Dedicated to Simone
Author's note:Ok, this is my first Buffy/Angel story, so be kind! It also contains Spike/Drusilla. I give this about a Pg-13 rating, but if you can watch Buffy, you can read this. Also, this story contains at least one major spoiler for Angel¹s Season one finale, so consider yourself warned. Takes place five and a half years after IWRY.

Two weeks ago, Buffy and Willow had graduated college. Buffy became the first slayer to do so. The Watcher's Council had actually given her a plaque, they then pleaded with her to rejoin with them. At first Buffy had refused, then she made a deal saying that if Giles would be reinstated as her watcher, she would acknowledge their authority once more.

The council had told her that they¹d get back to her, and so far, she hadn¹t heard a thing. Not that she was holding her breath, or anything. Two days after graduation an emergency Scooby meeting had been called, and that is when Buffy and Riley announced their engagement .

The ringing door bell broke Willow from here reverie. She opened the door to find a beaming Drusilla.

"Allo little witch! Are you ready for the party?" she asked as Willow stepped aside and gestured for her to come inside.

Drusilla had come back for Spike two years ago. She had decided that she loved him and wanted to be with him no matter what. Having Dru back made Spike a much more pleasant vampire to be around. It took a lot of persuading on Spike's part, but he was actually able to convince Buffy not to stake Drusilla, and the latter not to kill any humans.

Buffy promised not to stake Dru, if Spike promised to help them out when they needed it. The blond vampire would do anything for his princess and so he agreed. Spike and Buffy actually made a pretty formidable slaying team, when they weren¹t too busy arguing.

Drusilla could still hear voices, and her premonitions had actually been pretty helpful to the group. She got along with everyone very well, much better than Spike did anyway. Although there had been one little incident with Xander a couple days ago.

She bit his finger. He yelled at her, but had later forgiven her when she started crying and saying how his finger had told her to bite it. Xander was still leery around the vampiress, but Dru went out of her way to do things for Xander to regain his trust. Spike had told the group to treat Drusilla like a child, and to remember that she had stopped her evil ways of her own free will. Unlike Spike, who after 5 years, still had that annoying chip in his head.

Drusilla was now twirling around the living room, humming. Willow was startled to realize how completely comfortable she was around this vampire, who could probably snap her neck, or drain her dry in a matter of seconds.

"How are you today, Dru?" Willow asked, as she put a package that Drusilla had brought on a table for gifts.

"Today is a wonderful day, my little red witch!" she started twirling again, "The heavens are rejoicing as the last battle is fought! He will shanshu! He will, he will!" she giggled and flopped down on the couch.

"The world is spinning, I should rest."

Willow shook her head. As usual, she didn¹t understand what the vampiress was talking about. The doorbell rang again, and Willow left Dru to rest as she went to greet the next guests.

Darla had done everything she could to kill Angel. She sent vampires, demons, monsters, witches, and wizards at him, but nothing worked. Now she was taking it upon herself to finally get revenge on her favorite childe, who had sent her to hell.

The two vampires were fighting on the roof of the Wolfram and Hart building, getting closer and closer to the edge. Angel's head turned toward the sound of a fire truck passing in the street below them. Darla took advantage of the distraction and had him on his back, a stake pressed to his heart.

"Don't worry, my childe, I'll tell her you loved her to the end, before I kill her!" she sneered.

A surge of anger-inspired adrenaline shot through him, as he grabbed the stake and twisted so that it was now pressing against her chest. And, like so many years before, he shoved the stake home and watched her turn to dust as she was sent back to hell, never again to return to the Earth.

With Darla's weight no longer holding him down, Angel teetered a bit on the edge of the roof, before completely losing his balance and plunged through the air, to the dark, deserted ally bellow.

About half way down he felt it. His lungs gasped for breath and his heart began to beat. Angel had fought his final battle. Tears of relief, joy, and fear stung his eyes as his body hit the ground with a sickening thud.

"Buffy!" he gasped, before everything went black.

"Dru? Are you ok? Should I go get Spike?" the Slayer asked, concerned.

But Drusilla wasn't listening to Buffy, she was listening to the moon and stars as they talked about what to do with her daddy.

"Yes, he will die as his love celebrates her union to another." the stars answered back.

"You must stop it!" the ghost of the female oracle appealed to them.

"It is not our concern. Besides, what can we do? It has already begun!" the stars chastised her.

But the moon looked at her tears and sighed. "What would you have us do, child?"

"Let her remember!" the oracle pleaded.

The moon and stars nodded, and it was so.

Drusilla crawled over to the fallen Slayer and placed a pale hand on her forehead. Jumping to her feet the vampiress clapped her hands as she exclaimed, "She will remember!" This was so exciting! She must go consult Miss Edith on what should be done.

Everyone watched, confused as a giddy Drusilla ran out the front door.

"Does this mean we don't get cake?" Anya asked.

Finally, Buffy found herself standing on top of a building watching Angel and Darla fight. She saw him send his sire to hell for the second time. She saw him fall. She saw him breathe. She saw him hit the ground. She heard him gasp her name.

"You must hurry!" a ghostly apparition of a gold and blue woman told her.

Suddenly Buffy was back in her apartment, surrounded by the guests of her bridal shower. She managed to sit up, sobbing.

The front door opened, and Drusilla rushed in dragging Spike behind her.

"We have to bring her to Daddy, my Spike, Miss Edith said so!"

"Dru, luv, you're ruining Buffy¹s party, I..."

"Spike! Please, I have to find him!" Buffy gasps as she stands and heads for the door.

She suddenly starts shaking violently and gasps Angel¹s name as she passes out. Drusilla catches her before she can hit the ground. The vampiress raises her pleading gaze to Spike.

"Oh, bloody hell!" he exclaims as he scoops the slayer up in his arms and heads out the door toward his car, a deliriously happy Drusilla skipping along behind him.

Spike turned his head so he could see his love. She smiled at him, and he instantly felt better. As he turned back around to watch the road, he could hear Drusilla sing a lullaby to the distraught Slayer.

"Come lay your weary troubled head,
Upon my loving breast.
Tomorrow brings the sun again,
But now 'tis time to rest.
Moonlight hold you safe and warm,
Your brow the stars caress.
Tomorrow brings the sun again,
But now 'tis time to rest."

He really did love his princess.

Turning yet another corner, he sniffed the air and smelled blood. Not just any blood, it was Angel¹s. But it was human. That didn't make any sense. Then, he saw him.

Angel was lying on his back, eyes closed as if in sleep. Memories of a time years and years ago swept through Spike's mind as he pressed his ear to Angel's chest. Angelus, The Scourge of Europe, had a heart beat. A single tear of blood slipped from the blond vampire's left eye as the demon within him mourned the demon that had made him everything he was.

That was it. One tear. More than Angelus deserved, the bastard. Spike mentally said goodbye to the demon that taught him to kill, and vowed to protect the soul that had taught him to love. He had made his peace with the way things were. He bent down and kissed his Sire's forehead before lifting the now human man and made his way toward the hospital.

The sun had long since risen in the sky, chasing the vampires into a darker, protected place. Buffy held Angel's hand in her own as she laid her head on his chest. The steady sound of his beating heart lulled her to sleep.

The first thing Buffy noticed was that the sun had gone down. Second, Angel's eyes were still closed. Finally, she noticed a very annoyed Riley glaring at her, hands on his hips. What had she seen in him?

"You want to tell me what the hell you think your doing!" he yelled.

"Shh! Not so loud. You're in a hospital." she reprimanded.

"Riley, I'm sorry, but I don't love you. I'm afraid I never did. I can't marry you. Please leave." she turned back to the bed, then felt him grab her arm roughly.

"Buffy, you're not thinking clearly! I'm going to take you home. Let's go." he started dragging her toward the door.

He was stopped by Spike, who quickly assessed the scene.

"Is Fishboy giving you any problems, pet?" he asked.

"Spike, don't let him take me!" she sobbed.

"Oh, I won't!" he replied cracking his knuckles.

Riley gulped, but quickly regained his composure.

"You can't hurt me, that chip we put in your head prevents it!"

Spike seemed to consider his words for a moment.

"No pain, no gain!"

His fist shot out and connected with Riley¹s jaw, the impact sending the commando to the floor. Spike put a hand to his head until the pain had passed. Then he looked up with a grin.

"I've waited six years to do that!" he exclaimed.

Riley quickly got to his feet, ran out of the room and out of all of their lives forever.

Buffy, still crying, ran past Spike and into Drusilla's arms.

"It's all right, luv. Mummy won't let the evil army boy take you away from your Angel." she consoled.

Spike shook his head at her saying, "Honestly, I've never known a slayer to be such a cry baby!"

"Well, excuse me, but I happen to find watching the love of my life die a very traumatic event!" she was angry now.

He grinned at her and pinched her cheek. "Now, there is the Slayer we all know and love!"

Before she could reply, a hoarse cry from the bed interrupted her.

"Buffy?" Angel could have sworn he'd heard her voice. After not hearing her voice for years, it was even more wonderful than having his humanity restored.

He opened his eyes. There she was! Oh, life was perfect!

"Angel! Oh God, Angel! I'm so sorry! I love you so much! I love you! I'm so sorry!" she was babbling her tears soaking his hospital gown.

"Buffy! Are you real? I love you too." he told her and began kissing away the tears that were streaming down her face.

She pulled back, and lightly punched his shoulder.

"You jerk! Why didn't you tell me about what happened that time I came to see you!" she accused.

Angel didn't know what to say, his jaw dropping.

"Oh, I don't care!" she cried grabbing him in a hug again.

"I love you! And now we can be together forever!" Buffy said firmly.

"Forever!" he agreed pulling her toward him, and claiming her lips with his own.

"Oh, aren't they adorable, my Spike?" Drusilla asked the blond vampire, who had watched the whole interaction with a bit of disgust.

"Oh yeah, ducks. Very cute." he said with a yawn.

After the kiss, Angel looked up at Spike and Dru and motioned for them to come closer.

"I love you, too." he said to his favorite childer.

Once the blond vampire was within reach, Angel's arm shot out and pulled him close with surprising strength. He quickly planted a kiss on Spike¹s forehead before the vampire pulled away in disgust.

Buffy giggled and Drusilla clapped her hands before she bent down to allow Angel to kiss her head as well.

Drusilla twirled around the room as she said, "Miss Edith says we can be a family again! A big family!"

Giggling, she wrapped her arms around Spike, and kissed him deeply, before turning to Buffy and grabbing her in a hug. She sat back on a chair next to the bed and looked expectantly at Spike and Buffy.

The two eye each other warily before looking back at Drusilla, and shaking their heads, no.

"C'mon! Family, remember?" she pouted.

Spike and Buffy turn to one another and, acting as if it is the most disgusting thing that they¹ve ever done, embrace. It is clearly for Drusilla's benefit, as they immediately pull apart and begin arguing about where exactly Spike had put his hands.

However, the vampiress is no longer listening. She sees fear and worry in her sire's eyes.

"Why, whatever is the matter, my Angel?" she asks.

The two blonds stop arguing and turn their attention to the man in the bed.

"I just can't go through this again!" he raises his voice as if he is trying to talk to The Powers That Be, themselves.

"I can't bear to have this taken away from me, again!"

The room falls silent, each occupant wanting to reassure him, but they couldn't guarantee anything and he knew that.

Suddenly, the shimmering outlines of the Oracles appear in the room with them.

"Your debt has been paid, no longer will you be separated from those that love you. Your humanity has returned, but your strength and healing will remain so that you may fight along side the Slayer, for that is your destiny!" the male oracle bows his head to him before disappearing.

"Well done, faithful warrior. Now look around you, for great is your reward, and it will not be taken from you!" the female oracle smiles, curtsies, and disappears.

The vampires hadn't seen either human since Angel had returned home from the hospital the day before. Angel and Buffy had gone straight to his bedroom and locked the door, the moment he arrived.

"No Spikey, just getting refreshments!" she said, ruffling his hair as she passed him on her way to the refrigerator.

He growled at her and Drusilla giggled as he tried to brush his hair back in place.

Clad only in one of Angel's dress shirts, she opened the freezer and pulled out one of several boxes of mint chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream, that she had bought in preparation of his home coming.

"Buffy! Hurry up!" Angel called from the bedroom.

"He is so demanding now!" she complained mockingly, eyes twinkling.

Grabbing a spoon from the kitchen drawer, she gave the vampires a final grin before skipping back to the bedroom.

Spike rolled his eyes, and went back to reading his paper.

"Spike, my sweet?"

"Yes, luv?"

"What¹s so fun about ice cream?"

Spike arched an eyebrow at her quickly putting his paper down.

"C'mon pet, I¹ll show you." And he did, for the rest of the day.

On to With Arms Wide Open