AN: So this is it! The Grand Finale! I'd like to thank everyone for the
lovely reviews and for reading my story. The reviews were very helpful and
hopefully they continue to help me in my next stories. Thank you!!!
The Choice: Chapter 20
"Where are we? What's happened?"
"Angel?"
"Yeah. Who else would I be? What is Spike doing here?"
"I don't have a clue, poofy."
"Shut up, Spike."
A booming voice told them to be silent. The Powers That Be entered the room.
"Hello Warriors, you did well. The choice has finally been made."
"What are you talking about?"
"You, Vampire Slayer, have found your new champion. The life you all lead now is not how it's supposed to be."
The Powers called on images of the real world Buffy, Angel and Spike. Neither of them believed it.
"It's all a trick. Why would I be in LA if it's clear that Buffy needs me?"
"Ad I'm bloody well not in love with the Slayer!"
"If you were, I'd kill you."
"Try me, poof."
"Would the both of you stop it already! Men!"
"We will send you, Warriors, to your separate homes. Angel, you won't remember a thing. We are sorry for intruding in your life. You were a means to an end."
Before either of them could protest they were back. Spike landed in his bed where he had started his journey through time. He shook his head and hesitantly touched the sheets on his bed, not sure if it was real. Everything collided, his old life and the one he had chosen himself. The pain of the loss of Laura, together with the love for his Slayer. The hatred for Angel together with the agony of losing his sire. It was too much. He collapsed.
"Hello Spike."
"You again? I don't think I like you very much. What is it this time?"
"We know the memories are bad now, Spike, bit it will get better. You have the promise of the Powers."
"Promise? I don't need a fucking promise, they're only there to break. What I need is for you to fix this!"
"We can't, Spike. There is nothing to repair, this is your destiny."
"Destiny! You dare to call this. . . parade destiny?!"
"It will be okay, vampire, it always works out."
He turned around to yell at the girl some more, but she was nowhere to be seen. HE had it in his mind to chase after her, but she probably was some ghost that went up in smoke.
"Who were you yelling at?"
He recognised the voice, but didn't dare to face the woman he loved. He was afraid to find only disgust and hatred, as she felt in the beginning towards him.
"Hello Slayer."
"I thought we were passed that. There was a time when you actually used my name."
"That seems another lifetime."
Buffy hated it when Spike didn't look at her. He could keep his voice in check, but the mask didn't reach his eyes. They were a mirror of his emotions, human or demon.
"Would you please look at me, Spike?"
"No."
"Goddamned William! Whatever the Powers want us to be, this is huge. We have to talk about this."
"I'm afraid."
It came in a faint whisper and his shoulders slumped. There, he had admitted his failure. He couldn't be someone's champion. If he couldn't save Laura, why did they think he could save Buffy? Buffy walked around so she stood in front of him.
"Everyone is afraid, Spike, me too. Is that why you asked me to choose between you and Angel?"
"Yeah. I can understand you choose him."
"I choose Angel because he is safe, Spike. He is always in control of his emotions. You are dangerous for me."
"Why did they want me to be at your side then?"
"Because they know you'll always be there, no matter what."
For the first time since Buffy entered the crypt the vampire looked up.
"How can you be so sure?"
"I'm not. But I've made my choice, just like you."
She laid a hand on his arm.
"In your own time, Spike. Decide for yourself."
Buffy walked away when she heard a voice call her back.
"Slayer?"
"Yeah?"
"I'll be there when you need me."
She smiled. "I know."
THE END
The Choice: Chapter 20
"Where are we? What's happened?"
"Angel?"
"Yeah. Who else would I be? What is Spike doing here?"
"I don't have a clue, poofy."
"Shut up, Spike."
A booming voice told them to be silent. The Powers That Be entered the room.
"Hello Warriors, you did well. The choice has finally been made."
"What are you talking about?"
"You, Vampire Slayer, have found your new champion. The life you all lead now is not how it's supposed to be."
The Powers called on images of the real world Buffy, Angel and Spike. Neither of them believed it.
"It's all a trick. Why would I be in LA if it's clear that Buffy needs me?"
"Ad I'm bloody well not in love with the Slayer!"
"If you were, I'd kill you."
"Try me, poof."
"Would the both of you stop it already! Men!"
"We will send you, Warriors, to your separate homes. Angel, you won't remember a thing. We are sorry for intruding in your life. You were a means to an end."
Before either of them could protest they were back. Spike landed in his bed where he had started his journey through time. He shook his head and hesitantly touched the sheets on his bed, not sure if it was real. Everything collided, his old life and the one he had chosen himself. The pain of the loss of Laura, together with the love for his Slayer. The hatred for Angel together with the agony of losing his sire. It was too much. He collapsed.
"Hello Spike."
"You again? I don't think I like you very much. What is it this time?"
"We know the memories are bad now, Spike, bit it will get better. You have the promise of the Powers."
"Promise? I don't need a fucking promise, they're only there to break. What I need is for you to fix this!"
"We can't, Spike. There is nothing to repair, this is your destiny."
"Destiny! You dare to call this. . . parade destiny?!"
"It will be okay, vampire, it always works out."
He turned around to yell at the girl some more, but she was nowhere to be seen. HE had it in his mind to chase after her, but she probably was some ghost that went up in smoke.
"Who were you yelling at?"
He recognised the voice, but didn't dare to face the woman he loved. He was afraid to find only disgust and hatred, as she felt in the beginning towards him.
"Hello Slayer."
"I thought we were passed that. There was a time when you actually used my name."
"That seems another lifetime."
Buffy hated it when Spike didn't look at her. He could keep his voice in check, but the mask didn't reach his eyes. They were a mirror of his emotions, human or demon.
"Would you please look at me, Spike?"
"No."
"Goddamned William! Whatever the Powers want us to be, this is huge. We have to talk about this."
"I'm afraid."
It came in a faint whisper and his shoulders slumped. There, he had admitted his failure. He couldn't be someone's champion. If he couldn't save Laura, why did they think he could save Buffy? Buffy walked around so she stood in front of him.
"Everyone is afraid, Spike, me too. Is that why you asked me to choose between you and Angel?"
"Yeah. I can understand you choose him."
"I choose Angel because he is safe, Spike. He is always in control of his emotions. You are dangerous for me."
"Why did they want me to be at your side then?"
"Because they know you'll always be there, no matter what."
For the first time since Buffy entered the crypt the vampire looked up.
"How can you be so sure?"
"I'm not. But I've made my choice, just like you."
She laid a hand on his arm.
"In your own time, Spike. Decide for yourself."
Buffy walked away when she heard a voice call her back.
"Slayer?"
"Yeah?"
"I'll be there when you need me."
She smiled. "I know."
THE END