DISCLAIMER: All the characters (except 2) are owned by Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemies, FOX, and anyone else with copyrights. I'm only borrowing them for the fun of writing and reading, no copyright infringement intended.

SUMMARY: complex fiction that deals with a few different realities and time travel simultaneously. It's base on the notion that the Oracles lived in a place called "The Pantheon" which is the center of the universe, is also a gateway to all different dimensions and times. So what happens when different realities and times mix together? might be dangerous ;)

RATING: R

SPECIAL THANKS: Cim & Kim, my plot & grammar betas.

DEDICATION: To the B/A Shippers. It's *never* over!

The bright light reflected over the walls and for a moment it seemed to have disappeared in the glorious marble periphery. After a moment that seemed endless the light glowed so brightly it flashed through the whole room.

The two bronze figures of a man and a woman blinked their eyes as they were woken from their sleep.

Looking confused, they turned around to meet their visitor.

From the triangular hallway, a boy of about 12 years old stepped out of the light. His hair was light brown and messy. His clothes were black. He stepped in, until he was standing right in front of the two figures and the light disappeared behind him into blank darkness, putting out all the light that used to shine within the walls.

The bronzed man and woman exchanged stares quickly before looking back at the boy. Their eyes narrowed as the man started to speak, "How dare you come here? We have not summoned you, lower being."

The boy widened his eyes in surprise for a second, his face twisted into a satanic grin and he chuckled, "Lower being? I'm insulted."

"Evil is not allowed in this sacred place," The woman spoke.

"You should have put a sign in the entrance. How the hell should we know what you allow in," The boy looked around him. "Man, it's boring here. Needs some color."

"You are not of this reality. Leave now." The man demanded.

"I'm making myself of this reality." The boy walked away from the bronzed man and woman and started wandering in the large empty hall.

"We do not council your kind. You should know that." The woman said.

The boy raised his head to meet her luminous blue gaze. "You should know what I'm going to do to you. Just look at the auguries." He smirked.

"We shall turn you into a toad for interrupting our sleep." The man threatened.

"Oh please do try." The boy chuckled. "Though I think you should invest your powers on redecorating the place. You don't want to spend eternity in this boredom".

The man and woman raised their hands, pointing their forearms at the young boy.

He laughed and just sent out his hand, holding it in the air.

The man and woman were pushed back, their bodies starting to crumple and the bronze color started to melt off their skin. Their eyes glared at the boy, horrified in the realization.

Within a few countless seconds, for time did not exist in the hall, the man and woman popped, their bodies exploded into pieces, squirting red blood, golden and blue liquids all over the place.

The boy looked around at the marble walls, now covered with the different colors as if it was sprayed on them like graffiti. The blood where the man and woman were standing started to bubble.

The boy looked into the dark hall and it was suddenly illuminated.

"You can come out now," The boy said.

The dark figure stepped out of the hall into the bluish dim light of the once sacred hall.

Angelus looked around at the colorful strings spread over the walls. "Nice job, son." He smirked, looking back at the boy.

The boy smiled back at him.

"But it lacks poetry." Angelus pondered, stepping aside from the boy. The boy's happy smile was replaced with a disappointed frown. "You don't like it?"

Angelus touched a spot on the wall that was covered with bronze and blue paint. He smeared his finger in the mixture and then raised it to his nose, sniffing it.

"You should have left their mutilated bodies on the floor. In a tragic pose." Angelus turned to look at the child.

The boy looked down, clasping his hands. "How's that?" He asked and Angelus looked as the pool of bubbling blood started to whirl around, and the bodies of the Oracles rose from it. The bodies were laid one against the other, covered with cuts and bleeding wounds. The colors were gone from their faces. Their bodies were bleak white. Their eyes colorless and opened widely in horror.

Angelus smirked and went to pet the boy's head. "Now *that's* what I call redecoration."

The boy leaped with joy and hugged the vampire's waist. Angelus pushed him aside in obvious aversion of the boy's show of affection. "I told you-"

"Sorry," The boy apologized. "No human gestures. I forgot." He looked down, embarrassed.

"Let's go now. I don't like being in holy places for that long. My body starts to tingle and I'm getting hungry." Angelus started walking. "And we still have work to do, save your powers, boy. We'll use the front exit."

The boy walked behind the tall vampire, running to catch up with his big steps.

In the hall a light flashed, from the other side this time. Angel, wounded, bruised and distraught stumbled into the room, nearly falling. He gasped when the strong aroma of fresh and holy blood welcomed him. He gazed down at the deformed, lackluster bodies of the Oracles.

"It's too late then." He whispered dully and stepped back into the whiteness behind him.

Angel walked down the steps to his apartment. His face was gloomy. He saw Buffy pacing in the apartment. Her arms were wrapped around herself and she was rubbing her folded arms in concern and anticipation. She heard his steps and turned to face him. She looked at his anguish face.

"I'm guessing that expression isn't because they were all out of fresh OJ at the deli." She let out an uneasy smile. "What happened?" She asked.

"Nothing happened." Angel continued walking down the stairs. He avoided looking at her and walked inside the room. She stared at his back. He turned to look at her, his face despondent. "I just." He stammered, not sure how to go on.

"Where have you been?" She decided for him.

"I went to see the Oracles. I wanted to ask them to turn me back." Angel didn't look at her face.

She felt betrayed. "What? Why?"

"It doesn't matter now." He shrugged and rubbed his eyes. Buffy approached him.

"You wanted them to turn you back into a vampire?" She looked at him in disbelief.

"Yes." He looked away.

"Why? I don't understand. You're not. happy?" Tears filled Buffy's eyes.

"It's not that." He brushed his hand through his hair. "You saw what happened last night. I'm no good to you like this."

"In case you were in another dimension for the past 3 years. You're not good to me as a vampire. You remember? With the curse, the immortality and the daylight thing?"

He sighed, walking towards her. He lowered his gaze to meet her eyes. "I can't protect you like this."

"I don't need your protection. I've never asked for it." She protested, tears started to stream down her face.

"But now I can't even help you fight." His voice hoarsened.

"I don't need you to help me fight. You didn't in the past few months. You know the deal, one girl in all the world, she alone will fight the forces of darkness, yadda yadda yadda."

"Buffy," Angel cupped her face, forcing her to look up at him. "How can you expect me to sit quietly and watch you fight, and maybe die, alone? I can't handle that. I know what's going on at nights in the streets, I know what danger lies outside. I'm a liability for you right now, you're taking chances to protect me. I will not allow it."

"Xander is human and he's helping me fight just fine!" Buffy moved away from him. "You just don't want to be with me. Admit it."

"It's not true. You know it's not true." Angel looked at her, tears stinging in his eyes.

"Prove it." She wiped her eyes and looked sternly at him.

"Buffy." He whispered.

"Fine, then." Buffy walked up the stairs. She looked down at him as she reached the top. "Have a great life. Goodbye." She said and disappeared.

"So you just let her go?" Doyle looked at Angel. They were sitting in his office. Angel had his head on his hands, he looked even more tired and wounded than after the Morah demon whipped his ass.

"She doesn't understand. I can't let her fight alone. no matter how much I want to be with her. It was my calling, Doyle. The powers that be took me to see her and help her."

"But you're released from your fealty now, man. You should go out and have fun while you can."

Angel sighed. "I was released from my fealty by whom? By a demon. By a warrior of darkness." He looked over at the Irish man. "Do you know any other channels to the powers that be? Besides the Oracles?"

Doyle shook his head. "I'm just the messenger. I don't get a lot of the information. They only give me what I need to know. with the visions."

Angel got up and looked around the office. "That's it then. I'm stuck as a helpless human."

"To be fair, being human is not such a bad thing. I enjoyed it for 21 years."

"There's no point of me staying here anymore. I better just do my best to help her in Sunnydale." Angel said quietly.

"Buffy?" Willow entered the dorm's room. She saw Buffy spread on the bed, her face buried in the pillow. "Is everything okay? Did Angel." Willow hesitated. "Did he go 'grrr' again?"

Buffy sat up. Looking at her friend with red bulging eyes. She's been crying for some time now. "Angel is. is human." She started crying again.

"Human? You mean, human like us?"

"Yes. He breathes, and eats, and walks in the sunlight." Buffy sniffled and looked at the window.

"Wow. How did it happen? Magic? I mean. wow!" Willow sat next to Buffy.

"He was fighting a demon. and their blood mixed and he turned human. The demon came back and Angel couldn't fight him and it wigged him, so now he wants to be a vampire again so he can kick the bad guys ass."

"What a loads of horse crap!" Willow called and Buffy glared at her, surprised.

"I mean. he leaves for your own good because he's a vampire, and now he's not, and he wants to be a vampire again? I don't get it."

"I don't get it either." Buffy looked down.

"Well, we don't need him. Let's go out to the Bronze tonight and have fun. Maybe riley will be there." Willow suggested.

"No, riley is probably still in Iowa." Buffy shrugged. "You go, have fun. I'll stay here and cry myself to sleep." She wiped her eyes.

Buffy woke up at once when she heard the door open. She jumped, looking at her visitor with bleary eyes.

"Angel?"

He moved over and pulled her into his arms, she felt his warm breath close to hers.

"You're still human." She whispered, touching his face. He winced when she touched one of his more sensitive bruises.

"If I'm stuck in a human body. Might as well spend the rest of my human life with you." He whispered, smirking as much as his split lips allowed.

She glared at him, not liking the statement. "You don't have to, you know." She huffed. "There are a lot of other girls out there."

"Don't be silly. You know I want only you." He pressed his warm lips against hers. She wrapped her arms around his neck and drawn into his kiss that grew more hungry and passionate as he slowly laid her down on the bed.

"This is it." Angelus looked at the closed gate. The boy looked at the gate. "This is what?" He asked, confused.

Angelus looked at the map he was holding. Two big stains of dry blood were ornamenting the scroll. "This should be the final resting place of the warriors."

"How do you know she's here?"

Angelus looked down at the boy. "We walked past the hall of Ta-Krim, the hall of the Warriors. According to the map this should be the right place." Angelus tried to touch the gate in order to open it. He was thrown back by an invisible force.

"dammit!" He cursed getting up. He looked around at the empty marble space around him. "You try it, kiddo." He said after a moment, rolling back the map. "I guess I should have asked the guard before killing him." He shrugged.

The boy looked at the gate. "Okay, I'll try." He reached for the gate and without any physical effort, the gate opened widely. Revealing even more marble walls.

"Could this place be any more boring?" The boy huffed stepping inside. He looked back at Angelus. "Are you coming, dad?" He asked.

Angelus tried to walk in and was thrown against the invisible barrier. "I can't."

The boy raised his hand. After a long moment he looked at the vampire. "I can't break the barrier for you. The forces are stronger than me."

"Evil is not allowed in this place." Angelus hummed. "You're on your own then, son."

"I'll bring her back for you. Don't worry." The kid nodded and disappeared into the marble wall.

The boy gasped when Angelus disappeared behind the marble wall. Now he was surrounded with so much marble it made him want to crack a hole in those damn walls and tear them apart watching them crumbling all down like Domino.

"Why don't they have some colors here!" He muttered, kicking the wall as he walked by. As he spoke the walls started to change into all kinds of colors. A rainbow of different lively colors glowed at him as he walked through the hall.

"Wow, cool." He whispered. As the walls opened before him, he found himself in a beautiful green garden. The bushes were decorated in all kinds of shapes, and flowers were spread around.

The boy walked through the garden, stomping the flowers on his way.

"Where can I find her.?" He hummed. The skies were blue and bright. He saw people walking around. He remembered dimly her face on a picture he'd seen. Angelus was obsessed with her. He said it was unfinished business, and he needed his help. He was spending time drawing sketches of her.

The boy walked around the garden until he reached the river. He looked at the lucid water, seeing his reflection. His hair was getting longer and messier than usual. He sighed and brushed his hand through his hair. He looked away from the water and jumped aside, startled to see the young woman standing next to him.

He climbed the wall and saw the fountain. He spotted the lonely figure sitting there, her hand splashing water.

He looked at her face. Serene and divine. She was looking a lot better than the picture he saw.

He paced towards her, and she looked up at him, with a questioning look in her eyes.

"Mind your own business." The boy muttered, trying to walk away.

"There's evil in you. I can smell it."

He sneered. "Some developed sense you've got there. Didn't help you much when you DIED, did it?" He tried to push her away.

"You can't stay here."

"Don't worry, I'm just visiting." He managed to push her away. "If you touch me again I'll show you how much pain you can feel even when you're dead." He warned her.

She laughed. "You have a lot to learn, little boy." She laughed. "I can help you find her."

"You know where she is?" He was suddenly intrigued.

"She likes to spend time by the fountain of ma-mon. if you hurry you might catch her. But, she might be trouble. She's not like the rest of us."

"Why not?"

"She chose to come here. It wasn't the way it was supposed to happen. But it doesn't matter now."

The boy didn't waste time on another word. He followed the river until the stream got smaller and smaller, and disappeared into a stone wall.

"Buffy?" He wanted to make sure.

"Yes?" Buffy raised her head when she heard her name.

"Can I come in?" Angel was standing at the door, a bouquet of flowers in his hands.

"Of course." She smiled. "I was wondering where you were."

"I was making a few arrangements." He explained, looking shyly at the flowers. "And. got you these." He walked over to her bed and put the lilies in a vase that rested on the near desk.

"Did they let you see him, Angel?" She asked.

"Yes, I was there with Dawn. She's very excited. She's still there I think." He smiled.

Buffy smiled back at him. "I wish mom was here." Her smiled faded into a frown.

Angel's face softened and he walked over to her, sitting on the edge of her bed. It was a little bit over a year since Joyce had died of cancer complications. Buffy had been devastated, but at least she had Angel and the comfort of knowing her mom was alive to see their wedding.

"I know, I know, love. But you have us now." He leaned and kissed her forehead.

"I checked out with Giles," Angel deliberately changed the subject. "They want to visit you."

"I imagine Faith is glad. She had to do everything on her own while we took time off in the country."

"She managed fine. She was happy to be trusted to go back to duty."

"Yeah, I miss it myself. It's in my blood." Buffy sighed.

They were interrupted by a knock on the door. They looked over at Dawn walking in followed by the nurse.

"Someone misses his mommy." The nurse said and laid the small baby in Buffy's arms. Angel looked amazed at the baby that cuddled like a kitten in Buffy's arms. He'd never thought it could happen. That he would sit here with Buffy, the woman he loves, and they would not only be legally married, but also with a child. He was truly happy, and there was no curse to be broken.

"Have you decided on a name already?" Dawn asked, looking at the sweet baby. The infant yawned. And Buffy touched gently his soft, dark hair.

"Michael," She said smiling. "We named him Michael."

"Who are you?" Buffy looked strangely at the young boy.

"I'm Michael." He introduced himself. "I. uh, I came to take you back."

She looked confused. "Back where?"

"Back to Earth."

"No." She stood up.

"No?" He looked at her confused.

"I can't go back. They will kill Dawnie. I died so she could live." Buffy explained.

"No, it's okay. You need to go back with me, because I made a promise to someone." Michael insisted.

"But I like it here. Everything is so quiet. And if I look at the water long enough, I can see them." Buffy smiled brightly.

"See who?" Michael looked down at the fountain. From the water he could only see his own reflection.

"My friends... my family... my life." She looked down at the waters and smiled, "My memories."

"It looks boring here to me. There's nothing fun."

"I have a lot of fun here. Everything I ever wanted is here, if only I wish it to be. How can I go back and leave all this fortune behind? If I had known about this place, I would have stayed dead years ago."

"Well," Michael decided to try another tactic. He raised his hand, but slowly he realized he was powerless.

Evil is not allowed in this place. He couldn't use his powers and he couldn't be evil in the Warrior's resting place. Frustrated, he tried to think of another way to get Buffy to come back with him.

"Angel, go open the door!" Buffy called. She was cradling her 6 months old baby boy. He has been crying hysterically for hours.

"Just a moment!" Angel called, he had to rush out of the shower and put on his robe. He glanced at Buffy and the baby on the way to the door. "What's wrong with him?" He asked.

Buffy shrugged. "I don't know, he won't stop crying."

"Maybe it's his teeth." Dawn offered.

The doorbell rang again. Angel went to answer the door. He looked at the young man standing at the door. He seemed like a typical college guy.

"Hello," Angel greeted the young man.

"Hi Angel." The young man said.

"Do I know you?" Angel eyed him suspiciously.

"Not yet, you don't. I'm Kitaro." The man offered his hand and Angel shook it. "May I come in?"

"Still need an explanation," Angel closed the door behind him.

"Well. I'm a demon." Kitaro looked around the house. "Nice place!" He whistled.

"Let's get back to the part of you being a demon." Angel folded his arms. "You don't look like a demon to me. Do I need to kill you?"

"I'm a messenger breed. Like your old friend Whistler."

"I see." Angel nodded and became alarmed.

"It's about your son." The demon said.

"Angel? Who is it?" They heard Buffy call from the other room.

"It's uh, just the neighbor!" Angel called back and pulled Kitaro by his sleeve into the kitchen.

"What is it?" He asked in a low, dangerous voice.

"I came to bring you the Prophecy of Aslan." Kitaro said.

"No, no. I don't want any prophecies. I want you to leave us alone."

"I'm sorry, I can't do that. Your son has a great destiny."

"My son will grow up as a normal boy and will be a normal boy, and you're gonna leave him alone. He's not gonna be a player for the powers that be. Leave us alone already!" Angel tried hard not to shout. "Now get out of here." He ushered the demon out.

The demon who looked like a young college boy shrugged and walked towards the door. "You know there's nothing you can do." He said before walking out.

Angel sighed and returned to the kitchen. He saw the scroll lying on the table and opened it.

"A child with powers of the stars, angel of darkness and light. The Chosen One will be born into the third millennium of the one known as Christ and 760 years into the sixth millennium of the ancients count. The child with the blood of the slayer and the bicentennial human, born of light in unity with darkness."

"Angel?" He heard Buffy's voice and looked up. She reached him and stood above him. He rested his head on her stomach and hugged her waist. She caressed his hair softly.

"I love you." He whispered.

"What?" She looked down at him.

"Uh, how's Michael?" He asked.

"He stopped crying. Dawn is playing with him."

"Good." Angel whispered and got up. He touched Buffy's face and leaned to kiss her. She moaned against his mouth. "We can't now." She sighed. Angel didn't listen, just continued kissing her, spreading kisses all over her face and her neck, then went down to her chest. He got up and carried her over to the table, tossing aside the scroll he received from Kitaro. Their mouths met again and she opened his robe quickly, puling his smooth body over hers. She wrapped her legs around him, moving her hips in a grinding motion.

When her breath returned, Buffy fixed her dress, glancing over at Angel. They were both on the floor. Her gaze stopped on the scroll. She walked over and picked it up.

"Angel?"

Angel groaned and sat up, rubbing his eyes.

"What is this?" She waved the scroll. He gazed at it. "Shit." He cursed under his breath.

"It's a picture he drew of you. One of a million." Michael said. Buffy looked at the picture with teary-eyes. "I didn't say goodbye." She mumbled.

"He's so occupied with your death. We fear he has gone insane. He stopped feeding. and, and he's suicidal. He doesn't care if he dies. He's became *so* careless in his fights. He blames himself for not being there for you when you needed him."

"But there was nothing he could have done!" Buffy held the painting Angel drawn of her in shaky hands.

"I know. but he's convinced he could have saved you. He doesn't think straight when it comes to you."

Buffy sniffled. Her face was already wet from tears. "I don't want him to blame himself. I didn't want that at all."

"He needs you. Come with me, Buffy. You're the only one that can save him."

Buffy nodded. "Okay. take me to him."

Michael held out his hand and Buffy took it. They started walking out of the garden. Michael looked behind him at the bushes and flowers that suddenly wilted and died.

Angel rocked Michael in his arms. It was late at night and the baby was still crying.

Michael was usually a charming friendly little tot, loved by all his surrounding.

Angel knew something bugged the boy, and he knew it had something to do with the growing powers of the child. Both he and Buffy noticed their baby was not like the other toddlers. The change started around the time they found out about the prophecy.

The baby suddenly stopped crying, clasping his small fists on Angel's chest. Angel looked over at the door. The door opened and Buffy walked in. She wasn't too surprised to see Angel standing in the living room. "You're up." She walked over to him. "You went patrolling again with Faith?" He asked quietly, walking towards her. The baby let out a squeal, happy to see his mother. "There isn't much demon activity lately. Seemed quiet." She smiled at the baby who reached out his chubby little arms for her. "I don't like you going out fighting." Angel muttered, he let her take the baby from his hands. "I can't just shut my slayer senses, Angel. It's driving me crazy. I *have* to go outside." Buffy was tired of the same old argument she had with him ever since she allowed herself to go back on active duty when they returned to Sunnydale, shortly after she recovered from Michael's birth. Angel was supportive and understanding, but he was overly protective and preferred Faith to do the slaying gig.

Buffy smiled down at the baby, and Angel looked at them, his heart melting at the sight. Michael with his soft brownish-gold hair and deep chocolate eyes, was a mixture of both of them. Angel's heart started aching in actual pain. He was cursed with their supernatural powers as well. Pinocchio will never be a real boy. "Dawn and Kitaro are sleeping?" Buffy woke him from his thoughts. "Yeah..." He nodded. Kitaro was already family for them, ever since Angel threw him out of the house and Buffy brought him back. He was supposed to be Michael's guide on behalf of the powers that be and the demon really hated when Dawn nicknamed him 'nanny'. "Let's go to bed," He said softly, and pulled her over to him.

As soon as Michael and Buffy left the Asgard gardens, they seemed to be released from the serenity that controlled them earlier. Michael felt his forces recharging. He looked over at Buffy. She looked around, seeing the pantheon for the first time, after being awakened from her rest.

A shadow fell on her and she turned around to see Angelus' smiling face. Michael looked at him, surprised to see his face so brighten and angelic, as if his soul was intact.

Michael watched as Buffy turned around, looking at Angelus. For a moment her eyes lit up, but then grew bigger in fright.

"Angel?" Her voice was merely a whisper.

He smirked down at her. "I missed you, lover."

Buffy turned sharply to look at Michael. Her face was pale and weary, expressing the betrayal she must have felt as her eyes pierced into his.

Angel woke up in haste, jumping into a sitting position when he heard a loud noise outside. He panted and looked at Buffy who was still sleeping peacefully next to him. Her body cuddled close to his.

He reached out his hand to stroke her hair, but he heard the loud noise again. He looked at the clock beside the bed. It was only about an hour before sunrise. He became alarmed and got up and dressed. He took a sword out of the weapon stock that was hidden in the closet.

"Angel." He was startled by Kitaro in the hall. The young demon with the human appearance looked as if he had just woken as well.

"What's going on, Kitaro?" Angel asked him, heading to Michael's room.

"I don't know. But it doesn't look good." Kitaro whispered. "Demons are coming. I sense them."

Angel rubbed his forehead. "Do we have time to get out of here?"

Kitaro glanced at the opened door to the master bedroom. "Maybe Buffy can chase them off."

"Maybe it's nothing. I can handle a few demons." Angel pondered, looking at his sword.

"Are you crazy? Last time you tried to fight demons you ended up in coma for a few days. Angel, buddy, unlike Xander, when you fight, you think you can actually win. You think you're still a vampire." Kitaro told him bluntly.

"Gee, thanks." Angel muttered.

"Buffy will be so angry if you go out and fight alone, *she* will put you in the hospital next time."

Angel rubbed his forehead. The baby started crying and Angel walked to his room.

In that instant the door was kicked open, and two demons invaded the house. "Shit. Kitaro, help me!" Angel called and lunged at the demon. He managed to kill the first one with his first stroke, decapitating it. He then went to kill the demon that clawed at Kitaro mercilessly.

The demon let go of Kitaro and attacked Angel, throwing him to the floor. Angel tried to push the demon away, when suddenly the demon was kicked off him. Angel shook his head, feeling the throbbing pain in his temples as he watched Buffy kicking the demon and nailing it with the sword to the wall. She rubbed her hands, cleansing them from the green goo and looked over at Angel.

"Are you okay?" She asked.

He nodded, and got up. "Can't say the same for Kitaro." He walked over to the bleeding demon. His torn shirt revealed nasty cuts. The demon got up dizzily.

"Michael." Buffy's attention was diverted by the baby's cry. She looked at the open door. "More are coming." She whispered, looking horrified at Kitaro. "What's going on?"

Kitaro was still holding his head. "Uh. You can't let them have Michael. You have no idea what destruction he can bring if he falls to the wrong hands."

"He's not falling anywhere. Don't talk about him like he's a weapon!" Angel snapped.

Buffy reached out her hand to stop Angel from approaching Kitaro. "Angel, please." She said quietly. She looked over at Kitaro. "We need to get out of here before the others will come," She ran to the wall. "Angel, grab weapon!" She called.

"Dawn. Dawnie, wake up!" Buffy shook her little sister. Dawn groaned before waking up.

"We need to get out. we're being attacked," She told her. Dawn woke up at once.

"Get dress, quick!" Buffy urged her and walked over to the baby's room. Michael was standing in his cot, clutching the bars, leaning on them, and crying loudly.

"Sheesh, sweetie, it'll be all right." Buffy whispered and caressed his head. He stopped crying and looked at her with his big teary brown eyes.

She took the silver cross necklace from her neck and put it on him. She picked him up and walked out of the room.

She saw Angel and Kitaro were fighting another group of demons. Five, this time.

A demon jumped on Angel's back and the tall man crouched under the burden.

"Angel!" Buffy called. Two of the demons turned their attention to Buffy and walked over to her. The baby squirmed in her arms. One of the demons suddenly dropped down as if something hit him. The other demon seemed surprised, but kept closing on Buffy.

"Buffy?" Dawn walked out of the room. "Dawn, take Michael and run. go through the back door." Buffy put the baby in her sister's arms. The baby started crying again, but Dawn kept running.

Buffy faced the demon and let him jumped on her, only to be stabbed by her dagger. Buffy reached Angel, tearing the demon off his body, in the corner of her eye she saw more demons entering.

"I'm okay." Angel gasped, getting up slowly. Kitaro managed to free himself from the demons. "I'll go get help." He whispered and ran outside.

"Buffy!!" Angel and Buffy had no time to follow Kitaro's steps, when they heard Dawn's scream from the other side of the house.

"Dawn, run!" Buffy pulled Dawn's arm. The girl was pale and horrified. Buffy pushed her away.

"Where's Michael?" Angel called, stepping closer.

"Dawn, go call Faith!" Buffy shook her sister's shoulders. "Dawn!!" She tried to snap the girl out of her shock. Dawn suddenly came back to life.

"I didn't mean... They took him. I didn't mean to." She started crying.

"Dawnie, go call Faith, we'll get him back." Buffy tried to hide her own panic. The girl nodded and ran towards the door.

She saw the herds of demons coming in from the front. Some of them were entering through the windows. Dawn took a turn and jumped through another window, shattering it into million of pieces.

Buffy and Angel were standing in the hall, blooded swords in their hands. They looked at the demons coming in from everywhere.

"Angel, jump through Michael's window," Buffy said, positioning herself in a fighting stance.

"I'm not leaving you here alone."

"Angel, there's no time."

"Come on. let's get out." Angel took her hand and they ran into Michael's bedroom.

"We have to find him." Buffy whispered.

"We will, don't worry. Jump." He opened the window and motioned with his hand.

"You first." Buffy said, looking as 3 demons were already showing at the door.

Angel jumped on the window, getting ready to pull Buffy with him, when they heard the baby's cry coming from inside.

"He's still here." Buffy mumbled and rushed towards the demons, slashing all three of them with the sword.

"Buffy!" Angel yelled after her and jumped back into the room.

Buffy saw a large pinkish demon holding her baby with two clawed hands. "For Zadon!" The tall ugly demon called.

"For Zadon!" The demons screeched in union.

"Sorry to interrupt your chanting." Buffy said while beheading 4 demons that were standing in a row with one stroke of her sword.

"Buffy, look out!" Angel called behind her. She turned around and received a blow from one of the demons.

She staggered backwards, but recovered quickly and managed to jump and grab her sword from the floor, spreading herself on the ground and sending out her sword up high, gutting the demon.

Angel was busy fighting another group of demons. The big pink demon was starting to leave.

"Hey, big guy." Buffy somersaulted and landed in front of the demon. "You're not leaving this place with my baby."

The demon snarled, gripping tight the baby. "Look around you, Slayer. You think you can win this time? The baby will belong to Zadon." He laughed a metallic horrendous laughter. "Look behind you, as your lover dies."

Buffy turned around sharply. She saw Angel cornered by a mass of demons. She wasted no time and rushed to help him.

"Leave." The pink demon's voice roared and most of the demons started to leave. The demons cleared the way and Buffy reached Angel, kneeling beside him. He was on his hands and knees, defeated. Buffy saw his own sword piercing his body. Angel coughed and spat blood. "Go." He whispered. "Angel. no," She whispered back, she pulled the sword from his body and he screamed in agony and collapsed. She wrapped her arms around his shoulder and brought her lips to his forehead. "You'll be fine. Faith will be here soon. We'll be okay." She stroked his damped hair softly.

"I." Angel tried to talk, sinking into her arms. "Thank you. love." He managed to whisper, smiling at her faintly. "Angel." She was still holding him, feeling the life slipping from his body. She heard the steps behind her and turned around to see the demon, holding Michael in one hand, the other hand was now reaching out for her, and then it was over.

"No!" Michael gasped as he woke up. Cold sweat covered his face. He was now awake, but he could still see vividly his mother's limp body falling against his father.

The boy got out of bed and paced around the room nervously. He felt pain. His whole body was aching. He raised his hands to his eye level and watched the blood dribble from his wrists. He panted, and jumped over to the closet. He opened the door and looked at the mirror that was planted on the interior side of the door. His face was bleeding from horizontal cuts in his forehead, and his white clothes were soaked in blood from a big spreading stain in his abandon. He looked at his reflection, completely shaken.

"Whistler!!" He started screaming in utter panic. "Whistler!!!"

"This is it? She's here?" Angelus asked the boy, grabbing Buffy's arms. "She feels real. Not a spirit." Buffy turned to look at Angelus, still not talking.

"She left her resting place. I think it's enough to wake her up." Michael said, looking away from Buffy.

"Let's hit the road, kiddo." Angelus smirked, gripping Buffy's hand. She tried to resist, but she was still weakened from the sleep her body was put into.

"Soon we'll continue what we started, lover." Angelus touched her face gently and pulled her with him into the rip in reality that Michael has created.

"Nice place."

Cordelia heard a voice coming from the entrance and turned to see a funny looking man. He was looking around the hotel and whistled. "Great upgrade."

"Do I know you?" Cordelia asked, for some reason, looking at the man with the weird clothes, reminded her of a funny Irish man she used to know.

"Is Angel around?"

"Angel?" Cordelia seemed hesitant.

"You know.. Tall and broody? Not big on lively colors?"

"Oh, so you know him. You're not a client," Cordelia sighed. She looked up. "You can try the basement he spends a lot of time there." The basement was a dump. Broken furniture, papers were torn, crumpled and spread all over the place. Angel emerged from the shadows. He looked strangely at the man.

"Whistler?"

Whistler grabbed a paper from the pile on the floor. "Ah, she has grown and bloomed into a beau-" Whistler stopped talking when he looked up to see Angel's strict face.

"What are you doing here? I haven't seen you for 5 years."

"Well, remember when I told you if you see me it means there are troubles?" Whistler walked to the center of the room, looking at the nearly torn, worn out boxing bag.

"What's going on?"

"Michael had a few weird occurrences. The last vision was accompanied with stigmata..."

"Who's Michael, what's it got to do with me?" Angel questioned him.

Whistler glared at him for a moment. "Uh, I'm such a blabbermouth..." He took out a PDA from his pocket. "Right, no Michael." He looked back at Angel. "But the blonde Slayer is dead, right?"

Angel lowered his head.

"Memory starts playing tricks on you when you're over 1000 years old." The demon apologized.

"So, who's Michael and why should I care?" Angel took the painting he made of Buffy from Whistler's hand.

"It's a little complicated, but the cosmic balance was disturbed when his evil self and... Well, your evil self, from a different dimension, kidnapped Buffy from the Asgard Gardens-"

"Wait, what, Buffy?" Angel looked at him.

"Okay, to make things more simple, let's just say that Buffy's alive and if we don't bring her back to her resting place, the walls between the dimensions will collapse and the whole universe might fall under the pressure." Angel was still staring at him. "Let me get this straight- Buffy was brought back to life. Buffy is alive?"

Whistler grimaced. "Good catch. Well, kinda. You see, it's-"

"Why don't you explain this to me and my colleagues." Angel seemed alive again and headed towards the stairs.

"Let me get this straight. Buffy is alive and we need to find her and kill her in order to save the world?" Wesley looked at Whistler, shocked.

"Yes," Angel rushed to agree, but then looked at Whistler. "No!"

"I'm still stuck in the part where Angel and Buffy had a baby and now he's evil and helps Angelus." Cordelia said.

"What baby. where. how did you get that?" Angel was confused.

"Okay, one last time," Whistler sighed. "There was supposed to be only one parallel dimension, where you did not turn back the time when you were human. And only one child chosen to carry the powers of the stars. You and Buffy in that dimension were killed, the child taken by demons. I thought Kitaro came to you for help in saving the child and bringing him back to the pantheon, but I just realized it is more complex and the Buffy Angelus chose to possess was of this reality."

"Explain, possess-" Angel leaned forward, but stopped talking when he met the stern looks of his friends. "Okay, go on."

"I actually like this 'Sliders' thing. You think that in some other dimension I'm a big Hollywood star?" Cordy asked, looking at Whistler. He sighed and looked at Wesley.

"Anyway, a twist happened, a breach in time and space, you may call it, and Zadon did not follow his path, he did not kidnap the baby into the right dimension the second time he tried to get Michael, and the boy grew in evil hands. Now, abusing his powers, he invaded the Asgard Gardens. An eternal resting place for the Warriors, and created another rip in the atmosphere surrounding the Pantheon. As long as the cosmic balance does not return, the breach will grow wider until the Pantheon will collapse." Whistler took a cloth from his pocket and wiped the sweat from his forehead.

"We can't allow this to happen. The walls between the dimensions will break down and the entire universe will collapse into a black hole."

"Oh God." Wesley gasped.

Angel looked away, still digesting what he just heard.

"How can we stop it?" Cordelia asked.

"For a start, we have reason to believe Angelus chose this dimension to go to, since Buffy of this reality was the one to be taken." Whistler looked over at Angel who seemed to be deep in thought.

"You said there were two boys with powers, instead of one." Wesley pointed.

"Yes, but the boy of this time is safe at the Pantheon. He's just a baby."

"Of this time. you mean."

"The evil boy I'm talking about has also abused the tunnels of time, of which only messengers demons, like yours truly, are allowed to use."

"Can he be stopped?" Cordy asked. "Can you get the other boy with the powers. or maybe, the adult version of him from the future and use his powers against this evil kid?"

Whistler glared at her, shocked.

"What?" Cordy asked and her hand automatically flew to her hair. "Do I have something on my face?"

Angel and Wesley both blinked, glaring at her as well.

"He's not allowed to cross time and dimensions, and at the delicate stage of the Pantheon's atmosphere it will only get worse." Whistler explained.

"So how *do* we stop him? You know, without dying." Cordy insisted.

"We'll find Buffy first." Angel said and got up. "We've wasted enough time on small talk. Buffy is in my demon's hands and I don't even wanna think of what he might do to her." He turned to leave.

"I'd say we follow." Wesley got up as well.

"I have to go back." Whistler said and walked into another direction.

"Should we call Gunn?" Cordy asked, following Angel and Wes. "Where are we going?"

On to next part