Sacrifices

Buffy stabbed the sword through Angel into the petrified demon, but all that happened was he and the sword were pulled into the vortex. "What!?" Buffy exclaimed in horror as even sacrificing her love didn't stop the portal's growth. "B-but blood is the key, the blood of a champion!"

"What does that have to do with Angel?" Xander asked confused, despite being told to take Giles to the hospital he'd returned to make sure she'd won.

"Angel was a champion!" Buffy said fiercely. "And... it wasn't Angelus who just allowed himself to be sacrificed."

"Angel hasn't had his own blood since he was turned," Xander explained. "Physically he was a vampire and the blood in his veins was the blood of others."

"So the only champion here is me," Buffy said quietly. "Is that why you came back, to make sure the portal closed when I sacrificed myself?"

"It requires the blood of a champion and a sacrifice," Xander told her. "No one said they both had to be from the same person. You are the blood..."

"And you are the sacrifice," Buffy said in horror.

"The world needs the Slayer," Xander said, "It doesn't need a D average high school student nearly as much." He walked over and picked up the sword Angelus had pulled from the statue, its edge still coated in her blood.

"You can't!" Buffy shouted over the portal's slowly growing roar as it began to tear at the floor.

"Guess this is goodbye," Xander said as he approached the portal. "See you later, Buff."

But Buffy had had enough of losing the men in her life, so she did what Slayer instincts demanded she do... she tackled him.

The portal winked out as the two vanished into it, leaving a large hole where the demon once stood, the only sounds the ticking of a Grandfather clock in the hall.

Possible endings (or rather beginnings)

Buffy tightened the bandage around Xander's leg before preparing for her next match. The roar of the crowd let her know it wouldn't be much longer as the current match was almost done.

"I caught a glimpse of your opponent," Xander told her, his lean frame covered in scars and bandages. "Six limbs, spiked tail, and tiny wings. Doubt it can fly, but I'd go for the wings first anyway, they look fragile."

"We'll see," Buffy said as they unlocked the cell door to lead her out into the coliseum.

Buffy had no fear of losing. Since their arrival in Hell, she'd felt stronger than ever, her speed, strength, and stamina easily surpassing what used to be her limits. With a blade in her hand she was death incarnate.

Sadly that hadn't helped when they'd run across a powerful magic user that had downed her with a word and a gesture. Physically she was a juggernaut, magically... she was one ply toilet paper easily knocked out by the simplest spells.

Xander's efforts to protect her had been laughable to the eight foot tall armored demons that had captured them and they probably would have slayed him on the spot if not for the fact that a half hearted stab had opened up a light cut on his side and his blood had melted the sword that had wounded him. The magic user had tried the same spell he'd used on Buffy, but all it had done was cause Xander's hair to grow. They'd captured him pretty easily using clubs to beat him down once they'd known to avoid his blood.

Buffy and Xander had ended up as gladiators, fighting for the crowd's entertainment in the arena. Much like ancient Rome, Gladiators could earn their freedom, but without a powerful sponsor they could easily be captured and enslaved by other demons once more, so they waited and bided their time.

Their trainer was an old leathery demon who looked to be part elephant, but was heavily skilled in bringing the best out in his fighters. He'd found the best way to motivate the pair was to punish one when they other screwed up.

Xander had quickly gained skill, but not quickly enough to suit him, as Buffy had been punished regularly for his mistakes.

He swore he was going to spit in his eye one day.

Somehow the pair hadn't lost hope, even in Hell, and they'd been gathering as much information as possible on how to get out of Hell.

Strangely enough the easiest way was to earn a title in the arena. Humans summoned demons to do their bidding a lot more frequently than they'd ever dreamed, and they did so, not by names which could be changed easily, but by titles which were hidden in books in the mortal realm for just such a purpose.

The crowd roared loudly, calling for blood and cheering for the victor, Buffy the Brown making Xander grin. Hell did not have hair dye and any coin or favor the pair were rewarded with they used to gain either information or weapons and armor, so Buffy's hair had darkened to a medium brown that amused him and annoyed her. In fact she'd beheaded the first demon to call her Buffy the Brown which had caused the entire audience to do so, pissing her off greatly.

Buffy returned to their cell with a smile that lit up her face and several bruises that were visibly fading as he watched. "Guess who won a title?" she asked with a grin.

He took in her now ebony tresses and laughed. "The Black?" he guessed, knowing the Demons wouldn't call her by her title until the next match.

"One step closer," She agreed giving him a joyous hug that strained his ribs. "Now we just have to stay in physical contact until I get summoned, perform a task for the summoner and we're home free!"

Xander grinned. He doubted it would be that easy, but she was right they were on their way!

Or maybe…

Buffy spun around, the sword she'd snatched out of Xander's hand deflecting a red spell back towards its caster, some wild eyed lady dressed in black waving a wand.

Seeing the number of people carrying wands and not liking the odds, Xander looked at the archway they'd fallen through and spotted Angel lying on the ground with some guy on top of him, and still impaled on a sword. He stepped through the arch and pulled the guy off Angel, tossing him behind him. Reaching down he pulled the sword out of Angel and hesitated for a second before helping him to his feet. He really hoped Buffy was right about him not being Angelus.

Xander pulled him into the room and pointed him towards where Buffy was fighting. "Have a fit later, help Buffy now!"

Angel recovered enough to snatch the sword out of Xander's hand and run off to help Buffy as a second wand waver had joined the first one in throwing lights at her.

"Damnit, I need a sword," Xander cursed while a bespeckled teen ran forward to join the guy Xander had pulled off Angel and help him to his feet, while eying Xander nervously.

A woman's scream of horror sounded loudly and a noseless reptilian head rolled to the ground at Xander's feet, which he reflexively kicked it towards a group of shocked looking people who were just staring at him. "What?" Xander asked.

Or maybe…

"None of you are supposed to be here," Saint Peter said, shaking his head. "Liam, you were scheduled for some heroic deeds and a mortal life before coming here. Buffy, you had a number of decades worth of living left to do."

"And me?" Xander asked nervously.

"I don't have you scheduled at all," Saint Peter told him.

"Ouch," Buffy said with a wince.

"He's not that bad," Liam muttered softly.

"No I mean he's not scheduled to reside in your section of heaven, not that he's scheduled to go below. I mainly handle Irish catholic individuals and their life mates," Saint Peter explained.

"Is there a more low rent section of heaven?" Xander asked.

"No, well yes, but not the way you're thinking," Saint Peter said. "The Alley of Lingering Smells for instance is a fifties detective's heaven, but it's that way because they like it like that."

"Oh, so Heaven depends on individual tastes," Xander said relieved.

"Exactly," Saint Peter agreed. "You three are here much too early to gain admittance though, so I'm going to have to arrange an additional life."

"Will we be together?" Buffy asked grabbing Angel's hand.

"I'll arrange for you two to meet, the rest will be up to you. As a private detective and an FBI agent you'll have plenty of opportunities to interact with one another."

The pair vanished in a burst of light leaving Xander standing there holding the two blessed blades.

"So... another life," Xander said nervously.

"Yes, now where to put you," Saint Peter said thoughtfully.

"Amy Yip at the water park?" Xander asked hopefully.

"That is one possibility," Saint Peter acknowledged. "However that wouldn't provide much opportunity for personal growth. Would you rather be rich or make a difference?"

"Make a difference," Xander said with a sigh. "I don't see why I can't do both though."

"Most rich kids are not people you want to meet," Saint Peter explained. "Being given all you want deprives you of learning things you need."

"Cordelia did alright," Xander said firmly.

"It took losing a boyfriend she was falling for in a very bloody way and several near death and/or traumatizing experiences for her to learn. Do you want to be rich and surrounded by death and destruction?" he asked.

"No, I'd prefer to avoid all that," Xander admitted. "But I have a feeling personal growth will involve some of that anyway."

"Yes, I think being a Souled Vampire would work wonders for your ability to empathize with Angel," Saint Peter decided.

Xander winced. Next time he was taking rich scumbag.

Typing by: Abyssal Angel