Chapter Seven

Angel had gathered them all in his office. Gunn, Fred, Wesley, Buffy, Spike and Lorne all stood in front of him, waiting for the urgent message he had for them.

'I want you all to take the day off. Spend it as you will. It might be the last chance you get.' He looked down at his desk and then stood up. 'Because this is it, people. This is our time. So make the most of it. We meet at the old Hyperion at sunset.' He walked towards his private elevator and left them alone. They disbanded, without saying a word to each other.

Fred followed Wesley into his office.

'What are you going to do today?' She asked. He turned to her.

'Actually…would you like to go for a meal?' he asked and she beamed at him.

'I would, Wesley.' The former watcher smiled broadly and held out his hand, the usually timid scientist taking it firmly in her own. They left the office together and headed for the inner city. Angel watched them leave, jealousy biting at his insides. There was only one way he could spend his last day.

With the woman he loved.

Gunn strolled through the sunlit streets, hands in his hoodie pockets. He had changed out of the suit, leaving the lawyer behind for the time being. Right now, the muscle was needed, not the brain. They were slapping a subpoena on the senior partners; they were declaring war. He frowned and knew Angel had sent them out like this because this battle was uncertain – they may not win.

He turned the corner and saw his old friends, shifting furniture away from the shelter he used to call home. Anne stood out front, directing the group of lads. He greeted her and she smiled at him.

'Hey, Gunn.' She hugged him. 'How've you been?'

'Busy. Lot goin' on uptown nowadays.' He indicated towards the tall buildings on the horizon. She nodded and picked up one end of a sofa.

'You busy, or you gonna help me shift this stuff before the new lot arrive?' She asked. He hesitated, picking up one end and looking towards the blonde girl.

'What if I told you that none of this stuff matters? That it's never gonna be alright?' He said and she frowned, before smiling once more.

'I say we need to hurry up and get this lot moved.' He nodded, perking up a little.

'Yeah.' He smiled back at her and they began to move the sofa. 'Let's get goin'.'

Lorne coughed and sat at the piano, sipping at the glass of water before striking his first tone. The audience watched him, applauding as he started. And for the first time in a while, the demon relaxed.

Angel stared at the prone figure in the bed, gripping her hand and bending his head to lean it on the edge of the bed. Silently, he prayed that they would get through this, that everything would be okay.

But most of all, he just wished that she would wake up.

Buffy sat on the corner of the bed, fiddling with the sheets between her fingers. Spike knelt in front of her, taking her hands into his.

'What are you thinking about Buffy?' He asked, reaching up and smoothing the hair out of her eyes.

'I've only had you back for a few days. I can't lose you again, Spike.' She saw the guilt flash across his face and he smiled half-heartedly.

'You won't lose me Buffy. Not forever. I'll always be here.' He placed a hand on her heart, feeling it beating under the skin. She smiled. 'Not to mention the fact that I have a habit of coming back. I'm a bad penny, me.' He grinned wickedly and Buffy leant forward, resting her forehead on his. Tears slipped down her cheeks and she whimpered, clutching his hands tightly. 'Hey, ssshhh, baby…it's all gonna be alright.'

There was a trace of a lie in his voice but Buffy thought nothing of it as they lay down together.

She bit at his neck, hard, drawing blood and woke something up inside the vampire. As he peaked, he sank his own sharp fangs into the side of her neck, drinking only a little and then letting go, licking at the wound before stopping his thrusting inside her. Before he could stop himself, he whispered the word he had daren't not risk with her before. 'Mine.' His eyes widened when he felt her let go of his neck and lick at the residual blood, replying to his statement.

'Yours.'

He rolled away, sitting up and staring at her intently. 'You know that was…'

'I don't care. I wanna be yours, forever.' She smiled, leaning back, sated and content, not noticing the hint of sadness in his eyes. Spike smiled but didn't say anything as she curled up into his side and he drew the covers over them.

They only had a few hours left.

Angel looked around at the unlikely group. Spike and Buffy stood defiantly together, their hands tightly locked. Gunn stood in a defensive stance, reminding him more of the street thug he had first met. Wesley and Fred, together at last, their bodies so close together it was hard to see where one ended and the other begun. Lorne stood, looking defeated, his shoulders slumped. He wasn't looking forward to the night's predicted events. He sighed and looked towards Spike.

'Let's get it done. The rest of you, arm yourselves and we'll be back here in ten minutes.' The two vampires strode out of the door, Angel carrying the device to destroy the circle. He turned to Spike when they were almost at their destination. 'Have you told her?'

'No. And I'm not going to. Just make sure you get everyone out of here before it goes. Anything with demon with die. And that's what a slayer is in essence. I'm not taking the chance.' The blonde frowned and looked up at the huge posh building they were about to enter. 'Shall we?' He motioned for Angel to go first and the elder vampire nodded.

Five minutes later, they burst out of the door, running with all their might as the building began to shudder and then exploded outwards. They almost fell as debris scattered around them, but managed to keep their footing and made it back to the Hyperion as a huge earthquake hit the city once more. Spike grabbed Buffy and the group headed outside, armed with swords and axes. Wesley conjured up a fireball as the door opens and he aimed to throw, faltering a little as he saw the huge army before them. Beasts bigger than buildings were ripping the city apart and Angel turned to them, his face expressionless.

'This is what it all comes down to, people.'

'Any specific tactics?' Gunn asked, as a dragon flew overhead, breathing fire into the starlit sky.

Angel looked up at it and grinned. 'Well, I kinda wanna slay the dragon.'