Sorry for the wait, just know i've got something good in store (good meaning angel and buffy good)

enjoy, Telescapist

"So they're trying to end the world via a blood ritual that opens a portal into the hell dimension housing the demon malachite." Buffy looked at Willow, who was leaning against the kitchen counter, for confirmation.

"That about sums it up."

"Well that's just great" Angel leaned against the wall of Giles apartment. "You know I think I heard that somewhere" he narrowed his eyes in faux thought "... or maybe I read- No wait I remember! That's exactly what I said happened in Cordys vision!" He smiled smugly at Riley then avoided looking at the glaring Buffy. "Yep" he muttered as his smug smile faded"...Exactly what I said...." He trailed off. Buffy gripped Riley's hand tighter as they sat on the couch.

"Cordy?" she raised her eyebrow. "Since when is she Cordy?"Angel met her gaze unashamedly. "Yeah I call Cordelia Cordy. We WORK together. We're close!"

"So I see" Buffy muttered before deliberately turning to face Giles, who stood next to Willow.

"So if we get rid of these Knarick demons, no portal, no apocalypse right?" Giles took off his glasses and polished them.

"Well in theory...yes. That should do the trick. But we can't rush into this too quickly Buffy." He put his glasses back on and picked up a small red book. "It says nothing specific in here except...",his finger searched down the page, "Ah yes here it is, 'night bleeds into day as the ritual of malachite removes the shield of the world.'"

"Well that's not ominous at all!" Xander worriedly scoffed "I mean a little twilight never hurt anyone right?" He chuckled weakly "Mixin a little day and night. It's like a cocktail, or a mocktail if these guys are non-alcoholic, being religious and all. "

"They're not talking about twilight you dolt." Anya threw up her hands despairingly. "They're talking about the end of the world, utter chaos and destruction on earth, the death of the human race, the obliteration of-"

"I think we get it." Willow intervened with a frown.

"Well I don't see the problem with just getting rid of them." Angel filled the resulting silence. "No demons, no ritual. It doesn't matter what the ritual involves if the Knaricks aren't alive to perform it."

"We don't even know where they are though do we?" Tara wondered from the kitchen.

"Well they're not exactly hiding" Buffy winced wryly as she shifted her back. "I have the bruises to prove it." Riley pulled her into a one armed hug and kissed her cheek whilst looking at Angel, who rolled his eyes.

"Well we have to have a plan of action" Riley mused. "We aren't we just gonna split up and hope we find the demon, then chase it back to its evil lair are we?" He looked around as everyone paused for a moment.

An hour later

"I can't believe this is the plan that we decided on!" Riley shook his head as he and Buffy walked through the cemetery.

"Look I know you're used to objectives and maps and little gadget thingy's but sometimes ya just gotta try it the old fashioned way." Buffy looked at him appeasingly.

"It's not that it's not like The Initiative" he grumbled "It's that it's completely disorganised. We didn't separate into grids, or map out separate areas at all. Xander decided where his was going because he wanted to pick up chips from the store on the way!" He gestured wildly,"And that Anya, she didn't even care! She just followed him!"Buffy looked on amusedly then took his hand in hers.

"I know it's....different." She smiled, both frustrated and amused by Riley's 'do it by the book' mentality. "But despite appearances it does work....." she tilted her head "sometimes."Riley smiled and drew her in for a kiss but paused as he looked over her head to the tree line.

"Well I guess this is one of those times." He murmured. Buffy turned to face his gaze as three Knarick's stalked toward them. They quickly untangled themselves to face the demons in a ready fighting stance. The Knarick's started to growl and squeal as they came closer, barrelling toward the couple.

"Why are they running towards us like we're the ice-cream truck?" Buffy questioned Riley as she looked around uneasily. "They could have come from any number of directions and yet they choose the one that'll get them the most killed? It doesn't track."

"Considering that their goal is to end the world in which they live, I don't think they're all that bright." Riley quickly answered, reluctant to break his concentration.

"I guess" Buffy sighed, just as three other groups of demons emerged from each direction. "Or they're trying to distract us whilst their buddies show up to complete the ambush" she added wryly as the original group of demons reached them. The first leapt over a gravestone to tackle Riley to the ground whilst the other two threw punches at Buffy which she easily blocked before knocking one out with a front kick to the face. She uppercut the second at which point it knocked itself out on the wing of an angel statue. She was turning to help Riley when the rest of the demons reached them. Too busy fighting to keep track of where he was, she was surprised to hear him cry out from behind her.

"Stop" growled one of the demons as she turned to find Riley kneeling with a knife at his throat. The rest formed a loose circle around her and the demon holding Riley. Silence descended. Buffy cleared her throat.

"Errr are you deciding one scoop or two, or do you want something in exchange for my boyfriend?" Riley struggled to free himself and the demon conked him on the head with the knife hilt. Buffy darted forwards as Riley slumped to the ground but the demon merely crouched next him, keeping the knife at his throat. She pulled herself short. Riley could recover from a bump on the head better than a slit throat. "What do you want?" she glared at the demon.

"Leverage", the demon leered as she glared at it. "I Malachor, high priest of the order of Keritos hereby-"

"Hey!" Buffy waved her hand in front of him. "I don't care if you're Mickey Mouse. Just let go of him and I won't prolong your inevitable death. Kay?" Malachor frowned then laughed as she finished.

"Ah little slayer I'm afraid you are mistaken." He slung Riley over his shoulder and turned to walk away. "It is not I who will fall this night. I will suck the marrow from your bones before the end." She grimaced in disgust and annoyance.

"Gees you guys really need to work on the threats!"