The Road Before Us

By Misty Flores - mistiec_flores@yahoo.com

Rating: R - for violence, sexual situations, and some language

Genre: Angel/Cordelia - Buffy/Angel and Cordelia/Xander implied

Teaser: Years after the death of their true loves, a lonely Cordelia and Angel reunite to stop a new nemesis, and find themselves fighting a mutual attraction as they cling to the memories of their mortal lovers.

--

The Road Before Us: Chapter  Fifteen

Her body was taken over completely.

Convulsion after convulsion wracked through Kat's body and Cordelia stood, helpless. She watched her writhing form, mouth agape as her head jerked toward the door that led to the stairs.

The definitive, tell tale roar that made the room vibrate sprung her into action, and carefully she stepped on the blade that was latched onto Kat's hand, keeping it steady while kneeling down, attempting and doing her damndest to stop the convulsions.

They were running out of time.

They were SO running out of time.

But the fear that had been prevalent before had given way to pure resolve, and she only grimaced, wincing in sympathy at the obvious agony on Kat's face, the possession more than taking its toll.

"Fight it, Kat," she whispered, keeping her hold on her shoulders firm. "I don't want to kill you. Or you me, for that matter."

The tingle that rushed through her took her completely by surprise, as she sucked her breath in and jerked her head to the door, only to find a familiar face with kind dark eyes enter the room, gripping a sword that was rare and different and only used by one man.

When their eyes connected, she offered him a smile before jerking her head back to Kat.

"It TOOK you the hell long enough!"

Kat's body arched, and Cordelia fought it, bearing down, trying to keep her weight on her as the man and his companions moved forward.

"You're lucky we were in the neighborhood," the woman commented, her platinum blonde hair almost glowing in the flickering light.

Cordelia barely paid the thief any attention. "Amanda, you and- who the hell are you?"

Duncan McCloud flicked a thumb over his shoulder. "Methos. Old."

The dark eyed man gave her a smirk. "Interesting little set up."

Chase and he exchanged a look, and she rolled her eyes. "Geez. He's another her, isn't he?" she snapped, glaring at Amanda, and finally, jerking her head to the stairs. "There's a demon in there. Kill it."

"Since when did we start taking orders from the little one?" Amanda asked, but only rolled her eyes as she stood, following the age old Immortal down the stairs, taking two at a time.

Duncan gave Cordelia a soft look, but there was no time for pleasantries or happy reunions, as Kat groaned under them, her eyes changing color and her breath gasping in, almost as if she was drowning.

"We have to kill the demon to stop the possession," Cordelia said, seconds before she was bucked off by Kat,landing with a jar on the wall.

--

The little Slayer was paralyzed for only a second, before the look of resolve that was so reminiscent of Buffy floated on her face and she attacked the ten foot monster head on.

But the ten tentacles proved too fast for her, and she was quickly disarmed and tossed back.

Angel moved as quickly as he could, but he too, was repeatedly flung back as the monster rose from the statue, dark and tall and all consuming evil.

Even the demon, the fearless Angelus that lay bound within the confines of Angel's soul, shivered and jolted within him, but the look on the vampire's face was of pure, utter resolve.

When Mr. Weathers attempted to run for the stairs, he found himself caught by the tie and hauled up to receive a close view of the demon emerged on Angel's face.

"Stay," Angel seethed, growling with a furious rumbling that was disheartening even in the pure evil of the apocalypse they were experiencing now. "And end the Game. Or I'll kill you myself."

With a furious push, Mr. Weathers was flung back into the corner, where Katie only grabbed him again by the tie and began reading off more letters of the translation.

"Can't you SEE THAT?!" Weathers snapped, eyes on the cloud of darkness that loomed over the rising demon who was inching slowly to the stairs.

"At this moment I have no time for demons, Mr. Weathers," she snapped. "Read."

--

Amanda and Methos had been dangerously close to cutting each other's heads off, him with his sword, her with her fan, when they were intercepted by her old lover, pushing himself between them and telling them to fight the urge within them.

Their inherent nature was dominant, and both had immediately turned on Duncan, but thankfully, her own love for her mortal ex-cop had seeped through when the dimwitted and stupid dolt she fell in love with called out for her to stop.

The hesitation had made all the difference, as Methos raised his sword to do away with Duncan and she ended up catching the blade instead, saving Duncan's life, and in turn, quite possibly saving her own.

The love for the fight was still seeping through her veins, and the three Immortals had fed on their discipline to keep their swords sheathed as Duncan explained what he knew.

It had been hard to swallow at first, but after a couple hundred years doing what she did best, Amanda knew better than to not believe.

Vampires, Demons, spells. Sure. Why not? She wasn't ready for the world to end either- not with Nick still in it.

Besides, despite the close catfight the last time- and the first time- she had run into Chase Winters, and with very good reason- what the hell was she supposed to do when she knocked on her ex-lover's door and encountered Slut-Oh-Rama in nothing but a towel? Anyway, point being, Amanda had something close to a grudging respect for the little rich prima donna, and hell, the chick had killed Cesar Montenegro- major balls there.

Still, she was basing more trust on Duncan as she and the ever broody Methos approached the old house that was trembling and shaking.

She blew out her breath and craned her neck. "They always gotta shake."

Duncan had moved first, muttering about the 'favor', and hell, this Chase chick really took people up on some serious favors.

"All I know, Duncan is this girl better have really giving her the greatest shagging of your life for you to call THIS a return favor."

"I second that," Methos had added.

When they entered, they had encountered the Chase chick, holding down another Immortal, who looked like she was going through a painful seizure.

Two minutes later, she and Methos were slowly descending the stairs, going TOWARD the evil roaring growling thing.

Oh yeah. THIS was smart.

The shrieks and growls weren't making this anymore pleasant, and she graciously let her Old Man elder go first, as he moved toward the door, took a breath, and turned the knob.

Wow. This was just a little chaotic.

Both swords were out in a flash, and Amanda was more than startled when the man in the leather jacket whirled, with what had to be the worst skin deformity ever.

"Vampire?"

"Who the hell are you?" He asked, seconds before he was flung to the side of the room by the REALLY gross thing.

"What the hell is THAT?!" her companion had sputtered.

"The thing I'm guessing we kill?" Amanda muttered to Methos, seconds before both let the blades shine and they attacked.

--

She cried out loud in pain, and Cordelia sucked in her breath, watching her as Kat kneeled, the hand gripping the sword looking swollen and painful.

When her eyes met Cordelia's, she only closed them again, ignoring the other Immortal that was watching hesitantly, sword drawn.

"Don't attack her, Duncan!" Chase immediately said, rising to her feet, moving carefully in an arch around Katherine. "The sword- she's."

"That's the sword?" She gripped his arm as they watched Katherine stumble, and when the roar came from the basement, Cordelia made her decision, even as her guilt ridden heart pounded its disaproval.

"Come on, we have to help stop the demon. There's nothing we can do here."

--

Katherine was drowning.

The flood was swirling through her mind and her body and she was paralyzed, fighting against it, losing the connections and every little thing that seemed alive inside of her was slowly being torn.

With each pull, each tear that came from within she found herself jerking. The sword on her arm burned, searing and molding into her flesh, making her throat parched and still her hands clenched around it, helpless to stop it.

Her dark blue eyes met Cordelia's hazel and she saw the moisture, as she choked and gasped for breath, and her own heart seared with every moment and second that passed as she watched in silent pleading as Chase pulled the other Immortal away, toward the stairs.

And with that, the ground flew up and Kat felt it slam into her head, bringing darkness.

--

Cordelia clung to Duncan's hand, a reflex that came with familiarity, as they descended the staircase, hearingthe chaos coming ever closer.

When she took a breath, she sensed his gaze on her, and she turned, giving him a cocked eyebrow.

"What?"

"Hi."

Oh, right. "Hi, Duncan," she said finally, offering him a shaky smile. He squeezed her hand, and tightened his grip, his longer sword stretched out in front of them.

"Are you ready?"

"Like old times?"

He grinned, and she couldn't help but give a shaky grin back, looking towards the door, and closing her eyes, taking a breath.

Without another word the pair burst in, and encountered the utter chaos.

Her heart seemed to Splinter when the vampire landed against the wall with an audible thud, and his name was torn from her lips as she moved away from Duncan, ignoring even the rising demon to inspect his face.

"Angel," she breathed, fingers gently moving over his bruised face.

His eyes were slightly glassed over, dazed from the impact. "Cordy?"

"Hey dolt," she remarked, voice husky with relief. "Why don't you stay out of this one? Not really your fight."

He was about to protest, but Cordelia only shook her head furiously, leaning forward to press her lips against his, hard, and then stood, her sword in her hand as she joined the other three in watching the demon continue to rise.

"So.Little Miss Rich Bitch - and I mean that in an endearing way- any suggestions?" Amanda asked, steppingback slightly, reaching behind her and slipping out her metal fan, opening it with a snap.

"Four against one, those are pretty good odds, right?" Cordelia, shifting her gaze between them.

"Five."

Katherine was visibly shaking, but she moved in through doorway, taking her place beside Duncan, the sword still pulsing on her hand.

Cordelia immediately swung her sword in her direction, eyes guarded. "Kat-"

"I'm okay." Kat looked in pain, and her knees buckled out from under her, bringing her crashing to the floor.

The demon froze, watching the woman, and Cordelia stood, wavering between the obviously hurting Immortal and the beast that was quickly gaining control.

"Cordelia." Kat's voice was low, barely discernable. "I'm going to distract it- kill it when I do-"

"Kat-"

A tentacle lashed out, sliding around Kat's body and whipping it forward, coming directly into focus with the pulsing heart.

"KAT!"

--

"HOLY SHIT!"

"Mr. Weathers if you would STOP with the running commentary," Terence snapped, pulling his tie off completely as he kept his hand on his ear. "Katie - if we don't find it now we'll have five Immortals in the same room ready to kill each other," he said quickly, removing his glasses pulling them in his pocket, rolling his sleeves up. "Corinthian. Now."

Katie nodded, chanting breathlessly in the desired language, as Terence also began, this time in Gaelic.

--

This wasn't his fight.

Angel swallowed, fists clenched into balls of frustration as he waited on the outskirts, watching, jolting as Katherine was dragged into the demon, as the other Immortals he had only just met pulled out swords, each with the same glint that had become prevalent in Cordelia's eyes.

And the dance began, amidst the shouting and the roar, and most of all, amidst Kat's cries of pain.

The Immortals had frozen for only half a second, before the swords began to swirls and suddenly they were drawn into the fight, dancing around with spins and kicks as the fight within them got the better of one or two, and swords began to clang together as the Immortals struggled to keep their minds clear.

The demon within him urged him to move, to help, but Angel and the little Slayer that was now nestled under his shoulder could only watch.

She jerked forward, and he caught her by the shoulder.

Shaking him off angrily, she lifted her stake. "Don't touch me."

"It's not your fight," he said automatically, voice hollow and not entirely convinced of that himself.

He closed his eyes to keep from watching Cordelia, and instead carefully took the Slayer and positioned her in front of the Watchers.

And with face in full demon visage, he remarked, "Any time you wanna stop the Endgame, guys."

--

A backflip was the only thing that kept her from getting gutted, thanks to the wild look in Amanda's eyes.

Ignoring the out of control thief, she flew into a somersault, jerking the sword up and slicing through a tentacle.

There was a high pitched scream before she was tossed back against the wall, her head aching with every jolt.

But the tentacle remained off.

"GUYS! Come on!"

Duncan and Methos immediately stood in ready position, and Amanda went next, shaken out of her EndGame worry and with her catlike strength going in under Methos' cover to slice through another arm, only to get knocked out herself.

"Two down, eight to go," she muttered next to Cordelia, helping the Immortal up as Methos and Duncan continued to fighting off the flailing arms. "There's gotta be an easier way."

"Well YOU'RE the thief, Amanda, YOU figure it out!" Cordelia snapped, as the two started forward, glaring at each other, and lunging with the swords, seconds before Katherine screamed one more time.

It was pure, unfiltered agony, and it made they all pause, looking as the demon swirled and caught, and Katherine was suddenly dropped away from it, looking strangely like a cat, hair tossed forward, hiding her face.

There was completely silence as the demon receded behind her, and Cordelia's eyes widened as Katherine jolted her head back, and there was nothing but pure darkness where her dark blue eyes used to be.

"Okay, I'm thinking that's bad," Amanda said, stepping back.

Katherine stood, slowly, and Cordelia sucked in her breath, shifting her grip on her sword as she looked to where Angel and the Slayer were guarding the feverishly working trio. "Any time, guys."

"If you'd allow me?"

Methos struck first, but Katherine easily blocked the blow, barely a touch of her own blade and he went flying back, knocked hard against the wall, landing in a still heap.

"SHIT."

Duncan came forward, stepping in front of the two women, guarding them.

"Chase, what's going on?"

"The sword . " Cordelia licked her lips, spotting the chandelier that was barely still hanging on the wall. "We can't fight against the sword."

"Yeah, I think that's pretty much obvious."

Duncan raised his sword, eyes dark and cold as steel as he moved in a wide arc around the possessed Katherine.

Chase's heart was beating furiously as she sucked in her breath, at the demon that was now completely still, and at the every pulsating heart that seemed to grow and grow.

Ever the entrepreneur, she jerked her head up the chandelier, pulling at the Raven's elbow and nodding up.

Amanda was evidently thinking the same thing. "Think it'll work?"

"Only one way to find out."

"On three?" Chase nodded.

"The guys'll have to keep Kat busy," Amanda muttered, reaching over and jerking up the dazed Methos. "Hey brood, go help Duncan." She shoved him toward Katherine, and in the two seconds the two Immortal Men and Katherine were distracted, the two women took their chance.

Fluidly, Cordelia raced toward the east wall, launching up and slamming into it, using her momentum to push off, and up.

Gloved hands proved crucial as she wrapped her fingers around the chandelier, barely managing to hang on after the added weight of Amanda made a coil snap.

But it was enough, their momentum soaring them over Katherine.

Cordelia grit her teeth, praying she had timed it correctly, and with nary a look at her companion, she let go, diving towards the demon, and slicing into the heart head first.

--

The high pitched screamed filled the air, and suddenly the burst of light flooded the room, and it blinded Terence for a full ten seconds, as he covered his face, continuing the chanting, quickly, always quickly.

There was no room for fear, and no room for anything but the words, and he lived and breathed them, consumed them for those seconds.

Oblivious to everything else, he never noticed when he began to convulse, when the fire burst around him, and when the huge ring that burst from around them flooded through the Immortals who were also dazed by the light, he never saw it at all.

Instead everything went black.

--

"CORDELIA!"

He took a step forward, but it was the little Slayer that held him back, with the strength that was so abnormal, keeping him away.

He growled, but she only held the stake tighter, pulling him back. "We have to take care of THEM!"

Angel's throat was dry, but the swallowing wasn't helping, as he fought to keep his eyes open against the brilliant light that flooded.

--

The first thing that she noticed when her eyes opened was the smell.

Disgusting, rancid, and completely gross.

Cordelia grimaced, and suddenly let out a muffled shriek when she realized the moistness she was half buried in was guts and blood.

"AUGH!"

Beside her, Amanda jerked up, slipping in the muck and falling back into it, hands flailing out and catching Cordelia with it.

"EWW!" Cordelia slipped again, but managed to crawl away from the remains of the demon, exhausted, with afuriously beating heart.

"This is an expensive outfit!" Amanda muttered next to her, plucking at the entrails that were splayed across her body. "And I don't even want to GO INTO the whole HAIR issue I'm going to have."

Cordelia gave her a semi annoyed look, trying to keep her grip on her sword as she stood shakily to her feet, meeting Duncan's gaze as he stood next to Methos.

"Katherine?"

 The woman in question was in a heap on the floor, face covered with her tumble of dark curls.

Cordelia stood, heart in her throat as her eyes caught Angel's form, helping up Terence, who looked dazed and tired.

Moving forward, she knelt beside Katherine, instructing Duncan to help her as she rolled Katherine onto her thighs.

The sword fell from Katherine's hands, still glowing slightly.

"Kat?"

The Immortal was breathing, and Cordelia felt a smile of relief flood her face when Katherine opened her eyes slowly.

"That hurt like a mother fuck-"

"She's okay!" Duncan shifted under her, helping Katherine to her fear as she took in a breath, shaking her head as if attempting to clear it.

"Great! She can help with the therapy bills." To Amanda, he muttered, "Now I have been around a LONG time, but-"

"Is it over?" Katherine asked.

Cordelia stared into her eyes, unsure how to answer that. Things felt.different. Her fingers were no longer itching for her sword, she glanced at Amanda and didn't feel the overwhelming urge to tear her head off, but.

There was something in Katherine's eyes.

"It should be." Katie's hair was disheveled as she stood, leaning on Mr. Weather's for support. "It appears we found the correct spell."

"She's right, I don't feel anything," Amanda said distractedly, completely engrossed in trying to clean tentacle spew from her face. "It's over, it's done, can we go?"

"PLEASE," Cordelia said, barely glancing at her.

Methos cleaned his sword, and came forward nodding. "I hope not to see you soon, Chase. You're trouble. But if you're ever in the neighborhood feel free to stop on by."

"You know I mean that completely myself. Not," Amanda said, winking, and walked after Methos, still attempting to clean her clothes. "And feel free to thank me for helping you save the world at any time with some of that cash of yours."

Duncan McCloud felt awkward as he stared at Chase.

She looked different, tired, and coated with green slime, older in the eyes, but also in some way, in the face.

His old lover who had left after one week was someone he had never quite forgotten, and he felt the smile of fondness that slipped on his face fade away when her eyes turned away from him, caught and held with the vampire who stepped forward.

Chase blew her breath out, and as Duncan watched, she leaned forward, her forehead resting suddenly on Angel's chest, as the dark haired vampire's hands slipped around her, his chin resting on the top of her head.

It was an intimate embrace, and it disturbed Duncan more than he wanted to admit, as Katherine, her strength rapidly increasing, gave a low sigh, eyes also glued on the sight.

Angel loosened his hold only slightly when Cordelia pulled back to study him. Her cheek had a bruise on it, quickly fading away. With a gentle caress, he slid his thumb along her jaw, wiping at some of the gunk that was still on her face.

"Are you okay?"

She bit her lip, nodding, hissing in as she gently placed a hand on the side of Angel's face, tilting it. "Does that hurt?"

"It's just a scratch."

"Chase."  The dark, handsome Immortal distracted her, and Angel turned with her, felt her slip free as she walked away from him, towards the new man.

"Duncan." Her face held a genuine smile as she reached forward, clasped his hands. "Thank you."

"It was good to hear from you."

Cordelia had to smile. He was always so understated.

When his eyes flickered to Angel, who was now standing directly behind her, Cordelia sucked in her breath, suddenly remembering. "Duncan this is Angel, Angel."

"Duncan."

The two supernatural beings regarded each other, and the Immortal looked away first, reaching down to pick up his sword.

"I should go. Make sure Amanda isn't trying to steal Methos' sword. again."  Again his gaze swept to Cordelia, but he said nothing, only nodding, and walking away.

Mr. Weathers moved next, running out of the room with an intensity that was almost amusing.

Cordelia looked to Katherine, who was standing, leaning against the wall, eyes holding a distracted, far off look.

"Are you okay?"

"I'm." Katherine trailed off, but gave her a grim smile, eyes moistened and tired.

Cordelia's eyes narrowed, but Katie distracted her, calling out to her as she and Terence moved to the stairs."We'll meet you back at the hotel, Chase."

"Thanks Katie."

Katie paused, smiling with the younger Terence. "Happy to be of service."

Cordelia's hand slid into Angel's, as the trio remained in the room, tried, spent...

"Angel, if you don't mind I'd like a word with Cordelia alone."

Kate's voice was soft, almost clipped.

The vampire gave her a glance, and nodded, squeezing Cordelia's fingers before letting go, moving toward thestair case.

--

Nothing was ever fully finished.

In the law of ironies, Chase had come to regard and accept that.

Even as the last demon was killed and the End Game was calmed, she knew that there was still unfinished business, and it pulsed through her, because for once, Chase had no idea what the hell she was going to do.

Kat looked old, leaning against the wall.

"You didn't tell him."

"He already knew."

"I don't know if he did."

"He knows the nature."

Katherine was quiet, not moving as she swept her eyes over the room. "You didn't kill the demon, Chase."

The moisture stung the back of Cordelia's eyes as she answered, gripping her sword, never putting it down. "I know."

Katherine closed her eyes, shoulders deflated in a gesture of acceptance. "It's my fault, I guess."

"No. It was mine."

The older Immortal smiled grimly, shaking her head at the statement. "One thing you gotta learn, kid, not everything is your fault. Everyone has choices. Sometimes we make the bad ones, but we correct them."

"I'm not going to give up on you."

The words came out choked, but Cordelia held her ground, dropping the sword with a clatter on the ground.

"Pick it up."

"No."

"Chase you don't have a choice. It's inside me, locked away, and if you don't kill it, it'll come about again. You knew this was the only ending."

Her heart was beating so slowly, pounding against her chest. Cordelia was trembling, grief and emotion flittingover her in disturbingly epic amounts.

"We should have been able to save you."

And Katherine smiled, a gentle, sad grin that made her features lighter, gentler. "Cordelia Chase, you don't get it. You will. Not my life. My soul. My life isn't what's important."

"Okay, Martyr, STOP RIGHT THERE. It's damn well important to ME."

"What do you care more about, Cordelia?" Kat finally clipped, reaching down to pick up the still glowing sword. "Me or the world?"

"I don't want to-"

"You can't die, Cordelia. You're Angel's Seer, right? That's a connection, a higher purpose." Kat's face hardened, and Chase stepped back, suddenly guarded as the older Immortal gave her a cold look. "Don't make me coddle you, Chase. End it. Do it or I'll kill you myself."

--

Big Bear, CA 1998

She was fighting for her life against the very man who had taught her to preserve it.

Cordelia was confused, scared, and angry. Her movements were choppy as he continued to lunge, this final test suddenly very real as Cordelia slipped back.

Every counter was harder, every blow that much more forceful and his eyes- oh God Winters' eyes.

This wasn't a test.

The truth was hidden in his eyes, masked with tortured rage, and full complete emotion that made the snap of his wrist hard, unmerciful.

Her mentor was fighting to kill.

Oh, God he wanted to kill her.

He came again, and again, it was all she could to do keep away from the swinging blade, to counter it with her own and keep moving back.

He knocked the blade out of her grasp once, and she vaulted back, narrowly missing the sword that would have slid into her gut.

Fear made her heart pound, rage made her twist, block the flat of his fast approaching sword with her heel, knocking it back, and a quick twist and her own blade had rammed into his side.

He fell to the ground with a groan, and immediately she ran to him, kneeling beside him, voice chattering as she asked with tear filled eyes if he was okay.

But he pushed her away with brutal force, looked deep into her hazel eyes, and spoke with unerring conviction.

"Finish it."

At first the words didn't seem to sink in.

Her jaw fell open, and she only stared, unable to comprehend, shaking her head.

"What. I-"

"DO IT!" The voice shook through her, but she only stood still, her entire body trembling as she saw the blood seeping from his wound, pooling on the floor of the great room, running, and running, and it was so red, and his eyes, Winters' eyes-

Her vision was blurry, but it never registered when she began to cry. "Winters. I can't-"

"DAMMIT CHASE." He was on his feet in an instant, grimacing against the pain, coming toward her, eyes locked on her in hypnotizing rage. "I need this. YOU need this."

She shook her head, disbelieving, and suddenly he had pulled her against his body, hauled her to him and kissed her savagely.

His mouth ravaged hers, tongue slipping in and Cordelia was shocked into submission for only a second, before she pulled away, hurt clouding her eyes as she wiped at her face, moving back, watching him with wide open eyes.

But his own eyes held very real pain at her rejection, his voice suddenly so very small and hoarse as he whispered, "You see? Do it or I'll kill you myself."

The sword came again, and she was locked into battle, her mind suddenly clear and free of conviction.

She knew, she knew all of it, the Immortal who spent years fighting his feelings was now consumed by them, driven mad- this was not the Winters she accepted as a mentor- this was a man with no future, and a man driven insane by his own convictions.

There was no choice.

He was desperate, and he would truly kill her.

The instinct locked in before she made the decision, and her eyes met his as it all came through: the clangingof the metal, the sudden twist, the well practiced turn and swing, the sword coming down in exactly the right place, and in the seconds before the sword hit the flesh, the peace in Winters eyes, before the sword sliced through and it was over.

Silence descended upon her as she dropped the sword in horror, looking at the body, her breath coming out on gasps, sobs convulsing over her body as she knelt against it, scared to touch the blood, so scared and unsure and alone.

The crackling in the air was unfamiliar, and she never saw the lightning until it was directly upon her.

And that was when all hell broke loose.

--

The first quickening had nearly killed her.

The first time she took the head, her own mentor's life, had consumed her.

But the look was the same, in Katherine's eyes.

The tears were the same as they trailed down Cordelia's cheek, as she slowly leaned down, picked up the sword, offering a prayer for her own soul, that in setting Katherine's free, she might gain a little redemption in hers.

"I'm sorry, Kat."

Kat paused, and slowly shook her head. "Don't be sorry, Chase. Finish it. And save my soul."

The sound of the blades hitting together signaled the beginning of the end for one.

--

 The waiting would always be the hardest part.

Angel waited, sitting on the dirty curb on the dirty street in the dirty district of the dirty city of the dirty world they had just helped save.

His fingers knitted together, and his dead heart, in a curiously human sense, twisted inside of him.

The lightning hit the house behind him, and he closed his eyes, forcing himself not to look, hitching in his breath, and keeping his hands together, fingers straining against the others.

There was acceptance in his heart, that in the road that lay before him, this would be something he would never get used to.

It was an uncertain road.

One full of heartache and pain, and one he wasn't altogether sure it was best for either of them to take.

When he heard the steps behind him, he exhaled in relief, closing his eyes, covering his face with his hands as he felt the warmth beside him, as the figure slumped down next to him.

She was tired.

Staring straight ahead of him, he asked bluntly, "Where's Kat?"

Quiet, and suddenly a sword was placed in his hands.

Looking down, he knew his answer.

Holding Kat's sword, he looked up at Cordelia, with her smudged, beautiful face, and her tired, wounded eyes.

He didn't have to ask, and she didn't have to answer.

Instead he only nodded in understanding, and stood.

She waited, watching him, and he moved, offering his hand, fingers outstretched, waiting for hers.

She was quiet, and closed her eyes and took a deep, ragged breath, before she knit her fingers in his and allowed herself to be pulled up, cradled gently into his side.

Her eyes closed as she slid her arm around his waist, into the curious cold that was Angel, and breathed in deeply, leaning against him.

"Let's go home," she said breathlessly.

Together, the vampire with the soul and the Immortal Seer walked into the night.