Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters except for James. If I did own the shows I wouldn't be writing Fan Fiction about it.

A/N: Thank you for all your reviews.

Chapter Eighteen

Just Say the Word

Brooke and Lucas sat in Dawn's room that night thinking about what tomorrow would bring them. They were thinking of Buffy's speech and what might happen to them when they went in there.

"Are you sure you won't go back to Tree Hill?" Brooke asked again.

"I'm positive. I couldn't bear knowing I lost you when I could have helped you in the fight," Lucas said again.

Brooke smiled. They hugged each other.

"So what do you want to do?"

"I have an idea," Brooke said.

She got up and went over to her bag. Lucas didn't like Brooke's ideas because nothing ever good came out of them. But she returned with a book.

"What's that?" Lucas asked.

"It's a book you moron," Brooke said smiling.

"What book?"

"John Steinbeck, The winter of discontent. Can you read it to me?" Brooke asked, "Pretty Pwease."

"Of course."

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Buffy was out in the cemetery doing a quick patrol. She needed to get out of the house. Away from the insanity. Away from the as Spike would say 'pitter patter of girlie feet.' She wanted one last fight with something small before the big fight tomorrow. And it was because she couldn't sleep. Buffy felt a familiar tingle. But not the one that signified danger, but something she hadn't felt in a long time.

"Do I always find you in cemeteries when I come visit?"

Buffy's head shot up to were the voice came from. It was Angel.

"Needed to clear my head."

"Yeah. Tomorrow's the big battle," Angel said.

"Yup."

"I got some information on the first for you," Angel explained handing over a packet.

"Reliable source?"

"Not remotely."

"Mm, any port in an apocalypse."

"I, uh, brought something else as well," explains Angel.

Angel takes out an amulet and holds it for Buffy to see. It's a round crystal pendant in a silver starburst setting hung from a coarse silver chain.

"I can already tell you, I have nothing that goes with that," Buffy says shaking her head.

"It's not for you."

"Splainy."

"I don't know everything. It's very powerful and probably very dangerous. It has a purifying power, a cleansing power, possibly scrubbing bubbles. The translation is, uh—anyway, it bestows strength to the right person who wears it," Angel explained.

"And the right person is?"

"Someone ensouled, but stronger than human. A champion. As in me."

"Or me."

"No. I don't know nearly enough about this to risk you wearing it," Angel replies, "Besides, you got that real cool axe-thing going for you."

"So you're gonna be with me in this?"

"Shoulder to shoulder. I'm yours."

"No."

"No what?" Angel asked confused.

"No. You're not gonna be in this fight."

Buffy walks away. But before she gets far Angel cuts in front of her.

"Why the hell not?"

"Cause I can't risk you in this."

"You need me in this," Angel insists.

"No, I need you gone."

"Why?"

"If I lose, if this thing gets past Sunnydale, then it's days—maybe hours—before the rest of the world goes. I need a second front, and I need you to run it," Buffy explains.

"Ok."

Angel crosses his arms over his chest.

"That's one reason," Angel says, "What's the other?"

"There is no other."

Buffy starts walking away.

"Is it Spike?" Angel calls after her.

Buffy turns around a looks at Angel.

"You're not telling me something. And his scent, I remember it pretty well," Angel adds.

"You vampires. Did anybody ever tell you the whole smelling people thing's a little gross?"

Buffy walks away. Angel runs to catch her and follows.

"Is he your boyfriend?" Angel asked.

"Is that your business?" Buffy retorts.

"Are you in love with him? OK, maybe I'm outta line, but this is kind of a curve ball for me. I mean, we are talking about Spike here."

"It's different. He's different. He has a soul now."

"Oh," Angel looks at the ground, "Well."

"What?" Buffy urges.

"That's great," Angel mumbles to himself, "Everyone's got a soul now."

"He'll make a difference."

"You know, I started it," Angel said looking up, "The whole having a soul. Before it was all the cool new thing."

"Oh my god. Are you twelve?"

"I'm getting the brush off for Captain Peroxide," Angel says sarcastically, "It doesn't necessarily bring out the champion in me."

"You're not getting the brush off. Are you just gonna come here and go all Dawson on me every time I have a boyfriend?"

"Aha," Angel exclaims pointing at Buffy, "Boyfriend."

"He's not. But…he's in my heart."

"That will end well."

Angel leans against a tombstone.

"What was the highlight of our relationship? When you broke up with me or when I killed you? I'm well aware of my stellar history with guys..."

Buffy sighs and leans against the tombstone beside Angel.

"And, no, I don't see fat grandchildren in the offing with Spike, but I don't think that really matters right now," Buffy continues.

Buffy chuckles.

"You know, in the midst of all this insanity, a couple things are actually starting to make sense. And the guy thing—, "Buffy sighs, "I always feared there was something wrong with me, you know, because I couldn't make it work. But maybe I'm not supposed to."

"Because you're the slayer?" Angel asks.

"Because—OK, I'm cookie dough. I'm not done baking. I'm not finished becoming whoever the hell it is I'm gonna turn out to be. I make it through this, and the next thing, and the next thing, and maybe one day I turn around and realize I'm ready. I'm cookies. And then, you know, if I want someone to eat—" Buffy's eyes go wide as she catches herself in time, "or enjoy warm, delicious cookie me, then...that's fine. That'll be then. When I'm done."

"Any thoughts on who might enjoy— Do I have to go with the cookie analogy?"

"I'm not really thinking that far ahead. That's kind of the point."

"I'll go start working on the second front. Make sure I don't have to use it."

Angel hands Buffy the amulet and walks away. Buffy doesn't call him back and give him false hope. For she already knows whom she wants to be with when she's ready. Spike.

A/N: I hoped you liked me throwing Angel in there. And if you are wondering most of it was copied word for word out of the script with a change of the scenario. It was because that was the way I thought the meeting should go. And if your wondering why Buffy sang the song for Spike when she wasn't ready, it was her way of saying that she's almost ready and she wanted to spend the rest of her life with him when she's ready. I hope I explained it well. If you don't understand ask in your review and I'll try to explain it better.