Of course I don't own any of these characters. I wish I did but I don't.

It was a rainy day in Rome and the girls were just lying around watching TV. Andrew was popping some popcorn and they were waiting for a good horror movie to come on. Just then the phone rang and Buffy got up to answer it. "Hello Giles" Buffy says knowing there are only a hand full of people who actually have their number. Only Giles would call when they are totally comfortable.

"Hello Buffy, its Wesley." Buffy was stunned. How did Wes get this number?" Then Wesley quickly chimed in before she could say anything else. "Giles gave me the number. I called him first, but he told me I should call myself. He started to ramble a little and Buffy could hardly hear him speaking. "Wes, What is it. Is there something wrong with Angel?" In the back of Buffy's mind she was starting to think of all the awful things that could have happened to her former love. Since Wesley was calling and not Angel himself, something must be terribly wrong. Her stomach began to churn and she could feel the bile beginning to rise in her throat. She pushed it all down waiting for Wesley to reply and praying it was something simple and not the end of the world, again. Wes started to cough. "No, not at all "He stammered but then Buffy started getting agitated and said "what's the what Wes. Why have you called? I know not to give us an evil inc. update. We so don't need to hear about all the unevil things you think you are doing." Buffy said very sarcastically. Wesley was stunned. He knew they thought the AI gang was doing wrong at W & H but he didn't expect it to be so hard to start this conversation.

Buffy just started yelling at him "Wes get to the point please, we were getting ready for a horror movie and then I have patrolling to do. Spit it out. What's the what?"

Wesley thought he'd better get started or this would not last long. "Buffy, I need to tell you a few things that have been going on here in LA. Not all of if your going to like. It is necessary for me to tell you everything so you can fully grasp the gravity of our situation." Wes took a deep breath and then delved into the whole story. He started with Doyle's passing and gifting Cordelia with his visions, then Darla and Connor, he had to give her a moment to reflect on that one. It was a hard conversation to have in the first place and telling Buffy that the love of her life bore a child with another vamp, one who tried to kill her, really had to be hard to hear but he continued not letting her cut him off until he was finished. He then told of how they met Lorne, going to Pylia to rescue Fred, then Angel willingly losing his soul, hence the sending for Willow way back when. He then, finally, told the whole Jasmine story including Cordy going to the higher plane and coming back with the demon who took over her body and her untimely death because of it. By the time he got to Cordy's passing she let out a small whimper and Wesley stopped to ask her if she was ok. She said yes then asked him to finish.

At the end of his story he started to get to the Spike part but then he paused. Buffy finally cut in to ask him "is that it Wes aren't you forgetting the part were Spike is there helping Angel fight. I mean you wouldn't leave that part out would you?" Wes was stunned he didn't know what to say. After a few short breaths and some hums he finally got back to the story and finished with Fred's passing into Illyria. Buffy finally broke in just before he got to the part about taking out the Black Thorn. "Wes what does any of this have to do with me or anyone here?" She finally blurted out.

Wesley just started to spit it out about the Black Thorn, who they were and how they were connected to the Senior Partners. Then the plan that Angel had laid out for them. He told her it was a suicide mission and Angel wanted to go out in a blaze of glory. He himself didn't mind going out that way but he thought that Angel and Spike being Champions for the PTB that they needed more help in this fight. Buffy had no idea what to say. She was at a loss for words. What was Wesley trying to ask? She knew she didn't want to loose Angel or Spike but they weren't asking her for her help. So she asked Wes the nicest she could why they haven't called her. Wes replied. "Buffy, Angel and Spike both love you very much. They fight about you on a constant basis but, they are also worried about your well being. They won't ask you for help. They would never put you in danger. Your fight with the First, they both wanted to be your hero in that. Spike burned his self to a cinder to help you. They would never want you to walk into this. I am telling you if we succeed, the Senior Partners will want payback, retribution if you will. They will rein hell on earth and reduce LA to a parking lot to get it. I am asking for your help to save our Champions Buffy. They need you, we need you. Will you help?"

There was nothing but silence. Wes thought he could actually hear Buffy's mind pondering what he had just told her. It seemed as though they sat in total silence for ever. He could no longer stand the silence. Things were already in motion and there wasn't time to doddle even though he knew he had dropped a huge bomb on the Slayer. "Buffy, are you still with me?"

"What….. Yea…… um, I'm here. I had no idea Wesley. I'm just having a hard time believing that all that has happened. Why didn't Angel tell me? Why did you wait so long to call? Wes, you mean to tell me all this has happened and no one called us for any help? What were you thinking? Are you stupid or just stubborn?"

Wesley had enough; he started to get agitated at the implications of what she was saying. With everything that happened with Fred. They had called Giles for help, but he refused saying they didn't fight on the same side anymore. "Buffy what are you talking about; when Fred got sick we called Giles for help. He said we don't fight on the same team anymore. That's why when I called this time he gave me your number and told me to phone you myself. I wouldn't let it go. I had to hear it from you myself that we were evil and beyond any help from the new Council or the Slayers. We…."

Buffy cut him off right there. "What are you talking about? I knew nothing about what happened to Fred. How could you say that, wait did you say you called Giles for help?"

"Yes!" Wes was getting even angrier. Buffy could hear his steam building. "When Fred became sick, we called Giles to see if he new any way we could reverse the effects of the virus infecting her. Giles wouldn't hear of it. He just said we don't fight on the same side anymore and we were on our own." Wesley remembered every last detail of that conversation. He felt so helpless. Fred was the women he loved and he could do nothing to help her and got no help from the very people who were supposed to be fighting the good fight. He was beyond angry, and Buffy would hear it in his voice now. She cringed at the thought of Fred lying there helpless when her people could have done something, anything, to help.

"Wes, I'm so, so sorry. I had no idea. If I had known maybe we could have……..I…..I think I will have a little talk with Giles on that." Buffy was upset and saddened for Wesley and she was now determined to help him and Angel with what ever needed to be done. She had lost Spike once and Angel too for that matter and she would be damned if she was going to let it happen again when she can do something about it. She wanted Wesley to know that she The Slayer had not known of the betrayal that her Watcher had done and she indeed was willing to help with the now impending apocalypse. "We are going to help you Wes, I guarantee that. I can't say enough how sorry I am. I know you're not evil, Angel could never be as long as he has his soul and I think if he didn't I would know it. Now in the meantime I need to call the gang and come up with a game plan. I have a few slayers here with me but Faith has many more with her at the Hell Mouth in Cleveland. I will call you in an hour to update you. Wait for my call. Try to stall Angel just a little while longer." And with that said she hung up with the ex-watcher and called her Wiccan friend Willow.

"Will, I need your help." Was all she said, Willow knew she would help Buffy with anything. When she told her the story they both felt a little funny. "Wow, I mean, wow." Was all she could say? She never realized everything the AI team had going through, was still going through. And she was very sad to hear about Fred and Cordy.

"Ok, what are we goanna do?" Willow said with a sigh. "I don't know Will, I want to help but I'm not sure were to begin. Do you think we can get to LA in the next few hours?"

"You know what? I think I do know a way we can do it. Can you call Faith and have the girls ready?" Willow and Buffy were on the same train of thought. "Yea, I'll call her next and get everything ready."

Buffy knew they had to move fast.

"Give me Dawn a minute Buffy. She can help with the spell and Andrew too. Call me after you get a hold of Faith. I will have everything ready by then."

Buffy handed the phone to a puzzled Dawn. Willow filled her in on the short version of the story and gave Dawn specific instructions and a list of ingredients to buy. She knew their life was about to get very, very interesting.

The next 2 hours went by in a flash. Everyone was running around trying to get ready for who knows what, and the phone calls were pouring in from everywhere. They had to get to LA before the AI team was set on their perspective war path.

Her last call was to Wes. She filled him in on the game plan; he was very surprised they acted so fast. He knew Buffy wanted to help both of the men she loved. It was going to be hard for her to see them especially Spike. It had been a while, and the thing with Spike being back and not telling her had to be weighing on her mind. He set that aside and told her were to find Spikes place. He said they were to meet there in 3 hours and he was spending his last few hours with Illyria. Buffy was shocked to hear him confide this to her. She wondered what happened to the meager, shy watcher she once knew. He sounded like he had lived a life time in the few years since he had left Sunnydale. She could hear in his voice that defeated beaten sound of giving up. She knew that sound well. She felt it when she sent Angel to hell and again when he told her he was leaving her. Her heart broke a little for the ex-watcher. She wanted to tell him that everything would be alright, but she knew nothing she said would make that hurt painful ache go away. She knew that nagging hurt that plagued her every thought, her every waking minute. She sent her lover to hell. She did it. Then she left. She couldn't deal with the questions. The probing into what had happened. She saw her Angel come back, but it was too late she had to do what she had to do to save the world. She killed him. Then he came back and destroyed her once again when he said he was leaving to give her a normal life, ha, what normal life. There is no 'normal life' not for a Slayer. She knew exactly how Wes felt. When you loose the love of your life, you want to die with them. What's the use of hanging around after that? Wesley finally broke her out of her thoughts, "Ok, let's get this ball rolling. Bloody Hell, will we ever have a normal week. All I want is to hide in a corner with a nice cup of tea and forget the last two months have ever happened." He let out a huge sigh and said his goodbyes to Buffy.

It had been almost a year since she has seen her best friends. Willow and Xander were waiting for her and the girls to arrive. They decided to meet at the old hotel Angel owned. It was better than just popping up at Spikes place and having to explain why they had come besides there were too many people to fit into a one bedroom apartment. They had a group of over 60 slayers plus Faith and Buffy. They greeted each other then called Wes to inform him they arrived. He informed them of the missions Angel had given them each one taking out a member of the Black Thorne. Wesley was to take out a powerful wizard and Willow became very uneasy about that. She thought he may need help. Yes, he was a watcher and he did dabble in the magic's, but he was no Willow. She told Buffy to get started with everyone else and she left to help Wesley.

Buffy and Faith were at the hotel trying to lay the plan out with the rest of the girls. They showed the girls pictures of the AI team and made sure they knew to help them if needed. They pulled out the map and came up with the best game plan. Wesley called to give them the location of were they were meeting after they took care of the Black Thorn. After a while they gathered the weapons and headed towards the war zone.

Angel gave instructions to his crew and set out finish his mission.

As they were walking, Buffy fell into a trance. She started thinking about everything up until now. She couldn't think that her life had come full circle with Angel. Her she was off to fight yet another war. But this is the first time it wasn't about her. It was all about Angel. How could she think he was ever on the wrong side? Evil law firm or not. Then she started to think of the last conversation she had with him. Cookie dough? What was she thinking? What a stupid analogy. She was trying to explain away all her feelings saying she wasn't ready for a relationship but in her mind she knew that there was only one man that would ever own her heart and soul. That's why she could never make another relationship work. It wasn't that she was the Slayer, yes that had it's part, but it was the fact that Angel held her heart and never let it go.

Then she thought of Spike. Everything they had done to each other. Everything they had done together. She did tell him that day in the hell mouth that she loved him. She meant it. She loved him. It took her some time to realize what that really meant. She loved Spike. It was not the same love she felt for Angel but it was love. He had a piece of her heart.

Then she began to get angry. She didn't understand why he wouldn't tell her he was alive. How could he not think I should know? The more she pondered the reasons the angrier she became. 'Oh, he is so going to get it when I finally see him.' She was thinking. Then she wondered about him staying with Angel. When did they start fighting together? Maybe it was the whole grand sire thing. She was very conflicted.

She was so caught up in thought she barely noticed Faith walk up beside her.

"Yo B, I hope that is a battle strategy look and not a I'm-going-to-kill-them look." Faith piped in. She was smiling but still concerned that this was weighing to much on her sister slayers mind.

"What, oh sorry, I can't help it. Spike really pisses me off. I mean what's with the 'can't pick up the phone and say can you help', or hey I'm alive…….. how are you?" Buffy was stammering.

Just then Faith let out a loud hardy laugh. Buffy looked puzzled at first then a little annoyed. After a minute she began to laugh herself. She lost it laughing so hard she almost was crying. Then Buffy did the impossible. "Faith, I know it was weird and a little scary coming back to Sunnydale after everything that happened. I didn't think that I could ever forgive you." She then stopped walking and turned to Faith.

"I'm glad it's all behind us. There is no other person it the world I feel I could relate to on a slayer or friend basis. This is a strange situation. I think you understand that better than most…….you know…… how I feel." Buffy looked directly into Faiths eyes," I can see that you have changed. You do have it in you to be a good person. You have overcome so much. I am so proud to call you my friend."

Faith couldn't believe her ears. Was she forgiving Faith after everything she has done? "B, I…….I….. never expected to be forgiven. I just hoped we could get past it and move on. I don't deserve your forgiveness or your friendship."

Buffy started to smile again. "That's why it was easy to say that Faith. You have changed. I would have to be blind not to see it. Don't be so sure I forgive you all the way though. I still have my reservations but I do trust you in battle. Thanks for the pep talk. I really needed it."

They both just stared at each other for a moment until they heard the chatter of the other girls slowly making their way to them. They both extended a hand to each other and with that they turned and began to walk again. It was time to separate and hit the battlefield.

Willow was very worried about Wesley.

He was on his was to take out the wizard who was very powerful. He managed to create new memories of a family for Connor and also alter everyone else's in the worlds. That had to take some serious mojo. He must be wicked powerful guy, and also evil. You have to be evil to pull off that kind of black magic.

She was very scared that Wesley was just in it for the kill. She heard about Fred. They were in love when she became infected and Wesley was distraught. She remembered when Terra died. She was all black magic and scary veiny Willow. She could not imagine what Wesley was doing to deal with his grief being that Fred was still here in body in the form of Illyria. She imagined he was willing to sacrifice himself to be rid of this wizard.

She finally reached the house and sat back and watched as Wes entered the large abode. She waited a few minutes before following him in. Trying to listen to the conversation unfold, waiting for Wes to make his move, Willow sat with baited breath. Then finally she saw him make his first strike.

Wesley seemed to be holding his own then the tables started to turn. She ran into the room just before Wes got stabbed. Knocking the knife to the floor with a small spell, she tried to hit him with a barrier spell. He shot back knocking her down. She got up and put herself between Wes and the wizard. He was the ugliest demon looking dude she had ever seen and hanging with the Slayer, she had seen some weird stuff. He slashed at her with a few small spells then fired something at Wesley again. "Look little girl, I am very powerful. You can't think you would be able to beat me. Not with this little man and his measly spells. I have more power in my thumb." Then the wizard threw a fire ball at Willow. She ducked just in time but then really got angry. "Hey, that almost hit me! What the hell! Are you trying to piss me off?"

He laughed. "So little girl you think you can take me on? Yes, I do smell power but let's see what you got." He had a smirk on his face that really got her mad.

"Ok, you asked for it." Then he hit her this time. Small little fire ball to the right arm just below the shoulder. She jumped back then turned to look at Wes. Seeing he was ok her eyes began to turn black, then her hair. She was getting heated up quick.

He tried to hit her again but she grabbed the fire ball in mid air and sent it sailing back at him. He was so slow. He tried to duck but was hit in the chest full on.

Willow started chanting lightly then louder and louder. A bright fireball was building in between her hands, very hot and very bright. The wizard started backing away slowly but he was much too slow.

"Where do you think your going?" He turned to try to run but she hurled the fireball at him and he plummeted to the floor. She heard a loud crack. His head split like a melon. She stood there trying to calm herself before turning to check on Wesley.

"Wes, are you ok?" she said quietly. "Yes, thank you. I didn't know you could do things like that. This was my fight you……... I did not ask your assistance in this. Why are you here?" Wes looked a little agitated but Willow could see the fear in his eyes as well.

"Look if you are on a suicide mission here you can do that at the real battle. Now if you please we need to get to the meeting site. The others should be there by now and I don't want to miss being able to save my friends." With that she helped Wes to his feet and they both exited the house and headed to meet Angel.

About a block from the alley they were headed to they stopped to part from each other. Willow turned to Wes "Look, I know how you feel Wes. I lost my love and went almost crazy. I wanted to kill and be killed. You have to remember that you are part of something bigger. We need you in this fight and I don't mean just this one either. I mean the whole mission. Good vs. Evil…..you know what I mean. I know it's easier to just give up but it's not right and you know it. There still may be something we can do about Fred. Magic is different than regular death. There are things that can be done. Don't give up hope that we can find a solution."

She turned and gave Wes a hug. He must have really needed it because he held her for what seemed like several minutes.

"So, are you ready for the next chapter in this crazy thing we call life?" Willow asked with a sheepish grin on her face.

"Yes, thank you again Willow. I don't know if I would be able to bear much more without your assistance. You help is…….. Greatly appreciated." Wes nodded, then they turned a walked in separate directions.

Meanwhile in the back of the alley Buffy stood waiting for Willow and the war to actually start.

Willow finally reached Buffy and filled her in on what had happened. They saw the AI team reach the end of the alley. What the saw next make all the hair on the back of their necks stank on end.

Every demon they have ever fought and some they have never seen started coming out of nowhere. It was the scariest thing they have witness so far. It was defiantly going to be a long night.

They all finally reached the alley. They were tired and sort of buzzed from the fights they had just endured. Gunn was sporting a nasty stomach wound. "Your suppose to wear that red stuff on the inside Charlie boy" Spike said trying to lighten the mood.

Wesley had come last. Illyria was waiting for him. She acted as though she was glad to see him "I am pleased you have not expired yet Wesley." He was not sure he welcomed her seemingly friendly banter. He hoped they lived to see this to the end so Willow could help save Fred some how. But he knew that Illyria would fight to the end to help save them all and he did take a little comfort in that.

Gunn steps up and says "You take the thirty thousand on the left" Illyria stands up and says "you're fading; you'll last ten minutes at best." After she says this they finally let it all soak in. They are not walking away from this. Not this time. It was the worst battle they have ever waged but they are determined and they all stand at the ready.

"Then let's make them memorable." Gunn states barely able to move.

Spike walked up to Angel and said "In terms of a plan?" Angel retorts "We fight." Then Gunn stands up and gets ready, finding his second wind they all watch the on coming demons. There are so many and now and a dragon is flying over head.

Spike looks over to Angel again "Bit more specific?" Angel just smiles "Well, personally, I kind of want to slay the dragon."

They all took their fighting stances. Waiting to be practically run down by demons, they are advancing quickly. It looks like thousands of them. When they almost reach the AI team, the demons stop suddenly. It was a though they hit a wall or something hard. Then they heard a familiar voice call out to them from above. It was Willow "Hey guys. You look like you could use some help." She smiled down at them; she loved being the white knight. Then another figure appeared, it was Buffy "Okay girls, time to get to work."

From both sides of the alley the AI team watched the slayers filed out. They were never so happy to see them. Spike and Angel just stared at Buffy when she finally descended down the steps and stood between them. "Okay boys, are you ready to fight?" Was all she said as she smiled to both of them "Look we will have time to talk later, now, it's slay time."

On the other side of the alley they saw Faith "Girls, you know what to do." Then she came down and stood next to Wes. Willow finally yelled down to them "hurry up. I don't know how much longer I can hold this barrier."

Faith slapped Wes on the back and looked over to Gunn with a nod then back to Buffy "Hey B, Giles called. He feels bad not being able to be here and said he has a surprise for us. The Council sent us a few more slayers for the fight." Buffy turned around to look at Faith "It's the least thing he could do since he didn't help with the whole Fred thing. How many?" Faith just smirked back "Oh, about 50 girls or so."

Angel looked at Buffy finally with a What-are-you-doing-here look. "Don't even ask. We have a war ahead let's focus on that for now." She knew there would be a lot of discussions ahead. She wanted to know things so did he for that matter. Spike on the other hand just stood with a blank look. He shook his head looked up to Willow "Hey Red, I think now is as good time as any." She nods and starts to drop the barrier. Spikes eyes went wide "Bloody hell" was the last thing they all heard before the fight began.