A/N - blushes Thanks for all the kind words. They made my week. Who needs the flu when there are such nice people in the world? ANYWAY, just a short plug… please read the start of 'If All Else Fails' by Bella7. I've helped her brainstorm a lot of ideas and she's got a really wonderful start. Let her (and me by association) know what you think as well! Enjoy this next part, it was fun to write!

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The scramble was panicked as everyone ran into the room and began pulling torches from the walls without knowing exactly why.

"Why are we in danger of singeing more than just a few hairs?" Lorne asked, holding three torches far away from his body. Wes pointed to the meager fire burning in the middle of the room.

"Those flames need to be bigger before I can start the spell," he said. Immediately, everyone threw their multiple torches onto the pile of wood and the flames came to life. As the fire grew in intensity, the Englishman turned to look at the group.

"We need some supplies. I'm afraid that I didn't store any in my pockets before Wolfram and Hart took us captive. Fred, I need you to run to the lab. You'll need to get five soul stones as well as pick up some arrowroot, serpent's blood, yucca blossoms, and…"

"Eye of newt?" Gunn asked. Wes gave him a surprised look.

"Yes…" he said. Fred shrugged at Gunn's smug look.

"There's always eye of newt…" she said. Gunn just continued to smile.

"I know…" he said. Fred looked to Wes.

"Do you think I'll be able to get into the lab?" she asked. Wes thought for a second.

"You should be able to, but at this point, there's really no choice. You have to get in there…" he said. Gunn stepped forward.

"Lawyer boy and I will go with her," he said. Lindsey rolled his eyes.

"I didn't volunteer," he said. Fred put her hands on her hips as she turned on him.

"You want out of here so bad, then get your butt in gear and let's save Angel, Cordy, Buffy and Spike! We have to save them so they can save Conner. Then you can go off an live whatever miserable excuse for a life you've got with all the bitterness and cowardly… stuff," she said. Lorne smiled.

"Well said, Fredikins…" he said. The girl gave him a smile before marching purposely towards the door. Gunn and Lindsey dutifully followed.

"Can we leave Angel where he is?" Lindsey asked as they walked out. Gunn snorted.

"You wannadie? Besides, I'd rather leave Spike…" he said, his voice trailing as they made their way up the stairs. Wes turned back to the fire, watching it closely.

"The fire will be ready by the time they get back," he said. Lorne clucked his tongue.

"I sure hope you know what you're doing," he said. Wes looked into the flames.

"That would be a pleasant change," he said absently. Lorne watched him with worried eyes.

"Not installing much confidence here, bucko," he told the ex-Watcher.

"Do we ever really know what we are doing?" Wes asked. Lorne opened his mouth, but didn't say anything for a second as he thought about it.

"Good point," he said finally. Wes just smiled as he used a torch to stoke the fire a bit more.

"Do you think we'll win?" Lorne asked suddenly, fidgeting with his suit collar. Wes smiled.

"You'd be the better one to know that," he said. Lorne pat his pockets for a second.

"Well darn, I left my divination pants at home…" he said. "You're the leader in absentia… actually, you're still the leader, period. Angel was the leader when we were Evil's puppets, but since we're not anymore, you're still the leader…"

"Actually, no. I forfeited that the moment I took Conner," the Englishman said. Lorne shook his head.

"Nuh-uh, no way. Angel Investigations, for all purposes, is a democracy and it was not put to a vote…" he said. "That means, you are still the leader and you have to buck up the troops… meaning me. Tell me what you think…"

"I think…" Wes said before taking a breath. "… that things will end up the way they are supposed to end up…"

"Never thought you to be a fatalist, you Gloomy Gus," Lorne said. Wes looked up at the demon.

"I'm not a fatalist. I'm just saying…" he started. Lorne held up his hand.

"Before we go traipsing down that particular road called Misery, let me just say that it wasn't your fault," he said. Wes was silent. Lorne barreled on.

"You took Conner for reasons that were completely founded. True, it may have brought us to this exact point, but as was discussed earlier, everything that happened gave us a chance to get to this point. Amigo… it is rare that prophecies do not come to pass. That's where the whole literal versus figurative thing comes in. The fact that we've averted a few disastrous ones makes us luckier than most. We've taken stabs at the prophecies, it's only fair that a couple take a stab at us. Conner was named the Destroyer. In one way or another, that's exactly what he is going to be. You had nothing to do with it…" he said. Wes looked at the demon with a look of relief on his face.

"Thank you, Lorne," he said. Lorne smiled.

"Just call me balm for the wounded soul…" he said before turning completely earnest. "Now… tell Papa Lorne what he wants to hear…" Wes' eyes smiled, but his face remained serious.

"Oh, we're going to kick its ass…" he said in a completely un-Wes-like way. Lorne studied the ex-Watcher and then broke into a clap.

"Oh goodie…" Running footsteps caused Wes to rise and the two turned to look at the door.

"Got 'em!" Fred cried as she ran into the room and to Wes, handing him the requested items. "The only thing a little worse for wear are Lindsey and Gunn…" The two men walked into the room, Lindsey holding an injured arm and Gunn limping slightly.

"Thanks for the love," Gunn grumbled.

"What happened?" Wes asked as he sorted out the ingredients in front of him.

"We ran into a zombie goon squad. They're searching the levels from what we could see," Lindsey explained. "We don't have all that much time…"

"All we need time for is the spell. Then, we leave," Wes said sternly.

"What about the souls? Don't we need to specify or something?" Lorne asked as Wes prepared a circle around the fire with the serpent's blood. He gave the demon a quick look before turning back to his ministrations.

"I know the souls," he said, laying out the gem-like soul stones. He arranged three of the stones to the side and circled them with serpent's blood. The other two he set a little off to the side of those stones and poured the rest of the serpent's blood directly over them. Lorne waited for a further explanation, but none came.

"Didn't Mother teach you to share?" he prodded. Wes stayed silent as he started to haphazardly crush the yucca blossoms.

"It is none of your concern, Lorne," he told him. Lorne's eyes went wide.

"None of my concern? We're playing roulette with souls here. Don't you think that I, of all people qualified, should be in on the game?" he asked. Wes shook his head.

"It's out of your hands. And in a few moments, it will be out of all of our hands…" he said.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Lorne asked, a frown now gracing his features.

"Hush, Lorne," Fred said, taking the demon's arm and pulling him back to where she, Gunn and Lindsey stood, separate from Wesley.

The watcher threw the arrowroot and the yucca blossoms into the flames causing the flames to flare up bright red. The ex-Watcher reached into his pocket and retrieved the spell. Without a word of warning, he kneeled and began to recite the words on the scrap of paper.

Dubh a dubh
Buadh a buadh
Aoniachanamas

A wind whipped through the chamber causing Fred to shiver and lean into Lorne. The four watched, mesmerized as Wes continued to recite, throwing more arrowroot and yucca blossoms into the fire. The two stones in the serpent's blood started to glow, casting a light onto Wes.

Deoin ar leir
Tabhairag comhdhuin
Feum cha aonaichan

Anam ag athairiam mie immramana dachaidhe

He threw the last ingredient, the eye of newt, into the roaring fire. After a second, the fire died down to its original, barely-there size. All five stones vanished… The wind suddenly died down and the chamber went silent.

"I don't feel like anything different has happened," Gunn whispered to Lorne. The green demon nodded in agreement as he watched Wesley.

"How do we know it worked?" Lorne asked softly. Lindsey watched the tense ex-Watcher.

"We don't," he said.

"How reassuring," Lorne muttered.

"That's it! What are you doing?" Fred asked, panicked, as Wes folded the piece of paper and returned it to his pocket. "Aren't there more words? More things to do? Aren't you going to bring them back?" Wes let out a tired sigh at his friend's near hysterics.

"I'm sorry, Fred. There's nothing more I can do. I've performed the protection spell. It will keep the Senior Partners away from the four of them. Conner's soul now rests in their hands and their choices…"

"Where do your souls rest then, I wonder?" an unfamiliar voice asked. The four of them turned to see an army of vampires and zombies waiting for them. Lilah stood at the head of the group.

"Kill them all…" she said with a smirk. Lorne gulped.

"I'll take that as a hint to skee-daddle…"

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"Why, thank you for such a verbose welcome," Skip said to her with a smile. Cordelia just waved a hand at the demon.

"Trust me, it was for the lack of better things to say…" she said. Skip laughed.

"Or don't you mean the lack of PG words to say?" he asked. Cordelia gave him a look as she stopped pacing and turned to him.

"Why, aren't you just a mind reader?" she asked in a sugary-sweet voice. Skip shrugged.

"Special talent," he said. Cordelia gave him another look.

"Expecting to pass around your resume in the near future?" she asked.

"Nah. Ever since that whole 'ascension' screw-up, the Powers and I have been thicker than thieves," the demon said. Cordelia raised an eyebrow and Skip held up his hands in defeat. "Bad expression, sorry." Cordelia looked around.

"Okay, so you're all high and mighty with the Powers. I've been down that road before and look where it got us. Why should I trust you now?" she asked. Skip scoffed.

"What do you expect from me? A secret handshake?" he asked menacingly. Cordelia rolled her eyes.

"Nothing as lame as that!" she said. Then she looked squarely at him. "What else ya got?"

"Blood oath?" he asked, taking out his sword. Cordelia held up her hands.

"Eeew…" she said, stepping back. Skip put his sword down and smiled.

"How 'bout the word of an old friend?" he asked. A light flashed and a familiar voice greeted her.

"Hey, Princess…" Doyle's voice said from behind her. Cordelia's eyes widened as she spun around and tried to hug him. Instead, she stepped right through him. She let out a huff of teary frustration.

"Sorry about that," Skip said with a wince. Cordelia looked back at the demon with a suspicious glance.

"How do I know this isn't just some Senior Partner parlor trick?" she asked him.

"You'd best be listenin' to what Skip-o here has to say, Princess. He'll steer ya right," Doyle said, causing the brunette to turn back to him. She smiled at the form of one of her best friends.

"We miss you," she said. Doyle smiled back.

"I know that, Love-o'-me-life," he said. Cordelia chuckled, feeling at ease with his familiar banter.

"If given the chance, Angel will kick your Power-y ass for that punch," she told him. Doyle grinned.

"Oh, aye. I'm aware o' that. Wouldn't blame him, him bein' champion and all. But…" he said, sobering as he reached forward and brushed a stray hair from Cordelia's cheek. "… it's time for me ta go. I've got a date with a pint…" Cordelia smiled.

"Of course you do," she said. He smiled as he began to fade.

"Choose wisely, Princess," he said before he was gone completely. She stood there with a fond smile on her face for a few seconds more before a frown wrinkled her brow.

"Choice?" she asked, crossing her arms and looking to the demon. Skip smiled.

"Ah, now down to business. Your choice is easy. In fact… I think yours is the easiest of them all. You either become human and live or regain your Seer abilities and die," Skip said. Cordelia re-crossed her arms and shifted on her feet.

"And what makes you think I trust you enough to take a choice like that from you? Parading Doyle in front of me doesn't a trustworthy demon make…" she told him. Skip smiled again, his crooked teeth making him look slightly more frightening.

"Because you never took a choice from me the last time, Alice. That was never me, just as that Cordelia was never really you," he said. Cordelia eyed him.

"So you're giving me the same choice as last time?" she asked. Skip flicked his wrist.

"With a twist… Last time, the Partners manipulated it all enough to give you the choice between staying human or becoming demon. It was the becoming demon that allowed them to play havoc with your life. It never should have been an option. This time, you're human either way…" Cordelia lifted a brow.

"So, I'll either die for a purpose or live without one?" she asked. Skip just stared at her.

"Have you learned nothing in all this, Cordelia Chase?" he asked.

"What are you talking about?" she asked back. He shook his head.

"It's time to choose…"

"Well, gee, thanks for giving a girl time to think about what to damn herself to!" she snapped at him. He held up his hands to ward off any other verbal knives.

"The choice is up to you what happens from here on out. No ulterior motives, no bribing, no lists of pro and cons. It is simply up to you where you want to go. The Powers are just giving you the free ticket…" Skip said. Cordelia thought that over for a second.

"I can't give up the mission," Cordelia said finally. The demon tilted his head, giving her the argument.

"There is nothing more important than the mission…" Skip said. Cordelia nodded.

"I know," she said.

"Then you know what you must do," he told her. She was silent as she thought over the options again. Straightening her shoulders, her eyes looked directly into the demon's.

"I choose…" Cordelia started. Skip smiled as he watched a bright light envelope the woman in front of him.

"As you wish…" he said. Cordelia's eyes widened as she saw a blurry vision of herself slip slowly out of her body. Panic set in and she reached out to pull whatever was leaving her back.

"No…" she said hoarsely. "Stop, come back…" Her hand went through the shiny copy of her arm. The figure stood full in front of her and then melted into a simple pillar of light, no longer resembling its host.

"Skip… what's happening to me?" Cordelia asked, suddenly feeling tired. The panic receded. The demon looked somberly at her.

"Cordelia Chase, your sacrifice will not be in vain. Your reward shall breathe new life… Have you ever thought that your purpose is greater than anything the Powers could ever grant? Anything the Powers could ever understand?" he asked her. One thought ran through her brain at his question. Geez, crptic much? Then, another thought rushed into her head and she inhaled quickly. Panic set in once more… A tear ran down her cheek as she closed her eyes. Everything went dark as one word slipped softly by her lips.

"Angel…"

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"Mom…" Buffy said again. Joyce's hand came up to rub her daughter's back.

"Oh honey… everything's alright," she said with a smile. Buffy drew back and looked at her mother's healthy, happy face.

"I've missed you so much, Mom. So many things have happened…" she said. Joyce reached up to swipe a stray piece of hair off of her daughter's forehead.

"I know, sweetie. And you've been so brave. You always have been so brave," she said. Buffy's eyes watered.

"I haven't been brave lately. I've been running. I've run away from what's left of Sunnydale, I've even run from my friends. I've run from things I refuse to handle… I've run from my life," she admitted, tears finally breaking free. Her mother let her cry while running a soothing hand over Buffy's back. After a few moments, Joyce took Buffy by the shoulders and held her away.

"You didn't have the choice before, Buffy, but you get to have it now. You've cut yourself off from everyone as if you are waiting for the other shoe to drop. Consider this it, Buffy," her mother said. The Slayer lifted wet cheeks to look at Joyce.

"What are you talking about?" she asked, lifting a hand to wipe the tear tracks away. Joyce reached out and took Buffy's hand.

"You have a choice," she said. Understanding hit Buffy like a truck.

"You mean I can stay here, with you… or I can go back and be the Slayer," she said. Joyce smiled.

"You have people that love you and that you love as well in both places. You have a peace here that you don't have there, but you have purpose and a chance at a life there you will never really have here.," she said. Buffy's thoughts went to her family and friends. Dawn, Giles, Willow, Xander, Angel… With a sigh, she allowed herself to think of Spike. She'd be lying to herself if she said that she didn't care about him. She'd be lying even more if she said she didn't feel more than just caring for him. It was hard not to when she really let herself see the vampire – person – he'd become before he sacrificed himself for her. When she'd told him she loved him, she hadn't been lying… but it wasn't something she was quite ready to deal with yet. So, she swept those feelings underneath the proverbial rug once more. There were more important things to deal with at the moment. The world wasn't going to not end because she'd had a sudden insight into her own head. The thought caused Buffy's eyes to well up again. The world was ending… and she needed to do something no matter how much this peace called to her. But she was so tired…

"You said I was brave, Mom. I want to be brave again," Buffy said, a tear dripping off her chin. Joyce's finger caught it and traced the tear-track back up to the corner of her daughter's eye.

"Don't do something just to be brave, Buffy," she said lovingly. "Do what your heart wants." Buffy's chin dropped to her chest.

"I don't know what my heart wants," she said miserably. "I haven't for a long time…"

"Why were you happy the last time we saw each other?" Joyce asked. Buffy thought for a second and then smiled.

"Because I'd done my duty. I'd fulfilled my destiny," she said. Joyce smiled.

"Have you?" she asked. Buffy's eyes went to her mother's. A moment passed before Buffy sighed.

"No. I don't think I have… not just yet," she admitted.

"It's not your time, Buffy. You've a life to lead yet. You have people to live for," she said.

"Dawn," Buffy said with a single, purposeful nod. Joyce smiled again as she gathered her daughter close.

"Among other people. Honey, if you go back, you will have to find your place again and you will have to let people back in. Things have changed, Buffy, and things will have changed even more if you go back. It will be up to you to adapt to those changes and make a new life for yourself," she advised. Buffy nodded again. Her choice was made.

"I love you, Mom…"

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Spike flinched at the screams that now surrounded him. His mind immediately went back to the white area. He glared back at the woman.

"Well, geez… give a bloke an actual choice! It's like choosing between a new car and just the sodding steering wheel…"

"Two choices have been made… it is now up to you…" she said in her cryptic way. Spike rolled his eyes.

"Talk about no pressure," he muttered. "So, what, my choice is between living as a vampire and going to hell? Isn't that the same bloody thing?" The woman looked at him.

"Your choice is between redemption and salvation," she said. Spike frowned.

"What's the bleeding difference?"

"I think you already know," she said. When Spike turned to look at her, she was already gone.

"Oh bloody hell," he said.

"Hurry it up, would ya? There's a world out there that needs to be saved," Cordelia's voice suddenly broke in. Spike spun around.

"What the hell are you popping around for?" he asked. Cordelia grinned.

"I made my choice…" she said.

"Help a bloke out then," he grumbled. Cordelia grinned again.

"When in doubt answer 'C'," she said. Spike's eyes narrowed.

"You're dead, aren't you?" he asked.

"What makes you say that?" she asked back. Spike rolled his eyes.

"You're here, aren't you?" he told her.

"That doesn't mean anything," she said.

"Fine. Don't answer." She smiled.

"You know that I can't tell you what I decided," she said.

"Tell me what I should decide then," he said. Cordelia shrugged.

"I'd think it would be a no-brainer. Redemption, salvation… pain or peace…" she commented. Spike's eyes narrowed.

"What's that supposed to mean?" he asked. Cordelia threw her arms up.

"Oh come on, Spike. Use your brain. I know you're not as stupid as Angel likes to think you are. You didn't peroxide all your brain cells out… Redemption is what Angel is doing. He's working to atone for his past sins. He's living through the pain in order to achieve his reward. Salvation is the reward. It's peace," she told him. Spike let out a breath.

"So, it's the easy way or the hard way," he said. Cordelia nodded.

"That would be the gist of it," she told him. "Well… now that you've figured it out, I'm outta here…" Spike was looking at her when she disappeared, but it didn't register in his mind… it was already thinking through his choice.

The easy way – just let it be over with. Take his reward for saving the world and find peace. No living as a ghost, no living as a vampire… no living as a human. No pain. Just the fluffy clouds and angel's wings. The hard way – living as whatever they send him back as. Living in the world where there was no peace, where there was a constant battle between good and evil. Living with conscience, guilt, fear, anger, love, pain… the whole bloody gamut.

It wasn't an easy decision by any means. He wanted the peace. He wanted the free ticket to no worries, no eternal damnation, no anything. But when he thought he'd made his decision, the faces of Buffy, Dawn, Cordelia, Willow… even that wanker Xander went through his head. Leaving the world meant leaving everything that he'd been able to find. Friendship, acceptance, purpose… love… But having all of that back meant being William the Bloody again. It meant having his past.

It took a few moments of internal struggle, but after a moment, Spike's shoulders dropped as he relaxed. It was time to do what he wanted, the world be damned…

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"What are you doing here?" Angel asked softly as to not disturb his dozing son.

"I was supposed ta be here waitin' for ya, but the Powers told me I had ta make a quick stop…" Doyle explained. There was silence for a few moments as they both looked down at the child in the vampire's arms.

"What's going on, Doyle?"

"In your hands rests the fate of the world…"

"As usual," Angel muttered. Doyle chuckled as he looked once more down at the baby.

"It's why you're the champion, my friend…"

"You know, the whole 'fate in my hands' thing kind of gets old after a while," Angel grumbled. Doyle shrugged.

"Well, ya know… greater good, higher power, the good fight, right man for the job and all that… I actually had a dream once where I was the champ and you were the sidekick…" the slighter man said. Angel looked over at him with a mixture of a glare and a look of amusement. "I was doin' a fair alright, too…"

"Ah, let me guess… saved the day? Got the girl? Rode off into the sunset?" Angel said, shifting baby Conner in his arms. Doyle frowned.

"Ya need a better imagination, my man. Of course I saved the day and got the girl. But there was more shacking up for a week or so than there was riding off into the sunset…" he said with a shameless grin. Angel chuckled.

"I think your imagination is dangerous enough for us both," he said with a shake of his head. Doyle nodded.

"Oh, aye… I'm sure o' that," he said. Angel sobered as he looked down at Conner.

"What's all this about, Doyle?" he asked. The half-demon turned a serious face to him.

"The moment o' truth is what it is. This is where all your Champion mettle is put to the test," he said.

"What are you talking about?" the vampire asked, but when he turned Doyle was gone. Angel rolled his eyes.

"Typical. Give a cryptic warning and then disappear… The Powers are good at that…" he muttered. He looked around the room and saw nothing that could be classified as 'mettle-testing'.

"Dad…" Conner's voice suddenly wafted to him. Angel turned. There, standing down the long hallway was an image of teenaged Conner. But it wasn't the Conner he knew. This Conner looked happy… he looked the way that Angel had thought he'd left him with his new family. He looked the way Angel wanted him to look…

The child that had been cradled lovingly in Angel's arms was now gone. With panic, Angel spun in circles, looking for the innocent baby. Instead, he came face to face with Conner. Angry Conner. Angel's gaze snapped back to the hallway. His Conner stood there still, waiting.

"Dad…" angry Conner sneered, drawing his father's attention back to him. "Are you here to fix me? We both know I'm hopeless… are you going to help me?" Angel reached forward and grasped his son's shoulder. The teenager flung himself away.

"Don't touch me," he hissed.

"I want to help you," Angel said. Conner sneered.

"Well, I'd rather kill you. I'll kill you all," he seethed. His hand tightened around the hilt of his sword and swung up. Angel prepared to block but all motion stopped. His son was stilled, the sword stopping only inches from Angel's head. The vampire let out the unneeded breath he'd sucked in on instinct. His eyes were locked on his son's own murderous gaze.

"This is your chance, Angel. There are two ways you can go from here. You can save your son, or you can kill your son," Doyle said, re-appearing at Angel's side. "The choices have been made, the souls have worked together and the power has been released. It is now up to you…" Angel's brow furrowed in confusion.

"What do you mean it's up to me?" he asked. Doyle just smiled.

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A/N: For those of you that are nitpicky… the language of the spell is Gaelic, but with a slight twist in the words to make it fit the story. Don't take it literally, it's not supposed to correct, real-life Gaelic. And a fun fact… The newt bit at the beginning was a tribute to the ever wonderful Monty Python (I was watching it while writing!)… "She turned me into a newt…" everyone stares "… I got better…" Teehee… Gotta love the Monty… Review and let me know how you liked this part! I have to beg all the reviews I can get at this point, the show's almost over! The fat lady is getting ready to sing! It's almost all she wrote! Eh, and all the rest of those euphemisms for the word 'end'… Later:)