TITLE: Destiny's Child
AUTHOR: sugarwater
E-MAIL: DISCLAIMER: I own nothing, all bow down to the mighty Joss
TIMELINE: Begins mid Season 2
SPOILERS: Probably just about everything
SYNOPSIS: B/A! The Powers That Be have a surprise in store for Buffy and Angel. Btvs re-write – Angel doesn't leave. Whole lot of Fluff and little bit of Angst.
DISTRIBUTION: Anywhere, if you want it, take it, just let me know!
AUTHOR'S NOTES: Very very long epic type story, Chapter 4 takes place in the episode "Becoming Part 2"
FEEDBACK: Craved, oh please, please, please, REVIEW! Constructive crit very welcome
RATING: T
"Freeze! Put your hands up. Back away from the girl slowly." The officer shouted to Buffy as he aimed his gun at her.

Buffy slowly began to stand up and raise her hands as another officer came in behind the first, gun drawn and surveying the scene.

"Look, I didn't do anything." Buffy pleaded with the cops.

"Do it! Now!" the first cop demanded.

The second cop knelt down to Kendra's body "This one's dead." She said as she felt for a pulse.

"What about up there?" the first cop asked, still pointing his gun at Buffy and motioning towards the balcony.
Buffy followed their gaze and was met with the sight of Xander lying unconscious on the floor "Xander...".

As she tried to run to him she was pushed back towards the door by the second cop.

"Get her out of here!" the first cop ordered.

Buffy tried to loosen the cops grip on her "Wait! Just see if he's okay! Please!" she begged. Eventually giving up, she stopped struggling and let herself be led out of the library.

"Please. You don't understand." Buffy told the officer but it was to no avail.

"You'd do well to keep your mouth shut, missy." He told her.

Principal Snyder approached them from down the hall with two more police officers in tow.

"But I didn't do anything." Buffy continued.

Snyder reached the pair and eyed Buffy menacingly "Why do I find that so very hard to believe?" he snarled.

"You know this girl?" the first cop asked.

"Buffy Summers. If there's trouble, she's behind it." He began, intent on having Buffy arrested.

"You stupid little troll. You have no idea!" she angrily retorted.

"…Attitude problem. Serious." He continued.

Buffy had had enough and turned round to face the officer "Look, I just wanna know if my friends are okay." She pleaded.

"All right, that's enough." The officer finally said.

He spun her back around and reached for his handcuffs. "You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and..."

Buffy glanced over her shoulder and punched the officer in the face cutting him off mid sentence. As he stepped back in pain she tackled him to the ground and made a run for it. She could hear the second cop behind her ordering her to stop but she ran even faster. As she quickly looked over her shoulder the cop fired a shot which narrowly missed her, shattering the pane of glass in the door she had just used as her escape.

With the police after her, Buffy had to change clothes to disguise herself and then made her way to the hospital to check on her friends. She was relieved when she realised Xander wasn't hurt but soon came the news that Willow had suffered head trauma. The pair stayed with their unconscious friend for a while but the situation brought back painful memories of Miss Calendar's accident. When Cordelia finally arrived it became apparent that Giles was missing. The trap had been for him.

As Buffy ran towards Giles' apartment she could see the door was already open. She ran in and called his name, desperately hoping that she had been wrong and he was safe.

She scanned the apartment quickly and looked around for her watcher. As she did this Whistler came down the stairs from the loft.

"I don't think he's here." The voice said from behind her.

Buffy spun around to face the demon "Who are you?" she demanded.

"Whistler." The badly dressed man replied.

Buffy was immediately suspicious of this new characters intentions "What are you doing here?" she quizzed him.

"I'm waiting for you." He told her as he reached the bottom of the stairs.

"Why?" she asked, beginning to lose her patience.

Whistler smiled at her "Cause I-I-I need a date to the prom" he joked.

Jokes were not something Buffy was in the mood for at that moment, and instantly closed the gap between her and Whistler, grabbed his neck and shoved him up against the wall.

"I have had a really bad day, okay? If you have information worth hearing, then I am grateful for it. If you're gonna crack jokes, then I'm gonna pull out your ribcage and wear it as a hat." She forcefully suggested.

Whistler was slightly taken aback by this threat "Hello to the imagery! Very nice...It wasn't supposed to go down like this. Nobody figured the curse had a loop hole in it. I figured this for Angel's big day. But I thought he was here to stop Acathla, not to bring him forth. This was his fight, not yours. They've got bigger plans for you and Angel. But then this pesky little clause kicked in when you two made with the smoochies... now he's a creep again. Now, what are you gonna do? W-what are you prepared to do?"

"Whatever I have to." Buffy replied seriously.

"Maybe I should ask, what are you prepared to give up?" Whistler asked cryptically.

Buffy was tired of his games, "You don't have anything useful to tell me, do you?
What are you, just some immortal demon sent down to even the score between good and evil?" she sarcastically replied.

Whistler was impressed "Wow. Good guess." He replied grinning.

Buffy stepped towards him, not seeing the funny side at all. "Well, why don't you try getting off your immortal ass and fighting evil once in a while? 'Cause I'm sick and
tired of doing it myself."

Whistler looked seriously at her "You're right. Soon you won't have to do it yourself. But right now, you're by yourself. You're all you've got. That's the point."

Buffy looked at him confused by what he had told her. She was sick of his cryptic replies. "Spare me." She said walking to the door.

Whistler panicked as she began to leave "The sword isn't enough. You gotta be ready."

Buffy didn't show any signs of stopping and disappeared from the apartment.

"You gotta know how to use it!" he shouted after her as the door slammed, but she was gone. "Poor kid" he muttered under his breath as he stared at the door.

As Buffy walked down the street outside Giles' house she was ambushed by a police car. Before she had a chance to run or fight, Spike appeared from nowhere and knocked out the police officer. Buffy looked on in confusion at the blonde vampire who had came to her rescue.

With the cop unconscious Spike turned around to face the slayer with a grin on his face "Hello, cutie."

Without warning Buffy lunged forward and punched him twice in the face. Spike was disgruntled and grabbed her by the shoulders in an attempt to restrain her only to be kneed in the gut by an un-cooperating Buffy.

"Now, you hold on a second!" Spike shouted shoving her away from him.

Buffy immediately pulled out a stake as Spike jumped back, hands in the air.

"Hey! White flag here. I quit." He pleaded.

"Let me clear this up for you. We're mortal enemies. We don't get time-outs." She quipped, not in the mood for games.

Spike glared at her "You want to go around, pet, I'll have a gay old time of it. You
want to stop Angel... we're gonna have to play this a bit differently."

Buffy stood there, still holding the stake threateningly "What are you talking about?"

"I'm talking about your ex, pet. I'm talking about putting him in the bloody ground." Spike said seriously.

Buffy stared at the vampire incredulously "This has gotta be the lamest trick you guys have ever thought up." She said lowering her stake.

"He's got your Watcher. Right now, he's probably torturing him." Spike told her.

Buffy tensed up on hearing the news that Angel had Giles "What do you want?"

Spike smiled. "I told you. I want to stop Angel. I want to save the
world."

The unlikely duo had decided to put their differences aside to help each other out. On the way to Buffy's house to talk, they had encountered Buffy's mom who was more than a bit confused about what was going on. The police had spoken to her earlier while looking for Buffy and now she had found her daughter walking about with an older, dangerous looking man.

"You know what? Why don't we go inside, and, and we can talk about this." Buffy suggested, trying to act normal.

She started walking towards the door with Spike when Joyce spoke up.

"I'm, I'm not sure how I feel about this." Joyce said hesitantly.

As Buffy turned to face her she was pushed aside by a vampire who made a bee line for her mother. Joyce screamed and backed away while Buffy and Spike attacked him. Pulling out her stake, Buffy swiftly drove it through the vampires heart in front of a petrified Joyce.

Spike casually walked forward observing the pile of dust on the path. "One of Angel's boys." He noted.

"Yeah, probably watching me. Or you." Buffy guessed.

Spike smiled at her "Yeah. He won't get a chance to tattle on us now."

Joyce couldn't understand what was bewildered by what had just happened "Buffy... what... is going on?" Joyce asked.

Buffy realised that she had no choice and this was the right time to tell her mother about her true identity. Slowly walking over to her, she prayed that she would understand.

"Mom... I'm a Vampire Slayer."

Buffy had just got off the phone with a recently-awakened Willow. She was so glad her friend had been given the all clear and apologised that she couldn't be there. Right at this moment she had a lot more important things to deal with. She walked through to the front room to rejoin her confused mother and arch nemesis.

Spike and Buffy agreed on a deal – Buffy let Spike and Dru skip town in exchange for Giles' life. Spike eventually left to go and make sure Giles was alright. Buffy didn't have any time to waste now, she had to get the sword and be ready to hit the mansion come day break. But before all that she had to deal with a tipsy and confused Joyce who was intent on calling the police.

"Cops can't fight demons. I have to do it." Buffy said taking the phone from her mother and slamming it back into its cradle.

Joyce was beginning to lose her temper "Do what? Buffy, what is happening?"

"Just have another drink." Buffy said turning around and starting to walk off, not wanting to deal with her mother.

Joyce threw the glass aside in anger and it smashed on the floor.

"Don't you talk to me that way! You don't get to just dump something like this on me and pretend it's nothing!" she shouted.

Buffy turned around to face her mother, calmer than before. "I'm sorry, Mom, but I don't have time for this." She apologised and once again headed for the door.

"No! I am tired of 'I don't have time' or-or 'you wouldn't understand'. I am your mother, and you will make time to explain yourself." Joyce demanded.

"I told you. I'm a Vampire Slayer." Buffy replied.

"Well, I just don't accept that!" her mother said angrily.

Buffy was annoyed at her mother's lack of support and stepped closer "Open your eyes, Mom. What do you think has been going on for the past two years? The fights, the weird occurrences. How many times have you washed blood out of my clothing, and you still haven't figured it out?" she yelled incredulously.

"Well, it stops now!" Joyce said forcefully.

"No, it doesn't stop! It never stops!" Buffy retorted, raising her voice.

"Do-do you think I chose to be like this? Do you have any idea how lonely it is, how dangerous? I would love to be upstairs watching TV or gossiping about boys or... God, even studying! But I have to save the world... again." She shouted, giving her mother some insight into how difficult her life was, but Joyce didn't buy it.

"No. This is insane. Buffy, you need help." She reasoned, gripping her daughters arms.

Buffy threw her off "I'm not crazy! What I need is for you to chill. I have to go!" she pleaded.

Joyce shook her head "No. I am not letting you out of this house."

"You can't stop me." Buffy told her.

Joyce grabbed Buffy once again "Oh yes I..."

Before she could finish Buffy forcefully shoved her mom backwards. Joyce fell into the island, knocking several things onto the floor. She stood there in shock, watching her daughter storm out the door.

"You walk out of this house, don't even think about coming back!" she threatened viciously.

Buffy turned around to face her once more before finally turning around and walking away.

Yellow tape covered the entrance to the library but that didn't stop Buffy. She pulled it apart as she walked in and looked at the chalk outline of Kendra and the orb and candles on the table that had been used to try and cure Angel. She grabbed Kendra's duffel bag and began to rummage through it.

Principal Snyder entered the room. "You do know this is a crime scene, don't you? But then... you're a criminal, so that pretty much works out." He said from behind her.

Buffy looked up at him and met his gaze "You know I didn't do it. The police will figure it out." She said calmly.

"In case you haven't noticed, the police of Sunnydale are deeply stupid. It doesn't matter anyway." He said stepping closer to her.

"Whatever they find, you've proved too much of a liability for this school. These are the moments you want to savour. You wish time would stop so that you could live them over and over again. You're expelled." He said, smiling smugly.

Buffy reached into the bag and pulled out the sword she needed. As she held it up she turned it in her hand, gazing at the blade. Snyder took a small step back and gulped.

Buffy's eyes were fixated on the blade. "You never ever got a single date in high school, did you?" she said looking up at him.

"Your point being?" he said defensively.

Buffy slowly walked out of the library, lingering slightly as she passed Snyder while holding the sword dangerously close to his neck. She left the school and made her way over to Giles' apartment hoping her cryptic friend would still be around.

Willow was starting to feel a lot better and decided that she wanted to try the curse again. Xander had objected, saying that Willow was too weak but that wasn't the only reason. He hated Angel and had been against restoring his soul from the start. Unfortunately for him Willow had given her resolve face, which he had seen many times before. There was no arguing with his friend when she used her resolve face.

Angelus had been torturing Giles for hours but still the watcher refused to impart any knowledge to the vampire. He was tired and covered in blood and sweat. Pain was flooding his body in waves but no matter what Angelus did to him, he couldn't break Giles. Finally, with the help of Drusilla tricking Giles into thinking that Jenny had recovered and came to save him, Angelus found out what he needed to know.

Buffy walked into Giles apartment and found Whistler looking at the contents of Giles' fridge.

"Whistler. What did you mean, the sword isn't enough?"

Whistler continued surveying the fridge and finally found a bottle of beer. "You know, raiding an Englishman's fridge is like dating a nun. You're never gonna get the good stuff."

"Tell me how to use it." Buffy said calmly.

Whistler casually opened the bottle and took a swig. "Angel's the key. His blood will open the door to Hell. Acathla opens his big mouth, creates a vortex. Then only Angel's blood will close it. One blow will send 'em both back to Hell. But I strongly suggest that you get there before that happens and stop him from awakening Acathla full stop, 'cause if you don't, you'll have to kill him."

Buffy listened while he explained everything to her. "It doesn't work like that. I'm gonna have to kill him either way" Buffy said gravely.

Whistler began to smile "Things aren't always what they seem. It's all on the line here, kid."

"I can deal. I got nothing left to lose." She said sadly, making her way to the door.

"This wasn't meant to happen, we didn't plan this. The three of you were meant to be together." He called after her.

Buffy stopped dead in her tracks, looking confused. "Three?" she said while slowly turning around to look at Whistler. "who's we!" she asked.

The immortal demon looked at her mischievously. "Bigger things are coming, much bigger than this. Things you can't deal with alone. It's all part of the plan, it's always been the plan." He said smiling.

"What plan? What did you mean by three?" Buffy said walking towards Whistler threateningly.

"You know what I mean, you, Angel and the kid. She's special. You'll see what I mean" he said seriously.

"She? You-you know about my baby? What's the plan? Tell me what's going to happen" Buffy said wide eyed, raising her voice.

"I can't, even I don't know all the details. But I'm here to tell you, if you don't get to Angel quick and stop all this before it goes down, there will be some serious consequences…not just for us, but for you and your baby. You have to go" Whistler said apologetically.

A single tear ran down Buffy's cheek as what had been said registered in her mind. Slowly backing away she turned and quickly ran out the door.

Buffy entered the mansion with Xander and observed the scene before her. Xander went to find Giles while Buffy crept up on the vampires beginning their ritual.

Angelus was slowly walking towards Acathla. "Acathla... Mundatus sum... pro te necavi. Sanguinem meum... pro te effundam... quo me dignum... esse demonstrem."

"Now, Acathla...You will be free." Angelus said while cutting his hand with the blade and finally dropping it to the ground. "…And so will we all."

Buffy walked quietly towards one of the vampires and with one swing of her sword decapitated him. Drusilla and Angelus turned their heads and saw Buffy who calmly met their gazes.

"Hello, lover." Buffy said to Angelus.

He stood there, annoyed "I don't have time for you."

"You don't have a lot of time left." Buffy told him.

Angelus was bored "Coming on kind of strong, don't you think? You're playing some
deep odds here. Do you really think you can take us all on?" he mocked.

"No. I don't." Buffy said coolly as Spike rose from his chair behind Angel and whipped him hard across the back with a pole. Buffy started to take out the vamps one by one as Spike continued pounding on Angel with glee.

"Painful, isn't it!" the blonde vampire taunted.

On seeing Spike attack Angel, Drusilla started to freak out and ran over to the pair, tackling Spike to the ground. They quickly got to their feet again and began to fight.

"I don't want to hurt you, baby." Spike pleaded.

Drusilla was furious and grabbed him by the throat, shoving him into the wall. He slapped her arm aside and finally punched her in the face. "Doesn't mean I won't".

Angelus awoke and sat up, rubbing his head and grimacing in pain. He glanced over to Acathla and smiled. Jumping up he ran over to the demon and grabbed the sword with his bloodied hand. A bright light emanated out of the demon and Acathla awoke. Suddenly the sword gave way and Angelus was able to pull it out. He swung it around in his hand and looked at it.

Buffy dusted the vamp she had been fighting and looked over at Angelus and Acathla, realising she had failed and would now be forced to kill Angelus. She looked around for her sword, grabbed it and made her way over to Angelus.

"You almost made it, Buff." Angelus said, sword in hand and ready to fight.

"It's not over yet." Buffy said confidently.

Angelus laughed. "My boy Acathla here is about to wake up. You're going to Hell."

"Save me a seat." She said before swinging at him with her sword.

The fight ensued as they blocked each others blows, neither one having the upper hand. Buffy easily ducked his swings and knocked him to the ground several times but he continued to fight. Eventually the fight moved out into the atrium. Buffy lost her sword and hit the ground, scrambling backwards.

Spike walked through the mansion carrying Drusilla and took a moment to observe the fight. "God, he's gonna kill her." He said before shrugging and heading off in the direction of the garage.

Angelus played with his sword, idly pointing it at Buffy. She looked up at him, frightened.

"Now that's everything, huh? No weapons... No friends... No hope." He taunted.

"Take all that away... and what's left?". He drew his sword back and thrust it directly at her face. Suddenly Buffy caught the blade between the palms of her hands and opened her eyes.

"Me." She shoved the blade back into his face and he lost his balance, staggering back. Buffy hopped to her feet and picked up her sword, regaining her stance she began to swing at him with more vigour than before. This time she had the upper hand and knocked him back into the mansion. As he fought back she blocked his swings and eventually he collapsed to the ground as Buffy kicked him in the face. Buffy took this opportunity to make her final swing. Holding back her sword she prepared herself.

As Angelus kneeled in front of Acathla, he felt something go through him and gasped in pain. Willow's spell was complete. Angel's eyes lit up as his soul was restored and he collapsed on the ground panting and crying. Buffy was confused and paused but still held her sword back ready to kill him once she figured out what was going on.

Angel raised himself back up, his eyes heavy with tears, and looked into her eyes.

"Buffy? What's going on?" he softly said.

Buffy looked at Angel with confusion written all over her face, still not lowering her sword. Angel looked around and got to his feet.

"Where are we? I-I don't remember." He asked.

Buffy finally realised that the curse must have worked and that this was Angel.

"Angel?" she asked Softly, trying not to cry.

Angel looked at her arm and noticed her wound "You're hurt." He said worriedly holding her arm.

Buffy looked down at her wound and felt his gentle touch on her arm. Looking back up at him she took a step closer and he instantly embraced her tightly.

"Oh, Buffy... God. I... I feel like I haven't seen you in months." He said as he hugged her.

Buffy melted into his arms and closed her eyes. She sighed as she relished the feeling of him once again.

"Oh, my God, everything's so muddled. I..." Angel said holding her even closer. He was overcome with emotion and just wanted to hold Buffy for as long as he could. He sighed deeply, feeling at peace once again and kissed her on the shoulder. "Oh, Buffy..."

Buffy cried into his shoulder and hugged him back, desperately not wanting to let go. As she opened her eyes she stared in shock at the sight of Acathla begin to open his mouth and the vortex enlarge. As the realisation of what she had to do sunk in she held him tighter and tried not to cry. The thought was unbearable but she had no option.

Angel released his hold on her gently and looked at her "What's happening?" he asked, still unable to remember what was going on.

Buffy gently brushed her fingers over his lips and across his cheek "Shh. Don't worry about it." She reassured him lovingly. She kissed him softly and he returned the kiss as it became more passionate. Buffy finally broke off the kiss and stared deep into his eyes.

"I love you." She whispered.

"I love you." Angel replied.

Buffy once again placed her fingers gently on his lips. "Close your eyes."

She nodded reassuringly and he complied. The look of pain suddenly filled her face as she fought back the tears once more. She took one last look and kissed him gently one last time. Then she stepped back, drew back her sword and thrust it into his chest. His eyes suddenly opened wide in surprise and pain and a bright light shot out of the sword. Angel was hurt and confused and looked at her, pleadingly

"Buffy..."

Buffy was unable to look at his eyes and stared at the sword protruding from his chest. She began to take steps back as the vortex closed, swallowing Angel and taking him to hell.

As she stared at the stone demon silence filled the room. She realised what she had done. She had killed Angel, she had sent him to hell and she would never see him again. She broke down in tears and fled from the mansion. She didn't know if she could live with herself anymore. She had just betrayed the one thing that she loved most in all the world and she would have to live with that guilt for the rest of her life.

Buffy couldn't face her friends or her mother. She wanted to be alone and there was only one way she could do that. While heading home she made up her mind.

Tears streamed down her face as she packed her bag and left a note for her mother. There was only one thing left to do.

Buffy watched from a distance as Giles, Xander, Willow, Oz and Cordelia congregated outside Sunnydale High awaiting her arrival. Giles and Willow were there. Now that she knew her friends were ok she could leave. Buffy took one last look at her closest friends, her school and turned around heading for the bus station.

As the bus left Sunnydale Buffy stared out the window, unable to think about anything other than Angel. He was gone for good. She only had one part of him left. Rubbing a hand over her stomach she took some solace knowing that she wasn't completely alone.