, I think I'd be more comfortable if you did." Lindsey turned away.

Lilah sat across from Hamilton in her office.

"I joined only to help my mother, then I lost my moral compass, and then I tried to make sure I'm the best damn lawyer in this whole firm! Then Team Angel came in, bringing in a whole new set of problems, the Partners cared more about Angel than me, then there was my temporary suspension, and when I got on top, the former Power That Bitch destroyed the place with her poor man's Hulk, and finally, when its remade, Angel and his team take over."

Lilah sounded quite bitter and salty as Hamilton said. "You seem to have been screwed over quite a lot, Miss Morgan."

Lilah nodded. "Despite all I have done for this firm, not once have I received my proper dues until I took it for myself, that has to change."

"I assure you it will", Hamilton said.

"In that case", Lilah gave her trademark evil smirk. "Let's talk business."

Fred was resting now, as Cordelia's powers had healed her quicker with Matt, Faith, Cordelia Spike, Wesley, Lorne, Stick, Gunn and Groo standing together, Cordelia holding baby Connor.

"What shall we do if Hamilton makes another housecall?" Spike then asked.

"Well, this time you have me", Matt pointed out.

"Yeah, and with a real former PTB and Slayer added, he can't do much", Cordelia shrugged.

Angel walked in, hearing the bits as he looked at Cordelia, and they walked to each other, sharing a loving kiss.

"Good to see the real you again", Angel smiled.

"Yeah", Cordelia nodded before holding up Connor. "Look who's here."

"Hey little guy", Angel kissed Connor's forehead.

"Dada."

"Yes, I'm here", Angel said, taking him and cooing over him, rocking Connor till he slept as Angel looked at the sleeping Fred and asked. "Hamilton did this?"

"You didn't know?" Lorne asked.

"He brought the fake Cordy too", Angel noted.

"To the Circle….so you'd kill her to prove you'd gone over to the Circle", Wesley realized.

"And he did that beautifully", Cordelia shrugged.

"But now, we want to know if they need the bodies of the rest of us as proof", Gunn inquired.

"Except me", Stick raised his hand.

"Except Stick", Faith said. "And you can't make cyborg duplicates of the rest of us in time."

"Yeah, so they could pick us off one by one, you know?" Spike asked.

"How should we protect ourselves from the Circle?" Groo inquired.

"You don't", Angel said, then revealed. "We're killing them all tonight."

As they all absorbed what Angel had said, he then gave them another order.

"I want you all to do something for me, for yourselves. Take the day off."

Spike asked. "What?"

"That sounds like shit", Stick agreed.

Gunn pointed out. "Angel, if we're planning to assassinate the power elite of the apocalypse tonight, shouldn't we be cowboying up?"

Angel urged them. "We'll be ready, but today, I want you guys to go out. Live. Do whatever you want." He looked between Cordelia and Connor as Cordelia gave him a soft look. "Live the day like it's your last... 'cause it probably is."

A microphone stood on stage waiting for a performer to take his place in front of it.

Lorne stepped up to the microphone holding a drink, sat on the stool and started singing. "If I ruled the world, Every day would be the first day of spring, Every heart would have a new song to sing, And we'd sing of the joy every morning would bring..."

Outside the East Hills Teen Center, Anne Steele coordinated packing a truck with boxes and furniture with the help of a couple young men, then saw Gunn arriving. "Charles."

"Annie", they hugged. "How you doing?"

"Pretty good, I guess. We got a bunch of furniture donated. Gotta move this stuff to the new shelter", Anne told him.

"Still fighting the good fight, huh?" Gunn asked.

Anne replied. "That's the drill. How are things uptown?"

"More fight, less good", Gunn grabbed a box. "Seen Rondell or the guys? I hit some of the old spots. Didn't see anyone."

Anne grabbed a chair. "They should be around. They said they'd help me haul this stuff. You know how it is, though. Things come up."

Gunn and Anne handed the box and chair to the men on the truck. "Yeah. You got much Vamp trouble these days?"

Anne chuckled. "Whenever Daredevil is in town, they tend to hide in their holes. We're pretty safe. It gives me time to concentrate on the little things. Crack, runaways, abuse victims, psychotics. The old gang", she and Gunn carried a box each.

"Yeah, I remember."

"It's not so bad. We've had some really decent donations, and it's helping", they handed off the boxes. "We actually have a part-time paid psychiatric staff."

Gunn got a bit philosophical. "What if I told you it doesn't help? What would you do if you found out that none of it matters? That it's all controlled by forces more powerful and uncaring than we can conceive, and they will never let it get better down here. What would you do?"

"I'd get this truck packed before the new stuff gets here", Gunn nodded. "Wanna give me a hand?"

"I do." They each took one end of a couch.

"1, 2, 3!"

They each lifted their end of the couch and brought it to the truck.

Angel and Cordelia sat together in a little hotel, sharing a loving kiss.

"You're…..beautiful", Angel told her as they parted.

"And? Anything new?"

Both chuckled before Angel told her sincerely. "You're the most beautiful woman I've ever laid my eyes upon."

"Awww", Cordelia smiled and they kissed again. "You're not so bad yourself."

Then they heard Connor fussing nearby as Angel lifted and rocked him, calming him down, and sat down on the bed, putting Connor between them.

Cordelia handed him a rattle as he cheered and played with it. "Thank you, mama."

"Awww, full sentences too now", Cordelia smiled and kissed his head as he held out his hand to touch her face.

Angel tickled Connor from behind as he snickered. "Dada."

"You are the cutest little thing ever", Angel said as he and Cordelia played with Connor, and Angel then lifted him up, making Connor "fly" as he cheered and Cordelia clapped.

Spike was talking on phone, singing poetry to the person on the other side.

"My soul is wrapped in harsh repose, midnight descends in raven-colored clothes, but soft...behold! A sunlight beam cutting a swath of glimmering gleam. My heart expands, 'tis grown a bulge in it, inspired by your beauty... effulgent."

"Wow!" Buffy said from the other end, impressed. "That was…that was really deep."

"Thank you", Spike said with a smile. "This one was for you."

"Awww, that means so much. I love you, Spike."

"I love you too, Buffy."

Fred was now in her apartment, having a laptop given to her by Fred, and was video chatting with Steve.

"So yeah, that's what happened over here", Fred finished telling as Steve nodded.

"Sorry to hear that", Steve said in sympathy as Fred smiled. "That would have been hard."

"Oh very much, but at the end, I was saved", Fred sighed in relief.

"Thank God."

"Yeah, I know", Fred nodded. "But now, she and I have worked it out."

"I'd love to meet her too", Steve said.

"We'll see how that goes", Fred said. "Besides, she does love cartoons- Tom and Jerry is her favorite."

Both of them laughed at that when Fred heard Natasha saying in a funny tone from the background. "Who is our Captain talking to? Huh?"

"Looks like a really beautiful woman", Sam added.

"Ah! The punk finally got a girlfriend", Bucky finished for them as all three laughed while Steve groaned.

"You see what I'm dealing with?" Steve asked.

"I know how you feel, trust me", Fred sympathized. "Anyway, my mom and dad wanted you to come to Thanksgiving, Christmas and Labor Day as well."

"Well…." Steve trailed off, both he and Fred blushing a little. "I'll make it."

"Thanks", Fred cheered. "Anyway, now-"

With that, Steve and Fred had a nice and easy chat.

Wesley was in his apartment when there was a knock, and he opened the door to reveal Lilah.

She had a soft look as she wrapped her arms around him, and Wesley hugged her back while closing the door.

"Where were you?" Wesley asked Lilah.

"I did my part", Lilah simply told him. "And it was something Angel told me to do."

"You really listened to him?"

"Yeah, it was important", Lilah confessed, putting her purse down. "It may look like I regressed, but I was in on it, I've been evil too, so Angel needed my expertise."

"You played it a little too well", Wesley commented.

"That's why they call it acting", Lilah shrugged as she held Wesley's face. "If things go wrong, then I don't want you to die and leave things unspoken." She kissed Wesley as he kissed her back and they parted. "I love you, Wesley."

"I love you too, Lilah."

They kissed again as Lilah ripped off the buttons of Wesley's shirt and he pulled her skirt down as their kiss got hungrier and Wesley lifted Lilah up, carrying her to the bed.

Harmony and Groo were together, drinking coconut juice together with two straws, and soon finished it.

"This was quite lovely", Groo said.

"Yeah, fun couple stuff", Harmony quipped as they shared a kiss. "Figure we'd do it before tomorrow."

"Yes, it will be quite the battle, and we shall see each other only after it is done", Groo confirmed as he and Harmony held hands.

"I have an idea on how to help the team after you all come out of it alive, because I know you will", Harmony said confidently. "And I want to be ready to surprise you all with a great "We Survived the Apocalypse! Again!" party."

"That sounds good", Groo said.

"Because I'm behind it", Harmony shrugged as both of them kissed again.

Harmony had finally found a nice guy who treated her right, and Groo had finally found his princess.

Stick appeared at Elektra's grave, looking at the tombstone and her name on it sadly.

"I made many mistakes in my life. You should know, you've pointed out plenty of them. Funny thing is though, in death, I only now begin to appreciate everything that I had. I don't have a war to fight, don't have to look over my shoulder anymore. Being dead has freed me to be a person even I didn't know I was capable of being. I wish you and I could have tried again, so I could finally be the mentor you deserved. Hopefully now, after everything you went through, you have found some peace. Things go way south for me, well, you won't be seeing me, that's for damn sure, got a lot of Demons, human and not, who want to drag me to Hell, one of them that is, but it's okay, getting this chance to truly do good and save the world, it'll make all the pain and suffering worth it, now that I know that my work is done. I hope you would be proud of me, Ellie, because despite everything, I am so damn proud of you."

Fred had finished video chatting with Steve and was sleeping now as she ended up in another mental conversation with Illyria.

"So, I really hope you're with us in the fight", Fred told Illyria.

"I will fight. I've been broken and humiliated. I will return in kind every blow, every sting. I will shred my adversaries. Pull their eyes out just enough to turn them towards their mewing, mutilated faces."

"You're a very inspirational person. Have I mentioned that?" Fred joked.

"You are what I don't understand."

"And that would be different because?"

"You should hate me, yet you do not."

"Like I said, you are as much a victim as I am", Fred told Illyria sincerely. "The ones I hate are Knox and Sparrow, who got theirs. I'm sorry you're in this world you don't know much about."

Illyria considered, then gave a nod of acknowledgement as Fred added. "But I'm glad you're with me."

She held out her hand and Illyria tilted her head before shaking it.

"So am I."

Matt and Faith were on a beach, sitting down as the she leaned back into her husband's chest as she watched the sunset, the two holding each other.

They'd had a video chat with Maggie, Foggy, Karen and Marcy before, and Faith had gotten to see Bear the puppy again, demanding he doesn't grow up too much till she returns, and Bear had barked in agreement.

Now the two were here.

"I'd never thought I'd have this."

"Have what?"

"Something to live for. Someone I couldn't stand to live without. A man whose arms I want to hold me and never let go. Now I have it. Years ago, I would have gone on a rager, drinking, dancing, and screwing with anything and anyone I can find, but now...this is all I want. You are all I want." She leaned her head over her shoulder to kiss Matt.

Their love, their passion for each other expressed through a tender embrace of their lips, and when they parted, they nuzzle their faces with each other as Matt told her. "A moment with you, is a lifetime of happiness for me. There is nothing I would change about my life if it meant I can spend the rest of it with you."

Slow version of 'Every time we touch' plays

The sun changed color too as they kissed again.

Soon, they were in a hotel room, Faith underneath Matt, their clothes scattered about, as he pulled in and out, Faith grasping his head, Matt gently rubbing her breasts, both of them moaning in pleasure as soon they reached their points of bliss, sending the other into overdrive.

Coming down to Earth from the pleasure, Matt and Faith shared a loving and passionate kiss, holding hands, and while they couldn't exactly look into each other's eyes, they still exchanged a loving 'look' full of passion and care, then they decided to go a few more rounds.

Lindsey and Eve were making out on a couch.

Eve asked. "What are you thinking about?"

"Angel." Lindsey stared away.

"You simply couldn't have said a worse thing than that."

Eve sat up. "Well, you know what I mean."

Lindsey agreed. "I do. It's nice to know you're one of the few things in my life he didn't get his mitts on, you know?"

"I don't believe Angel trusts you."

Lindsey explained. "It ain't about that, love. It's about what he needs, and right now, he needs every hand he can get. As long as I'm fighting on his side, he'll play me fair. When the smoke clears, then we'll see where we stand."

Eve asked. "You sure you can handle the Sahrvins?"

Lindsey shrugged. "How tough can they be?"

He wrapped his arms around her. "If this thing does go down, I want you to stay the hell away from it. I'm not gonna let anything happen to you. Damn, girl, you gave up immortality for me. It's like something out of a fairy tale", Lindsey said in admiration.

"We don't live in a fairy tale."

Lindsey kissed Eve.

The gang had reassembled in Spike's apartment.

Connor was asleep in his baby carrier.

Matt, Faith, Wesley, Spike, Gunn and Groo were sitting down while Angel paced the floor, Cordelia behind him as Lilah and Stick stood in a corner, Fred standing behind Wesley.

Matt was in his Daredevil suit, sans the helmet.

Lorne was sitting on the edge of a table off to the side.

"This may come out a little pretentious, but... one of you will betray me."

Spike raised his hands eagerly.

"Wes. "

"Oh." Spike put his hand down, then suddenly hopeful asked. "Can I deny you 3 times?"

"Vail is the sorcerer of the bunch. You know that game. You've seen his place."

Vail walked into the dining room in his mansion, dragging his rack of IV drips with him.

"He believes you'd make a play for my spot due to your knowledge of so many things."

Wesley said. "That's not very flattering."

"It'll get you in the door. Faith..." Angel turned to Faith who looked at him. "Go with Wes for backup, and while Wes is taking on Vail, take out everyone else there cleanly."

"Sounds like a job", Faith smirked as she cracked her neck. "Slayer and Watcher, reunited again."

"Fred…."

Four people walked out of a restaurant together, heading for a car parked along the street.

"Izzerial the Devil and 3 other members of the circle dine together almost every night."

"So Illyria must take them out", Fred realized and Angel nodded as Fred turned into Illyria.

She said. "I'll make trophies of their spines."

"Good to have you on the team. Gunn, Groo."

"Yo."

"What is your command?"

"Gunn, your friend Senator Brucker has a campaign office in west L.A."

The Senator was talking on the phone in front of a large banner for her campaign.

"You already know she's pure hellspawn, and she tends to surround herself with Vampires."

"I was hoping it'd be Vamps. I haven't dusted nearly enough this year", Gunn turned to Spike. "No offense."

"That's all right."

"The two of us can defeat them all together", Groo said as he and Gunn grasped hands.

"Spike."

"Right", Spike stood. "First off, I'm saying this due to what Matt did back at the Sunnydale crater- I'm not wearing any amulets. No bracelets, broaches, beads, pendants, pins, or rings."

"Fine. All you need is a rattle."

Spike realized. "Ah, the baby."

"And a legion of the Fell Brethren."

Weeks ago

The Fell Brethren were waiting in the lobby outside Angel's office before signing the contract to adopt the baby.

Now

"I want the kid returned to his mother and the foster family dismembered."

Spike assured. "Done and done."

"Cordy", Angel looked at Cordy, then Stick. "Stick."

"Right, finally something for me", Stick said as he stretched his hands.

"What should we do?" Cordelia asked.

"Gorgon's got a place in the hills, he can also turn you to stone with one look."

Stick scoffed. "Shishido, should have known we was one of these cocksuckers."

"You know him?"

"Defected from the Hand, a Mutant genius or something, he was their Black Sky once upon a time, before he decided that he was too good for them. Never gave the Chaste any trouble afterwards so we left them be, but now, I'm looking forward to tying up loose ends."

"Well then, have at it."

"And I'll be there too", Cordelia said as she and Stick exchanged a smirk.

Angel noted. "Archduke Sebassis has over 40,000 demons at his command."

Archduke Sebassis was taking a bubble bath. His slave prepared a glass of Sebassis's favorite blue beverage by uncorking his vein and allowing his blood to fill the glass.

"Almost all other members of the council fear him. He's the key player, so he's mine."

Angel shared a knowing look with Lilah as she winked at him and he winked back, which the others noted and realized something funny was up there.

"Lilah", Lilah turned to Angel.

"Well, I'm not exactly a fighter."

"I know, I just need you to do that thing, then back up Lindsey", Angel revealed as Lilah gave him a look. "That should be fun for you."

Wesley commented. "I still can't believe you brought him in."

Angel told him. "He's part of this. It'll be just as dangerous for him as it will be for everyone else on our team."

"Nah, hoping its more dangerous for him", Lilah quipped as the rest chuckled. "Besides, I'll just keep my distance and fire some shots."

"Lorne..."

"Uh, I'm not a fighter, Angelwings. I never had the stomach for it. Looks like I'm your weak link", Lorne sighed.

Angel revealed. "You have the most important job here. I need you to take care of my son. Get him out of the city."

"We're counting on you", Cordelia added.

"Won't disappoint one bit", Lorne assured there.

Then Angel turned to Matt. "The worst for last. Are you and Adam ready?"

Matt's eyes glowed red as he nodded. "Always."

"Blackheart is the most powerful asset the Senior Partners have, they lose him, they lose their ace."

"He's as good as gone."

"So I guess we're not going back to the office after this", Gunn said.

Angel shook his head. "The alley just north of the Hyperion. Everyone who makes it meets there. If we do any damage at all, the Senior Partners are gonna rain hell on us. So be ready."

Lorne lifted up Connor in his carriage and said. "Say bye to mama and dada for now."

He held Connor out to Angel and Cordelia who cooed over him and kissed his forehead.

"We're gonna part for a while, Connor", Angel said, stroking Connor's face as he looked at them with his big, innocent, baby blue eyes. "But we'll meet again."

"Till then, stay with Uncle Lorne, he'll take care of you", Cordelia added. "But remember, mama loves you."

"And dada loves you too", Angel said as he and Cordelia kissed Connor's forehead and Lorne started carrying him away.

Connor waved cutely. "Bye dada. Bye mama."

"Bye", both waved back together.

"I'll keep him safe", Lorne assured as he walked out of the door with baby Connor.

Wesley grabbed his coat and walked toward the door with Matt, Faith, Lilah, Gunn, Groo and Illyria.

"The day went by fast, huh?" Gunn commented.

"Try not to die. You are not unpleasant to my eyes". Illyria said to Gunn.

"Uh, thanks. You... try not to die, too", he said awkwardly to her and shook hands with Wesley.

He then shook hands with Matt as well and shared a hug with Faith, and a nod with Lilah.

"We shall fight this battle to the very end", Groo said, shaking hands with all of them as well.

"Later, then." Gunn said.

Then he and Groo walked out.

Faith walked to Angel and shared a loving hug with him as they kissed each other's cheeks.

"Stay safe."

"You too."

Faith shared a hug with Cordelia too, and one with Spike, then walked to Matt, the two sharing a loving kiss.

"I love you, Faith."

"I love you, Matt."

Faith walked to the door as Wesley shared a kiss with Lilah.

"Be careful."

"I should be telling you."

They shared another kiss before Lilah walked to Angel and held out her hand.

After a moment, Angel shook it.

"Please doing business with you….friend", Lilah said.

"Same here…friend", Angel smiled.

Lilah shook hands with Cordelia too, then walked out and Wesley looked at Angel for a long moment before he walked out. Illyria followed.

"Well Matty, this is it, the big fight", Stick said, tapping Matt's shoulder.

"I know", Matt said, then to Stick's surprise, gave him a hug. "I care about you, Stick."

"Same here, Matty", Stick said. "Same here."

He looked at Cordelia. "Take your time princess."

Stick disappeared as Matt shared a firm nod with Angel, a smile with Cordelia, and a handshake hug with Spike, then finally walked out, putting his helmet on.

"So, this is it." Cordelia said to Angel.

"Everything since Doyle found me has led to this moment."

"Lets not waste it."

Cordelia then looked Angel in the eye, and they kissed.

Cordelia then walked out, Stick reappearing next to her as they walked away together.

Spike and Angel were the only ones left in the apartment now.

Spike walked up to Angel. "What do you think all this means for that Shanshu bugaboo? If we make it through this, does one of us get to be a real boy?"

Angel crossed his arms. "Who you kidding? We're not gonna make it through."

Spike commented. "Well, long as it's not you."

Lilah was on her way when she took out her phone and made a call.

"Miss Morgan?" Hamilton called out from the other side.

"Mr. Hamilton", Lilah said. "About Angel's plan, he wants to kill Archduke Sebassis-"

Vail's mansion

Cyvus Vail was eating a bowl of soup (that resembled chopped up internal organs in a broth of blood) at one end of the long formal dinner table. Wesley was sitting at the opposite end of the table.

"I'm curious", Vail slurped a spoonful of soup. "Mmm. What makes you think I won't kill you where you sit?"

"Because you're smarter than the others." Vail wiped the corners of his mouth with his napkin. "Smart enough to have your doubts about Angel, and rightly so. He's...unpredictable, and worse, he has a conscience."

"Well, you make a very persuasive argument", Vail said.

"Wait. It gets better", Wesley told him. Hidden below the tabletop, Wesley formed a fireball in his hand.

A Demon guard of Vail was walking around in the lobby when Faith grabbed him from behind, muffling his screams with her hand as she dragged him away and stabbed his chest, killing him.

She pulled the knife out and dragged the body away behind a door, then leapt up, hanging on the ceiling as another guard came in to investigate, walking further.

Faith leapt down and just as he turned around, she decapitated him with her sword.

Lair of the Fell Brethren

Three hooded figures walked down the hallway. When the baby started crying nearby, one of the hooded men stopped to locate the baby. It was Spike.

Senator Brucker's Campaign Headquarters

The Senator was sitting at her desk, talking on the phone. Other workers in her office were keeping busy.

Brucker said into the phone. "I can't officially comment on that, but off the record, if Mr. Conley's recent confession is true, then he's a very sick man who needs professional help", she turned to face away from the door. "One of the goals of my next term in Washington is stronger federal guidelines."

Gunn and Groo walked in, unseen by the Senator, but noticed by others working in the office. One of the workers swung at Gunn, who ducked and punched back as Groo lifted another up and hurled him away.

Sahrvin Lair

The Sahrvin were scattered about the room. Some were smoking a hookah pipe and others were drinking and talking. Suddenly, the peaceful atmosphere of the room was disrupted by a loud bang. They turned to see a sword poking through the door.

A man pushed an impaled Sahrvin through the door, busting it down. It was Lindsey, with Lilah behind him, holding a gun.

LA Street

Izzy and three other people walked to their car parked on the side of the street. They all got in the car. Izzy put on his seatbelt, started the engine, and turned on the headlights. When he looked up, he saw Illyria standing in front of the car. She looked at them, cocking her head with curiosity.

Gorgon's castle

Cordelia and Stick snuck onto Gorgon's estate, styled after a Japanese house, but found it empty with no guards.

"What the hell?" Cordelia wondered aloud as they progressed further.

They then got to the garden where they found Gorgon kneeling, waiting for them.

"I knew you would come." He said before standing up, eyeing Cordelia and Stick as they stepped closer into the garden. "Theorizing that Angel truly was nothing but a double agent, I knew that his forces would attack tonight, and that he would send my old acquaintance to challenge me."

"Actually, I came myself, I'm impulsive like that." Stick quipped.

"And you brought backup, I'm insulted."

"Oh give it a second, buddy, it'll pass when you're dead." Cordelia cracked her knuckles.

"For the record, Shishido, I'm the back up." Then Stick faded into Cordelia, who closed her eyes and opened them, to show that her eyes had become clouded, protecting her from his gaze.

"How the mighty Chaste warrior has fallen."

Then the two began.

Hell Dimension

Adam appeared in the same Hell he had created when taking out Jasmine. He looked around at the volcanic and desolate wasteland, and heard screaming and cries for help and mercy.

He looked down into a crevasse to see people burning in the lava, reduced to nothing more than charred corpses that could still talk. Adam growled before spreading his wings and flying up, heading towards the most prominent source of power in the Dimension, which was inside a volcano.

The Devil soured over the crater, before diving downwards until his wings spread to slow his descent and he landed on his feet, creating cracks on the stone surface, before looking up to see, seated lazily on a throne crafted from the volcano, with lava coursing through the stone like veins on a person, was a being of entirely black, leathery skin, a prehensile tail resting over the arm of the throne, a mane composed of quills running from the back of its head, and a face holding two red eyes that peered through Mephisto's spawn, yet no mouth.

"Welcome, brother." The Demon spat the word like venom.

"You, are no brother of mine." Adam spat back.

"Hmm, we already agree on something. What progress." Blackheart mused before standing to its full height of seven feet. "Yet I doubt you've come to meet your dead older sibling."

"There is no point in games, Blackheart, you should know why I am here, unless the spawn of Mephisto is not so well informed with his dealings among the worms."

"YOU DARE!" Blackheart blurred in front of Adam, towering over him as he glared down at the younger Demon. "I am the true Prince of Hell! You are no better than a half-breed! Yet our father gave YOU the title of heir!"

"Spare me your jealousy, I have no need for it." Adam growled back as his body started to grow until it matched the dark demon's height.

"Why?! WHY DOES HE FAVOR YOU!"

"Maybe because I do not whine, and because I hate him. You seem to have enjoyed that." Adam mocked the other Hellspawn.

Whatever composure Blackheart held was broken as he roared while tackling the red demon through his throne room, across the sky above the rocky waste of the dimension.

Blackheart hammered punch after punch into Adam's face, until the younger Devil turned them and kicked Blackheart below into a lake of lava, the demon plummeting under the dense molten magma.

Adam landed at the edge, but then a beam of pure darkness pierced through the lava and struck Adam's chest, throwing the Demon back onto the ground before standing as a black shape came closer.

Wolfram and Hart

Angel stepped off the elevator into the lobby, where Harmony was taking some stuff.

"Harmony, where's Hamilton?" Angel asked.

Harmony stood. "Records room. He got a call that's keeping him busy."

"Good. I gotta stop buy the penthouse, but have my car ready", he walked toward his office.

Harmony smiled, writing something down in her notebook as she packed some books and a lot of money. "No problemo, boss."

Angel's penthouse

Angel stepped off the private elevator into his apartment. He made a beeline for a fancy wooden box on the table; he opened it and took out a knife with a curved blade. While examining the knife, Angel heard a door close behind him. Hamilton had just walked in.

"Going out?" Hamilton asked.

"Why? You wanna order in?" Angel asked back.

Hamilton walked slowly toward Angel. "I hear you already have plans. Gonna take that when you visit Sebassis? Why don't I think that's a gift?"

Angel tried to attack but Hamilton punched Angel immensely hard, then grabbed him, sending him through the penthouse windows, where Angel fell outside for a few stories before finally falling through the glass ceiling into the lobby.

Angel finally landed on the floor in front of the elevator. Harmony turned to see what had happened. Angel moaned as he tried to get to his feet.

"Oh, my God!" Harmony gasped.

"Hamilton", Angel groaned.

Harmony defensively backed away from Angel and said in a high-pitched tone. "I didn't betray you."

Angel pushed himself to his feet. "I know you didn't, Harm, don't be nervous."

"Oh! Right! I'm just doing something good, taking away any important books and money for all of us!" Harmony said happily.

"Good job", Angel assured her.

Hamilton was on his way down in the private elevator.

"Now go, out of the building", Angel said.

"Are you firing me?" Harmony asked.

"Among other things, yes, but everyone is fired, so don't feel bad", Angel said.

Harmony just asked. "Do you think I could get a recommendation?"

"Yeah, OK. You're getting one, which is more than I can say for the rest. It's already on the desk. Nice work, Harmony."

Harmony was excited. "You're the best." She went to the desk to get her things.

Hamilton walked out of Angel's office, slowly heading straight for Angel.

"Good luck", a fully packed Harmony said as she stood between them. "Um... may the best man win? Angel, that is."

She shrugged, then exited. She was smarter than she herself or anyone else thought, Angel noted.

Hamilton started at Angel. "So."

"Yeah", Angel punched Hamilton hard in the stomach, but didn't make a dent. He sighed. "Did that hurt at all?"

"Little bit", Hamilton grabbed Angel by the windpipe; Angel winced as he was lifted off the ground. "But it's all part of the job." He threw Angel across the room so hard that Angel shattered a support post, going right through it.

Hamilton picked Angel up off the floor; holding him by the lapels. "The Senior Partners have expended an awful lot of time and resources on you. Personally, I would have told them not to bother." He threw Angel across the lobby again, where he crashed into the company logo on the balcony.

He walked upstairs toward Angel. "You're gutter trash, and that's where you should have stayed, drinking and whoring your way through an unremarkable life. But the fates stepped in and made you a Vampire, with a soul, no less. A champion. A hero of the people. And yet, you still managed to fail everyone around you with your stupid schemes. They will die and it's time you followed." He grabbed Angel up out of the debris, looking into his face. "Did you really think you were gonna kill Archduke Sebassis?

"No...I think I already did."

Sebasis' mansion, a while ago

Sebasis was in his bubble bath. His servant had just prepared a glass of blue blood for him, and the Archduke sipped it. Sebassis noticed that it tasted funny, and he turned to look at his servant, but the servant had collapsed to the floor, bleeding from his mouth.

Earlier

During the meeting, Angel turned his ring right before pushing Sebassis's slave away from Vail. When Angel brought his hand away from the slave, a close-up of his hand showed that there was a tiny needle sticking out from the ring. That was what caused the slave to squeal when Angel pushed him away.

Sebassis started convulsing in the bathtub and dropped his glass.

Now

"I spiked his drink", Angel said. "Lilah never betrayed us. She was on our side the whole time. I told her to tell you about me going after Sebassis so you'd come after me as soon as you can, because I figured you were the one I needed to be alone with."

"Why? So I could kill you?" Hamilton asked.

"Well, I thought the fight would be going a little better", Angel said lamely.

"Oh." Hamilton threw Angel off the balcony. He landed on the floor of the lobby.

Same time, Lair of the Fell Brethren

The baby was cooing in his crib as Spike approached him, still disguised in the hooded robe of the Fell Brethren.

"Hello, Junior. The name's Spike", he picked up the baby. "And lucky for you, I'm on a strict diet." He then asked jokingly. "You mind posing for some selfies? The lady loves babies, figure this will get me in the good books."

When Spike turned to leave with the baby, he was faced with three of the Fell Brethren standing in the doorway.

"Place the holy vessel back in the bassinet."

Spike looked at the baby, who even seemed to shake his head "no", then looked back at the Fell.

"Right", Spike shrugged off the robe and fought off the brothers' attack with his sword while still holding the baby.

Same time, Sarhrvin Lair

Lindsey, too, was engaged in a fight with his demons, wielding a sword as he mowed down one after another of the Sahrvins while Lilah shot one in the head as it attacked Lindsey, killing it.

Same time, Vail's mansion

Wesley flung Cyvus's body across the dining room where he hit a wall and slid down into a pile on the floor. Wesley walked slowly toward him. "Your influence on this world is over. The rest of the Circle will wither and die..." he formed another fireball in his palm. "Like you're about to."

"You don't know who you're dealing with, do you, boy?" Vail groaned as he got to his feet, holding out his hand, and summoned Wes's fireball into his hand, and extinguished it. "I mean, really. I crap better magic than this. Now then, let me show you what a real Wizard can do."

Vail raised his hand and Wesley winced.

Faith grabbed another Demon guard from behind and sliced his throat, and as another turned to her, she slid, hitting his feet as he fell down, and she trapped his neck between her feet before snapping it.

Gorgon's castle

"Cordelia" charged Gorgon, trying to punch a few times as he blocked and tried to strike which she dodged. He blocked some more punches and a kick, backing off.

"Cordelia" charged again with punches and kicks which he blocked or dodged, then tried to kick which she blocked. He then ducked to avoid a punch and blocked another and as she tried to strike, he blocked but got a kick on the face, making him stagger back.

"Cordelia" then tried to kick thrice which he blocked as she hit his back, before being punched and elbowed, sending her rolling away onto a table, from where she picked a sheathed on the wall and struck down.

He grabbed the katana as she pulled back, unsheathing it, and struck, breaking the sheath as Gorgon staggered back.

"Cordelia" swung the katana with a flourish and flipped down, leaping to attack as he dodged in a spin motion and tried to kick which she dodged before they clashed and he blocked with his arm gauntlets, then kept backing to avoid swings at his abdomen, before leaning to dodge a stab.

He blocked a few more times, then struck with his foot, trapping the katana on the wall, before trying to punch "Cordelia" as she dodged and tried to punch back, so he'd to back to avoid, letting her sword go.

"Cordelia" swung a few more times to strike which he dodged and tried to kick which she dodged, and he leapt away to avoid another strike.

Wolfram and Hart

Hamilton was pummeling Angel in the lobby, punching him repeatedly in the face, but Angel managed to stay on his feet.

Hamilton taunted. "Why do you keep fighting? You signed away your Shanshu and killed the woman you love. There's nothing in it for you anymore."

Angel punched Hamilton in the face. "People who don't care about anything will never understand the people who do."

Hamilton punched Angel hard, sending him across the room again. "Yeah, but we won't care."

Angel writhed on the floor, groaning as Hamilton picked up a stake off Harmony's desk. Hamilton walked over to Angel, kneeling to pick Angel up by the lapel as he reared back ready to plunge the stake into Angel's chest. But before he could do it, someone punched him in the face, sending him flying across the room away from Angel. Hamilton went through a glass wall and a column, shattering them all, while spitting blood all over due to the strength of the blow.

It was Hercules!

And he was immaculately dressed.

"Hope you don't mind me dropping in."

Angel was angry now. "You-"

Hercules helped an angry Angel up. "Apocalypse was coming, figured I'd get a front row seat, though sooner than I expected. You people aren't very punctual are you?"

Angel growled in annoyance.

Same time, Brucker's Headquarters

The fighting in the Senator's office couldn't go unnoticed at this point. Gunn and Groo had engaged nearly everyone else there, but the Senator remained on the phone, unfazed. She snapped her fingers at the one Vampire who was still sitting at his desk computer instead of fighting off Gunn and Groo.

The Vampire went for Gunn, but Gunn staked him instantly.

Groo had the heads of 2 Vampires in his strong grip, and he ripped off both their heads, dusting them.

Brucker said into the phone. "The families are protected against pedophiles and other undesirables. Even the United States govern—"

Gunn then turned his attention to the Senator as he reached to grab the axe from his back and hurled it at the Senator's head. It landed in the middle of her forehead, cutting off her conversation in mid-sentence. She collapsed to the floor, still holding the phone to her ear.

Gunn said to the remaining Vampires. "Looks like you boys are gonna need to find a new candidate."

The Vampires encircled Gunn and Groo, growling.

"And you wonder why folks don't vote."

"I believe a revolution might be needed here."

Gunn straightened his arms, unfurling the stakes he had hidden up his sleeves. He staked the first one that attacked him, while Groo threw another away, then taking out a stake, staked another, as Gunn threw one down and staked him, with Groo kicking away which was about to leap at Gunn.

Same time, LA street

Illyria was walking away from Izzy's car. The car's hood was smoking, the roof had been smashed in violently, and there were blood stains on the ground near the car doors.

Wolfram and Hart

Eve waited for Lindsey while pacing around.

Same time, Sahrvin Lair

Lilah treaded carefully as she walked around the former Sahrvin lair. The bloodied bodies of the demons littered the floor. Lindsey was washing his hands at the sink.

"Those guys were chumps", Lindsey said.

"Now they're chunks", Lilah replied. "Even without those tattoos, you know how to use a sword."

"Well, I couldn't have done it without that Annie Oakley aim", Lindsey complimented.

"I know", Lilah smirked.

"Any word on the rest of the team?" Lindsey asked.

"For all I know, we are the rest of the team. I haven't heard a thing", Lilah said.

"That's weird", Lindsey turned off the water.

"They'll call."

Lindsey dried his hands. "No, I mean me saying "team" and meaning it. I kind of like the feeling."

"I think I do too."

"Funny really, never thought you would", Lindsey told her.

"My line of work has changed, I guess", Lilah shrugged.

"Gee, I think our real line of work is just getting interesting", Lindsey said.

"Yeah, I bet you do", Lilah told him.

"You don't trust me. You don't think a man can change?" Lindsey asked. "I mean, you changed, didn't you?"

"You just said our real line of work is getting interesting, you tried to change, but you always go back to who you were", Lilah told Lindsey, who was getting angry now.

"Oh really? You think you've changed? You think this means anything?" Lindsey asked. "When the Senior Partners rain down their wrath, you're all as good as dead."

Lilah knew Lindsey was lashing out now, like usual. "You should've seen this coming, Lindsey. All you ever wanted was power. Be one of the big boys. You are who you are but I've changed."

Lindsey laughed. "What? Their love broke down your walls? Don't fool me, you were just as bad as me."

Lilah shrugged. "The guy who wants too much risks losing absolutely everything. Of course, the one who wants too little from life might not get anything at all."

"So, you what? You want the middle ground? Come on, who do you think you're fooling? You're pure-"

Lindsey was cut off as Lilah aimed her gun and shot him right in the head, making him crumple to the floor, his eyes staring without seeing.

Lilah stared at the dead body and quipped. "Would have shot you in the chest to hear your last words, but you're a drama queen. Not in the mood for drama."

Pocketing her gun, Lilah walked out.

"I'm different now."

Gorgon's castle

Gorgon removed his shades, exposing his yellow eyes, though due to Stick possessing her, Cordelia wasn't affected as her eyes were clouded.

"Cordelia" tried to strike with the katana but he dodged and kicked it out of her hands, then spun and kicked her chest, sending her to the floor as she groaned.

"You are nothing. I learned every form of martial arts in a week, I made billions on a whim, I even made a mathematical formula that proved the existence of God! You are nothing compared to me, not even the dirt beneath my feet."

"Stick, I'm taking over", Cordelia mentally said to him.

"Sure Princess."

Stick exited Cordelia who shut her eyes. "Good Lord, you whine and gloat so much, is it a supervillain thing, or are you just that dumb?"

Gorgon was enraged when suddenly a bright white light illuminated Cordelia from inside. Gorgon stared as the glow emanating from her became brighter and brighter. A wind started to howl and the light shot out from Cordelia, obliterating Gorgon with its brightness.

Every window in the castle lit with the bright light, radiating out into the night - then the whole place went dark again.

Cordelia then got up, staring at the ashes of Gorgon. "Well, no one's coming to your funeral."

"Huh? Not bad, not bad at all", Stick said, walking next to Cordelia before they noticed Gorgon's other katanas on the wall.

Cordelia said. "Don't think he'd be needing those anymore."

"My thoughts exactly."

Same time, Vail's mansion

Wesley was grunting quietly in pain as he was held in the air by Vail's magic.

Vail circled Wesley and scoffed. "Did you really think you had a shot at this? I can bend the very fabric of reality to my will. Your parlor tricks could never kill me, boy."

He stood in front of Wesley, laughing.

Wesley strained. "Then I'll just... have to do this... the old-fashioned way." He took out a switch-blade knife, popping the blade and tried to stab Vail.

Vail stopped Wesley. "Yes... I suppose we will." He summoned a large knife from the wall to him and-

A sword suddenly protruded from Vail's mouth, making him gag and spit out blood as the sword was retracted, making Vail fall down, dead.

Wesley dropped to his knees as Faith helped him stand.

"Since when did you become so sneaky?"

Faith shrugged. "My husband's a blind ninja, he taught me a thing or two." She then asked. "But when did you become Gandalf?"

"Rows upon rows of mystical tomes at our beck and call, you thought I wouldn't use them to my advantage?" Faith nodded in understanding. "That, plus I always wanted to be the White Wizard."

"Saruman?"

"Gandalf became White in the second book." Faith paused.

"Fair point."

Hell Dimension

Adam and Blackheart had caught each other's fists and were engaged in a contest of strength, hands locked as the Dark Demon with shadows growing around him and the red Devil with hellfire dancing off his skin pushed against each other with such might that it broke the very Earth beneath them, splitting open the ground.

Then they backed off as Blackheart threw magic blasts at Adam, who flew and weaved to avoid. The ground was destroyed as Adam flew up, avoiding the explosion and smoke, and Blackheart flew after him.

Adam then roared as an aura of Hellfire surrounded him while Blackheart tackled into him, sending him back, then Adam flew back and kneed Blackheart, sending him back too.

They clashed thrice, shaking the whole Dimension, then engaged in a powerful fight, blocking and dodging, as Adam was punched, and then gave Blackheart an uppercut in return.

Blackheart roared as he tried to punch but was elbowed in the gut before Adam kicked him away through various cliffs.

As Blackheart crashed to the ground, Adam formed a giant ball of Hellfire with a roar, then many small balls of Hellfire rained down on Blackheart as he staggered up, hitting him as he roared in pain.

Then Blackheart let out a roar, forming a dark barrier around him, and flew up at Adam, both of them flying around, trying to find an opening.

They were over lava now as they clashed again in battle. Blackheart punched Adam, and he punched back, then they flew apart as Adam fired a powerful beam of Hellfire and Blackheart fired a beam of darkness to counter.

The clash made cracks in the Dimension and sent both into another Dimension, a third-Dimension sort of thing.

Blackheart then punched Adam away, and Adam flew back, punching Blackheart away too.

They clashed as Adam kicked Blackheart away, then Blackheart roared, the aura of darkness growing larger, and as Adam tried to punch, Blackheart blocked and punched his chest before kicking him away by many feet.

Adam's back crashed into the Dimension's wall as Blackheart rammed into him, sending them both through while Blackheart punched Adam away, shattering the place.

Adam then roared as Hellfire surrounded him and flew at Blackheart, punching his chest and giving him an uppercut before kicking him away.

They clashed a few times as Blackheart hurled out dark balls of magic which Adam flew to avoid, then hurled down a Hellfire beam which Blackheart flew to avoid.

Then they clashed fists, breaking the Dimension, and were back in the Hell Dimension.

Blackheart looked around and screamed when suddenly Adam grabbed him in a chokehold from behind.

Blackheart struggled against Adam, attempting to get out, as both roared, when suddenly there was a burst of Hellfire and Mephisto appeared there.

Blackheart was terrified now as Mephisto pointed at him and he screamed, disappearing in a burst of Hellfire.

Mephisto looked at Adam coldly and said. "Since you helped me find my disappointment of a first son, I spare you this time."

He then disappeared in another burst of Hellfire.

That was when Adam slumped on the ground, exhausted, he wasn't trying to kill Backheart, that might not have even worked, especially with how it went with Ghost Rider, but with what Angel said that Blackheart did not want Mephisto to know of his return, Adam figured that if they fought and increased their power in the fight, the Hell Lord would take notice and take his first spawn back for punishment.

And it had succeeded.

Same time, Wolfram and Hart

The fight was still on-going. Or more accurately, Hercules was pounding on Hamilton.

Grabbing him by the back of the collar, Hercules punched Hamilton's abdomen and chest, breaking bones inside as Hamilton spat out blood both times.

"Nice suit, would hate to ruin it."

And then Hercules ripped off Hamilton's suit, leaving him shirtless.

"Oops!"

Hercules punched Hamilton away again as he spat out more blood, moaning in pain as he broke the ground on impact.

Angel walked next to Hercules. "I can beat him. I don't need your help."

Hamilton staggered up.

"All right then."

Hercules sat on the steps, deciding to watch.

Hamilton tried to punch as Angel dodged and punched his face twice before spin kicking him, slightly staggering him back.

"Oh yes, beat him down like that", Hercules encouraged.

Angel tried to fight Hamilton again but was instead thrown across the room by him. Angel landed on the concrete steps below Hercules.

"You want me to tag in yet?"

"I got this!"

Hercules shrugged as Angel got up, he and Hamilton walking to each other.

Hamilton was amused by Angel. "Let me say this as clearly as I can. You cannot beat me. I am a part of them. The Wolf, Ram, and Hart. Their strength flows through my veins. My blood is filled with their ancient power."

Angel smirked. "Can you pick out the one word there you probably shouldn't have said?"

Angel vamped out and leapt at Hamilton, biting his neck as he gasped. Angel drank his blood, then pulled away and flipped, landing.

Hercules did a little applause at Angel's flip. "Nice."

"Wow! You really are full of it!" Angel said as he sipped some more blood, feeling more powerful now.

He then ducked to avoid Hamilton's blow, getting behind him. "What was that you were saying about ancient power?"

Angel blocked another punch before punching back, then got punched again. Angel punched again before Hamilton grasped his throat. "You don't really think you're gonna win this, do you? You don't stand a chance. We are legion. We are forever."

Angel freed himself and punched Hamilton before kneeing his face, then swept his feet from under him, throwing him down as he groaned.

"I guess forever..." Angel punched Hamilton's face twice, "just got a hell of a lot shorter." He punched Hamilton's face hard a final time, twisting his neck and killing him at last as his corpse fell down.

Angel panted as Hercules walked next to him, the two looking down at Hamilton's corpse.

"Not bad."

"Thanks…now go away."

Hercules rolled his eyes as the Earth shook and glass shattered.

"And the proper Apocalypse begins", Hercules realized.

"Yeah, Wolfram and Hart, they're taking the gloves off", Angel said as the building started crumbling.

"Guess its time for a fight", Hercules said as a huge beam fell down but Hercules caught it effortlessly and threw it away.

Angel walked around the crumbling place and opened both the doors to see Eve

"What the hell is going on?" Eve asked.

"It's like we're getting kicked out of the garden", Angel quipped.

"Where's Lindsey?" Eve asked, then grabbing Angel's arm. "Where is he?"

"He's not coming for you", Angel said.

Eve glared at him, angry and heartbroken. "You..."

"Time to go", Angel said as he walked out.

Eve stood in the crumbling building. "Go where?"

Lorne was driving away with Connor in the seat next to him as they felt the Earth shake. Connor made a sound as Lorne said. "Yeah, munchkin, its about to go downhill."

Then he saw Harmony with some bags waving her hand, and stopped the car, opening the backdoor. "Get in, Harmonica."

Harmony sat inside and closed the door. "Well, I've got the money, and books, Senior Partners can say bye-bye to all this, what do you say we hold a 'We Survived the Apocalypse! Again!' party?"

"Well, once we survive it, we will", Lorne said as he continued driving with Harmony and baby Connor.

It was raining. Angel ran into the alley with a sword in hand, his jobs of killing Sebassis and Hamilton finished. Hercules ran next to him.

"Boo."

Angel and Hercules turned to see a blood covered Spike emerging from the shadows.

Spike complained. "What is he doing here?!" He gestured to Hercules.

"Nice to see you too, William."

Spike elected to ignore Hercules.

"Anyone else?" Angel asked.

"Not so far", Spike replied and asked. "You feel the heat?"

"It's coming", Angel said.

Spike smirked. "Finally got ourselves a decent brawl."

They turned to see Gunn and Groo running to the alley, the former having an axe and the latter a sword.

"Damn! How'd I know the fang boys would pull through?" The two ran closer as Angel and Spike ran towards them. "You're lucky we're on the same side, dogs, because we were on fire tonight. Our game was tight."

Groo added. "It was an exhilarating battle! There must be a song of it once we end this war."

"A man of tradition, nice", Hercules said as they stood together.

"Who's he?" Gunn asked.

"Hercules."

"As in the Greek God of-"

"Yes."

"Damn!"

Cordelia and Stick then arrived, carrying a katana each as Angel and Cordelia shared a hug and a kiss.

"Nice job", Angel said, turning from Cordelia to Stick. "Both of you."

"Princess did the main thing", Stick shrugged as Angel and Cordelia shared a smile and kissed again.

"Well, we're still some people short", Cordelia then said as they stood together, then looked at Hercules. "Hi new guy, nice to meet you."

"You too", Hercules said but Angel stepped between them as Hercules rolled his eyes.

Then Illyria jumped down from above. "I killed all of mine."

"Nice", Spike quipped.

"Yes, must have been a cinch", Stick shrugged.

"Some of us are not here yet", Illyria noted, when Faith jumped down, holding Wesley who staggered a little, then stood properly.

"You almost looked worried for a minute", Faith joked to Illyria who tilted her head. "So, how are we?"

"Five by five", Wesley replied as all chuckled.

A column of fire erupted and Matt as Daredevil appeared.

Faith jumped into his arms as they shared a loving kiss.

As they parted, Stick asked. "How did it go, kid?"

"Blackheart's Mephisto's problem now, but Adam's too spent. You're stuck with Daredevil for now."

"Wouldn't have it any other way."

Matt and Faith shared a kiss again, before all stood together in the alley.

They heard a crowd screaming and screeching as Illyria declared. "Now I wish to do more violence."

"Well, wishes just happen to be horses today", Spike said.

"Among other things", Angel added as they turned to see thousands and thousands of Demons coming towards them, some normal sized, other giant sized, and one huge Dragon was flying towards them too.

"Okay. You take the 30,000 on the left..." Gunn joked and trailed off.

"This is quite the fight", Groo commented.

"Yeah, and we're the ones who picked it", Cordelia quipped.

"Been a while since I did anything like this", Hercules said, flexing his muscles.

"We are but few", Wesley commented. "They are an army."

Thousands of Demons were now shouting and snarling.

Faith shrugged. "Would make it memorable."

"We're all together to take 'em down, that's all that matters", Matt said.

"Damn right kid", Stick nodded in agreement.

Angel stepped forward with Cordelia, Matt, Faith, Spike, Stick, Gunn, Hercules, Groo and Illyria right behind him.

Cordelia, Matt, Faith and Spike stood to Angel's far right, with Gunn and Groo flanking Angel's right side and Hercules, Stick and Illyria flaking his left. They stared at the army approaching the four of them.

"So what we got in terms of a plan?" Spike asked.

"We fight", Angel answered.

"Bit more specific?" Spike asked.

Angel stepped forward. "Well, personally, I kind of want to slay the Dragon."

Matt suddenly turned his head up and smirked. The others followed his line of 'sight', and saw a familiar red-caped Sorcerer, Eldritch magic gathered in his hands before throwing them out, as portals opened throughout the city.

Jessica, Luke, Danny, Colleen, Frank and Trish stepped out of one.

Giles came out of another with Amanda, Vi and Satsu close behind.

Willow and Tara flew out of another one.

Steve, Buffy, Logan, Bucky, Natasha and even Clint walked out of another one as Wanda landed next to them, and Tony, Sam and Rhodes flew out of some more.

Xander and Anya stepped out of another portal, holding a gun and sword each.

Hulk then landed, shaking the ground as Dawn and Felicia walked out of another and Peter swung, landing next to them.

Blaze and Reyes stepped out of one more with Mack, Bobbi, Hunter, Fitz, Simmons, Melinda, Elena, Daisy, Deke and Piper behind them.

Blade and Whistler walked out of another one.

Then from another came Bobby, Hank, Rogue, Piotr, Kitty, Kurt and Bethany, Storm hovering up in the air.

Hope enlarged to normal size in front of another portal as a giant Scott appeared too, shaking the ground a little, with Carol appearing in the sky.

Lightning flashed in the sky before a lightning bolt struck the city, making it shake, with Thor hovering in the sky, and Team Angel shared one final smile as they knew, backup was here, and then they heard Steve's iconic words.

"Avengers…..Assemble!"

Angel looked at the Demons again, who were now hesitant, and gave a declaration.

"Let's go to work."

And then Angel swung his sword.

And this is done, thanks a lot to Brainstorm Sorcerer for his help once more. Very much appreciated.

Lilah didn't betray the team, she and Angel made the plan to get Angel and Hamilton to fight.

Hope Hercules' entrance was enjoyed, as well as the fight scenes.

A redeemed Lilah IMO is the best candidate to off Lindsey permanently, while Lorne just takes baby Connor away from the mess, and Harmony steals money and books from the firm for the good guys and leaves too, so she's good here.

And now backup is here as the big battle shall happen, and next chapter will be the end.