Disclaimers: Mutant Enemy and Joss Whedon own it all. I'm just doing this for fun, and hopefully entertainment

Reviews: Welcomed and appreciated


Giles was looking through one of the books he had brought back from England. "Dagon Sphere."

"What?" Both Willow and Cordelia questioned.

Looking up, he pushed the open book towards them. "Dagon Sphere. It has a history going back centuries." He nodded at Angelus as the master vampire came back into the Magic Shop.

"So, what's it do?" Angelus asked.

"It's a protective device, used to ward off ancient primordial evil." Giles motioned to the girls to show the book to Angelus. Anya had walked up behind him and was looking at the drawing over his shoulder. "It was created to repel That Which Cannot Be Named."

"Pretty vague." Angelus slammed the book shut.

"No, no." Willow eyes were moving about excitedly. "This could be of the good. I mean, if we can get our hands on one of these maybe once we do our reclamation spell it could slow Glory down long enough for Buffy to get Dawn back…or maybe…"

"Too many maybes there witch. And do you even have access to one of these spheres?" Angelus cocked his eyebrow as he looked at the young girl.

"At least she's trying Mr. Broody vampire. Jeez, one woulda thought that when you lost your soul you would've hung up the whole angsty, mopey attitude. Guess Buffy never lost her talent at bringing up the misery in all those around her." Cordelia put her arm around Willow. "It's good sweetie, all your ideas are good."

"Excuse me." Anya raised her hand, as if in a class room.

"Please Anya, not now." Giles couldn't deal with one of her inane questions at the moment.

Spike entered the room followed by Buffy, who had a bit of a broody expression herself.

"So, did all you brilliant folk come up with a way to save the world yet?" Spike winked at Tara.

"At least we're trying." Tara huffed at him.

"Hello, I have something to contribute here." Anya stood up.

"Well, what is it Anya." Giles voice was harsh.

"We have one of those orbs."

All heads turned towards her and in unison asked, "What?"

"We have one of those orbs. We got one with those Orbs of Thesula we special ordered."

Buffy and Spike looked at each other and then at the group. "What orb?"

"Long story, but it might be of use." Angelus spoke to them without looking over.

She went to him and laid her hand on his shoulder. "Please. Please Angelus."

He looked up at her. "This isn't the time or the place Buff. We aren't over, okay?"

Buffy stared into his unreadable eyes and blinked back her tears, relief flooding her whole being. "Okay." She whispered.

"Told you so." Spike smirked as he walked past them and stood across from Tara so he could leer at her and make her squirm a little.

Giles cast a quick glance at the two vampires before returning his attention to Anya. "Why didn't you say something?"

"I just did." Anya turned her head to Xander as she soothed him. "It's all going to be fine. Willow's taking care of it all."

"Anya, please focus. Where is it?"

"Where is what?"

"Anya, dear, please. The orb." Giles was losing patience.

"Oh, it's downstairs in one of the boxes from L.A."

Giles shook his head. "Anya, there are dozens of boxes from Los Angeles. Do you know which one?"

"Giles, it came in weeks ago. I don't remember which." She huffed in exasperation.

Tara stood up. "I'll start going through all the boxes Giles." She turned to Anya. "Do you at least remember the size Anya?"

She held up her hands and motioned a size. "Kinda small, a smaller medium sized box."

"Okay. I'll be downstairs." Tara headed for the basement as Spike straightened up.

"I'll help the lass in her search. Four hands are better than two, right?" He was close on her heels.

Buffy turned to Angelus. "That was weird."

Angelus snorted. "He has a hard on for the girl and you know what the end of the world can do for the libido."


Tara handed Spike another box. "Well, we only have about 12 more to go through. Unless Anya is completely mistaken we'll have it in no time at all." Spike smiled as he looked up at the girl on the ladder and grabbed her hand with the box.

"That means we can slow down just a bit, don't ya think?" His lids were half closed and Tara felt her heart skip a beat before it began going at double time. Spike had to smile at her reaction.

"Spike, I really don't think this is the time or the place, do you? I mean the world as we know it could end tonight. We need to find this orb."

"And we will." He pulled her until she fell off the ladder she was perched on and into his arms as he set her down. "But why don't we find each other first?" He brought her close to his chest and caught her lips in a searing kiss, causing Tara's knees to buckle.

This is such a mistake, she thought, but she didn't seem to be able to resist the sexy vampire. His hands wandered up and down her back until they came to rest on her bottom as he pulled her even closer to let her feel his excitement.

"Spike." She moaned. "This is only because the world might end. As long as you know that." Her head fell back as his tongue trailed along her jaw line and down to her neck.

"No worries pet. We're just a couple of those passing ships you always read about." He lifted her skirt as she unzipped his jeans. Laying her over a large box, Spike looked into her passion filled eyes and fought the desire to growl. "I promise sweetheart, you will have no regrets." He urged her thighs apart with his knee and smiled wickedly. "I'm gonna give you something you are never gonna forget."

She smiled back up at him. "You are certainly full of yourself, aren't you?"

Spike laughed. "Ummm…and so are you." Tara gasped as he entered her and all thoughts fled her mind, save one. 'World can't end 'cause I gotta have more of him.'

Tara and Spike came up from the basement, both looking a bit rumpled around the edges. The assembled group, apart from Buffy and Angelus, attributed that to the boxes they had been rummaging through. "We found it!" Tara handed the sphere over to Giles.

"Wonderful, thank you so much." He looked to Spike. "The both of you." Turning to Buffy and Willow. "So, are we clear on the plan?"


The group made their way to the warehouse district, following closely behind Xander. Buffy carrying a very lethal looking hammer, Angelus with a large broadsword, and the rest with various weapons to defend against the assumed onslaught of Glory's minions.

Spike hoisted his crossbow and turned to Tara. "Stay behind me, okay?"

She shook her head. "Alright, but Will and I have to do the spell..."

"Yeah, yeah, just stay behind me."

They all stopped, looking up at a very tall tower that wasn't there the day before.

"What is that?" Anya was trying to hold Xander back.

"It must be where the portal opens up." Giles looks over to Buffy and nodded.

"Willow, Tara, you're up."

Xander had wandered over to the gathering of people, muttering as he began to pick up bricks while the rest remained hidden from Glory and her minions. "Much to do, big day. Big, big day."

"Hey! Just one cotton pickin' minute." Glory grabbed him by the shoulder and spun him around. "What are you doing here?"

Willow and Tara appear beside her, Spike aiming his crossbow at her head. "He's with us." Willow motioned to Tara, who took her hand as she grabbed Xander's head while Willow did the same to Glory. They all began to scream in agony as a blue light began to emanate from them and flicker. Spike began to run to them, only to be stopped by Buffy.

"It's not over. You can't stop it yet." She held fast to his arm while he struggled against her.

"Let go Buffy."

Angelus pulled him back. "You heard what she said boy. Relax, the Wiccas know what they're doing." He looked on as a bright blue light began to stream out of Glory's head and into Xander's. "I think."

A large blast exploded, separating all of them as they went flying in different directions. Spike ran to Tara as she crashed into a mound of rumble. Cordelia had seen Willow fly into a pile of wood and rushed to her side as well.

"Baby. Baby! Are you okay?" Cordelia was trying to fight her tears, but she felt them escaping down her face. Willow reached up and ran her finger down her cheek.

"Ah sweetie, are those for me? Don't cry, I'm okay. Help me get up and find Xander, we have to see if it worked.


Glory had smashed onto a concrete slab then sat up and shook her head. "What did those bitches do to me?" She clutched her head. "They made…they made a hole. I need a brain to eat!"

Her minion ran to her. "Take mine, oh groove-tastic one!" He bowed to her as he offered himself in supplication.

"I said a brain you useless puke!"

She put her hand back to her head and began to walk away. "Big day. I got places to be, big day. I need a brain!"

Glory looked directly at Buffy. "Can't use you, you nothing but a worthless vampire, but your friends. Now there's must be a brain between them. Ya think?"

"Come and get it." Buffy smiled at her. "You don't look so good though. I mean, we only really met once, but you looked better. Well, as good as you could considering the whorish make up and the really bad hair. Honestly, as a god I would think you would shop for something a little more fashion forward." Buffy shrugged. "Whatever. But you really don't seem very well."

"Those little witch bitches gave me a bit of a headache, but if you think this is gonna last longer than a few seconds…"

"Blah, blah, blah. I see the lips moving, but are you saying anything? You really should be attacking, don't you think?"

"Shall we take care of this one, oh magnificent ,exquisite one?" Glory's minions were ready to move in on Buffy.

Glory swayed as she swatted one of them. "Go guard the girl, this is a…a"

"Diversionary tactic?" Her minion bowed in front of her.

"Go guard!" She leaned against a box.

"Hmm, it's strange. You don't seem to have all that god-like, super girlish strength."

"It's those damn witches…."

"Ummm, don't think so." Buffy pulled out the Dagon sphere. "Could it be this? Heard it's supposed to repel you. Guess you shouldn't touch it, huh?" Buffy tossed it to her. Without thinking, Glory reached out and caught it. The sphere lit up and began to wrap itself around the hell-god. She grimaced in pain and fell to the ground, the sphere still in her hand. She held the ball of light and slowly crushed it allowing dust to fall beside her until the light went out.

"You are so gonna pay for that one vampire." Glory attempted to rise, but not before Buffy punched her in the face, causing her to once again fall to the ground. Kicking her in the stomach and moving onto her head, Buffy paused to pull her up.

"Where is she?" She jammed her fist into Glory's chest, feeling her expel all her air. "Where the fuck is she?" Glory smiled and looked up.

"Day late and more than a few dollars short. I'm not the only one who wants the portal open and I'm not the only one who can bleed her." Buffy looked up and saw Dawn standing on the tower. She could make out Angelus and someone else who was nearer to Dawn. "You can't kill me and once the portal is open your ass is mine."

Buffy pushed Glory back to the ground as she turned to pick up the hammer. She pulled her arms back and slammed the hammer into Glory's head over and over again. "I may not be able to kill you bitch, but I'll be damned if I let you succeed."

Unable to move and on the verge of tears, Glory looked up at Buffy. "Stop it."

Buffy smiled down at her, an evil glint in her eye. "You're a god, make it stop." She continued her assault until Glory was no longer moving. Buffy brought the hammer to her side as Glory dissolved into Ben. He looked up at her.

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. We'll leave you alone, it's over now, we'll never bother any of you again." He coughed and spit up blood. "Please, it's over."

"Oh, I know you'll leave us alone. But I can't take a chance on her." Buffy smiled at him as she brought the hammer down on his head in one final blow. "That's the breaks Benny boy."

Buffy turned and ran for the tower, swinging her hammer as she brought down dozens of Glory's minions on her quest to stop the blood-letting.


Anya cradled Xander's head on her lap, begging him to open his eyes. He finally did and looked up at her. "Anya?"

"Yes, yes Xander it's me." Tears were flowing down her cheeks.

He raised his arms and held her close. "Oh Anya, I was so lost."

"We found you Xander. Willow and Tara, they brought you back to me." She kissed his forehead.

Cordelia and Willow came to sit next to the couple. "You feeling better Xand?" Willow held her arm and smiled at him.

"Better. What's going on? Are we winning?"

"Don't know yet. Think we should get ready to pack up and head for the hills just in case." Spike picked up the nearest sword and headed back into the fray.


Angelus slowly approached Glory's minion who was inches from Dawn and had a very large knife in his hand. "Hey little guy, it's pretty much over. Your god appears to be down for the count." He held his hand out. "Just give me the knife and I'll let you live."

"If her magnificence is gone there is no point to life. I do this in her memory." He swung his arm out and sliced Dawn several times in the stomach as she screamed in pain. Angelus walked up to the minion and pushed him over the edge going straight to Dawn.

She looked up at the man she used to worship, the man she envied her sister for. The vampire who had taken her sister away from her. "I'm sorry, it's too late."

Angelus placed his hand over her wound, hoping to staunch the bleeding. "Maybe, maybe not." Buffy ran to the two of them and saw her 'sister' with a blood stain growing on her stomach. She looked at Angelus.

"What can we do?" A few drops slid from Angelus' hand falling over the edge. In midair they formed a small circle of light that began to grow. "It's started." Buffy said with a bit of fear in her voice.

The portal steadily grew, crackling lightening bolts emanating from it's center, allowing demons to enter the city. They all looked up in time to see a huge dragon come out of the center of the portal and fly towards the horizon. "This is not good."

"Understatement, Buff." He looked between Dawn and Buffy. "Can you do it?"

"I have to." Buffy felt tears begin to form in her eyes.

Dawn looked at her sister and in one brief moment knew what she had to do. She calmly took Buffy's hand. "No, you don't. I do. For you." She looked at Angelus. "For the both of you." She put her head near the two of them. "I was never meant to be, not really. I love you Buffy, I always have. But this is what I was made for. This is my gift. Tell them I love them, tell them to live" She kissed Buffy's cold lips. "Live for me Buffy. Take my gift and live for me." With a final look at Buffy and Angel, he'd always be Angel to her, Dawn turned and made a running leap off the end of the platform into the waiting portal. As she fell through the light, Dawn sent her wish into the ether and was confident it would be granted. Life was her gift and life was what she needed to give back.

Buffy reached out, moving too slowly to grasp Dawn's skirt. As she fell, Buffy felt the shift in the universe. She also felt the shift in her body. The pain was too intense as she turned to her mate to see him writhing in pain as well. She grasped her chest as she fell to the floor, waiting to die. Giles and Spike were the first ones to make it up to the two vampires, leaving a grieving mother to cradle her dead daughter.

"Buffy! Buffy! What is it? What's happened?" Giles saw his ex-slayer gasping for what appeared to be air. Which made no sense since she had no need to breathe. Still clutching her chest, she motioned to Angelus.

"Is he still alive?" Her words came out in short gasps.

Spike was leaning over him. "Bloody hell!" He looked over to Giles. "His fucking heart's beating. And his skin, it's warm. What the hell is this?"

Giles looked closely at Buffy as he put his finger on her throat and found her pulse. "Buffy? How do you feel? What do you feel?"

"I feel…" She looked over at Angel.

He looked back at her, wonder and just a bit of fear in his eyes. "Alive. We feel alive."