Chapter 19 Power, Control, Time
A/N: So Buffy is back and momma lion is going to let the claws come out because someone is trying to hurt her cub. And then Daddy Angel well we know Angel is going into full out protection mode.
A/N: Now this is all a dream so the family will be 'traveling' so to speak to get away. And to clarify some confusion and not to confuse you any further. Buffy is actually Buffy she's not Isabella's imagination she's Buffy, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Buffy that kicks ass, the Buffy Angel loves, the Buffy we love and is brought into Isabella's dream to help combat Angelus. I think I've emphasized who Buffy is. Also Angel is not a dream figure he's really Angel in all his glory and hotness. And yes Angelus is Angelus in all his wickedness and the very thing that makes us hate and love him. Think of it of like these four were pulled together and placed in one room. Isabella could dream of like I don't Gunn but it wouldn't be true Gunn it would be a Gunn that Isabella can come up with but it's not actually Gunn just a figure of her imagination. Does that make sense or did I just confuse you more? Explaining dream worlds can be difficult oh great it's like Inception/The Matrix.
A/N: Anyone pick up the little hidden things from well chapter 15 until now? The dead giveaway was in chapter 17. If anyone is an A Nightmare on Elm Street fan (more so the original one) you know where the last few chapter ideas came from and the "Where's your pass" moment. Think of Angelus like Freddy Krueger in the dream world…scary as shi…yeah. He's nasty as it is not in dream world and now he controls Isabella's mind, that can't be good. So on happy that note I also own nothing of Wes Craven. Now onwards!
The family was together for a brief moment but they had to get serious now.
'Isabella!' Isabella looked around hearing the voice coming in all directions. Buffy looked around too and once more Angel's protection mode kicked in. It always kicked into overdrive when Isabella was in any sort of danger but now with his family here it kicked into maximum overdrive. 'Isabella!'
"Why me what does he want?" Isabella asked as her mother still had one arm slung over her shoulder.
"He's everywhere." Angel stated looking around.
"Any chances the Scoobies and AI know how to win this?" Buffy asked.
"No." Angel replied and then he looked back to his wife.
"What? I don't know what's going I was just summoned here." Buffy stated.
"Ok let's calm down." Angel suggested.
"Angel we're in a dream, anything can happen in a dream and because she's not in control it makes ten times worse." Buffy explained.
"I know that,"
"Hey you two." Isabella stepped in. "Stop fighting like an old married couple."
"We are an old married couple." Angel and Buffy said at the same time and then they looked at each other.
"Well he's the old one." Buffy pointed out and Angel stood up a little taller looking like he was going to defend himself but then the two giggled a little. It was like old times. "Ok let's get serious what do we know so far?"
"Not much just something summoned Angelus here to make her crazy hoping I'd seek help and possibly give my soul up for it." Angel answered.
"And Giles has no idea how to fight him?" Buffy asked or possibly stated.
"No."
"I love all of you guys but sometimes you're all very useless." Buffy stated and Angel shrugged.
'Isabella!'
"Ok he sounds like he's getting angry." Angel said looking around.
"Wait Giles said something about giving me my power back." Isabella began and Buffy nodded.
"Ok how?" Her mother asked.
"How should I know?" Isabella said with her annoyed attitude.
'Isabella!' The three heard his voice again.
"Wait can't we just bring Giles into this?" Angel suggested and Isabella nodded like that sounded like a good idea but Buffy shook her head no.
"We're actually here as ourselves Isabella puts Giles here it would just be a manifestation of what Isabella sees him as, he'd only know as much as Isabella."
"So you and dad are actually you and dad?" Isabella asked and Buffy nodded.
"Yes Lorne linked Angel to you and then I was brought in same with Angelus. You've never met Angelus it would be impossible for you know his true nature." Buffy explained. Both Angel and Buffy looked at one another hoping that Isabella would never experience Angelus but it was happening. That was a dark secret and past they wanted to keep forever in the dark and a secret.
"It's a good thing he's just confined to my head then, is this what he's really like?" Isabella asked and both Angel and Buffy nodded.
"Except he just doesn't appear out of nowhere that quickly." Angel added.
"Actually he does." Buffy quickly added and Angel sighed. "I know what you mean." Buffy saved herself.
'Isabella!'
"I don't want to stay here anymore." Isabella stated in fear.
"Oh why not?" Angelus asked and the three turned around. Buffy pulled Isabella a little closer to her wrapping both arms around her shoulders. Angel then stepped in front of his wife and daughter in full protection mode. "I like it here it's fun."
"Why don't you pick on someone your own size?" Angel suggested as Buffy was slowly backing away with Isabella.
"Like you?" Angelus asked and then charged and Angel held him for a moment.
"Go!" Angel yelled and his two girls ran off together. Angel delivered a punch to Angelus' jaw and Angelus roared and kicked Angel flat on his back. Angelus went to jump over Angel but Angel grabbed him by his feet and Angelus fell flat on his face as Angel pulled him closer. Angel then slammed his elbow down Angelus' chest and the vampire grunted.
"Whatever happened to wooden stakes?" Angelus asked and Angel punched down on him hard as possible. Angel threw another punch but Angelus caught it laughing. He then punched Angel in the jaw and he managed to free himself a little. Angel blocked another one of Angelus' moves and threw him off of him. "We're going to be here forever at this rate." Angel got back to his feet and vamped out at the same time as Angelus and charged.
Isabella and Buffy ran through the brick hell hallways together and came to a set of stairs.
"Bet you ten dollars he's at the top." Buffy stated and Isabella nodded pulling her mom to back away.
"Guess you lost that bet?" "Angelus said and the girls turned around seeing Angelus standing there. Buffy pulled Isabella along up the stairs as Angelus laughed. "I want my ten dollars now." Buffy and Isabella ran down a small bridge and at the end Angelus was waiting. Buffy made sure Isabella stayed behind her as Angelus advanced.
"Mom," Isabella said shaking her mother's hand and Buffy turned around seeing Angelus on the other side of the bridge. There were two Angelus'.
"The best thing about me is there's a ton of me enough to go around." Angelus laughed and Buffy turned to her daughter.
"Izzy this your dream you can't let him do that you have to fight it!" Buffy yelled and Isabella closed her eyes trying to think 'just one Angelus, just one Angelus, just one Angelus.'
"Mom!" Isabella screamed as one Angelus grabbed Buffy and tossed her away. The second Angelus then grabbed Isabella and she screamed.
"Come on Buffy let's have a go?" Angelus suggested looking at Buffy as she laid there. Buffy jumped to her feet and charged to punch Angelus and he ducked. Angelus threw a punch and Buffy blocked it and grabbed him and then elbowed him. She grabbed his arm and threw him over her shoulder and he grunted. Buffy went to slam her heel into him and Angelus grabbed her foot laughing and threw down the length of the bridge. Angelus then climbed on top of her as Buffy tried to wrangle away from him. "You know you like it when I'm on top." Buffy grunted as she tried to break away and he just giggled his hellish giggle. "Hold still I'm enjoying this." He grabbed both her hands and pinned her down. He then got close to her face. "As much as I hate you for making me feel like a human being I've always wonder what it would be like to be with a slayer like what it would feel like if I raped you to death. I mean vampires get you hot right?" Buffy grunted louder trying to pull away and Angelus laughed vamping out.
"Only one vampire gets her hot." Angel said and Angelus looked up and a baseball bat swung under his chin and he flew off. Buffy rolled onto her stomach and got up as Angel pulled her up. "Find Izzy." He said and Buffy nodded as she took off running. Angelus got up as Angel stood there and then the baseball bat ignited on its own.
"You learn quick." Angelus stated and Angel vamped charging ready to beat the living hell out of Angelus with a flaming baseball bat. Angel swung hard hearing the wood of the bat hit against Angelus' body. Angel kept swinging as hard as he could; all he could see was red especially seeing Angelus pin Buffy down like that. It made him so angry over the edge angry. Angel swung the bat again and Angelus went over the railing landing a few feet down. Angel climbed up on the rail and then jumped down landing gracefully and swung the bat again as Angelus grunted.
Isabella was alone once more this time in the sewer tunnels and it looked like LA's sewer tunnels but she knew if she climbed up a manhole then it just lead to another sewer level 'Control,' she said to herself she had to find control and use it. Then she heard a screeching noise and turned around seeing Angelus walking with a knife scraping it along the sewer walls laughing. This was getting worse and she couldn't wake up from it. Isabella slowly backed away seeing the sparks he was creating as the blade grinded against the wall. 'Control, control, this isn't really, not real, not real, not real,' She repeated over and over again. Angelus just laughed and Isabella ran down the sewer tunnel and Angelus took off after her.
The water that seemed to barely reach her ankles was now rising making it harder to run through but it didn't slowly Angelus down.
"Dad! Mom!" Isabella called out to her parents.
"Come here," Angelus said as he swung his arm around her bringing her closer.
"No! No! Dad! Mom!"
"You whinny brat hold still!" Angelus then dragged her under the water. She fought to pull herself up and she managed to resurface only for a second as Angelus brought her under again. She fought to break free. She resurfaced again trying to breathe.
"No!" She screamed as she felt Angelus pull her back under but then someone grabbed her hand keeping her head just above the water but she lost her grip and was kicking wildly to get Angelus away as he resurfaced too. Then she heard someone jump into the water and Angelus' hold loosen. She saw her father throw another punch and Angelus disappeared into the water. Then she saw her father swim to her and he wrapped both arms around her.
"I've got ya, you're safe." Angel whispered to her and then she looked up seeing her mom hovering over the sewer tunnel. Angel then hoists Isabella up as Buffy pulled her out. Isabella wrapped both arms around her mother's neck as Buffy pulled her out. Isabella had a death grip around her mom as Buffy reached back for Angel and Angel took her hand and Buffy with all her strength pulled Angel up that gave him enough he grabbed the sides of the opening and climbed out into another sewer level. Angel laid there for a second and then was attacked as Isabella landed on her father with a great deal of force hugging him. Buffy looked around the sewer tunnel as she crawled to Angel and took the empty side of his chest resting her head as Angel laid flat on the ground both his girls holding him. It was a quiet moment that was needed after all this running around.
"Where the hell are we?" Angel asked looking around.
"Sewers." Buffy responded. "You know the usual haunts." Angel nodded as Isabella and Buffy felt him about to sit up although none of them wanted to move. Angel stood up as Buffy pulled Isabella off the ground and they looked around. "It's kind of like Alice in Wonderland or a really creepy and sadistic ride."
"Why the sewers?" Isabella asked.
"Creepy and dark?" Buffy suggested.
"Creepy, dark, closed and confined." Angel answered. "He likes that." Angel then pulled them closer knowing Angelus was going to pop out somewhere and soon.
"Izzy you have to try to regain some type of control." Buffy stated.
"How?" her daughter asked.
"I don't know but you have too." Buffy answered.
"Like right now would be nice." Angel said and Angelus was just down the tunnel and begun to walk towards them. "Go." Angel didn't want to fight right now and he pushed his family along, he couldn't allow them to split up anymore it did them no good. They had to be stronger together right? The three ran down the sewer tunnel. "Izzy get us out of here!" Angel yelled knowing Angelus was going do something real soon maybe even try to drown them again. Angel and Isabella couldn't wake up anymore not until the sleep potion wore off. They were stuck here which that gave Angelus an advantage. Before Isabella could wake up screaming if she fell or almost got killed but not this time, this time she would keep falling over and over again. She knew she had to refocus and do something. She stopped running and grabbed her parents hands and thought of a place.
When the three open their eyes they were right outside some woods. Angelus wasn't behind them anymore for now at least.
"The woods why the woods?" Angel asked and Isabella shrugged.
"Not a confined area." She answered breathless which was true.
"No just lions, tigers and bears." Buffy added.
"Well lions live in the Sahara desert; tigers are the jungle so just bears." Angel corrected his wife and then after looking around his eyes met hers.
"Thanks mister national Geographic." Buffy looked at him. "We've got to find a way to beat him." Buffy said and Angel nodded looking around up to the night sky.
"It's a dream world so the usual ways aren't going to do a thing." Angel stated.
"Wait Angel where did you get that baseball bat?" Buffy asked.
"I don't know I just thought it could be handy and then I thought it would be even better if it was on fire." Angel answered.
"So we can just think about weapons then." Isabella stated and Buffy shook her head realizing it might fend him off but it wasn't going to do anything
"No weapons won't work." She said.
"Why the hell not?" Angel asked.
"He's in control they won't do anything I mean look you don't have the bat anymore and when you were beating him up did it do anything?" Buffy asked and Angel thought about it, it didn't do anything. And then fighting him didn't do much it was like he could subdue you so quickly.
"Great no weapons what the hell are we supposed to do use harsh langue?" Angel asked, it was getting intense, it was like fighting a ghost and now that Angel was getting worried it was only feeding Angelus more.
"It's all about power and control." Buffy began. "Right now Izzy he has it you've been feeding him fear and he's using it."
"So take it back." Angel said like it was the easiest thing to do in the world but it wasn't. Angelus grew very strong over the weeks that taking it back wasn't a quick thought.
"That's why we're here we can help you to take it back." Buffy explained and Isabella nodded. "We can't be split up anymore that's what he's trying to do."
"This is your dream Isabella think about what you want." Angel said finally understanding what needed to be.
"I just want him to leave." Isabella stated plain and simple.
"Can't tell him that it's going to have to get physical." Buffy then knew how this had to be done. "Your father and I can beat him back you're the one who will send him away and then you'll have control again." Isabella nodded understanding.
"Took you guys long enough not getting any older." Angelus said and the three looked to him. "The only thing is I own this, I own her mind and you guys can fight me until kingdom come but she's mine." Angelus then charged at them more so going after Isabella. Buffy pushed Isabella away and then advanced to Angelus. Angel joined in the fight and punched his evil half. Isabella looked around and found a small tree branched and then charged at Angelus and stabbed him in the back. He grunted in the dull pain and then grabbed Buffy by the neck and threw her and she hit a tree. Angelus then pulled Angel closer to him and reached behind him pulling out the makeshift stake and stabbed Angel in the chest. Angel fell to his knees and then Angelus did an upper cut punch to Angel's jaw causing him to fly back.
Angelus turned around as Isabella stood there and she knew she made a huge mistake. Angel was rolling on the ground and ripped out the stake and Buffy grunted as she slowly got back up.
"I really wish there was a way to kill them. Well your mom is already dead so it would just make her go away. But Angel maybe he would wake up for a brief moment and then poof turn to dust. And then I just haunt your dreams until you beg for death and then three of you can be a family in hell!" Angelus screamed and charged after Isabella and she took off running into the woods. Isabella pushed away the branches as she ran crying. She just kept running she didn't look back and she knew these woods would be never ending. 'Take control, take control.' She repeated but how? Then Isabella tripped and rolled into a ditch. She got up slowly and she had that feeling of being alone now. Isabella crawled out of the ditch looking around in the dark woods.
"Mom? Dad?" She asked and then she heard what sounded like kids laughing. "This isn't real, this isn't real, it's just a dream, it's my dream." She paused looking around and the laughing stopped. "It's my dream I can do whatever I want." She felt some control at least that's what she hoped she felt. "It's mine and I want you gone!" She screamed into the woods. "Leave me alone!" She stopped and looked around and it was quiet. It was quiet for once, the feeling of dread was gone and she felt somewhat safe as she walked a little looking up in the sky. But then she heard something and that small light happy feeling disappeared as she turned around and saw two moving lights and heard an engine. "No!" She took off running again. Angelus still had control he was able to bring a car into this.
Isabella did her best to keep her speed and then she jumped and the car flew above her and crashed and went into flames. Isabella sat up for a second. But then Angelus came out of the car unhurt and walked to her. Isabella started to cry, she didn't know how to take control of this. He had weeks of fear built up, he knew her weakness. Isabella started to crawl away on all fours crying as she was alone. She then felt someone grab her.
"No, no, no, no, no, no." She said as Angelus picked her up and flipped her over and pinned her down.
"I own you, you're nothing. You're just a burden to your father. He deals with you but one day when you're alone facing death he won't come, he's better off without you. He prays everyday you would just die." Angelus said as Isabella laid there sobbing. "You're nothing." He laughed a little. "Let me make you go insane and then you can take your own life end it." Isabella had her eyes closed tight she didn't want to look at the monster it had her father's face. "Die already." But something struck a chord in her. This was all a dream, she couldn't die.
"It's just a dream." She whispered.
"Oh you wish."
"This is just a dream, you aren't real. You had to be summon here you're the one nobody wants." Isabella stated and then she felt his grip loosen just a bit. "You're not my father you're nothing, you don't even exists anymore in the world." Then Isabella managed to shove him off. "I'm going to wake up and you are to never return, I'm taking back everything. You're going to leave my father alone no one will ever see you again and you'll cease and become nothing more than a children's story." Isabella stood up it was working as Angelus just laid there on the ground. "Leave-me-alone!" Isabella screamed. There was a moment of silence and she thought it worked. But then Angelus vamped out, roared and then tackled her to the ground.
"Great speech but I still own you. You and me we're together. I'm a part of your father which makes us one." He then pulled her up and threw her. She managed to sit up and then Angelus shoved her up against the tree. "Go ahead call for mommy and daddy do it I like it when you squeal." Isabella fought him and then she thought getting rid of him the woods wouldn't work. No head to be closer to hell so she thought about that.
Angelus looked around and they were back at the hell maze. It caught him off guard and Isabella used that to her advantage and head butted him then kicked him away. She got up and started to run away as he got back up and went after her. Isabella ran down a set of stairs not looking back. She switched dream locations and didn't know if her parents would find her. Then she felt something grab her feet and she screamed as she went down. She kicked away and managed to plant a kick on his face. She crawled away and found a place to crawl into; she was small enough to fit. She crawled in as Angelus reached it snarling like a wild animal trying to reach her. His finger tips were just inches from her as she fought to stay away. Angelus shoved his arm as far in as possible and he could her flesh on his finger tips. Isabella screamed as she could no longer keep away from him and he grabbed her.
Angelus slammed her on the ground and stood up. She slowly started to crawl away knowing she couldn't go anywhere and now this was just torture. This was what he wanted this was what was going to drive her insane. Angelus bent over and pulled her by the feet and pressed his knee into her back and she yelped in pain.
"Weak, humans are weak." Angelus started and drove his knee in deeper. "You may be half vampire but you're half human too which makes you weak like them." He let up and turned her over.
"No," She sobbed.
"Mom and dad aren't here I own this, you can't break me." Angelus said as he had her pinned. "My world, my game, my rules so let's play." He then grabbed her and threw her. Isabella hit the wall and fell to the ground. Angelus once again hovered over her laughing. "Look at you alone, helpless it's perfect." He reached for her and then held her up so they were eye level. "Just give up you aren't worth anything." And then threw her again and she rolled on the ground. Isabella sat up and crawled away again. She just wanted to wake up she would be safe if she woke up.
Angel and Buffy were back in the maze and they knew they had to hurry. Angelus could break her right now and she could very well lose it. Angel couldn't let that happen Isabella was all he had left in this sorry world.
Angelus had Isabella on his lap as he tucked some hair behind her ear. She could only wince, she couldn't move.
"Such a pretty little thing." He said as he gently let his finger tips glide up and down her cheek. "Now all I want you to do my daughter is tell me when it hurts." She felt something painful hit her stomach and she fell to the floor. Isabella laid there as Angelus paced back and forth thinking of his next move. Isabella prayed her parents would come right now. 'Whatever he says Izzy don't listen it's not true.' She heard her father's words. Isabella felt herself hit something else but it didn't matter she opened her eyes and stood up holding a crossbow. "What the," Angelus wasn't prepared for that and she fired it and while one arrow hit the heart it only caused him slight pain. She fired another shot without reloading causing a little more pain. "What is this?"
"My world, my game, my rules." Isabella repeated his words. Back in the woods she managed for a brief moment to get him to second guess himself which allowed her to regained control. She knew that feeling of being in total control and she had to use that feeling and stay strong. Plus her father's words helped. Angelus was just full of lies. He takes a small truth and twists it. It makes it harder on Isabella because she see her father's face and it's almost like it's her father telling her but if just listen to herself and not him then she can win. While the weapons wouldn't kill him maybe she could weaken him. "So let's play." She shot again. Angelus roared and charged to her and she dodged him.
"I make the rules!" He yelled and punched Isabella to the ground kicking the crossbow away. He grabbed her and tossed her again. "I will end you!" He roared and then before he could advance to her a force pulled him back. Angelus skid on the floor and looked up as Angel stood there vamped out and the roared too. Angelus stood up and except for the fact that Angel was all in black and Angelus wearing black leather pants and a blood red shirt you couldn't tell the difference. They charged at one another swinging punches which sent them both to the ground. They both scrambled to get to their feet and then went back it.
Buffy made her way to Isabella to check on her.
"Izzy you have to fight it." Buffy urged her while sitting her up. "Fight and then I can send him away." Isabella nodded. Angel body slammed Angelus to the ground and then kicked him in the stomach. He reached for him and tossed him and then Angelus was gone like he just disappeared. Angel looked around and he couldn't feel him anymore. Angel turned back and saw Isabella holding onto her mother and he ran to them.
"He's gone." Angel said and became part of the embrace. Isabella was in between both her parents safely. But then she felt it and started to get uneasy. Angel looked to Buffy and she nodded. The two stood up and turned around seeing Angelus standing there ready like nothing happened.
"If he keeps coming back," Angel started.
"He won't I know what to do he's weak enough." Buffy finished.
"Good then let's end this once and for all." Angel and Buffy walked side by side ready to end this they walked to Angelus as he stood there. Angelus braced himself as they charged towards him. Buffy jumped into the air and kicked him and before he could fall Angel punched him. Angel bent over grabbing Angelus by the collar and shoved him to the wall and then slammed him down to the ground. Then Buffy got a few good kicks in and then Angel grabbed him by the shirt again pinning against the wall while Angel gave low growls. "You're going to hell Angelus."
"I'll save you a seat." He said and then Buffy punched him.
"Go to Isabella now." She ordered Angel and he did as he was told and let Angelus fall to the floor and walked away but not without one last word from Angelus.
"Angel you will never get rid of me! I am you and you are me! As long as you live so do I!" Angelus yelled but Angel ignored knowing that's what he wanted to make him doubt himself. Isabella was sitting there as Angel knelt down and scooped her up. Angelus looked up to Buffy as she looked beyond mad and then kicked him.
"Maybe you haven't been keeping up on current events but I am no mere spirit I am something beyond the realm of your imagination." And with one swift move she grabbed Angelus by the throat with one hand. "You can send demons after me, you can even kill me but no one hurts my family." She said letting his feet dangle as he was pinned up against the wall and he looked surprised and shocked. "You will never come back to the plains of earth; you will never ever exist again, ever!" Then Angel as he sat on the ground with his daughter felt like wind blowing. Buffy just stood there holding Angelus as he couldn't move. There was no more fear for him have. "Considered your ass kicked." Angel then saw a white vortex forming around Angelus as Buffy remained there. The suction of the vortex started to pull Angel to it with Isabella.
"Hold onto me." Angel said as he grabbed onto the edge of the wall. The white light was blinding and Angel closed his eyes and shielded Isabella with his body. Angelus felt like he was being ripped apart as the vortex took him and then place shook violently as Buffy jumped back. Angelus screamed in pain and then was sucked in and the white vortex sealed shut and everything was still. Buffy stayed on the ground for a moment and slowly rolled over to her back seeing the wall as there was nothing there. She then rolled back over and saw Angel and Isabella on the other side of the room. Angel was holding Isabella close to him and they were still. Buffy crawled over to them and reached out to Isabella. She felt her mother she knew that touch. Isabella pulled away from Angel and rolled over seeing her mom.
"Mom," Isabella said and Buffy embraced her daughter. Angel rolled onto his back letting out an unnecessary sigh and then turned his head to Isabella and Buffy seeing them hold one another and gave a small smile. He could feel it, Angelus was gone. Buffy opened her eyes that were full of tears.
"Not bad for a Valkyrie." Angel said softly and Buffy smiled and kissed Isabella's head. Angel slowly sat up looking around the place it wasn't hot anymore. It just felt empty as the nightmare was over. Angel scooted over to his girls wrapping his arms around them too. Isabella was sandwiched in between them and then pulled away looking up.
"He's gone you can dream again." Buffy said softly and Isabella smiled but then she knew something was about to happen.
"Please don't go." Isabella blurted out and then Angel looked to Buffy.
"I can't stay." She said and both Angel and Isabella shook their heads in protest. "Once you wake I leave."
"No," Isabella said softly.
"How long?" Angel asked.
"Soon." Buffy answered.
"No," Isabella protested again and hugged her mother. "No." Buffy didn't want to leave she was with her family.
"Izzy," Buffy began and pulled her daughter away. "You have control now and some time." Buffy finished smiling. Isabella knew what she meant. She wanted to dream her parents into a beautiful dream forever and ever. She nodded and closed her eyes. The three opened their eyes and they were in a field facing a little cottage, it was the cottage out in Ireland and Buffy smiled. So long ago Angel promised to get a cottage out here by the ocean to always hear it speak. The three walked together to the little cottage and went inside. This was Isabella's favorite place and this is where she always dreamed that she, her father and mother could live in it in another life. The three made their way upstairs to Angel's room since the bed was bigger and they could all fit.
Angel was sitting up slightly in the center and Isabella was on his left with her head on his chest and Buffy mirrored her daughter as she was on Angel's right. Angel held his girls; he didn't want to wake up ever now he could stay here and forever be happy. Isabella and Buffy held hands looking into one another's green eyes.
"Please stay with us mom." Isabella begged and Buffy smiled and she could feel tears forming in her eyes. Angel was quiet silent pleading to wake up with Buffy at his side.
"I can't," Buffy stated
"Why?" Isabella asked as he voice was unsteady.
"My place is not on earth ok,"
"No it's not ok, ok." Isabella sobbed which only made Angel shed a tear. Buffy's heart broke as Isabella quietly sobbed. She then looked to Angel and he looked at her. There was so much pain in eyes. He didn't think it was going to be this hard to wake up. Buffy was truly here with him again. She left him once before, he lost her and he couldn't bare the idea of losing her again especially now feeling like the family was complete. Buffy cupped Angel's cheek, she didn't want to leave either. She sat up slightly and placed a soft kiss on Angel's lips. They parted and he looked to those green eyes he missed so much
"Don't go." He begged. "I need you."
"I'm always with you; I'm always with you both I'll never leave. The Powers owed me one and I didn't waste it. I saved my guy and my daughter." She said and a tear traveled down her cheek. "I knew this was going to happen but it was worth it you both know now how strong you really are." She gave a soft and reassuring smile. "Keep her safe." Angel nodded, that was promise as she kissed him once more, he missed her kisses it made him feel alive, made the pain leave, made the world right even for a moment. Buffy pulled away looking into those brown eyes she fell in love with so long ago then rested her head back on her vampire's chest and Angel could feel both sides of his shirt wet with tears. "You be a good girl now ok." Isabella nodded. "Mind your father." And Isabella gave a soft giggle and smiled. But then something changed, she was waking up.
"Mommy," Isabella sobbed as she could feel the time was almost up. "No." Buffy looked up to Angel as his eyes pleaded and were filled with tears.
"I love you Angel." She said smiling.
"When do you leave?" Isabella asked.
"Another minute." Buffy answered.
"A minute, Buffy no it's not enough time," Angel said.
"We don't have a choice Angel." She said.
"How are supposed to go on after this?" He asked and she smiled.
"It's ok Angel, it's going to be ok I promise." She then turned back to Isabella and leaned over and kissed her daughter's forehead.
"I love you Izzy, my little Izzy." Buffy then rested her head back on Angel's chest and reached out taking Isabella's hand into hers and squeezed it and Isabella squeezed back. "I'll be seeing you both soon." Isabella sobbed as Angel pulled both of them closer hoping he could keep them both. He wanted to be selfish and keep them both it wasn't fair. "I love you both." She smiled as she got to be with her family even though it wasn't under the best of circumstances. Angel looked at the clock and begun to panic as he held his girls tighter.
"Oh god it's enough time." Angel cried and Isabella sobbed too. "It's not enough time." Buffy just laid there, it was never enough time it would always be never enough time. But this time spent with her family was just enough time. She squeezed Isabella's hand and held onto Angel just a little but tighter.
"Oh by the way, you're welcome." And she closed her eyes feeling herself fly away.
Isabella's eyes fluttered open, her head was resting on her father's chest just the way it was in the dream. She slowly sat up and looked around the room seeing everyone in the hotel was there asleep on the floor. She saw the clock and it six in the morning but it felt like a life time in that dream. She looked to the other side of her father and it was empty. She then felt her dad stirring awake and he opened his eyes and quickly looked over for a fool's hope that Buffy was there.
"Dad?" Isabella asked and he looked up to her and her eyes were filled with tears. He sat up and held as she sobbed into his chest and he was quiet.
"I know, I didn't want to wake up either." He said softly. His heart was ripped out again, he's lost count how many times it's been ripped and torn. It also ached for her daughter knowing how much she wanted her mother here. Angel picked Isabella up and quietly left the room not waking anyone. He carried her down the hall to her room and sat in her bed as Isabella clung onto him.
"Shh, it's ok, she's still here somehow. Shh." He hushed her as Isabella sobbed and Angel let his own tears stream down his cheeks. He wanted to stay back in that dream. In that dream he had his family together the way it should be, he felt whole, complete and happy. Angel then looked over to a picture on Isabella's nightstand and it was a picture of Buffy smiling. "Thank you." He whispered.
So sad I know I felt horrible typing it. The first draft was Angelus gets sucked in and they're happy and Isabella and Angel wake from it happy and it's over. But then I thought that's not right it's too dry and there are no layers so this is the version that went in. I didn't want to take Buffy go away but if you've read The Gift then this wasn't so bad. Now if you haven't read The Gift then this was just heartbreaking. Also if you've read The Gift you know what happened to Angelus again if you haven't then keep reading this and then The Gift or not you could just skip ahead.
Now what's next? Well you'll see Isabella is fourteen now and getting stronger and we need to bring Wolfram and Hart down right? The next slew of chapters will be that, Angel and Isabella bringing down the powerhouse of evil. This story has an awesome ending too so stay tuned. And the update on Angel/Kate found a way to end it with good taste and a mutual agreement, still sad but Kate will go down defending Isabella that's all I'm saying for now. Thanks for reading, comments and reviews are always welcomed and I love them.