Chapter 32

Thank you for the nice reviews. And the flames. To clarify something for a few of the flamers, If you don't like romance and happy moments perhaps you shouldn't read the rest of my story. I like romances and friendships. I always considered the best part of BTVS was the solid friendships and love the characters had for each other. Not the angst. And to the reviewer who made the comments about how I portray Wesley, you should watch Angel. His character is extremely different now. He is not the stuttering ponce he was in season 3 anymore. With that thank you for all the helpful suggestions from everyone else. I hope you enjoy

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Angel was sitting on the roof quietly staring out at the city. He turned as he heard the last voice he wanted to hear

"You know there is a line between reflection and broodiness. I guess you haven't learned that yet huh" Spike asked him.

"Go away" Angel said flatly

"Trust me, if I could go anywhere else I would" Spike said smirking "I'm finding it hard to believe the Powers are still wasting their time on you."

"And just what is that supposed to mean?" Angel demanded angrily.

"What it means O Souled One." Spike mocked "Is do you really think the Powers HAD to choose you?"

And Angels perplexed look Spike continued

"They could have chosen anyone. But they picked you, a vampire. They took a pretty big gamble don't you think? And once again you are too blind and bloody arrogant to think that maybe, just maybe, they know better than you."

The two glared at each other for a moment.

"You knew what would happen" Angel said in an incensed voice "You told Dawn and Emerald"

"Yeah I did" Spike replied raising an eyebrow "So what?"

"They should have told me!" Angel yelled "Those two little conniving-"

Spike went in to game face and said in a deadly voice

"You just wait right there. They did what Anya and I knew you wouldn't. See your problem is your predictable. Save everyone, win the fight, sacrifice everything for friends and love. We didn't need your hero complex. We needed someone who would protect against a loved one."

"There would have been another way. We would have found it" Angel said sullenly

Spike scoffed

"When? What would you have done in the meantime?"

Angel just glared and stayed silent. Spike glared back.

"And while you would have been protecting your loved one who would have protected mine?" Anya asked as she appeared beside Spike. "Or is someone you love more important than everyone else?"

Angel started to reply before Anya cut him off

"Save it. You can argue all night and it won't change anything. Why don't I show you what would have happened if you had your way?"

With a bright flash Angel was standing with Spike and Anya in Wolfram and Hart.

"What are we doing here?" Angel demanded.

"Showing you what would have happened." Anya said curtly "I thought we covered this, get with the program"

Angel taken aback, nodded. He watched as Cordelia was led down the hall by Xander, Fred, Kennedy, and the Watcher Felice. He saw her break away from the hold and begin fighting the group. He winced as she threw Fred down and watched in horror as she took a knife from the watcher and stab her repeatedly. He felt sick as she broke Kennedy's neck and advanced on Xander who was standing in front of Fred trying to protect her. He turned and watched Anya sob as Xander had his throat slit and fell to the ground. A few more flashes transported him to various scenes of Cordelia killing Slayers and torturing Lorne and Wesley as Gunn lay dead in front of them, his eyes sightlessly staring at the ceiling.

"Thats enough" Angel rasped trying to not be sick.

One last flash returned them to the roof, Anya and Spike watching him.

"Do you need to ask again why Dawn did what she did?" Spike asked him neutrally.

Angel was torn. He wanted to be angry at Dawn for not telling him but after seeing that he realized he honestly couldn't blame her. He still thought that perhaps he could have changed it to not turn out like the horror scene he just witnessed. Spike correctly reading his expression spoke

"You couldn't have. No matter how much you wish and hope sometimes it just doesn't work that way. Trust me." He said ruefully.

"For what it's worth I'm sorry" Came from Anya "I caused pain for 1000 years you know. Now I wish I hadn't. Do you think Cordelia would have wanted that, after all the recent pain she caused?"

Angel thought about that for a moment and softly replied "No. She wouldn't have."

"I know this doesn't make it easier" Spike said "But we wanted you to understand."

"And not kill Dawnie" Anya added.

"Well, yes that too" Spike said chuckling.

"I'm not sure how I feel about Dawn right now. Or Emerald" Angel said.

"Well you better figure it out quick" Anya said matter of factly "They are coming up the stairs"

"And that's our cue" Spike said reluctantly "Be easy on the Nibblet and listen to her or I'll haunt you every day for the rest of your bloody unlife"

"Me too" Anya promised

"Trust me" Angel said "That's enough incentive to hear her out"

Spike and Anya smiled and vanished as the door to the roof opened.

"Angel?" Dawn called softly

Angel sighed

"Here goes nothing" He muttered

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OK next chapter up soon. Hope you enjoyed this. I decided to break this into 2 chapters as to not take away from the Dawn/Angel interaction