---I figured I had to add Illyria and Connor's thoughts in here, because I realized they both were just standing there saying nothing when I first wrote this chapter. Not sure if I liked how this chapter came out. God I played with it for so long it seemed. There may be some errors, but I'll fix them later. I just wanted to get it out there.

---Note to Imzadi: Thanks for the reviews and for giving me a little help on the Lindsey issue. I just took what you gave me and spun it a different way. Sorry I won't bring back Fred, well not completely. You'll see. But Wes is definitely coming back. Anyway on to the story....

True Destiny Continues

Chapter 6: Heading Home Pt. 2

Disclaimer: I don't own anything or anyone from the Angel series. I only own my original characters.

Illyria glared at the two vampires and the slayer called Buffy, her annoyance increasingly rising. How could they stand there and talk about such trivial things now? She was feeling impatient, restless, slightly tired, and the remnants of grief related to Wesley was still assaulting her. And this was why she disliked becoming more human. Wesley was only supposed to be her guide; to help her live in the human world. Unfortunately it seemed that he had guided her too well, because now she was experiencing too many human emotions, ones that she did not care for. Her body stiffened then, remembering what she had done out of purely selfish reasons, refusing to accept Wesley's death as final. The others would learn what she did soon enough. For now, she only wished that this feeling of hopelessness and sadness would go away.

Connor was feeling extremely restless himself. He too was eager to go to the Hyperion, to be able to shower, sleep, and then finally get answers to his questions whenever Milani awakened. He wasn't sure if he trusted his father; if he trusted that Angel was telling him the truth. If he was lying to him, so help him, he didn't know what he would do. Connor gritted his teeth and pushed the fury down. He was not that person anymore. He refused to let that anger control him, because then he would turn into the old Connor. He had vowed to himself that he would never be that person again. Now if they would only just get this show on the road, he would be steps closer to finding out Milani's connection to his father.

Willow stood next to Kennedy, enjoying the warmth her girlfriend was providing as she watched the scene up ahead. She knew that she should go over there to inquire about Milani, but she was scared. She was scared that they would all blame her for Milani's condition. And frankly, they might be right. She slowly approached the group, her steps hesitant, and her green eyes pained and fearful. "Is Milani going to be okay," she asked worriedly. "Is she alright?"

Faith narrowed her eyes at the witch. "Like you really give a shit if she's okay," she sneered, taking a few steps closer to Willow. "I can't believe you. You just sucked the power right out of her and now you're wondering if she's alright. Take a good look Will. Does she look okay to you?"

Buffy quickly stepped in between the two girls. "Faith stop it...it wasn't her fault," she insisted, shaking her head wildly. "It wasn't like Milani objected to it. Willow asked, she said it was okay. Willow wouldn't have survived this fight if she hadn't--."

"If she hadn't what...stole some of my best friend's power," Faith interrupted angrily. "So Willow gets to walk around nice and healthy, while my friend is unconscious?" She then fixed Willow with an icy glare. "So how does it feel Ms. All Powerful? How does it feel to know that because of you Milani could have died?" Faith bit her lip in an effort to stop it from trembling. "She still could," she whispered painfully.

"Faith I'm sorry...I'm so, so sorry," Willow said morosely, pleading with her to understand. "I promise I will do everything possible to return the power back to her. I-I don't have the information here, but as soon as I get to the hotel I'll call Giles. He'll give me the information over the phone." She paused momentarily, choking somewhat on a sob. "I didn't mean for this to happen Faith...really."

Gunn clenched his jaw tightly. "Could everyone just shut it with the drama already," he said loudly. "Now come on let's go. Milani is pretty light, but I'm really tired and my arms are feeling like jelly right now."

Angel tapped Gunn on the shoulder and made a motion with his hands, signaling Gunn to transfer Milani to his arms. Gunn shook his head in refusal at first, but something in Angel's eyes made him nod in affirmation a second later. He carefully transferred the young girl into Angel's arms, already missing her absence. He swept a lock of hair out of her face, smoothing a hand down her cheek. He glanced at Angel's face then, surprised to see an almost vulnerable expression on his friend's face. Milani seemed to have a knack for pulling out the protective instinct in men, not that she was doing it on purpose, because after all she was unconscious. He shook his head slightly, remembering that they needed to get going.

Gunn stepped closer to Faith, touching her gently on her arm. "Faith I highly doubt Willow intended for Milani to get hurt," he told her. "You know Willow better than I do. Do you really think she would do something like that on purpose?" He waited until Faith caught his gaze, her brown eyes displaying a series of emotions, from anger to desperation, and then finally the anger seemed to visibly fade away.

Faith closed her eyes, allowing herself to take deep breaths. She knew Gunn was right. She was taking her frustrations out on Willow. "I'm sorry for jumping down your throat," she said quietly, her gaze now focused on Willow again.

"It's okay," Willow assured her. "Don't worry Faith. Milani will get her power back. I promise you."

Faith nodded dumbly. She then looked at Buffy, one of her fellow slayers, the first girl who had ever really tried to be her friend. "I guess this it B. Um...you take care...okay." She stood awkwardly, not really knowing what else to say now.

Buffy gave her a watery smile. "You too Faith." She looked at Angel, a queasy feeling settling in her stomach at the way he was looking at Milani, the way he had just immediately offered to take her from Gunn. She then looked at Spike, noting his eyes were rooted to the floor, taking in the amount of bruises visible on his face. These were two men that she loved desperately, but she knew she couldn't be with either of them, not now anyway. She wasn't ready. It was too soon. She looked at Faith again, taking the slayer by surprise, stepping forward and enveloping the girl in a hug. Faith stiffened and then returned the embrace. "Take care of them for me," she whispered in Faith's ear.

Faith instantly knew who she was talking about. "I will...I promise B," she whispered back. Both girls withdrew from each other and stepped backwards. Faith nodded at Willow, silently telling her that they were good. "You guys ready to go," she questioned, glancing from one face to the other.

Spike raised his eyes hesitantly then, not wanting to see that hurt in Buffy's eyes again. He knew that this would probably be goodbye for a long time. "Just a minute Faith," he uttered softly. He gingerly stepped forward until he was right in front of Buffy. He noticed her eyes widened, but she hadn't moved away, at least not yet. "I'm sorry that I didn't call you. I'm sorry that I didn't tell you that I'm still alive." He paused, seeing that her features tightened, the betrayal displaying on her face. "But I'm not sorry about loving you. I still do you know. And I always will." He leaned down, caressing her face lightly, placing a delicate kiss on her cheek. "Now I'm ready," he whispered, before turning his back on the woman he loved.

Spike walked over to Angel, noting that his expression was uncomfortable, seeing as how he had heard everything that he had just said to Buffy. Angel surprised him however by changing his expression to sympathy. He couldn't remember a time when Angel had ever looked at him like that. "You okay," Angel asked softly, quickly glancing at Buffy and then returning his eyes back to Spike, shifting the girl in his arms a bit. Spike could only nod, swallowing painfully as tears clogged his throat. Angel then looked at Faith, nodding silently. It was time to finally leave.

Faith began walking down the street towards the van once more, walking away from Buffy, from Willow, from her other fellow slayers. She had said all she needed to say. She just wanted to go to sleep now. She saw the van coming into her line of vision, her steps turning into a jog as she got closer to the van, eager to get to a bed as soon as possible. She came upon the driver's side and she jerked the door open, climbing up onto the seat in one fluid movement. She saw the door on the other side slide open and one by one the group filed into the vehicle. She watched carefully as Angel transferred Milani into Connor's arms, before sliding the door shut. He then climbed into the passenger seat next to her, making sure to shut his door, before leaning his head back on the seat, releasing a long sigh. Only then did Faith start the engine, smirking slightly that the van had not been stolen, even though she had left the key in the ignition. "Maybe L.A. wouldn't be such a bad place to live...well if you subtract the demons and all," she mumbled to herself as she pulled onto the road.

Lindsey opened his eyes slowly; almost afraid of what he would see, afraid that he would discover that he was truly dead. But no he wasn't he realized. His heart was still beating steadily in his chest. The air was still flowing in and out of his lungs. His hand automatically sought the amulet that was embedded into the skin on his chest; the amulet that had saved his life apparently. For some reason, he had thought to put it on right before leaving to handle his part of Angel's plan. Now he was glad that he had thought ahead.

The amulet, which was in it self a protective barrier against all harm, had been a gift from Eve. He realized now that she truly did love him, not only because she had given up her immortality for him, but because she had given the amulet to him instead of keeping it for herself. She had to know that once the amulet 'joined' with the wearer that it could not be removed ever again. So in actually she had given up the chance to be immortal, again, for him. He dragged himself to his feet, leaning on the wall behind him for support, his eyes surveying the destruction in front of him, the dead bodies that littered the floor. His mind now was on Eve. He had to get to Eve, the woman who had given up everything to be at his side, the woman he was desperately in love with.

Note: Here's another chapter. No one reviewed Chapter 5 yet, which disappoints me, but oh well. I hope someone sees it and maybe reviews it. Just in case fanfiction doesn't accept the reviews (because they are doing upgrades today and tomorrow); you guys can e-mail me if you want. I beg you guys please review. It's the only way writers know that you read our work.