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The Reunion -- by Katie

Rating: PG-13

Description: 10 years from now, it's time for there High School reunion, and there lives to change........... Forever.

Disclaimer: I don't own "Buffy the Vampire Sayer" or "Angel" Joss Whedon does. Yada yada yada, I'm sure you've heard it.

It was a bright sunny afternoon as Katherine Hannigan walked into her Watcher's home in New York.

"Resnin are you here?" She called. But there was no reply. Oh well, the young Slayer thought to herself, I'll just help myself to a snack and one of his books. Her Watcher, Joseph Resnin was obviously not around and when this happened she would do what he liked best. Read a book. So she made herself a sandwich and looked for one she hadn't read yet. Then a brown leather one caught her eye. It had no title and looked more like a diary than a book.

Then she realized it was a diary. The Diary of Rupert Giles, it said on the inside. What kind of a book is this, she wondered. But something about it made her open the first page and begin to read.

"March 17, 1997

Today I met the new Slayer. Her name is Buffy Summers. She shows great potential as the Council thought she would but there is something else about her. A spirit rarely found in Slayers. The spirit to rebel against her calling. She was very stubborn to the fact she was resigned. All though she made some arguments I could not disagree with she also doesn't seem to understand that this is her duty. But if it takes forever I will show her what is to be done. I feel the convergence weakening as I write. Something is about to happen. Something evil."

Wow, Katherine thought, this is the actual diary of a Watcher about a Slayer. She knew she was not supposed to read it but something in the words that Rupert Giles had written caught her. A Slayer not sure of her calling who ever heard of such a thing. Katherine had been raised knowing one day she would be called and one day she would stand between evil and the world. It was her duty. Katherine has always wanted to hope she would not be called and it would be passed to some other girl but just one year a go she met Resnin and knew her hoping was useless. So she trained and gave in to her calling.

But according to Mr. Giles this young Slayer Buffy as he had called her wasn't willing to do this. "Katherine, are you here?" She heard a voice call.

"I am in here Resnin", she called to her Watcher. Sheknew she wasn't supposed to read Watcher Diaries but she was willing to get in trouble for this. She had many questions about this Slayer. Resnin walked in to the room and saw the diary in her hand. Instead of getting mad he smiled.

"I was hoping you would find that." He said

"What do you mean?" Katherine asked.

"Well I have just been informed that we are going to Sunnydale." He smiled.

Katherine could hardly believe it. She had been waiting to go to Sunnydale since she was called. It was the only place where a Slayer could truly fight against evil. This was her chance to prove herself.

"Now we have to get on a plane right away and I will answer all your questions as soon as we get on it." He hurriedly began to pack. There was no time to lose.

Willow Rosenburg looked out the window at the beautiful blue sky as she got up. Oh what a beautiful morning, she thought. Only on the Hellmouth. That was after all where she had lived all 28 years of her life. Right on top of a Hellmouth also known as Sunnydale, California. Well time to get up and face the beast, she thought. She walked into her closet and picked out an outfit and began to get dressed. As she was heading downstairs to get some breakfast when the phone rang.

"Hello," She answered.

"I'll give you three guesses but you'll only need one." The voice said on the other end.

"Oh my gosh Xander is it really you?" She could hardly believe it. She hadn't heard from Xander in a month since he went to Africa to chase some demon that was thought to be extinct with Rupert Giles and his wife Anya.

"Yes my dear Will it is truly me. How are ya?" He sounded the same as ever.

"When did you get back?" She asked.

"Actually about oh well 10 minutes ago we just got off the plane and Giles went to get his car so we'll be there in about 15 okay?" He sounded as excited as she felt.

"Okay well hurry up then and tell Giles to get that car moving." They both laughed and hung up. The car was the only one Giles had owned since they had met him and it was as slow as it had ever been. But she didn't have time to think about that. She began to cook so there would be breakfast when they arrived. She loved it when they all got together like this. Just like old times, she thought a little sadly, almost.

"All right Will is preparing for our arrival." Xander told Anya as they walked to the old Citroen junk bucket that Giles called a car.

"Oh goody then that means she is cooking and I am starving." Anya said happily.

"All right all," Giles exclaimed, "Let's get there then before Willow eats it all. Maybe she'll have donuts."

"Only in dreams my friend, only in dreams." Xander joked. Knowing Willow though she actually might.

And these are for Giles, Willow thought as she set the jelly donuts down. She smiled happily eggs, toast, bacon, and donuts. She was pleased with herself.

All with a little work and oh a little witchcraft to speed up the process but hey she was a witch why not use er power to have a nice breakfast. Then there was a knock at the door.

"You guys don't have to knock you know." She called. Then the knock sounded again. Oh maybe it's not hem she thought. She walked over to the door and opened it. The minute she saw who it was she fainted.

"Here we are." Xander called happily. He jumped out of the car and ran to the house. He walked in and called for Willow but she didn't answer. Then he walked in to the livingroom and she was lying on the couch unconscious.

"Oh my God, Willow," He raced to her side. Then someone walked out of the kitchen. And Xander almost flipped himself.

"What in the…" He was speechless. Giles and Anya came up behind just as speechless as he.

"Hi guys," Oz replied. Just then Willow came to.

"I wasn't dreaming he's still here." She said meekly. Oz had a wet cloth in his hand that he put on Will's forehead.

"Hi there." He said quietly.

"Oz is it really you?"

"Yeah who else would it be?" He replied seriously. He kissed her on the forehead and smiled at her. This must be a dream, Willow thought, but definitely a good one.

"Okay question," Xander said in an angry tone, "Not to burst your bubble here but as I recall you were dead." He now was very angry and didn't care who knew it. 3 months ago when the Hellmouth had opened again and they were all fighting demons to close it Oz had disappeared in a crowd of them and they were thought to have eaten him. Willow had been devastated. Now here he was in very Oz form and very not dead. Xander didn't want this to hurt Willow if this was the Hellmouth's version of a joke.

"Well I was," Oz replied, "But this old lady found me and did something to me and took care of me and now here I am." He smiled slightly.

"But Oz," Giles spoke up, " You waited three months to return. Why?" It was a very good question and Oz knew it.

"Well I didn't remember anything actually and then I got a letter in the mail and it just all hit me about 2 weeks ago so I came back." He took the letter out of his pocket. He then handed it to Giles.

"Sunnydale High invites you to the 10th reunion of the class of 1999. The party will be April 14th from 7:30 to midnight. And you got this two weeks a go you say?" Giles was very interested in all of this. He in fact had gotten one of these himself.

"Yeah it was addressed to me and everything. I didn't even know my own name until I got this. And I have no idea how they found me." Xander and Anya looked at it. They in fact had also gotten one.

"I don't believe this!" Willow said standing up. She went over to her desk and picked up two letters. "Look what I got in the mail just the other day."

She handed Giles the two letters. One was the same as Oz had gotten but just addressed to Willow. Then Giles looked sadly at the other.

"It's for Buffy." He said quietly. Everyone looked at him sadly. They all stood quietly just looking at each other.

"Well I did make some breakfast so is anyone hungry?" Willow asked. Xander smiled. Good old Willow. Leave it to her to break the silence.

"Sure," Oz replied. He helped her up and they walked to the kitchen together with Xander, Giles, and Anya trailing in slight shock.

"Well isn't this lovely?" a vampire said from deep underground.

"Oh yes a beautifully wretched morning." Another replied.

"Well let's get back to the boss 'fore he gets mad at us again. You know he isn't happy to be back. And I don't think he is going to believe what happened." They hurried along the trail that led to even deeper underground far away from the sun up above.

"Where in the bloody hell have you been?" A voice demanded. "It's been bloody day for hours now and you two figured what a little sunbathing today?" Spike shouted as he came from a room in the cave.

"We are sorry but we got held up." One replied.

"Oh by what a bloody slayer?" Spike said laughing.

"Well not exactly the slayer," The same one replied seriously.

"What do you mean not exactly." Spike demanded angrily.

"Well it was Angelus." The other said.

"What did you say?" Spike said grabbing him by the throat. This wasn't funny at all.

"I said," The vampire choked, "It was Angelus."

"Impossible. Angel hasn't been to Sunnydale in at least a year. It's just impossible." He dropped the vampire to the ground and it scurried away as did the other one. He was lost in thought now. Angel had not been to Sunnydale since the death of the Slayer. And then he left. And he carried a vengeance within him that made him if possible worse than he had been without a soul. He had kill the First on his own and he also believed that Spike was involved in her death. So if he had indeed come back than that only meant one thing. He was there for Spike.But it was an accident, Spike thought. And it was true. Spike had no idea that the day Buffy faced the First for the second time a year ago that she was being led into a trap. And Spike was unknowingly the bait. Angel knew this but he didn't know that Spike had never meant to. Nor did Spike think he cared. Now his love for Buffy was coupled by his hate for all evil that might have had a part in her death. But Spike came back to Sunnydale risking this and he knew it. He had to see if he could make things right.

"All right," Resnin started, " Buffy Summers is known to be the longest living Slayer. She lived to the age of 28, which as far as we can tell is the longest. She also faced many things that killed Slayers and she instead killed them. Including the Three, The Order of Taraka, The First, and an ascension even. And she lived through all these. She even faced Angelus."

Katherine could hardly believe her ears. She knew Slayers had killed all of these evils but she didn't know that one Slayer killed them all. Even Angelus the most evil of all vampires. And then an ascension. She was a legend.

"Now she faced the First twice. The first time she defeated them but the second. Well they defeated her. She was led to them by the vampire William the Bloody and it was a trap. She was trapped in their home and there was no way out and they killed her. All though her body was never found William the Bloody saw her die. This was about a year ago. Now as legend has it Angelus killed them."

"What do you mean legend? And why would Angelus kill them?" Katherine asked.

"Well because Angelus is not like other vampires. According to Rupert Giles's diary he is cursed with a soul."

"What does that mean?" Katherine asked.

"Well he was cursed by a gypsy clan with a soul which gave him a conscience. So for a hundred years he lived with the evil he had done. Now according to the diary he fell in love with Buffy."

"What? That is impossible!" Katherine exclaimed. She had never heard of such a thing.

"No it's quite true and she fell right back. Look it's right here read." He opened the book and handed it to her.

"January 14, 1998, It appears as if Angel truly does love her. All though I find it quite extraordinary that a vampire could ever feel such things aside from Spike and Drusilla but that is quite different. He is truly in love with her. But I fear that it will hurt her in the end. For she truly loves him too. We can all see it. Even Xander though he does not want to admit it. But now Angel is willing to protect her from the Judge by leaving her. This is where they will both be hurt. For there feelings are so strong that I pray this will not distract them from what needs to be done. The Judge cannot be allowed to live. But Angel has assured me that he is leaving tonight to get rid of the judge. The worst part is that it is Buffy's birthday.

Our next challenge will be killing Spike and Drusilla. I suppose it's the Hellmouth's version of a birthday present. I hope Buffy will make it through this."

"Wow she even face the Judge. Who is this Xander?" Katherine asked.

"Actually it appears she let others know who she was. Friends of hers named Xander Harris, Willow Rosenburg, and later Cordelia Chase and A person named Oz who turned out to be a werewolf. But later is where it gets interesting. On her seventeenth birthday the Judge was being reassembled by Spike as you see also William the Bloody and his lady Drusilla."

"Oh isn't she the mad vampire who was made by Angelus?" Katherine asked.

"Yes she is. But here it is read this." She saw Resnin get a little red and she wondered why.

"January 15, It has happened the unthinkable. Angel has lost his soul. I am not sure how it has happened but it has and now all is lost. The Judge is assembled and without Angel to help her I wonder if Buffy will be able to defeat him. I pray she will. Meanwhile I will look for what may have caused him to revert to his former self."

"So what does that mean?" Katherine asked,

"Well it appears that Uh..." She saw Resnin get red again, "Um after sharing a night of passion!" Finally Katherine got it.

"Okay Resnin no need for blushing I understand." She giggled.

"Oh thank God. Anyhow the catch to his curse was if he found a true moment of happiness he would lose his soul. So he obviously found it and and he was ready to take all means to torture Buffy. But she defeated him in the end. It doesn't make it clear how but then a funny thing happened. Some spell that Willow Rosenburg had performed to bring his soul back worked and when he was killed he had his soul. But then a few months later he came back. No one is sure how but he did. Now according to Mr. Giles the First took credit for bringing him back so he could be driven mad and kill Buffy. But he didn't and they were defeated for a time. But later that year he left for a few years and from time to time he came back but mostly he kept his distance. But when the First reappeared so did he to help kill it. But sadly it killed her first. Here is the entry right here." Resnin handed the diary back to Katherine.

"April 10th, Her fate has found her. Tonight Buffy left my house to follow Spike. It appears he was in league with The First. He claims it isn't true but he isn't worth believing. All I do know is this. She followed him straight to her death. The First has killed her. By the time Angel arrived and I told him where she had gone it was to late. He arrived at the cave to find it empty but for Spike. He was disoriented and the only thing he was sure of was that Buffy had been killed. I assume that by now the new Slayer has been called. But I fear what Angel may do. He tried to kill Spike right then and there but Willow stopped him. She said they couldn't be sure of what had happened yet. I agree with her but I think it may have been for the best if he had killed Spike. But she is right. We can't be sure. Today the world has lost a great fighter. What happens now I shall leave to the fates."

Katherine saw that this was the last entry in the diary. She could also see where tears had smeared the ink on the page. Giles must have been close to her. She shivered at the thought of Resnin writing something like this for her.

"So," Resnin said continuing. "In vengeance Angelus killed them and has been killing all related in any way to her death. But now the First seem to have reappeared along with some other demons and they are sending you to Sunnydale to see what's going on. So I thought it necessary for you to know all this."Resnin finished and he looked hard at Katherine. He thought she was ready for this challenge.

"So will I be facing things such as these?" Katherine asked a little scared.

"Yes and you will probably be seeing Angelus and her friends for they all still live in Sunnydale and they still fight demons so read this and learn for who knows what is waiting for us and what these people are like now." He looked at her with fear, pride, and excitement in his eyes. She was sure she looked the same. This was the scariest thing they were about to face though they didn't know it yet. What lay waiting in Sunnydale was worse than they thought? And it was going to take everyone in a strange twist of fate to defeat it.

Xander, Oz, Anya, Willow, and Giles talked all day long. From what had happened in the last three months to what was on t.v. tonight. And the all felt the same. It felt good to be together again. Even if things weren't the same as they had been and never would be, it was close.

"Xander what time is it?" Willow asked.

"7:30 why?" He said.

"Oh my gosh! Already? I have to go. I will be back in a few just make yourselves at home." She rushed to get her coat and was out the door.

"All right who gave Will caffeine today?" Xander asked.

"Well that was odd." Oz replied.

"Oh it most certainly was." Giles said.

"Hey," Anya said as she walked in from the kitchen, "Look at this on Willow's calendar today is circled in red and it says 7:30." Then they all looked at each other and realized exactly where Willow had gone.

"I'm driving." Xander said as he grabbed the keys from Giles.

Willow stood in Sunnydale Cemetery looking down at the grave. Buffy Summers. Nothing about the Slayer or callings or duty. Just a name among many. Nothing of the fact her body was vaporized by demons or about her having friends. Just her name. Willow, not for the first time, began to cry. Then she felt a hand on her shoulder. Startled she turned.

"Angel!" She gasped. In a way she had expected him to be here. She looked at him and knew that he was hurting the same as she was if not worse. Angel felt guilty for not being there when Buffy had needed him and Willow knew it. They hugged each other comforted by each other's presence.

"Don't cry Willow." He said quietly. The pain of Buffy's death cut through his unbeating heart like a knife.

"Angel do you miss her?" Willow asked softly. Though she didn't need to ask at all. She all ready knew the answer.

"More than anything in this world." Angel replied.

"She really loved you. She tried to get over you but…well just in almost everything she did I could tell." Willow said softly. It was true. For in the years following Angel's departure from Sunnydale Buffy had tried to make another relationship but her love for Angel ran to deep to let it go. Angel knew that. For his life in LA had been very much the same. Which is why he had come back to Sunnydale more and more often in the last few years of her life.

"Did she ever say anything to you about me Willow?" He asked.

"You know she did. Especially when you started just appearing from nowhere when we all thought you ere in LA why didn't you just stay? You're little leaving for her own good thing wasn't working when you kept howing up. That hurt her more than anything." Willow felt anger rising up in her and she tried to remain alm for Buffy's sake. But he had hurt her and she had to let him know.

"I don't know. I didn't mean to hurt her I just wanted to make sure she was all right." Willow could see he eant it and she felt bad. He blamed himself for her death enough.

"I'm sorry Angel. I'm just angry. I didn't mean to make things worse for you." Willow said whole-heartedly. e gazed down at Buffy's grave. He then pulled out a rose and laid it on top of the stone.

"I really loved her. I still do." He said.

"I know." Willow said quietly.

"If only..." Angel said his words trailing off.

"No Angel." Willow said firmly. "You can't keep blaming yourself for what happened. No one knew what was going to happen. We couldn't have known." Angel knew her words were true but they didn't help him. He felt the guilt for not getting to the cave in time to help her.

"Hi guys," They turned around and Xander, Anya, Oz and Giles were watching them.

"I guess you caught me." Willow smiled sadly. All of them stood together looking over her grave. All of them drawn together by her.

"Well, well, well, if it isn't the Scooby Gang." An English voice drawled. They turned to see Spike watching them from behind.

"What the hell do you think you are doing here?" Giles demanded angrily.

"Listen," Spike quickly, "I didn't come to cause any trouble." He looked straight at Angel as he said this.

"Well then I guess you came to the wrong place" Angel growled. Pure hate and anger replaced his sadness. But Willow sensed what Spike was saying was true. She placed a hand on Angel's shoulder.

"Let's hear what he has to say." She said quietly. Everyone was a little surprised by this but they all listened.

"Thank you. At least some one believes in listening." Spike said.

"Well start talking while I don't feel like killing you." Angel replied.

"Listen mate I know you hate me and I for one do not blame you one bit. But I came to try and make peace and explain a few things. That night I never meant to get her killed Angel and I mean it." Spike said seriously. "I may have wanted her dead a few times but right then was not one of them. I had no idea what was going on. I swear."

"Please the only thing you helped was getting her killed." Xander said.

"All right I understand where you are coming from but I really wasn't trying to get her killed it's true. When I went to see those guys it wasn't to join them or what not. It was to find Dru." He said sadly.

"What do you mean to find Dru?" Anya asked.

"They led me there using something that looked like Dru but I thought it was her. When I got there I expected to find her. I had no idea Buffy was following me and I was bait. I just wanted to find Drusilla. I swear."

He looked at Angel pleadingly.

"Angel I think he is right." Willow said. "When you first saw the First they came in the form of Jenny. And I never told anyone this but they came to Buffy too."

"They did. She never told me this." Giles said.

"Well she couldn't. Because they came to her as you Angel." Willow looked at him with sad eyes and he understood. "So I think Spike is telling the truth. Why would he have wanted to kill her? She had helped him too much and he even he can't deny that." Willow looked at him. She was right that bloody Slayer had helped him too much, he thought, now she was helping him into his bloody grave.

"You know I always did like you Willow." Spike said mischievously. "So what do you say mate can we call a truce?" Everyone turned to Angel. Everyone had different thoughts but the decision rested with him.

"For now." He said quietly. And with that he walked away.

"All right I suppose that's better than him killing me and I'll take that as good and right at this moment also my cue to exit." Spike turned and gave one last look to the Slayer's friends. Then he left them alone.

"Will why didn't you just tell us you were coming here?" Xander asked quietly.

"I didn't know if you would want to come." She said quietly.

"Willow of course we would want to come." Oz said hugging her. They all stood quietly looking at each other. Not knowing that fate had brought them all there.

Angel stood in the cemetery once again. This time he knew he was in a dream. He looked down where Buffy's grave should have been and instead saw another. This one read Katherine Hannigan.

"She's coming Angel." He looked up and saw Buffy standing beside him. She looked at him and everything in her eyes said she was scared.

"She's coming and you have to help her." She said.

"But how Buffy? I couldn't even help you. How can I help her?" Angel said sadly.

"I'll be with you." She took his hand and then kissed him.

"How will I find her?" Angel asked her. Then Buffy pointed to a point far away. He saw the lights of a plane coming in.

"Go to her Angel. She will help you find the way." Buffy said.Angel sat straight up. He was awake now. It wasn't the first time he had dreamed of Buffy but this was different. This dream was trying to tell him something.

Katherine stood at Sunnydale Airport looking at the moon. Could a place this pretty really be so evil? She supposed Buffy Summers had felt the same way when she had come here. Katherine now felt a connection with the Slayer. She had read the entire diary cover to cover and learned of her entire life as a Slayer. How she had tried so hard to have a normal life but still be a Slayer. And now here she was standing where this legendary girl had once called home and it felt all too real.

"Ms. Hannigan I presume." Katherine turned around and saw a tall dark handsome man standing behind her.

"Do I know you sir?" She asked politely. He laughed.

"When I met the last Slayer she tried to attack me." The tall stranger said sadly. "You don't have to call me sir. And no you don't know me but I know about you." He said quietly. Then all at once it hit Katherine who he was.

"You're Angelus." She gasped. Here was the vampire who had loved a Slayer standing right here in front of her.

"Please call me Angel." He said. "And yes that's me but don't worry I'm a good boy now." He smiled slightly. Now Katherine could see why Buffy had fallen for him.

"Why do you know about me?" She asked.

"Let's just say I got a message. So now I ask why the council sent another Slayer to Sunnydale?" He was truly curious to find out.

"We heard the The First was back so I was sent here." She said. She thought that he would know of all people. Now she realized he had no idea.

"Did you say The First? That's impossible I killed them. They are dead." He said more to himself than to her.

"Well that's what I thought but here I am." She said. She could see he was very upset.

"How did you find this out?" Angel asked her.

"The council was told by reliable sources. I thought of all people you and her friends would know." Katherine said to him. This girl knows a lot, Angel thought to himself.

"Katherine!" Resnin called from the door of the airport.

"Over here!" She called when she turned back to Angel was gone.

"Oh there you are what were you doing?" Resnin asked.

"Oh just looking at the moon." She replied. "Just looking at the moon."

"Angel I tell you it is simply impossible. If you killed the First then that's it they are dead." Giles said.

"But the Slayer said that they were alive and that is why she is here." Angel said stubbornly. He had gone straight back to Willow's to tell them about Katherine and The First. And as he had expected. They didn't believe him.

"But if you killed them then how could they be alive. It doesn't make sense." Anya said. "Once you kill a demon they are dead. No refunds."

"That's no true." Giles said. He looked straight at Angel. "A demon can come back. I know that from experience. But the first wasn't just sent to a dimension. They were killed."

"Well it looks as if the Scooby Gang is back in action." Xander said a little sadly. Everyone looked at him and they felt the same as he did. Angel started to walk away.

"Where are you going?" Giles asked Angel.

"I am gonna find out if they are back." Angel walked out the door.

"I always said he was a man, well vampire of action." Xander cracked.

Spike sat in the cave where he had last seen Drusilla through the First. It was also where he had seen Buffy die. He knew he wasn't forgiven by Angel just left for the time being. He hadn't seen Drusilla since and that wasn't even her. He didn't know if she was alive or dead but he was still hoping deep down that she was still alive somewhere and maybe even one day she would come back. Then he realized for the first time in over 130 years he was crying. He still loved Dru no matter what and now he was even crying for her. For the first time he understood how Angel felt. Then all of the sudden there was a flash of light from the top of the cave and the earth began to shake.

Spike was thrown to the floor. Then the light filled the entire cave and it was gone. He stood up and looked around and he saw a girl lying on the cave floor naked. He walked over to her. And saw she was not moving. Then he saw who it was.

"Bloody hell. It can't be." He whispered.

"Hi Willy." The bartender turned to see where the voice had come from. He recognized it but it couldn't be, he thought to himself.

"Who's there?" Willy asked the dark nervously. A man stepped into the light.

"It can't be." Willy said.

"Awe Willy. I thought you had more faith in me than that." Angel said. He moved toward the bar and Willy backed up to the wall.

"Angel pal how are you doing?" The bartender said timidly. Angel didn't look happy and Willy knew he wasn't to be messed with especially now.

"Oh I am fine. But I heard there are a few friends in town that shouldn't be." Angel said calmly. Willy didn't like Angel's version of calm at all.

"Listen I didn't know Spike was around until just tonight I swear." Willy said cowering slightly.

"Not Spike, Willy. I heard that the First has come back. What do you know about that?" Angel asked.

"Hey man I thought they were dead. I heard that a few demons have been gathering up but that's about it. Some kind of territorial war or something."

Willy confessed. Angel realized that was all he knew.

"All right. But if I find out that you know more I will be back." Angel said.

Then he walked away. Willy prayed that he left for good. I have to get a new line of business, he thought to himself.

There was a knock on Willow's door. It was 4 a.m. and she had no idea who it might be. Maybe it's Angel, she thought. Xander come out of the guestroom and he followed her downstairs. She opened the door and she saw Spike standing there with a girl in his arms. She was completely covered by his jacket.

"Spike what are you doing here?" Willow asked. He tried to come in but since he wasn't invited an invisible barrier kept him outside.

"Please invite me in you have to." Spike said insistently.

"Whoa whoa buddy we don't let just any vamp through that door." Xander said.

"Please you have to help her." Spike said.

"Who?" Willow said worriedly. Spike turned the girl so she faced them and they both gasped. It was Buffy.

"How did this happen?" Giles asked pacing back and forth. He was very excited and a little worried.

"I don't know." Spike replied for the millionth time. It was now 5:30,almost sunrise, and Buffy was lying on the couch still unconscious. She was now clothed in a nightgown of Willow's but still looked hurt and sick.

"All I know is one minute I'm in the cave alone and the next there she was." Spike said. He still sounded scared and he looked awful. It was the first time Willow had ever seen him look like this. He was scared.

"Okay well obviously it's rise from the dead day here in Sunnydale." Xander cracked. He still looked very serious.

"Maybe it's that time of year?" Oz said quietly.

"You guys gonna help me here?" Came a weak voice from the couch.

"Oh my God Buffy." Willow exclaimed. Xander and Giles rushed to her side. She looked as if she had awakened from a deep sleep.

"Buffy is it you?" Xander asked.

"Of course it's me Xand who else would it be?" Buffy said smiling slightly. Then she cringed in pain. Everything hurt.

"Are you all right?" Giles asked. The room was still.

"What happened?" She asked.

"You mean you don't know?" Anya said doubtfully.

"All I remember is following Spike through the cave and then a flash of light and then I woke up right here. So what happened? To the First I mean." She looked around at everyone and saw them staring at her like she was crazy. But she wasn't and she wanted to know what had happened.

"Oh dear she really doesn't know." Giles exclaimed.

"Know what?" Buffy asked.

"How can she not know?" Xander asked him.

"Know what?" Buffy asked.

"Is it even possible?" Spike said.

"Hello guys," Buffy said forcefully, "Know what?" They all looked at her worriedly. All thinking the same thing. How could they tell her?

"Buffy," Willow started, "When you went to the cave that night Spike saw you get killed by the First. And that was a year ago. We all thought you were dead. Spike he was in the cave tonight and he says you appeared in a flash of light. So he brought you here and well here you are." They all looked at her trying to figure out how she would react.

"What?" Buffy exclaimed in disbelief. "That's not possible." She looked to Giles. He shook his head.

"No Buffy it's quite true." Giles said quietly.

"You mean to tell me I was dead for a year. I was dead. Again!" Buffy yelled.

"Buffy please," Giles replied, "Calm down."

"Calm down. You aren't the one who just found out you've been dead for a year!" Buffy was screaming now.

"She has a point." Oz said. Just then the door opened and they heard Angel call.

"Hello is anyone…" he stopped as he saw Buffy now standing in the living room. He stood there staring at her. She stopped and stared at him. All the sudden she felt as if she hadn't seen him in years. He walked toward her and she took a step toward him. Soon they were just a few inches a part and everyone was silent. Then it all hit her at once. She remembered following Spike into the cave and seeing the First. Then she remembered the fight and her defeat and then her last thought being Angel. And then she was in a dark place for a long time just waiting. And then there was a flash. She became overwhelmed by the memories and she fell into Angel's arms.

"Buffy," He whispered. He kissed the top of her head and she let herself melt into his embrace.

"Angel," She said. She looked up into his eyes and she could see he was crying. So was she.

"I love you," she said. She closed her eyes in let herself rest for what felt like the first time in years.

"I love you," Angel whispered. They stood there holding each other not ever wanting to let go.

Later that day Buffy was asleep in Willow's bed as Angel sat in her kitchen thinking.

"So explain what happened again." He asked Spike.

"This is getting boring mate. I was in the cave where I saw the bloody First that night. I was thinking about Dru and then there was a flash of light and an earthquake and then Miss Slayer is lying on the ground. Does this mean you won't kill me at all now?" Spike asked.

"I'm still thinking about it. So that's it nothing else?" Angel asked.

"That's it and you know that girl is much cuter with nothing on." Spike said grinning. Angel gave him a look that told him to stay off that subject.

"Don't even think about it Spike or I will kill you." Angel growled, "I am going to go check on Buffy." Angel started out of the kitchen.

"Careful Angel we wouldn't want you to lose you soul now would we?" Spike said in a mock scolding voice. Angel didn't say anything but continued up the stairs.

"Bloody great. I can't believe I am stuck all day here with him." Because the sun had risen soon after Angel arrived Spike and Angel were stuck there. The others had gone to check out the cave that Spike had found Buffy in.

"Sure just let Spike baby sit the Romeo and Juliet of the Hellmouth. Why not he's got nothing better to do." Spike complained. But deep down he was happy. At least he was off the hook with Angel. That had to be a step in the right direction.

Angel walked into Willow's room. Buffy lay sleeping peacefully as if she had always been there. He sat down beside her and tenderly touched her face. The face he had loved for so many years. Here she was as if nothing had ever happened. She opened her eyes and smiled.

"I always did say I liked waking up to you in the morning." She said softly. She sat up and winced in pain.

"Buffy are you all right?" Angel asked, his voice laced with worry.

"All the sudden I'm all achy." She lay back down. Angel lay down beside her wrapping his arms around her. He never wanted to let her go. He kissed the top of her head and she closed her eyes again feeling a peacefulness come over her.

"Angel," she whispered, she looked into his eyes. "You were the last thing I thought about before…" Her voice trailed off and tears filled her eyes.

"Sshh, Buffy it's all right. You're safe now. And I am right here." He said gently. More than anything in the world he wanted to comfort her but he knew he couldn't. Not the comfort they were both looking for.

"Is that how you felt? When I…you know?" She asked. He looked at her and he knew she understood how he had felt when she had plunged a sword into his chest when his soulless self had tried to destroy the world. His last thought and his continuos thought through five hundred years of torture had only been her.

"Yeah it is." He said softly. He looked in her eyes and he knew he had helped her in some small measure.

"It is definitely not the greatest feeling in the world." Buffy said.

"What's that?" Angel asked.

"Knowing you are about to die." Buffy said quietly.

"No it's not." Angel agreed. Then he held her tightly not ever wanting to let her go. And Buffy had no objections to that.

"So this is where it happened huh?" Xander asked. They were standing in the cave and the ground was scorched where Buffy had returned.

"This is exactly what happened when Angel came back." Willow remembered.

"Well I still don't understand how." Anya said.

"Well neither do I." Giles said. "But if Buffy is here then that can only mean one thing."

"That the First is alive." Said a voice behind them. "Hello I am Katherine Hannigan and this is my watcher Joseph Resnin." Katherine looked at each one of the Slayer's friends. She could tell who they all were.

"So you are the Slayer that Angel met." Giles said.

"Yes I am." Katherine nodded.

"You met Angelus?" Resnin asked. Katherine looked at him guiltily and nodded.

"Don't worry about it Joe my boy," Xander said, "Angel has that kind of face." He smiled.

"Did I hear right?" Katherine asked. "Did you say something about Buffy being alive?"

"Something to that affect." Oz replied.

"Yeah Buffy is alive." Willow said. Resnin and Katherine looked at each other. Was it possible?

"Well could we see her?" Katherine asked. "I would like to meet her."

"Oh yes, yes of course." Giles said. They all left the cave together not knowing that there was something in the cave with them. It was watching them. Studying them. And even making it's plans.

Angel had been upstairs for a while now and Spike was a little worried. They weren't supposed to be doing anything but then again this was Angel and Buffy and she did just rise from the dead. Maybe he ought to go check on them. So he headed upstairs and cracked Willow's door. Good, he thought, they still have clothes on. He closed the door and headed downstairs just as he heard a knock on the door. He went to the door and opened it up. There was a man standing there and he plunged a stake at Spike's heart.

"Bloody hell!" Spike yelled. The man missed and tried to stake him again. Spike punched him in the jaw and the man flew back out on to the porch. Spike would have followed him but he did have bit of an advantage. That being it was day and all. But the man didn't run he came after Spike again.

"Boy you don't give up do you?" Spike ducked the stake and the man fell into the house. Spike grabbed his throat and held him to the ground.

"Wow food comes right to ya 'round this joint." Spike said as he morphed into vamp face.

"Please don't kill me!" The man cried.

"Well you should of thought about that before you tried to kill me mate." Spike went for his neck when a pair of hands grabbed his throat. He saw it was Angel.

"Sorry Spike no eating here." He growled. He looked over at the guy on the floor. "Wesley get up." Angel said.

"Awe come on mate he bloody well tried to stake me!" Spike said. Wesley looked at Spike and smiled.

"Thank you Angel but I could have handled him." Wesley said.

"I saw that." Angel said shaking his head and letting go of Spike.

"Wesley what are you doing here?" Wesley looked at Angel and gave him an angry look.

"What am I doing here? You left in the middle of the night with no word as to where you were going. Cordelia nearly drove me insane with her crying that you were dead. She was sure you had staked yourself or decided to talk a walk into the light. Then we both realized that it was the anniversary of Buffy's death so I knew you had to be here." He was slightly excited but calming down now. At least Angel wasn't dead.

"Well that doesn't explain why you tried to put a stake in me!" Spike said now back in human face.

"Well I'm a demon hunter so I figured why not kill two birds with one stone."

Wesley replied. "Now Angel I believe it is time we went back to LA" Just then Buffy came down the stairs.

"Hi Wesley." She said. Wesley turned around and looked at her and then he fainted.

"Now can I eat him?" Spike asked. Buffy and Angel just gave him a look. "Oh right fine. Well he didn't try to kill you two."

Then the gang along with Katherine and Resnin walked in. everyone just kind of looked at each other and Wesley opened his eyes and tried to recover some dignity.

"How nice to see you again Buffy." He said, then he fainted again.

"Well I see how you people get things done around here." Resnin said cheerfully. Katherine just giggled.

"Hi I am Katherine Hannigan. "She said extending her hand toward Buffy.

"Hi Buffy Summers. It's nice to meet you all though I have no idea who you are." She said cheerfully.

"Oh Buffy, Katherine is the current Slayer." Giles said.

"Oh well that makes my slight case of death feel much better." She said sadly. Angel hugged her. He knew this wasn't getting any easier for her.

"You know," Willow said, "I say we all go into the kitchen and have something to drink. Um guys can you put Wesley on the couch?" Xander and Oz picked up Wesley and put him on the couch and then everyone went into the kitchen.

"Great you all have tea and crackers while my dinner lays on the couch untouchable," Spike complained.

"Are you a vampire?" Resnin asked.

"Oh yeah. Name's Spike. Nice to meet you." He shook Resin's hand and went to the kitchen. What a weird world this Slayer had, he thought.

"All right well let's start with basics shall we?" Giles said. "We know that Buffy is here. Why we are not sure but she is. Oz got a letter for a reunion at Sunnydale High and he is also here after being thought dead."

"I feel better now. At least I'm not the only one." Buffy smiled.

"Yes well that leaves the arrival of Miss Hannigan. Who claims she is here because the First is still alive. Have I left anything out?" He looked around and everyone just stared silently back. "Very well then now what we have to do is find out if they are still alive."

"Well according to the guys I talked to there aren't any new demons in town." Angel said.

"Well that doesn't mean anything," Katherine said, "It just means that they haven't made their arrival known."

"Actually they have." Buffy said quietly. Everyone turned to her. "They brought me back. That's proof enough. I mean they brought Angel back and then they made their appearance so that means they need me for something." Fear filled Buffy's eyes and Angel was sure her heart as well. When they brought him back it was for the sole purpose of killing her. So why did they bring her back? He wrapped his arms around her hoping to push aside some of the fear.

"Well I believe it is time I did some research." Giles said.

"I'd like to help," Resnin added. Giles nodded.

"Yes of course, we will be at my house if you need us." Giles turned to leave. Just then Wesley rose from the couch.

"Buffy it is awfully nice to see you again. Willow do you have any aspirin?" Wesley asked holding his head.

"Wesley maybe you had better come with me." Giles said taking Wesley's arm.

"Right. Maybe you can explain to me what is going on." Wesley said shaking his head. Giles smiled and led him out the door.

"Katherine you stay here maybe you can learn something." Resnin smiled and left her. The watchers walked out into the dusk.

"There goes my dinner." Spike grumbled.

"Is he going to be okay?" Willow asked. Angel just smiled slightly.

"Yeah. It's been a long day for him." He said

"Well look at that it's sunset. Looks as if I can leave now." Spike pulled on his jacket and started to walk out. Then he stopped and turned around.

"Listen if you need my help then let me know and Buffy," he looked at her his face full of true regret, "I'm sorry." Then he left.

"Well," Xander started, "Now what do we do?" Everyone looked at each other.

"I have an idea." Willow said brightly, "We need fun and light hearts so to The Bronze we go."

"What's the Bronze?" Katherine asked.

"Obviously where our fun and lighthearts lie." Anya said sarcastically.

"Sure," Buffy chimed, "I know I could definitely use some of that." She smiled and looked a little better.

"Willow lead me to your closet. Katherine, Anya let's go dress up for our guys. Gentleman we shall return." She smiled slightly at Xander, Angel and Oz and headed up the stairs with the girls in tow.

"Hey this is a you two moment," Oz said bowing out, "And I will be in the living room leaving it at that." He smiled at Angel and Xander knowing they needed to talk.

"Well she looks better." Xander said as soon as the girls were out of earshot. "How are you holding?" Angel was slightly surprised by the question. In fact so was Xander. But Xander had learned long ago that Angel was where Buffy's heart lie and there was no disputing that.

"Well I'm better than her. You?" Angel replied.

"The same I guess. Look Angel we both know she needs someone right now and we both know that it's you so please," He said pleadingly, "Help her through this. 'Cause I know no one else will be able too." They stared long and hard at each other. There was a time that he would have never been able to say this to Angel but now he knew better. She did need him and Xander wanted her to make it through this thing whatever it was.

"I love her Xander." Angel said quietly.

"I do too." That was all there was to be said. Just then Anya came down stairs. She wrapped her arm around Xander's waist.

"Miss me?" She said coyly.

"Of course." Xander said slyly. Willow came down along with Katherine and Buffy all three had changed into dresses.

"Well let's go then." Willow walked outside taking Oz's hand and they all followed. "Let's walk its such a nice night. " She said happily.

They headed in the direction of the Bronze taking in the night as if it were actually safe. Buffy hung back with Willow trailing the others. Angel glanced back at her but he knew she needed her best friend right now. Oz followed his lead.

"Will, I am so scared." Buffy confessed.

"Oh Buffy I am so sorry." Willow put her arm around her best friend's shoulder. She almost forgot what it was like to have one.

"I have never felt like this. So lost and confused. I mean it's as if nothing happened but then I feel the gap of what did." She looked close to tears.

"Buffy it's going to be okay. I know this is the worst thing we have faced but we are going to beat and we're going to do it together." She smiles whole heartedly believing what she said

"Thanks Will. For everything." She smiled at her. Maybe everything wasn't as bad as it felt inside. With her friends and Angel at her side she may be able to fight this thing. "Oh look at me practically sobbing when we have two gorgeous honeys waiting on us." She and Willow laughed together. It felt good. The walked up ahead and joined the others. Oz took Willow's hand and Buffy rested her head against Angel's shoulder. True they couldn't have what Will and Oz could but they could always find comfort in each other' presence.

"So how long has Katherine been a Slayer?" Giles asked Resnin. They were in his apartment drinking tea and searching through books.

"Oh a year now since her seventeenth birthday." He replied. He looked at Giles realizing how much he truly cared for Buffy. He had watched over Buffy longer than any watcher ever had. In fact because he cared so much about her was the reason he was fired as her Watcher. "Exactly how long have you watched Buffy?"

"Oh about fifteen years now actually." He said quietly. "But Angel has been watching her longer." He gave Resnin a look that told him all the stories of Buffy and Angel were true.

"And you were her Watcher too?" Resnin asked looking at Wesley.

"Uh, yes I was but," Wesley admitted, "No where near the Watcher Giles was. Or Angel for that matter."

"So what is this about him being in LA?" Resnin asked curiously.

"Oh he decided that if he and Buffy stayed a part they would be safer but as time went by I found him in Sunnydale more and more often. He claims to help her but I'm not as sure." Giles smiled slightly.

"A vampire in love with a Slayer." Resnin said thoughtfully.

"That's not the half of it." Wesley commented

"Oh well we have had more interesting matches than that such as a werewolf in love with a witch. Oh and a former demon in love with a mortal. The list goes on." At this the three Watchers laughed together.

Far under Sunnydale demons gathered waiting the day. The time was at hand and the hour was near. It was almost time to have the Slayer's return fulfill its purpose.

The Bronze was packed with teenagers and college students. There were so many people it was hard to think about anything bad in the beat of the music and the swirl of the lights. Perfect place to forget about things.

"This is the Bronze?" Katherine said doubtfully.

"Hey," Xander said playfully, "No dissing of local fun and lighthearted places." They all smiled at this.

"This place is full of vampires." Katherine said then she looked at Angel, "No offense." He smiled.

"Non taken." They all sat at a table barely fitting.

"Katherine," Buffy said smiling, "We are here for fun not work so you can relax. The vamps will be there when we're done." Katherine had never heard of such approach but just that sounded like fun to her.

"Come on darling let's dance." Xander grabbed Anya and they disappeared into the mass of people.

"We are going to follow their lead." Oz said as smiled and he led Willow away.

"Well I may not have a partner but I'm sure if I look long enough I'll find one." She smiled at Buffy and Angel and left walking towards the coffee bar.

"Alone at last." Buffy said smiling. Angel took her hand in his own. The rock song ended and a familiar slow one began. The one they had danced to at her prom. He smiled at her.

"Dance with me." He said. She smiled and let him take her in his arms and allowed herself to be lost in the music. She rested her head on his chest and closed her eyes. This was definitely a good idea.

The night had gone on without a hitch and everyone felt much better. They were all heading back to Willow's place."Hey Willow thanks for letting us stay at your place last night but I think we're just gonna go back to our place." Anya said giving Xander a look that said she wanted alone time.

"Well I can't fight with the missus." He said laughing as Anya started to drag him away. Then he turned around and walked over to Buffy. He gave her a hug.

"It's good to have you back Buff." He whispered in her ear.

"I love you Xander." She said.

"I love you too Buffy. Now go. Be with the other guy you love." He gave her a smile as he walked back to Anya.

"Anything happens to her and you are the first one I come after." Xander said half-joking. Angel smiled slightly and they turned back to Willow and Oz.

They reached the house. And Willow, Katherine, and Oz headed inside while Buffy and Angel hung back on the porch.

"Listen Buffy," Angel started, "I want you to stay here. I am going to go back out and find out what I can and probably head back to the mansion for the day." Buffy looked at him pleadingly.

"Please," she started. She had tears in her eyes. "Stay." He knew she needed him but he was afraid what would happen. Could they be this close safely. After all that had happened. He kissed her softly.

"I'll be back by sunrise then." He said. "We are going to beat these guys Buffy." He lifted her chin and cupped it in his hand. "Don't worry." She smiled. Part of her wanted to believe him but another part of her was still scared. He kissed her again and then turned and walked into the darkness before he changed his mind. Buffy walked inside.

"Angel left?" Willow asked. Oz, Will, and Katherine were sitting on the stairs in the hall waiting for her.

"Yeah but he said he'd be back before sunrise," She said sadly.

"Well I think it's a girlie moment." Willow said. She turned to Oz to see if he agreed, "I can catch a hint. I'll go see how Giles is doing." He said smiling. He kissed Willow and left. Buffy and Willow smiled at each other. He always knew when to make an exit. Fifteen minutes later the three were decked out in pajamas sharing a huge ice cream sundae.

"Ah this is nice." Willow commented.

"Definitely." Katherine agreed. Buffy just remained silent.

"Uh-oh I know that silence. That is not good silence." Willow said smiling. Buffy gave a small smile in return.

"I'm sorry. I'm not much fun today I know." Buffy said quietly.

"Buffy I don't think anyone expects you to be." Katherine said giving her an encouraging smile.

"Katherine is right Buff, you've been through a lot. And who knows what tomorrow holds. Oh that doesn't sound good. OK then the sun'll come out tomorrow." Willow smiled as she finished and Buffy and Katherine smiled back. But she was right. They didn't know what tomorrow held.

Buffy was dreaming. She could always tell when she was. She was standing in the cemetery in the center of her friends. She looked at each of them. Willow, Xander, Giles, Oz, Anya, Wesley, and even Cordelia. They all smiled at her. Then they turned around and left. Disappearing into fog. She then felt someone behind her.

"Drusilla?" She asked. The beautiful vampire stood behind her smiling.

"It will all be over soon pet." She said in a sing song voice. The First came up behind her.

"Slayer!" The demons hissed. She wanted to scream but she couldn't. She wanted to fight them but she didn't have the courage. So she turned to run but Angel was standing behind her.

"Face them Buffy." He said shaking her.

"I can't." Buffy said with tears streaming down her face. "They are too strong."

"They want you to thing that but you can fight them. We can fight them together." Angel said holding her. Her friends reappeared behind him this time Katherine, Resnin and Spike were with him. She turned to face Drusilla and the First.

"You can't fight Slayer." The First hissed at her. "Just give in to us. To what you want and the pain will go away." The First glared evilly at Buffy and suddenly she was filled with pain. It ripped through her like bullets.

"No." Buffy said falling to the ground. But the ground wasn't there. And she fell into darkness.

"No!" She screamed as she woke up. She was trembling with fear and cold with sweat. Angel jumped up from the chair he was sitting in by her bed and rushed to her side.

"Buffy are you all right?" He asked filled with concern. She turned and looked at him and then hugged him.

"They're going to kill me." She said filled with fear.

"No they're not Buffy." He said firmly. "You are here with me and I won't let anything hurt you." He looked into her eyes trying to make her believe him. She was still filled with dread.

"Here it is." Wesley cried.

"What?" Giles said sleepily. He, Resnin, Oz, and Wesley had been researching for most of the night. So far it had looked hopeless.

"Here it says that only the Chosen One can kill The First and no one else." Wesley said closing the book with a flourish and a smug smile.

"Katherine."

"Buffy." Giles and Resnin named their Slayers at the same time.

"How?" Oz asked.

"Oh...well..." Wesley said stuttering and trying to find the page he had been on.

"I really think Katherine ought to kill it. She is the current Slayer after all." Resnin said.

"But Buffy has faced this thing twice." Giles said defensively.

"And look what happened." Resnin said angrily.

"Please your Slayer is a baby." Giles said just as angry. They stared at each other very hard.

"Uh guys," Oz said, "Not to interrupt but I have a feeling that it might take both of them and then some." Giles and Resnin stared from Oz then back to each other.

"Yes Oz you're quite right. I'm sorry." Giles said getting a little red.

"Yes, yes so am I." Resnin agreed.

"Ah there it says they must defy its will. And if neither one gives then it is vulnerable and it can be killed. But it also says that it will try to tempt the Slayer or in this case Slayers with treasures of their mind what ever that is." Wesley said proud of himself once again.

"What are treasures of the mind?" Giles asked worriedly.

"I am not sure." Resnin said.

"Maybe gold or something?" Oz chimed in.

"No it would be to easy and Buffy would never be tempted by that." Giles said.

"Neither would Katherine." Resnin said defensively.

"Right of course. Sorry." Giles said. Then Wesley noticed something else that would be needed to kill the First.

"Um bad news though." Wesley said quietly.

"What?" Oz asked.

"It also said that the Oracles will be needed." Wesley said in defeat.

"Well what's so bad about that?" Resnin asked.

"Um the Oracles aren't really ones to help in anything." Wesley said quietly.

"Agreed." Oz said. They all looked at each other. This was going to take a lot of work. And a little help

"I've got it." Wesley said suddenly.

"What?" Giles asked.

"If Angel goes to them we might have a chance but we are going to need some help." He got up and went to the phone and dialed it.

"Hello Angel Investigations." Said a pleasant voice on the other end.

"Cordy darling it's me." Wesley said happily. Then his smile fell as he held the phone a few inches away from his ear.

"She obviously isn't as happy to hear from you." Oz said smiling.

"How is she?" Willow asked Angel worriedly. They were sitting in the kitchen waiting for the teakettle to whistle.

"Not good." Angel said grimly. Just then the phone rang.

"Hello," Willow answered.

"Willow its Giles. Is Angel there?" He asked.

"Yeah he is. Just a sec." She turned to Angel. "It's Giles he needs to talk to you." She handed him the phone.

"Yes." Angel said.

"Angel we found a way to kill it once and for all." Giles said quickly.

"How?" Angel asked.

"There really isn't time to explain but we need you to go to LA and find the Oracles and bring them here." Giles said.

"That is easier said then done Giles." Angel knew the Oracles and they weren't ones to get involved in mortal affairs as they called them.

"Just try." And with that Giles hung up. Angel hung up the phone and looked over at Willow.

"I have to go to LA tonight." He said quietly.

"Oh well. Oh boy." Willow said.

"Yeah." Angel agreed. He looked out the window. It was late afternoon. The day had gone by quickly. He'd have to leave at sunset. He would have to leave Buffy.

"Well don't worry we can watch her." Willow said as if she knew exactly what he was thinking.

"Thank you. I'm just going to…" He didn't finish. He looked at Willow and walked upstairs.

"No our lives aren't too complicated." Willow said quietly.

"Spike love." A voice called. He jumped. It sounded like Drusilla. Wait, he thought. It could be a trick.

"Oh Spike. Come find me it's so lonely." Her childlike voice called. She sounded so far yet so close.

"Dru is that really you?" Spike called tentatively.

"Of course it is pet." The voice called back. No, he thought, it can't be. It's not her just keep thinking that Spike old boy.

"Of course it is pet." The voice repeated right behind him. He turned and there she was. Right there in front of him.

"Drusilla?" He said. No, he thought again. It's not really her. Or was it?

"Spike dear come with me." She said in a small voice. Then she got a look in her eye that told Spike it wasn't her.

"Sorry pet. I really can't." He then did the unthinkable. He took a stake out of his jacket and plunged it into her heart. Praying to who ever would listen that it wasn't her. She just smiled and then melted into a demon form.

"Don't worry vampire you will die!" The demon screeched and then dropped to the ground. Spike quietly thanked someone and turned to leave. It was almost sunset and he had a lot to do.

Buffy opened her eyes and say Angel standing over her. She smiled slightly and then she saw his grim expression.

"What's wrong?" She asked very concerned.

"I have to go back to LA." He said quietly.

"But why?" She asked in a small voice. She sounded as scared as she felt. Angel had been there to protect her until now and she felt if he left she was defenseless.

"We need the Oracles and I am the only one who can bring them. I should only be gone for a day maybe two." He said praying it was true. He had no idea how long it might take to convince the Oracles to come help them. Or what he might face on the way.

"Oh. Go then. If we need them to kill The First then that's what it will take." She knew she couldn't argue. If he had to go to get them so they could finish this then that's what they had to do. She looked at him with tears in her eyes. "But promise me you'll come back." She said. He sat down beside her and put his arms around her.

"I promise." He said. He kissed her softly and walked out the door before he had a chance to change his mind. Angel walked down the stairs and looked at Willow. She smiled at him. She knew he loved Buffy more than anything in the world and leaving her would be hard for him to do.

"How long until sunset?" Willow asked him.

"About 10 minutes or so." Angel said. He stood there for a few moments and then he pulled something out of his pocket. Willow saw it was a small black box. "Willow I want you to hold this for me." He said handing it to her. She didn't open it because she knew it wouldn't be right.

"Why?" She asked.

"I just want you to have it...in case." Angel said slowly. "If anything happens just give it to Buffy." Willow looked at Angel and knew it was important.

"Don't worry." Willow said. She looked out the window and saw the sun was just setting. "It's time for you to go." Angel pulled on his jacket and walked out the door. He heard someone come up behind him.

"Hello mate." Spike said. Angel turned to look at him.

"What do you want?" Angel asked.

"Well from what I understand you have to go to LA is it?" Spike said smiling.

"So I can't believe I am going to say this but I will watch her for you."

"Why would you want to do that?" Angel asked suspiciously.

"Now hold on I never said anything about wanting to." Spike said defensively.

"We have one to many Slayer addicted vampires as it is I just said I would." Angel wasn't buying it and Spike knew it. "Look what ever is after her is after me too. I just want to help you find it and kill it. And if that means spending time with my favorite Slayer then so be it." Spike said not to happily. Then he added,

"Besides I figure it's the least I owe her."

"If anything..." Angel started but Spike cut him off.

"Yeah, yeah I know the routine. If anything happens to her you'll kill me." Spike said smiling. Spike and Angel looked at each other for a moment and then he got into his car and drove away. Spike walked onto the porch and started to open the door. Then he realized he was supposed to be a good guy now and decided it would be better if he knocked.

"I can't believe I'm doing this." He said to himself as he heard Willow walk to the door.

"I can't believe he'd do that." Xander said shaking his head. He had just arrived and Willow had told him what was going on so far. "Well this has to be some kinda record or something. I mean this time he's not even under a spell." He smiled as Willow got red remembering the last time Spike cared about Buffy.

"I'm never going to live that down am I?" Willow said hopelessly.

"Not a chance." Xander said with a laugh.

"What are you talking about?" Katherine asked.

"You don't even want to know." Anya replied. Just then Oz arrived.

"Hey where is Buffy?" He asked.

"She is upstairs with Spike why?" Willow asked. Oz looked at her.

"I think the better question is why is she up there with Spike?" He asked. Xander patted his back in mock sympathy.

"I don't think you would believe it if you tried." He said.

"All right now you are trying to tell me that you want to help me?" Buffy said walking down the stairs. Spike was right behind her.

"Why is that so bloody hard for you to believe?" Spike said slightly upset. Everyone gave him a look. "All right I understand but come on." Spike pleaded.

"Well I have news from Giles." Oz said. Suddenly he had Buffy's full attention.

"What is it?" Buffy asked.

"It seems that only you and Katherine can kill the First. Which is why it didn't work when Angel did it. But the only way to kill it is to not give in to its will." Oz explained.

"Why would we give in to its will?" Katherine asked. Everyone was wondering the same thing.

"Well according to the book its gonna try to tempt you with treasures of the mind but our three favorite smart guys can't figure out what that means." Oz replied.

"So why do we need the Oracles then?" Willow asked.

"Well they didn't explain that to me." Oz said.

"Okay well this shouldn't be too hard." Xander remarked.

"I have an idea." Buffy said.

"Well we sure could use one." Anya sighed.

"And what would that be?" Spike asked. Buffy glared at him.

"We are going slaying." Buffy said simply.

"I love it when she does that." Xander said smiling. Anya looked at him and elbowed him in the stomach.

"Ow but not as much as I love you." He added quickly.

"That's what I thought." Anya said.

"Well we know who wears the pants in that family." Spike said slyly. Xander and Anya glared at him.

"Why?" Katherine asked.

"Well I figure why wait for the first to come to us. Why not go to them."

Buffy said grabbing the supplies she was going to need.

"That's actually not a bad plan." Spike said. Everyone turned and looked at him. "What'd I say?" He said innocently.

"So where to Buffy?" Oz asked. She paused to think.

"All right this is where I come in." Spike said smiling. "I think I know where they might be."

"All right then." Katherine said. They all grabbed some weapons and walked out the door.

"How are we going to find them if they are alive?" Resnin asked Giles. They were still researching to find anything else useful on The First.

"I don't know really." Giles said. He thought over everything that had happened. The answer had to be somewhere. Then he thought of something and went over to an old volume on one of his shelves. It was simply titled Demons. He flipped to the page that had information about the First.

"Here it is." Giles said. "The First will come back to a familiar place. Where would that be?" He thought out loud.

"That would probably be where they were when Buffy found them last time." Wesley reasoned.

"The cave." They all said at once. Giles picked up the phone and dialed Willow's number. There was no answer. He got up and headed for the door.

"Let's go." Giles said.

"Where?" Resnin asked.

"To help our Slayers." Giles said as looked back at Resnin and Wesley then they headed out the door.

Angel headed into the building that held his office. As he walked in the sight of Cordelia sleeping on a couch greeted him. He shut the door behind him and she jumped up.

"Oh my gosh Angel you really aren't dead." She shrieked as she threw her arms around him.

"No Cordelia. I'm not. Didn't Wesley call you?" Angel asked backing up.

"Oh yeah he did but I had to, you know make sure. So how is everything? Is Buffy really not dead? And Oz too?" She said in her usual not-like-I-really-care manner.

"Yeah it's true. Now did Wesley tell you that we need to go see the Oracles?" Angel said gathering the things he was going to need. Weapons, he thought, lots of weapons.

"Yes but I don't really see why I have to come. And I really don't see why I have to go back to Sunnydale with you. Can't I just stay and watch the office or something that involves not killing hard to kill demons?" She asked desperately.

"No, you can not stay. I am going to need all the help I can get." He said letting her know he meant business. "Even if it is you." He said a little more quietly.

"I heard that." Cordelia said indignantly. He headed out the door and Cordelia grabbed her jacket and against her better judgment followed him. Well this is just going to be fun, she thought.

"So you really think that they are going to be at the cave?" Katherine asked Spike. She was still trying to get used to the fact he was helping them.

"Well it's where they led me, where they killed Buffy, and where I found Buffy. So yeah I'd say we have a good chance." Spike replied sarcastically.

"Sounds like a good place to start." Buffy said. "Oh and they didn't kill me."

"Well sort of. I mean you did kind of die." Spike said.

"Shut up Spike." Buffy said.

"So much for the being friends idea." Spike said with a smile.

"Well at least you tried." Oz said. "Got to respect that."

"So what are we expecting to find at the cave?" Xander asked. "The First begging at your feet for forgiveness?"

"Well I could deal with that." Buffy said. "But I am thinking more along the lines of just killing them."

"So shouldn't we go to Giles's place and see if he found anything else?" Anya suggested.

"No I think Giles will figure out where we are going." Willow said. Just then they got to the entrance to the cave. Buffy remembered this all to well. It looked quiet. Inside they all could hear a chant being sung inside.

"So everybody have a weapon?" Buffy asked. They were all armed with everything from swords to holy water.

"Let's go then." Katherine said. Everyone headed into the cave.

"So you want us to help you and the Slayers? Get involved in mortal affairs? For what reason?" The woman Oracle asked.

"To destroy the First." Angel said practically.

"And this has nothing to do with your love for one of the Slayers?" The male Oracle asked. Angel looked at the floor. They knew the answer anyway.

"So in order to kill the First our help is required. To help save mere mortals." The woman Oracle said. She looked at the man and smiled.

"Sounds like fun." They both said at once. Angel was a little shocked that they were so willing to help.

"How will you get to Sunnydale?" Angel asked.

"That is our concern." The male Oracle said.

"You go and help your Slayer." The female Oracle smiled and waved her hand and Angel was outside of the doorway.

"What happened?" Cordelia asked.

"We're going to Sunnydale." Angel said.

"Can't wait." She replied sarcastically.

Giles, Resnin, and Wesley arrived at the cave just in time to see Buffy and the others enter it.

"Now why exactly do we need the Oracles to kill them?" Resnin asked.

"According to the book I found they are needed to finish off the First by banishing them to a demon dimension where they can not return." Wesley answered.

"Well that is providing that Angel can get the Oracles here." Resnin said.

"Oh knowing Angel he probably all ready convinced them." Wesley said. Just as he said that the Oracles appeared at the mouth of the cave.

"Speak of the deities." Giles said.

"Well look what we found here." Buffy said.

"A room full of demons of all shapes and sizes." Xander said.

"Oooh I know some of these guys." Anya said.

"Okay that is so not what I wanted to hear right now." Xander said.

"Sorry." Anya said.

"So what now?" Oz asked.

"I say we go kick some demon butt." Buffy said.

"Whoah whoah there are only seven of us and like fifty of them." Xander said.

"Yeah Buffy maybe we should wait for some back up." Katherine said.

"Hello all." Wesley said coming up behind them with Giles and Resnin close behind.

"That's back up enough for me." With that Buffy stepped out into the open and immediately the demons were quiet.

"Don't stop on account of me." Buffy said. A large red half horse demon with very large fangs attacked first. He took a swing at her and Buffy gave him a roundhouse kick that sent him flying into some others. Soon the other demons started toward her and the gang decided it was time to make their presence know. They all came out and the fight was on. Everyone was battling at least one demon if not more.

Buffy and Katherine were taking demons out fast but it still didn't look good. Maybe this wasn't a good idea, she thought as she staked a demon.

"Stop." A deep voice called from above. It was a very large green demon with horns everywhere. He was standing on a ledge at least 20 feet above the fight. But he seemed to have power for the other demons were now backing away from everyone.

"Who are you?" Buffy asked.

"I am Darrig. And this is not the time for the fight. And I am not interested in fighting you. But do not worry Slayers you will get one. The time is at Hand the great reunion is coming." He retreated into the dark and all the other demons left. No fuss and no bother.

"Can't say that's ever happened before." Oz said.

"Giles, a little help here would be nice." Buffy said dumbfounded.

"I don't know really. I have can't remember anything about a Darrig." Giles said as confused as the rest.

"What did that mean when he said you'll get a fight?" Xander asked.

"I don't know that either but the Oracles said much the same thing." Giles said.

"You saw the Oracles?" Anya asked.

"Oh yes Resnin, Wesley and I saw them outside and they said it wasn't time for them to intercede but the time was soon. Or something to that effect." Giles said.

"Yes that's close anyway." Resnin added.

"Okay mates this is all real nice but this just looks as if more trouble is brewing." Spike informed them.

"I to say this but Spike's right we have to be ready." Katherine said. Spike just gave her a dirty look.

"Okay so let's all go back to Willow's and regroup and figure out a new plan." Wesley said.

"Sounds good to me." Buffy said. And they all headed out of the cave. But from the shadows Darrig watched them.

"Okay here is Sunnydale." Cordelia said not to happily. "Can we leave now?" Angel didn't answer that. They pulled up to Willow's house just before sunrise. Angel could see it just coming up.

"Come on I have to get inside." Angel said grabbing a bag full of weapons in the back.

"I'll say. You made it just in time." Cordelia said. Oh goody here we go, she thought.

"Hello? Is anyone here?" Angel said walking into Willow's. Everyone was sitting in the living room.

"Angel!" Buffy said brightening up. Well at least some one is happy, Cordelia thought.

"Did the Oracles come?" Angel asked.

"Well came and went really." Wesley said.

"But they will be back." Giles added. Angel seemed satisfied with this.

"Well this is like a big reunion everyone is here and then some." Cordelia said making sure her presence was known.

"Oh Cordelia Chase this is Joseph Resnin and Katherine Hannigan." Wesley said. "She is another slayer."

"Lucky you." Cordelia said. Katherine looked slightly offended. Who does she think she is, Katherine thought.

"Oh Katherine don't mind Cordelia," Xander said, "We never do."

"Ha ha." Cordelia shot back.

"Well you made her laugh that could be good." Willow said.

"All right everyone that is enough." Resnin said forcefully. "We have to get down to business and figure out what to do. Fighting won't help." They all grew quiet and silently agreed.

"What happened to you guys?" Angel said noticing they looked as if they had been in a fight.

"Oh," Buffy said, "We met some demons and we got to do a little fighting and then this one Darrig I think stopped them so we are now trying to figure out what to do. Did I cover everything?" She looked at Giles for approval.

"Yes that about covers it." Giles agreed. Angel looked worried at the thought of Buffy fighting alone.

"Are you okay?" He said looking concerned.

"Yeah I'm fine." Buffy said. He still had that worried look in his eye Buffy noticed.

"I just thought of something." Giles said going over to Willow's desk and looking for something.

"What's that mate?" Spike asked.

"That invitation Oz received for the reunion. Does anyone remember the date?" Giles asked.

"The 14th why?" Oz asked.

"Darrig said the great reunion is coming and the fight will be then…" Giles said.

"And what better place for a demon reunion than Sunnydale high." Xander finished.

"Yes Xander you're quite right." Giles said slightly amazed.

"Yay me." Xander cheered.

"Wait guys what reunion?" Buffy asked.

"Oh the class of '99 if having one on the 14th," Willow said and then she thought of something, "Oh my gosh that's tonight!"

"Well it looks like we are going to a party." Xander said.

"Sounds like fun." Katherine said.

"You obviously aren't from Sunnydale gorgeous." Spike said, "Here parties are hazardous to your health."

Later that day Willow sat in the kitchen alone. She was thinking. Buffy then came in and joined her.

"Thinking time I see." Buffy said smiling. Willow smiled back.

"I was just going over everything that has been happening and I noticed something." Willow said quietly.

"What's that?" Buffy asked her.

"Well through all this I have Oz, Xander has Anya, Katherine has Resnin at least to talk to, Giles has us, you have Angel oh," Willow paused and realized she may have hit a sore spot. Buffy smiled sadly.

"It's all right Will. But what are you getting at?" she asked her sadness replaced by curiosity.

"Well what I am trying to say is Spike hasn't got anyone." She finished. Buffy looked at her with mild in mild shock.

"And I should be caring?" Buffy asked confused. Willow nodded her head understandingly.

"Well I know he is like a bad guy and all but he has been helping us and he did help you a lot." Willow pointed out. Buffy nodded in agreement.

"True he has gone far above the call of duty." Buffy agreed.

"So I was thinking let's do something for him." Willow said walking over to a bookcase. She pulled out a book of spells and grabbed some candles.

"Like what?" Buffy asked suspiciously.

"Everybody needs somebody." Willow said slyly. Buffy understood and smiled back.

"Okay. We are probably going to regret this later." Buffy said laughing. Willow handed her the book.

"Probably." Willow agreed. Then she began to read the spell she had picked.

At 7:00 that night everyone was dressed up and ready to go.

"Okay this had better not be like graduation." Xander said.

"Well the mayor wasn't invited to this one." Oz replied.

"Well I want to have fun since I look good and I'm here so lets go before these demon guys crash so come on all ready." Cordelia said.

"All right I see the reason for you all going but why do I have to?" Spike complained. He was dressed in a suit and did not look very happy.

"Because if something does happen we might need you." Buffy said. As an afterthought she straightened his tie. Everyone gave her a look.

"What? It was crooked." Buffy protested. She smiled and took Angel's arm.

"Besides I have a date."

"Sure everyone has a date but me." Spike complained.

"Well, you can hang with Giles." Willow said trying to cheer him up.

"Thank you Willow that will be great fun." Giles replied.

"Well I try." She said happily. She smiled at Oz and thought nothing was going to pull her off her cloud. Well except for a bunch of demon crashers she thought.

"Let's go gang." Oz said. They all walked outside and split between Oz's van, which Willow had kept, and Angel, Wesley, and Giles cars. 20 minutes later they pulled up to Sunnydale High.

"Okay let's party." Xander said.

"Easy for you to say you have a reason to party mate." Spike quipped.

"Well look at this as the reunion we never had Spike." Angel said.

"What a world." Resnin remarked and they all headed inside. Inside everyone was dancing and talking to old friends from long ago. Cordelia at once found every one of her Cordettes and was the queen of the party ust like old times with Wesley in tow. Oz and Willow found the Dingoes and were chatting away. Giles as talking to some of the teachers he had known and Resnin and Katherine just mingled.

"Gee just like old times. Us being left out." Xander said.

"Well I won't be a wallflower so let's dance." Anya said and she dragged Xander onto the dance floor.

"Poor Xander." Spike said. Buffy and Angel gave him a doubtful look.

"What? She is a forceful woman. Must be hard to live with, sounds like Dru." He sighed.

"Please don't mope." Buffy pleaded.

"Well what am I supposed to do?" Spike shot back.

"Why don't you look for trouble," Angel said, "While I dance with the prettiest girl here." He smiled at Buffy and led her onto the dance floor and they danced happily to a slow number.

"Oh great even the doomed lovebirds get to have fun." Spike quipped. Just then a blonde walked up to him and punched him.

"Hello do I know you?" he yelled and then he looked at who it was. "Oh boy."

"You jerk!" Harmony yelled, "You had the nerve to show up here!"

"Harm, baby, please calm down!" Spike said.

"Don't you baby me! You…you…meanie!" She sputtered and she punched him again and flounced away.

"Oh this is a load of fun." He groaned. Just then he saw something walk in the door that didn't even look close to human. He recognized it as the demon from the cave Darrig. He ran over to Buffy and Angel.

"Hate to interrupt but we have company." He pointed over to Darrig.

"Well that didn't take long." Buffy sighed. Immediately she pulled out a stake. Angel held her back

"Wait he doesn't look as if he wants to fight." Angel said and he was right. Darrig just stood at the door and when he saw Buffy he walked out before he was even noticed by anyone.

"Let's follow him." Buffy said and she was all ready half way to the door as Angel and Spike ran after her. By the time she caught up with him he was half way across the campus.

"Darrig!" Buffy called.

"I was hoping you would follow me Slayer." Darrig said turning around to look at her.

"What do you want?" she asked.

"Just to help." He said.

"What?" Buffy asked confused. Angel and Spike had joined her now.

"The First are coming and they are dangerous. They are planning to attack you here tonight along with a demon army. Now if they attack they will kill my army and me because we pose a threat to them. So we want to help kill them before they kill us." He explained.

"So then you can try and take over." Angel said.

"No. We might fight you one day Slayer but this is not the day. We only wish to help. Then we will leave and then one day we may fight and then again we may never see each other after this." He said smiling.

"How do we know you're telling the truth?" Buffy asked.

"Because you have no other choice." He pointed down the street. Buffy could see that demons were coming and they looked worse than the ones in the cave had. Much worse.

"What is it every bad guy in Sunnydale wants to see me tonight. All right let's go." Buffy said. She ran into the school and Darrig, Spike, and Angel were close behind. She ran up onto the stage and grabbed the mike from the lead singer.

"Hi," She said, "I am really sorry to interrupt but there is a fire so..." She didn't get a chance to finish. The people started screaming and ran out all of the exits. The gang joined Buffy on the now deserted stage.

"What's going on?" Giles asked.

"Big time trouble." Buffy informed him. Just then the demons started into the school ignoring the fleeing people and heading straight for the stage. Darrig made a shrill whistling sound and his demons also started to appear from everywhere.

"Time to really party." Xander said as he pulled out a stake. They all looked at each other and headed for the nearest demon. Buffy, Angel, Katherine, and Spike took demons out faster than some of the demons themselves. Then the First entered. There were three of them moving in prefect unison. They spotted Katherine and Buffy and moved right for them.

"Slayers!" They hissed in one unearthly voice. Katherine and Buffy moved right for them. As if by magic a clearing appeared in the center of the floor and Katherine and Buffy faced the three demons.

"It's about time you guys showed up." Buffy retorted.

"Yeah the party was no fun with out you." Katherine added.

"Don't worry Slayers you're time has come." The First hissed. "We have come to make you an offer you both can not refuse." The smiled with evil grins.

"Please what could you offer us?" Katherine asked. Buffy was wondering the same thing. Around them the battle raged on. Darrig's demons fighting the First's demons and humans and vampires in the mix. But it looked as if the good guys were winning Buffy noticed. For the First's demons were thinning out. The good guys were taking the lead and The First knew it.

"Well young Slayer we could offer you a chance at a normal life. How is that for a deal." The First waved their hands toward Katherine and Katherine was suddenly filled with visions of a life with no slaying. A life where she could grow old and get married and be happy. The First was offering this to her. A dream she had always held deep down but had never dared to dream. Then they turned toward Buffy.

"And you, we offer you the one and only thing you desire." They smiled and waved their hands over Buffy. Suddenly Buffy was filled with memories of Angel. All the time they had spent together. The good times they had shared and the bad. Then she remembered the one and only night they had ever spent together. Then Buffy had memories of a day that she had no knowledge of. A day that had happened but that she didn't remember. A day that the Oracles had erased. When Angel had been human for only a moment and he had to give it up for her. And then she began to cry.

When Angel saw the look that came across her face he realized what the First was showing her.

"Buffy no!" He yelled over the fighting. The First glared at him. They motioned toward him and he was suddenly surrounded by ten demons. Xander, Spike, and Wesley raced over to help him fight them off. Giles then realized what the Slayers had to do to weaken the First.

"Defy their will." He whispered to himself. "Don't listen to them." He yelled at Katherine and Buffy. "Don't give in to what they want." He also was soon surrounded by many demons. Willow and Cordelia helped him fight them off while Anya, Resnin, and Oz fought off some of their own.

"Buffy!" Willow yelled. The two Slayers seemed to be in a trance. The First smiled evilly knowing they were gaining the upper hand. Buffy and Katherine were lost in their own minds. Then Giles realized what the book had meant when it had said treasures of the mind. The First was offering something even the Slayers couldn't refuse. Their deepest desires.

"Buffy don't listen to them. Buffy!" Giles yelled. Resnin realized his slayer was also in danger.

"Katherine!" He yelled. But the girls gave no response.

Suddenly Angel saw a break in the demons that would lead him right to Buffy and Katherine. He punched a blue slimy demon that was trying to bite him square in the jaw and raced toward Buffy.

"Buffy! Buffy come on. Come back to me." He shook her until her eyelids fluttered. She looked up at him nd realized where she was.

"Angel?" She was still a little dazed.

"Don't give in Buffy. They can't give you anything. I am right here and I won't ever leave you again no atter what. Please Buffy." He looked into her eyes knowing she understood what he was saying.

"You're right. They can't give me what I want." She said coming out of it. No matter what they told her they were only demons and couldn't do anything.

"Katherine!" Buffy said. She turned to the young Slayer and began to shake her. "Katherine come on. Come back. They can't help us. Come on Katherine." Suddenly Katherine felt as if she had just been awaken from a nightmare. She looked at Buffy and knew she was right. She smiled at Buffy to let her know she was back.

"Let's kick some demon butt!" Katherine said. Buffy smiled right back at her. Both Slayers turned to face the First. A look of shock came over their faces when they realized what had happened.

"We regret to inform you that we decline you generous offers." Buffy said smiling. She walked up to the head demon and gave him a square upper cut to the jaw.

"All right Buffy!" Xander yelled from where he was fighting with Spike and Wesley.

"Girl's got guts." Spike agreed. Then suddenly a light flashed from between the First and Katherine, Buffy, and Angel. Then the Oracles appeared.

"It looks as if you have no further purpose here demons." The male Oracle informed them. They began to chant a Latin incantation and the First began to scream, as did their demon army. And in a flash of blue light the First and all their demons were gone.

"Yes!" Everyone cheered.

"Two points for the home team while the visitors from the Hellmouth are still sadly behind." Xander cracked. Buffy smiled at him and all her friends. It was good to be back.

"Well our job is done." Darrig informed them. "Thank you for your help Slayers and may we never meet again." Darrig nodded toward the girls and walked away and all his demons followed.

"Well this was some party." Oz commented. Everyone started laughing. It felt good not to be in mortal peril. Angel turned toward the Oracles.

"Thank you for your help." Angel said to them.

"No warrior, thank you for letting us help." The male Oracle said smiling. Then they looked at each other.

"But we have one more thing to do here. The Powers That Be have decided that each Slayer shall be rewarded for her help in destroying the first. So we are going to grant you each one wish." They looked at Buffy and Katherine who looked at each other.

"Anything we want?" Katherine asked.

"Yes Slayer anything you desire. What shall it be?" Answered the female Oracle. Katherine looked at Resnin.

"I wish to not be Slayer. To have a normal life." Katherine said with no hesitation. It was the only thing in the world she wanted. Resnin looked at her understandingly.

"So be it. Now there shall be only one as there was always meant to be." The Oracles answered smiling. A light then enveloped Katherine and then it dimmed. Buffy could tell she was now just any other girl. Katherine knew to and she smiled happily.

"Thank you. Thank you so much." She said laughing. She hugged Buffy and then Resnin. Resnin looked at everyone.

"And on that note I think it is time we leave." He said. He shook hands with Giles and nodded to everyone. Katherine walked over to Buffy and hugged her again.

"Thank you for everything." Katherine told her. And then she and Resnin left.

"Now Slayer it is your turn." The female Oracle said. Buffy's heart stopped. Everyone's eyes were on her. She turned and looked at Angel and then back at the Oracles. There was only one thing in the world she wanted. And every one knew what that was.

"Buffy," Angel said. She turned back to look at him. "You can't." He said.

"Angel I know everything that happened that day." She said with her voice trembling. She had tears in her eyes and the same look she had had that day.

"Oh was that the day you remember but no one else did?" Cordelia asked.

"Cordelia." Xander said in a warning tone

"This is one of those times I should just be quiet isn't it?" Cordelia said quietly. She got a look from everyone that agreed with her.

"Buffy I had to...I had to because I love you and…"He couldn't think of what else to say. She looked at him.

"I know you did what you had to do. I understand. And now I am going to do what I have to do." She walked toward the Oracles. But Angel grabbed her arm.

"Buffy you can't." Angel said. He knew more than anything that's what they both wanted but he couldn't let her. Not if it cost him her life as the Oracles had told him.

"Angel please. Just let me do this." She said pleadingly.

"But Buffy you know what the Oracles said. Please Buffy don't." More than anything he wanted to be with her but he didn't know if there was a way. Buffy walked up to him and kissed him.

"Just trust me." She whispered to him. He looked at her and gave in. She turned and walked up to the racles.

"I wish..." She paused to think about her words. "I wish for Angel to be like me." The Oracles smiled and understood.

"You're wish is granted." The Oracles smiled. Buffy turned around and faced Angel. Then he kissed her the way that he used to kiss her before they knew what their love cost. The Oracles smiled and light enveloped Buffy and Angel. When the light dimmed Angel took a step back and looked at Buffy. She put her hand to is chest and smiled.

"I'm alive." Angel said. He smiled a real smile for the first time in a long time and kissed Buffy again.

"Okay what did I miss?" Cordelia asked. She looked confused. The Oracles smiled and disappeared. Then Giles understood.

"They gave him Katherine's slaying powers." He said smiling. Buffy and Angel held each other and never wanted to let go. And now they never had to.

"And I thought that only happened in movies." Xander remarked.

"Well folks I guess I'll be leaving now before I get bloody sick." Spike said. Willow stopped him.

"Uh...Spike...I kind of have a surprise for you..." She said smiling at Buffy. Buffy just grinned back at her.

"What?" He asked.

"What?" Xander, Wesley and Cordelia said at the same time.

"Well..." Willow paused and smiled as someone walked up behind Spike.

"Hello love." Drusilla said. Spike stood in shock for a moment.

"How?" Spike asked. Drusilla looked at him and smiled.

"The little witch said you needed me and I couldn't leave my baby alone now could I?" she said in a little sing song voice. He looked at her adoringly and swept her up into his arms.

"No pet we couldn't have that." He said smiling. Everyone looked at Willow in astonishment.

"You did...that!" Anya said in astonishment.

"Well everybody needs somebody." She said smiling. "Even Spike and Dru." She looked at Oz and smiled.

"You are quite the person." Oz remarked. Spike set Drusilla down and walked over to Willow.

"Thank you." He said and then he kissed her hand like any gentleman. Then he looked at Oz. "You are very lucky mate." Oz looked at Willow.

"I agree." He said. Spike looked over at Buffy and Angel.

"Thanks for everything." He said to Buffy. Then he took Drusilla's hand and they left gazing adoringly into each other's eyes.

"Just when I thought things couldn't get weirder." Cordelia remarked.

"Well this is the Hellmouth." Anya said.

The next morning Buffy woke up in Angel's mansion. On the pillow there was a note.

Be right back. I promise. Love, Angel

Her heart skipped a beat when she read love. She got dressed and walked outside to sit in the sunshine. She saw Angel walk up the pathway and she smiled. Her heart skipped a beat again. He was walking in the daylight. She still couldn't believe it. He walked over and swept her up into his arms.

"Hello beautiful." He said kissing her. She laughed.

"I hope you don't greet every girl that way. I might start getting jealous." She said smiling.

"No just the one I love." He said smiling.

"That is me right?" She said smiling. He kissed her again.

"How many times do I have to tell you?" He asked.

"So where did you go?" She asked him.

"I had to get something I have been asking Willow to hold for me." He said quietly.

"Oh really what?" She asked.

"I'll tell you when we get there." He said mysteriously.

"Get where?" She asked. He kissed her again gently.

"You'll see." He said softly.

"Oh you have become cryptic guy again." She said laughing. He just smiled at her. Angel held her hand and led her. As they walked she was still amazed at the sight of him in the sun. Walking with her. As they walked she realized where they were going.

"Isn't this the way to Giles's place." She asked.

"Yes." He said.

"And why would we be going to Giles's house?" She asked him.

"You'll see." He said.

"Great more cryptic stuff." She said smiling. When they got to the front door he stopped. Then he turned to look at her. "Now will you tell me what is going on?" She asked pleadingly.

"Yes. Buffy I told you once that from the moment I looked at you I loved you." Angel paused and pulled a box out of his coat. "Now I am asking you to love me for the rest of my life." He opened the box and pulled out a small golden claddaugh, the very one he had given her on her seventeenth birthday.

"Will you marry me?" He put the ring on her finger. She looked at the ring and looked back up at Angel with tears in her eyes.

"Like you had to ask." She said she shook her head and hugged him.

"Is that a yes?" He asked her quietly. Buffy nodded and smiled. Then he swept her up into his arms kissing her. Just then Giles's front door opened.

"Now that is a proposal." Xander said. Anya, Willow, Oz and Giles stood behind him.

"You didn't propose to me like that." Anya said punching him in the arm.

"Hey come on now…" Xander said kissing her.

"I must say it ranks up there." Oz said holding Willow.

"Well I say we celebrate." Giles said. He smiled at Buffy and Angel. They gazed at each other with so much love and happiness. No two people deserve it more, he thought to himself. He headed inside and everyone followed but Xander.

"Hey Angel." He said and Angel turned around. Buffy realized he wanted to talk alone so she left them and followed the others. "Um, how can I say this..." Xander said looking for the right words.

"If I hurt her you'll kill me?" Angel offered. Xander smiled at him.

"Yeah that about sums it up. And I can do that now too. You're human." Xander laughed. Angel smiled. They headed inside. "So how are we celebrating?" Xander asked Willow.

"How about some brandy?" Giles offered from the kitchen.

"Sounds like celebrating juice." Willow said. Giles got out glasses and poured one for each of them.

"Let's toast it." Oz suggested as he put his arm around Willow.

"To what?" Anya asked. She held Xander's hand happily.

"Fortune?" Giles offered.

"Happiness?" Will suggested.

"How about to old times?" Xander said. Everyone raised his or her glass. But Buffy shook her head and gazed happily at Angel.

"No, to a new beginning." She said. Angel kissed her and they toasted.

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