Redemption, Part 4
The two Watchers pored over their various texts, trying to quickly translate the remaining passages. Down the hall, Gunn inventoried the swords they had confiscated from the dead demons, while Fred and Cordelia put Connor to sleep and discussed the latest events.
"Can you imagine what it must be like for those two? Seeing each other again after everything they went through? Still being that much in love after so long?" Fred asked dreamily as she bent over Connor.
Cordelia looked up from the floor where she was folding the baby's clothes. "I can't really imagine, no. I don't think I've ever been that much in love."
Fred turned to her, sadly. "Me neither." She paused, then continued slowly. "Was it hard for you to ask Groo to leave?"
"No, not really. It wasn't fair to either of us. He wanted his princess, and I wasn't willing to risk enough to be with him. I think that shows the extent of your love for someone—the risk you're willing to put yourself through for the other person. You have to be ready to give it all up." Cordelia narrowed her eyes. "Why do you ask?"
Fred sighed and turned back to the baby. Cordelia barely heard her answer. "I'm going to break up with Gunn." She faced Cordy. "I care about him; I do. But not enough. We don't really have that much in common beyond the physical aspect. We've been dating for the same amount of time that Drew and Anne had before she turned. Drew still loves her after 20 years, even if it's the memory he loves more. I don't think I'd mourn Gunn that long. I don't feel that strongly for him, and I don't see that changing. I think it's best to hurt him more now than hurt us both in the long run. He's just not the guy for me."
Cordy reached out to hug her friend. "If that's the way you feel, I think it's probably for the best."
In the kitchen of the hotel, Angel was also hugging a new friend as she cried into his shoulder. Their respective glasses of blood stood forgotten on the table.
"I just—I never expected…" Anne sobbed.
"Shhh. Shh, it's okay. Everything will work out, I promise."
Anne pulled away, drying her eyes. "I'm sorry, Angel. I didn't mean to break down like that. Today has just been horrible. I was almost getting my, well, un-life on track, you know, and this turn of events has me really confused."
"I understand, really."
Anne sighed and sat down in the closest chair. "How do you go on every day, knowing what you are?"
"Well, it helps that I have these friends, these humans that keep the real me alive. This monster can be fought. You've proven that and you were never resouled. You had that strength to survive. And it looks like it might pay off now."
"It's just so hard. I can't tell you the number of times I've placed a stake near my heart, desperate to push it in. I've never been able to. Finding this orb now, when I don't feel like I've really deserved it—I mean, you—you've tried to save people, to atone for your past mistakes. What have I done that I can be rewarded like this?"
"Anne, you were the Slayer. The Powers That Be know that, know the sacrifices you made to serve them in your lifetime. They wouldn't just let it end with you suffering as a vampire. I think that's partly why you were able to maintain such lucidity."
Anne looked over at Angel and smiled. "Thanks." She was about to say something else when a sound alerted her to people coming. She looked up and saw the two Watchers standing in the doorway, smiling.
"We've finished translating the incantations. Gunn's collecting the supplies. We'll have to go back to the Torflakk lair in order to do the spell on their sacred ground." Wesley informed the two vampires. Angel looked at Anne. She nodded. "Let's go."