Two of A Kind
Chapter 12: A New Beginning
By: Rogue-Slayer13
Disclaimer: The characters of Btvs and Ats belong to Joss Whedon, not myself. People wonder where I get some of the straight from the show dialogue, and just so everyone knows, anytime I have any, it comes from Buffy-vs-Angel. com.
Summary: See previous chapter
All italics are thoughts, while only partial italics or emphasized.
A/N: I've decided to change this fic up a bit and have it go more along the lines of the show. This could be for the better or it could be for the worse, not really sure yet.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Faith hadn't been out of the waiting room for more then a few minutes when Illyria let out a pained gasp.
"Are you okay?" asked Wesley as the god-king clutched at her stomach.
"I do not need your pity or concern," hissed Illyria as she doubled over in pain.
"Blue you don't look so good," commented Gunn as he helped Illyria sit down.
"It's happening again."
"What is?" asked Willow.
"I've once again out grown this mortal coil." A small trickle of blood began to seep out of Illyria's nose.
"All of our equipment went down with Wolfram & Hart," said Wesley. "There's no way to be sure."
"I am more aware of the happenings of this body then you are," replied Illyria, becoming more surly as the pain increased.
"I'll get the doctor," said Dawn.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"What's all the commotion?" asked Spike as he sat up in bed.
"I don't know," replied Faith as she got up. "I'll go check it out."
"Be careful."
Faith looked over at Spike and smiled.
"You're too good to me."
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"What's going on?" asked Faith as she came into the hallway just as the doctor and a nurse headed for the waiting room.
"Something's wrong with your friend," replied the doctor.
"Which one?" asked Faith as she picked up the pace a bit.
"Uh, the blue one."
"Illyria?"
"Yes, that's it, Illyria."
"What the hell could be wrong with her? She's like invincible and crap," said Faith as the three rounded the corner and entered the waiting room.
The doctor and nurse hurried over to Illyria, who collapsed into Wesley's arms.
"We need to look at," said the doctor as he took Illyria from Wesley. "We'll tell you when we know something."
The doctor and nurse were gone before Wesley could reply.
"What's going on?" asked Faith as she came over. "I thought the whole sick thing was below Blue."
"She thinks she's out grown Fred's body," said Willow. "Last time this happened, Wesley had to reduce her powers to keep her from blowing up the world."
Wesley was surprisingly unemotional and quiet.
"You okay Wes?" asked Faith, glancing over at the Brit.
"It's like losing her all over again," said Wesley as he looked in the direction the doctor took Illyria.
"Huh?"
"Losing Fred nearly killed me. I didn't admit, but Illyria somehow filled the void left by Fred's death and now it's like I'm losing her all over again."
"I'm sure she'll be okay," said Willow as she put her hand on Wesley's shoulder.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Spike had just finished getting dressed when Faith came into the room. She looked sad, but at the same time happy, if that was at all possible.
"What's up?" asked Spike.
"Uh, Illyria," Faith came over and sat on the bed. "Apparently Red's spell caused an influx in her power and she out grew Fred's body again."
"I take it everything's not okay then." Spike sat down on the edge of the bed.
"She's gone. According to the doctor she was thrust out of Fred's body, but there is good news," said Faith, cheering up a bit.
"What?" asked Spike.
"Fred's back."
Spike's eyes went wide with shock and a huge smile spread across his face.
"What? How?"
"That stuff about her soul being destroyed was a load of crap. You can't destroy a soul and so once Illyria left, Fred went back in."
"Is she okay? Can we see 'er?"
"Yeah, that's why they sent me to get you and Angel," said Faith.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"Oh my God, look at you two!" Fred smiled as Spike and Angel walked into the room along with Faith. "You look so healthy and alive."
"Glad you approve," said Spike with a grin.
"It's nice having you back," said Angel as he went over and gave Fred a hug, followed by Spike and Faith.
"You guys have a lot to fill me in on," said Fred.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"Are you sure you want to leave so soon?" asked Willow as she helped Buffy bring her luggage downstairs.
"Yeah, Dawn's got school and everything," replied the blonde.
"Where's Mr. Immortal-man?" asked Willow.
"He's waiting in the car," said Buffy. "Apparently he felt there was too much tension between him, Angel, and Spike."
"Men," said Willow with a smile.
"We'll have to get together soon since we're all spreading out. I mean, you and Dawnie are going back to Rome, Giles is heading off to Bath again, Andrew and Faith are sticking around, and Xander's going to Kenya, but hey, there's always Christmas."
"And the Snoopy dance," added Buffy with a smile.
"Yeah."
"Wait a second, where are you going? You weren't on the list." Buffy looked at her best friend.
"Oh, well, I've decided to stick around for a bit. Y'know, help Fred get back into the swing of things. Besides, it's not like I have anyone waiting for me," said Willow referring back to her break up with Kennedy.
"True," said Buffy as there was a honk of a car horn from outside.
"Come on Buffy! We've got to go!" called Dawn.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"So, you two are a couple?" asked Fred as she sat next to Wesley on the couch.
"What gave it away?" asked Faith with a grin from her spot on Spike's lap.
"The closeness was kind of obvious," replied Fred with a smile.
"I think we should reopen Angel Investigations," said Angel as he came into the room. "I mean, the world isn't going to end anymore, but there are still demons out there."
"But we're just a bunch of human now," said Fred.
"Not exactly," said Spike.
"What do you mean?" asked Wesley.
"Well, Faith's a slayer, and well, Angel and I haven't lost all of our vamp characteristics."
"How much?" asked Gunn.
"Just the super senses and strength," replied Angel. "Nothing big."
"I like the idea," said Faith. "Getting back to our roots. I think it'll be good for us."
"It's settled then," said Angel. "We'll restart from the ground up."
"And hopefully we'll have a better outcome," said Fred.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
To Be Continued . . .
Just a brief little chapter before the epilogue which is going to take place a year or two after this chapter an just for Imzadi, I'm going to have Eve in it.