It's the End of the World...Again!
Disclaimer:You know the drill. All of these characters are owned by Joss Wheadon.evil. Anyway, I don't own any of them, but if I did.well.::smirks::
Timeline:Almost up to everything that happened so far. Except Spike and Buffy aren't "together," there's no mini-Angel (you know, the kid), and Angel doesn't have messed-up feelings for Cordelia. That's just weird. Where does Joss even get ideas like that?!?!?!?!
Synopsis: Something terrible happens to Angel, and Buffy's devastated. But after constant "dreams" of the past, the PTB give her one more chance to make things right again.
Feedback:Sure. If ya want. Whatever.
Dedication:To all of you who still believe. Keep doing that so I'm not alone.
Rating: PG-13/at times NC like 15 I guess (depends which parts)
Sunnydale
It had finally come: the End of Days. Seriously, this time. No, this wasn't a simple "Beat The World Dominating Demon" or a normal "Attempt At Opening The Hellmouth." This was completely different, and it gave the Scoobies a major wiggins. Yes, the Hellmouth was going to be opened, but this was different than the other 999 times something supernatural tried to pry it open. It wasn't going to be opened by a specific being. It was just going to be opened. All of the demons and vampires who lived in all of the demon dimensions and other Hellish places would come up and kill everyone by midnight that night. And the world as everyone knew it would collapse, and the demons would take over.
The Scoobies were researching. They had been at it for 3 days already. They were all in UC Sunnydale's library since their other meeting spots were no longer available. The Sunnydale library was charcoal, and Giles's place was currently owned by a 'nice couple' with 2 kids.
Willow, Fred, Wesley, and Oz, who had been called on by Giles (who came back from England) to help fight the End of Days, seeing they'd need all the help they could get. Giles, Tara, Buffy, Angel, Dawn, and Cordelia were using good old fashioned books to look stuff up, with the two lovers seated close to each other on a couch. Dawn was busy with her appointed task, occasionally shifting uncomfortably when she found a disgusting detail. Gunn was working out the kinks in his 'favorite crossbow.' Xander and Anya were whittling stakes, getting themselves prepared for any UGVs (Unidentified Growling Vampires) that came their way. Spike was looking around for a book to research with. And even Faith, who had been let out of jail to help fight with the Scoobies, was practicing her Slaying techniques. It was like one big reunion. One big, highly uncomfortable reunion.
And it became even more uncomfortable when the most unexpected person came through the doors of UC Sunnydale's library.
"Riley?!?!?!" Willow exclaimed, shocked, from her place in front of one of the library's computers. None of the Scoobs had seen or heard of Riley Finn, AKA Fish Boy, in over a year since he broke up with Buffy and left with the Initiative to Belize. The blonde commando smiled widely at Willow, who stood up to greet him. Not surprisingly, she was the only one who did greet him. The others just stared at him in fury.
"Hey, Willow." He looked around with his eyes. "Everyone."
"What are you doing here? Weren't you in like Brazil or something?" the redhead asked. She found she was very nervous in front of Buffy's ex. Especially now that the Slayer and her ex-vampire were together again. Oh no. No tension at all.
"My squadron got word that there's been exceptional demonic activity in an area in Southern California. Figured since you weren't at Buffy's, you'd be here," he replied.
"Oh ok. Well, you might see some new faces here," she said, glancing around the spacious library. She noticed Angel had wrapped an arm possessively around her friend's waist. Buffy just smiled and cuddled into his chest, assuring him that she was his girl, now. No one else's. Willow couldn't help but grin at her friends' happiness. "That's Fred, Wesley, and," She gestured over to the brunette Slayerette in a chair, deep in Researching Mode, "Cordelia. They work in LA. Oh, I'm pretty sure you know Angel." She turned to Riley. "Right?"
"Yeah. We're acquainted," he replied. The commando's eyes raged with envy when he saw Buffy, his Buffy, on the lap of his arch nemesis. He had always hated Angel because it was obvious that Buffy had never gotten over him. And now.were they together again? Couldn't be. "Hello again, Angel."
"Riley," Angel acknowledged Buffy's ex coldly. He nodded to him and kissed a researching Buffy on the temple. Despite the fact that she was deep in thought, and the fact that she knew he was just saying 'she's mine now,' she smiled brightly, leaned up, and kissed him briefly. Then she went back to her studies. Cordelia, who was watching this whole escapade, rolled her eyes. She was happy for them, but that didn't mean she had to like the pictures it put in her head.
"H-Hi, Buffy," Riley greeted his ex-girlfriend shakily. Buffy perked up from her book and glared at him coldly. She couldn't express in words how much rage she felt for this guy who she had tried to convince herself she'd loved. After catching him paying a vampire feed off his arm and being incredibly annoyed when he kept comparing himself to Angel, it was a wonder that she could even stand to be in the same room with him.
"Hello, Riley. So, you and your Camouflage Comrades heard about this Big Bad and came sprinting all the way back up to good old Sunnyhell to try and stop it?" Buffy asked meanly. Riley couldn't blame her. After everything that had happened between the two, he was surprised he wasn't getting more hostility from the others of the group.
"Well, yeah."
"Goodie. It's a great big reunion, huh? Whoopdie freakin' doo," Buffy cheered sarcastically. Then, out of nowhere, Faith came out from behind a bookshelf. She had stopped practicing a few minutes before Riley made an appearance. When she saw him standing there, she snapped.
"Well, well. If it isn't Buffy's Corn Fed Iowan Ex."
"What the hell's psycho freak doing here?!" Riley exclaimed. Buffy actually found herself wanting to stick up for the rogue Slayer. They hadn't said much to each other since she had arrived, but they developed a mutual understanding and called truce.
"Saving your and your demented nerd cami boy friends' sorry asses," the brunette Slayer replied angrily.
"Hey! No fighting! Let's just get this research done," Xander yelled. With some reluctance from most of the members of the gang, Riley joined their research party and called his fellow commandos, who came to help as well.
"I found something! I found something!" Dawn exclaimed happily, surprising everyone else. They all got up from their seats and ventured over to the Slayer's 15 year old sister, who wasn't going to be underestimated anymore. The group stood over her book as she read a caption from the page. "Here it is. Ok. 'A millennium after the first opening of the Hellmouth, back in 1002, the mouth of Hell will open once again permanently. If it opens fully, the only thing that'll close it is.' Oh my God." The others looked on in horror, obviously reading what Dawn had just read. "Slayer's blood." She turned to her sister. "Buffy."
"We have to start moving to the high school. Xander, Anya. Get the stakes you've been whittling. Gunn, get your weapons. Everyone else. We must get going. Get your things together, and we'll be on the move," Giles ordered. Everyone did as they were told, and then they were off.
When the group reached the ruins of what was once Sunnydale High School's library, the Hellmouth was already partially opened. Luckily, only about a dozen or so demons, vampires, and other forces of darkness emerged out of the hole in the ground known to all of those involved as the mouth of Hell.
Tara, who was given orders to do a binding spell on the Hellmouth, was seated with her legs crossed under her, chanting something in Latin. The witch would only be able to hold the spell for one hour. By then, the Hellmouth would open, and surprise, surprise, Apocalypse time. Anya and Giles, who were semi-skilled in the black arts, formed 2 of the 4 that would be needed to do this. Willow, even though she wasn't supposed to be getting back into the black arts because of her little incident with Dawn and a car crash some months ago, reluctantly joined the circle as the 4th member.
Meanwhile, the others struggled with the supernatural demons. Riley and his commando buddies electrified a spiny headed looking creature with their fancy smancy ray guns. Wesley, Cordelia, and Fred were working on some vampires. Buffy, Gunn, Angel, Spike, Faith, and Oz were slowly getting rid of some other ugly assortments of demons. Dawn was busy helping the Magic Group with their spells because she wasn't very skilled when it came to impaling ugly things. That was her sister's job.
But then something grabbed her from behind. She screamed out Buffy's name, who turned her attention from decapitating a greenish demon to her troubled sister. Angel came to her rescue, but the demon threw Buffy down. She scrambled to get up, but there was a wall right there, blocking her path. But suddenly, the demon roared with pain and collapsed to the floor, revealing a bloody Faith standing over her sister Slayer.
"Thanks, Faith," Buffy said to her honestly. "I owe ya one."
"No prob, B. You don't owe me crap. After everything I did to you, I'm just making amends," she replied truthfully. The blonde smiled at the brunette briefly and then went back to fighting demons.
Meanwhile, the Magic Group was having a hard time keeping the Hellmouth sealed. Tara screamed in pain, and it occurred to her that she was feeling weak. Willow grasped her hand tighter, and the witch smiled. Even though they were broken up, they still had this unmistakable bond between them. Who knows Willow thought. Maybe when this is all over.
Demons emerged from the Hellmouth. It still wasn't completely open, but it was already over halfway there. It had been 35 minutes since the group entered the high school and started to fight the good fight. They had less than a half an hour, and they had to hurry fast.
Buffy and Angel fought side by side, killing, decapitating, and extremely wounding any demons that got in their way. But the Slayer was starting to feel weak. So far, excluding that whole thing with Glory, this was one of the most hardest battles the petite blonde had ever fought. She was thrown back. She tried to duck and roll, but it was no use. She ended up hurting her head.
Angel rushed over to her and bent before her. Her eyes fluttered open, and she stared into his deep chocolate orbs, which always made her want to cry and keel over. But this time, they made her feel stronger. He was what inspired her to keep going. So, with a reassuring squeeze from her lover's hand, she got up and continued to fight. She was determined to keep going until she either passed out from the pain and exhaustion or until if she would have to jump into that Hellmouth.
Before the Scoobies knew it, an hour had passed. It was no use. No matter how hard the Magic Group tried, they couldn't hold that binding spell anymore. Tara let out an ear-piercing screech because the pain was so intense. Willow couldn't take it anymore. She couldn't let Tara slip from her, waste away. But then, could she chose between the one she loved and her best friend?
Buffy, Angel, Spike, and Faith were standing a ways back from the mouth of Hell. It didn't matter anymore. The Hellmouth was completely opened. Realization hit her, and she knew that she had to jump. It was Fate. Her Fate. Her and Angel's Fate. God wasn't going to let them be together in life. She knew what she had to do. The blonde Slayer had that same weird sense of closure right before she jumped into that vortex instead of Dawn to her death the second time. This was it. Her number had finally come up.
"I have to go. I have to do this," Buffy said aloud, turning to Angel. She held his hands in hers and squeezed them for all she was worth. He didn't even flinch. He couldn't do this. He couldn't lose her again. Not now. Not when they were able to have this future together. He wanted to force Faith to go, but he knew that was being selfish and downright mean. Faith had already suggested going in, but Buffy, being the noble and determined woman the ex-vampire had fallen in love with all over again, declined. It was her turn, and they all knew it.
"I'm going with you!" Angel shouted over the screeching and yelling that the Hellmouth had caused. They could barely hear each other, but Buffy knew what he was doing. She couldn't let him. Could she? No! It wouldn't be fair.
"Angel, no! You have to live on. You have to!" Buffy exclaimed in reply. The rest of the group watched with great interest and sadness. Dawn the most. She couldn't lose her sister again. She came running up to her and threw her arms around her.
"Buffy, no! You can't leave me. You can't leave me! Not again! No!" Dawn yelled tearfully. Buffy hugged her sister back with tears in her eyes.
"I'm sorry, Dawny. This is what I have to do. You understand. You have to." The Hellmouth's rage swept over everyone, almost knocking them down. It was now or never. She looked to Angel once again, who still had that same determination in his eyes. He wasn't going to lose her. Not again. Dawn pulled away a little and watched the unlikely pair. She knew that she was going to lose Angel, too.
"Buffy, there's no point in my being here if you're not going to be. I lived through it once. I can't do it twice. Not now. Not when I know you won't be coming back to me," Angel said to her with feeling. Buffy understood the pain in Angel's eyes. This was the only way that they could be together. Fate couldn't catch up with them in death. This was the way it had to be. So, the blonde Slayer nodded sadly and turned back to her sister. They hugged. Then the sister of the blonde Slayer and ex-vampire hugged as well. Buffy made sure that she missed no one, not even Spike. Cordelia's tear-filled goodbye to both ex-vampire and Slayer was full of compassion. She left them with these words:
"No matter where you are. You'll always be in our hearts." The Hellmouth screeched even louder than before, and the two lovers knew what they had to do. They said their final goodbyes, clasped hands, and hurled themselves into the fiery pit known as the mouth of Hell. Everything for Buffy and Angel at that moment was just a blur. Their whole lives together flashed before their eyes. From the moment when they first met in a dark alley when Buffy was on her way to the Bronze to their last night that they spent together as a normal human couple just a couple days before.
The tear-streaked members of the Scooby Gang, members from the very beginning like Willow, Giles, Oz, Cordelia, and Xander to new recruits such as Tara, Dawn, Wesley, Anya, and even Fred, Gunn, Spike, Faith, and Riley. They all watched in horror as their friends, true lovers brought together by love and affection, torn apart by Fate, jumped into the Hellmouth. Dawn cried uncontrollably into Cordelia's shirt. The ex-cheerleader held the Key there for what seemed like eternity.
Then it was all over. The Hellmouth spat out Buffy and Angel's bodies, making them go flying through the air. They landed with a loud thud as the Hellmouth's screeches started to rise and fall. Then it ceased. The screeching stopped abruptly, and all of the minions of Hell were sucked back into the fiery hole in the ground, back to where they belonged.
The remaining Scoobies slowly and eerily walked to the now deceased lovers, who were lying peacefully together. Buffy's head was resting on Angel's chest, and it looked like, if you squinted hard enough, there was a smile spread across each of their faces. The group stood there, teary-eyed. But they knew. Somehow they knew, that they were together.
Buffy watched the whole spectacle from behind. She saw her and Angel's bodies lying there, unmoving. She couldn't help but smile as Angel placed his ghostly hand over her ghostly shoulder. He smiled at her and then gestured to a bright light. They clasped hands and almost glided into it. They were pulled up together into the clouds, and Buffy remembered this being Heaven.
People that the two lovers knew, both or only singular, stood on each side of them. On Buffy's side, there was her mother Joyce, who had died from a brain tumor not even a year before. And Natalie. Her friend from LA who died from cancer. And Kendra. Her sister Slayer who's throat was slashed by Drusilla. And all of the other Slayers who lived before her. It seemed like an endless line.
On Angel's side, there was his father and mother. And his sisters Evangeline and Katherine. And his one older brother Michael. All of whom he killed as Angelus. Then there was his friend, Doyle, who sacrificed his life for everyone else. And all of the people who he had once killed when his evil alter ego took over his body. But he wasn't upset. No, he was happy. Happier than he'd been in a long time.
When Buffy and Angel finally made it passed their loved ones, they stopped at a clearing. They were actually walking on clouds, and the sky around them was different shades of purple and blue. Their loved ones watched on as Buffy wrapped her arms around Angel's neck, and he caressed her back with his hands. And they kissed. Passionately. Everyone else clapped and whistled as they watched on. And, for once in her life, the Slayer knew that she found true happiness.
Sunnydale
The Scoobies were all seated in the Summers' living room. Xander and Anya shared a reclining chair, Willow and Tara sat close together on a 3 person couch, with Giles sitting next to them. Wesley sat with Fred on a chair made for one. Cordelia, Dawn, Gunn, and Faith were huddled together on one couch. Spike, Oz, and Riley were all standing around. Everyone was teary-eyed. Mascara leaked down faces. Blush melted away. Tear stains were left on cheeks. Buffy and Angel's bodies were on their way to a morgue right now.
Xander heard some noises coming from outside. He gave everyone a look that said 'be right back,' opened the door, and walked outside. People were scattered around the front yard singing, chanting, and holding candles and posters. There were pictures of Buffy on them and drawings of Angel. Some people even held the "Angel Investigations" card in their hands. Xander, wide-eyed, raced back into the house.
"You guys have to see this," he said to them. After a moment's hesitation, the Scooby Gang all piled out of the house and into the front yard. They listened as people praised the two lost warriors. It was amazing. Cars were parked everywhere. They could see people, cars, and busses for miles. One by one, civilians laid flowers and candles down on the Summers' lawn.
The Scoobies were standing on the porch, shocked at this site. Anya leaned into Xander, Fred, Gunn, and Wesley held each other, Dawn, Cordelia, and Faith clung to each other, Oz, Riley, Giles, and Spike watched, eyes wide, and Willow and Tara hugged each other with all their might. Slowly, smiles spread across their faces. It turned out that Buffy and Angel were a lot more known than they thought.
Buffy and Angel watched the whole scene from above, both smiling. It was sad, but they were happy that they had so many people who loved and cared for them. They looked at each other for a minute. Then Angel picked Buffy up in his arms and swung her around, both laughing. They kissed happily, knowing, finally, that they were together. And that everything would be all right. Yes, everything would definitely be all right.
Epilogue
"So that's it?" the young Slayer by the name of Carver asked. "That's why I've been getting these dreams?" Dawn, now at the age of 26, nodded. She had become a full-fledged Watcher, now, and was one for almost a year. Carver was her Slayer.
"Since then, on the day after Thanksgiving, every Slayer has gotten dreams of my sister and her lover's lost day. It doesn't mean any end of the world stuff because they've already accomplished that. You're just here to kill any remaining demons that have managed to live passed that day. That's why Slayers are still called. It's nothing to be afraid of," Dawn replied. Carver's eyes went wide at hearing the story of Buffy Summers and Angel her Watcher had just told her. She'd heard a couple of versions, but she believed this one the most. After all, Dawn had been there.
"Wow," Carver muttered. "I think I'll finally be able to get some sleep tonight." With that, the dark-haired Slayer got up and went to bed. It was late, and Dawn was tired, as well. Before she went upstairs to her room in her house that she shared with her Slayer, she glanced at a one-time only picture of her sister and Angel. Together. He had her cradled in his arms, and she was smiling. At the time, she had been laughing uncontrollably about something or other. Dawn just smiled and turned to walk away. Then suddenly, the backdoor flew open. It was nighttime and windy outside, so it wasn't a big deal. Dawn sighed and stared at the open door for a minute. She wasn't afraid of the dark anymore. She turned and started up the stairs. No, she definitely wasn't afraid anymore.
Somewhere, on top of a hill in Restfield Cemetery, lay a conjoined grave. It has the most flowers on the dirt pile at the foot of it. It has roses going along the edges, and there's a picture of two crossed stakes on the top and a Claddagh ring on the bottom. And the caption says: Buffy and Angel. Together in life, together in death, together for all eternity.
END.