by Felicity

Disclaimer: No, I'm not this evil.

Author's Notes: Okay, this is therapy fic for IWRY, also involving prophecies, apocalypses and whatever odd things pop into my head...but mostly B/A-ness. The parts are all gonna be first person from different people's points of views, but mostly Buffy and Angel. Bad things will happen. This is gonna be very angsty, but I promise, it will all work out in the end! And no, there is NO relation to the movie!

The End of Days shall come.

And in this time, a thousand thousand beasts of Hell shall descend on the Earth. Darkness shall fall so that there is no day, only night. Humanity shall perish beneath the onslaught. All life shall exist only to serve darkness, and fire shall envelop the Earth. The Warriors shall fall before the Lords of Hell, last of all the Slayer and the Angel, as the Fires eat away at everything the world has ever known. But out of the ashes they shall rise again, as the Pheonix, and the fight shall be renewed.

-The Diary of Mihai Svjatopolk, 999 A.D.

Buffy

"Bloody friggin' hell," Spike muttered. I glanced up at him from my seat on Giles' couch, wondering what he was complaining about now. He glared at me. "Shaggin' ropes broke my nail."

I suppressed a laugh. "Well stop trying to get out then."

"I told you, I can't bloody hurt anything!" he shouted.

"How sad." I looked at Giles' grandfather clock and tossed the magazine I'd been reading onto the table. "Gotta go. Have fun.in your chair." He glared at me again, and I smirked, picking up my jacket and going to look for Giles.

He appeared in the door of his study as I raised my hand to knock. "You're sure he said a Mohra demon?" he asked. I glanced at the open tome in his hands and nodded.

Oh. Great. Like I needed to be reminded of Angel. Like it wasn't bad enough having dreams every night about him being human, about us.No, not thinking about that. I had patrolling to do. And homework to finish. And.a life I was supposed to be getting on with.

Besides, it had been like a week and half since I visited Angel. Why was Giles bringing this up now?

"Why? What's it say?" I asked, praying that it said absolutely nothing. I don't know why I even mentioned the stupid demon. It's not like it had seemed that hard to kill or anything. I guess I'd just been startled by it. And it had felt odd, like I'd seen one before even though I know I absolutely never had.

"Oh.they're demon assassins. I wonder if perhaps it knew you were there."

"Uh.I doubt it. Seemed to be going after Angel and he knew what it was, so it was probably him.Wait, an assassin? Like sent to kill Angel?" No, this was not a good sign. At all.

"Not necessarily," Giles said quickly. "They go after those who fight on the side of the Light, but aren't necessarily sent specifically after anyone." Aren't necessarily? Now that was comforting.

"Maybe I should call him," I said, trying to conceal my nervousness. Seeing him had been like getting a bucket of ice water dumped over my head. Except I had this odd longing to have it keep happening. And with all the dreams.

"I don't think that's necessary," Giles said, catching my eyes. "Angel can.can take care of himself. If I find anything that points to further danger, I will call him. Now, should you perhaps go patrolling?"

His question was gentle, designed to get my mind off the subject of Angel. Like that was possible. Of course, he was right. I did have patrolling to do. I'd also schemed with Xander to try and catch one of the NATO guys. Spike said they were working on our side, but I decided not to take his word for it. I'd feel better with one in my custody.

"Right. Patrolling. Got to catch myself a military man. Always did like men in uniform," I quipped. He looked unconvinced by my joking. I turned around and waved, walking back towards Spike, tied up in the living room. He turned to glare at me again. I grinned cheerfully at him. "Hello bait."

I hid out in the bushes, threatening Spike with my stake if he so much as wandered towards the edges of the clearing.

And they came, true to form.

There were three of them. Not too bad odds, considering that Spike swore they were human underneath all that stuff. It was the weapons that could possibly throw me. Possibly.

Spike vamped out and tried to look threatening.

"We know you can't hurt us," one of them said, sounding oddly familiar through the muffling mask. I crossed my arms and waited, trying to decide when the best time to attack would be. I had to catch them unawares-surprise would be my best tool. That and super-strength. Though if they were on my side, I didn't want to hurt them. I stifled a sigh, almost hoping they were demons. I could use something to beat up. It's better than ice cream sometimes.

"If you come quietly it'll be easier for you," the second one told Spike. His eyes darted to me. I shrugged. His eyes went wider. To save Spike or not to save Spike? It's not like he didn't deserve a little roughing up, but he had helped me, so.

I jump-kicked the middle one in the back, whirling to punch the second and kicking the third. The first one punched me in the stomach and I kneed him, cracking my elbow into the nose of the second and drop-kicking him. The third grabbed my arm but I brought my fist up into his nose. Amazingly he held on and as I kicked the second, the first one grabbed my other arm. Before I could throw him off, the second asked, in an unmistakable voice, "Buffy?"

I stared, ceasing all struggle for a moment. He pulled off his mask and sure enough. "Riley?!" I shouted, wondering what the hell Hick Boy from Iowa was doing in military fatigues chasing down Spike. Maybe I didn't give Iowa enough credit. Or maybe they gave kids guns at the age of two.

"What are you.you're the Assailant?" he demanded, looking so flabbergasted I nearly burst out laughing. I felt the uncontrollable urge to rub his nose in the fact that I, the girl who supposedly couldn't take care of herself, could easily kick his ass. But Giles would probably be annoyed if I didn't find out who and what he was first.

"The Assailant? Well not exactly. Who the Hell are you? And what are you doing attacking vampires? Not that I have a problem with that, you know, but trying to drag away my best friend is really not a good idea."

"I.we." Suddenly he straightened up and lost his fumbling-Riley look. "That's Top Secret information."

I know it was bad of me, but I couldn't help a giggle. Just one little giggle. Riley looked mortally offended. Forrest and Graham, who had released me and taken off their masks suppressed smiles. Riley glared at them and they straightened up, eyeing me suspiciously. I cocked my eyebrows at Riley, who was obviously "in charge."

"Top Secret, huh? Let me tell you about 'Top Secret'. Tell me who you really are, what you're doing and why or I'll kick all your asses, human or no."

"There's one of you, and three of us," Riley said softly. I crossed my arms.

"And you're all guys and I'm a helpless little female." I smiled ferally. "You wanna try me?"

He didn't look too eager. I sighed and uncrossed my hands. "Look, I think we're on the same side here. This is all just a big misunderstanding. Why don't you just tell me what's going on. There's no need to resort to violence."

Behind me, Spike guffawed. We all turned to look at him. "What?" I snapped.

"No need to resort to violence," Spike muttered. "You're all wimps! The whole bloody lot of you are going to spend the friggin' night 'talking it out' and not get anywhere! Humans!"

"Spike, you're one to talk. You can't even bite anyone. At the moment, you're living on my good graces alone. So shut the Hell up!" Spike glared at me some more and started muttering under his breath.

"You know him?" Riley asked when I turned back.

"More like despise, but yeah, something along those lines."

"Spike?"

"That's his name."

"Name?"

"You really don't know much about vampires, do you?" I asked, eyeing him with less and less respect every time he opened his mouth. What was he doing here?

"I knew they had names, I just didn't think a human would take time to get to know them. Especially-hey, you still haven't told me what you're doing out here! And how do you know Hostile 17!"

"Hostile 17?" I asked, glancing at Spike. "You know, he's really weak as a kitten right now."

"But you're.familiar with him."

"You have no idea buddy," Spike said, smirking. "She's been a lot more familiar with other vampires." I flipped my stake in the air, just for effect. He shut up.

"Why do you have a stake?" Forrest asked. I eyed him in disbelief.

"Works really well for killing them you know." From the looks they gave me, I wasn't so sure they did. "You know, hunting vampires? Dusting them? What do you people do anyway?"

"You hunt vampires?" Riley asked.

"No, she was just out for fun," Spike said sarcastically.

"Thank you, I can handle my own sarcastic comments Spike." I turned back to Riley. "Isn't that what you're doing?"

"Yes but-"

"So why shouldn't I be doing the same?"

"You don't have equipment or-or-"

"Big hunky muscles?" I suggested sweetly, wondering if he'd like a demonstration. I flipped the stake in the air again and caught it on my finger tip. "I have equipment. I just work lighter."

"But why-"

"She's the Slayer man. The bloody bedamned Slayer."

From the blank look the three of them gave me, I could tell it was going to be a long night. And a fun one, with Spike along for the ride.

Of course, things don't always work out as expected.

That moment, a huge, ugly Mohra demon (not like the one I saw in L.A. was pretty or anything) jumped out, straight at Riley. I rolled my eyes and looked for something I could shatter it's jewel with.

Riley was struggling beneath the thing, so I kicked it off before turning to Graham. "Knife?" He gave me a blank look. "Do you have a knife?" He nodded finally and grabbed one from his belt. I took it and spun in time to see Spike dodge out of the way, leaving Riley open to attack again. He was readying a litle gun type thing. I rolled my eyes and shoved him out of the way, scissor-kicking the thing before throwing the knife straight into the jewel on it's head.

"The End of Days nears," it croaked as it began to split apart. I fetched the knife a minute later and threw it to Graham, pondering the meaning of that one.

"I'd love to chat really, but apparently the End of Days is coming, and I need to have talk to a friend. Riley, I'll see you tomorrow. Think about my offer," I said levelly. Riley was all right.a complete and utter dufus by day, but a nice enough person. I didn't want to hurt him. But if he was working for vampires, there wasn't much choice in the matter. You do what you have to do in my line of work.

"Spike," I said and he grudgingly followed me. I didn't even glance back at the three shocked young men. Whatever the End of Days was, it sounded a tab bit more important at the moment.

Some say the world will end in fire,
Some in ice.
From what I've tasted of desire
I hold with those who favor fire.
But if it had to perish twice,
I think I know enough of hate
To ay that for destruction ice
Is also great
And would suffice.

-Robert Frost (1874-1963)

Angel

She haunted my dreams, my every waking moment. Her smile, her laugh, the gleam of her eyes, the sound of her voice telling me she would never forget.

Doyle and Cordelia were getting annoyed.

"I told you he was in denial," Cordelia muttered to Doyle, thinking I couldn't hear. I was sitting at my desk, staring at the tea cup that we'd smashed and that was now whole.

"Well he's not anymore," Doyle replied in a low voice. I sipped the tea cup and tried to get my mind off all the things that hadn't happened-except I knew they had.

"Doyle!" I called. He was in my office moments later, giving me a concerned look. Like I couldn't tell. They thought I was going to hurt myself, but that would be missing the point. I had to be there, and be strong, to protect Buffy. That was my only purpose now. To protect people.

Happiness wasn't even a shadow on my thoughts. I knew it was lost. No point in longing for something you'll never have.

"Have you heard anything about the 'End of Days'?" I asked, looking up from my desk. He shook his head, confused.

"Why?"

"The Mohra demon mentioned it," I said, standing up. I walked around the desk and leaned on the side. Cordelia peeked in the door to see what was happening.

"I thought you killed it as soon as it came in," she pointed out.

"Another Mohra demon," I said quickly, my eyes darting around guiltily.

"Another one? What aren't you tellin' us Angel?" Doyle asked.

"Nothing, I just forgot to mention that while I was out last night I killed another one."

They didn't look convinced. I don't suppose I was very convincing.

"Just see if you can find anything about it."

"Will do." Doyle started out of my office and paused at the door. The phone rang and Cordelia made a face before going to answer it. Doyle hesitated. "Are you all right man? I mean, I know what it's like to have an ex show up.if you want to talk about it-"

"I don't," I said quietly. I couldn't tell him, I couldn't tell anyone. It would be too hard. Besides, it was my burden to carry, forever.

"Okay then, I just thought I'd-" I gave him a look and he broke off, nodding. "Right. End of Days. Sounds cheery."

"Uh, Angel? It's Giles," Cordelia said, giving me a significant look.

"Giles?" Doyle asked her as I walked back into my office to pick up the phone in there.

"Buffy's former Watcher. The stuffy one," Cordelia said. I shook my head, hoping she'd put Giles on hold and he wasn't listening to the whole conversation.

Why would he be calling?

"Hello?" I said, picking up the phone.

"Angel, well.I admit it was a bit of a shock having Cordelia answered the phone, even though I'd been told she was working for you."

"Yeah, it is a little odd," I agreed, sitting down and watching Doyle and Cordelia bicker in the next room. "What were you calling about?"

"Buffy was attacked by a Mohra demon tonight. Before she killed it, it said the 'End of Days' was coming. As you obviously knew something about the demons, I thought I would call and see if you could.enlighten us at all as to what that meant," Giles said. My eyes fixed on a knot on wood of the desk.

"Is Buffy all right?" I asked, terror threatening to rip me apart.

"Oh.yes, yes of course! She's fine," Giles assured me quickly. I settled back into my chair, focusing my mind back on the problem at hand. As long as Buffy was safe.

"I have heard the term mentioned, but I don't know much about it either. I've heard it before, in an old prophecy. Perhaps Svjatopolk, though I wouldn't give him much creedence."

"No, no, nor would I. But perhaps I will look it up. That's all you know of it?"

"Well, there have been Apocalypse warnings for years, centering around the turn of the millenium. I'm having my people look for any references," I told him, wondering at myself. "My people"?

"G-good. Thank you then, that's all I.Buffy didn't tell me very much about her visit. Was it all right?" he asked, sounding concerned. For which one of us? I wondered, and shook my head at myself. I had killed his lover and tortured him. It was more than enough that he could tolerate me. I shouldn't expect him to care. Really, I shouldn't expect any of them to care.

"It was fine. She was upset about the lurking, but we agreed that it was better. Or at least that we shouldn't see each other anymore." It was painful just saying the words, knowing that we hadn't agreed, still able to feel her in my arms, feel my heart beating and hear her crying that she would never forget, that it wasn't enough time.

I shook the thought off. I had business. Some kind of Apocalypse warning. Hundreds of Mohra demons coming, and I had to hold them off.

"Right. I'll let you go then, I suppose you have hopeless to help."

"Something like that. Thanks for calling. If I find out anything else, I'll let you know."

"I'd appreciate that. Good bye then."

"Good bye." I hung up the phone and sat back in my chair, staring into nothing.

"Is everything okay in Sunnydale?" Cordelia asked, poking her head in the door. I glanced up at her.

"It's fine. He just wanted to ask about something," I said, standing up. "Is there anything I have to do?" She shook her head mutely.

"Then I'm going to bed. We have a busy day tomorrow." More people to save. More demons to kill. More lives to keep burning. All the lives but mine.

"Doyle," I said, walking out of my office. "Get right on that. I think we're going to need that information soon. Too soon."

"Sure boss. Whatever you say. I can't just go see the movie?" I threw him a dirty look and got into the elevator.

I didn't sleep that night, but wandered my apartment restlessly, touching the table that should be broken, the bed that should smell of her, the empty fridge where ice cream and peanut butter should sit. The next night I didn't sleep again, but this time I left, wandering the streets in the darkness.

People would stare as I passed by bars, pulsing with loud, dark music, or elegant restaurants where the truly refined sat and chatted lightly about the fashions in Paris and the next presidential elections. I passed the filthy street corners where beggars sat with their tin cups and toothless, drunk smiles. I invaded dens, unloosing the fury of stolen desire, stunted happiness upon the soulless creatures, snarling at their victims until they ran in fear from me as well and I slumped down, hating myself more than I'd evr hated the ones I killed.

Lights had begun to flicker and go out when I saw him on the street corner. He wasn't homeless, or a beggar. His clothes were perfectly nice, if a little rumpled. He wore a business suit and a tie, and little glasses with thick rims. And he held a sign, clutching it almost for dear life. The sign said: The End of Days is coming. The world will perish in fire and ice.

I stopped and stared at him until he turned, as if drawn by my gaze. His eyes beneath the glasses looked haunted. "It's true," he whispered harshly. "It's true."

And I knew, in his mind anyway, it was.

Oz

It took a while to find an uninhabited place. A couple thousand of miles driving. Gave me time for reflection, and I got there before the next full moon. It was perfect too. A little cold (okay, mostly below freezing) and isolated. That's what I was going for after all.

I missed her. At night, when the sky was clear, I would sit outside beneath the stars and play my guitar, all the songs I wrote for her.

It was one of those nights I noticed it.

It was so small at first, just this odd blackness where I could have sword there was a star or two. It was just a whole, a tiny dot of total blackness in a black sky. None of the starlight seemed to reach it. It seemed to swallow the moonlight.

I shrugged it off as my fatigue and went to bed.

The next day, it was still there. And a lot more visible in the sunlight.

It got bigger. Every day, it got bigger. Once in a while, if you looked at the right time, it would almost pulse, and the area around it was dimmer than everything else. Like it swallowed whatever light came near it.

When it looked to be as big as small plate, I decided enough contemplation was enough. I packed up my stuff, got in my van and started driving home.

Big black holes in the sky just didn't seem like a normal occurrence.

There are those born into this world that see what others may not see. There are those born to this world that fight what others may not fight. And there are those born to this world that live what others may not live.

The first shall be the harbingers of Darkness. The second shall be the warriors against the Darkness. And the third shall live through the Darkness, and bring about a second Light.

-The Book of Three, 539 A.D.

Buffy

Professor Walsh was giving me the oddest looks all through Psych. Maybe it was cause I was staring at Riley with narrowed eyes. Maybe it was cause he was staring at me with that "duh" look in his eyes, like he still hadn't recovered from the shock.

Maybe she was staring at Willow, who had been crying all night and looked kinda splotchy.

Later, I found out why she was staring. I really hate it when my teachers turn out to be in league with.whatever she was in league with. I'm still a little fuzzy on the whole concept of why she'd set up huge underground laboratories and recruited college students to capture demons and test them. I think it was some kind of revenge gig.

But I'm getting ahead of myself. And completely off subject.

I stopped by Riley on my way out of class. "So, did you think about my offer?" I asked. He glanced at Professor Walsh, at which point I began to suspect the Psych teacher wasn't all that she was cracked up to be. Or maybe she was more.

"I can't tell you anything," he said. He glanced the professor again. I sighed, turned and marched over to her.

"Okay, maybe you know nothing about this and I'm making a fool of myself, but going by Riley's not-so-subtle signals and the fact you've been staring at me for the last hour, I'm guessing you're the one to threaten here," I told her, catching her cold eyes. Nothing past acrossed her face. Nothing passed across mine.

"I wouldn't try threatening me Ms. Summers," she warned cooly.

"What? You're going to give me a bad grade?" I asked sweetly. "I quake with fear. There are things going on in this town you can't possibly imagine. I need to know what you're doing." Professor Walsh glanced at Willow who was a few steps away, glaring at Riley. When I told her what happened she'd muttered something about lying bastards and how she'd known it all along. When I hesitantly agreed men were evil she started crying. "What I know she knows," I said, following her gaze. "So get on with it."

"Some of our 'guests' have spoken of a Slayer. We thought they were delusional from the drugs," Professor Walsh said calmly. "What precisely is a Slayer?"

"Uh-uh, you first," I instructed, amazed that this woman believed herself a menace to vampires. She'd never opened a book of prophecies in her life, had she? She gave me a sharp look.

"I don't think you're in a position to be dicatating Ms. Summers. You apparently have something of ours. You will return it." I arched my eyebrows at her.

"Oh. I'm not in a position to dictate. I wouldn't send out any more men Professor. I patrol at night, and since I don't know your friends, I'll have to assume you're enemies. Ask any of your 'guests' what the Slayer does to her enemies."

I just loved the look on Riley's face. This is not amusing, I told myself. Stop being amused. I gave them my sweetest smile and stalked out of the room, Willow beside me. Then I got annoyed.

"Who do they think they are? I've spent four years giving up my social life to fight these things, and they think they can just waltz in and zap them? And not tell me?" I demanded.

"Very rude," Willow agreed.

"Rude? What's rude? You guys aren't talking about me, right?" Xander asked, appearing out of nowhere. Willow jumped.

"Xander, you know you're not supposed to sneak up on us Campus People. We don't have the skills of the wild anymore," I teased.

"What are you doing here?" Willow asked. "I thought you had a job.digging."

"Oh. Right. Well, they're kind of reluctant to continue with that one since the murders and I was kinda reluctant to continue since the syphilis," he replied. "But really, I'm here to bring news of iminent doom!"

"You sound way too cheerful about that," I informed him, groaning inwardly. Not again.

"Do not!" he muttered defensively. Willow and I exchanged looks.

"Completely yes. But that's okay Xan," I assured him. "So, what's the sitch?"

"Giles just got a call from a mysterious source-" I gave him a look. "-okay, Angel, who apparently found a guy having visions which include Mohra demons and the words 'End of Days'.ring any bells?" I nodded grimly.

"Does he need me now?"

"Nope, he's in G-Man mode, he just wanted you gals to be in the know."

"Thank you! I'll be a lot more comfortable at my classes knowing the world's gonna end!" I told him. He grinned.

"Glad to be of service. Now I gotta get back, help with the research. We have a world to save people!"

"Buh-bye!" I said, pushing him gently off and waving. Willow and I exchanged smiles and kept walking.

"Buffy, wait!" Riley's voice called. I turned, crossing my arms to regard him. He jogged up and stopped beside me. "I need to talk to you about Professor Walsh."

"Save it Riley," I told him, in no mood. "Unless you're ready to tell me everything, I've got more important things to worry about."

"More important things?" he asked, brushing his hair out of his face. My hands tightened involuntarily. I hate the way his bangs hang in his face like that. Get a haircut! I wanted to yell, but managed to restrain myself.

"Well, I personally would consider the end of the world a tad more important, but I guess it's all perspective huh?" I asked brightly, then grabbed Willow's arm and hurried away. This was not my day.

"No, it's not enough time!" I cried, clinging to him for dear life.

"We don't have a choice, it's done," he said softly. My heart broken into a thousand pieces all over again.

"How am I supposed to go on with my life, knowing what we had? What we could have had?" I sobbed. I couldn't do it. I couldn't walk away and go back to Sunnydale, to college. After what we had, nothing would ever be the same. Nothing could ever equal that, or even come close.

"You won't," he told me. "No one will know but me." And that's almost worse, because I won't even have it. I won't even have the memory. I won't have the feeling of his pulse, or the taste of chocolate in his mouth, or the glorious feeling of laying in his arms, hearing his heartbeat.

I can't forget.

I won't let myself forget.

I sat up, gasping for breath, and turned to look at the clock. 3:47. Willow was still fast asleep in her bed. I threw off the covers and slipped out of bed, walking silently over to the dresser and pulling out a pair of workout pants and a sweatshirt. I left a stake on my pillow, so Willow would know where I was if she woke up, twisted my hair up with a second, and tucked a third into my wrist sheath.

The halls of the dorm were dark. I glanced at the elevator and took the stairs instead. Images of Angel flashed in my mind. No. Bad. Not thinking about that. It's just a dream.

But it didn't feel like just a dream.

I emerged into the cool night air and paused, glancing around. The campus was quiet. I wondered if Professor Walsh had taken my threat seriously. I almost hoped not. I could really use someone to beat up. That's terrible! I told myself firmly. I might have to fight other humans, but I shouldn't enjoy it.I could really use some demons to beat up, I amended.

As it turned out, I got my wish.

Angel

I took him back to the apartment and called Doyle and Cordelia. Doyle arrived a half hour later. Cordelia took an hour and a half.

"Good of you to come," I said when she walked in the door. She glared at me.

"I hate this job!" she muttered. "What is it now?"

"We've got an Apocalypse on our hands," I told her quietly. She groaned.

"Not again! You couldn't tell me this before I paid like three months rent in advance?" I eyed her silently. She shook her head and sat down.

"So how do you know this anyway?"

"There's a prophet downstairs with Doyle. He's seen visions of it."

"Oooh, now we come equipped with visions."

"Cordelia."

"Okay okay, what do you need?" she asked in her perpetually annoyed tone.

"I want you to take notes on his story and then type it up. And remember the details."

"Remember the details," Cordelia muttered, grabbing a pad of paper. I followed her into the elevator and down to the apartment. Doyle and John were sitting on the couch. John was staring at his shaking hands.

"How's it going?" I asked, sitting down opposite them.

"John was just telling me about his kids," Doyle said evenly. I figured it would be best if he waited with the man. He had some experience with visions, after all.

"This is your prophet?" Cordelia demanded. I gave her a warning look and she flopped into a chair. "Can we get on with it please? I'm missing my beauty sleep here."

"Could you tell us again about your visions?" I asked, leaning forward to regard him intently. He nodded, swallowing nervously.

"I-it all started about three weeks ago. One day in the middle of lunch I was.somewhere else."

"Where?"

"I don't know, but it was.everything was on fire. All the buildings were burning, and there were people everywhere.dead bodies. I looked up and saw a-a monster. It had wings, and scales and it was going to kill me-And then I was back at the table, and my friend was asking me what was wrong."

"When did the next one come?"

"Five days later. I was getting ready for bed. This one was more detailed-I looked up at the sky, but it was gone there was just black. The sun was gone. The whole sky was.empty. And there were things flying around, horrible things. They were carrying people, and body parts. And then I woke up again. The next one was three days later. It was somewhere else and instead of fire, it was-ice. Everything was ice. Everyone was frozen, and monsters were eating them. One of them looked straight at me, and laughed-" He broke off, shuddering. I waited, wondering what it was like to live with these kind of visions.

He took a deep breath and finally continued. "They got more and more frequent. I couldn't function anymore. Even when I wasn't having visions, I would hear these voices in my head, saying that the End of Days is coming. I would look at someone, and see their death in my mind.I had to warn them, but no one listens. Why do you listen?" he asked suddenly, looking up to meet my eyes.

"Because we have to," I said. "Because someone has to stop it."

There were two born, in the beginning, given souls and set on a path that no other beings could endure. They were darkness and light, fire and earth, air and water. They were matched perfectly, and only together could they find the strength they would need.

They were born to fight. Darkness is their enemy, Light their only hope of salvation.

They were born to suffer. Pain is their teacher and their enemy. Love is their savior.

One shall be known as the Slayer and the other shall be called the Angel.

And as they were there at the Beginning, so shall they be at the End.

-The Diary of Mihai Svjatopolk, 999 A.D.

Buffy

There were five of them. Big, with very long claws and the ugliest faces I have ever seen.

And they had wings.

"Hi guys," I said with a nervous smile. "Imagine meeting you here."

They didn't really want to chat.

I got in a few good kicks, but they didn't seem to be doing much. In fact, I had the distinct feeling they were toying with me. I hate that feeling. I backed one up into the wall and pummeled it before another one pulled me off and cut my arm in the process. I jumped up on the wall and kicked the second one's head, and suddenly found myself being smothered by a huged winged thing descending on me from above.

I decided this would be a good time to run.

I kicked the thing off me and took off towards my dorm. These things wouldn't be so bad-if I had some weapons to work with. Give me a sword, a cross bow, a good battle ax-or one of those missile launchers Xander was so fond of-and I'd take them all easily.

Me, alone, with two stakes was not quite as good of an option.

So I was running, and getting away just fine. When I heard Riley's voice. Yelling for help.

I should have left him there. I told them not to send anyone out, and if he was out it was his own damn fault. I should have let him live with his choices.

I just couldn't do that.

I turned around and sized up the situation. Riley was trying to zap them with his little gun-thing, and it was having less than no effect. They almost seemed energized. "Don't you demons have anything better to do with your time?" I asked under my breath and broke off a tree branch before running into the fight.

I swung it, hitting one of them in the side of the head. It reeled slightly and the others backed away. Riley stared at me, unmoving. "Run!" I yelled. It took him a second, but he finally got the picture. I held them off for a few more minutes with the tree branch, then dropped it and followed as fast as I could. When I passed him, I grabbed his hand and pulled him faster after me.

"What are those things?" he asked.

"Don't ask. Just run!" I yelled back, pulling him faster. I risked a glance over my shoulder and ran faster at the sight. Three of them were right behind us, their wings flapping in the dark night. We were nearing the dorm and with one last burst of speed we pushed into the door. I peeked out enough to see the three wheel upwards at the very last second, circle for a moment and then fly away. I relaxed against the door, then remembered Riley and spared him a glare.

"What the hell was that?" I demanded. "Don't you know not to leap into something you're completely unprepared for? Just be glad I saved your sorry ass!"

"I thought I could stun them," he said in a shocked voice. I rolled my eyes.

"Riley, you don't know what you're doing. And I would suggest you stop doing it. If you don't get yourself killed, you're going to get someone else killed. Leave it to people who know how, okay?" I wanted to hit him. Really hard.

I walked away.

"Wait," he called. I paused momentarily, but didn't turn back. "What did you mean about the Apocalypse? And what were those things?"

"You tell me, I'll tell you. Good night Riley," I said, trying to keep the anger out of my voice. I took a deep breath and kept walking.

"Well that was spectacularly unhelpful," I muttered to myself as I walked back up to my dorm room. I wondered if Riley would be smart enough to stay here until morning. I decided I really didn't care. I let myself back into the room. Willow was still sleeping. 4:13. Should I call Giles, or wait until morning?

Well, someone should get some sleep, I decided, climbing into bed without changing. Maybe this time I would be able to sleep without dreams.

Maybe.

Giles

"Why didn't you call me at once?" I asked. Buffy shrugged, looking a bit too nonchalant for some who had encountered five Korika demons the night before.

"It was four in the morning Giles. I wanted you to sleep," she said firmly. I repressed the desire to roll my eyes.

"I was awake reading. Next time something of this nature happens you should.should call me at once," I told her.

"Sorry." She glanced around the living room. "Any news?"

"I haven't been able to find anything decisive, unfortunately." Unfortunately indeed. I'd been up all night reading. I took off my glasses and rubbed my eyes. "How is the.Riley thing progressing?" Buffy made a face.

"Could he be more annoying? It's Professor Walsh that really gets to me though! Adults should know better than to throw impressionable young people out to the demons like that without any real training!"

I smiled softly. "And what did I do to you?"

She looked startled, then smiled and shook her head. "You know it's my sacred duty Giles. Besides, you always made sure I was super-prepared. Never a demon I didn't know!"

Not yet anyway. But I was worried about this End of Days thing. True, Angel's "prophet" could be simply a man in need of mental help, but the signs all pointed to true prophecies.

Which is what worried me.

Korika demons were also not a reassuring sign, especially since by what Angel had described of the man's visions, they seemed to be recurring figures. Korika meant "Bringer of Death" in ancient Moruvian. Their word for "death" could also mean "destruction" or "endings". None of the meanings seemed to point towards happy conclusions.

What I couldn't tell her was that I had found a prophecy. A prophecy I'd always regarded as idiotic-until I read it again and found another mention of a Slayer and an Angel together. Two hundred pages apart the man spoke of them again. It couldn't be ignored as coincidence.

I wished I could ignore it. It isn't a pretty prophecy. Better to be prepared, I suppose. I just couldn't bring myself to tell her. I hadn't even told Angel. I kept hoping he would find it out on his own, and I wouldn't have to tell him. As if they hadn't gone through enough. As if we all hadn't.

"Giles?" Buffy asked, in the tone of someone who had said it several times before. I started.

"Y-yes?" She rolled her eyes.

"I'm gonna go do homework. Patrol a little later. With lots of weapons. Do you think they'll be hanging around?"

"Hmm?" I asked, a little distracted by thoughts of the approaching Apocalypse.

"The Korka demons," she reminded me.

"Korika," I corrected her absently.

"Whatever. Do you think they're still here?" I shook my head.

"No, the Korika are constantly on the move. They can't stay in any place for very long because they-" She cut off my explanation.

"Okay, thank you. Just checking." She picked up her purse and started toward the door, then paused and glanced back at me. "Oh and Giles?" I nodded, looking up at her. "If I happen to come across anyone like, say, Riley doing stupid things, could I punch him? Please?"

I smiled and shooed her on her way.

John

I was sitting in Angel's kitchen, sipping tea. It was a nice apartment-nothing next to what my home had been like. I missed it. Mostly though, I missed my kids, and my wife. My Sam.But whenever I looked at her, all I could see was her lying dead on the floor, a monster (Angel called them demons) ripping her open.

I had to warn her. I had to. But she didn't understand. Or she did.she thought I was crazy. I am crazy.

I missed her so much.

And Laura, and Eric, my perfect little children. I couldn't close my eyes without seeing visions of them, visions of horrors to terrible to even imagine.

I sat in Angel's kitchen and sipped tea, and missed them.

And then another vision came.

It ripped into me like they always did, tearing open my insides and laying them before the universe. I watched as the picture solidified into reality. They were so real-I could feel the heat of the fires, hear the screams and cries, see the sharp gleam of claws and the blood of innocent people everywhere.

I stumbled and fell to my knees, crying out in horror as my hand came up from the ground covered with blood. I tried to get up, struggled and fell again, and then rose and ran. I ran and ran, but everywhere was the same. The horror didn't end. And up in the sky was that terrible blackness, that utter emptyness.

My legs gave out and I fell, staring up at the wall of fire that was coming. I struggled to stand again, reached out to a big sign, the end ripped off like it was a piece of paper, not solid wood. I grasped it and pulled myself up, seeing, just before I was pulled back into reality, the remaining words on the sign-

elcome to Sunnydale.

It's the End of the World as we know it
It's the End of the World as we know it
It's the End of the World as we know it
And I feel fine
I feel fine

-"End of the World As We Know It" by REM

Angel

I resisted as long as I could, but when John saw a blond girl fighting a demon-and dying-in one of his visions, I couldn't stop myself.

So there I was, in Sunnydale. Again. And I couldn't for the life of me decide what to do.

I knew I shouldn't sneak around behind her back again. If she found out, she would be angry, she would-what? Come talk to me again? Change my universe in one day that she will never even know existed? But we both.agreed.that it would be better not to see each other. Two weeks later I show up on her doorstep? I don't even have much to say. There isn't really any immediate danger to fight.

But I couldn't stay in L.A., hearing secondhand about visions of her doom.

I lingered on the campus, staring up at the light in her window. Doyle had looked up her building and room number for me. Her silhouette crossed the window-I could tell it was her, not Willow. No one else has her slender, strong body. I can still feel it against mine-No. Bad thoughts. Unproductive thoughts.

I wanted to run to her, to beg her to remember, to search her soul for anything, any moment, any lingering memories of that day.

I knew, if I did, there would be none to find.

So I waited, I lingered, hoping for some demon to appear. Something I could fight. Something I could kill, to prove to myself I had made the right choice, I was protecting people after all.

Something stirred in the bushes. I cocked my head, listening, not wanting to give away the fact I knew it was there. It would try to surprise me, and I would be ready.

I waited.

And then everything went black.

Buffy

"Ange-" Buffy murmured, shaking herself awake. She opened her eyes and glanced over at Willow, who was curled up on her bed listening with headphones to music. Buffy shook her head, looking at the clock. No one should be awake at 6:30 in the morning. She pushed herself up and got out of bed, waving a hand in front of Willow to notify her friend she was there.

"Oh, good morning!" Willow said brightly, taking off the earphones.

"Morning. Aren't you the Wakey Girl?" I asked, heading towards the bathroom.

"I couldn't sleep," Willow confessed.

"Yeah, I had.interesting dreams," I said. "Shower." I closed the door of the bathroom and wondered how it was possible to have the same exact dream every night for two weeks.

"Buffy!" Riley called. I winced, but stopped and turned to regard him.

"What?" I asked, crossing my arms.

"Professor Walsh wants to talk to you," he said, obviously trying to put some meaning into the words. I sighed.

"Fine. Make it quick, I have work to do." He nodded and I followed him through the hall into Walsh's office. She looked up from her desk when we came in. Riley shut the door.

"Did you come to your senses and decide to share?" I asked. Walsh's lips thinned.

"I've thought long and hard about this, and I'm going to share information with you. On the condition that you tell me everything you know."

"Everything?" I asked. "That could take a while."

"Everything about vampires," she snapped. I smiled sweetly.

"Oh. That. Still might take a while." I decided I might be laying it on a little thick. "Can I sit down?" She nodded. I took a seat. "Okay, I will tell you everything you want to know about vampires. If I'm satisfied you're telling me the truth."

"I wouldn't deign to lie," she replied icily. I bit the inside of my cheeks and smiled at her.

"Are you going to tell me, or are we going to sit here and throw insults at each other?" I asked, softening a bit. She sighed and relaxed a little.

"It started about five years ago," she said. "My husband was killed by vampires."

"Oh, so this is a vengeance gig for you?" I heard myself say, realizing with shock when I'd said the words before. She gave me an odd look.

"In a way."

"Sorry. Go on."

She proceeded to tell me about recruiting students and scientists, developing vampire-stunners, and with a combination of personal funds and money from several companies (she wouldn't give names) that wanted the results of her research, building underground laboratories where they held demons and did tests on them.

"So what did you do to Spike?" I asked when she was done.

"We implanted him with a chip that won't allow him to harm any living beings. We'd never tested it on the outside world before, but Riley tells me it's working perfectly."

"Like a charm," I agreed.

"Do you believe us?" Riley asked. I started. I had almost forgotten about him. I thought about the question. It seemed a little odd, but then, most things on the Hellmouth were. And the story fit with everything Spike said and I'd observed.

I nodded judiciously. "I'd like to see the laboratories though."

"Well, Riley can take you.tonight?" Walsh asked, looking to her T.A. He nodded. Great. Just what I'd always wanted! I nodded though.

"All right. So what do you want to know?"

"Who and what are you?"

"I'm Buffy Summers. I never lied about that. I'm also the Vampire Slayer-well, one of them. The other has been in a coma since last May."

"What precisely is a vampire slayer?" Walsh asked. I bit my lip and drummed my fingers against each other.

"Do you know anything about vampire lore?" I asked, wondering how long this was going to take.

"I know who Count Dracula is," she replied dryly.

"Not really what I meant. Giles, my former Watcher-I'll tell you about that in a minute-could explain this a lot better, but basically, the world was once one big Hell and demons ruled it. Then they got banished, but some of them mixed blood with humans and that created vampires. Ever since there's been vampires, there's been the Slayer, one girl in the all the world with the strength and skill to fight the vampires, yadda yadda yadda. And that's me. I kill vampires and demons professionally. It's a sacred duty thing. I've been the Slayer for.five years now."

"I thought you said there was another Slayer," Riley pointed out.

"Well, I died once, for a minute, so another Slayer came. Now there's two," I explained.

"What's a Watcher?" Walsh asked.

"Someone who guides the Slayer on her path, trains her, watches over her. I quit the Watcher's Council though, I'm a freelance Slayer now. Giles still helps me out."

We went on a question and answer thing. They questioned. I rolled my eyes and answered. It was literally sad how little they knew about things supernatural. Especially considering Walsh had been doing this as long as I had.

I tried to imagine being as clueless as she was. I shuddered at the thought. Of course, she'd never actually killed a vampire. She'd never even tried. She recruited young men (no young women) to hunt them for her. Sexist much?

When she seemed to have exhausted her quest for knowledge for the moment I excused myself and arranged a time to meet Riley for my little tour.oh what fun! How would I ever survive that long?

Willow

Something was wrong. That is, something else was wrong.

I was just trying to do a little spell. All I wanted was to warm up the coffee I'd forgotten. It should have been simple. You just pull in a little energy, think about heat.and voila! Steaming hot mocha.

It's not supposed to burst into flames.

I thought it must be me at first. It's not like my emotional control was really working at it's premium levels. I decided to do a little meditation to try and clear my mind, and get it off Oz and how much I miss him.

I never really understood what Buffy went through last summer before. Now I understand it all too well. I wish I could have been more supportive but.well, I'm getting off track.

I decided to meditate. The moment I cleared my mind and started to focus, it hit me. The wrongness. It was like, the energy was turning.bad. I don't know how to explain it. It just felt off. Like hearing a note off-key (as Oz would say. Oh great, more Oz thoughts). It was almost normal, just not quite.

Basically there's this.stuff.all around us. Energy or magic or whatever you want to call it. It's what you use to do magic. You pull it in, and use a spell to make it do what you want. But it was.distorted. All of it felt wrong. It was pulsing and it had the slightly sense of evil to it. Not overtly, but definitely there. Even after I opened my eyes and shook myself fully conscious again, I could feel it. Like the universe was watching me, like everything was wrong.

I was afraid to so much as lift a pencil with my magic anymore. No telling what could happen. And the change was so subtle, people not used to looking for wrongness might not notice it. Which means anyone doing magic could be in serious trouble. And this stuff isn't just used for magic either. It makes up everything. Which means that everyone and everything was just a little off. And could be getting worse.

I decided I should go see Giles. Wouldn't want anyone blowing up any coffee cups on accident.

The first signs shall be unseen by all that cannot see. They shall be veiled, but shall do harm. They shall be hidden, but shall not hide.

And in time, the veil shall be lifted and all shall see. But by then, it shall be too late to stop the End.

-The Lukasorn, 1437

Buffy

It wasn't that bad. That is, ignoring Riley wasn't as hard as I thought it would be. Oh, I listened all right. I wanted to catch him if he slipped up, and the whole lab set up was kind of interesting.the trick is listening to the facts and ignoring the stupid jokes. There's a real art to it. Kind of similar to listening to teachers lecture-you get the important stuff and zone out all their boring stories.

But I digress.

So we were walking through the cells. He'd already showed me the control center, the "armory" (there was not one stake, crossbow or bottle of holy water in the whole place!) and the labs. The cells were divided into categories: There was a block for non-vampire demons, a block for vamps that didn't fight much, and the "hostile" block for the mean ones. You know, cause the others were so warm and fuzzy.

The weird part was, I actually recognized some of them. The demons were the oddest.

"We call this one the cyclops," Riley said, pointing out a small, one-eyed demon.

"Ertethick," I said, glancing over at it.

"What?"

"It's an ertethick. They're numerous in the sewers and other dark, wet places. They're pretty much harmless," I told him. He looked a little stunned, but nodded and moved on.

"We have names for all of them. This one's a Rick. You know, after Rick in Psych," Riley said, grinning. I arched my eyebrows at him. Rick wasn't exactly the brightest person ever, but making fun of stupidity wasn't the answer. Plus it was a cyuk demon, who pretends to be stupid to fool it's prey. I debated telling Riley this one was also harmless and he should let it go, but decided I didn't want to have to deal with it and told him the truth.

He looked a little pale.

That was the best part of the tour. It's amazing how much information my brain has managed to retain from the last five years. Giles would be proud, if only I could retain it when he was actually there to notice.

And then we got to the Hostile block.

I was walking along just fine, half-listening to Riley, when I looked up and saw him.

All the memories-no, dreams, I told myself-came rushing back and hit me, just in that one moment of catching his eyes.

In the next moment, I swung around and punched Riley in the face. Hard.

He fell down. I rushed over to Angel's cell and tried to reach him, but the damn force field shocked me. I punched frantically at the controls. "Buffy? What are you doing?" Riley asked in a groan from behind me. I left the panels and walked over, grabbing his shirt and hauling him up. I had trusted him. Not with my life, but I had believed him. And what did he do? He imprisoned Angel! I knew he was evil!

"Get him out," I demanded, holding him against the wall. He looked so utterly confused and helpless that I loosened my grip a little. Just a little.

"I-I can't. He's a Hostile, he-" I cut him off.

"He's not a Hostile you idiot! He's my.friend. He has a soul!"

Riley stared at me incomprehendingly. I felt the extreme urge to punch him again, but his nose was bleeding and I didn't want to get my hand bloody.

"Your friend? He's a vampire!" Riley exclaimed.

"Ya think?" I asked, pushing him up against the wall again. "I just told you, he has a soul. Vampires are only evil because they're demons. With a soul, they're just like you and me, except they can't be killed easily and they have to drink blood. And for your information," I continued, as I saw him open his mouth to protest that last one, "Angel hasn't killed anyone in over a hundred years!"

"Exce-" Angel began from his cell. I shot him a look and he stopped.

"And it wasn't him then anyway," I finished. Riley didn't look convinced. Which was fine with me. I didn't care if he was convinced, as long as he believed I would kick his ass if he didn't let Angel out.

"Why should I believe you? Maybe you're in league with him, that's why you know so much about demons," he said defensively.

"No, I've just spent five long, hard years fighting them. I've died. I've saved the world more times than you've appreciated it! I've gone through Hell and so has Angel, so get him out of the cage now or I swear to you Riley, I will make you wish I had let the world be swallowed into Hell!" I shouted, then turned and shoved him towards the cell lock. Glancing back at me with a white, bloody face, he punched in the code. Angel walked out, his eyes on me.

"Are you okay?" I asked. "They didn't hurt you?" He shook his head.

"I'm a little hungry. They tried to feed me drugged blood, but I could smell the difference."

"Well that's a blessing. They have these chips to make you unable to hurt anything. I'd just love to see you utterly helpless," I said, rolling my eyes. The oddest vulnerable look crossed his face and was gone in a split second.

"What exactly are 'they' anyway? And I thought you two were friends," Angel said, motioning to Riley. I glanced at him and frowned. How would Angel know who Riley was?

"I wouldn't call us friends. Maybe acquaintances. And how would you know anyway."

"I saw you." he said, trailing off. "When I was here before."

"Right," I said awkwardly. Riley was staring at us with a pathetic expression, trying to stem the flow of blood from his nose. Shaking my head I pulled out a kleenex and handed it to him.

"Sorry about that. But you deserved it for locking Angel up," I said, in a not-so-apologetic tone. He took the kleenex without a word. I turned back to Angel. "What are you doing here anyway?"

"I came to warn you." He stopped and glanced at Riley. I sighed.

"Let's get out of here. We can go to Giles' house. I'll explain about all this on the way." I turned to Riley again. "I'm going to believe that this was all a mistake. However, if I find any evidence suggesting you didn't wholly believe Angel to be evil, I will destroy the Initiative completely. You may tell Professor Walsh that. Call it a promise. Now, would you please show us out? I've had just about enough white for one night, thank you very much."

Angel

The first second I saw her, when she stared at me with those big, wide eyes, I doubted if she would save me. I didn't think I deserved it.

Of course, Buffy would save anyone, no matter what they deserved.

I admit, it was nice to see her beating someone up for me. I guess it showed that she cared. Which, to my rational mind, is a terrible thing, but to my unbeating heart is all that matters. We walked to Giles' house in awkward silence broken once in a while by Buffy telling me about the group called the Initiative-those who had captured me.

It's impossible to express how difficult it was to walk beside her. I hadn't eaten in two days. All I could think of was her soft skin, the memory of her blood pulsing inside me. The feeling of being one with her, of tasting the essence of her life.

I needed blood, and I wanted hers.

I controlled myself of course, and didn't let her know what I was feeling. God, I hated myself for even feeling it. For what I am.

In two hundred years, my memories of humanity had faded. But now I remember again. I remember what it's like not to crave blood. Not to need it. I remember what it feels like to have your own blood flowing in your veins, your heart beating.

Giles looked relieved when he opened the door. "Cordelia called to make sure you were all right," he said in explanation as we came inside. "She was.was worried."

"And you didn't tell me about this why?" Buffy asked.

"I knew if you saw him you would tell me. I didn't want to worry you." Buffy rolled her eyes.

"I should call," I said, looking around for a phone. Giles pointed to one in the kitchen.

"Worry me? How do you think I felt finding him locked up in the Initiative's cells?" Buffy demanded as I picked up the phone. I dialed quickly, trying not to listen to her voice.

"Angel Investigations. We help the hopeless," Cordelia's voice said cheerfully.

"It's me," I said.

"Thank god! Why didn't you call? Where have you been? I had to turn away a paying customer! And John's like, completely wigging. Apparently he's had more visions, but he won't tell us. And Doyle had another vision and he's not talking to anyone!" Cordelia exclaimed without a breath.

"Slow down," I said. "What happened?"

"Well, yesterday Doyle had a vision, and then spent like an hour muttering about how he couldn't believe it. And then John had a vision and refused to tell us about it! And now they're both downstairs sitting across from each other not saying a word! Where the hell have you been?!"

"Calm down," I said firmly. "I was captured by this upstart group of vampire hunters that didn't realize what I was. Buffy just got me out. I'll be back as soon as I can, all right?"

"Okay, no skulking around Sunnydale, do you hear me? I need you!" Cordelia demanded.

"As soon as I tell them everything, I'll come right home," I promised.

"Okay," she said grudgingly. "Well, go do that now. And say hi to everyone for me."

"Will do." We said goodbye and I hung up the phone, turning back to Buffy and Giles.

"They need me back in L.A.," I said, trying not to stare hungrily at Buffy. I wanted to drink in the sight of her, but I wanted to drink in more than that and I shouldn't even think of it. "But I have to tell you what's been happening."

"Okay, share," Buffy said, sounding subdued. I looked up and met her eyes.

"The end of the world is coming. To Sunnydale."

There shall be many Warriors to face the End, but ten shall bind together and be all the stronger for it. The Slayers, Dark and Light, the Redeemed, the Witch, the Jester, the Queen, the Unwilling, the Prophet, the Watcher and the Silent. They shall last to the end, but despite all, they to will fall to the Dark.

-The Codex, 719

Spike

Bloody bedamned Hell. They can't do this to me!

I just wanted a little blood. You know, so I wouldn't waste away. It's not so much to ask for Lucifer's sake. But no. No, the Slayer didn't want any vampires getting "free" meals. No, we just have to screw Spike over do we?

After much debate, they decided they could let me go, since I can't harm a frigging thing. Of course, that meant I had to get my own blood, which sounded fine. From overhearing their conversations I gathered I could get it at a local butchery. I even got the name. I went, of course, as soon as I got hungry.and they turned me down! They bloody turned me down!

She got to them.

I hate that girl!

So I had to go back on my hands and knees, and she's got the whole Initiative thing going, so I didn't even have anything to bargain with. I figured I better get something, or I wasn't going to get so much as an ounce of blood off of her.

Luckily news of my downfall hadn't hit the streets quite yet. They didn't know I couldn't feed myself. Couldn't even hurt anything.

Bloody Hell I hate this!

Anyway, I went down to Willy's. You don't even have to beat that guy up to get information out of him. A growl'll do. And most nights you can find other vampires there too. I sauntered in, pretending to be my old self. It was nice pretending. I could almost make myself believe I was well again.

Goddamned meddling college students. If I could get my hands on them.

"S-Spike. What are you doing back?" Willy asked, stuttering and edging back from the bar. I grinned at him.

"A glass of Type O," I said. He got it for me, shaking slightly. I sipped it, trying not to seem to eager. I could get food here once in a while, but if I was in here all the time it would seem suspicious. No, I needed Buffy to tell the butchers to give me blood. "Willy, I need some information. Any interesting tidbits you've picked up. Something about the end of the world, perhaps?" I suggested, leaning on the counter.

"I-I don't know anything Spike," he swore. I rolled my eyes and turned to the vampire next to me.

"How long do you think it would take to kill him?" I asked. The vamp looked up from his drink and squinted.

"Thirty seconds maybe," he wagered. I eyed Willy.

"Maybe," I agreed. "Maybe less."

"O-okay. Th-there's been some talk about the Hellmouth opening. Before New Years."

"Before?" I asked, arching my eyebrows. I figured it would be the whole millenium gig.

"Yeah, everyone thinks it's going to be the millenium, but, um, the calendar's messed up or something.Anyway, there's some big demons coming to town."

"What kinds?" I asked intently. Willy glanced around nervously.

"Mohras. Lots of 'em." He lowered his voice until I had to lean nearly all the way across the counter to hear him. "And the Lords." I swore under my breath. The Lords of Hell were coming? That was not good news for my wordly existence. But it might get me fed until the world was destroyed.

"Thanks Willy. I won't kill you this time," I told him. I drank the rest of the blood and walked out of the door. Time to go see Slayer. May she live in eternal torment in Hell.

Oh, right. She will.

Buffy

"*Before* the millenium?" I demanded, watching Spike with crossed arms. He lounged on Giles' couch, sipping blood.

"That's what I said," he said mildly. I rolled my eyes.

"Giles?"

"It's entirely possible. After all, what we regard as the millenium is only considering the Judeo-Christian calendar. And isn't, for that matter, until next year. But Spike's claim that the Lords of Hell are coming is.is quite serious, to say the least."

"Really? I wouldn't have guessed. You know, I was already feeling all warm and fuzzy from Angel's decriptions of that guy's visions. Let's see, he sees a blond girl fighting in Sunnydale. He sees her dying. That's what I call reassuring," I said dryly.

"Angel was here?" Spike demanded, sitting up.

"You have a problem with that?" I asked, arching my eyebrows at him. He snorted and sat back.

"Yeah right. Just surprised. I thought you two had finally broken it off, but I guess I was being too optimistic. Actually, come to think of it, I should have known from his reaction when I told him all about your little fling before." I stiffened and considered kicking him, but he would spill blood all over Giles' furniture, and Giles would be annoyed.

"So when is this gonna be?" I asked. Spike shrugged.

"How the bloody hell should I know. You said you'd give me access to the blood," he pointed out. I sighed, then thought of something. I smiled slightly.

"Spike, how would you like to make a deal? I know you don't want the world to end."

"Maybe I've changed," he muttered.

"Sure. Well, I think we can help each other. I know something that could help you. And you, in return, can help me fight. There's going to be demons around here, and you can help me."

"How? I'm useless," he replied sullenly.

"But I know the Initiative," I replied, a gleam in my eyes. "I can make them help you."

"You're going to give me back my strength?" he asked unbelieving. Giles came out of the study and gave me a questioning look. I ignored him.

"Not exactly. I'm not going to let you hurt humans. But I can give you the ability to hurt the undead. Then you can still have status, money, and so on. All you'll have to do is work for me."

"I'll think about it," he said, eyeing me. I smiled at him and went over to Giles, pulling him into the next room.

"Do you really think this is a good idea?" he asked softly.

"That's the thing.he already can. We'll just knock him out and when he wakes up tell him we 'fixed' him. Right now, he can do whatever he wants to the undead. It's only the living he can't hurt."

A moment later, Giles started to smile.

"Hmm.Spike," a familiar voice said from the living room. We exchanged looks and dashed out. Oz was standing near the doorway. He looked over at us with a slight frown. "Something's changed."

"Spike can't hurt anything," I explained quickly. "What are you doing here?"

"I'm back," he said easily.

"You've.sorted yourself out?" Giles asked.

"Pretty much," Oz replied. I grinned, imagining Willow's reaction.

"Have you seen Will?" I asked. He shook his head.

"I saw something I thought you guys should know about," he said. Giles took off his glasses.

"What exactly?" Oz glanced at Spike and I nodded, motioning him to go on.

"There was a hole. In the sky."

"A hole?" I asked, wondering what he was talking about.

"Yeah. It was black. Kinda pulsed. It was getting bigger."

"A black hole in the sky?" Giles repeated. "It was just.black?"

"It was like the absence of light," Oz said thoughtfully.

"Where was this?" I asked, getting a little worried. It made me think of something.something someone had said. There was too much being said though. Everything was going wrong.

"Yukon," he said. I raised my eyebrows, surprised. "I had to go a ways to be alone."

"Right. Giles, does this ring any bells? Like, perhaps suggest a time for the Apocalypse?" I asked, turning to my former Watcher. He looked deep in thought.

"Apocalypse?" Oz asked. I nodded.

"You missed some stuff. Like.everyone having visions, and winged demons.oh, and those NATO guys? They're called the Initiative."

"Sounds interesting. Could you fill me in later? I think I should go visit Willow."

"Good idea. She'll kill me if I keep you," I said with a smile. At least something was going right. "Have fun." He nodded.

"Will do. Bye Giles. Spike." Spike raised a hand in good bye.

"Talkative," he commented when the door closed behind Oz. I turned to Giles.

"Anything?"

"Angel's descriptions of his prophet's visions included something about the sky.I believe he said that the entire sky was black, and he also used the words lack of anything." He raised his eyes to mine and I got that horrible sick feeling in the pit of my stomach. "I believe Oz has just confirmed the visions. And if so, that black hole is truly going to get a lot bigger.until it covers the entire sky."

Willow

I was trying to research. It wasn't working very well. If I wasn't thinking about Oz, I was trying not to freak out about the End of Days. Giles thought my discovery was just another sign pointing to our ultimate destruction. Which was why I was trying to research, and find ways to stop it. But like I said, it wasn't working very well.

Last time we had a crises, Oz.Well, he certainly got my mind off it.

All I could think was, I don't want to die without him here. If the world's going to end, I want him to hold me at the end.

And then there was a knock on the door. "Come in," I called. The door opened, and there he was. "Oz?"

"Hi baby," he said softly. "Can I come in?" I nodded, unable to find words. I slid my books off my lap, onto the bed.

"Are you really back?" I asked, unable to muster anything above a whisper.

"For good," he assured me. And somehow I found enough strength to tumble off the bed and into his arms. He caught me and held me up and our eyes met.

"What did you find out?" I asked softly.

"That I'm me," he replied. "And I love you." A smile spread across my face despite myself. I knew I should be angry with him for leaving me but.I couldn't. I just couldn't. I knew he had thing to work out, and I was just glad he was here, with me again. Everyone should know that feeling, to find something precious all over again.

"Oz, I'm scared," I said softly. "The Apocalypse-"

"Shh," he said softly, putting a finger to my lips. "I know." And then he kissed me.

Sometimes, panic is definitely the answer.