The basement of the Hyperion was silent, save the not quite sounds coming from the barrier keeping Anya captive. Dawn figured Buffy went out hunting again. Slaying wasn't what she did anymore. Dawn sat, cross legged, next to the glowing circle. "How much do you already know?"

Anya, laying on her back, sighed. "Angel's back and so is Cordelia. How's Buffy taking the Cordelia/Angel romance?"

"Angel and Cordy? Holy crap. That explains Buffy's need to go out for a third time in less than twelve hours." Dawn laughed. "I remember Cordy always trying to steal Angel away from Buffy that first year in Sunnydale. Buffy's gotta be beside herself with Cordelia succeeding in her quest to get Angel."

"Cordelia's always had surprising depth. It's not a surprise that Angel would be drawn to it. He's only been seeping in it for six years. And friends make better lovers. I've never been called to exact vengeance on men who were their love's best friend first." Anya turned onto her side, head resting on an elbow propped hand. "Any luck on finding a way out of this prison yet?"

"I woulda already told you," Dawn said, with her 'you're an idiot' face in place.

"So dish, how does Cordy look? I assume as fabulous as ever."

"You'd be right. And I don't know why everyone hated on her so much. Everyone could always count on her to drop everything and help out when needed. Granted there were times she was a total beeatch, but considering her parents were around less than Willow's, and she had more money than evangelical preachers back then, it's not a surprise she acted the way she did." Dawn leaned back to fish some gum out of her pocket. "I got you Trident this time. The super sugary gums just rot your teeth."

"Thanks, kid." She caught the pack Dawn tossed to her. Things get through the barrier coming in, just not going out. "Get me something new to read? I can only listen to you guys being boring for so long before I want to rip my ears off."

Dawn eyed the stacks of books in there with her already. "If I bring you any more books, you won't be able to move or breathe."

"I'll be fine. I'll just fry some of these by tossing them through the force field."

With a shrug, Dawn stood up in a fluid motion. "Be back soon with more. Clean up."

Anya popped some gum in her mouth and tossed the paper at the glowing barrier between her and freedom, sighing as it sizzled to disintegration.

When Cordelia walked into the warehouse that housed Wesley and his misfits, Conor bolted upright, startling Spike who sat at his feet. "Watch it, mate!"

"Cordy?" Connor rushed to hug the woman he'd thought lost to him forever.

She smiled as she squeezed him. "I missed you, you little punk." She pulled back, pushing his hair out of his face. "For someone so smart, you're an idiot. You saw Angel's true face and the true face of other vampires. Didn't you notice that all their front teeth on top are pointy. A bite is never just two itty bitty puncture marks."

"Figured it out, didn't I?" he said, his head held high and defiant.

"After Wesley found out what you did and why and told you," she teased with a wide smile and a nudge.

"At least he listened," Wesley said as he and Willow came out of the office. "Do I merit a hug?"

"I figured out a lot myself. Of course you get a hug, Wes." She opened her arms and the two friends embraced, warm and forgiving. Willow jumped in and hugged them both, spurring Spike into joining. He hugged a bit too hard though. "Spike, we all need to breathe."

He stepped back. "Sorry. You're smashing as ever, Cordelia. Higher power juice did you good."

"Higher power?" Willow asked with a furrowed brow.

"I can smell it." Spike touched his nose.

"He's right. I spent time as a higher power, and I still got some of the juice as he put it, flowing in these veins." Cordelia smiled awkwardly.

"Explains a lot. You look so young and fresh." Willow frowned. "Pass some of that good stuff on to the haggard and worn why don't ya?"

"Would if I could, but I only have so much. It's why I'm here. There's an apocalypse coming and I need your help with it." She thought back on how terrible Buffy and Angel took the news and frowned. She hoped these four would take it better, or at least understand what was at stake.

Buffy found Angel with little issue. She'd spent so much time not feeling him around that now she could find him with all her senses shut down. His presence echoed inside her. He looked so distraught, and she stood back until he looked at her.

"What do you want, Buffy?"

"To make sure you don't do anything stupid. I figure if I can't stop myself, maybe I can stop you. That way at least one of us has a chance at being not as miserable." She sat on a crate in the alley and he sat next to her.

"You're not mad at me?"

"It hurts. But losing your first love always does, doesn't it?" She shook her head. "I'm angry, but I know I have no right to it. So this is me, being big and trying to just be your friend."

"I won't talk to you about how I feel about Cordelia. It's not the same as what we had, but it's no less powerful. So let's just leave it there, OK?"

"OK. But I wanted to talk to you about the other stuff she said. The apocalypse stuff. What do you think?"

He looked up at the flickering street light. "I don't know. I swore to protect this world and the innocent. And now I feel like I can't do both."

"We will have to pick. Infinite innocent souls, or this world and it's limited innocent. I know why that's got to be a tough decision for you especially."

"Because you took it so well?" He huffed a sarcastic laugh.

"You have a son. I have a sister about the same age. Oh god, I hope they don't end up dating. That'd be too weird even for me." Buffy made a face.

"Yeah it would for me too." Angel made his own face. "I once tried to get to the Home Office and wound up here. I thought Wolfram and Hart could be destroyed, but the way Cordy laid it out, I was wrong."

"Yeah. It makes you wonder if absolutes exist. I mean we paint these black and white lines. But it's not that simple. I'm finally getting that." Buffy shivered as a gust of wind ran up her sweater. "Any idea where Wesley and your son are?"

"Wes did a good job at making sure I couldn't follow his scent. And if I hadn't just forgiven him, I'd try to suffocate him again." He stood up. "We should get you back to the hotel. The temperature dropped at least ten degrees since you found me."

"I won't say no." She wrapped her arms around her torso, and Angel put his coat over her shoulders. "Still a gentleman."

"Sometimes. We're letting Cordy explain this apocalypse to the others."

"Oh yeah."