Disclaimer: I don't own any Buffy or Angel characters, that honor belongs only to Joss Whedon.

8

Buffy sat on the end of her bed, staring blankly at the television screen, none of the images registering in her mind. She was alone once again. Dawn and Willow had gone out to shop, leaving Buffy to her thoughts. There was a small 'poof' next to her and Buffy turned to find herself face to face with Anya.

"Anya!" she yelped. Before she could process the situation, she grabbed Anya into a huge, bone-crushing hug.

"Okay, Buffy, I realize I'm dead and all, but ow" Buffy got up of the bed, eyes quickly narrowing, with suspicion.

"You aren't The First, are you?"

"No, and I have the bruises from that hug to prove it." Confusion swiftly gained the upper hand on the rest of Buffy's emotions.

"Then, what are you?"

"I'm Anya, remember? God, I mean, I know we weren't best friends, but I was hoping you would at least remember who I was."

"No, I know who you are, I just mean, what are you?" Anya got up of the bed and started to look through Buffy's mini-fridge.

"I'm a messenger of sorts, The Powers That Be interrupted my after-life to come and tell you something." Turning to face Buffy, she added;

"Do you have any peanuts? Heaven's great, but I mean, come on, spring for some fresh peanuts."

"Wait, what message?" Buffy asked. Anya sighed.

"So, no peanuts?" Irritated, Buffy crossed her arms, and gazed at her old friend.

"Fine" Anya consented, "The Powers That Be wanted me to warn you about a coming threat"

"The Morha demon, I know"

"No, not the Morha demon, something else."

"But I had a dream. . ."

"I should have known. Buffy, believe me, the Morha demon isn't a factor here, your subconscious probably recognized the coming danger and all your dreams about that day with Angel probably just confused you. There is a battle coming, one that you can't fight in."

"Why not? And how do you know about my dreams about Angel?" Anya cocked an eyebrow, giving Buffy her best you're-kidding-right? expression.

"Honestly, Buffy, I'm a messenger for The Powers That Be; they give me all the juicy details on everyone. And you can't fight because it's not your battle. You've done enough; it's up to Angel and Spike to save the world this time."

"But I want to help them. I can't just stand back and watch the men I love die."

"You have to, Buffy, the world needs you, and they can't have you if you keep rushing into battles where you don't belong." The air around Anya crackled with an odd intensity and Buffy was struck with the sudden realization that her friend wasn't the same person anymore; she was more, much more. She was whole, finished. The Anya that Xander had always seen her as.

"Buffy, there are bigger things in this world for you then just battles. You can't always be the hero; something is going to change soon, something big and you can't take such big risks anymore."

"But I'm the Slayer; I have to take risks. . . ." Anya's face hardened.

"Buffy, listen to me, this isn't something you can fight. This battle wasn't made for you. If you go into this fight, you are not only endangering your life but the lives of all those that you love." All the air seemingly went out of Buffy and she had a curious empty look.

"Anya, I've lost them too many times already." Anya, examining her friend, took pity on her and said;

"Look, Buffy, I'm not supposed to tell you this, but this choice you have to make, you don't have to worry about it, fate will take care of it."

"What?" Anya spoke slowly, enunciating every word carefully,

"You, don't, have . . . . ." Buffy cut her off.

"I know what you said, I just don't understand."

"I shouldn't be telling you this, If The Powers find out . . . ." Anya trailed off, the warning very real in her tone.

"Anya, please," Anya exhaled loudly, giving in.

"Fine, but this only because I know that if I don't tell you, you'll either start crying or beat the crap out of me, and I'm not comfortable with either of those." Anya sighed again,

"Okay, see, in this upcoming battle, many will fall, and either Spike or Angel will fall with them." Tears sprang unbidden into Buffy's eyes.

"But I can't lose them again"

"Hello, were you listening? You won't lose both of them, only one and you get an out of that big life-altering decision you've been stressing about. Plus whoever dies will leave you something huge."

"Wait, what?" Anya winced, realizing what she had just said.

"Oh crap, I'm in trouble now. Maybe I should go." Before she could disappear, Buffy grabbed her arm.

"Anya, what aren't you telling me?"

"I can't Buffy, I'm sorry, there's only so much I can say. If I say too much it can affect the whole future. I wish I could say more, but I can't." Anya turned to leave, but turned back once more to add;

"Buffy, I know I didn't help you much here, but if you could do something for me. . . . Can you just tell Xander I love him and that I miss him?" Buffy nodded through her tears,

"Of course, he misses you too, you know?" Anya nodded, her eyes too, filling with tears.

"I know" Without another word, Anya started to slowly fade from view, losing shape and color until she was nothing more than a hazy shapeless form and then she was gone. Buffy stared at the spot where she had last stood; attempting weakly to process everything she had just learnt, when the phone ringing burst into her half-conscious state. Buffy moved over to it,

"Hello?" she answered. A crisp British accent exploded into her ear, Giles.

"Oh, Buffy thank God, I've been looking everywhere for you"

"What's up Giles?"

"I found something" Buffy was intrigued.

"What did you find?"

"I think I should show you in person. How long are you going to stay in L.A?"

"I don't know, are you coming down?"

"I'll be on the next plane over."

"Giles, what Big Bad is coming now?"

"Actually, for once, this is a good thing."