Most of the people in the room were gathered around Angel's desk, devising a plan. First off, they had to catch Connor/Illyria. Even if they had a plan to release Illyria into someone else and have the part of Illyria leave Connor's body, Angel felt the need to have Connor there, with him, just in case anything went wrong. If something did by chance go wrong, then Connor would be there for Angel and them to still try and save him. They started out by stating that if anyone were to actually catch Connor and capture him, it would be between Angel, Spike, Buffy, Faith, or Willow. Everyone else was human and would be easy targets for Illyria. So, they were thinking of a plan that would pit all of the strongest people against Connor/Illyria.

The only ones not really contributing to the plan were Buffy, Lorne, and Anne. Neither Lorne nor Anne really had any advice on fighting strategies, and Buffy was standing off to the side, still busy gathering all the information in her head about what exactly happened. She knew about Connor and Illyria now, obviously, but she still didn't know how this all started and why almost half the world died. Lilah wasn't adding anything to the plan either, really, but she was contributing with plenty of comments both sarcastic and realistic.

Eventually, Spike walked away from the group and made his way towards Buffy. He needed to speak to her and explain and everything. If he delayed it any longer, he'd feel like a coward.

He went and stood by her, but she didn't say anything. She barely even looked at him. Spike knew his heart would be beating rapidly right now, if it could.

"Hey, Slayer," Spike finally said to her. He didn't look at her, though, instead he kept his eyes on the others still working out their plan. Buffy did the same.

"Spike," Buffy greeted. She wasn't sure what to say. What could she possibly say to him? Apparently her mind and mouth weren't fully connected, because without truly knowing what she was saying she heard something coming from her own mouth. "I'm glad you're un-dead again. Thanks for the sacrifice. It's because of you we won."

"Nah," he waved it off. "You blokes would've won without me."

Buffy looked at him for pretty much the first time and he turned to her as well. "Why didn't you tell us you were alive? We all would've liked to know."

"I know, I'm sorry. I just didn't know how to say it, you know? It was a lot to take in. I thought I'd tell you in person and then one thing led to another and I was staying here, in L.A."

Before Buffy had a chance to respond, Angel spoke up again and looked over at Spike and Buffy. He wasn't listening to what they were talking about, clearly, but seeing them talking together made him nervous, and he wasn't sure why. Angel knew that he and Buffy couldn't be together, but in no universe did he want her with Spike.

"Angel?" Buffy questioned. "What is it?" Her voice brought him back down to earth and helped him remember what he was supposed to be saying.

"Sorry, um, well. We're going to split up and look for Connor. We'll have to fight and bring him back here to perform the spell. In order to do that, of course, there are still a few things we need." Angel looked at Drogyn. "We'll need Illyria's sarcophagus here for when we release her. I need to ask you if you'll go back to the Deeper Well and retrieve it for us."

"Of course," Drogyn agreed.

"We still don't have a body, though," Willow intervened. "We don't have anyone for Illyria to go in to."

"We'll figure that out later," Angel dismissed. "For now, Connor is our top priority. No matter what plan we decided to go with, we needed to bring him here anyway. Once he's here, we can figure everything else out."

"So what's the plan?" Gunn asked.

"We need to split up and search for Connor. I believe he'll be in the part of L.A. that's still alive, given what he did to that man and woman. Each team will take a different section. Buffy and I will go, Spike and Faith, and Willow and Gunn. Everyone else stays here just in case he comes back."

"Why don't I go with Buffy and you go with Faith," Spike suggested, not asking. "I wouldn't want you to be distracted and off your game," he faked consideration.

"Spike, I-"

"So what? Is it really that big a deal?"

Angel closed his eyes. He wanted to punch Spike. All Spike wanted to do was spend time with Buffy now that she was here. The worst part was, if Angel were to insist that he himself went with Buffy in search for Connor, it would be pretty obvious he just didn't want Spike spending time with her.

"Fine, whatever," Angel gave in. "We should get going."

"Should Faith really go?" Fred posed the question. "Illyria has power on her and could pit her against you guys."

"I'm going, and nothing will stop me from going," Faith fought. "I'm strong, I can fight her."

"But you couldn't last time," Fred countered. "I just don't want anybody else to get hurt like Harmony."

"She's right," Angel told Faith. "You should stay behind."

"I could come with you," Wesley suggested. "I could help."

"No offense, Wes, but are you sure? You're still dealing with the return of the memories. I don't want you to get hurt."

"I'll be fine, Angel."

Fred gave Wes a hug and quick kiss and told him to get back soon and to be careful.

"Good luck," Anne wished Gunn and then gave him a hug. They both lingered while hugging, not wanting to move. When Anne finally pulled apart, she didn't like the feeling of being away.

Drogyn immediately left the office, going back to the Deeper Well to get Illyria. It placed the question in almost everyone's mind: How did he even get to L.A. in the first place and how would he get back? It was a question nobody had thought to ask in the moment.

Angel, Wesley, Spike, Buffy, Willow, and Gunn left too after grabbing some weapons. That left Faith, Fred, Lorne, Lilah, and Anne in the office.

"I don't like this one bit," Faith started pacing. "I should be out there, with them. I'm an experienced fighter."

"That's why they don't want you," Fred said. "Illyria could take advantage of you."

"Well, this is fun," Lorne weighed in sarcastically. "Does anybody else feel just a little bit doomed? I feel like the weight of the world is on our shoulders."

Lilah chuckled. "Don't be so annoying, Lorne. Everyone feels that way, not just you."

"You're right," Lorne said. "Speaking of annoying, when are you going back to Hell? I really think you were better off there."

"Whenever I fulfill the mission, whatever that may be," Lilah said honestly.

"So you don't know? Great, just our luck."

"Hey, I didn't ask to come back here and spend time with all of you. I was just kind of chosen to be brought back here in an incorporeal form."

Anne actually felt bad for Lilah. She was dead and just couldn't seem to rest in peace. It was sad. At least other people, like the teens she took care of, were in peace right now. The thought brought sadness to her eyes, remembering the teens. They were just gone. She should've been there, should've tried to save them in some way. There was really nothing she could've done though, was there? That was what hurt her the most about their deaths.

Oz finished meditating. He was creating calmness in him and throughout his body, just in case. It was something he did to help control the wolf inside of him. It was something he felt like he needed to do in this case, just as a precaution. He needed to talk to Kennedy. He wasn't sure how great that would go, and he wanted to be calm so he wouldn't act out. He still remembered very clearly what happened when he found out about Willow and Tara. He felt better now, though, stronger, so he was sure that wouldn't happen again. But still, he meditated just to be sure. He needed to keep away from outstanding anger and pain.

After mediating, he went to find Kennedy. Dawn and Andrew went out, although he wasn't sure where they went, leaving him and Kennedy alone. When they left, Kennedy clearly didn't think it was a good idea, because she quickly retreated to her room. That was when Oz meditated.

The steps he took to the room felt way too large. Before he knew what was going on, he was there. Was he really sure about this? He had to be. He wanted to do this, to be on good terms with Kennedy, that was why he was in front of her door right now, standing there waiting for the right time to knock.

Suddenly the door opened and Kennedy attempted to walk out, but found herself bumping into Oz.

"Oops, sorry," she said hurriedly.

"It's fine," Oz said.

They stood in awkwardness for several seconds.

"I was just going to go to the Slayer school and see how the Slayers were, you know? So I guess I'll be back soon?"

"Wait," Oz stopped her from walking away. "I'm staying here. I'm going to be helping you all with the Slayers and everything."

Kennedy's eyes darted back and forth between Oz and just the space next to him. She wasn't sure how to react. Was he serious? He wanted to stay? Why couldn't he just go back to Tibet?

"This is about Willow, isn't it? Well, she doesn't love you, Oz, so move on."

"This isn't about her," he shook his head. "This is about me and staying because I want to."

"Whatever," Kennedy rolled her eyes and started walking away again. Oz stood still and heard the door slam shut behind her as she left.

Well, that didn't go too bad, Oz thought to himself.

"Anne seems nice," Willow told Gunn after walking around for a little while. They were going in an opposite direction from Spike and Buffy and Angel and Wesley. Gunn was mostly leading the way since Will was unfamiliar with any parts of L.A.

"Yeah, she's great," Gunn told her.

"Are you two, like, together?" Willow was searching for something for them to talk about so they wouldn't just walk along in awkward silence.

He chuckled. "No. Why would you think that?"

"I-I don't know. It doesn't take a witch to sense the attraction between you two." Gunn looked back at Willow and she smiled. "And that 'good luck' hug? There was definitely some kind of fireworks."

Gunn understood what she was saying. But still, him and Anne? He wasn't so sure. It wasn't that she was bad looking or was a bad person or anything, he just wasn't sure. He was opening up to her, though, and spending more and more time with her, so maybe one day? Wow, he really had no idea.

"Yeah, I don't know," he told Willow. "I mean, I definitely like her. She's a great person and is beautiful, obviously."

"Yeah," Willow agreed.

"I just never really thought about it before. Do you think-"

"Yes, she definitely likes you."

"Oh," Gunn responded innocently. He wasn't sure what to say, really. What could he say to that? For Anne to like him in that way, well, it'd be amazing. But things were way too complicated now, and there was no time for that stuff. Then again, Wes and Fred seemed to always make time for each other and spend any extra time they could together, so why couldn't he do that with somebody? Still, did he really want that? He didn't really know.

Besides, he knew he shouldn't be thinking about that now. They were searching for Connor. So that they'd all be able to get Connor, Willow did some magic so that they were all connected so that whenever someone found Connor, everyone else would just somehow know about it also. That way, everyone would know where to come and they could all fight Connor/Illyria together to have a fighting chance. It was a good plan, really. Six of them against Connor/Illyria was better than two. They just had to split up so that they could find Connor quickly before anything was done that would be dangerous.

"What about you?" Gunn questioned, trying to keep the conversation up so they wouldn't walk in silence. "You have a girlfriend?" he knew about Willow and her sexuality.

"Yeah, her name's Kennedy."

"You guys are serious?"

"I think so. I mean we love each other. I just don't want…anything to come between us."

"Well, I don't know about her, but you're clearly a great person and she'd be an idiot to let something come between the two of you."

"Thanks," Willow said. She was pretty glad she was searching for Connor with Gunn now.

Angel and Wes were checking their own area. By first sights, they weren't seeing anything. That was unfortunate. Angel wanted to find his son, needed to find him. It was killing him to have to wait this long to find him and get him back to Wolfram & Hart.

"Are you okay?" Wes asked.

"Sure," Angel said. "I just hope this all works out. If we don't catch Connor soon, who knows when we'll get another chance."

"I do too. But that's not what I was talking about. I meant about Spike being with Buffy right now."

"Oh. That." Angel didn't know what to say. He cared, but he didn't care. He was absolutely disgusted by the thought of Spike and Buffy, but it wasn't like he necessarily wanted to be with Buffy or anything. Sure, he cared for Buffy, he always would. They couldn't be together, though. Angel couldn't be with anyone. If he could be with anyone, why would he try and stop her from moving on? Maybe it was just the fact that her moving on could be with Spike. That was a terrible thought. "It's just whatever. I don't care."

"Sure, sure. It's just that I know how you feel. I mean, when Fred was with Gunn-"

"Wes, can we just stop talking about Buffy and all that stuff? There are more important things going on here."

Wes knew he struck a nerve on accident. He didn't mean to pry. He just hoped Angel was okay with everything that was going on.

Out of nowhere, Angel and Wesley knew where Connor was. Someone had found him and they knew because of the spell. Without so much as looking at each other, they began running in the same direction.

"Should we continue what we were talking about?" Spike asked Buffy.

"There's nothing to say, Spike," Buffy told him. "I understand."

"Did you mean what you said?"

Buffy sighed. She didn't want to talk about this now. It really wasn't the right time. They needed to focus on Connor/Illyria and be ready for when they spotted him or if anyone else spotted him.

"Do you really love me?" Spike hated the way he sounded, like he was begging, but it didn't matter. He needed to know.

"According to you, I don't," Buffy responded.

"Buffy, what do you want me to do? Do you want me to come back to Rome with you when this is all over? I will, I'm getting sick of L.A. anyway."

"Spike, look," Buffy hushed him.

He looked straight forward and saw what Buffy saw. There was a figure walking down the middle of the road. Spike could tell by the person's form that it was, without a doubt, Connor/Illyria. They had to stop him.

"Hey Illyria!" Spike yelled and the figure stopped. He turned around and looked at them. Spike and Buffy walked closer so they were only a few feet away from him. The pale moonlight and street lamps (since the electricity over in this part of town was okay and still working, but for how long?) were the only things illuminating Connor.

"Well, well, well," Connor/Illyria spoke, eyeing Spike. "I guess you weren't the blond Faith killed. What a shame." His eyes looked at Buffy. "I don't believe I've met you before."

"So this is an Old One?" Buffy questioned, almost tauntingly.

"Nope, not an Old One," Connor/Illyria corrected. "I'm only part of an Old One essentially mixed with a super being. I guess you haven't been caught up on all the events in the last few days."

"It's okay," Buffy said. "I don't need to be caught up to beat you."

Connor/Illyria laughed. "Wow, what makes you think you're so tough that you can beat me?"

"I'm the Slayer."

Connor/Illyria sighed. "Really? Another Slayer? Well, tell you what, I already fought a Slayer, and guess what? I killed her. Now she's under my control. I'll just do the same to you."

"Yeah? I'm not just a Slayer, I'm the Slayer. What are you waiting for?" she pulled out a stake and Spike took a fighting stance next to her.

Footsteps banging against the ground appeared and out of nowhere came Angel and Wes, having been semi-close to Buffy and Spike, or at least closer than Willow and Gunn were. They stopped next to Buffy and Spike.

"Connor," Angel tried to talk. "Fight her."

"You don't understand," Illyria said. "Connor's gone, Angel. Well, he's almost gone. He's still there, still trying to fight. He won't win, though. I will win. I am the most powerful; me and only me!"

Connor/Illyria's eyes closed and suddenly the house lights around them turned on and plenty of front doors opened. People started coming out, marching, as if they were in the army. There was maybe two dozen surrounding them, only stopping a few feet away, most likely because Illyria ordered them to. Connor had the biggest grin on his face, but they all knew it wasn't because he wanted to be smiling. It was Illyria.

"They're all ready to kill you the second I order them too," Connor/Illyria said.

Angel cursed under his breath. They couldn't face all these people, not just them alone. They needed Willow, who would be able to work some magic and make it easier to get to Connor. Where was she? Angel hoped she'd get there soon.

"We're not afraid," Spike spoke up. "You really think we couldn't fight all these people?"

"Do you want to try?" Connor/Illyria countered.

It was like a tidal wave; suddenly everyone was moving and rushing towards Angel, Buffy, Spike, and Wesley. They were forced to fight. Nobody wanted to hurt these innocent people who were just in the wrong place, but what choice did they have? Illyria was controlling them, and they wanted Angel and everyone else dead. To survive, they had to kill to stop them, or else they kept coming back for more.

Buffy punched and kicked, avoiding using her stake the most she could.

Angel vamped out and punched and kicked as well, hoping his extra strength would come in handy.

Spike fought the best he could, but there were so many people attacking him at once it was overpowering.

All Wesley had was a sword, and he had no choice but use it sometimes.

Connor/Illyria stood off to the side, smiling.

Before things got too out of control, all of the people under Illyria's mind control suddenly seemed to stop in mid fight and fall to the ground, unconscious. Everyone else looked around, seeing that Willow and Gunn had arrived on the scene. Illyria felt the immense power coming from the one with red hair. She was a witch. That was nothing but bad news for Illyria.

"Sorry I'm late," Willow apologized and simply walked up alongside Angel, Buffy, Spike, and Wesley.

"Thanks for saving our asses," Spike thanked her.

"No," Connor/Illyria said. She tried and tried to control them and wake all the people back up, but it was failing. They were out cold. She didn't want to run, she wanted to stay and fight, but what choice did she have at this point? It was six against one. Sure, she was extremely powerful, but she wouldn't win against a witch who could knock everybody out as simple as that. This wasn't the time to fight. Not yet. She had to be strategic.

"We're going back to Wolfram & Hart," Angel told Illyria in his son's body.

Angel ran forward and, even though it hurt a little to do so, he punched Connor in the face and he fell to the ground. Angel felt a little guilty that it felt good to do that to Illyria. Spike came over and they dragged Connor/Illyria over for Willow to magically place handcuff-like things on Connor's wrists behind his back so that he wouldn't break free.

"Are you okay?" Buffy asked her friend. Will was using a lot of magic, and Buffy wanted her to be safe.

"I'm fine," Willow said with a little worry in her voice. "I'm gonna be taking a break with the magic now for a while anyway, so I'm fine."

"Let's get back to Wolfram & Hart," Wes suggested.

They stepped over many unconscious bodies lying on the ground to get back to their destination.

Back at Wolfram & Hart, they knocked Connor/Illyria out. She was struggling the whole way here, and they thought making her unconscious would make things easier when it was time for the spell. Everyone, like usual, gathered in Angel's office.

"You guys seemed to capture him pretty easily," Lorne observed.

"Only thanks to Willow here," Gunn said and patted Willow on the back. She gave a shy smile. "She's really powerful."

"Drogyn's still not back," Angel said. "We can't do the spell quite yet."

"Not to mention the fact that we still don't have someone to put Illyria in," Lilah said.

"It shouldn't be just anyone. They'd have to agree to it," Fred broke in. "Maybe someone who's been…affected…by Illyria."

"You mean killed?" Faith asked quizzically. "As much as I'd love to be a human sacrifice, I don't think-"

"She's not suggesting you do it, Faith," Wesley stood up for Fred. "She's just saying that maybe there's someone who's been killed by Illyria that wouldn't mind helping us."

"You shouldn't have to look that far," Anne spoke up and shook her head. Everyone turned to look at her.

Gunn wasn't standing next to Anne at the moment, but she glanced at him and he looked into her eyes. And he saw. He knew what she was going to do. No. She wouldn't. She couldn't.

No!

"You can't. No," Gunn pleaded, tears forming in his eyes. He swallowed hard, and his throat hurt and his head and everything and it was all too much because she couldn't say what he thought she was going to say.

"I'll do it," she said, confirming Gunn's belief.

Everyone stared at her in silence and shock.