There's No Light Without Darkness Chapter 7, an angel fanfic

Last time on Angel

The bright white light causing everyone in the building to be blinded for a moment, hands rising to shield their eyes from the light, trying to keep stabilized to not be thrown across the room.

Slowly… A pair of eyes open.

Hyperion Hotel

As the light slowly faded away, the people in the foyer lowered their hands and looked around. A look of curiosity etched on the faces of all, as they weren't sure of what happened.

"Everyone all right?" Angel asked, glancing towards each person slowly, the people that he could see at least.

"Yea, we're all right peaches." Spike answered, standing up slowly. "Did… Did it work?"

Spike turned, asking Giles the question, though by the look of the shoulders that were faintly sunken in defeat, he already knew the answer.

"I'm terribly sorry. We'll keep trying; we won't stop until we can find a way to awaken her." Giles whispered to Lindsey, unsure of what else to say to the man.

Lindsey just stared for a long moment at Eve. The feeling of guilt once more rampaging through him, as his hands would slowly roll into fists, dropping the candle, turning around and began to leave the office, looking for a moment at Giles, "Yea, I'm sorry too." He stepped passed them all and began to head towards the entrance of the hotel, feelings of defeat were not something he was used to.

They all watched him quietly, for a long moment, feeling the failure of this turn of events, even if not the same magnitude as Lindsey himself.

Finally the pregnant silence broken by soft words of Wesley, "We should get back to looking through the books. It's a shame that our library is not as extensive."

"I may be able to remedy that, Wesley old boy." Andrew spoke to the ex-Watcher who just looked at him oddly. "Allow me a small amount of time, and we shall continue on."

"So what exactly –was- that bright shiny light then, if it wasn't fireball waking up?" Kaya asked to everyone in the foyer, curious now as to what had happened.

"You act as if you have never seen uber healing mojo done by a witch before girl. Don't they teach you anything in Slayer school?" The voice coming from the stairs caused everyone to turn around.

"Gunn!" Kaya cried out and quickly jogged towards him, crushing him in a large hug halfway up the steps.

Gunn, being followed by Willow and Lorne, put his arms around the Slayer, hugging her for a moment, before wheezing out. "Kaya... Ribs… Ribs."

Angel glanced towards Wesley a moment, and then to Spike giving a small nod of his head with a successful smile, it was at least ONE milestone that they had to get over. Gunn was alive.

Finally Kaya let go, looking over his shoulder at Lorne and Willow. "Thanks, I owe you one." She said it sincerely

Willow and Lorne giving a soft grin, Willow shrugging. "Nothing to it, even if maybe I thought for a moment I set him on fire, it worked all right." They all began walking down the steps then, as if some form of Hollywood entourage.

"Charlie Boy! I told you that the red stuff stayed on the inside." Spike said, moving over towards one of the few men he'd ever trust at his back, and threw his arms around him in a manly hug.

Gunn smiled, hugging him back for a moment and hitting him on the back, to make it even more "manly." "So ya said so ya said. At least I got a cute chick saving my behind this time instead of you." Letting go of Spike as they both laughed, "So what it is what it… Whoa… okay we got new people." Then noticing Wesley, "And, yea not EVEN gonna ask about that."

"Gunn." Angel walked up to him shaking his hand, not able to show as much hug-ness as Spike. "This is Giles and Andrew, Xander went to go and get some food. If it wasn't for them coming, you'd still be upstairs." Angel seemed faintly uncomfortable, but shook his hand with a gentle strength before letting it go.

"Cool with me man, I ain't gonna shun away no extra help." Gunn gesticulated before he would wave his hand at Giles and Andrew. "Hello, I'm Charles Gunn and until a couple of days ago I was one bad ass lawyer, now I'm just badass. Y'all can just call me Gunn or Mr. Pimpsalot." He grinned.

"Nice to meet you Gunn." Giles would give a small nod of his head while pinching the bridge of his nose. "We ah, are glad to have helped you." He looked somewhat guilty for some reason.

"Likewise." Andrew said while he was busy typing on something in his laptop.

"Hey kiddo." Gunn would move over ruffling Connor's hair. "What you doing here? Shouldn't you be like... Studying for class or something?"

Connor batted his hand away. "No, I'm not going back to school."

"You're what!" Angel turned around, looking at Connor. "Oh no no, you're going back to school, this isn't your life."

"And now starts round two, or is it three?" Spike asked Kaya quietly who was once more looking over a map.

"I think it's more like four." Kaya replied, glancing up to the blonde vampire with a smirk.

Gunn moving over towards the two and sat down, "Let me guess lots of arguing going on today?"

"That'd be an understatement of the century, mate." Spike glanced towards Gunn a moment, shrugging his shoulders.

Willow, with the help of Lorne would move over towards Giles and Wesley and slowly sit down while father and son had a verbal sparring match.

"Angel, this IS my life. How can I go back living with my adopted parents knowing what's out there!" Connor, getting angry, showing some of his old biting nature side as his eyes narrowed upon his father.

"By letting us do it son, and you having a normal life." Angel's words were quiet, pleading with the boy that he had somehow given life to, at least helped give life to.

"No way! You can't expect me to just sit around knowing what's going on and not helping."

"Yes, I can."

"No, you can't."

"Yes, I can."

"No you can't."

Angel threw up his hands, and turning away from his son. "I'm not going to argue about this now."

"Fine!"

Both taking steps away from one another, looking rather angry.

"I hate to ask, however… Has anyone seen Illyria?" Wesley asked after putting down one of the books he had been going through.

Courtyard of the Hyperion

Illyria sat once more by the fountain that seemed to bring her such peace, such calmness. Trying to focus on not feeling the emotions and the confusion that were coursing through her, however it was proving to be futile. The confusion was lingering, it was a human emotion, and all of them were in fact. Something not for the likes of Illyria who at one time considered humans to be the much beneath her feet, nothing more but something that stank and shined.

A wracking pain cracked through her head, as visions of another life, another person seemed to try and invade. She could see the Burkle's, the parents of the vessel known as Fred, singing and holding the hands of a young girl child. She then could see them weeping as that young girl child drove off in a Gremlin heading to college. The vessel's first kiss with Gunn, her first kiss with Wesley, the excitement of seeing Angel after he had returned from his long sabbatical, the fear of being alone, all if it came flooding in, invading where it was not welcome. Illyria let out a loud yell of pain.

"Stop! You do not exist anymore!" She called out, to the person who no longer walked this earth. "This is not your body!"

The pain however would not subside, and neither would the emotions and memories that came through, as if some sort of barrier or dam had broken allowing them all to pass. Her hands fell to the rim of the fountain, her strength causing the concrete to gently crack, until even her strength seemed to be draining away from her. Falling to her knees, Illyria's eyes shut tightly, as tears of pain streamed down her face. Not just the physical pain that was rocketing through her head, but the emotional pain that was not her own.

"Stop!" She begged in a moment of weakness.

The pain did slowly subside, as Illyria turned her head and wretched against the concrete.

Foyer of the Hyperion

"Any information that we have at the building in England is now at your fingertips." Andrew mentioned to Wesley as he slid the laptop over with a smile. "I have… connections." He would bow his head, as if it would impress the ex-Watcher, though he did seem to be thankful.

Angel blinked a few times, arching an eyebrow, and turning to look around. "Did you hear that?"

"Hear what Angelface?" Lorne asked looking up from his Seabreeze he was sipping on. It seemed if someone would cut open Lorne, it'd be exactly that… A Seabreeze that trickled out.

"Someone yelled." He looked around curiously for a moment, heading in the direction he thought he heard it from.

Spike stood up, beginning to follow him, the same was said for Gunn, and even Connor was heading in that direction. Angel turning to look at Connor about to tell him to stay back, but he saw that determination in his eyes that made him proud. Instead his eyes would turn towards Kaya. "Make sure everything is all right in here." Turning to look at Wesley, Giles, Willow, and Andrew, "And you keep your eyes on those books."

With the orders given by the broody en-souled vampire, the four began to move towards the door that led into the courtyard, where he had heard the yell coming from, moving with a definite purpose, as did the others. Each one was on guard, waiting to see what was behind the door, waiting for it to be another evil that they'd have to face, secretly each one hoping it would be.

Hyperion Courtyard

As the four entered the courtyard, they could see nothing was amiss. It was silent, and nothing was moving. Not even a breeze to stir the still water of the fountain. Taking a few more steps out from the door, slowly they began to look around from their vantage point.

"Man, are you sure that you didn't just think you heard something?" Gunn asked Angel.

"Yea Peaches, I don't see anythin' out here." Spike agreed as he began to move towards the fountain, glancing around.

"You have been kind of stressed today, Angel." Connor added.

The en-souled vampire was still quiet, as he furrowed his eyebrows and began to look around. He knew what he had heard, there was no way he could have been imagining it. He had become attuned to yells of either help or anger over the years.

"No… I heard it." Angel's words were quiet, watching as the others were spreading out with the precision of the Champions of Good, warriors. Something did not settle well with him.

Hyperion Hotel Foyer

Wesley was sitting and working on the laptop that Andrew had given him, absolutely amazed with all the information that he had. It shouldn't surprise him; however it was like a fish back into water after so long. Studying, researching, investigating in the ways he knew how. He at one time would have been the Council's golden boy, but then Faith had ruined that. She had ruined many things, yet he couldn't find it in himself to hate her. She had atoned for her sins, and now he had to atone for many sins he had created himself.

Andrew was studying the girl known as Kaya, who was unbelievably verbose, and far too violent. Finally, he spoke. "So if you're a Slayer, where is your Watcher?"

Kaya blinked a few times; looking up from the phonebook she was poring over for a moment, and shrugged. "Don't know that's what I'm trying to find out. Eric's been gone since the shit went down last night." Not thinking that he was implying she wasn't what she said she was.

Lorne however picked up on it without a hesitation. "Kaya's Watcher is a good guy; even if he's impossibly stick up the butt type. Is that a perquisite for a Watcher?" He asked Giles, looking over to him.

Giles smirked and set down the book he was looking over. "Well, it seems to be the case, however it's not always as it seems." He turned to look at Kaya. "What is your Watcher's last name?"

"Carington." She looked back down to the phonebook. "Or at this moment. Mr. Invisible arg!" she threw the book down and stood up.

"I am sure he'll turn up… If he's real." Andrew stated to the Slayer.

Her eyes narrowed and she began to stalk towards him.

"Eric is very real. I recall seeing him a few times at the annual gathering of the Council." Giles would speak quickly, seeing the angered gleam in Kaya's eye.

"Righty-o, I would suggest uhm… separate corners, I don't want to see the floor getting wiped up with Andrew." Willow murmured softly.

"I don't know, I think it might be rather amusing." Wesley would murmur just as quietly as he continued to go through the ancient texts that were in electronic form.

Willow and Lorne share a humored look.

Giles standing up to intercept the blonde Slayer. "He didn't mean to insinuate that Eric wasn't real. –Were- you Andrew?" Giles asked, implying that he should say no he wasn't implying.

"Look at her Giles, if anything she has the same makings of a Rogue Slayer, just like Faith." Andrew said quietly.

Wesley shook his head, ignoring what was being said, less he wished to put his fist through the young man's face himself.

"Right, how about we keep comments like THOSE to ourselves puss, otherwise it's going to turn ugly again." Lorne quipped before taking a drink from his Seabreeze.

Kaya's eyes narrowed in anger, before she moved over towards the steps slowly, limping just faintly before she'd sit down on them and away from those who seemed to just push her buttons.

Hyperion Courtyard

Spike turned, walking backwards as he talked to Angel. "I don't think you heard anything Peaches, I think it might just be the stress finally settling in on ya." And as he walked backwards he tripped over something on the ground. As he was able to catch himself before he fell, he turned around and saw Illyria passed out on the ground.

"Oh bloody hell." He muttered under his breath, and crouched down, checking to make sure that she was still breathing, and that's when a massive hand came up and wrapped around his throat.

As Spike struggled against the hand, Illyria stood up looking like a veritably pissed off female. "What is it you have done to me?" Her tone was accusatory, the way she had been when Angel had time traveled with her somehow when her powers were going to kill her before.

"Illyria let him go!" Angel called out as he began to stride towards her.

"Homegirl done snapped again." Gunn muttered, giving a half smirk and heading to follow behind Gunn.

"Uh… looks more pissed off than the Slayer." Connor murmured walking alongside Gunn.

To Angel, Spike, and Gunn this was all too familiar with Illyria, all too scarily familiar. She had gone on a rampage once before in Wolfram and Hart, trying to destroy the entire Fang Gang, and then in turn would destroy the downtown area if not all of LA. Though her powers had been dampened so she could survive… It didn't stop her from being strong, fast, and not an even match for Spike.

"Illyria we haven't done anything to you! We're your friends! Let Spike go!" Angel yelled at the blue haired Power that Was. He was slowly moving towards her.

Illyria was backing up, still holding onto Spike like she was. "That is a lie, you must have done something. The pain is far too great for it to be a wound from battle."

Angel's eyebrows furrowed, he glanced to Spike who attempted to shrug his shoulders then looking to Connor and Gunn before looking back to Illyria. "We've not done anything to you Illyria, we wouldn't want to." His voice now pleading, "we're you're friends. Let Spike go, please."

A stabbing pain hit Illyria once more, and it was not her, it was not the Old God that dropped Spike rather quickly, she had done it, but it was not her. She cried out in pain and fell to her knees as she held her head. "Make it stop! Please! Make it stop!" That voice was not her own, it did not sound truly like the cold emotionless Illyria, there was pleading there…

Angel's eyes went wide as he watched, unable to take another step forward.

Higher Plane

"Can we say total meltdown?" Cordelia rolled her eyes.

"Gotta say, I'm lucky I never met that woman." Doyle gave a nod of agreement to her.

"Yea, me too… You would think that with how sweet Fred was, she wouldn't be such a total bitch. Then again when I turned evil I wasn't exactly myself either."

"You weren't? OUCH! Hey don't hit me!"

Hyperion Foyer

The sound of the door opening from the courtyard with a loud bang garnered everyone's attention, Wesley rising as he saw Angel carrying in Illyria who was unconscious for the moment. He set her down on one of the couches, and then would look towards the others. "I think we may have a small problem."

"What happened?" Wesley asked, moving over towards Illyria and checking to make sure she was still alive, however Angel stopped him before he could touch her.

"Illyria attacked Spike, she's sick… Somehow." However, Angel was hesitant to bring up what else happened… Unfortunately Gunn didn't realize it.

"She begged to make the pain stop, pleaded." Gunn was still unsure about that, he had known Illyria, as well as any of the others, and it just did not seem like something the big blue wonder would do.

Wesley turned to look up at Angel. Not asking, though looking for confirmation.

With a small nod of his head, Angel moved to sit down; Spike was slowly brought in by Connor and set down in a chair. "Do you think it's possible…" Angel started to ask quietly, trailing off as he knew that there was no hope of it. Illyria had even said so herself. Fred's soul had been obliterated.

"Think it's possible for what?" Willow asked, moving towards the others now, looking to the un-moving body, then back to Angel. "Possible for what?"

"That Fred's soul has not been destroyed, as we had once thought." Wesley's words were quiet, as his eyes were fixated upon Illyria.

"That's great!" Willow exclaimed, though as no one seemed to share her enthusiasm. "Isn't it?" She turned, looking to the others.

None could meet the redhead's exuberance, or her gaze. Each one unable to look upon the Witch, not wishing to feel the hope that she felt, not wishing to be let down once more. The one who looked the most grief stricken was Wesley as he felt the tears burning into his eyes.

Willow speaking softly, more imploring. "Isn't it?" She looked around for some form of hope, some sort of affirmation, but all that was given was Lorne clearing his throat… Nothing else.

The front door to the Hyperion Hotel opened, the silence still deafening, as Xander carried in four bags full of hot greasy goodness food. "I brought a little bit of everything, wasn't sure what everyone… Wanted." He finished as he noticed all the long drawn out faces, as well as Willow close to tears. He set down the food quickly and moved over to his best friend, putting an arm around her. "What's the matter Will?" His eyes looking over everyone curiously, "What happened?"

Angel spoke quietly, holding his head in his hands. "Nothing happened." Dropping his hands down, he stood up. "That's exactly it, nothing...happened."

"Then why the hell is my friend on the verge of tears!" Xander demanded.

"Stop Xander, it's not their fault." Willow whispered softly to her one eyed friend.

"I'm sick and tired of everyone always saying it's not their fault. Angel kills a butt ton of people, but hey it's not his fault. Spike tries to rape Buffy but hey not his fault! They BOTH break hearts and cause problems that we have to clean up. When is it GOING to be their fault Willow!" Xander's anger coming to the forefront.

Spike and Angel both flinching at the angered words, though neither one of them able to deny their deeds done in the past, neither of them wishing to, knowing the truth of it. Xander was truly right about it all; they had both done things that were unforgivable.

"Xander, I don't believe this is the time or the place to be talking about it." Giles warned in his stern tone. "I believe someone said it the best not too long ago, the past is just that, the past."

Xander was left with a gaping mouth, as Kaya had moved over towards the food and began to go through it, not even seeming to relish in the fact that the stuck up British guy had used her phrase from when she had yelled at them earlier. "Score, we got french fries AND onion rings." She grabbed up the food and began to pass it around to those she knew could eat it.

Xander broke away from Willow and moved to sit down by himself for a while. He couldn't bear to listen to everyone, including Giles, stand up for the two who had caused them all the most problems.

As soon as Xander moved away from Willow, Spike stood up and took hold of Willow's shoulder and directed her to sit back down. Sitting down beside her, he began to speak quietly to the Witch who was having trouble not being sad.

"What do you think?" Angel asked Wesley quietly, who hadn't moved from Illyria's side.

Wesley glanced up at Angel, and he shrugged his shoulders a little bit, before speaking, "Frankly Angel, I'm not sure about a lot of things, this included. I…cannot bring myself to hope, only to…loose it again."

Angel put his hand onto Wesley's shoulder gently and squeezed very softly. Commiserating with his friend about a loss that affected him just as well, perhaps not as deeply; but just as well; Angel had lost too many friends over the years. It was beginning to wear on him.

A voice from behind them seemed to startle them out of their shared silence, a silence that was neither uncomfortable nor tense, but tainted with sadness. "Uh, hate to break up the male bonding going on, but do you want a veggie hot dog, veggie burger or one of the real things with the works on it?" Kaya gave a faint little smile towards Wesley. "Oh and I guess even if the Plisken wanna-be doesn't like you, there's some O-positive for you and Spike." Glancing towards Angel a moment, not understanding what the two men were going through.

Kaya would motion for them both to come to her, and her not go to them. She may not seem to understand what they were doing, but once again open books were a bitch, she just had to read them. As soon as Angel and Wesley got to her, she turned and limped towards the table that had the food; it wasn't a pronounced limp, but it was proof that she favored that leg well enough.

"Actually, no matter what… you're getting a real burger, you look thin." Kaya handed the burger to Wesley and then the blood to Angel. "And you need to eat before you decide one of us looks like a snack cracker."

"Your leg's still bothering you." Wesley pointed out as he unwrapped the burger, lifting up the bun to look to see what was on it, before putting it back together and taking a bite.

Shrugging as she popped a few fries in her mouth, wiping the grease on her pants and swallowing the fries before speaking. "It's always bothering me. Wouldn't be so bad if I had my brace but… When the apocalypse is coming, you don't exactly get a chance to pack the toiletries. Just the important stuff."

"If your brace isn't important, than what is?"

"Axe… stakes…sword… hairspray. Important stuff." Grinning, she handed him a bag of french fries.

Angel chuckled softly, and glanced at Wesley. "Remind you of anyone?"

Wesley could only nod at that. He hoped to all things holy, and perhaps even unholy that Kaya Jordan would not walk down the same road as Faith did. She found her redemption, but… Wesley would see to it Kaya would never need to.

"Well whoever I remind you of, can't be as good as me. Anyways, eat up. First real meal I'm sure some of you have had for a while, plus it sure as hell beats that stuff in the fridge… That's just gross, it had hair."

"Hey, Angel... Can we talk?" Connor asked behind him. "Please?"

Angel turned around, looking towards his son for a moment. "Sure son."

"Private please?" Connor moved towards the door that led to the Courtyard of the Hyperion. Angel slowly followed, after glancing towards Kaya and Wesley for a moment.

Kaya finished the hamburger she was eating, before looking at Wesley for a moment, then speaking softly. "You know… I thought my family was dysfunctional, but I think they get the award for that."

"You do not even know the half of it." He smiled at the young Slayer.

Hyperion Courtyard

"What is it you wanted to talk about son?" Angel moved to sit down on the edge of the fountain looking up at the young man that was his child. Reminded of when he held him in his arms, when he vowed to protect him against the evils of the world, reminded of how he was stolen from him… How he returned and tried to kill him, how he tried to ruin his life… How much hate he had for him. How he had tried to give him a new life.

"I want to talk to you about me not going back to college." He sat down beside him. "I know you don't want me to stay around, I know you want me to stay far away from this as absolutely possible. But I just can't. I know what's going on, and now that I do… I have to think about my parents." Looking over to him.

Angel frowned, shaking his head.

Hyperion Foyer

Spike and Willow were sitting down and still talking quietly.

"I'd appreciate it a lot if you could. I owe her one ya know?" Spike looked into Willow's eyes for a long moment. "I wouldn't be askin' if I didn't think it was important."

Willow seemed to mull over whatever it was that Spike wanted her to do. He seemed to have become mellower since he was brought back to life. It seemed to have made him appreciate what others had done for him. If only Buffy could see him now. However Buffy was stuck so far up the Immortals behind it didn't seem like she'd be seen any time soon. When she got told that they were going to Los Angeles, she just said to have a good time. As if it didn't matter. "I'll see what I can do." Smiling to Spike. "Hey you can always count on me, Witchy Willow."

Hyperion Courtyard

"Connor, son… I don't think it'd be a good idea. I want you to be safe."

"And I want my parents to be safe too Angel. I want my adopted parents to be safe… And you." Giving his dad a faint smile. "I can't make sure you're safe if I'm not here now can I?"

Angel blinked, stunned by what his son had just said.

"What? Don't look shocked, it's not like I'm talking about selling my soul to the devil or anything, but I mean it's a family business right? Helping the helpless? I can do that, I know how to do that."

"But what about college, I thought you had big plans."

"Nah, I had big plans to date a few co-eds but other than for that I was still unsure what I wanted to do with my life."

"So this is what you want to do?"

"Consider it… Exploring my options."

Angel gave his son a smile, and put his arm around him, giving him a hug. "You make me proud."

"Yea… " Embarrassed, he hugged his dad back. "Besides, that Slayer chick is smoking."

Laughing at that profession, Angel just shook his head. "You're more like me than you will ever know. She's even blonde."

Hyperion Foyer

Willow slowly stood up after she checked the map she had just used a locator spell on, and slowly began to walk towards Kaya. Spike stood up and began to walk behind her.

"So yea, Lorne made me sing. One and only time I'll ever sing Elvis in front of others." She made a face, making a joke of herself to get Wesley to laugh. As she glanced up noticing that Spike and Willow were coming towards them. "Looks like they're about to pull you away from my bad joke torture."

"Actually no luv, we've come to tell ya we got ya a surprise." Spike said with a smile.

Kaya arched an eyebrow, looking to the witch then to the vampire, then back to the witch. "Oh?"

"Indeedly do, we found your Watcher." Beaming with a smile that lit up Willow's entire face, she added. "He's not too far from here."

"You did! That's great! Where?" Already moving to get her things, absolutely adulated about hearing about Eric.

"About seven blocks south of here."

"Sweet, I'll only be a little bit then, and you guys can meet him. He's awesome, sometimes kind of stoic but then again I think that's just being British." She would grin lightly, seemingly to be in higher spirits by the minute.

"I think it'd be good if you took some people along, just in case." Willow mentioned softly. "There were also locators of demons in the vicinity so it'd be good to have backup just in case."

"Sure, no problem." She then would turn, clearing her throat. "Okay, who wants to go with me to go get my Watcher?"

Giles shook his head. "I would offer, however I think I should get back to the books. Do tell Eric we have much catching up with though please."

Kaya's eyes totally went over Andrew even though he had his hand raised. Looking towards Lorne a moment, she grinned motioning with her head to join her.

"Count me out cookie, I'm going to stick around here and tend to the dust bunnies, it's a mess. I hate cleaning but I think my allergies are about to kill me."

"Well now you don't need to ask me. Kicking it with my homegirl, getting a little somethin' somethin' going on with the demon butt kicking, oh yea, you know it I am down." Gunn said as he dropped his bag of food on the table and began to walk over.

"So am I luv, need to get out of here, and might be a little therapeutic too." Spike was moving to get his coat.

"I'll stay with Giles and work on the research. Wesley, maybe you should go. It'd do you some good to get out for a bit." Willow glanced to the Watcher who had been chewing on a few french fries.

"Right, I can do that. After all I am a rogue demon slayer." He winked to Gunn as he stood up.

"And I think we'll leave Xander behind, just so he doesn't start arguing with Spike." Kaya mused over that as she glanced around for a moment, before she began to head towards the door. "Save a burger, Eric's more than likely going to be starving, oh and put some tea on please?" She was literally vibrating with the hyperness that seemed to invade her senses after she heard about Eric.

The three men stood up and followed behind Kaya out of the front door of the Hyperion Hotel, to go and get the Watcher that seemed to mean so much to the Slayer. All in better spirits, for some it was just being able to get away from the hanging tension that seemed to lurk in the hotel. For others it was seeing their friend be so happy, and for even others it was the chance to go and kick some ass.

"Good luck kiddies." Lorne called after them.

Hyperion Hotel

Connor and Angel slowly stood up and began to head back into the hotel a few minutes after the others had left, they were joking and play fighting, giving each other barbs that at one time would more than likely upset the other.

Connor was the first one to notice that they were short quite a few people.

"Where did everyone go?" He asked, looking over towards Lorne, as he was one of the only original members of the crew that was left in the foyer.

"They went to go and find Kaya's Watcher." Lorne answered before he began to turn over the few pieces of furniture that hadn't been turned over just yet.

"She found him?" Angel asked surprised.

"No, Willow did." Giles answered, looking up from the laptop.

"That's great. Willow seems you're just a miracle worker today huh?" Angel gibed gently.

"Yea… I guess so." Her voice soft as she was looking over an old book, however she was not looking up on how to revive Eve, but to restore Fred's soul. "Least I can do and all." Something catching her eye as she picked up the book and began to read more thoroughly.

Outside the Hyperion Hotel

The four adults walked down the sidewalk, the night sky was littered with what seemed to be a thousand stars, all shining brightly, seemingly shining for them. Brightness in the darkness, a metaphor for each one of their lives, as each one was touched and tainted with darkness. However, there was a light that also touched and blessed them, fighting that darkness.

For Spike it was the hope to one day become human. He still held onto the belief somewhere in the back of his mind that he could achieve his Shanshu. But not only that, it was the fact that he was able to walk down this very sidewalk with two of the best mates anyone could ever ask for. Who would have ever thought he would consider Wesley a best mate, yet he did.

For Gunn it was the fact that he knew where he belonged finally. It wasn't in some courtroom, where he was one of the sleaziest S.O.B's around, even if he was good at his job. It was right here, protecting the people of Los Angeles with a family he thought he'd never have after his sister Alonna had died. Not only that, but now his other sister was here; Kaya. It was as if he were being given a second chance to right his wrongs, and he wasn't going to be giving that up any time soon.

Wesley now was another story, the darkness was looming over him so much, and it was almost choking him. However, tonight, when Angel had explained to him what happened to Illyria he had begun to think once more, hope once more that he would be able to see his Fred; and not have it be in some heavenly plane but here on Earth. He told Angel he couldn't bear the pain of loosing that chance; however it had already implanted itself in his heart, and he was going to cling to it. He just needed to find out if it were possible, and if so what he could do. Not only that, but this felt right. Being back with everyone once more, he had been robbed of his afterlife, but in a way perhaps the Powers That Be knew that he was needed here and the threat wasn't true. Not that he was going to chance it.

Kaya's darkness wasn't as evident as the other's, nor was her light. Her darkness was herself, the feelings that were so ingrained within her, and her penchant to be reckless. She was at times her own worst enemy, and even her Watcher had said so. When she failed in her job and her duty as a Slayer, it affected her deeply; pushing herself in the next fight, even if it could cause her death. However, her light was in the people around her. She found hope in them, each and every single one of them. She watched from the sidelines since she had met them; and she saw their strength and that gave her strength. She saw their hope, and it became her hope. Her light was her friends, even if she had just met them.

-----

However, no matter how much light a person had in their life, it couldn't always fight back the darkness that threatened and loomed in the horizon, especially for those who lived like these four did, like they all did. Pain and death was as much a part of their life as living and breathing. Trials and tribulations were something that they would all go through, it would never stop. And as time goes on, sometimes…

That light may seem too far away.