A/N-Thanks to all the wonderful reviews I got. It really makes my fragile
ego sing. I love happy endings, so even Angel gets one in this, the final,
chapter. He just doesn't get one with Buffy. Thanks again for all the
great reviews!
The Chosen Champion
Chapter 3--Love, true love, brings us together today
By the time they made it back to her house, Buffy was leaning heavily into Spike's side. Dawn had walked close on the other side, sheltering their embattled Slayer.
"Dawn, take Buffy upstairs, help her get ready for bed." Buffy started to protest, but Spike cut her off. "Luv, you're barely standing upright. Let Dawn help."
Dawn tugged gently on Buffy's had and led her up the stairs. "I guess being evil is pretty exhausting, huh?" Dawn said lightly.
"Yeah, and not as much fun as you would think it would be." Buffy smiled wanly.
When they reached Buffy's bedroom, she practically collapsed on the edge of her bed. Too tired to even complain, Dawn helped tug off her clothes and pulled a nightgown over her sister's head. As Buffy laid her weary body down, Dawn asked, "Do you want me to stay for a while."
But Buffy was already asleep.
*****
Spike was wearied too, but knew Giles would have a million or so Watcher- ish questions when he got back from the ghastly task of cleaning up the dead. So he made a sandwich and sat down on the couch to wait.
Two minutes later, he was fast asleep as well.
*****
Chaos. Anarchy. Rivers of blood. Buffy brought it all onto Earth. She rejoiced when Giles was neck was broken. She cheered when Xander got eviscerated. She laughed as the Uber-Vampires snapped Dawn's head clean off. She screamed with glee when Spike burst into a cloud of dust.
Then she woke up screaming.
Dawn rushed in and tried to comfort her sister. But Buffy was beyond comfort. Screaming hysterically for Spike, she shoved at Dawn hard. Dawn ran downstairs to find Spike fast asleep on the sofa. She shook his shoulders, jerking him awake.
"Buffy's hysterical." She made a pained face. "She wants you."
Spike didn't even wait for Dawn to finish talking, before he took the stairs two at a time. He could hear Buffy's crying, choking sobs. She launched herself into his arms as he reached the bed. "My fault. It was all my fault," she wailed.
"Shh, luv, not your fault. Not your fault." He rocked her gently back and forth until her sobs quieted and her body softened. He laid her gently back down on the bed, smoothed the covers over her, then stood up to leave. Immediately, Buffy sat back up in bed.
"No, please, stay. Please."
"Okay, pet. Okay." He shed his duster and boots and slid under the covers with her. Gathering her up close in his arms, he pressed gentle kisses against her forehead.
Suddenly, something clicked in Buffy's addled brain. Spike was warm. She immediately shoved one hand underneath his T-shirt. His heart was steadily beating underneath her palm. "Spike.you're warm.you're heart.it's beating."
But Spike was already half asleep. "Know that, luv. Long story. Tell you in the morning."
Buffy lifted her head from Spike's shoulder and blearily stared at the clock. "It is morning."
"Long story. Tell you in the afternoon."
"Okay. In the afternoon." She muttered sleepily.
*****
Angel had stayed to help Giles clean up the dead. He had a lot of questions, mostly about Buffy and Spike, but wasn't sure how to broach the subject. Finally, he decided just to say it. "So.Spike? Helping Buffy? What's going on with that? Last time I saw him, he was torturing me to get the Gem of Amara back."
Giles just couldn't work up a whole lot of sympathy for Angel being tortured by Spike. In fact, the Ripper part of his soul was kind of hoping that Spike had done a *really* good job of it. "Not long after the Amara incident, Spike was captured by a government group called The Initiative. They implanted a chip that kept him from hurting humans. He could still hurt other demons, so he started helping us. Eventually, he fell in love with Buffy. Decided the only way he good enough for her was to get a soul. So he won his back." Giles knew he was leaving large sections out of the story. He wasn't certain of Angel's reaction to Buffy and Spike's relationship, nor Spike's soul quest.
Angel was stunned. A vampire being cursed with a soul was one thing, but actually seeking out a soul? That was unheard of. And if he really thought about it, not really surprising that it was Spike who had done it. He tried to hide a pained expression. He knew Angelus would never willing choose a soul. "He told me once that he was Love's Bitch."
Giles looked at dead. Twelve of the girls dead. Plus Robin Wood. Thirteen all tolled. He should be grateful that none of those he'd come to cherish had died. He should be grateful that another Apocalypse had been averted and that the ugly black mist of the First got sucked into the Hellmouth when it closed. Perhaps the balance of power had been restored. But still. Thirteen dead. "We need to transport their.bodies over to the morgue. Maybe we can "borrow" a truck for a while."
"What about the demons?" Angel asked. "We can't just leave them here. Eventually someone will find them."
Giles took off his glasses and massaged the bridge of his nose. "There is no hurry. The town is practically deserted. We shall take them and burn them. Tomorrow night."
"Well, we have to hurry. The sun will be up in a couple of hours."
"Right, then. Let's go"
*****
One hospital in Sunnydale had remained open, but it was staffed by only a few dedicated doctors and nurses. Falling asleep on uncomfortable chairs in the lobby, Xander and Anya had stayed with the four girls who needed more serious attention.
"Sir? Ma'am?"
"Huh?" Xander woke up slowly, not quite remembering where he was.
"Sir? Your friends? They're going to be okay. You should go home now. There's nothing more you can do here." She looked at him askance. "Do you mind if I ask what happened to them?"
Xander shook Anya awake gently. "You wouldn't believe me if I told you," he replied dryly.
"I've lived here a long time. I would actually believe a lot."
Now awake, Anya piped up. "Those girls are potential Vampire Slayers. The mouth of Hell opened up underneath the High School. They were hurt fighting off the demons that came out." She said it very matter-of-factly.
"Oh." Was all the stunned nurse could respond.
*****
Wrapped in the now warm arms of her love, Buffy woke up slowly, contentedly, several hours later. She propped herself on one elbow and watched him sleep. He looked so calm in his sleep. But she'd had her epiphany last night during the big battle and she needed to tell him. She had to tell him that the ice that had surrounded her heart for so long had finally shattered, leaving her ready to love. Stroking her hand across his chest and stomach, she tried to rouse him from sleep.
Best damn dream I've had in a long time, Spike thought to himself, half awake. Sleeping in Buffy's bed, Buffy running her hand across his body, Buffy filling his senses.
"You know, even with your new beating heart, you still sleep like the dead." There was amusement in her voice.
"Thought I was dreamin'."
She leaned down and placed a kiss on his lips.
"Now I know I'm dreamin'."
She took a deep breath. "I wanted to tell you. When the First had taken me over, I knew you would come for me. I knew it. So, I wanted to thank you. For coming for me. And I." She swallowed, her mouth suddenly dry. "I.I realized that this thing between us. It's been messy and ugly." At the pain she saw in his eyes, she hurried on. "But it's real. It's love. The big, scary, grown-up, for real kind of love. I love you." Her eyes blurred with tears and her stomach clenched. Even though she knew he still loved her, she was still afraid of what he might say.
"Is pretty scary, innit?" He stroked her hair softly. "But at least you're not alone, right?"
"Yeah, not alone."
She started to kiss him again, but before should could, he said, "Umm, what with this being so scary an' all, maybe we should take it slow." He didn't really want to take it slow, but he had been burned so many times in the past.
Buffy tried not to let the disappointment show on her face. "Yeah. Slow is good." She grinned saucily at him. "But the thing is, I love you. I'm gonna love you tomorrow, and the next day and the next. And I don't care what any one else thinks. So, slow is good and right and all.but fast? It's a lot more fun!" She slid her hand lower to tease the edge of his jeans.
He grinned delightedly at both her words and her actions. He pulled her down to him, then kissed her languidly till they both were gasping for breath. "Though slow has it's merits, too, luv."
*****
By the time Giles and Angel had finished their grisly task it was mid- morning and Angel had to run into Buffy's house to avoid the sun. Anya and Dawn were fixing breakfast for the household.
"Giles, you look like crap." Anya bluntly remarked.
"Gee, thank you, Anya, I very much needed to hear that. Dawn, is Buffy awake? I really need to speak with her."
Just then, Willow and Xander entered the kitchen. "Um, I don't think you want to disturb her right now. She's probably still.um.sleeping." Willow had heard the sounds coming from Buffy's bedroom and knew that sleep or talking to Giles were the last things on Buffy's mind right now.
"Sleeping!" Anya exclaimed. "Are you kidding?!! I'm sure Spike has her upside down and halfway to happy land right now."
Giles closed his eyes tightly. "Again, Anya, thank you."
"Thank Anya for what, Giles?" Buffy asked from the doorway.
"For telling him that Spike had you halfway to happy land." Anya looked closely at Buffy. "But from the look on your face, I'd say he got you all the way there."
Buffy knew her face must be turning all different shades of red. Okay, she thought, time to change the subject. "Angel, about last night.that kiss? That wasn't really me. And I'm really sorry."
"It's okay, Buffy. I kind of understand what's been going on here." Angel looked at Buffy and realized she wasn't the girl he'd fallen in love with anymore. She'd changed. She was a woman now, and in love with some one else. Just like he loved someone else now, too. "You look happy."
"I am. Happy." She beamed with joy and life.
"I wanted to speak with you about your "possession" by the First, Buffy. What exactly happened?"
"I don't know how it happened, exactly. I killed Caleb, I remember that." Her eyebrows furrowed together as she tried to explain precisely what had taken place the night before. "I saw Angel. I gave him a hug. Then.then suddenly, it hit me."
"What hit you?" Xander asked.
"Evil." Buffy said simply. "It was just pure evil, and I wasn't me anymore. Or the parts that were.are me, got buried really far under." She started to shiver a little, until a warm arm slid around her shoulders. Spike always seemed to know when she needed him. "I wasn't strong enough to fight back. Then, when we were in the basement, Spike, he gave me the strength to fight back. And I kicked it's incorporeal ass!"
That you did, luv." Spike smiled at her fondly.
"And you, Spike. How did you know what to do? What was wrong with Buffy?" Giles asked.
"Was walking around last night. Met this woman. She.glowed. Told me she was First Good. That they had chosen me to be their champion. Gave me the knowledge and power to help Buffy. So she could help herself. They gave it to me not out of destiny or prophecy or any o' that nonsense. 'Cause they knew I could love. 'Cause even my demon could love"
Giles snorted inelegantly, still unwilling to believe that an unsouled vampire could truly love.
"'S true." Spike retorted. "Loved Buffy when I didn't have a soul. Loved her the same after I got the soul. Love her now. I know you don't think that vampires can love, and maybe most of them, hell all of them, can't. But I can. I did. They gave me their power." His eyes grew distant as he remembered. "Was wonderful and horrible at the same time. The soul welcomed it, but I think.I think it killed the demon."
"Killed the demon?" Several of the Scoobies exclaimed.
"Yeah. I'm not a vampire anymore. The heart's beating, lungs breathing. See? Not even allergic to sunlight anymore." He proved his point by stepping into the sunlight that was spilling into the kitchen.
"And you're okay with this?" Xander was incredulous. "I thought you liked being a vampire."
Spike shrugged. "Don't feel much different. Still strong, still heal up pretty quick. Still just me."
"Like the old you was such a prize" Xander retorted, though there wasn't any venom in his voice. Ignoring Spike's dirty look Xander continued on. "So we defeated the First, and closed the Hellmouth, what are we gonna do now? Go to Disneyland?"
"Oh please, Xander. We just fought all those demons. Do you really want to go someplace else that is just filled with them?"
Xander looked a little pale. "Disneyland? Filled with demons? I thought it was the Happiest Place on Earth."
"Of course. The Happiest Place on Earth for demons." Anya explained. "Walt Disney was a demon. Orange County is just filled with them. They love it there. The whole suburban kitsch thing. How do you think the Angels won the World Series?"
"Okaaay. So no Disneyland. How 'bout a big party. Maybe at the Bronze?"
Buffy smiled. "Yes!" she looked at Angel. "You could even call Cordy and Wes and the others. A great big "We Survived Another Apocalypse" party combined with a going away party for all the remaining Potentials. " Buffy was very much looking forward to having her house back.
After all, it's very hard to have alone time with your sweetie when you have a house full of people.
*****
Three days later, as Sunnydale's residents started to trickle back in, they took over the Bronze for an all out bash. Andrew even talked the cook into making the blooming onion thing again.
From across the room, Angel watched Cordelia talking to Willow.
"You should go ask her dance, mate." Spike said from next to him. "Seen the way she looks at you. Doubt she'd say no."
"How'd you get the soul, Spike?" Angel had been thinking about this, ever since Giles had first told him of the soul quest.
"Went to Africa. Passed some tests. Life or death kinda things."
"And the soul is yours to keep?"
"Yeah, no happiness clause."
Angel walked across the Bronze and asked Cordelia to dance. He led her out on to the dance floor and pulled her close to his body.
"We didn't really have the time to talk after I came back. I got that vision and you had to head here to help Buffy." She said to him. "But, thank you. For rescuing me from that other dimension. Was I bored! And that evil Pod person that replaced me. The things she did and I had to watch it all!"
"You're welcome. Listen, that night, that you ascended? What were you coming to tell me?" He kind of knew what she was coming to say, but he really needed to hear the words. The words from the real Cordelia.
"I was coming to tell you that I love you," she said simply.
A huge burden was lifted from Angel's shoulders. "I love you, too." They came together and kissed passionately. "I was thinking," he said after they came up for air. "Spike was telling me about how he won his soul. Maybe I could find a way to anchor mine. You know, so no more happiness clause."
Cordelia smiled widely. "That would be wonderful. Just wonderful."
*****
After several hours of dancing and laughing with her friends, Buffy gathered them around a table. "I'd like to tell you all something. First of all, I love you. I couldn't have made it without you. But now, it's time for me to retire." She looked at the faces of those around her. Shock was evident on most of them. "I've talked this over with Faith and since she's back on our side, she's going to take over the day to day job of being the Slayer. Sure, I'll stake the occasional vampire if I happen across them, but for the big stuff, I'm done."
"But, Buffy" Willow started to protest.
"No, Wills, I've really thought about this. You guys.you guys gave up any chance of having a normal life when you started to help me. You deserve that. Find the girl," she smiled and looked at Xander "or.or the girl," looking at Willow, "of your choice and settle down." She turned to Giles. "Go back to00
The Chosen Champion
Chapter 3--Love, true love, brings us together today
By the time they made it back to her house, Buffy was leaning heavily into Spike's side. Dawn had walked close on the other side, sheltering their embattled Slayer.
"Dawn, take Buffy upstairs, help her get ready for bed." Buffy started to protest, but Spike cut her off. "Luv, you're barely standing upright. Let Dawn help."
Dawn tugged gently on Buffy's had and led her up the stairs. "I guess being evil is pretty exhausting, huh?" Dawn said lightly.
"Yeah, and not as much fun as you would think it would be." Buffy smiled wanly.
When they reached Buffy's bedroom, she practically collapsed on the edge of her bed. Too tired to even complain, Dawn helped tug off her clothes and pulled a nightgown over her sister's head. As Buffy laid her weary body down, Dawn asked, "Do you want me to stay for a while."
But Buffy was already asleep.
*****
Spike was wearied too, but knew Giles would have a million or so Watcher- ish questions when he got back from the ghastly task of cleaning up the dead. So he made a sandwich and sat down on the couch to wait.
Two minutes later, he was fast asleep as well.
*****
Chaos. Anarchy. Rivers of blood. Buffy brought it all onto Earth. She rejoiced when Giles was neck was broken. She cheered when Xander got eviscerated. She laughed as the Uber-Vampires snapped Dawn's head clean off. She screamed with glee when Spike burst into a cloud of dust.
Then she woke up screaming.
Dawn rushed in and tried to comfort her sister. But Buffy was beyond comfort. Screaming hysterically for Spike, she shoved at Dawn hard. Dawn ran downstairs to find Spike fast asleep on the sofa. She shook his shoulders, jerking him awake.
"Buffy's hysterical." She made a pained face. "She wants you."
Spike didn't even wait for Dawn to finish talking, before he took the stairs two at a time. He could hear Buffy's crying, choking sobs. She launched herself into his arms as he reached the bed. "My fault. It was all my fault," she wailed.
"Shh, luv, not your fault. Not your fault." He rocked her gently back and forth until her sobs quieted and her body softened. He laid her gently back down on the bed, smoothed the covers over her, then stood up to leave. Immediately, Buffy sat back up in bed.
"No, please, stay. Please."
"Okay, pet. Okay." He shed his duster and boots and slid under the covers with her. Gathering her up close in his arms, he pressed gentle kisses against her forehead.
Suddenly, something clicked in Buffy's addled brain. Spike was warm. She immediately shoved one hand underneath his T-shirt. His heart was steadily beating underneath her palm. "Spike.you're warm.you're heart.it's beating."
But Spike was already half asleep. "Know that, luv. Long story. Tell you in the morning."
Buffy lifted her head from Spike's shoulder and blearily stared at the clock. "It is morning."
"Long story. Tell you in the afternoon."
"Okay. In the afternoon." She muttered sleepily.
*****
Angel had stayed to help Giles clean up the dead. He had a lot of questions, mostly about Buffy and Spike, but wasn't sure how to broach the subject. Finally, he decided just to say it. "So.Spike? Helping Buffy? What's going on with that? Last time I saw him, he was torturing me to get the Gem of Amara back."
Giles just couldn't work up a whole lot of sympathy for Angel being tortured by Spike. In fact, the Ripper part of his soul was kind of hoping that Spike had done a *really* good job of it. "Not long after the Amara incident, Spike was captured by a government group called The Initiative. They implanted a chip that kept him from hurting humans. He could still hurt other demons, so he started helping us. Eventually, he fell in love with Buffy. Decided the only way he good enough for her was to get a soul. So he won his back." Giles knew he was leaving large sections out of the story. He wasn't certain of Angel's reaction to Buffy and Spike's relationship, nor Spike's soul quest.
Angel was stunned. A vampire being cursed with a soul was one thing, but actually seeking out a soul? That was unheard of. And if he really thought about it, not really surprising that it was Spike who had done it. He tried to hide a pained expression. He knew Angelus would never willing choose a soul. "He told me once that he was Love's Bitch."
Giles looked at dead. Twelve of the girls dead. Plus Robin Wood. Thirteen all tolled. He should be grateful that none of those he'd come to cherish had died. He should be grateful that another Apocalypse had been averted and that the ugly black mist of the First got sucked into the Hellmouth when it closed. Perhaps the balance of power had been restored. But still. Thirteen dead. "We need to transport their.bodies over to the morgue. Maybe we can "borrow" a truck for a while."
"What about the demons?" Angel asked. "We can't just leave them here. Eventually someone will find them."
Giles took off his glasses and massaged the bridge of his nose. "There is no hurry. The town is practically deserted. We shall take them and burn them. Tomorrow night."
"Well, we have to hurry. The sun will be up in a couple of hours."
"Right, then. Let's go"
*****
One hospital in Sunnydale had remained open, but it was staffed by only a few dedicated doctors and nurses. Falling asleep on uncomfortable chairs in the lobby, Xander and Anya had stayed with the four girls who needed more serious attention.
"Sir? Ma'am?"
"Huh?" Xander woke up slowly, not quite remembering where he was.
"Sir? Your friends? They're going to be okay. You should go home now. There's nothing more you can do here." She looked at him askance. "Do you mind if I ask what happened to them?"
Xander shook Anya awake gently. "You wouldn't believe me if I told you," he replied dryly.
"I've lived here a long time. I would actually believe a lot."
Now awake, Anya piped up. "Those girls are potential Vampire Slayers. The mouth of Hell opened up underneath the High School. They were hurt fighting off the demons that came out." She said it very matter-of-factly.
"Oh." Was all the stunned nurse could respond.
*****
Wrapped in the now warm arms of her love, Buffy woke up slowly, contentedly, several hours later. She propped herself on one elbow and watched him sleep. He looked so calm in his sleep. But she'd had her epiphany last night during the big battle and she needed to tell him. She had to tell him that the ice that had surrounded her heart for so long had finally shattered, leaving her ready to love. Stroking her hand across his chest and stomach, she tried to rouse him from sleep.
Best damn dream I've had in a long time, Spike thought to himself, half awake. Sleeping in Buffy's bed, Buffy running her hand across his body, Buffy filling his senses.
"You know, even with your new beating heart, you still sleep like the dead." There was amusement in her voice.
"Thought I was dreamin'."
She leaned down and placed a kiss on his lips.
"Now I know I'm dreamin'."
She took a deep breath. "I wanted to tell you. When the First had taken me over, I knew you would come for me. I knew it. So, I wanted to thank you. For coming for me. And I." She swallowed, her mouth suddenly dry. "I.I realized that this thing between us. It's been messy and ugly." At the pain she saw in his eyes, she hurried on. "But it's real. It's love. The big, scary, grown-up, for real kind of love. I love you." Her eyes blurred with tears and her stomach clenched. Even though she knew he still loved her, she was still afraid of what he might say.
"Is pretty scary, innit?" He stroked her hair softly. "But at least you're not alone, right?"
"Yeah, not alone."
She started to kiss him again, but before should could, he said, "Umm, what with this being so scary an' all, maybe we should take it slow." He didn't really want to take it slow, but he had been burned so many times in the past.
Buffy tried not to let the disappointment show on her face. "Yeah. Slow is good." She grinned saucily at him. "But the thing is, I love you. I'm gonna love you tomorrow, and the next day and the next. And I don't care what any one else thinks. So, slow is good and right and all.but fast? It's a lot more fun!" She slid her hand lower to tease the edge of his jeans.
He grinned delightedly at both her words and her actions. He pulled her down to him, then kissed her languidly till they both were gasping for breath. "Though slow has it's merits, too, luv."
*****
By the time Giles and Angel had finished their grisly task it was mid- morning and Angel had to run into Buffy's house to avoid the sun. Anya and Dawn were fixing breakfast for the household.
"Giles, you look like crap." Anya bluntly remarked.
"Gee, thank you, Anya, I very much needed to hear that. Dawn, is Buffy awake? I really need to speak with her."
Just then, Willow and Xander entered the kitchen. "Um, I don't think you want to disturb her right now. She's probably still.um.sleeping." Willow had heard the sounds coming from Buffy's bedroom and knew that sleep or talking to Giles were the last things on Buffy's mind right now.
"Sleeping!" Anya exclaimed. "Are you kidding?!! I'm sure Spike has her upside down and halfway to happy land right now."
Giles closed his eyes tightly. "Again, Anya, thank you."
"Thank Anya for what, Giles?" Buffy asked from the doorway.
"For telling him that Spike had you halfway to happy land." Anya looked closely at Buffy. "But from the look on your face, I'd say he got you all the way there."
Buffy knew her face must be turning all different shades of red. Okay, she thought, time to change the subject. "Angel, about last night.that kiss? That wasn't really me. And I'm really sorry."
"It's okay, Buffy. I kind of understand what's been going on here." Angel looked at Buffy and realized she wasn't the girl he'd fallen in love with anymore. She'd changed. She was a woman now, and in love with some one else. Just like he loved someone else now, too. "You look happy."
"I am. Happy." She beamed with joy and life.
"I wanted to speak with you about your "possession" by the First, Buffy. What exactly happened?"
"I don't know how it happened, exactly. I killed Caleb, I remember that." Her eyebrows furrowed together as she tried to explain precisely what had taken place the night before. "I saw Angel. I gave him a hug. Then.then suddenly, it hit me."
"What hit you?" Xander asked.
"Evil." Buffy said simply. "It was just pure evil, and I wasn't me anymore. Or the parts that were.are me, got buried really far under." She started to shiver a little, until a warm arm slid around her shoulders. Spike always seemed to know when she needed him. "I wasn't strong enough to fight back. Then, when we were in the basement, Spike, he gave me the strength to fight back. And I kicked it's incorporeal ass!"
That you did, luv." Spike smiled at her fondly.
"And you, Spike. How did you know what to do? What was wrong with Buffy?" Giles asked.
"Was walking around last night. Met this woman. She.glowed. Told me she was First Good. That they had chosen me to be their champion. Gave me the knowledge and power to help Buffy. So she could help herself. They gave it to me not out of destiny or prophecy or any o' that nonsense. 'Cause they knew I could love. 'Cause even my demon could love"
Giles snorted inelegantly, still unwilling to believe that an unsouled vampire could truly love.
"'S true." Spike retorted. "Loved Buffy when I didn't have a soul. Loved her the same after I got the soul. Love her now. I know you don't think that vampires can love, and maybe most of them, hell all of them, can't. But I can. I did. They gave me their power." His eyes grew distant as he remembered. "Was wonderful and horrible at the same time. The soul welcomed it, but I think.I think it killed the demon."
"Killed the demon?" Several of the Scoobies exclaimed.
"Yeah. I'm not a vampire anymore. The heart's beating, lungs breathing. See? Not even allergic to sunlight anymore." He proved his point by stepping into the sunlight that was spilling into the kitchen.
"And you're okay with this?" Xander was incredulous. "I thought you liked being a vampire."
Spike shrugged. "Don't feel much different. Still strong, still heal up pretty quick. Still just me."
"Like the old you was such a prize" Xander retorted, though there wasn't any venom in his voice. Ignoring Spike's dirty look Xander continued on. "So we defeated the First, and closed the Hellmouth, what are we gonna do now? Go to Disneyland?"
"Oh please, Xander. We just fought all those demons. Do you really want to go someplace else that is just filled with them?"
Xander looked a little pale. "Disneyland? Filled with demons? I thought it was the Happiest Place on Earth."
"Of course. The Happiest Place on Earth for demons." Anya explained. "Walt Disney was a demon. Orange County is just filled with them. They love it there. The whole suburban kitsch thing. How do you think the Angels won the World Series?"
"Okaaay. So no Disneyland. How 'bout a big party. Maybe at the Bronze?"
Buffy smiled. "Yes!" she looked at Angel. "You could even call Cordy and Wes and the others. A great big "We Survived Another Apocalypse" party combined with a going away party for all the remaining Potentials. " Buffy was very much looking forward to having her house back.
After all, it's very hard to have alone time with your sweetie when you have a house full of people.
*****
Three days later, as Sunnydale's residents started to trickle back in, they took over the Bronze for an all out bash. Andrew even talked the cook into making the blooming onion thing again.
From across the room, Angel watched Cordelia talking to Willow.
"You should go ask her dance, mate." Spike said from next to him. "Seen the way she looks at you. Doubt she'd say no."
"How'd you get the soul, Spike?" Angel had been thinking about this, ever since Giles had first told him of the soul quest.
"Went to Africa. Passed some tests. Life or death kinda things."
"And the soul is yours to keep?"
"Yeah, no happiness clause."
Angel walked across the Bronze and asked Cordelia to dance. He led her out on to the dance floor and pulled her close to his body.
"We didn't really have the time to talk after I came back. I got that vision and you had to head here to help Buffy." She said to him. "But, thank you. For rescuing me from that other dimension. Was I bored! And that evil Pod person that replaced me. The things she did and I had to watch it all!"
"You're welcome. Listen, that night, that you ascended? What were you coming to tell me?" He kind of knew what she was coming to say, but he really needed to hear the words. The words from the real Cordelia.
"I was coming to tell you that I love you," she said simply.
A huge burden was lifted from Angel's shoulders. "I love you, too." They came together and kissed passionately. "I was thinking," he said after they came up for air. "Spike was telling me about how he won his soul. Maybe I could find a way to anchor mine. You know, so no more happiness clause."
Cordelia smiled widely. "That would be wonderful. Just wonderful."
*****
After several hours of dancing and laughing with her friends, Buffy gathered them around a table. "I'd like to tell you all something. First of all, I love you. I couldn't have made it without you. But now, it's time for me to retire." She looked at the faces of those around her. Shock was evident on most of them. "I've talked this over with Faith and since she's back on our side, she's going to take over the day to day job of being the Slayer. Sure, I'll stake the occasional vampire if I happen across them, but for the big stuff, I'm done."
"But, Buffy" Willow started to protest.
"No, Wills, I've really thought about this. You guys.you guys gave up any chance of having a normal life when you started to help me. You deserve that. Find the girl," she smiled and looked at Xander "or.or the girl," looking at Willow, "of your choice and settle down." She turned to Giles. "Go back to00
