Chapter 17
Buffy sat in the passenger's seat of the Camaro as Angel sped down the highway. He dialed a number on the car phone and pushed send. "Yello?" Spike asked on the other line.
"You took my Viper." Angel said.
"My Viper now, mate. Possession's 9/10s. Oughta know that, running a law firm and such."
"You're not married to him." Buffy said.
"Buffy!?"
"You think this is a game? People are dying." Angel said.
"And one of us is going to stop it. Hey, what do you know? I vote for me."
"You're outvoted. It's a prophecy. And the Shanshu's not about you, Spike." Buffy said.
"What? You can't accept it now? Sad, really. All these years, Angel, believing you're the signified monkey, only to find out you're just a big hunk of nobody cares."
"I really wished you stayed a ghost." Angel said.
"But I didn't, did I? Burned up saving the world, and now I'm back for real. Wonder why that is? Oh, wait. Cause I'm the one, you git!"
"Spike, I don't have time to.."
Spike made static noises. "What's that? I'm losing you. You're.. What do they call it? Oh, right. Breaking up. You're breaking up."
"Spike, don't.." Spike hung up. "Idiot."
"That bastard." Buffy said. "This prophecy is about you and he knows it."
Angel looked at his royally pissed off wife. "You're taking my side instead of his?"
"Of course I am. Damn it, Angel! This is your prophecy. No one has the right to take it from you. Not even Captain Peroxide."
Angel took her hand. "This is our prophecy. It's as much yours as it is mine."
"I just.." Buffy sighed and closed her eyes, holding back tears. "Ever since I found out about the Shanshu prophecy, I dreamt about being the mother of your children. Real, everyday, normal children. Then I came back with the memories of that day.. I wanted you human more than ever. I've never felt anything like the way I felt in your warm arms listening to your heart beat." She touched her hand to his chest. "Thump, thump. Thump, thump. It's the most precious sound I've ever heard." Her face hardened. "Spike is not taking that drink."
***
Buffy and Angel arrived at the opera house located in the middle of the open desert. Buffy split away, going to find the cup faster. Angel looked around, when Spike spoke from a balcony above him. "Here we are, then. 2 vampire heroes.. competing to wet our whistle with a drink of light, refreshing torment."
"Is that what you think you are.. a hero?" Angel asked.
"Saved the world, didn't I?"
"Once. Talk to me after you've done it a couple more times."
"Done talking, mate. Got a prophecy needs fulfilling. Ta." Spike walked out of sight.
"Spike! Damn it." Angel followed him.
Angel walked down through the rows of seats in the opera hall toward the stage where the golden cup sat spotlighted on a pedestal. He jumped onto the stage, and as he got close to the cup, Spike jumped down from the rafters behind him. Angel stopped and rolled his eyes. They both looked at the cup. "Thought it'd be a little less goldeny, what with the torment and all." Spike said.
"So.. what do we do now?"
Spike sighed and punched Angel. "What do ya think?" Spike paced back and forth while Angel got back to his feet. "Come on! Let's see how much soul you really got in there."
"Spike, we don't have time for this."
"Keep your knickers dry, Sally. You're not gonna last that long."
"Fine. We'll do it your way." Angel punched Spike hard. They traded punches, then Spike threw Angel up in the air, where he landed on a balcony behind him. Angel landed on a cross, but it didn't burn him because of the Gem. He picked it up and threw it at Spike.
"Ha, ha, ha, ha! Oh, yeah. Look at you. Thinking you're the big savior, fighting for truth, justice, and soccer moms.. Without that ring, you can't lay flesh on a cross without smelling like bacon, can you?"
"Like you're any different."
"Well, that's just it. I am. And you know it. You had a soul forced on you.. as a curse. Make you suffer for all the horrible things you'd done. But me.. I fought for my soul. Went through the demon trials. Almost did me in a dozen times over, but I kept fighting. Cause I knew it was the right thing to do." Spike jumped up to the balcony in one smooth motion, landing in front of Angel. "It's my destiny."
"Really? I heard it was just to get back into a girl's pants." Buffy said behind Spike. "And personally? I like bacon." She backhanded Spike with all of her strength and sent him flying across the balcony to crash into the far wall.
Spike stood and used his toe to lift a metal rod of rebar into his hands. He swung it at Buffy, but she did a somersault off of the balcony, landing on the stage near the cup. Angel followed suit and walked toward the cup, when Spike threw the rebar at him like a spear, narrowly missing him. Angel turned to look at Spike, who jumped from the balcony wielding another rod of rebar. Angel grabbed the first piece of rebar that Spike threw at him and used it to deflect Spike's weapon. Angel got in a good punch.
"Used to hit a lot harder, gramps." Spike said.
"No, your head's just gotten thicker."
Spike knocked Angel out and Buffy kicked him in the small of his back. "Bloody hell woman! Would you leave this fight to the vampires?"
"No." She grabbed the rebar in Spike's hand. He tried to yank it away, but she redirected his momentum and pushed it upward. She viciously head- butted him and his nose squirted blood. Buffy pulled the rebar rod away from Spike and swung it like a baseball bat, knocking Spike up into the balcony. She followed him, ready to swing at Spike again, but Spike stood and blocked the swing.
"You're mum's not here to save you this time. Are you sure you want to do this?"
"That prophecy's about Angel and you know it. Stop living in the land of denial." They traded bone crunching blows that would kill a normal person.
Spike punched Buffy, knocking her off of the balcony. She landed on the stage below, coughing and bleeding at the mouth. He jumped down to the stage in front of her. "Vampire with a soul. Nobody knows what side he's gonna fight on.. when the big show comes down. Except we already know what side you two're on, don't we? Already made your choice. Traded in your capes and tights for nice comfy chairs at Wolfram & bloody Hart." Spike swung the rebar, ready to knock Buffy out with it, but Angel reached over and grabbed it before he could complete the motion.
"Little more complicated than that." Angel used the rebar Spike was holding to get leverage to stand, knocking Spike down in the process. "But you always were a bit simple.. Willy."
As Angel reached for the cup, Spike charged at him, punching him hard, knocking them both down. They stood, both having their hand at the other's throat. "Come on, hero. Tell me more." Spike punched Angel. "Teach me what it means." Again. "And I'll tell you why you can't stand the bloody sight of me." He punched Angel a third time.
Angel punched Spike back. "Tell it to your therapist."
"Cause every time you look at me.." Spike punched Angel. "You see all the dirty little things I've done, all the lives I've taken.. Because of you! Drusilla sired me.. but you.. you made me a monster." He punched Angel and final time and walked toward the cup.
Buffy launched herself at him and Spike didn't see it coming. She bowled into him and knocked both of them off the stage into the orchestra pit. The Slayer was the first one up. Spike went to punch her, but she ducked under the blow and kicked Spike in the stomach. As he started to double over, she grabbed his arm and yanked him forward, slamming his head into the wall. He turned around in full vamp face and snarled at her. She smiled back at him, blood trickling down the side of her mouth. He threw himself at her and she caught him by the lapels, dropping to the ground and using his forward momentum to toss him to the other wall while she gracefully flipped to her feet and turned towards the stage. "Angel! Grab the cup! Now!"
Spike came out from behind her and grabbed her around the throat. "You know better than to turn your back on a vampire that's still in the game." He squeezed tighter, cutting off her air. "Angelus!"
Angel stopped and turned, looking down. "Buffy! Spike, you wouldn't dare kill her."
"Wouldn't I? That's what you've got to ask yourself. That cup there is worth my humanity. I'm willing to trade Buffy's life for it."
"Let her go."
Spike jumped up onto the stage, taking Buffy with him. He had her arms pinned behind her painfully. "Step away from the cup." Buffy's eyes widened and she shook her head no frantically. Spike looked down at her. "Are you really that hard up for your hubby to drink from that cup?"
Angel stepped away. "Let her go, Spike."
Spike threw Buffy towards Angel and he caught her easily. "No, Angel. That's yours."
"I'm not willing to let you die for my humanity. That's why I gave it up the first time."
"Awe, isn't that just sweet?" Spike asked, walking towards the cup.
"Spike." Angel said. Spike turned back. "I didn't make you, Spike. I just opened up the door and let the real you out."
Spike grabbed the cross and hit Angel in the face with it. "You never knew the real me." His hand sizzled on the cross. He threw it away and walked toward Angel. "Too busy trying to see your own reflection.. praying there was someone as disgusting as you in the world, so you could stand to live with yourself. Take a long look, hero. I'm nothing like you!"
"No. You're less. That's why Buffy never really loved you: Because you weren't me."
Spike grabbed Angel's lapels. "Guess that means she was thinking about you.. all those times I was puttin' it to her."
Angel grabbed Spike's wrists and pulled them apart. He punched Spike, then threw him across the room, causing some of the wood props to shatter. They traded blow after blow and Spike jabbed Angel in the arm with a splinter of wood. Angel ripped the splinter out of his arm and glared at Spike. "All right.." Angel changed into vampface. "Let's finish this." Spike changed into vampface as well. They charged each other. Angel scratched Spike's chest with a fragment of wood. "How's it feel?"
Spike scratched back. "You tell me." He kicked Angel repeatedly in the gut and the wood fragment Angel was holding went flying into the air. Spike kicked Angel to the ground, grabbed the wood fragment from the air, and reared back in a staking motion. He paused for a moment, then drove the stake into Angel's body, causing him to scream in pain. Spike stood and looked down at Angel. He had driven the stake into Angel's shoulder. Angel let his face slip back into human form as Buffy crawled over to him, cradling him. "Probably should've taken that ring back and dusted you." Spike returned to human face. "But honestly.. I don't want to hear her bitch about it." He turned to walk toward the cup.
Angel pulled the stake from his shoulder. "Spike, wait." Spike picked up the cup. "Wait. That's not a prize you're holding." Spike looked at Angel. "It's not a trophy. It's a burden. It's a cross." Buffy helped Angel stand. "One you're gonna have to bear till it burns you to ashes. Believe me. I know." Spike put the cup back on the pedestal and looked at Angel. "So ask yourself: Is this really the destiny that was meant for you? Do you even really want it? Or is it that you just want to take something away from me?"
Spike shrugged. "Bit of both." He picked the cup back up and drank from it.
Angel lunged to try to stop him, but it was too late. "Spike.."
Spike dropped the cup and stared at Angel, bewildered. "I-it's.. Mountain Dew."
Angel looked at the cup, then at Spike. They all stared at each other in confusion.
***
A bloody and beaten Buffy and Angel walked into the lab. Fred was there checking on Harmony and Gunn, who were restrained on stretchers. "Fred." Angel said.
"Angel. Buffy!" Fred rushed to them. "God, what happened?"
"We fell down.. some stairs." Buffy said. Fred stared. "Big stairs. Gunn?"
"We've tried everything.. medical, mystical. Nothing's stopping it."
"It's still going on?" Angel asked.
"And getting worse. What about the cup? Did you.."
"Ah, it was a fake. Somebody set us up."
"What? Who?"
"We don't know. Sirk was the one who sent us there. Maybe he's.."
Spike walked into the office, just as bloody and beaten as Buffy and Angel. "Gone. Cleaned out his office and pulled a puff of smoke."
Fred stared at the three. "Stairs, huh?"
"All right. Sirk's gone. The cup's a fake, but the madness is real. So what are we gonna do about it?" Buffy asked.
"I say we start by untying the brother." Gunn groaned.
"Charles!" Fred undid his restraints.
Harmony came to and looked at her restraints. "Am I in trouble?" Angel untied her.
"Hey. What the hell happened?" Gunn asked, looking at Buffy and Angel.
"I think I can tell you." A horse Eve said behind everyone.
***
"Senior partners stepped in." Eve finished. "Apparently they were working on the problem since it started. They managed to temporarily stabilize the universal equilibrium."
"Temporarily?" Buffy asked. "For how long? What about Sirk and this fantasy he fed us about the cup?"
"Partners don't know a thing about it. They're as angry as you two."
"Really doubt that."
"Don't worry, guys. Sirk can't hide for long. We'll bring him in, find out who put him up to it. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go home and ice my neck." Eve stood and walked to the door.
Gunn stood. "Uh, Eve.. Uh.. listen.. I'm really.."
"Don't sweat it, counselor. You've other things to worry about. The whole Shanshu thing's still unresolved. Still 2 vampires with souls. Guess that's a question for another day." She walked out.
"Any more days like today, and there won't be another day."
"Yeah, well.. meantime.." Spike stood up. "This souled ex-ghost vampire's got some corporeal drinking to catch up on. What do ya say, Charlie-boy? Feel like gettin' pissed?"
"No. No, my head feels like it's gonna split open and toss my toys and candy all over the floor."
"You're way ahead of me. Fair enough." Spike walked out.
"Maybe you should have Fred check you out." Buffy said, kicking into motherly mode.
Gunn smiled at her worried expression. "Nah, she'll just wanna strap me down again." With that, he walked out.
Buffy smiled and turned to look at Angel's dark expression as he stared out the window. "You ok?"
"I don't know. He beat me, Buffy." Angel said. "He beat me to the cup."
"You mean the fake cup? The make-believe, fairy-tale cup? So what?!"
"No, you don't.." Angel sighed. "He won the fight.. for the first time. Doesn't matter if the cup is real or not. In the end, he.. Spike was stronger. He wanted it more."
"Angel, it doesn't mean anything. He cheated. He used the one person that he knew you would trade everything you have for to get to that cup."
"What if it does mean something? What if it means that.. I'm not the one?"
Buffy sighed and went to stand in front of Angel. She took his larger hands in her smaller ones and looked him in the eyes with all the love in the universe for him. "You're my one." He smiled, remembering the little speech he had given her when she'd tried to give up. "That's all that matters to me right now, Angel. I've accepted the fact that we can't have more children and most importantly, I've accepted you. When I thought there was a great chance that if you drank from that cup and we could be almost normal humans together and make everyday like our one day together.. Angel, it was overwhelming. I know you felt it too because I know you. But it wasn't real. The cup, I mean. And when the cup turned out to be a fake, I realized that.." Buffy sighed. "That if that day comes and I'm still here.. It won't make much of a difference. I'll still have you no matter what. And that's all I've ever asked for." She smiled up at him and he wrapped her in his arms, holding onto his most precious treasure.
Buffy sat in the passenger's seat of the Camaro as Angel sped down the highway. He dialed a number on the car phone and pushed send. "Yello?" Spike asked on the other line.
"You took my Viper." Angel said.
"My Viper now, mate. Possession's 9/10s. Oughta know that, running a law firm and such."
"You're not married to him." Buffy said.
"Buffy!?"
"You think this is a game? People are dying." Angel said.
"And one of us is going to stop it. Hey, what do you know? I vote for me."
"You're outvoted. It's a prophecy. And the Shanshu's not about you, Spike." Buffy said.
"What? You can't accept it now? Sad, really. All these years, Angel, believing you're the signified monkey, only to find out you're just a big hunk of nobody cares."
"I really wished you stayed a ghost." Angel said.
"But I didn't, did I? Burned up saving the world, and now I'm back for real. Wonder why that is? Oh, wait. Cause I'm the one, you git!"
"Spike, I don't have time to.."
Spike made static noises. "What's that? I'm losing you. You're.. What do they call it? Oh, right. Breaking up. You're breaking up."
"Spike, don't.." Spike hung up. "Idiot."
"That bastard." Buffy said. "This prophecy is about you and he knows it."
Angel looked at his royally pissed off wife. "You're taking my side instead of his?"
"Of course I am. Damn it, Angel! This is your prophecy. No one has the right to take it from you. Not even Captain Peroxide."
Angel took her hand. "This is our prophecy. It's as much yours as it is mine."
"I just.." Buffy sighed and closed her eyes, holding back tears. "Ever since I found out about the Shanshu prophecy, I dreamt about being the mother of your children. Real, everyday, normal children. Then I came back with the memories of that day.. I wanted you human more than ever. I've never felt anything like the way I felt in your warm arms listening to your heart beat." She touched her hand to his chest. "Thump, thump. Thump, thump. It's the most precious sound I've ever heard." Her face hardened. "Spike is not taking that drink."
***
Buffy and Angel arrived at the opera house located in the middle of the open desert. Buffy split away, going to find the cup faster. Angel looked around, when Spike spoke from a balcony above him. "Here we are, then. 2 vampire heroes.. competing to wet our whistle with a drink of light, refreshing torment."
"Is that what you think you are.. a hero?" Angel asked.
"Saved the world, didn't I?"
"Once. Talk to me after you've done it a couple more times."
"Done talking, mate. Got a prophecy needs fulfilling. Ta." Spike walked out of sight.
"Spike! Damn it." Angel followed him.
Angel walked down through the rows of seats in the opera hall toward the stage where the golden cup sat spotlighted on a pedestal. He jumped onto the stage, and as he got close to the cup, Spike jumped down from the rafters behind him. Angel stopped and rolled his eyes. They both looked at the cup. "Thought it'd be a little less goldeny, what with the torment and all." Spike said.
"So.. what do we do now?"
Spike sighed and punched Angel. "What do ya think?" Spike paced back and forth while Angel got back to his feet. "Come on! Let's see how much soul you really got in there."
"Spike, we don't have time for this."
"Keep your knickers dry, Sally. You're not gonna last that long."
"Fine. We'll do it your way." Angel punched Spike hard. They traded punches, then Spike threw Angel up in the air, where he landed on a balcony behind him. Angel landed on a cross, but it didn't burn him because of the Gem. He picked it up and threw it at Spike.
"Ha, ha, ha, ha! Oh, yeah. Look at you. Thinking you're the big savior, fighting for truth, justice, and soccer moms.. Without that ring, you can't lay flesh on a cross without smelling like bacon, can you?"
"Like you're any different."
"Well, that's just it. I am. And you know it. You had a soul forced on you.. as a curse. Make you suffer for all the horrible things you'd done. But me.. I fought for my soul. Went through the demon trials. Almost did me in a dozen times over, but I kept fighting. Cause I knew it was the right thing to do." Spike jumped up to the balcony in one smooth motion, landing in front of Angel. "It's my destiny."
"Really? I heard it was just to get back into a girl's pants." Buffy said behind Spike. "And personally? I like bacon." She backhanded Spike with all of her strength and sent him flying across the balcony to crash into the far wall.
Spike stood and used his toe to lift a metal rod of rebar into his hands. He swung it at Buffy, but she did a somersault off of the balcony, landing on the stage near the cup. Angel followed suit and walked toward the cup, when Spike threw the rebar at him like a spear, narrowly missing him. Angel turned to look at Spike, who jumped from the balcony wielding another rod of rebar. Angel grabbed the first piece of rebar that Spike threw at him and used it to deflect Spike's weapon. Angel got in a good punch.
"Used to hit a lot harder, gramps." Spike said.
"No, your head's just gotten thicker."
Spike knocked Angel out and Buffy kicked him in the small of his back. "Bloody hell woman! Would you leave this fight to the vampires?"
"No." She grabbed the rebar in Spike's hand. He tried to yank it away, but she redirected his momentum and pushed it upward. She viciously head- butted him and his nose squirted blood. Buffy pulled the rebar rod away from Spike and swung it like a baseball bat, knocking Spike up into the balcony. She followed him, ready to swing at Spike again, but Spike stood and blocked the swing.
"You're mum's not here to save you this time. Are you sure you want to do this?"
"That prophecy's about Angel and you know it. Stop living in the land of denial." They traded bone crunching blows that would kill a normal person.
Spike punched Buffy, knocking her off of the balcony. She landed on the stage below, coughing and bleeding at the mouth. He jumped down to the stage in front of her. "Vampire with a soul. Nobody knows what side he's gonna fight on.. when the big show comes down. Except we already know what side you two're on, don't we? Already made your choice. Traded in your capes and tights for nice comfy chairs at Wolfram & bloody Hart." Spike swung the rebar, ready to knock Buffy out with it, but Angel reached over and grabbed it before he could complete the motion.
"Little more complicated than that." Angel used the rebar Spike was holding to get leverage to stand, knocking Spike down in the process. "But you always were a bit simple.. Willy."
As Angel reached for the cup, Spike charged at him, punching him hard, knocking them both down. They stood, both having their hand at the other's throat. "Come on, hero. Tell me more." Spike punched Angel. "Teach me what it means." Again. "And I'll tell you why you can't stand the bloody sight of me." He punched Angel a third time.
Angel punched Spike back. "Tell it to your therapist."
"Cause every time you look at me.." Spike punched Angel. "You see all the dirty little things I've done, all the lives I've taken.. Because of you! Drusilla sired me.. but you.. you made me a monster." He punched Angel and final time and walked toward the cup.
Buffy launched herself at him and Spike didn't see it coming. She bowled into him and knocked both of them off the stage into the orchestra pit. The Slayer was the first one up. Spike went to punch her, but she ducked under the blow and kicked Spike in the stomach. As he started to double over, she grabbed his arm and yanked him forward, slamming his head into the wall. He turned around in full vamp face and snarled at her. She smiled back at him, blood trickling down the side of her mouth. He threw himself at her and she caught him by the lapels, dropping to the ground and using his forward momentum to toss him to the other wall while she gracefully flipped to her feet and turned towards the stage. "Angel! Grab the cup! Now!"
Spike came out from behind her and grabbed her around the throat. "You know better than to turn your back on a vampire that's still in the game." He squeezed tighter, cutting off her air. "Angelus!"
Angel stopped and turned, looking down. "Buffy! Spike, you wouldn't dare kill her."
"Wouldn't I? That's what you've got to ask yourself. That cup there is worth my humanity. I'm willing to trade Buffy's life for it."
"Let her go."
Spike jumped up onto the stage, taking Buffy with him. He had her arms pinned behind her painfully. "Step away from the cup." Buffy's eyes widened and she shook her head no frantically. Spike looked down at her. "Are you really that hard up for your hubby to drink from that cup?"
Angel stepped away. "Let her go, Spike."
Spike threw Buffy towards Angel and he caught her easily. "No, Angel. That's yours."
"I'm not willing to let you die for my humanity. That's why I gave it up the first time."
"Awe, isn't that just sweet?" Spike asked, walking towards the cup.
"Spike." Angel said. Spike turned back. "I didn't make you, Spike. I just opened up the door and let the real you out."
Spike grabbed the cross and hit Angel in the face with it. "You never knew the real me." His hand sizzled on the cross. He threw it away and walked toward Angel. "Too busy trying to see your own reflection.. praying there was someone as disgusting as you in the world, so you could stand to live with yourself. Take a long look, hero. I'm nothing like you!"
"No. You're less. That's why Buffy never really loved you: Because you weren't me."
Spike grabbed Angel's lapels. "Guess that means she was thinking about you.. all those times I was puttin' it to her."
Angel grabbed Spike's wrists and pulled them apart. He punched Spike, then threw him across the room, causing some of the wood props to shatter. They traded blow after blow and Spike jabbed Angel in the arm with a splinter of wood. Angel ripped the splinter out of his arm and glared at Spike. "All right.." Angel changed into vampface. "Let's finish this." Spike changed into vampface as well. They charged each other. Angel scratched Spike's chest with a fragment of wood. "How's it feel?"
Spike scratched back. "You tell me." He kicked Angel repeatedly in the gut and the wood fragment Angel was holding went flying into the air. Spike kicked Angel to the ground, grabbed the wood fragment from the air, and reared back in a staking motion. He paused for a moment, then drove the stake into Angel's body, causing him to scream in pain. Spike stood and looked down at Angel. He had driven the stake into Angel's shoulder. Angel let his face slip back into human form as Buffy crawled over to him, cradling him. "Probably should've taken that ring back and dusted you." Spike returned to human face. "But honestly.. I don't want to hear her bitch about it." He turned to walk toward the cup.
Angel pulled the stake from his shoulder. "Spike, wait." Spike picked up the cup. "Wait. That's not a prize you're holding." Spike looked at Angel. "It's not a trophy. It's a burden. It's a cross." Buffy helped Angel stand. "One you're gonna have to bear till it burns you to ashes. Believe me. I know." Spike put the cup back on the pedestal and looked at Angel. "So ask yourself: Is this really the destiny that was meant for you? Do you even really want it? Or is it that you just want to take something away from me?"
Spike shrugged. "Bit of both." He picked the cup back up and drank from it.
Angel lunged to try to stop him, but it was too late. "Spike.."
Spike dropped the cup and stared at Angel, bewildered. "I-it's.. Mountain Dew."
Angel looked at the cup, then at Spike. They all stared at each other in confusion.
***
A bloody and beaten Buffy and Angel walked into the lab. Fred was there checking on Harmony and Gunn, who were restrained on stretchers. "Fred." Angel said.
"Angel. Buffy!" Fred rushed to them. "God, what happened?"
"We fell down.. some stairs." Buffy said. Fred stared. "Big stairs. Gunn?"
"We've tried everything.. medical, mystical. Nothing's stopping it."
"It's still going on?" Angel asked.
"And getting worse. What about the cup? Did you.."
"Ah, it was a fake. Somebody set us up."
"What? Who?"
"We don't know. Sirk was the one who sent us there. Maybe he's.."
Spike walked into the office, just as bloody and beaten as Buffy and Angel. "Gone. Cleaned out his office and pulled a puff of smoke."
Fred stared at the three. "Stairs, huh?"
"All right. Sirk's gone. The cup's a fake, but the madness is real. So what are we gonna do about it?" Buffy asked.
"I say we start by untying the brother." Gunn groaned.
"Charles!" Fred undid his restraints.
Harmony came to and looked at her restraints. "Am I in trouble?" Angel untied her.
"Hey. What the hell happened?" Gunn asked, looking at Buffy and Angel.
"I think I can tell you." A horse Eve said behind everyone.
***
"Senior partners stepped in." Eve finished. "Apparently they were working on the problem since it started. They managed to temporarily stabilize the universal equilibrium."
"Temporarily?" Buffy asked. "For how long? What about Sirk and this fantasy he fed us about the cup?"
"Partners don't know a thing about it. They're as angry as you two."
"Really doubt that."
"Don't worry, guys. Sirk can't hide for long. We'll bring him in, find out who put him up to it. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go home and ice my neck." Eve stood and walked to the door.
Gunn stood. "Uh, Eve.. Uh.. listen.. I'm really.."
"Don't sweat it, counselor. You've other things to worry about. The whole Shanshu thing's still unresolved. Still 2 vampires with souls. Guess that's a question for another day." She walked out.
"Any more days like today, and there won't be another day."
"Yeah, well.. meantime.." Spike stood up. "This souled ex-ghost vampire's got some corporeal drinking to catch up on. What do ya say, Charlie-boy? Feel like gettin' pissed?"
"No. No, my head feels like it's gonna split open and toss my toys and candy all over the floor."
"You're way ahead of me. Fair enough." Spike walked out.
"Maybe you should have Fred check you out." Buffy said, kicking into motherly mode.
Gunn smiled at her worried expression. "Nah, she'll just wanna strap me down again." With that, he walked out.
Buffy smiled and turned to look at Angel's dark expression as he stared out the window. "You ok?"
"I don't know. He beat me, Buffy." Angel said. "He beat me to the cup."
"You mean the fake cup? The make-believe, fairy-tale cup? So what?!"
"No, you don't.." Angel sighed. "He won the fight.. for the first time. Doesn't matter if the cup is real or not. In the end, he.. Spike was stronger. He wanted it more."
"Angel, it doesn't mean anything. He cheated. He used the one person that he knew you would trade everything you have for to get to that cup."
"What if it does mean something? What if it means that.. I'm not the one?"
Buffy sighed and went to stand in front of Angel. She took his larger hands in her smaller ones and looked him in the eyes with all the love in the universe for him. "You're my one." He smiled, remembering the little speech he had given her when she'd tried to give up. "That's all that matters to me right now, Angel. I've accepted the fact that we can't have more children and most importantly, I've accepted you. When I thought there was a great chance that if you drank from that cup and we could be almost normal humans together and make everyday like our one day together.. Angel, it was overwhelming. I know you felt it too because I know you. But it wasn't real. The cup, I mean. And when the cup turned out to be a fake, I realized that.." Buffy sighed. "That if that day comes and I'm still here.. It won't make much of a difference. I'll still have you no matter what. And that's all I've ever asked for." She smiled up at him and he wrapped her in his arms, holding onto his most precious treasure.