Through a mirror darkly chapter 3

"How we do even know this is Cordelia?" questioned Buffy frowning at her old classmate, "She comes out of nowhere and finds us in Faith's house." She had to note that the brunette looked well-coiffed despite her white gown and had a serene but confident look in her dark eyes.

"Well, if you don't believe me that I am Cordelia, do ya remember in high school when you and Giles had mucho weirdness going on in the school's library and I said 'What's going on? Oh, God. Is the world ending? I have to research a paper on Bosnia for tomorrow, but if the world's ending, I'm not gonna bother. "

Giles frowned remembering the circumstances behind it when he was forced to drug Buffy so she could participate in the old tradition of the Tento di Cruciamentum, which tested a Slayer by taking away her powers without her consent. Luckily when he became Head of the Slayer's Organization, he and Buffy stopped that barbaric test.

Willow ran a quick diagnostic over Cordelia using her magic, remembering to be cautious since the last time she saw Cordelia. The tall brunette was possessed and had tried to kill her. A few seconds later, the tests confirmed that this was her former classmate speaking to them. She gave Buffy a reassuring nod and the blonde slightly relaxed.

"Why are you here Cordy?"

"The Powers have made me an actual higher being and I have information from them about where Angel and the others went after the dumbasses fell through the portal" replied Cordelia, "Is that clear enough for you Buffy?"

"You know where Spike is?" Xander rolled his eyes at the relieved look on Buffy's face. He never liked the snarky English vampire.

"Yeah, I do and they're in a dimension controlled by the First Evil. This is the only dimension in the multiverse where the First won over the good guys. Neither the Powers or me want Angel, Faith or Connor to be stuck in a dimension that's drowning in that much evil."

"Oh my god!" breathed Dawn, the idea of the First winning in any dimension didn't sit well with her. Xander put his arm around her to comfort her.

"How do we get to this dimension to rescue Spike?"

"It's a simple process, all it takes is some blood from your sister who is a mystical Key, some chanting and then you need to concentrate on your memories of Spike."

"Is the process safe?" asked Xander not wanting Dawn to give any more blood than she has to.

"It sure is," reassured Cordelia, "Dawn will be in no danger."

Dawn stepped forward with a brave expression on her face and rolled up the sleeve from her arm before presenting it to the older brunette who produced a knife and pricked her finger before adding it to the device that she produced.

"You're next Buffy, put the device on your head and think of your memories of Spike," ordered Cordelia handing the blonde Slayer the device.

"What for?"

"It's so the interdimensional device can lock onto the dimension he is in but we won't get the exact coordinates, more of a rough estimate."

Buffy placed the device on her head although a part of her had bristled at Cordelia's commanding tone. But then she started remembering the man she loved both good and bad moments in Sunnydale. Their first meeting when he was soulless, when he was the big bad and she the young Slayer:

"You'll find out on Saturday."

"What happens on Saturday?"

" I kill you!"

Spike's advice to her and Angel in her high school days. It was enlightening to hear and could've easily applied to Buffy and Spike during their relationship after she was pulled out from heaven.

"You're not friends. You'll never be friends. You'll be in love till it kills you both. You'll fight, and you'll shag, and you'll hate each other till it makes you quiver, but you'll never be friends. Love isn't brains, children, it's blood...blood screaming inside you to work its will. I may be love's bitch, but at least I'm man enough to admit it."

Spike explaining about the Slayers he killed followed by comforting her during Buffy's grief towards her mom's illness despite the shotgun.

Every day you wake up, with the same bloody question that haunts you: is today the day I die? Death is on your heels, baby, and sooner or later it's gonna catch you. And part of you wants it...not only to stop the fear and uncertainty but because you're just a little bit in love with it. Death is your art. You make it with your hands, day after day. That final gasp. That look of peace. Part of you is desperate to know: What's it like? Where does it lead you? And now you see, that's the secret. Not the punch you didn't throw or the kicks you didn't land. Every Slayer...has a death wish. Even you. The only reason you've lasted as long as you have is you've got ties to this world...your mum, brat kid sister, the Scoobies. They all tie you here but you're just putting off the inevitable. Sooner or later, you're gonna want it and the second...the second that happens you know I'll be there. I'll slip in, have myself a real good day.

Spike sings to her in Sweet's demonic musical

Life's not a song. Life isn't bliss. Life is just this. It's living, which was followed by their first kiss after their singy things which made Buffy tingle at remembering it.

Spike's confession about his soul and why he got it in Africa.

Buffy, shame on you. Why does a man do what he mustn't? For her. To be hers. To be the kind of man who would never... to be a kind of man."

"You've got another demon fighter now."

"That's not why I need you here."

"Is that right? Why's that then?"

"Cause I'm not ready for you to not be here."

Then finally that dreadful time when Spike burned up in Sunnydale to save them all despite her pleadings and her confession to Spike.

"Gotta move, lamb. I think it's fair to say schools out for bloody summer."

"Spike!"

"I mean it! I gotta do this."

"I love you"

"That's enough Buffy!" chided Cordelia bringing her back to the present; she didn't realize that there had been chanting in the background. A tear dripped from Buffy's green eyes as she remembered those memories of Spike.

She saw the red light and a portal in Faith's living room.

"It's time to go Buffy! Rescue those hard-headed vampires, Connor and Faith," said Cordelia. "Hang in there, ok? Despite what happened ten years ago, spike does love you despite his hurt feelings."

"Do you really think so?"

"I'm Cordelia. I don't think. I know. Okay?"

Xander, Dawn, Willow, and Satsu walked through the portal accompanied by Vi while Rona and other Slayers stayed behind to protect the innocents of Los Angeles from the creepy crawlies. Such was the life of the Slayer!

Cordelia and Buffy had similar thoughts running through their minds as they stepped into a whole new world.

Hang on Spike we're coming!

Hang on Angel and Connor! I'm coming to get you and yes even you Faith!

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Somewhere between Los Angeles and Sunnydale in the alternate universe.

The black Humvee deliberately bumped into the grey jeep who was taking evasive maneuvers to get to safety. The Resistance had a safe house between Sunnydale and Los Angeles which Fred was trying to reach.

"Who the hell is chasing us!" demanded Faith.

"It could be anyone! It might be the First's human minions, demons, or vampires trying to take out any white hats."

"Bloody hell! But I thought that the First was destroyed in my world."

"No shit Wes! I hope that this safe house of yours isn't far," barked Faith, "And what the hell do you mean by the First?"

Before Wesley could explain, there were suddenly the sounds of gunshots as one of the people in the Humvee was leaning out of the car window and opened fire with a submachine gun spraying the jeep with bullets while everyone inside, apart from Fred, dived to avoid the bullets. Although Angel was hit several times.

"Dad!"

"I'll be ok son," came a pain-filled moan.

"It's not sodding vampires! They wouldn't use guns like this."

"No kidding Spike!"

"Calm down, stud! Your dad is made of tough stuff, it takes more than bullets to slow him down."

"Wesley, hon please shoot at the Humvee," requested Fred, "Try and take out the driver."

Wesley pulled out his handgun from the back of his pants and aimed carefully at the Humvee's driver's side before firing.

"You did it baby!" praised Fred seeing the Humvee crash.

"I'm glad that's over."

Fred turned the jeep off the freeway and down a side street before parking at a house. Everyone apart from Angel immediately jumped out.

"Well, wasn't that the bloody road trip from hell!"

"Dad's been hurt, you guys."

"Never mind the wanker, feed him some blood and he'll be right as rain."

"Spike's right for once! We better get Angel inside and get him some blood," directed Wesley. "He needs to heal before taking on any more of the First's minions."

"There's no justice in this world when Spike is completely fine!" moaned Angel. "While I have several bullets in me."

"Act your age big guy! Not your shoe size."

With that everyone carried Angel inside and laid him out on one of the sofas.

"The fridge should be stocked up with some animal blood. After receiving Cordelia's vision, the Resistance made sure to stock up on things that are useful to beings like Angel," explained Wesley.

"I got y'all some food from the black market."

Sometime later at the Resistance safe house

If anyone was watching the house, they would've seen a curvaceous brunette lighting up a cigarette outside the house before she took an inhale of smoke. Faith usually had cigarette packs in her jacket wherever she went. She was glad that the cigarette could settle her nerves especially after seeing Angel shot. Currently, Wesley had been feeding him bags of animal blood and her husband had volunteered to help feed his dad with his blood.

"Are you craving a moment alone in the dark? Or can I bum one," requested Spike.

"Sure!" Faith handed Spike a cigarette and then a lighter. He then smoked a cigarette.

"So, where's hubby?"

"Still with Wes, Fred, and his dad."

"Right, how is my old grandsire?"

"Undead and kicking!"

"Am I interrupting something?" said a voice that held a hint of amusement that his father never had. Connor placed two gentle hands on her hips. She leaned up against him noticing the bandage on his arm.

"Hi, baby! Just having some smokes with Spike."

"How is Peaches doing?"

"Dad's fine, between the pig blood and blood that I donated, his wounds are healing."

"Good! He's too stubborn to stay down for long."

"Fred has made some quesadillas and then the Resistance leaders want to talk with us afterward."

Faith and Spike followed Connor back into the house and Fred placed a plate of quesadillas down on the table in the dining room.

Faith took one that looked like it had pork in it while Spike chewed on a beef one before getting a blood bag from the fridge and chugging it down. It tasted bloody good!

Angel had woken up and looked much healthier. While a dark-haired man with an eye patch and a tall brunette watched the newcomers eat with a mixture of suspicion, dislike, and weariness.

"I'm surprised that the Powers sent us these four, especially Angel and Spike," murmured the man with an eye patch, who had driven down from Sunnydale after getting the call from Wesley. "I'd rather they sent anyone else even Captain America and the Avengers if they existed and not a figment in someone's imagination."

"You know that I don't have any say in my visions hon," replied the brunette. She sighed at seeing Faith in Connor's lap. It looked like they were laughing and feeding each other with bites of quesadillas.

Connor having a relationship with the Dark Slayer was wiggy. But at least it looked like there was a reality where Connor was in love and having a good life, especially after the nonsense that madman Holtz put him through.

On the flip side, the Connor that she knew in her world had clearly made a turn for the worse. No! Don't think about what the Beastmaster did in your body! Shescolded herself.

As if sensing alternate Cordelia's thoughts. Her boyfriend with the eyepatch took her small hand with his larger one.

"Yeah I know there must be a reason why the Powers sent other Dead Boy, Capitan Peroxide, and other reality Connor here but I still don't like it."

"Let's hope that they will listen to us. We need their help, Harris. There's no one left."