Things in Sunnydale weren't looking up, but they were getting better. Buffy had really taken charge. She was the general and Angel and Connor were her right hand men. Connor was better than she had expected and Angel still had the fight in him. Everyone there trained six hours a day like Buffy said. She, Angel, Connor, Gunn, and Xander took the first patrol every night. Giles had sent in more potentials and their Watchers. They were all under strict orders to follow Buffy's orders.

Demons were once again terrified of Buffy and Angel and now Connor. Separate, they were forces to be reckoned with. Together, they were completely unstoppable. The Powers had made them faster and stronger than any before them and probably any after them. Buffy and Angel's powers had only increased the whole time they were out of commission. Now all of the fighting skills and weaponry knowledge came back to them in a rush. Gangs of vampires and demons went down under their continuant onslaught. City Hall was now free of demons and the Bronze was almost free.

Buffy back-flipped and kicked the demon into the stage. She rounded on the demon behind her and shoved her favorite weapon, the three point sword, through it's forehead. As the vampire regrouped, Buffy pulled the sword out and ducked, missing the swinging fist. She swept her leg out and the vampire went down hard. Pinning the thing's wrists to the floor with her swords, Buffy pulled out a stake and turned the vamp to dust. She pulled the swords out of the floor and stood up. Brushing the dust off of her, she looked around and saw the last vampire go down under Angel's stake. He smiled and walked over.

"Exhilarating, isn't it?" Angel asked.

"Can't say it's not." Buffy said. She pulled out the walkie-talkie and pushed the button. "Team Lilac. This is Team Slayer One. The Bronze is dust. We're heading over to the high school."

Riley's voice came over the speaker. "Buffy, it's really dangerous. We've lost eight men in the two missions we sent over there."

"Well, now it's time for them to meet me. All teams gather at the old football field. Team Slayer One will meet you there."

"Are you sure?"

"Don't question me Riley."

"You got it General Callaghan."

Buffy looked at Gunn, Xander, and Connor walk to the dance floor. They had been checking back rooms and the catwalk for anymore creepies. "Ok, we're heading over to the high school. Maybe we can get a little more damage control done there. Sure the Hellmouth hasn't exploded yet, but I'd like to get a head start on the big finish."

"Buffy.." Gunn started.

"I know. Eight men lost in two missions. You guys weren't training hard enough. I really think we're ready."

"Don't you think we should plan?" Xander asked.

"Baby, I hate to say it, but Xander has a point. That's where the Hellmouth is and that's where a lot of the demons have been living. I really think we should head back to base and plan this out. Give it a couple of days." Angel said.

"Angel, I want to get this finished and be ready when the big battle comes. Not only are we going to be fighting the things coming out of the Hellmouth, but we're also going to be fighting demons and vampires. It's going to be a lot to handle and I want to severely damage their army." Buffy said. "The only way to do that is to go for the high school. This: the Bronze, City Hall, all of it.. It's just been too small."

"This was small?" Connor asked. "I'd hate to see medium and large."

"Exactly. If we hit the school when they really don't expect it, we'll save a lot of lives and hurt them. Think of it as Pearl Harbor scaled down to a high school."

"Buffy, Pearl Harbor was planned months before." Angel said. "What you're talking about is suicide to a lot of people. If we have a chance to prepare, to train and gather our resources, then we stand a better fighting chance." Buffy glared at him. "You know I'm right. Call them off."

"Fine, but the dead line is one week. We plan everything in that space of time."

"Sounds good enough."

Buffy held up her walkie-talkie again. "Team Lilac?"

"Lilac here." Riley said.

"Riley, head back to base. We'll send the next patrols out as scheduled."

"We're sending THEM in to the high school?"

"No. They're going on normal patrol. We're going to take the next week to plan the attack on the high school."

"Much better idea. All right. Meet you back at base. Lilac out."

"Happy now?" Buffy asked Xander. She didn't even give him time to respond before she walked out into the night air.

Angel followed her. "Hey Buffy?"

"What?"

"Whoa, it's just me. What's up with you and Xander? There's a lot of hostility between you two."

"Really? I didn't notice." Buffy said sarcastically as she walked into the alley.

"What happened between you two?"

"I don't know. I guess I don't really get along with this new and not improved Xander. He's so used to playing leader next to Willow and then we come in and he just knew that that power was shifting to us, the real heroes."

"I wouldn't call us heroes."

"Why not? Haven't we saved the world enough times to be qualified as heroes? I sure as hell know I have every right to be called a hero. Shit, I should be a saint! I sacrificed myself for this crummy world and all it handed to me in return was more fighting. More death. More chaos. More depression. And then I get the suck end of the deal when my dreams came true with Connor's birth. I was made immortal and my son was built to fight. If we don't win this battle, Angel, then we have to watch our friends and possibly our son take it in the ass courtesy of the Hellmouth."

"And us? Wouldn't we go down too?"

"No! The Powers have made damn sure I can't die."

"What?"

"Yeah, I tried."

"Buffy! When?"

"About a year after Connor was born. I saw my friends getting older and there I was, stuck at 24. While you and Connor were visiting Giles in London and I was in Ireland by myself for three days, I was visited by the Oracles. They said the Powers were pissed that we hadn't started to train Connor so as further punishment, they told us we couldn't be killed. They handed me a goddamn dagger and told me to stab myself in the heart. When I wouldn't do it, they had a demon do it for them. It hurt like hell, but I watched the wound heal right up. No blood, no mess, no fuss. I don't even bleed!"

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"Because I was so angry. I was now this perfectly indestructible.. THING for the Powers. I'm not human anymore!" Angel walked up to Buffy and wrapped his arms around her. Buffy started to cry. "I don't know what the hell I am!"

"You said WE'RE indestructible."

Buffy pulled away and nodded. "Take off that ring and I'll show you."

"You're going to stake me?"

"No. I'm going to stab this through your gut." She held up one of her swords.

"Buffy.."

"Even if it doesn't work, you can just stick the ring back on and BAM! You're healed. Good as new."

"I don't.."

"JUST DO IT!" Angel stared at her a moment and then he took the ring off and handed it to her. She stabbed the sword through him and he yelped, but just as soon as the sword was pulled out, the wound sucked together and it was as if nothing had ever happened. "You see? Neither of us are completely human."

"So what does that make me?" Connor asked from the mouth of the alley.

Buffy and Angel spun fast to find the hurt look on Connor's face. It broke Buffy's heart. Angel tried to cover. "Connor, son, it doesn't make you anything less than human."

"If you both aren't human, how can I be human? My dad's a vampire and my mom is.. What are you?" Buffy shrugged. "Great. I'm part vampire part something else."

"You're very much human." Dawn said, appearing next to Connor. "And Buffy is too."

"Dawn?" Buffy asked, tears welling in her eyes.

"Hey sis."

"Oh God. Are you..?"

"Real? As real as a higher being can get on this plane."

"Can I..?"

"Touch me? I'd prefer if we just hugged." Dawn smiled and the two sisters ran at each other. They met in the middle and hugged tightly, both of them crying.

"Oh God Dawnie, I've missed you so much."

"I've missed you too."

"I love you. You know that right? I've always loved you."

"I know. I love you too Buffy."

"I'm sorry I couldn't save you."

"It's ok."

Buffy reached out and pushed Dawn's long hair behind her ear. "You're so beautiful."

"So are you. We both got some great genes."

Buffy smiled and laughed through her tears. They hugged again for ten minutes, too scared to let each other go. Scared that if one let go, Dawn might disappear forever. Eventually they did, but they never lost contact. Buffy held Dawn's hand tightly. Angel walked up and looked down at Dawn with tears in his eyes. He wanted to speak, but there was a huge knot in his throat.

"Hey big bro." Dawn said with a smile. "You gonna hug me or what?" Angel backed up a little. "What's wrong?"

"I feel responsible." Angel said quietly.

"Why?"

"Because it was Angelus, MY demon that had you killed."

"It wasn't really your Angelus. It was a different Angelus."

"I wasn't there to save you."

"It's ok. I was meant to die. It was the only way to fulfill my duties as a higher being."

"Did it have to be so soon?"

"Well, no, but I'm over it. So you should be too. It'd make me real happy if you'd hug me." Angel stared at her a moment and then wrapped his arms around Dawn. She hugged back tightly and kissed his cheek. When they pulled apart, Dawn smiled and touched his cheek with her fingertips. "I see it now."

"What?"

"The love and the soul. I couldn't before because I didn't understand. But now I do. Angel, you're even more beautiful to me now." Dawn wiped away the tears on Angel's cheek and then turned to Buffy. "Hey sis, you're very much human. The Powers wanted me to tell you that this isn't a punishment. It's to help you defeat the Hellmouth. Without it, you would have already been dead by now. I'm here to help. You have three days until the Hellmouth opens and you need to rally the troops."

"Three days?" Buffy asked.

"Looks like we're going to have to attack the high school tomorrow." Angel said.

"And I'm going to help you do it." Dawn said.

"No. I'm not losing you again." Buffy said.

"Hey Buff? I'm already dead. They can't hurt me. Even if they kill this body, I'll just come back. I've got powers greater than Willow at her prime. Trust me, you're going to need me for the attack on the high school."

"Well, if we're going to plan it, let's go!" Connor said. "We need to attack tomorrow or never."

"He's right." Angel said. "Let's get everyone together right now. We'll call the patrol teams back and plan the attack."
Later that night, just before the sun came up, Buffy was lying in bed curled up in Angel's arms. Neither of them was sleeping. They were just lying there. Dawn was sleeping in Connor's bed and Connor had moved to a cot that Willow had brought in. Buffy looked up at Angel. "It wasn't your fault. It was mine."

"What?" Angel asked.

"Dawn's death. I was there in the room with her, but I didn't stop it."

"You couldn't. Angelus had you pinned."

"I've been pinned before and I've gotten out of it. I was too shocked to move because I knew what was happening."

"Baby, have you blamed yourself all these years?" Angel sat up and turned Buffy so she faced him. "It wasn't your fault. There was nothing you could have done."

"I could have fought harder. I should've staked Angelus when I had the chance."

"If you had, Dawn still would have died. There or later on. She was destined to die. You heard her."

"Why Dawn? What did she ever do?"

"It's the same as being the Slayer. You don't know why you're chosen. You just are."

"She wasn't even real until the monks made her. Did they have something to do with the higher being thing? We'll never be able to know because Glory killed them all."

"Buffy, there are some things you shouldn't question because you're probably never going to find the answers. I'm not questioning why I was made a vampire and why you were chosen to be the Slayer. You know why? Because the way I see it, if I hadn't been a vampire, I would never have met you. If you hadn't been the Slayer, we would never have met. I'm sure there's some greater purpose as to why Dawn was created and why she was chosen to become a higher being."

"You sound so sure."

"Do I?" Angel smiled.

"I've got a question. Why did you blame yourself for Dawn dying? If I shouldn't blame myself, you shouldn't either."

"I know. It's just.."

"Kathy. Your little sister."

"Angelus killed her just like.."

"Like he killed Dawn. Sweetie, just like Kathy, that wasn't you. That was Angelus. I wish you could distinguish yourself from him. Besides, he's never ever coming back. Once this is all over, and we hopefully win, we'll both be human and we can live our lives out finally. I'm stuck at 24 and you're stuck at 27, so.. What do all 24 and 27 year olds do?"

"Most 24 year olds are just getting out of college."

"Ok. So, I do have a great career in journalism. Granted it is being an advice columnist, but it's still a career. So what do you do?"

"I.. do what I've been doing and see where life takes us."

"Good plan." Buffy reached up and kissed Angel tenderly. "Great plan."