Foreword: All characters belong to Joss Whedon and/or David Greenwalt. Also, I think I've gone crazy, because this is not something that I normally write. Anyway. This takes place in Buffy's seventh season, and Angel's fourth, up through both's third episode, (except for where Cordelia comes back and Angel's in love with her, because I don't like her) which is as far as I've seen. Old characters will be returning. The pairing situation is complicated, so I'll leave it a surprise. Enjoy. Shouldn't be too many spoilers, if any at all. Also, events from the Buffy books do factor in.
For Kathy, who doesn't even get it, but at least she's there to put up with it.
The Darkest Hour Before Dawn
Twelve
"I missed this while I was all locked up," Faith said. Her hair flew behind her as she spun around, slamming her booted foot into the chest of the attacking demon. "Sick," she said as she pulled her foot back with a squelching sound.
"Missed what?" Buffy asked, bending backward and dodging a kick.
"Fighting. Beating things up," Faith said. She drove her fist into the center of the demon's face. It stumbled back, and her hand was covered in goo. "This is really nasty, B."
"It definitely gets the award for most disgusting demon," Buffy said, severing the thing's head. It splattered on the ground. "Yuck," Buffy said as the head of Faith's demon splattered to the ground next to Buffy's.
"Well then. I'd really like a shower now." Faith said. She held out her hands and swung them, trying to shake the goo off.
The two women started walking back toward the mansion, taking care not to touch each other or their clothing as they walked. Connor ran up to them.
"They're all going at it up at the mansion." He told them. "Angel found out what we're going to do."
"Oh no," Buffy said, and took off running. Faith and Connor followed behind.
~`~
"I'm not letting you send her there," Angel yelled.
"She must go. Only those touched by the supernatural can walk the ghost roads, you know this!" Giles cried. He had his glasses off and was gesturing wildly.
"Then I'll go instead! Oz and Faith and I can go. Not Buffy, not Connor." Angel was almost growling.
"Angel," Buffy said. She was standing in the doorway, Connor and Faith behind her.
"You could die," Angel said.
"I won't die." Buffy said.
"You're not going to stop us from going," Connor said. "Why are you always trying to keep other people from doing what they have to?"
"I don't want you to die!" Angel yelled.
"We're not going to die!" Faith shouted. "B and I are slayers. Connor's supernatural in some way. We're tough."
The Slayers stared Angel down.
"Angel, they really have no choice," Giles said.
"Tell you what," Spike said. "I'll go with them."
"I'm not trusting you with Buffy's life," Angel said.
"You think I don't love her as much as you do?" Spike asked. He looked at his sire, and Angel simply stared at him.
"What?" Angel asked. The whole room had focused upon the two vampires.
"I love the girl, that's enough," Spike said. He stood up. "I'll go with them, just to have a little protection."
"All of us could go. Big, slayer-y group," Anya said.
"No, we can't actually," Giles said. "Only those touched by the supernatural may walk the Ghost Roads, as I have said. I cannot walk them, and neither can Xander or Wesley. I'm not entirely sure about Willow's status, or Lindsey's, as she's a witch and Lindsey has his… well…"
"Evil hand?" Lindsey said.
"Well, yes." Giles said.
"Okay… let me put it this way. I've only seen Faith in my visions. And the prophecy only mentions the Slayers and the Vampire Child," Buffy said. "So I'm going, and Faith is going, and Connor is going, and that's it!"
The entire room went silent.
"Giles, you better get crackin' on that portal." Faith said.
"All I have left is to simply open it," Giles said.
"Then get with the opening," Buffy said. "We're most certainly ready to go through."
"Buffy, please," Angel said.
"Angel, just stop." Buffy said.
"Can I talk to you in private for a moment?" Angel asked, motioning out of the room. Buffy sighed.
"I suppose." Buffy said.
He left the room and she followed.
"Be careful," he said. He took the ring from his finger, the claddagh like the one that he had given her for her sixteenth birthday. He put it onto her thumb, the only finger on which it fit. Buffy looked down at her hand, then up at Angel.
"No," she said, and started to take it off.
"Please, Buffy." He said. He touched her cheek, and she leaned into his hand, closing her eyes. "I love you."
A tear slid down Buffy's cheek. "We can't, Angel." Buffy said.
"I'll look through the books. There has to be a spell, somewhere, that can make my soul permanent no matter what. So that I can be with you, Buffy," Angel said.
He leaned forward and kissed her softly. She pulled away abruptly and walked back into the living room, away from him.