part 19

Exterior: LA Wes: It's the prophecy.

Gunn: What? Wes, I thought we talked about this. The prophecy was wrong.

Buffy: What prophecy?

Fred: Wes found a prophecy concerning Connor months ago. He had just translated it when everything went so horribly wrong.

Buffy: What was the prophecy?

Gunn: It doesn't matter now. It's over. The prophecy never happened, at least not the way you thought.

Buffy: What is he talking about Wes? I have to know.

Tell me what the prophecy was.

Wes: (unconsciously reaches up to touch the bandages still on his throat from his last attempt at avoiding the prophecy) It said...It was...

Buffy: Speed would be good here Wes.

Wes: The father will kill the son.

Buffy: (pauses to let it sink in) Oh. (glances at Angel trying to calm the squirming boy) He couldn't do it before. In the future, he couldn't do it.

Wes: It wasn't a prophecy. It wasn't meant to be a warning, it was meant to be a sign.

Fred: What?

Buffy: The PTB were sending you a warning of what would need to be done if Their plan didn't succeed.

Gunn: What plan?

Buffy: If I hadn't survived in Pylea. If I hadn't been able to bring Connor back, then Angel would have had to kill his son. He would have to kill Connor.

Fred: But you did succeed! So we're okay now right?

(looks from Wes to Buffy and back to Wes) Please tell me we're okay now.

Willow: (walking up with Dawn) Sorry to interrupt, but we're feeling way out of the loop here. What's the major?

Buffy: Willow, I don't have time to go into it, but I need you to do something for me.

Willow: Anything, you know that.

Buffy: (looks around) Where's Spike?

Angel: (kneeling beside Connor) Hey little man, what's wrong? You're safe now. Nothing is going to happen to you. I'm going to take care of you. I promise.

Connor: (stills briefly to look at Angel) You made me?

Angel: (taken aback) Um...well...

Connor: I know that I'm here and I know you are strong. I'm strong like you too. But I don't understand how you made me. You're different than her.

Angel sees he's pointing to Buffy.

Connor: You're different. Does that mean I'm different?

Angel: (shakes his head quickly) No Connor. You're not like me. You're special. You're my miracle. Did you know that? You're my walking, talking miracle!

Connor: Show me.

Angel: What?

Connor: Show me how you're different.

Angel: I don't think...

Connor: (screams) Show Me!

Angel startles and stands up away from him. Cordy and Lorne have heard along with the others and turn to stare at the outburst.

Cordy wipes her face and walks over.

Cordy: Hey buddy. (bends in front of him) Hey there.

What's all the screaming about?

Connor: (looks at her intensely) You're different too.

Why are you both different? I'm not like you!

Angel and Cordy look at one another before Spike emerges with a smirk on his face.

Spike: I see you haven't lost your touch chap. Kiddies still not keen on you huh?

Angel: Shut up Spike.

Connor: (looking at Spike) You too? I don't want to be with the different ones. I want to stay with her.

He takes off suddenly running to Buffy. She gathers him in her arms and the larger group of humans faces off against the two vampires and a demon.

Cordy: I can't believe she poisoned his mind against his own father.

Spike: Don't get your panties in a bunch, I don't think the Slayer has any control over Angel's seed turning against him and his kind. Although I'm not sure why you are part of the club. (looks at Angel) Did you finally go and sire another one Angelus?

Cordy: You ass! (She punches him hard in the face and Spike rares back to retaliate) Angel: (Calmly) I'd kill you before the chip ever could.

Spike: (drops his hand awkwardly) Lookie there, just like old times. 'Cept you've got yourself a new girl.

I'm disappointed. I thought you'd be good for at least a century or two with the forbidden Slayer love. No worries! She seemed pretty through herself last I checked.

Angel doesn't take time with a warning this time and his hands enclose Spike's throat without hesitation.

Spike smirks again as he reaches up to pull Angel's hands away. He tosses them back and away from him.

Spike: You can't have it both ways I'm afraid. Only one vamp/human affair per city.

Angel: You don't want to do this right now.

Spike: Funny, I was thinking there's nothing I'd like better. All the bad guys have been disposed of, why not do some catching up and filling in?

Xander: I'm thinking not. (looks at Cordy for a second longer than necessary) Angel: Listen to your new friend Spike.

Xander: Friends such an inappropriate word Angel. Much the way calling you and I friends would be.

Angel: I just figured with the help you're giving, you two must be pretty chummy.

Cordy: Xander.

Xander: Yeah.

Cordy: I'm...I'm sorry about before. I didn't mean to take it out on you. You were trying to help.

Xander: (surprised by her words and in front of the others) Oh. No problem. I know this hasn't been easy for you. I can't imagine. But thanks.

An awkward silence follows while the four try and figure what to say or do next.

Lorne: (speaking loudly from between the groups) Is there a reason that we have to stay out here? I'm just wondering because it seems the safest place might be...well, anywhere but here.

Xander: Horns guy has a point. Maybe we should go.

Angel looks to Buffy for her thoughts.

Wes: (quietly) We have to tell him.

Buffy: (swings around with Connor)No!

Gunn: Listen, I know you have a higher purpose in all this than I do, but in case you hadn't noticed, the last time we kept things from each other, Connor got taken and Wes almost got dead. So you can't tell us not to tell Angel everything we know. (pauses) What is it we know again?

Fred: I'm not real clear on that myself. But I am clear that Gunn is right. No more secrets. We have to tell Angel and the others.

Buffy sets Connor down and moves a few feet away from him to speak forcefully.

Buffy: You don't get a choice here folks. You either do this my way, exactly as I say or you all die. I saw it happen once and I didn't go through all this to see it happen again.

Fred: You saw us die?

Buffy: Would you like to know how? (when no one speaks she explains harshly) Gunn dies trying to protect you Fred. He steps in between you and a collapsing wall and is crushed to death. But it's all for nothing Gunn, because only seconds later her neck is snapped like a toothpick by one hand of the enemy. And Wes, it's a good thing you can't scream because the sound of pain you would make when your arms are literally pulled form your body and you lie bleeding to death would be too much to take.

The others have gone quiet with horror listening to Buffy. It's too unfathomable for words. But she's not finished.

Buffy: And I haven't forgotten your friends. I didn't see what he did to the Green guy, but the pile of mush that was left wasn't easily recognizable. And Cordelia, well...

Fred: (crying out and covering her ears) Stop it!

please!

Buffy watches her being held by Gunn and almost regrets saying what she had. But saying it would never compare to witnessing it as she had.

Buffy: Does that mean we agree?

Angel: (from behind) Agree to what?

Buffy: (startles and turns) Angel! We were just saying we agree with your friend over there that we should get out of the open. Right guys.

The three nod uncomfortably and Willow and Dawn speak up.

Willow: Buffy, what did you need me to do?

Dawn: Spike, where did you go?

Spike: (walking up next to Angel) Staying out of the line of fire, Little Bit. I'm not one for the emotional stuff.

Cordy: Are we going?

Xander and Lorne have joined them as well all waiting for someone to give the final word.

Buffy looks down at Connor who is back by his father's side, though not voluntarily.

Buffy: We're going. Angel, can we use your place for a while?

Angel: My place? Yeah, sure. But what else is going on?

Buffy: Nothing. We still need to talk remember?

Angel nods and the two of them each take one of Connor's hands and begin to walk away towards the Hyperion.

Cordy looks back to the last place she saw Groo and hesitates. A hand drops to her shoulder and Xander leads her away from the empty ground.

Fred, Wes and Gunn all seem to wish they could say something but are still in shock from Buffy's word.

They follow the others in silence.

Lorne: (watching everyone file into the night) Help us. (looks up at the sky) Whoever you are. Whatever you plan, please help us all.

He reluctantly follows the path mapped out by his friends.