Bella Chapter 9, an angel fanfic

Chapter 9:

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE REVIEW I'd really like it.

Liberare l'anima dal vaso

Lasciare il suo resto nella pace

A cielo

Illyria lay in the centre of the pentagram and we sat around her, each one of us at north, south, east and west for what felt like an eternity we chanted as a white glow began to surround the circle which we formed.

Illyria eyes had closed and she lay in a comatose state with her entire body radiating a white heat that almost burnt our skin. Then suddenly the glow faded and a ghost like figure rose from Illyria's/Fred's body.

She looked exactly the way Illyria looked when I had first met her, long wavy hair with a wide eyed innocent expression that didn't hide an underlying genius. Tears fell silently down Wesley and Gunn's cheeks as they looked at the woman they had both loved. She smiled peacefully kissing Spike and Gunn on the cheek before embracing Katie and Bella which sent a shiver through their bodies. Finally she turned her attention to Wesley and leant down whispering softly in his ear..."we'll meet again soon my love" before kissing his lips and returning to the centre of the circle looking at the ceiling with an expression of joy and peace which none of them had ever seen before.

Then she was gone, the candles blew out and Illyria's eyes fluttered open

"My brain doesn't hurt anymore" she yawned

Katie who had began to cry smiled slightly "You're going to need to sleep for a while Blue"

Illyria just nodded stood up shakily and walked to her room where she would sleep for over a day.

The remainder of the fang gang sat silently for what seemed like an eternity in tribute of their fallen comrade. Finally Wesley stood up and said softly

"We should get this mess cleaned up"

Everyone nodded and helped him clear away the candles and ingredients in silence until Spike finally broke the silence.

"So whose up for killing something" he suggested in an utterly Spike manner, however instead of being admonished for his insensitivity the other two men who had been touched by Winifred Burkle were grateful someone had expressed exactly what they were thinking.

"Well I'm down haven't gotten my hands dirty in a while" said Gunn

"I think a little aggression expulsion is exactly what we need, good thinking Spike" added Wesley

"Men" Bella huffed rolling her eyes at the ultimate masculine expression of sadness which was taking place in front of her.

"Well you aren't expecting us to hug now are you poppet?" grinned Spike causing the fang gang to erupt in laughter.

Later that night

After patrolling we all reconvened back at the house for post-kill snackage, Angel again wouldn't be joining us because he'd apparently been drained by all his nightly meetings. The remainder of the fang gang san's one blue goddess who was still sleeping off the after-effects of the ceremony. Spike sipped his warmed blood, while the other three drank warm tea with fresh chocolate chip cookies that Spike had baked in the morning.

"Captain Forehead couldn't make it again?" asked Spike

"No Angel decided to go straight to bed after his last meeting?" replied Wesley looking slightly strained

"He seems to be doing that allot lately" observed Gunn

Bella frowned "I miss him"

Spike laughed " Well I don't I've quite enjoyed the lack of broodiness lately"

Bella punched him in the arm and he groaned from the pain pinching her side in retaliation

"Children please!" exclaimed Wesley

Bella grinned "Sorry Wes, I'm going to go check on blue and then hit the hay"

Wesley stopped her "Just go to bed Bella, I'll check on Illyria"

"Are you sure?" asked Bella uncertainly

Wesley nodded "Positive"

Bella hugged him tightly before doing the same for the other two men and heading towards her bedroom.

"Night, Wes, Charlie and Spikey" she yawned as she headed up the stairs and into her bedroom

Gunn looked at Wesley worriedly "You gonna be alright Wes"

Wesley nodded "I'll be fine Gunn, I am fine..." he replied softly before heading up the stairs to Illyria's bedroom.

He entered the room and say she was sleeping spread out across the bed the covers dropped down to her lower back. She was breathing softly and as she lay there despite how powerful she was, and what she had taken from him...she seemed so innocent. He couldn't blame her for what had happened to Fred, what had happened was due to the greed and insanity of a group of people who were willing to sacrifice a human life to re-incarnate a god who wasn't really a god.

He couldn't imagine how afraid and confused she was, with every day a struggle with foreign emotions and a world that wasn't hers.

He pulled the covers up over her shoulders, tucking her in gently before leaving her to her slumber the only place everything made sense for her.