Inside the car -- in the back --, Angel lay asleep with his head on Faith's lap, as the Slayer gently stroked his hair. She gazed at him sadly, as Maeve sat in the front seat, her expression uneasy.
"Faith," the Head of the Watchers said quietly after a moment, having come to some decision.
Faith, not removing her gaze from the souled vampire, whispered, "Yes?"
"I am afraid that I have wronged you all these years."
"No. You just did what you thought was best."
"In some ways we wanted your powers to be ours to control...and I ask your forgiveness -- as Head of the Watchers Council -- for that."
Faith glanced up for a moment, then said -- as she returned her gaze to Angel --, "Indeed. As you did with Angel?"
"We had to do that to bring forth your power. We knew the prophecy...but we did not know the extent of your power. You have your own destiny to fulfill that was unknown to us...and which is still unknown to us."
Maeve wanted to turn to look at Faith but did not dare. If she had, though, she would have seen a faint, secretive smile on the Slayer's face, her eyes laughing.
As Faith watched Angel sleep, she saw as one side of his lips moved ever so slightly upward, as if he had heard the whole conversation.
As the cars pulled up to a castle, many people were waiting. Most bore expressions of rage.
Maeve was just getting out of the car, when a woman that looked very similar to her strode forward. The woman said curtly, "Normally I would greet you properly, Cousin. But not this time...for I have only one thing to say to you: You dare bring that monster here!"
At that same exact moment, Angel stepped out of the car, and nearly found himself staked. With a snarl, he ripped the stake from the woman's hand, and pushed her away from himself. He eyes flashed yellow with rage.
"Do not try anything with me, Watcher!" Angel said through gritted teeth.
From inside the car, Faith called, "Angel. Don't."
Angel stilled, as Faith stepped out of the car. She tilted her head, and gazed at the woman who had just attempted to kill Angel, and said in quiet command, "He will cause you no harm. You will not harm him. Or you will answer to me... Is that clear?"
With a frown, the Head of the Irish Branch of the Watchers Council nodded, then said, "He will not be harmed."
Faith nodded curtly once, and said, "Good."
Once Angel knew that he wouldn't find himself staked if he turned away, he leaned back inside the car, and brought out the sword. Those watching, gasped as they saw the mark of Kells on Angel's back, and cried out in fear, as they saw the Sword of Kells held within the vampire's grasp.
"Such a pretty knife," Dru murmured, as her hand hovered over the Sword of Kells. "Can't I play with it Daddy?"
"No," Angel said. "Only I can weld that sword, Dru. Now sit down."
Drusilla pouted as she obeyed her Sire.
Angel sat slumped in the chair next to Faith, as Faith sat erect. She just looked forward at Maeve and the Head Watcher of Ireland. The Sword shimmered off her skin, giving her an aura of power that Maeve had never seen before.
"What have you brought here, Cousin," the unknown Watcher asked, fear tingeing her voice.
Angel slowly raised his head, responding to the woman's question, saying, "The answers to the prophecy that you so kindly left unanswered questioned for me. This is the heart and blood of our line. Something that you would never be able to grasp in your own hands, the Sword of Kells."
Maeve stiffened in rage, then snapped, "If it weren't for that bloody Slayer, we would have...!"
Angel stood suddenly, and slammed his fist down in rage. Faith stood as well, and put her hand on Angel's shoulder to stop him from lunging towards the Watcher. Quietly, she said, "If it wasn't for Buffy...we would not be here. Yes, you are correct. But it is she that has sacrificed the most for us all, and it is all of us who must save her now.
"It will be her blood that will be slain that will release St. Vigeous and all those who will be damned if we are not already damned. Is that not what you so desire to stop? So stop pointing fingers...we are all in this for it some reason or another. Angel is in it far more than the rest of us. I have my own reason and that will soon be revealed. You have your own quest -- as Watchers -- that was given to you for centuries and you must continue your journey.
"As I see for the prophecy: you have manipulated it to serve it to your own purpose. You have caused too much pain and torment on this soul...as well as mine. Worry for your own souls Watchers, for you will have to answer to the higher powers now."
Fear went down Angel's spine as he heard Faith speak, but he knew that what she was saying was right. Everything that had happened was for some reason that was to prepare them for what was to come.
In silence, Angel bowed his head, and closed his eyes. He drew in a deep breath, then let it slowly out, as he reached with his soul, mind, and heart for his soulmate.
"Buffy," Angel said in a haunting drawn-out whisper.
Faith turned to gaze at him. "Angel?"
In frustration, Angel looked up at the Slayer, and thought, "I can't reach her alone. I need your help, Faith."
Faith turned the others, and said in command, "Leave."
Thin lipped the two Watchers did as they were commanded. Dru stayed where she was, looked over at Angel, then to Faith, saying, "Daddy is wanting to talk to her again, doesn't he?"
The Slayer nodded once, then pointed at the door. With a glower, Dru stood, and left, stomping her feet as she went.
Faith closed the door and locked it behind Drusilla, then walked over to Angel as he knelt on the ground. He looked up into her eyes, as she placed her hands upon his shoulders. A golden glow surrounded them, as Angel tossed his head back slightly, breaking eye contact.
Faith whispered, "Try again."
Again, Angel reached out to his mate...and connected.
Buffy stirred slightly, feeling her love. She felt so cold. Her arms ached from being bounded by the shackles that held her. She had no energy to lift her head to respond as Angel called to her.
"Beloved."
She went limp, as did Angel as he realized how weak he and his love had become. Painfully, Angel whispered, "Faith. I need your help...for both of us."
Faith breathed in, as she reached into the very essence of her being, and called even further upon her power. Like a tidal wave, the power washed over them.
Faith embraced Angel as he felt his spirit leave him. He stood within a blaze of warmth as Faith smiled. "Stay here. Nothing will harm you. I will be right back."
Words rose within Buffy's mind that she recognized. "Faith?" she whispered questioningly.
Faith's spiritual image appeared, and touched Buffy's lips to quiet her. It was then, that Buffy realized that Faith was there with her.
Faith stepped forward, caressed her face like a spirit from the past, then she embraced Buffy to her as the bound Slayer's spirit slid into a place of safety and warmth.
Buffy felt a familiar presence, and turned to see Angel as she had never seen him before.
Her soulmate glowed with a brilliance she had never thought possible, as she also felt the power of her lover. She reached out a hand to touch his face, and whispered in wonder, "What has happened to you, Beloved?"
"Everything," Angel whispered, as he covered his love's hand with his own.
At that moment, Faith touched the two on their shoulders. They looked at her, as she said with a loving smile, "I will leave you two to talk, but know I am near if you need me."
With that, Faith faded away from their sight.
Angel reached out to touch Buffy's hand; it was as if lighting struck when they touched. He grasped her hand and pulled her to him, holding her tightly. How can this be real? Yet it is, he thought.
Angel's other hand slid up her face to make her face him. In her eyes, he saw the undo torment of what she had to endure from her captors, the anguish of not being by her lover's side, and the ever increasing loss of her powers, as a dark entity drained her each day at sunset. Gently, he said, "My love, you must hold on."
With tears in her eyes, Buffy whispered brokenly, as all the defenses she had put up to save herself since her kidnapping crumbled, "How can I, Angel? Why is this happening to me!"
"No, it is happening to us. It is not a bad thing, my love. The Powers That Be will always be against our love. As long as I have you in my life..." he broke off and looked deep into her soul, "then I have every reason to keep on living and making things right."
He curled his fingers in her hair, kissed her deeply, and held her. Sighing as she took comfort in her lover's embrace, Buffy asked, "What do we do now? Where are you?"
"I'm at the Watcher's Headquarters in Ireland with Faith."
Buffy pulled away from Angel in shock, and exclaimed, "Ireland! What the heck are you doing there! And Faith! What is she? WHAT'S GOING ON!"
Angel reached out to pull her back to him, but she would not let him. Firmly, he said, "Buffy. Trust me when I say that there is too much to explain, and not enough..." He trailed off, as he saw Faith glide through the warm flames that she had provided to protect the lovers.
Slayer looked at Slayer, as Faith said, "Buffy, I think it is time that you know who I really am and what I am. Are you prepared to face St. Vigeous with us? Because you are the last one who is needed to fulfill the prophecy."
In confusion, Buffy said, "Prophecy? What prophecy? Who's St. Vigeous? And who you really are? What!"
Faith moved closer to Buffy, as Angel sensed what Faith was about to do. "Buffy, as a Slayer you must learn to trust. Especially those who want to help you." Faith moved closer as she touched Buffy's heart.
Buffy began to see what had happened to Angel, Faith and the rest since she was kidnapped. The prophecy was revealed to her as she gasped in horror. Faith let go of Buffy.
"Now do you understand?"
After a moment of silence, Buffy chocked out, "Drusilla! We're working with Drusilla!"
Angel looked Buffy, "Trust in Faith, my Beloved. I ask you to do this, for she can bring this all together."
He moved closer to her, held her once more, pulled her close, and whispered the words, "Trust Faith."
Buffy closed her eyes, and wearily rested her head on Angel's chest, and whispered, "I'll trust her, but only because you do."
Faith lifted up her arms, and the white crystals in her hands turned a deep purple. Angel felt a surge of power course through Buffy as he held her, and felt fear for his love.
"Slayer of Truth answer!" Faith said, her voice commanding.
Buffy moved away from Angel, and slowly turned to face Faith. She looked her straight in the eye, and said, "I will trust you. I will trust you because Angel trusts you. I have 'faith' in him, if anything else."
"Slayer you must have trust in your heart, and to trust you must have faith. If you have no faith, you have no love for your soulmate. I say again, Slayer of Truth, answer!"
"What do you want from me!" Buffy shouted in sudden anger.
An unreadable look crossed Faith's face for a flicker of a moment, before saying in a voice filled with power, "RELY ON YOUR HEART, SLAYER. LOOK AT YOUR SOULMATE! WHAT HAS HE GIVEN UP FOR YOU!"
The place where they were thundered and shook with her words. Angel hung his head, shuddering, as Buffy remained silent, glaring with unbound rage.
The souled vampire's heart sank, as he stepped before Faith, and knelt at her silent command.
From behind Faith, the Sword of Kells appeared. She said dispassionately, "Then, you are not worthy to be his soulmate. I claim it back to the Powers That Be!"
Buffy drew in breath sharply, then cried out, "NO!"
She lunged towards the sword, as Faith moved aside, a knowing look in her eyes. Angel watched in fear, as his soulmate reached out, and gripped the first hilt of the Sword of Kells. As the Slayer fell to her feet, she gripped the second sword hilt. Instantly, she fell to her knees, crying out from the sudden surge of power she felt coursing through her.
As Buffy knelt upon the ground, the sword she held disappeared...and reappeared in Faith's hands. Swiftly, she raised the sword, and brought it down, slicing flesh. Angel cried out in pain, as he felt the sword go through him. He fell to the ground lifeless, and did not move.
Faith looked down at Buffy, whispering, "Now, Slayer, who can you trust?"
Buffy crawled over to Angel's prone form. With trembling hand, she touched his face. She looked up at Faith, her face filled with grief, and whispered in a broken voice, "No one."
Buffy then looked down at Angel, but he was no longer there. Gasping, she quickly looked up at Faith...and found Angel standing beside the other Slayer. Faith knelt down beside Buffy, as Angel smiled reassuringly at her.
Quietly, Faith asked, "Now, Slayer of Truth, can you trust me?"
Buffy closed her eyes, bowed her head in submission, and said quietly, "Yes."
Faith gently took Buffy's hand, and rose -- the Slayer rising with her --. She then reached out and took Angel's hand as well. Buffy gazed at Faith in wonder, as the other Slayer's power washed away all doubts of mistrust she possessed.
Gently yet firmly, Faith put their hands together. As she released their hands, a silver cord appeared in Faith's own hands. A cord that was connected to Buffy and Angel's hearts.
With great power, Faith said, "I call on the Powers That Be to here their beloved childe who they gave a soul. I bring forth the ones you have asked of me to join together through their love, trust, honesty, and peace. Seal and join them together in the past, present and future. Let their souls never be separated from this time forth!"
At that moment, time held still, as Angel looked at Buffy, and she at him. Together, they turned their heads to look at Faith. She smiled at them.
All three watched, as the silver cord was connected to a gold cord coming from Faith's heart. She released the cords, as she whispered, "May we three never be separated."
Faith began to glow, as the crystals in her hands turned blue, as she reached out and touched Buffy. Kindly, she said, "My Sister, forever mine... I grant you the power to call on the Oracles when you need guidance. In battle, you will find that you have a new shield: mine."
Faith stepped away from the two soulmates. Angel looked at Buffy, and started to embrace her, when Faith said suddenly and regretfully, "I am sorry, my Angel, but I must take Buffy back. St. Vigeous senses something. So make this quick."
Angel nodded his understanding, and tenderly placed a kiss on Buffy's forehead, before holding her close in a tight embrace. He whispered, "Beloved, we shall see you soon. Do not fear. You will be freed."
He drew away from Buffy, as Faith placed a hand on her sister's shoulder. As they began to fade away, Angel called out, "I love you!"
And then they were gone.