Chapter One:

Angel sat alone with Spike and Illyria in a small apartment in Los Angeles, after the battle for their lives. Angel was quietly sitting in the corner while Spike slept naked in the bed. Illyria stood by the window and peered out the curtains.

'Your world still seems so much different to mine, even after war.' She spoke to Angel. Spike lay, snoring.

'Illyria, can we not talk?' Angel replied.

'As you wish.' There was silence again, and Angel thought. He thought about everyone he left behind. He felt bad, but he wasn't going to beat himself up over it.

Gunn was dead; he had fallen only a few minutes into the battle. He hadn't even lasted as long as Illyria predicted. Angel thought about Doyle, the first to have died all those years ago. Then Cordelia, last year. And Fred. He thought of all the people he had let down, then for the first time in his life he was strong. He fought the thoughts out of his mind and focussed on a choice he needed to make.

'Illyria…' Angel began, breaking the silence. She turned to him and tilted her head to the side. He didn't look up. 'Do you think we won?'

'I no longer count winning and losing, nor do I care whether a battle is won or lost. In my time, things like winning mattered more than they do now. The humans have forced demons into the darkness, where they once were. We are not winning…'

Angel still didn't look up. 'So do you think we won?'

Spike stirred. He jolted up, sitting staring across the room at Angel and Illyria. He jumped out of bed and ran into the little bathroom across the apartment.

Only then did Angel look up. 'Spike?' He called jumping up and following the blonde vampire. He had grown closer and fonder of Spike these past two months, and no longer considered him to be as annoying as he once did. 'Spike?' He repeated.

Angel stopped when he saw Spike leaning over the toilet. 'Oh god…' he moaned. He heaved and his shoulders flopped before he leant back a bit.

'Spike?' Angel asked again.

'Hangover.' Spike simply replied before vomiting into the toilet. Angel walked into the bathroom and grabbed a bathrobe from on the back of the door. He handed it to Spike as he got to his feet.

'Here.'

'Thanks.' Spike took it and put it on before heading into the kitchen. He opened the fridge and pulled out a bag of blood that he'd put in the day before. He grabbed a mug from the cupboard and poured some and stuck it in the microwave.

Angel took a seat on the edge of the bed. 'Do you think maybe…' Angel began before being interrupted by Spike.

'…No. We are not going to them Angel, we can't. You know we can't.'

'Who says we can't Spike? You?' Angel challenged.

'Stop your bickering.' Illyria scolded, getting the attention of the two vampires. 'There is no time for your petty fights. There are noises coming from the street outside, and there are people out there.' She peered out the window again, as the sun was setting over the buildings in the distance.

Angel grabbed his leather jacket and flung open the door, leaving Spike in his bathrobe. He quickly lost the robe and dressed himself before following Angel.

Angel was on the street within moments, fighting off two vampires from a small group of teenagers.

'Get inside. You shouldn't be out here.' Angel roared. The kids disappeared and Spike joined Angel in the fight. Together they took out three more vampires that came out of the bushes and ended up with several bruises of their own.

'Angel, you're not angry at me, are you?' Spike asked.

'I think we should go to England, Spike.' Angel answered. 'It's not safe to stay here. The city is a mess, and everyone is living in hiding.'

'That's exactly why we need to stay here.' Spike shot back. 'These people need our help. If we don't do anything, then who will?'

Spike's question was answered by a familiar female voice. 'I will.'