Author's Note: Again, I'm really sorry in the delay between updates. It seems the more free-time I have, the less I seem to be able to write... I'll try to pick up the pace from now on. Please bear with me. I hope the fact that this is pretty long makes up for the wait :-)

Many of you have already guessed who Buffy's mystery visitor was - not very subtle am I? Tried to sneak some personal stuff into this chapter, cuz after this the big battle will be well and truly started... Hope you're still with me and that you're enjoying the story. Let me know if you are... (Reviews are my chocolate - feed the hungry author :-) )

Disclaimer: I still don't own Buffy or Angel... I think the paperwork got lost in the mail...

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN: GIFTS

Cordelia sat in the lotus position, carefully regulating her breathing, trying to focus her mind and rid herself of the little jolts of panic that shot through her body every few seconds. Doyle had told her that she needed to learn to control her powers if they were going to prevail in the coming battle. But how could she, if she didn't even know the full extend of what her new powers were?

She started a little when she felt a firm hand on her shoulder. Looking up, she smiled as Angel sat down at her side.

'You okay?' he asked softly, a look of concern prevalent in his eyes.

Shrugging, she sighed as he took her hand in his own. 'I'm trying to focus. You know, control my powers like Doyle told me to. But…'

'You don't know how?'

'Haven't a clue,' she smiled ironically. 'Some seer, huh? I can't even see what I'm meant to be capable of.'

'Hey, you'll work it out,' he told her firmly. 'We'll work it out. This is your gift, Cordy. The powers wouldn't have given it to you if they didn't know you could handle it.'

She looked at him then, with a mixture of amazement and love in her eyes. 'How do you do that?'

He was confused. 'Do what?'

'Somehow, make everything seem okay, even when it's not?'

Stooping closer to her, he smiled and whispered, 'It's my gift.'

He planted a soft kiss on her lips. She was amazed by the warmth of his lips. Somewhere in the back of her mind she wondered if it was yet another affect of being in Pylea or simply because their passion for each other heated their blood. Deciding she didn't care either way, she leaned into him, deepening the kiss, savoring the rare moment of them being this close and alone. The moment, however, was spoiled by the interruption of work.

A throat cleared behind them. 'Uh, guys?' Faith said, a smirk playing on her lips. 'I'd say 'get a room' but there's no time for hanky panky right now. We're ready to make tracks.'

While Cordy rolled her eyes, Angel looked at the dark-haired slayer, all business once more. 'The perimeter's been cleared?'

'Almost. There are just 6 guards that we can see. Two at the south gate, two at the north and two up on the north wall. Want to take them out right before we go in, incase there are more inside to tip off. I got four girls at the back gate and five at the front. We'll attack at the same time, right while the rest of us are sneaking in. Where's the best entrance point?' she asked Angel.

Cordy was the one to answer. 'Sewer tunnels. At the base of the north wall. It's how Wesley and Gunn snuck out of the castle before…'

A look of pain flashed across her eyes as she mentioned her fallen friend's names. Seeing it, Angel took her hand once more and squeezed it.

'The three of us, Giles, Lorne and Connor will go in. The rest of the slayer can make sure the exits are kept clear.'

'Sounds good. Let's get this party started,' Faith replied.

'Well, for a Slayer, you do a pretty decent impression of a fish.'

Buffy had lost track of how long she'd been standing there, staring at this impossible sight. But it wasn't impossible. He was here. Right in front of her. Grinning like the cat that got the proverbial cream.

'Spike?'

'Remembered my name now, have you?'

Without another word, Buffy crossed the distance between them and flung her arms around his neck. A little startled at this ready display of affection, it took a moment for Spike to return her hug. He was even more startled when he felt tears against his neck. The brave, stubborn slayer was crying softly on his shoulder.

'Hey, now. None of that,' he told her softly when he found his voice.

Pulling away, she smiled, embarrassed, as she wiped her eyes.

'Sorry,' she replied, giving herself a mental shake. 'How?'

He smirked. 'I cut a deal with the blue fairy, and now I'm a real boy.' Off her look of disbelief, he shrugged. 'The Powers figured they owed me – dying trying to save the world for a second time and all. They sent me back – temporary arrangement.'

'Temporary?'

'Like the time the sent Cordy back for a day. To get her champion back on track.' He smiled at her, his eyes searching hers. 'I've got a champion of my own to set straight.'

She looked at him, confused for a moment, before she got it. 'Me?'

'How many champions you think a guy like me has got?' he asked wryly.

'Spike, I'm fine.'

'Are you?' He watched as she attempted to nod, to reassure him in some way. Under his penetrating gaze, she seemed to shrink slightly before finally looking away. 'Your head hasn't really been in the game since you got here. Sure, you talked a good game, played the part, but it was like you were reading from a script. And now Faith's gone dimension hopping, leaving you on your tod, you're freaking out.'

'I'm not freaking…'

'You bloody well are,' he said, moving towards her and placing his hands on her shoulders. 'I know you, Buffy. I know how your mind works. You've somehow got it into that pretty head of yours that you're not as good a leader as Faith. And you need to put that right before you go into this fight. Otherwise, it could very well be your last.'

She huffed out a little sigh. 'So, you're gonna get all pep-talkie on me now?'

'If I have to,' he replied. 'I seem to remember I developed a bit of a skill for it, where you were concerned. And I could give you the whole spiel about you being the one, and being a hell of a woman, but I don't know if it'll do much good. I mean, I still believe it. Question is, do you?'

She didn't answer, just continued to look at the floor, her eyes heavy and tired with the fresh tears she was holding back.

Very gently, he brushed a stray strand of hair from her face and cupped her cheek. 'When did you lose that fire? That spark?'

Her eyes misty with tears, she finally looked up at him. 'When I lost you.'

'You can't let the entire world go to hell over a dead vamp,' he told her. He tried to keep his voice light, but the tremor underneath his words belied the effect her admission had on him.

'I missed you.'

'Me too, pet. Me too.'

Slowly, she reached up to touch his face lovingly. He smiled as she ran her thumb across his lips. Leaning into him, she lifted her head to meet his, their lips brushing together in a tentative kiss. Buffy felt her tears begin to fall again as Spike wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close, kissing her deeply.

The guards never saw the first shots coming. Simultaneously, two slayers shot off bolts from their crossbows, taking out the two guards on the north wall, while the rest moved forward to silence the guards at the north and south gates. It was all over in moments – something that made Cordelia more than a little nervous. It seemed all too easy.

The coast clear, she hurried forward, with Angel and the rest of her group, towards the sewer entrance.

'Should be around here somewhere,' she said, as they all scanned the base of the wall.

'Here,' Connor called out, as he pulled branches and other debris away from the gaping hole.

Stepping closer, Cordelia averted her face, her nose wrinkled up in disgust. 'Yep. That's it. And it actually smells worse than the last time…'

'Suck it up, Princess,' Faith told her. 'We're going in.'

'Slayer's first,' the Seer smirked back.

Willow grinned as the twenty Slayers, led by Andrew, came towards her.

'Hi guys,' she greeted them. 'Up for a little magic?'

The looks she received ranged from confusion to trepidation.

'Uh, Willow?' Andrew asked, raising his hand in a ludicrous imitation of school. 'What does this have to do with my idea?'

Willow's grin broadened. 'We're going to make a moat.'

This time, the response she received was a little more pronounced. 'What?' 'Are you crazy?' 'There isn't time!' 'How are we meant to dig a moat?' The voices blended in a cacophony of disbelief.

'Trust me,' Willow told them. 'No digging involved.'

'Willow, this is beaucoup de mojo,' Kennedy remarked. 'Is it a good idea to use up that much of your energy this close to the fight?'

Willow smiled again. 'That's the beauty of my plan. I use a little bit of energy out of all you guys. That way, no one gets tapped out. It'll be the equivalent of each of you running round the block a couple of times – no big deal to you big strong slayer-types. So, you ready?'

The dark-haired Slayer nodded and then looked at her slayers. 'Okay ladies. Form a line from here all the way across the street to that point,' she barked out, pointing as she spoke. Without further questions, the girls moved into position.

'My girl, the Drill-Sergeant,' Willow commented quietly with a smile. Walking to the centre of the line, she took her own position beside Kennedy and took her hand. 'Okay, everyone hold hands,' she called out. 'This might tickle a little.'

Focusing on the ground in front of her, Willow began to chant.

'Hecate, Goddess, the forces of Hell gather around us, seeking to put out the light of good in the world. Give us your strength for protection. Use me as your vessel.' As she spoke, light began to emanate from her and around her, making her skin glow. She raised her eyes to the heavens. 'Semita est clausus. Semita est propinquus. Cavo profundus orbis terrarum. Servo nos ex Malum.' ( translation: "The Path is blocked. The Path is closed. Dig deep the earth. Protect us from Evil.")

The ground began to shake, as though an earthquake was beginning. She felt Kennedy grasp her hand even tighter as she repeated in a louder voice; 'Semita est clausus. Semita est propinquus. Cavo profundus orbis terrarum. Servo nos ex Malum.'

The ground shook harder. Cracks began to appear in the pavement, tiny fissures which grew by the second, snaking their way across the street. Willow repeated the spell again and again until the cracks widened, the earth falling away to reveal a chasm, at least ten foot deep and ten foot wide, stretching across the front of their defenses in a huge semi-circle.

'Whoa!' she heard Kennedy breathe out beside her. 'That's one hell of a moat.'

Andrew was standing off to one side, wide-eyed with wonder. As Willow turned to him, he smiled, then frowned. 'What about the water?'

Willow laughed. 'Never satisfied, are you?' She heard the sound of a vehicle approaching and nodded in its direction. 'Here's comes your water now.'

Rondell and a small number of his crew pulled up, driving a gas tanker.

'Where the hell did you get that?' Kennedy asked, obviously impressed.

'Girl, this whole town's abandoned,' Rondell replied. 'I'm thinking there's not much we couldn't lay our hands on right now.' He turned to Willow. 'Where you want this dumped, Glenda?'

Rolling her eyes at the reference, she nodded towards the ditch.

'Do you get the feeling that was a little too easy?' Cordy, ever the optimist, finally voiced her fears as they hurried along another deserted corridor.

'They probably weren't expecting us,' Angel replied. 'Most of their army has gone to LA. The few that are left are guarding the Senior Partners.'

'Still, Angel,' Giles cut in, slowing is pace down to a halt. 'If these books are the key to stopping the Senior Partners, and they are here, surely they'd be better protected?'

Angel and the rest of the group stopped and looked at Giles.

'He's right,' Faith finally said. 'We'd better watch our step in here.'

Nodding in agreement, Angel turned and looked towards the bend in the corridor. 'I'll go first.'

Moving more cautiously, he neared the corner and looked around. 'All clear,' he announced.

But as they moved forward towards their goal, a huge demon, at least 8 foot tall, materialized in front of them. A roar behind them announced the presence of a second demon.

'So, not quite so easy then,' Lorne remarked, fear mingling with the sarcasm in his voice.

'Faith!' Angel called out. The slayer read his mind.

'I got your backs. Lorne and the kid are with me. You guys just get those books!'

At that she, Conner and Lorne launched themselves at the demon that had appeared behind them.

'Do we have a plan?' Giles wanted to know.

It was Cordelia that answered. 'If my visions are right, the books should be at the other side of the door that demon's guarding. Angel and me will distract him. You get inside and grab them.'

Angel cast a sideways glance and her; Cordelia suspected he was more annoyed at her suggesting she fight the demon than for her taking charge.

'No time to argue, Angel,' she told him as she drew her sword. He did the same and they charged forward together.

The first blow Faith struck reverberated up her arm and through her entire body. These demons were tough. It didn't bode well that her opponent hadn't even flinched. Landing a spinning kick to its mid-section, she swung her sword around to attack again. The beast caught the blade in his fist and swung Faith like she was a rag doll. She flew across the corridor and hit a wall with a sickening thud.

Connor leapt on the Creature's back as it advanced towards the dazed slayer. Plunging his axe into its neck, he finally provoked a reaction – a loud, high-pitched scream - as the demon tried to throw Connor off its back.

Trying to stay out of the line of fire, Lorne shot off a bolt from his crossbow. The demon screamed again and paused in his defensive against Connor to take a swipe at the Pylean. Lorne flew across the corridor and landed beside Faith, out cold.

Angel and Cordelia double teamed on their demon, coming at him from two sides. Cordelia used her advantage of being light and quick on her feet to dodge the beast's attacks, but found she was making no headway at all in attacks of her own. The demon's arms and torso seemed to be made of a thick scaly hide, which deflected the blows of her sword quite successfully.

As she danced out of the way of her opponent's razor-sharp claws again, she caught sight of Giles slipping past the fight, and disappearing through the door to the room where she had seen the books in her vision. Her relief doubled her efforts in the fight.

Angel was spending much of his time trying to keep the demon's attention focused on him, rather than on Cordelia, but the creature seemed to have a one track mind where the brunette was concerned. Every attack Angel launched the demon batted away, before again turning towards Cordy.

Deciding to try a low attack, Cordelia rolled and managed to sink her blade into the demon's shin. With a scream of rage, it lashed out, catching her across the shoulder with its long claws.

Angel smelled Cordy's blood and, realizing she'd been injured, vamped out in fury. He hit the demon with a spinning kick from behind and as it staggered, he plunged his sword into its fleshy side.

The demon howled in pain and rage, but it wasn't slowed down one bit. Turning towards the vampire, it started towards him.

Cordy had just staggered to her feet, sore but ready to help Angel, when the vision hit. Loosing her balance, she slumped against the wall as the images flooded her brain.

'No. Not now!'

Willow was hurrying back into the hotel to inform Buffy of their progress when her head felt like it was being split in two.

First one, then dozens of images flooded her mind. Three books, animals on the covers. A hand flipped through the pages, and stopped at a particular passage… Hordes of demons marching towards her… a fierce battle… a dark room, cold and forbidding… a baby, sleeping in a cot… a blast of fire… a demon looming above her…

She could hear screaming, but wasn't sure if it was in her mind or coming from her own mouth. Fear and pain and the smell of death flooded her senses, making bile rise up in her throat.

When the images ended, Willow found herself lying on the floor of the lobby, her head throbbing.

'What in the name of Hecate was that?' she managed to groan before throwing up.

The demon army had formed into ranks and, organized in this way, their numbers seemed even more daunting than before. Vi and Rona watched in horror as, from the depths of the ruined Wolfram & Hart building, the dragon emerged.

'Oh god.' Rona's voice came out in a strangled whisper. 'Oh god.'

'This is it,' Vi said, her own terror as pronounced as Rona's. 'Let's go.'

Grabbing Rona's arm, Vi and the other three slayers who had remained behind to stand watch began to run back towards the hotel, as if the legions of hell were right on their tail. In the distance, they heard the roar, as if hell itself had spoken.

'Forward March!'

To Be Continued...