Hello all, Aves here again with another exciting chapter of "The End of All Things" Initial response has been pretty positive so far and I look forward to more R & R and plenty of feedback. Also I can't seem to get my paragraphs to indent correctly. Anybody know what I'm doing wrong? Thanks again.
CHAPTER 2
REVELATIONS
The weary band of heroes had regrouped to the Hyperion. Various wounds both physical and emotional were being nursed as everyone tried to recover from the huge battle they had just fought through. Willow was fighting the pain of losing Kennedy by caring for Xander. He was lying in the make-shift infirmary they had put together hastily so the wounded would have a place to recover.
"I'm proud of you Will," he whispered hoarsely. "Keeping it together like this, I know your hurting, but try to stay strong for me. We're going to need you.
Willow smiled weakly, her cheeks bearing the proof of many fallen tears. "You just get better," she replied as she dabbed his forehead with a cool cloth. "I'm going to need you to get through this."
Xander took her hand and squeezed gently. "I love you Will, you know that don't you?"
She smiled and leaned down to kiss him on the forehead. "Yea I know. Please get some rest I'm going to check on Buffy.
"Of all the arrogant, pigheaded, and just, just, well just rude things to say to me after I just saved his life. I should have let that demon army just kill him!" Buffy had been ranting to Giles about Angel's behavior toward her ever since that got to the Hyperion. Giles watched her pace back and forth the old office room.
"From what he says maybe that would have been the best thing to do."
Buffy spun around to face her watcher, a very irritated look on her face. "Oh no, you supported me on this. You agreed to bring us here so don't put all the blame on me!"
"I was not implying the blame should be put on you Buffy. We all acted out of duty and concern for our friends, however we can not just dismiss what Angel has said. Yes, he is being a childish, irritating wanker, but the fact is he was ready to die in that alleyway. He was willing to give up his immortality so that the world could have just a few moments peace. Both he, and you took actions you thought would bring about the best results. Now we all have to fight together Buffy. Whether it is just another run of the mill apocalypse we seem to avert every year or this could really be the end, whether coming to Angel's aid has sped it along or not, we must be united to survive what is coming.
Buffy smiled weakly at her mentor, "Have I told you lately how annoying it is when your always right?
Giles smirked in return, "Yes, well not lately but I do so enjoy being right. Buffy, go talk to him, make your peace, then we can plan a meeting. We all have much to discuss."
Buffy left Giles with the intent of going up to Angel to settle things when she caught part of conversation between her sister and that kid she saw fighting beside Angel. "So basically neither one of us is supposed to exist," The boy said.
"Yea, freaky huh?" Dawn smiled. Buffy stopped in her tracks and stared into them both.
"What do you mean neither one of you is supposed to exist?"
The kid's answer made Buffy feel like something had punched her in the gut. "Well, Dawn told me about being the key and all that, and me, I'm a walking impossibility, the child of two vampires."
Buffy's eyes widened in shock, "Two vampires? Which two?"
"My dad is Angel and he told me my Mom's name was Darla."
Buffy turned away from them and ran up the stairs tears beginning to form in her eyes.
Connor looked at Dawn confused, "Was it something I said?"
Angel was sitting in his old room, brooding and remembering better days, that is until his door flew open. "How could you not tell me you had a son?" Buffy screamed. The vampire just stared at her as she continued her tirade, her voice shaking. "How did you? Why? What the hell is going on with you? You somehow have a son with Darla of all people, and oh by the way isn't she supposed to be dead? Didn't you kill her? What is necrophilia a new hobby for you now? Never mind I don't want to know. No, wait I do want to know. I want to know why you didn't tell me. I want to know why you took over Wolfram and Hart. I want to know what the hell is going on with you?"
Angel just stared at her. "Are you done now?"
Buffy threw her hands up in the air in frustration. "You must be out of your mind!"
He was almost too quick for her to see as he grabbed her and threw her down in one of the chairs. "Will you please just shut up? We have bigger issues going on here that what I have and have not told you. Oh and don't come in here acting like little Miss Saintly Slayer. You had the gall to send your little platoon of slayers to strong arm Dana away instead of talking to me about it. Your little whatever it was, or is with Spike, and how can I forget The Immortal who I notice isn't with you. What's the matter global apocalypse not enough to get him out of bed?" Angel's rant was interrupted by Buffy jumping up and nearly slapping the taste out of his mouth. The vampire looked to Buffy like he was about to tear into her, but he just stood there facing her, his facial expression turning from anger to sadness. "It never changes Buffy, you think it's always about you, but guess what it's not. I have my reasons for the choices I made and guess what? They had nothing to do with you. If you don't like it go back to Europe, I'll face this alone.
The slayer was crying now tears streaming down her face, her voice choking up. "I'm sorry, but please just tell me why?"
Angel's rage abated as he saw those tears, the tears that always made him want to take her in his arms and hold her. "Listen Buffy, give me a few minutes okay? I lost two good friends tonight, and I, well I just need a few minutes, then you and I will talk and no more secrets. I'll tell you everything.
Buffy nodded and got up, "I'll see you soon."
The Slayer closed the door to Angel's room started to go to the stairwell but sat down against the wall instead and began to cry again. "Buffy what's wrong?" Willow sat down next to her friend and put her arm around her. "You and Angel fight?"
"He has a son Will," Buffy whispered.
"Who has a son?"
"Angel."
"What? How is that possible?"
Buffy put her head on her friend's shoulder still upset at the whole situation. "I don't know, he and I had one of our famous blow-ups, so he didn't tell me. He said he would explain everything just give him some time."
Willow really didn't know what to say. "I'm sorry Buffy," was all she could think of.
Buffy patted her on the knee, "It's okay Will. How are you? I know how much Kennedy meant to you."
Willow sniffed still fighting tears herself, "I can't believe she's gone, but at least it was while fighting for something, not like Tara."
Buffy smiled weakly at her. "How's Xander?"
He'll be okay, might not be able to move much for a few days, but he'll live."
Buffy sighed her tiredness showing. "I don't know how much more fighting I can do Will. I thought all these slayers would help make the battle easier, but now, well now that we are here in LA facing who knows what, I'm just too tired to fight another war"
Willow got up and offered Buffy her hand, "Come on, enough mopey time. Apocalypse, death, I'm bummed out enough. I think we need to find ourselves an open mini-mart with enough junk food to satisfy an army or Slayers, and various other, well whatever us other people are."
Buffy smiled, a real smile, the first since arriving in LA. "Sounds good I'll get Dawn and a couple of the girls. This is a serious mission that needs some massive girl power." Buffy accompanied Willow down the stairs feeling just a bit better.
Spike watched as Buffy left to get some supplies with Willow, Dawn, and two of the other slayers. "Blasted, soddin, slayer, 4 hours back and not even hardly a word to me." Spike had made his way to Angel's old office continuing what he had been doing since the group at arrived at the Hyperion, cursing to himself about Buffy. All she had done since screaming at him for about 2 seconds was fight with Peaches, and then she left again. "Bet she hadn't even thought of me again," he muttered to himself.
"I wouldn't bet on that," a voice said. Spike turned around to see Xander standing, well barely standing on some makeshift crutches. "I hate to admit it, but she did miss you."
Spike glared at him. "What the bloody hell do you want Pirate Pete?"
Xander chuckled, "Yea, good one, like I haven't been called that since I got this patch".
He hobbled his way to an empty chair and sat down, "Look Spike Buffy's got a lot in her head right now and I think she feels like this is it, big final battle, apocalypse, end of all things, whatever. My point is sulking in here isn't going to rush her to your side any faster."
Spike continued his death stare at Xander. "Who asked for your opinion Blackbeard? Anyway I'd think the farther Buffy was from me the happier you'd be."
Xander frowned. "Listen peroxide king I have never been, nor will I ever be your biggest fan, I hope you never get the chance to touch Buffy again, the idea of you two together still makes me want to puke, but I know she's missed you and she wonders why you didn't tell her you weren't dead, and I can't totally despise someone who at least tried to sacrifice himself to save the world." Spike smirked at that comment as Xander continued, "Point is, I may not like you but I respect you enough to tell you that you should talk to her, but please God if you two by some sick twisted turn of events do more that talk don't tell me okay?"
Spike smiled at stood up. "It's a deal, and Xander never thought I'd ever say this to you, but thanks.
Xander shook his head, "Don't mention it, but you could do one thing for me."
"What's that"?
"Help me back to bed if Willow catches me moving around she'll kill me."
Spike helped Xander out of his chair and put an arm around him, "Come on Patches, oh and one more thing, tell anyone about this conversation and I'll bite you."
It was dark where he was. The only light provided by the three figures in front of him. They stared him down, clearly displeased with his most recent performance. "We should let you rot in the hell we rescued you from for failing us." The Black Thorn is done and Angel still lives, tell us why you should not still be lying dead in the ruins of our building?"
Hamilton did not look up as he spoke to his masters, "The loss of the Black Thorn is a blow my lords, but it is a blow we can withstand. The pieces are aligned and now we shall eliminate not only the champion of the Powers but the Slayer line as well."
One of the creatures cocked its head in interest. "Explain this." It hissed.
Hamilton looked up at the three creatures and arose dusting himself off. "Our spies have revealed that my brother has left his sanctuary."
The second creature smiled. "So the prophecy is coming to pass, the one who intervenes shall be released and the true loyalty of the vampire with a soul will be revealed."
The third creature spoke its voice even making Hamilton cringe a bit with its evil. "We shall finally step foot once again on the earthly plane, and make that world what it should be, ours."
All three creatures stared into Hamilton their voices commanding in unison. "Go, attack Angel once more, weaken the resolve of his forces. Draw out the so-called messenger of the Powers That Be, and finally our Apocalypse shall begin.
The forces of evil were planning their ultimate offensive is one realm, however in another plans to stop evil's design were being made. A woman in white with dark hair smiled at a young warrior who stood before her. He was slightly taller that her and the way he carried himself reminded her of another champion she had known. "You know your role in this?" she asked him.
He nodded. "I do my lady, I escort you to the vampire and then fight in the battle after you have gone."
The woman smiled at him. "You will do more than just fight Marcus. You are the symbol of the Powers, just like your brother is a symbol of the Wolf, Ram, and Hart."
The warrior sighed, "Yes, Hamilton, tell me will I have to kill my own brother to be victorious?"
The woman placed her hand on his shoulder, "I do not know the outcome of this war. I only know the players and the role they play". Well, most of them anyway."
Marcus raised an eyebrow, "Most of them?"
"Yes, I know that three champions will rise to fight the Wolf, Ram, and Hart. I know that you the symbol of the Power of good will be one. I know that Angel, a symbol of the quest of redemption will be the second, but the third, the symbol of sacrificial love, that has yet to be revealed. Whoever it is has not learned of their destiny, they are clueless to their power so I can not see it."
Marcus nodded in understanding, "The third shall be revealed and we shall be victorious."
"I can see why the Powers chose you, come, let's go see some old friends". Marcus nodded, took the woman's hand and both disappeared.
