A/N: Ah! Here we are yet again! The end to another story! Oh, my…I can't believe it! Personally, I just glad that we survived it. I mean, think of what all we've been through on this rollercoaster…
At the beginning, Angel was always running away and Buffy was always in tears. Xander was a jerk. Giles was confused. Willow was sneaky. Oz was mello (yeah, surprise, surprise). Joyce just didn't know what to think…
And then there was all this angst…and then more angst…and still more angst, which, in turn, culminated in—you guessed it—more angst.
And then the Watchers came…and then Buffy, Giles, and Angel went to London for the Review…and then the Watchers tried to kill Angel TWICE…and then they subsequently failed TWICE…and then we met Wesley…and then we learned about Shanshu…and then we finally made it back to Sunnydale and continued with S3…
I think we all deserve a beer (if you're legal…which, I'm not, but I can drink in spirit).
Of course, I would have never survived if it weren't for my reviewers. You guys are so fantastic and you have no idea the sheer amount of influence you have on me. You control my moods. And because you're all so awesome, I'm usually all smiles! So thank you, thank you, thank you!
Because you are so awesome, I think you guys deserve some recognition. :D
So, a big THANK YOU to: sweetheart72650, Sinagled, bangelforeverandalways, ba2006, PiNkGuItArGiRl99, angel098756, PrincessBuffy, demondog666, Brandi Rochon, TheLadyBlackDove200, Tayler, Twilight Phantom Dragon, thetvgeneral, melody's muse, VampiricBloOdyRose, Kissin Concern, xxdawnbreakerxx, dyn, Sweetmaj010, DLillith21, philly cheese dude, BrucasBangelBrylan, Jeremy Shane, Angellufy, Carah, Racel-xox, ESsmich, nurjen08, mendenbar, TwoBecomeOne, Taaroko, Alkeni, Labyrinth01, samsbk, Thalia Grace DaughterofZeus13, EmeraldWings90, klaegirl621, suzzywuz, Cowgurl4life, LiteratiLady, snowflake13300, Trendy-Vamp1991, Valjavertjinn, babysayitisn'tso, whatweareafreaidof, dark11krad, angelplusbuffyequals4ever, BS, sailor's delight, Dark Vizard447, angelrider93, jude1028, Kirrangelique, Liz, SharkGurl, the blur, xConcer3t3 Jungl3 5urf3r, Fabulouskiaa, BAsupporter, LadyElena17, AkishaDeMarco, Kurinju-sama, CF2, Breathe Breathe Breathe, Signora Ted, TIVA GSR FREEK, alwaysbatogether, Angel3333, The Purple Rose of York, Anne, ptitemel38, Lady Elena Bella Petrova, SMGbest, and WizardofallGenres!
Thank you, thank you, thank you! You guys are amazing and I love you for it. :)
And, alas, the final Random Disclaimer for Eye of the Beholder…
Random Disclaimer: (I don't own Buffy).
Me: Okay, guys! Here we go! Look sharp, people! Graduation has arrived! The Mayor's goin' down!
Mayor: Excuse me? And who just might you be?
Angel: She's ArthursCamelot, and you really don't wanna mess with her. Trust me.
Buffy: Seriously. You don't want to get on her bad side. I know from experience.
Mayor: (scoffs) Puh-lease…like a mere human girl can harm me…
Me: Oh, but you don't understand. I may be a mere human girl, but I happen to be a mere human girl with a laptop and with a few simple strokes on my keyboard I can OBLITERATE you…within in seconds I can have you trapped in a tank filled with Bubonic Plague. Yeah, that's right, the Black Death! How do you like them germs?
Mayor: (horrified) Flee!
(The Mayor is quickly surrounded by Buffy, Angel, and the Scoobies)
Mayor: (chuckles nervously) Um…parlay?
Xander: Parlay? Who ever thought of parlay?
Capt. Jack Sparrow: That would be the French.
Eye of the Beholder Chapter 33
Pain.
Blinding, fiery agony.
Pain was all he knew.
Angel felt like he was burning. He imagined that his body was blackened with ash and soot. The sadistic fire wouldn't cease. It was merciless.
But aside from the searing pain, he only had one thought.
Buffy.
He knew he was going to die, and strangely enough, he didn't fear death. One would have thought, being immortal, that he would fear death, that he would think that he was above death, but he didn't. Death was a part of life. It was a paradox that no being was immune to.
Angel clung to his picture of her in his mind's eye. Yes, he knew he was going to die, but he wasn't going to go just yet. He needed to see Buffy in the flesh because he knew his feeble mind couldn't do her beauty justice. When he opened his eyes, he knew that his meek mental creation of her would pale in comparison to the real thing. Her hair would be even shinier, even more golden. Her eyes would be even brighter, hold even more sparkle. Angel needed to see her before he died.
He heard someone talking to him. It had to be Buffy. Angel forced his eyes open, and he swore he saw her sitting there by his bedside. She was wearing a tender, sympathetic smile. Angel knew he said something, but he couldn't remember what it was. Buffy frowned then, causing Angel to mirror the action.
It wasn't Buffy. The scent was all wrong. It was Willow.
Willow.
Not Buffy.
Angel tried to force back the pain induced haze that clouded his brain. He couldn't give into the delirium, not now. He had to see Buffy. He had to see her face before he died.
Willow left him then, and Angel was alone for a moment. Then he smelled it, her scent. Vanilla and honey with a hint of roses. Buffy was here.
He heard her footsteps next. Angel wanted to lift his head, but any amount of movement seemed to stoke the fire that raged within him. Even blinking was painful.
Finally, though, finally he saw her face.
He was right. His mental image of her beauty didn't do her justice.
Buffy grabbed his hand and squeezed it gently. Her free hand went to his face, caressing his cheek. Angel fought not to close his eyes at her touch. He needed to see her.
"Buffy?" Angel needed to make sure that she was really here. "Is that you?"
Buffy smiled slightly. "It's me," she assured him quietly.
Angel tried to smile in return. "I didn't want…to go…without…seeing you…"
At his words, Buffy laid her fingers on his lips, preventing him from saying more. "Angel, I can cure you."
"It's okay," Angel tried to reassure her. "I'm ready."
"Angel, listen to me," Buffy said firmly, determination shining bright in her eyes. It caused alarm bells to ring in the back of Angel's mind, but he didn't know if he could trust his instincts at this point. He was fighting back the pain induced delirium that was ever present in his mind. He needed to focus on Buffy.
"Sit up," she ordered firmly, and Angel struggled to comply, but he barely managed a few inches. The pain was unbearable and his strength was virtually nonexistent.
Death was coming.
"You're gonna live," Buffy said fiercely, looking deep into his eyes. "You have to live."
Angel frowned. "What way?"
"Drink."
Drink what?
Buffy quickly threw off her jacket and tossed it aside. "Drink me."
Angel's world froze. Time ceased to exist. He stopped breathing. He didn't even feel pain.
Drink me.
The phrase rolled around in his addled brain for all of three seconds before time resumed. His breaths were ragged and the pain was back full force. "No."
"It's the only way."
Angel shook his head adamantly. He was not drinking from her. No. It was wrong. So wrong. He was horrified that she'd even consider it, angry that she'd even suggest it—terrified that he himself wanted to say yes.
"No," he told both himself and Buffy. "Get away from me."
For both our sakes.
With strength he didn't know he had, Angel forced himself to his feet and out of the bed. He had to get away from her. He had to. He had to save them both.
Buffy's hand wrapped around his right arm. "It'll save you."
"It'll kill you," Angel argued back.
"Maybe not," Buffy retorted easily. "Not if you don't take it all."
Not take it all? Not take it all? How could I not take it all?
She didn't know what she was asking. She didn't know what she was asking was impossible.
"You can't ask me to do that," he finally managed to speak.
"I won't let you die." Angel tried to ignore the desperation in her voice. "I can't." Angel couldn't look at her. Funny how just a while ago, the only thing he'd wanted was to see her face. "Angel, the blood of a Slayer is the only cure."
Angel tried to force his brain to work. He pain was beginning to overwhelm him.
Death was coming closer.
"Faith…"
A sheen of moisture glistened in Buffy's eyes. "I tried…I killed her…"
"Then it's over."
Angel tried to get away from her. Her scent was so close to him. It was enveloping him, her blood was so potent. He had to get away. Angel staggered away from Buffy, but he was unable to walk a straight line. He bumped into a wall, which caused him to bump into the back of the couch. He heard a crash as something broke against the stone floor, but he had no idea what it was.
And then she was in front of him again, gripping his shoulders. Her scent assaulted him again.
Damn her.
"It is never over!" she argued passionately, determinedly. "I won't let you die! Drink!"
Angel felt himself swaying. Death was knocking on his door. He could feel it…but Buffy's scent called to him, and the monster within him rejoiced. It knew that the cure was right in front of him. It could smell the delicious elixir that would snuff out the fiery pain that raged within him. The end to his suffering was right in front of him. Offering herself, freely.
"Please…" he begged.
Leave me. Get away. Save both of us, please.
Buffy couldn't believe it. He was going to let himself die. He had given up.
Suddenly, she felt angry.
Her fist connected with his temple without her permission. He looked back at her, shocked. A plan formed in Buffy's mind. If Angel the man wasn't going to take her blood—she'd just have to awaken the beast.
So she hit him again.
And again.
After the third punch, his demon finally broke through. Buffy grabbed him by the nape and forcefully drew his mouth to her neck. Her heart beat wildly within her chest, like it was calling to him, acting like a beacon. She could literally feel her pulse in her neck.
For a long second, they both stood there.
Pain.
Buffy stiffened when Angel's fangs punctured her flesh. She's been prepared for the pain. What she hadn't been prepared for was for her Slayer instincts to kick into overdrive.
Every fiber of her being screamed at her to throw Angel off her.
Buffy held him tighter.
Her muscles contracted and relaxed spasmodically as her all her strength seemed to be working itself up. It demanded to be used to fight her attacker.
Buffy held still.
Darkness began to seep into her vision as her legs gave out, and she fell to the floor. Angel toppled over with her, but his mouth stayed firmly attached to her neck. Buffy felt a tear slide down her face as she lost the feeling in the tips of her fingers and her toes—her life slowly leaving her.
Again, her instincts revolted at the idea of lying complacent, and again Buffy forced herself to stay still.
Coldness swept over her, and the pain lessened. She grew numb all over. Her limbs felt as though they weighed a ton.
Angel had yet to stop drinking.
The fear she felt was like a betrayal. She had faith that Angel would stop in time, but she still couldn't stop the icy tendrils of terror that eminent death evoked within her.
Buffy felt like she was drifting away. A peace washed over her, and Buffy relaxed.
Then there was nothing but blackness.
Slowly, Angel came to awareness. His first conscious thought was that the pain was gone, and for a moment that was all he could focus on. No pain.
He'd almost forgotten what it was like.
Angel's next conscious thought was Buffy.
Buffy…oh, God.
Angel immediately brought himself to his knees beside her. He tried to not think about how slow her heartbeat was or how shallow her breathing was to match. He tried to ignore what that meant.
"Buffy?"
She looked lifeless.
"Buffy!"
Angel had never loathed himself so much as he did at the moment.
His body was practically vibrating with the strength and power that Buffy's blood had given him. He felt like he could move mountains. He felt invincible.
He hated it.
Angel had just hung up with a very worried Giles. He knew that the Scoobies were all on their way, and Angel didn't know if he could deal with them at the moment. He knew that when they did show up, they weren't going to be too happy to see him alive.
Because all of them would know what that meant.
Angel didn't know who he was angrier with, himself or Buffy. He absolutely abhorrently loathed himself at the moment. How could he? How could he have drunk Buffy's blood to save himself? How, how, how? How could he have been so selfish? He could have killed Buffy.
Buffy. Angel had never been as mad at her as he was now. How could she have done it? How could she have mocked his most primal nature like she had? Forcing his demon to the fore, exposing her neck, forcing him to her pulse…
How stupid was she? What the hell had she been thinking?
Angel ran a hand through his hair. What were they going to do?
"Oh, my God! Sir! No!"
Angel looked up sharply towards the distressed voice.
"Somebody call security!"
With a jolt Angel realized that the voice came from Buffy's room.
Angel was in the room within a second. His eyes zeroed in on the Mayor and his hands that were cutting off Buffy's air. Red clouded his vision, and Angel grabbed the Mayor's shoulders and threw him away from Buffy.
"Don't do that!" he growled.
The Mayor stumbled but quickly regained his footing and got in Angel's face, seemingly undaunted by the rage that emanated from the vampire. "I will do that," the Mayor seethed. "I will do that and worse," he promised as he looked over Angel's shoulder at Buffy. "Murderous little fiend! Did you see what she did to my Faith?"
Angel's eyes narrowed. "Hadn't any plans to weep over that one."
"Well, I'd get set on some weeping if I were you!" the Mayor threatened, appalled by Angel's lack of compassion and sympathy. "I'd get set for a world of pain! Misery loves company, young man, and I'm looking to share that with you and your whore!"
The words were hardly out of the Mayor's mouth before Angel effortlessly threw him across the room. His body hit the glass of a window overlooking the corridor, shattering it into tiny pieces before he fell back to the ground, overturning an instrument laden metal table.
A low growl vibrated steadily in Angel's chest as he watched the Mayor get to his feet, unharmed. Two nurses ran into the room then, looking completely bewildered, but Angel didn't pay them any mind. He was too focused on the Mayor who was casually brushing the dust off his suit, a bought of chuckles escaping him.
He gestured to Angel knowingly. "Looks like somebody had been eating his spinach," the Mayor joked before looking towards the nurses. "No, it's okay folks. It's alright," he assured them. "The show's not over, but there will be a short intermission!"
The Mayor turned back to look at Angel who was breathing heavily, fighting the urge to destroy. "Don't miss the second act!" he said with a smile as he walked by Angel and out the door. "All kinds of excitement!"
Angel watched the Mayor leave. "I'll be there," he promised.
Once he was sure that the Mayor was gone, he looked toward Buffy, and was relieved to see the color returning to her face. She would be fine. Still, Angel could help but shake his head and sigh. What a role reversal. Not two hours ago, he'd been the one in the bed and she'd been the one watching over him. He moved to the bed, taking her hand and giving it a gentle squeeze. With his free hand he reached up and caressed her cheek.
"You stupid, stupid girl," he chastened lovingly before placing a tender kiss on her forehead. "When you wake up we need to talk."
Nearly fifteen minutes later, Angel was sitting on the floor outside the door to Buffy's room, a silent sentinel. The doors across the hall burst open, and the entire Scooby gang advanced upon him. Doyle was there too, along with Cordelia and Wesley.
Angel rose to his feet.
"How is she?" Giles asked immediately, worry dominating his expression.
"She's fine," Angel reassured him. "She's sleeping."
Oz looked at Angel, puzzled. "Well, you look alright, too."
Angel's eyes dropped to the ground as Oz's perception brought forth a round of wracking guilt that clinched his dead heart. He folded his arms across his chest, trying to ease the ache away. "Yeah."
"What happened?" Xander asked.
"When we left her, she was fine," Willow said confused. "Did Faith—"
"Faith's out of the picture," Angel interrupted her, still looking at the floor, unable to meet their gaze. "Buffy put her into a coma."
Xander took a deep breath, looking at Angel with suspicious eyes. "And?" he prompted.
"Buffy cured me," Angel admitted, forcing himself to look up and meet the Scoobies gazes. Xander was glowering at him, fuming. Not unexpected.
Giles, too, was glaring at him. "You fed off her."
"Yes."
"How much?"
Angel couldn't stop himself from dropping his eyes in shame. "She's gonna be alright."
"She won't be a vampire?" Willow asked, causing Angel to look up sharply.
"No," he denied quickly. "She didn't feed off me."
Xander shook his head. "Well, it's just good to know that when the chips are down and things look grim, you'll feed of the girl that loves you just to save your own selfish ass!"
"Hey," Doyle frowned. "Can't ya see that he's just as torn up about it as you are? Ya pigheaded—"
"Enough, Doyle," Angel interrupted quietly.
"You better go, Angel," Giles advised, though his voice rang with command. "We'll watch over her."
Angel immediately balked at the idea. He couldn't leave her. "I don't want to—"
"The sun will be up soon," Giles interrupted coldly.
Wesley put a hand on Angel's shoulder. "He's right, Angel," he said as he tried to guide Angel away. "You need to get back to the mansion."
Angel sighed before giving in and letting Wesley lead him though the hospital. Once they were out of the hospital, Cordelia spoke, shocking them all with her words. "Well, that was rude!" she ranted. "I mean, seriously? What makes them so mightier than thou?"
Angel, Doyle, and Wesley all halted to gawk at the cheerleader.
"What?" she snapped defensively. "I can't have layers?"
"I didn't even think you liked me," Angel said slowly.
"Oh, I don't," Cordelia was quick to assure him, before she added hesitantly. "Not really, anyway. It's just that, well…" she trailed off, looking uncertain and vulnerable. "You and Buffy have that love that every girl dreams about. It makes me mad that everyone doesn't seem to appreciate it."
Doyle reached over a grabbed her hand, giving her a gentle smile. "Look at you, Princess. I knew you were beautiful inside and out."
Cordelia scoffed. "Oh, please, don't read into that. I just proved that I'm a good actress. All of you are beneath me."
They all resumed their walk to the mansion, no one commenting on the fact that Cordelia had yet to let go of Doyle's hand.
Blearily, Buffy opened her eyes and took in her surroundings.
Ugh, hospital.
For a moment, Buffy let herself lie on the hospital bed so she could gather herself and sort through the garbled mess of thoughts that were running rampant in her mind. The last thing she remembered was Angel feeding off her. She didn't remember the trip to the hospital that had obviously taken place.
Where was Angel?
Buffy looked around the room, expecting to see him, but her eyes couldn't find him. Fear shot through Buffy. Was he mad at her? Had he left? Had he really left without saying goodbye?
This was all the motivation Buffy needed to get out of bed. Quickly, Buffy swung her legs over the side of the bed and rose to her feet. She paused for a moment, blinking away the dizziness that the fast movement had caused, but once it passed she quickly found some clothes that Willow must have brought. Buffy threw on the clothes and was out of the room within five minutes of when she'd first opened her eyes.
Immediately, she went for the waiting room, thinking that perhaps Angel was there instead—hoping that he was there instead.
But when she reached the room, the one person she wanted to see most wasn't there either.
Buffy felt her breath quicken, but before she could speak, the Scoobies noticed her presence and quickly surrounded her, bombarding her with questions.
"Buffy!"
"Are you okay?"
"How do you feel?"
Buffy ignored them all, searching the room. "Is Angel here?"
All the Scoobies got quiet at her question, seeming reluctant to answer. It didn't escape Buffy's notice that both Giles and Xander were trying hard to hide their disdain. Giles was having much more success than Xander.
"He's not here," Oz finally answered her after a beat. "It got kinda sunny."
"I need everyone," Buffy told them seriously as her conversation with Faith filtered through her brain. She knew what she had to do. "Don't worry about Angel. I'll get him."
Xander frowned in confusion. "What exactly is up?"
"Buffy, are you sure you're alright?" Giles asked worriedly.
"I'm ready."
"Ready for what?" Willow asked.
"War."
"Um, wanna rewind?" Xander suggested. "Buff, you just got out of the hospital…"
"I'm fine," Buffy assured him quickly. "Look, graduation's comin' up fast. We need to be ready. We need a plan."
"Yeah, but Buffy—"
"We don't have time, Xander," Buffy interrupted. "Just get everybody together and meet me at the library in two hours, okay?"
"Okay."
Buffy nodded and began to walk out the doors, the Scoobies quickly following after her. "But, Buffy, wait!" Willow cried as she hurried toward her friend. "Where are you going?"
"To find Angel," Buffy replied as they walked out into the parking lot.
Willow frowned, before speaking hesitatingly. "Buffy, are you sure you want—"
"I love him, Willow," Buffy interrupted softly. "I knew what I was doing. I wasn't going to let him die."
Willow paused and stared at Buffy for a long moment, before she nodded. "Okay, then. Oz and I will give you a ride."
Buffy smiled slightly. "Thanks, Will."
Angel was sitting in his chair, staring into the empty fireplace when Buffy found him. Cautiously, Buffy approached him. She didn't know how to proceed. What did she say? What did she do?
Buffy placed a tentative hand on his shoulder, not trusting herself to speak. She relaxed slightly when Angel reached up and placed a hand over hers. He tugged on her hand gently after a moment, bringing her around to face him. Buffy crawled into his lap and wrapped her arms around his neck as Angel's arms encircled her waist. He buried his face in her neck, but Buffy didn't move away. She only held him tighter as he placed a trail of soft kisses along her neck until he reached the corner of her lips.
Buffy turned her head just a fraction, causing their lips to meet. The kiss wasn't necessarily one of desire or even of love. No, it was more an act of reassurance—both of them needing to know that the other was alright, that they were safe and whole.
"Why?" Angel finally whispered. "Why?"
Buffy pulled back to look at him incredulously. "Because you were going to die."
"You shouldn't have made me drink," Angel shook his head, his anger at her actions (and his own) seeping into his tone. "I could have killed you."
"But you didn't."
"Damn it, Buffy, that's not the point!" Angel rose to get up and Buffy leapt off his lap, her arms folding across her chest defensively.
"What you did was absolutely the stupidest thing you have ever done," Angel snapped. "I could have killed you, don't you understand? What if I hadn't been able to stop? What if I'd killed you? Do you know what that would have done to me?"
Buffy felt tears pool in her eyes. "You were going to leave me," she whispered pleadingly. "I couldn't let you go."
Angel said nothing. He didn't even look at her, staring into the bare fireplace like it had all the answers to the universe.
"What if it'd been me, Angel?" Buffy asked softly. "If you knew that there was a way to save me, wouldn't you do it? Even if it meant you might die, you'd still do it to save me."
"Yes," Angel admitted after a second of silence. "I would."
"Then you can't be mad at me for something that you would have done," Buffy said quietly, but firmly.
"Fine," Angel agreed, still not thrilled, but he couldn't argue with her logic. She had a point. "But you can't ever ask me to do that again," he said, his voice sounding harsher than he'd intended, but he didn't regret it if he got his point across. "Ever. I will never drink from you again."
Buffy pursed her lips. "Fine."
"Fine."
Buffy approached him then, wrapping her arms around his waist and burying her face in his chest. "I'm glad you're okay," she murmured.
"Right back at you," Angel replied quietly, holding her tighter.
"So," Buffy sighed as she pulled away. She was desperately trying to shrug off the tension their conversation had created. "I have a plan for graduation. You see, I really want the class of '99 to go out with a bang."
An hour later at the library, Buffy had just finished telling all the Scoobies about her plan. "So am I crazy?" she asked, raising her eyebrows.
Willow laughed nervously. "Well, crazy is such a strong word…"
"Let's not rule it out though," Giles said thoughtfully, but warily.
"You don't think it can be done?" Buffy asked.
Giles pondered his words. "I didn't say that. I might…but not yet."
"I personally don't think it's possible to come up with a crazier plan," Cordelia said blithely.
Oz was more than willing to rise to the occasion. "We attack the Mayor with humus."
"I stand corrected."
"Just trying to keep things in prospective," Oz said with a shrug.
Cordelia scoffed and rolled her eyes. "Thank you. My point, however, is crazy or not, it's pretty much the only plan we have. Besides, it's Buffy's and you know she's Slay-gal—Ms. Little Likes To Fight. So…"
"I think there's a 'yea' vote in there somewhere," Xander interrupted dryly.
"Well, I'm gonna need every one of you on board," Buffy said seriously, her gaze landing on Xander. "Especially you Xander, you're sort of the key figure here."
Xander visibly swallowed his nerves. "Key? Me?" He took a deep breath, cataloguing his feelings. "Okay, pride, humility…and here is the mind-numbing fear…" he sighed. "What do you need me to do?"
"Do you remember any of your military training from when you were soldier guy?"
Xander pointed at her. "Uh, rocket launcher?"
"Rocket launcher isn't gonna cut it this time," Buffy frowned with regret. "I mean, it took a volcano to kill one of these things the last time."
Giles rose from his chair and came to stand beside Buffy, thinking that they had something more important to worry about other than weapons. "Uh, Buffy, all of this is rather dependent on your being able to control the Mayor."
"Faith told me to pray on his human weakness," she explained.
"Faith told you?" Willow repeated confused. "Was that before or after you put her into a coma?"
"After."
Willow opened her mouth, but no words came out. "Oh," she said lamely after a second, looking over at Oz as if he had the answer.
Oz shrugged.
"His weakness?" Giles repeated.
Buffy nodded. "Right."
"Which is?" Giles pursued.
"You know I do all this planning," Buffy complained, neatly dodging the question. "I'm in charge here even though I'm not really at my best…"
Giles put his glasses back on. "Right, let's, uh, let's think…"
"Well, Angel hung with him the most," Oz pointed out. "Is there something he's afraid of?"
Angel looked up from his place against the wall, away from the group. "Well, he's not too crazy about germs," he remembered, thinking of the time he'd spent in the Mayor's office.
"Of course, that's it! We attack him with germs!" Cordelia exclaimed and Angel wasn't sure if she was serious or not.
"Great!" Buffy said brightly—too brightly. "And then we can corner him and you can sneeze on him."
Cordelia began gesturing excitedly; leading Angel to believe that she was serious. "No, no! We'll get a box with the Ebola virus and…and…" Cordelia trailed off as she tried to formulate a plan. "Or it doesn't even have to be real. We can just get a box that says 'Ebola' on it, and…um…chase him…" she trailed off as Oz frowned and everyone else stared at her blankly. "…with the box…"
"I'm starting to lean more toward the humus offensive," Xander said after a beat of silence.
Oz was serious. "He'll never see it coming."
Angel was still thinking about a human weakness. He'd seen a lot of examples in his time, some good…some not so good. Angel's eyes fell on Buffy and the answer came to him. "Faith."
Buffy frowned. "Faith?"
"At the hospital he was grieving," Angel explained. "He's crazed and not just in a homicidal 'I-want-to-be-a-demon-way. She's his weak link."
"Faith," Buffy repeated quietly as a plan began to form in her mind. "I can work with that."
The rest of the day was spent planning and organizing. Buffy had Willow and Oz on the explosives. They had all decided that it was only fitting for Giles to do the honors when the time came. Buffy sent the rest of the Scoobies among the student body, making sure that everyone had at least some sort of weapon.
This was going to be a class effort.
Finally, the hour had arrived. Buffy was loitering in the shadows with Angel, Doyle, and Wesley, fiddling with her graduation cap.
"I really hate this color," she muttered. "It does nothing for my complexion."
Angel's lips twitched as he fought a smile. "I think you look beautiful."
"Thanks," Buffy said softly, a hint of sadness in her tone.
It was an unspoken notion that Angel would leave after the battle, if they lived through it of course. Neither of them had voiced it, but both of them were keenly aware of it.
"So," Doyle said lightly, looking for something to dissolve the tension in the air. "Guess you've seen a lot of wars in your time?" he asked Angel.
"Fourteen—not including Vietnam," Angel replied. "It was never declared."
"Ah."
"It's time," Buffy announced quietly seeing her fellow students begin moving toward their seats. "I better go."
Angel tugged on her hand as he moved to walk away, pulling her back to him. He kissed her hard, not caring who was watching. "I love you," he whispered against her lips.
Buffy pulled back and smiled. "I know," she assured him. "I love you too."
Immediately after her declaration, Buffy turned on her heel and walked toward the ceremony. She didn't look back. If this didn't work and she died, she didn't want her final picture of him to be one where she was moving away from him.
Buffy took her seat beside Willow, just as Snyder was shaking hands with the Mayor.
The Mayor took his place at the podium and launched into his speech, much to Buffy and Willow's surprise and annoyance.
"Oh my God," Buffy breathed, disbelieving. "He's gonna do the entire speech."
"Man, just ascend already!" Willow whispered fervently, ready to get the entire debacle over with.
"Evil!" Buffy hissed in agreement.
The Mayor continued with his speech, and Buffy shifting restlessly in her seat. The suspense was going to kill her before anything else had the chance. Then, the sun began to fade, darkness overcoming the light. An eclipse—just like Wesley had told them earlier during their planning. Buffy knew the time was near.
Suddenly, the Mayor paused and winced in pain, causing Buffy to freeze in her seat. The Mayor forged through his speech despite the obvious pain he was in and its increasing level. He even got to the point where he was screaming in between sentences.
Then the Mayor began to shake violently, his hands gripping the podium so tightly that his knuckles were white and some of the wood cracked. Buffy and the rest of the class of '99 watched as the Mayor suddenly shot upward in the air, transforming into a big, black, ugly snake.
Screams erupted and parents and faculty began to scatter and flee, but the students held their positions. "Now!" Buffy commanded and they all took off their robes, revealing axes, swords, daggers and other assorted weaponry.
"Flame units!" Buffy gave the order and a large group of students with flame throwers began their assault on the Mayor. Buffy nodded at Xander, giving him control.
Buffy had her own attack to put into action.
She stood up on a chair, right in front of the Mayor who was swaying violently in the air. Reaching into her pocket, Buffy produced Faith's knife. "Hey!" she called and she immediately had the Mayor's attention. "You remember this? I took it from Faith! Stuck it in her gut! Just slid in her like butter!"
The Mayor growled and gnashed its pinchers together menacingly. It was working. "Wanna get it back from me? Dick?"
Without sparing another glance, Buffy tucked tail and ran into the high school. She burst through the doors, hearing the Mayor slithering along after her, destroying everything in his path, tearing through the school like a freight train. Buffy ran into the library and vaulted over the banister. She turned around to look behind her; feeling the foolish need to make sure the Mayor had followed her.
The Mayor barreled through the doors of the library, taking some of the wall with him.
Yep. He'd followed.
Buffy quickly ran towards the back of the library, launching herself out the window. She landed on her feet and sprinted toward Giles who was crouched behind some bushes, the detonator in his hand.
The moment Buffy was beside him, Giles clicked the detonator.
A loud explosion rocked them back onto the ground, and a huge fireball roared into the sky. A cacophony of explosions permeated the air, and Buffy could only watch as Sunnydale High crumbled and fell in a fiery dust of flames.
Later, Buffy was walking through the maze of ambulances and police cars in front of the high school with Xander. "We got off pretty cheap," he said. "Considering."
Buffy looked around, looking for one person in particular. "Seems like we did," she admitted.
They walked a few feet further when Buffy stopped, looking around completely. Where was he?
Xander realized who she was looking for. "He made it through the fight," he said as he buried his hands in his pockets. "Guess maybe he…" Xander paused, taking a breath, wondering how his words were going to affect his friend. "…took off afterwards."
Buffy didn't want to believe it. Would he really leave without saying goodbye?
She felt a hand on her shoulder and looked up to see Giles. "Are you alright?" he asked kindly.
"Tired," Buffy answered truthfully.
"I should imagine so," Giles said with a smile. "It's been quite a couple of days."
"I still haven't processed everything yet," Buffy admitted, with a big sigh before she laughed. "My brain really isn't functioning on higher levels. It's pretty much: fire—bad, tree—pretty."
"Understandable." Giles took a moment to revel in the pride that welled within him. His Slayer was truly something else. "Well, when it's working again, congratulate it on a good campaign. You did very well."
"Thank you," Buffy nodded with a small smile. "I will."
Giles suddenly remembered why he'd sought her out in the first place. He hastily put on his glasses. "I uh, managed to ferret this out of the wreckage. Now, it may not interest you, but," he trailed off as he retrieved Buffy's high school diploma. "I'd say you earned it," he finished as he placed it in Buffy's hand.
Taking a deep breath, Giles surveyed the scene. "There is a certain…dramatic irony that is attached to all of this," he observed, partly to himself and to Buffy. "A synchronicity that borders on, on predestination…"
Buffy gave him a deadpan look. "Fire—bad, tree—pretty."
Once again, Buffy shifted her attention to looking for Angel. Suddenly, a very familiar pair of strong arms wound around her waist. "Looking for me?"
Buffy turned in his embrace and threw her arms around his neck. "Angel."
They held each other for a second longer before Buffy pulled back to glare at him. "I thought for a minute you'd take off without saying goodbye. You know, just up and disappear in a haze of smoke."
Angel frowned. "I'd never do that to you," he said seriously. "You don't deserve that."
"So when will you leave?" Buffy asked softly.
"Tomorrow." Angel glanced over to their right, and Buffy followed his gaze, centering in on Wesley who was talking with Cordelia and Doyle. "I think Wes is comin' with me."
"I think that'd be good for him," Buffy said with a smile. "Personally, I'm wondering about Doyle and Cordy."
Angel chuckled. "Surprisingly? I think they're good for each other."
"Yeah?" Buffy smiled as she turned to look back at him. "That reminds me of another couple I know."
"Really?" Angel raised his eyebrows. "Who?"
"Well," Buffy said slowly, fiddling with a button of his shirt. "There's this girl—she's a vampire slayer. Then there's this guy, and, well, he's a vampire. You wouldn't really think that they'd make it work, but they do—even if this vampire has a crazy guilt-complex and broods about everything."
Angel chuckled and shook his head. "And the girl is foolish and makes snap decisions without considering the consequences."
"But they're good for each other." Buffy smiled as she wrapped her arms around Angel's waist and buried her face in his chest.
"Yeah," Angel agreed, kissing her hair and holding her tighter. "We're good for each other."
Wow! The End! It's finished! Done! I love it when a story comes together. It leaves me with this accomplished feeling. :D
So, I'm not one to seriously ask for reviews, but I am for this chapter. I want to hear from you guys! Your words mean a lot to me and I want to have the chance to appreciate them. So all you silent readers out there, drop me a line please? Even if it's just a smiley face, that's okay, cause I'll be smiling right along with ya. :D
Alas, this me, signing off (again),
ArthursCamelot
P.S. Only TWO more days until Love's Gift! And, if you want don't want to count today, it's only ONE day away. Remember, Jan. 2!
See ya then!