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Finally, the series finale! This IMO is the best Season finale in the Buffyverse, and the fourth best episode overall behind 'Hush', 'Once More, With Feeling' and 'The Body', and of course the best Angel episode.
Didn't think we'd ever get here, but we are, YAY us! This is gonna be something.
Here we go.
Screw Loose: Well that sucks.
Chapter 138- Not Fade Away
"The final one at last", Buffy said as she turned on a recording for the last time.
The team was now all in agreement that they would take out the Circle of the Black Thorn soon, while keeping up the infighting till they do it. Illyria was mentioned as Spike said she was babysitting Drogyn, leading Angel to reveal he'd killed Drogyn, and Spike then got a punch, then tried to punch back but Angel grabbed his throat just as Hamilton came in.
"Poor Drogyn", Dawnster said sadly.
"Yeah, that was sad", Xanderagreed.
"Bet he punched Spike just for the hell of it", Buffy quipped.
"You have to ask that?" Summers asked as all chuckled.
Angel pushed Spike off and they filed out, Angel telling Wesley that Illyria was his responsibility. Hamilton then told Angel the Circle wanted to see him right now.
"Why's that?" Willow asked. "He did everything for them, didn't he?"
"Bad guys, never easily convinced", Maclay sighed. "It's a thing with them."
The others arrived at Spike's apartment where Illyria was lying bloodied and beaten, and she revealed what had happened as Lorne said he still didn't trust Angel, and Gunn said they just had to hope the Circle did. Angel met the Circle members again as they said the morning insurrection had been noticed. Sebassis' slave tripped over Vail's tubes as Angel pushed him away, and then talk was done of Wesley and Gunn. Sebassis then said Angel was the threat as Izzy brought out a document, which Angel noted was the Shanshu prophecy.
"Why did they bring that here?" Buffy asked, "What need do they have of it?"
"Remember we said Angel didn't consider himself worthy of the Shanshu anymore?" Rosenberg reminded as they paled. "Now you'll see why."
"Oh no!" Buffy said as all watched, realizing something regarding the Shanshu would happen.
Angel was told this is the original Shanshu prophecy, and a paranoid person may think Angel was manipulating them to fulfill it. Angel agreed to sign this document as it would undo the prophecy. Izzy gave Angel the pen but stabbed his hand, saying it had to be signed in blood, and Angel made the sign at last, signing away the Shanshu.
"Oh Angel!" Buffy said sadly, seeing how he had fought for his redemption for so long, and had now just signed it away to take down the Circle.
"He just…gave it all away", Xander said.
"I think signing it away actually makes him more worthy of the Shanshu", Tara told the rest sadly.
"It does, even if he won't get it now", Willow sighed sadly.
"Yup, but we can change that", Dawnster reminded.
"Yes, all is not lost", Giles agreed.
"Definitely not", Summers nodded.
Angel later stood in his office as Harmony approached, and he asked if she missed being human, and she confessed she did miss her heart beating fast when she kissed a hot guy for the first time, while Angel noted he didn't remember being human due to how long ago it was.
"She's more human as a Vampire than she was as a human", Xander quipped.
"Yeah, as much as I hated to admit it, its true", Harris sighed.
"Guess you can be good without your soul too", Buffy noted begrudgingly.
Harmony knew something was up and she wasn't in the know, so Angel told her to distract Hamilton anyway she could while he'd do something else he didn't want.
"And what's that?" Dawnster asked.
"He's not killing anyone good if that's what you're worried about", Dawn assured as they sighed in relief.
"Well, not that worried then", Xander shrugged.
"You gotta be joking. Why on God's green and verdant Earth would I trust you, huh? Or you, me?" Lindsey asked. Angel replied. "'Cause it's not about us, Lindsey. It's about them. The wolf. The ram. The hart. 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."
"Yeah, the Partners have great power", Willow noted grimly. "This will not end well."
And that was when it hit them as they realized with how powerful the Partners were, Team Angel had little chance, they could die easily too, and no one could save them.
"No", Buffy shook her head. "We won't let that happen."
"Maybe... but I keep thinking that once this world was theirs and now it's not." "Isn't it?" 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."
"Is he really?" Xander asked. "Because if anything, they are Batman/Joker level archenemies."
"He's not, he's just selling whatever he can to make Lindsey help him", Harris told them.
"Right, so hiring the bad guy to do some dirty work", Buffy realized and got nods.
"So they have an extra man, and this one can be spared", Giles said.
"Yeah, he can be", Summers sighed.
"The devil you know." "That'd be you." Lindsey 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 pointed out. "You haven't heard a word I've said. For, like, years back." "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. So here's the plot twist—I'm in", Lindsey finally said.
"Just like that?" Dawnster asked.
"No, he does have some reasons for joining them, but yeah, he'll help", Rosenberg assured.
"For now, right?" Willow asked.
"Yeah, for now", Maclay confirmed.
"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. This is gonna be a circus. I mean, win or lose, you're about to pick the nastiest fight since mankind drop-kicked the last demon out of this dimension. 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. "I'm thinking about rephrasing that." "Yeah, I think I'd be more comfortable if you did." Lindsey turned away.
That brought some chuckles as Xander said. "I said it before and I say it again- in an alternate Universe, they could have been best friends."
"Unfortunately, we live in this one", Willow sighed.
"Yeah, and now we have to take the good and the bad all", Tara agreed with her.
Illyria lay on the bed as Wesley decided to get more supplies for her, and Angel arrived, all of them realizing Hamilton had done this since he'd taken Drogyn. The team got Angel's reasons for killing Drogyn, but they were concerned if they'd also be picked off one by one by the Partners. "No, they won't. We're killing them all tonight."
Now everyone was surprised again as Buffy asked. "What? Tonight?"
"Yes, they are doing it right now", Dawn confirmed. "Taking down the Circle."
"But isn't it too risky?" Xander asked. "Like, things can go wrong-"
"They plan to take down Wolfram and Hart's instruments of power on here, and take the full wrath on themselves", Summers told them. "So yes, it is risky, and-"
"Suicidal", Tara finished, but realized why. "Things have just gotten that bad for them."
All sighed sadly, knowing that was true.
"I want you all to do something for me, for yourselves. Take the day off." Spike asked. "What?" 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 thinks they're all going to die, isn't he?" Willow asked.
"Yes, to quote Gimli- "Certainty of death, small chance of success, what are we waiting for?"" Harris told them all.
"Now I wonder how they'll spend the day", Dawnster said.
"It won't be that surprising once you see it", Maclay told them.
A microphone stands on stage waiting for a performer to take his place in front of it. "Live the day like it's your last... 'cause it probably is." Lorne stepped up to the microphone holding a drink, sat on the stool and started singing. Angel stood in a stairwell for a moment before finally walking out into the main area of the coffee shop. He walked up to a table where someone was studying. "Hi." Connor looked up from his books.
"Connor", Giles said as they realized what would happen now.
"So, is Connor gonna reveal he knows now?" Buffy asked.
"Yep, now he'll say it, and they'll make up too", Dawn confirmed, which made them happy.
"At least Angel finally made up with Connor", Tara sighed in relief over that. "He deserves that much, both of them do."
Spike picked a shot of whiskey. He gestured "cheers" to the bartender before shooting the whiskey down. Someone bumped into Spike, pushing him into the large biker-type standing next to him. The man glared meanly at Spike. "Ahh. Nice crowd." The bartender refilled Spike's glass. "It can get pretty ugly in here, I gotta warn you." Spike drank the shot. "What I'm after. Couple more shots of courage, and I may make my presence felt." The bartender refilled it. "Your funeral." "Well, I never had a proper one", Spike grinned and drank the shot.
The quip brought some chuckles, since it was so much Spike, he was great now.
"This is Caritas, isn't it?" Willow asked.
"Yep, the rebuilt one", Rosenberg confirmed.
"So without Lorne, it can get ugly, according to the bartender", Buffy noted.
"Never did the Sanctuary spell", Dawn pointed out.
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 and 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."
"Anne", Buffy said with a happy smile. "Still fighting the good fight."
"Well, you did change her life", Maclay told both the Buffys.
"One of the best things we did, even if not originally intended", Summers said happily too.
"She still runs it?" Xander asked.
"She has moved even further up, but she never lost sight of the little guy, because she was one too", Harris confirmed to them, and that made them happier and prouder regarding Anne.
She truly had come far.
Gunn and Anne handed the box and chair to the men on the truck. "Yeah. You got much Vamp trouble these days?" Anne chuckled. "Never goes away for good. The boys help out, though. 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."
"Good to see the place is better too", Dawnster said happily.
"So Gunn's old gang found their way again?" Xander asked. "Since last we met 'em, they were hunting all kinds of Demons, including harmless ones."
"Yeah, without Gio, they got back on track", Harris confirmed.
"Guess all you need to do is remove the toxic influence", Tara noted.
"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.
"Higher Powers exist, but even they aren't all seeing and all knowing", Maclay said. "They don't affect our decisions."
"Yep, no matter what Jasmine says, Higher Powers don't affect us, we make our own choices", Rosenberg agreed.
"Even if they did, we'd make sure they don't do anymore", Willow told them.
Wesley was grinding something into a paste in a mortar and pestle, mumbling to himself while doing so. Illyria was sitting behind him on the edge of the bed. "I don't understand." "It'll help you heal faster", Wesley set it aside. "If you really plan to join us in this fight—" He grabbed a strip of muslin and dredged it in the paste. Illyria told Wesley. "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."
This time Illyria's words both amused and disturbed the viewers.
"Well, as long as she's doing it to them", Buffy said.
"Oh yeah, she's not gonna do anything to the good guys now", Summers confirmed. "They're safe from her."
"So the baddies better watch out", Dawnster smirked.
Wesley pulled the strip out of the paste and walked with it toward Illyria. "You're a very inspirational person. Have I mentioned that?" He brushed her hair away from her neck. "You are what I don't understand." "And that would be different because?" Wesley pressed the strip to Illyria's neck. "Angel told you to do whatever you wanted. Today... tonight, you may all be dead." "Yes. Good point", Wesley agreed. "I am not what you want." Wesley stood back, turned away, walked to his preparation area and his voice nearly cracked. "No." Illyria touched her bandage. "Then why?" Wesley prepared another bandage. "Don't I go off and have one last perfect day? Smell the flowers, or sky-dive, or have a go with Mistress Spanks-A-Lot... or whatever the hell one is supposed to do in this situation." He placed another bandage on Illyria's neck.
"Fred", Tara said sadly. "He wants to be with Fred, and now he can't be."
"No", Dawn shook her head. "So he can't really do what he wants on his last day."
"This time I will not let Fred die and make sure there is no last day anytime soon", Giles told them, and got nods.
"Good", Rosenberg said.
"Mistress who?" Wesley said. "There is no perfect day for me, Illyria. There is no sunset or painting or finely-aged scotch that's going to sum up my life and make tonight any... There is nothing that I want. ILLYRIA You want to be with Fred." Wesley finished bandaging Illyria and wiped his hands on a towel. "Yes. Yes, that's where I'd be if I could." "I could assume her shape, make her come alive again this once for you", Illyria looked down. "But you would never ask me to." Wesley told her. "The first lesson a Watcher learns is to separate truth from illusion. Because in the world of magics, it's the hardest thing to do. The truth is that Fred is gone. To pretend anything else would be a lie. And since I don't actually intend to die tonight, I won't accept a lie. Is it better?" Illyria touched her neck. "It's better."
"No lie", Buffy sighed, understanding Wesley's reasons for that. He was completely broken and changed now.
"Nope", Harris shrugged. "None. But Illyria is a bit better now, isn't she?"
"Yeah, she seems to be changing because of Wesley", Tara said. "He is a good influence on her."
"But not on himself", Willow added, and there were agreements again.
Spike was sitting on a stool on a stage, talking into a hand-held microphone. The spotlight was on him as he performed a poetry reading. Behind him was a sign that read "Poetry Slam, Thursdays 4:00". Holding the mic in his left hand, he had his right hand draped over the mic stand, holding a glass of whiskey in his fingertips. The audience was silent. "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." "Yeah!" The audience applauded. Spike received a standing ovation. "That was great, man." Spike stood and smiled. "Thank you. That was for Cecily. All right. This next one's called "The Wanton Folly of Me Mum.""
The viewers applauded for Spike too as Dawnster said. "I feel much better applauding his poetry than Lindsey's singing."
"Guess his poetry finally got the appreciation he wanted", Buffy said with a proud smile, happy for him, since people had made fun of his poetry when he was human.
"Yup, good for him", Xander smirked.
"And his skills in poetry recital seemed to have improved too", Giles added.
"Many more years of practice", Summers pointed out. "And no more shyness either."
"All of it together made him much better", Tara nodded.
Angel was sitting across the table from Connor now. They were in the middle of a conversation. "So she's a werewolf." Angel added. "And an art student. She does this great pottery. She made me a vase." Connor quipped. "But it's the wolf part that Jones's you. There's some full-moon love, am I right? Fur flying." Angel stared at Connor. "Huh?" "So Vampires really don't understand the concept of jokes", Connor commented.
"No, just not used to you making them", Willow said as the rest chuckled.
"I say it again- this new Connor is great", Dawnster said.
"Yup, great personality and fun", Dawn agreed with a nod.
"Having a good upbringing does a lot of good", Rosenberg told the past people.
"Connor is the perfect example here", Maclay said.
"I understand jokes. I was at the first taping of the Carol Burnett show. Tim Conway was on fire. It was special." Connor revealed. "I know you're my father."
"Here it comes", Buffy said as all watched with interest.
Angel looked down uncomfortably. "You got your memories back." Connor agreed. "Yeah, they're mixed in there with the new ones. Kind of like, uh... a bad dream I had, I guess, a very strange and violent, at times, inappropriately erotic...dream." Angel realized. "You probably have a lot of questions." Connor shook his head. "No. I don't want to make a thing. I get what you did. You know... I'm grateful. That's as far as I want to take it...OK?"
"That's…." Xander trailed off.
"Very mature, isn't it?" Summers asked and got nods.
"He truly has come far now", Tara smiled about Connor. "Finally, I believe this is the Connor that Angel wanted."
"Yes, he is the Connor that Angel always wanted", Harris agreed.
"Only, he couldn't raise this one himself", Buffy said sadly, and none disagreed there either.
"But at least he is here", Willow sighed.
Angel breathed deeply and looked at the papers. "So, what are you working on?" "I am applying for an internship. I'm supposed to write up a resume", Connor revealed. "Need any help?" Connor asked. "Have you ever written a resume before? Ever?" "No... but I have very nice handwriting." "You girl."
All laughed happily at that as Dawnster said. "He is a delight."
"Sure is", Dawn agreed.
"Angel would love to spend more time, wouldn't he?" Xander asked.
"Yeah, if he could, he would", Rosenberg confirmed.
Lindsey and Eve are making out on a couch. "What are you thinking about?" "Angel." Lindsey stared away. "You simply couldn't have said a worse thing than that."
All chuckled again as Harris said. "He took both your girls, deal with it."
More chuckles followed.
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?"
"Oh he doesn't know", Xander said, and more laughter followed.
"Someone please tell him", Dawnster begged.
"Don't think anyone will", Maclay sighed.
"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. "They're sending me in with karaoke boy. How tough can they be?" "With Lorne?" Lindsey put his arms around Eve. "What's up? You worried about his reading? Said your future's gonna be crappy? He's probably telling you that just to mess with you." Eve agreed. "Yeah, probably." "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.
"No we don't", Buffy said sadly, if they did, she would have had a happy ending with Angel, Spike or Faith long ago, Tara would not have died at all and she and Willow would be together, so would Giles and Jenny, her mom, Doyle and Anya would still be alive too, and Anya would be with Xander, and Fred as well, and she'd be with Wesley, who would never have gone dark, so Connor would still have a happy childhood with Cordelia and Angel.
The world was horrible.
"Yeah, we live in this one", Summers agreed with her.
The gang had reassembled in Spike's apartment. Wesley, Spike and Gunn were sitting down while Angel paced the floor. Illyria was standing behind Wesley. 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. "Can I deny you 3 times?"
All chuckled once more as Tara remembered. "Vail found Wesley unstable."
"Yes, he thinks Wesley wants Angel's spot", Maclay agreed. "For a bad guy, I guess it's a sensible deduction."
"They see others to be as bad as themselves", Harris shrugged. "Even if they're not."
"Yeah, we are good people with flaws, they are just bad people", Dawnster summed up.
"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." Wesley said. "That's not very flattering." "It'll get you in the door. Illyria..." 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." Illyria said. "I'll make trophies of their spines."
All were disturbed and amused again as Buffy said. "That's…good, right?"
"Yeah, good for the team, bad for the Circle", Rosenberg confirmed.
"Fine then", Willow shrugged.
"Good to have you on the team. Gunn." "Yo." "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." "Spike." "Right", Spike stood. "First off, I'm not wearing any amulets. No bracelets, broaches, beads, pendants, pins, or rings."
There was some more laughter before Buffy said. "Yeah, please don't make him wear any of that."
"No worries, Angel's not going to sacrifice anyone fully on his side", Summers assured. "And yes, that includes Spike."
"Never thought I'd see the day", Xander quipped.
"Things truly have changed", Giles commented.
"Fine. All you need is a rattle." Spike realized. "Ah, the baby." "And a legion of the Fell Brethren." There was a flashback of three of the Fell Brethren waiting in the lobby outside Angel's office before signing the contract to adopt the baby. "I want the kid returned to his mother and the foster family dismembered." Spike assured. "Done and done." 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. "The other members of the council fear him. He's the key player, so he's mine."
"How is Angel going to take on 40,000 Demons?" Tara now asked, everyone concerned for him.
"He won't do this without a plan", Maclay pointed out.
"So he has one?" Willow asked.
"Yes, quite good one too", Rosenberg confirmed.
"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 assured. "I just need you to back up Lindsey." 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."
"Guess he's right about that", Xander admitted grudgingly.
"Yeah, Lindsey flip-flops but since he's on their side, its dangerous for him too", Harris agreed.
Harmony was lying on her bed in her light blue lacy bra and matching panties when someone reached out to her, offering his thumb. She sucked on the tip of his thumb. "Mmm", Harmony sighed. "This just gets better and better every day." Harmony sat up and the man was Hamilton. She reached for her wine glass full of blood from the nightstand and cuddled up to Hamilton. "Anyway—" "Hmm." "About Angel's secret plan..."
"What?" Buffy asked, now outraged like the rest. "Harmony you…"
"It's all right", Summers assured.
"How's it all right?" Dawnster asked. "She's betraying them all!"
"Yeah, looks like she is the same", Xander scoffed.
"Actually, there is more to this than meets the eye", Rosenberg told them.
"Really?" Giles asked.
"Really", Maclay confirmed.
"It's a bit complicated but you'll see soon", Dawn told them.
"Yup, just wait and watch now", Harris said.
And they did just that.
"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 pulled Angel aside. "Hey, Ange, uh, I'll do this last thing for you, for us... but then I'm out, and you won't find me in the alley afterwards. Hell, you won't find me at all. Do me a favor. Don't try." He walked out.
"What's going on with him?" Dawnster asked.
"He was drifting apart from them since Fred's death", Willow said. "Guess this is too much."
"Angel told him to do something, didn't he?" Tara asked.
"Yes, and that will be the final straw", Rosenberg confirmed.
Wesley grabbed his coat and walked toward the door with Gunn 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. "Later, then." He walked out. Wesley looked at Angel for a long moment before he walked out. Illyria followed.
"She shows improvement definitely", Buffy now said. "Considering how she spoke to Gunn."
"Maybe Fred's memories of Gunn affect her perception", Giles pointed out.
"Yup, that can be true", Summers agreed.
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."
All chuckled a little again as Willow sighed. "Guess no Shanshu anymore, unless it did speak of Spike somehow."
"You can change that", Maclay assured them.
"Oh we plan to", Buffy declared firmly.
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.
"Is he actually eating…..?" Xander trailed off, all disgusted.
"Yeah, he is", Harris said. "He is, yeesh!"
"Why did we have to see that?" Buffy groaned.
"Well, there are worse things", Summers sighed.
At the 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.
"Spike's gonna save the baby", Dawnster cheered.
"Oh yeah, in style", Dawn added.
At Senator Brucker's Campaign Headquarter, 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."
"Oh its you who needs help", Willow snarled, disgusted at her for what she had done to Conley.
"Especially if what we have heard of Mr. Conley's reputation and actions is true", Giles added.
"It's all true, he's a good guy", Maclay confirmed. "Ruined by Brucker's lust for power."
"But she shall pay too", Rosenberg added.
Gunn 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. At the 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 McDonald.
"And here he comes too on the good side", Xander quipped.
"I'm guessing he has his sword skills without the tattoos as well", Tara realized.
"Yes, those gave him strength and invisibility, the skills are his own", Summers confirmed with a nod.
"So, bye-bye Sahrvin", Buffy realized.
At 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.
"Bad or good, she's creepy", Dawnster said, the past people a little freaked out by her.
"Never said she wasn't", Dawn shrugged.
"But good thing it's the bad guys who end up on the bad side of it", Harris added.
"Yeah, that's nice", Willow agreed. "Very nice."
At Wolfram and Hart, Angel stepped off the elevator into the lobby, where Harmony Kendall was waiting at her desk. "Harmony, where's Hamilton?" Angel asked. Harmony stood. "Records room. I've been keeping him busy like you said." "Good. I gotta stop buy the penthouse, but have my car ready, and just—" he walked toward his office. "...make sure Hamilton stays busy." Harmony smiled, writing something down in her notebook. "No problemo, boss."
"You say there's more to it, right?" Buffy asked.
"Yeah, you're just about to see in a bit", Summers assured.
"And we'll explain", Dawn added.
At 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?" Hamilton punched Angel immensely hard, 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.
"That was painful", Xander said with a cringe.
"How is Angel going to win this?" Tara wondered. "Especially considering Hamilton took down Illyria easily."
"He'll get a bit lucky, and have a good plan", Maclay told her.
"I really look forward to seeing how", Giles now said.
"You'll love it, G-Man", Harris told him.
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. "He's not my boyfriend. I mean, I certainly didn't betray you." Angel pushed himself to his feet. "Drop the act, Harm." He meant 'do the act' of course. "It's not an act. I'm really this nervous", Harmony said. She was selling it! Angel stood up. "I knew you'd turn on me. I just didn't know when." Harmony was annoyed. "What do you mean you knew?" "Loyalty really isn't high on your list", Angel said, though at least this time she had remained loyal. "Oh, is that right? I'll have you know I am damn loyal, dumbass", Harmony crossed her arms. Angel walked slowly, painfully toward her. "You betrayed me. You are betraying me now, even as we are talking." Harmony raised her voice, helping sell the act. "Because you never have any confidence in me." "No, because you have no soul", Angel explained. "I would if you had confidence in me", Harmony said back.
"Don't think it works that way", Xander commented.
"The betrayal is a plan by both Angel and Harmony", Rosenberg told the past people, who now looked at them in surprise.
"So, Angel asked Harmony to tell Hamilton?" Buffy asked.
"Yes", Summers confirmed. "He did."
"And they made it look like she betrayed him so that the Partners don't come after Harmony later for being on Angel's side", Maclay finished. "This is all an act."
"In that case, give them both the Oscars", Dawnster said.
"Doubt Harmony really needs to act", Willow said as all chuckled.
"Yeah, but good thing she remained good", Tara said, and everyone nodded in agreement there.
Hamilton was on his way down in the private elevator. "Get out of the building", Angel said. "Are you firing me?" Harmony asked. "Among other things, yes", Angel said. Harmony meekly asked. "Do you think I could get a recommendation?" "Yeah, OK." "But see, if you don't so much live as the other thing, how-" "It's already in the desk", Angel said. Harmony was excited. "You're the best." She went to the desk to get her things.
"I think you earned that considering your actions", Buffy shrugged.
"Yup, Harmony's personality may be the same, but she has come a long way", Dawn agreed with her there.
"Now Hamilton", Giles said grimly as all watched, concerned and intrigued.
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?" She shrugged, then exited. She was smarter than she herself or anyone else thought, Angel noted.
"Neither are men technically, but we get you", Xander said, and then it began.
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.
All cringed at that as Buffy warned. "Be careful Angel."
"He will be", Summers assured. "He knows how much of a punch Hamilton packs."
"Just hope nothing too bad happens in this fight", Dawnster said.
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. Doyle. Darla. Cordelia. Fred. They're all gone. Now it's time you followed."
"How about you follow them instead?" Xander asked. "Unlike them or Angel, you sure as hell deserve it."
"Oh definitely", Harris nodded. "And he'll get his."
"Just prepare to be surprised", Summers raised their interest.
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." 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 had 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. "I spiked his drink", Angel revealed now.
"So that's how it happened", Buffy realized. "No need to take out 40,000 Demons, just poison Sebassis."
"Don't think his slave was a bad guy though", Willow pointed out, and the rest conceded. "Guess Angel has completely lost faith in himself if he's going that far."
"Yeah, and its your job to ensure that decent people like Drogyn and even that slave don't die", Maclay told them. "Because your main job is to ensure Angel doesn't lose faith in himself."
"Oh yeah, that we shall do", Tara assured.
"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.
"Still waiting to see how Angel beats 'em", Xander said.
"Just prepare to be surprised", Harris smirked.
At the 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." 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 attack with his sword while still holding the baby.
"Even the baby said 'no'", Dawnster commented.
"Guess he had a sixth sense which said something was wrong", Dawn shrugged.
"At least Spike will save him from dying years later", Giles noted. "Good job, Spike. And I just said that."
"Yeah, we noticed", Summers said as the rest chuckled.
At the 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. At 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.
Now all paled as Buffy asked. "How's Wesley going to beat him?"
"Don't ask", Harris sighed, keeping his tone neutral.
"Vail seems way over his level", Willow noted. "He is someone me and Tara should fight."
"Guess we'll do that when we go back", Tara realized. "Wesley doesn't need to be here."
Hamilton was pummelling 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. 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."
"We already knew that", Dawnster scoffed. "Tell us something we don't know."
"Like how to beat ya!" Xander said.
"Oh he will tell that too", Maclay said cryptically with a smirk.
"He's an idiot like that", Dawn chuckled.
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, shattering it. It was Connor! "Care about that, dress-for-less?" Connor asked then offered Angel a hand to get to his feet. "What the hell are you doing here?" Angel asked his son. "Come on. You drop by for a cup of coffee, and the world's not ending? Please", Connor said.
"Connor", Dawnster smiled happily as they realized just how much Connor cared about his father now.
"He does know his father very well, even if this version hasn't known him for that long", Buffy commented, happy herself.
"Yeah, and he understands too", Rosenberg added. "He's a good son now."
"Angel will be proud", Tara smiled, glad for Angel and Connor both, even if this came at a bad time.
But at least now Angel knew his son loved him.
At Brucker's Headquarters, the fighting in the Senator's office couldn't go unnoticed at this point. Gunn 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. The Vampire went for Gunn, but Gunn staked him instantly. 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.
"No sympathy, you were ruining an innocent man's reputation", Giles shrugged.
"Besides, she was a Demon AND member of the Circle, nothing redeemable about her, pure evil", Summers snarled.
"Great going, Gunn", Buffy said, and there were cheers for Gunn's badassery and actions.
"Hell yeah! One big gun down, by Gunn!" Xander both said and joked as all laughed.
Gunn said to the remaining Vampires. "Looks like you boys are gonna need to find a new candidate." The vampires encircled Gunn, growling. "And you wonder why folks don't vote." Gunn straightened his arms, unfurling the stakes he had hidden up his sleeves. He staked the first one that attacked him, but had to fight off the others with more difficulty as he was punched off. He kicked another, threw another down and was about to stake him when one leapt at him.
"Hope he gets all of them", Willow hoped.
"Don't underestimate that man", Harris told them.
"Wasn't planning to", Dawnster shrugged.
At 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.
"Guess she didn't have to do much", Buffy shrugged.
"Weak or strong, most are still insects to her in terms of power", Summers said.
"Which is a good thing for them", Rosenberg added.
Eve waited for Lindsey. At the Sahrvin Lair Lorne treaded carefully as he walked around the former Sahrvin lair. The bloodied bodies of the demons littered the floor. Lorne looked sick as he took it all in. Lindsey was washing his hands at the sink. "Those guys were chumps", Lindsey said. "Now they're chunks", Lorne replied.
In spite of the situation, that got some light chuckles as Giles said. "Well-punned."
But the future Scoobies were grim now, knowing what was about to happen.
"Demon strength or no, you're quite the master swordsman." "Well, I couldn't have done it without that high note in MacArthur Park", Lindsey complimented. "Slays 'em every time", Lorne said. "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 squat", Lorne 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."
"Does he really like it?" Willow asked. "Because I still don't think he wants to change."
"He wants to, but power always corrupts him", Maclay said. "He loves power more than he loves his desire to be good, power always wins for him."
"So, a wild card", Buffy summed up.
"Yeah, and you know what they say about those", Rosenberg pointed out.
"Yeah, today." "You really done with them?" Lindsey asked. "It isn't my kind of work anymore. It's unsavory", Lorne replied. "Gee, I think it's just getting interesting", Lindsey said. "Yeah, I bet you do", Lorne told him. "You don't trust me. You don't think a man can change?" Lindsey asked. "It's not about what I think. This was Angel's plan", Lorne sighed. "Come on", Lindsey smiled. "I could sing for you." "I've heard you sing", Lorne said coldly as he took out a gun with a silencer and shot Lindsey twice in the chest.
Now all the past people flinched as they finally put the pieces together.
"Angel sent Lorne to kill Lindsey", Tara summed up, as now they realized why Lorne wanted to leave.
"Is this why Lorne wants to go?" Dawnster asked.
"Yes", Dawn nodded. "He was drifting apart from them after they lost Fred, and now he had to take a life."
"Bad life", Xander pointed out.
"It still affected him", Summers said. "Taking a life was just not in his nature, not like this, not so coldly, but he did, and he lost himself from it. He couldn't carry on doing this anymore once that was done."
"Oh Lorne", Buffy shook her head sadly, all feeling horrible for him too. He had been so optimistic, full of life and song, trying to keep up spirits even at Wolfram and Hart.
But now the job had got to him too, and he couldn't take it.
Lindsey stumbled back, looking at his wounds, then at Lorne. "Why—why did you..." "One last job. You're not part of the solution, Lindsey", Lorne said. "You never will be." Lindsey pointed at Lorne angrily. "You kill me?" He collapsed to the floor. "A flunky?! I'm not just... Angel...kills me. You don't... Angel..." His rapid breathing came to an end as his body went limp. Lorne sighed sadly, looking down, his innocence shattered with this action. "Good night, folks." He dropped the gun on floor as he walked out.
All just watched with sadness. Lorne was shattered, and Lindsey had once more shown he desired power. He was shot dead and all he could think about was that Angel didn't kill him.
"That's another life to save", Tara told them all. "Lorne, not Lindsey."
"Yeah, after all he did, he doesn't deserve this", Willow agreed. "He deserves, happiness, not this."
"I think Lindsey deserved to die", Rosenberg told the past people. "But having Lorne do it was unfair to him."
"I think that sums it up", Buffy agreed with a nod.
"No need for Lorne to do it this time, we'll make sure someone else gets that job", Xander said. "Lorne is too nice, he shouldn't be made to do this kind of stuff."
And with that, saving Lorne's soul was another thing added in the past Scoobies' to-do list.
At 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 thrust it into Wes's stomach. Wesley gasped as Vail turned the knife.
"NO!" All the past Scoobies yelled together in horror.
"Wesley….." Buffy trailed off, a tear now rolling down her cheek for him.
"Does he…?" Dawnster trailed off.
"No", Maclay shook her sadly. "He's not surviving."
And that brought some more tears down as they realized they were losing another good person now, this time literally.
Wesley conjured one more large fireball in his palm, and it exploded, the force of it sending Vail across the room into a wall, knocking him out, which released Wesley from his grip. Wesley fell, but landed on his feet. He stumbled and was about to fall to the ground when Illyria rushed into the room. She caught him in her arms and kneeled beside him on the floor. "Wesley", she inspected his wound. "This wound is mortal." Wesley touched his wound. "Aren't we all?" He looked at her, smiling. "It was good... that you came."
"Illyria", Xander muttered.
"She is going to be there for him", Summers said to the past Scoobies. "At the end of it."
"Bet he didn't see that coming", Xander said in a hoarse and hollow voice.
"No one did", Harris sighed.
"Vail was just too much", Willow muttered, too saddened to talk about Wesley.
Illyria started. "I killed all mine, and I was..." "Concerned?" Wesley asked, touched. "I think so", she said. "But I can't help. You'll be dead within moments." "I know", Wesley said. Illyria finally asked. "Would you like me to lie to you now?" Wesley looked at her. "Yes." He closed his eyes in a slow, pained blink. "Thank you. Yes."
"So she'll lie now", Tara realized what was going to happen now, more tears coming. All of them needed to be prepared.
"Oh no!" Dawnster said, not ready for this.
Wesley opened his eyes to see Winifred 'Fred' Burkle's face, his soulmate, her hand stroking his cheek. "Hello there." 'Fred' tried to smile through her tears. "Oh, Wesley. My Wesley." "Fred", Wesley whispered. "I've missed you." 'Fred' kissed his lips twice gently, sniffled, then kissed his forehead. "It's gonna be OK. It won't hurt much longer, and then you'll be where I am." She cried. "We'll be together." "I—I love you", Wesley said. 'Fred' smiled through her tears. "I love you. My love. Oh, my love." Wesley only stared motionless, lifeless in her arms.
All of them burst into tears again at the loss of Wesley and his farewell with 'Fred'. Even if it was just Illyria taking Fred's form to lie to Wesley as Fred and comfort him in his dying moments, the moment hit hard.
"Wesley…." Buffy trailed off, wiping her tears.
"Vail you…." Xander snarled, getting angry again, as that was his response to loss and grief always.
"We have to fight Vail", Willow sighed between sobs. "Not Wesley."
"Yeah, he doesn't deserve this", Tara agreed sadly, holding Willow and Dawnster both. "He shall live."
"Let's hope Vail doesn't", Dawnster sneered then while crying still.
"He was a good man", Giles simply said, now seeing Wesley as better than even him after what he had become, and Fred's death had broken him.
"Cordelia, Fred, Wesley, Lorne, save them all", Summers requested. "Only you can."
"This, it shouldn't happen now", Maclay agreed.
"Yes, only we can", Buffy sighed. "We can."
"But be careful, don't want to lose anyone else either", Dawn warned, and they nodded, knowing they had to be careful now, since changing the timeline could always have consequences.
"This is still your future, change it", Rosenberg muttered.
"And don't die trying", Harris added.
With that, they continued watching, burying their grief over Wesley for the moment, and Lorne too, since while he wasn't dead, he had still corrupted his soul for the job.
She let him go, gently placing his head on the floor. Illyria as 'Fred' blinked slowly and sighed through gritted teeth before getting to her feet. Vail was conscious and on his feet again, standing behind Illyria. He approached her. "How very touching his meaningless death was, but this fight was never for mortals." He groaned as Illyria turned to face him angrily, in the form of Fred. "Oh", he chuckled. "Take your best shot, little girl." Illyria swung a powerful punch at Vail's head, transforming her shape from Fred to blue Illyria in mid-swing, ultimately shattering Vail with the force of her swing.
"Got what he deserved", Xander snarled, all finding that bit satisfying.
"Yeah, that was well-deserved", Rosenberg nodded.
"This time, he'll get it before he touches Wesley", Willow said firmly.
"Oh yes", Tara nodded as the two held hands. "He goes."
At Wolfram and Hart, father and son teamed up to fight Hamilton. They fought hand-to-hand, kicking, punching, and so forth, though both were pushed back. Hamilton head-butted Connor. "What is with you people?" He threw Connor into the elevator doors, where he collapsed to the floor. "Connor!" Angel tried to go to his son, but was blocked by Hamilton. Angel tried to fight Hamilton but was instead thrown across the room by him again. Angel landed on the concrete steps. Hamilton straightened his tie, walking to 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."
"How to beat all that then?" Dawnster wondered.
"Hamilton just told Angel how to beat him", Maclay pointed out.
"I didn't get it", Dawnster said.
"Ah, right!" Giles realized, now smirking. "I did. Watch."
Angel got to his feet, smirking. "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. "Wow! You really are full of it!" Angel said as he sipped some more blood, feeling more powerful now.
"Oh!" Buffy realized as the past people now admired Angel's ingenuity. "His blood."
"Yep, the power flowed through him as blood, and he spilled it out", Summers said. "Idiot."
"Now he's gonna go down", Rosenberg told them all. "Won't put much of a fight against an equal either."
"The enhancement is temporary, right?" Giles asked.
"Yeah", Maclay confirmed. "Just for a few minutes."
"If he fought Illyria in these few minutes, will he win?" Xander asked.
"We think he will", Dawn agreed.
Angel 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.
"And he's gone", Dawnster said as all sighed in relief.
"So the Circle and Hamilton are all dead", Willow noted before adding sadly. "Though not without cost."
"So the big battle now", Tara realized.
"Yes, it is coming soon", Harris confirmed to them.
Angel panted and turned to a moaning Connor who stood up. "Is he dead?" "Yeah. He's dead", Angel said. Then the Earth shook as glass shattered. "That's not good, is it?" Connor asked. "Wolfram & Hart. They're taking the gloves off", Angel said as the building started crumbling. "What do we do?" Connor asked Angel. "You go home... This is my fight", Angel said as he walked close to Connor. "That's some serious macho... Aah!" Connor felt pain as a huge beam fell down near the two. "Go home... Now!" Angel said. "They'll destroy you", Connor warned. "As long as you're OK, they can't... Go", Angel said. Father and son exchanged one more look before Connor staggered away.
"At least they have made up", Buffy said, sounding bittersweet. "Angel can be happy about that."
"Yes, one of his greatest regrets is now undone", Summers nodded. "His son loves him and would die for him now."
"Attaboy", Xander muttered, knowing Angel would be proud now.
"Now its whoever's left against the full wrath of the Partners", Tara said grimly.
Angel walked around the crumbling place and opened a door 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?"
"Wherever you want to, we don't care", Dawnster shrugged.
"The Partners do though", Dawn pointed out, as they realized what would happen.
"So she'll die or something?" Willow asked.
"She doesn't go anywhere from here", Harris said. "This is her end."
"The man who she gave up her immortality for is gone, nothing left for her now", Tara realized.
And with that, all of them watched, knowing it was about to end soon.
It was raining. Angel ran into the alley with a sword in hand, his jobs of killing Sebassis and Hamilton finished. He was the only one so far, so either the others hadn't made it yet or they were all gone. "Boo." Angel turned to see a blood covered Spike emerging from the shadows. "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."
"Spike", Buffy whispered with a bittersweet smile. At least he had survived for the big fight, and he and Angel now considered each other brother-in-arms, even if they would never actually admit it.
"Two are here", Giles commented. "Two more to come."
They continued watching.
They turned to see a bloodied Gunn running to the alley, an axe in hand. "Damn! How'd I know the fang boys would pull through?" Gunn's steps got slower as Angel and Spike ran towards him. "You're lucky we're on the same side, dogs, because I was on fire tonight. My game was tight." Gunn made it to them and nearly collapsed as the two noticed he was bleeding out.
"Gunn….." Willow trailed off sadly, as they turned to the future people, hoping not to lose Gunn as well in these recordings. "Does he….?"
"Just wait", Maclay requested. "Please."
They nodded and decided to watch the remainder.
They helped him sit as Spike quipped. "Supposed to wear that red stuff on the inside, Charlie-boy." Gunn stared at his bloody hand. "Any word on Wes?" Spike shook his head. Then Illyria jumped down from above and broke the news. "Wesley's dead." Angel looked heartbroken, Gunn was almost in tears, and Spike lowered his head.
Hearing about Wesley's death again and seeing the others react to it was like a stab in the hearts of all Scoobies, past and future.
But they didn't comment, just watched, because the end was very near now.
Illyria herself was feeling rage and grief, to her surprise. "I'm feeling grief for him. I can't seem to control it." They heard a crowd screaming and screeching as Illyria declared. "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. "You're fading. You'll last 10 minutes at best", Illyria said to Gunn as she looked at his wound. Thousands of Demons were now shouting and snarling. Gunn shrugged. "Then let's make 'em memorable."
"So many of them", Buffy whispered.
"Whole army", Tara sighed.
It was clear not all of them would make it through this, there was a one in a million chance of that happening.
And it was up to them to make sure it didn't end up that way.
Angel stepped forward with Spike, Gunn and Illyria right behind him. Spike stood to Angel's far right, with Gunn flanking Angel's right side and Illyria flanking his left. They stared at the army approaching the four of them. "And 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."
"Hope you do", Xander said.
"There's a bit of an irony there", Maclay said with a chuckle, and they were confused. "Just wait."
Angel looked at the Demons again and declared. "Let's go to work." The screen went black as Angel swung his sword.
"And that's the end of it", Summers said as Buffy now turned the TV off. "You made through all 110 of them, to reach this point."
"What a journey this was", Buffy sighed as she sat back on her couch.
"Well, I ended up liking both Angel and Spike and seeing them for who they are", Xander commented.
"Same here, they are good people and flawed like the rest of us", Giles agreed there.
"Well, that's one really good thing about this", Tara smirked.
"Oh yeah, and now we know what to prevent", Willow realized.
"I'm guessing you have things to tell us first", Dawnster noted.
"Yeah, you saw up till this point, which was the most important one", Maclay confirmed.
"Now you need to know what happened after, and how to prevent that by preventing this", Rosenberg told them.
"And preventing this won't be an easy job", Dawn added.
"Want to hear it over some food?" Harris asked them.
Buffy looked at the rest, and they nodded, so she looked at the future Scoobies. "Lead the way, and tell us what happened next, and how to prevent this all too."
"Come on", Summers said, and with that, the Scoobies got up and walked off to the dining room with their future selves, one last time.
It was time now at last.
And we're done! YAY! Still can't believe we made it till here, but we did!
The show ended on a cliffhanger, but it went well with the theme of 'If nothing we do matters, then all that matters is what we do', and also Holland's speech from one episode before that.
Still wish they could have fleshed out some details better but this was a perfect ending.
"Let's go to work."
Now for comics, 'After the Fall' is canon to this verse, and Buffy Season 8 happened differently, which is a given since I resurrected Tara (FUCK JOSS AND MARTI FOR KILLING HER!), but there's more, and 'Angel and Faith' happened very differently too, but that's it for comics, and you'll see in next chapter.
So anyway, this was a whole lot of fun, and a whole lot of work too, but still more fun that work.
Thank you to everyone who stuck from the start to here, it means a lot, all of your love and support, and I love you all a lot too, thanks a lot.
And with that, we shall meet in the next and last chapter.