For disclaimer, see Part 1.
Mail:LunarMyth



The instant that she walked into the dark club, she saw them. It was impossible not to see them, really. They were dancing against the railing of the balcony over the stage. Yes, they were making a rather big spectacle of themselves, dancing to that hard, intense beat. *Gotta love a good Orgy* she thought.

Xander and Cordelia were nowhere to be seen. Neither were Willow or Oz. *Must have decided to stay in.* She noticed Spike, but he was looking particularly disgruntled. *No wonder* Buffy thought. *His dancing partner seems to have been taken.... Bitch.*

Kiara grasped the metal railing in her hands and leaned forward over it. But he would have none of that. One arm snaked around her waist, pulling her back against his chest as their bodies writhed together to the music. His strong thighs were pressed against the back of her own legs, and their bodies felt as if they were molded to each other. She rolled her hips and could feel his erection as his pelvis followed her every move. *This is not good, oh no, this is not good at all* Kiara thought. She leaned her head back against his chest and felt his long fingers trail over the slender arch of her neck. *Nope, nope....oh God it feels so good....*

Buffy watched in anger. How could the woman be so kind and wise one minute and a back-stabbing whore the next? Just as she was about to run upstairs, she felt powerful arms wrap around her in a tight hug. She stiffled a disgruntled groan.

"Hi," Aidan whispered in her ear. "I've missed you. How've you been?"

Buffy swallowed her first reply. "I've missed you too," she murmured. "I've been fine. I...uhhmm...I've just been getting to know Kiara a bit better."

There was a smile in Aidan's voice that Buffy longed to stomp down. "Yeah? Looks like she's 'getting to know' Mr. Angel a bit better."

*Mister?!?!* Buffy thought furiously. *Like he's some cradle robbing....ugh! So he's older...so what?*

"Yeah," she muttered. "Looks like."

Aidan rested his chin on top of her head. "So. You want to dance? It feels like forever since I've had you in my arms." He swayed back and forth with her in his arms, and Buffy was tempted to stake him. Even if he wasn't a vampire. Though her faith in vampires was on its decline. Why hadn't she gotten the memo that they could prance around during the day now?

Buffy led him out to the dance floor, her eyes still glued to the pair upstairs. She closed her eyes and lost herself in the music. *This is too much. I shouldn't have even come here. Nothing's happened. Nothing's going to happen. I just overreacted.* Suddenly Buffy realized the music had ended and she was the only one still dancing. She blushed and went off to get something to drink.

Aidan made his way to where Spike was lounging against the bar, his eyes glaring at the couple that was now descending the stairs. "Hey, *mate*," he said.

"Bugger off, why don't ya?," Spike grumbled.

"Oooh? Testy, are we? Watch out - maybe I'll get my girlfriend to stake you."

Spike glared at the boy. "Feeling brave, are we? Know you couldn't stake me yourself? You're more of a pansy than Sonic over there," he said, nodding to Angel. "It's a shame a gal like the Slayer is wasting her time...if not energy," Spike grinned lewdly, "on someone like you."

Aidan pressed closer to Spike. "I mean it. Watch out. There's going to be a lot of changes going on now that I'm around. And if you think you're indispensable, you're sadly mistaken, my amigo."

"You're right *there*, mate. Things are changing faster than you can blink. If I were you, I'd stay on those twinkle toes of yours."

Buffy watched as Aidan and Spike conversed on the other end of the bar. it gave her a strong feeling of dread, which dissipated when she saw Angel coming her way.

*Sitting duck.* He smiled his beautiful smile, the look in his dark eyes light and alluring. "Hi," he whispered softly as he stopped in front of her.

Buffy had to catch her breath. He stood before her dressed to kill. He'd disregarded his usual gloomy colors and was wearing a vibrant crimson velour shirt, unbuttoned at the top to show his hard, lean chest. As her gaze traveled downwards, she felt a shiver of desire snake through her at the sight of his form fitting black leather pants. Something tickled the back of her mind, but she blew it off, content to bask in his sexual prowess. "Hi," she replied breathlessly. "I was worried about you when you didn't show up at your apartment."

His smile widened. "I'm sorry," he said with no real remorse. "I had some business to take care of and had to take shelter elsewhere during the day. You're okay? You didn't have any problems with Kiara, did you?" *If you touched one hair on her head....*

She smiled up at him. "No. We got along great actually. She brought me food. And I think I discovered how she - "

He cut her off by placing a finger over her lips. "Let's just dance. Everything just slips away when you're in my arms."

She nodded and was vaguely aware that she was barely in control of her own body and mind. She felt...hypnotized. Her movements were routine as she stepped into his arms. It was perfect. And every time they did this, Buffy realized just how much they belonged together. Fight it as they may, they were drawn together. She wondered if he realized the same things.

Angelus' arms wound tightly around her. He squeezed her and grinned over her head, feeling her ribs give under the pressure. Slowly, he loosened his grasp and rested his chin on her head. She would be so easy to break. But that's not what he wanted. No, he wanted her to suffer. He wanted her to watch her loved ones agonize and die. Angelus wanted her to live. His ears perked up at the music, the slow beat winding into the rhythm of her heart. He could smell the excitement in her blood. She would never know what hit her. It almost made him laugh out loud.

I didn't hear you leave
I wonder how am I still here
And I don't wanna move a thing
It might change my memory
Oh I am what I am
I'll do what I want
But I can't hide

Buffy tensed his arms. That sensation was traveling along her nerves. It made her uneasy. Something was different. Something was wrong. In the way he held her. In the way he moved against her. Angel seemed so....cold. He was blatantly claiming her in front of Aidan, and yet there was no joy or warmth in his actions. *Don't be a ninny* she chided herself. *You're just paranoid that Aidan will find out about the two of you.* She smiled against the soft red and snuggled closer to her love. No, nothing was going to take him away from her this time.

And I won't go
I won't sleep
I can't breathe
Until you're resting here with me
And I won't leave
And I can't hide
I cannot be
Until you're resting here with me

"I've made up my mind," she whispered against him.

Angelus quirked a brow with curiosity as he watched the room from over her head. Since he'd come back to his senses, he didn't want to lose contact with *her* for one second. It was with a low snarl that he saw her huddling close to Spike. His hands gripped Buffy in a reaction to Kiara, causing the former to flinch. He was unmindful of her though as he tried to listen to what was being said between the two. However, the music was too loud and he could only see that Spike wasn't too happy. *Serves him right.* Angelus wanted nothing more than to stride over there and rip his spine out through his skull.

His dream was shattered as Buffy spoke to him. "Angel? Angel, what's wrong?" The way he was holding her was frightening. She was afraid that something was terribly wrong. She couldn't read him like usual.

I don't wanna call my friends
They might wake me from this dream....

Angelus' grin was feral and chilling as he stepped back in her embrace, his dark gaze penetrating the innocence that was left in the Slayer. He shrugged lightly and pulled her to him. As he wrapped his arms around her once more, he placed a soft kiss on her temple.

"Nothing, lover," he whispered.

...I won't go
I can't sleep
I can't breathe.....

Buffy froze the minute his softly uttered words touched her ears. Every impulse she had was to run, but she stood still. Her mind raced.

*It could be a coincidence.*

*He could have changed.*

*He couldn't have changed.*

*The prophecy....*

*His soul....*

*The prophecy....*

Buffy swallowed her fear and leaned back, her green eyes warily searching the inky depths of his gaze. There was no light, no hope. No Angel. She bit back a scream and moved back, resting her head on his bicep. *How am I going to get out of this alive?* her mind whispered. *You won't* it answered back smoothly. *How could you forget the prophecy?*

...And I won't leave
And I can't hide
I cannot be....

Angelus could hear the fear and panic rushing through her blood. It thrilled him to the core. He could barely wait to listen to the symphony of terror that would run through her veins as she watched her friends tortured and desecrated.

"Mind if I cut in?" Aidan said, a lopsided grin brightening his handsome features.

Buffy had never been so happy to see him. "No!" she gasped loudly, letting her arms drop from around Angelus' neck. "Actually, would you mind if we got a breath of fresh air?"

Aidan smiled. he didn't know what had gone on between the two, but he was glad Buffy seemed to be back to herself. "Not at all, love. Come on." He placed his hand on her back as they turned to walk out of the bar. "Catch you later, Angel," he shot over his shoulder.

*Impudent fool* Angelus thought darkly. *He'll be the first to die.*


"You certainly seemed to be getting chummy with Soul Man over there," Spike shot at her grumpily.

Kiara regarded him calmly. She liked Spike. She really did. Not that she knew why. her heart and soul belonged to Angelus. *But* she thought, *if things had been different.....* She was scared to complete the thought. She smiled up at him. "Why William, are you jealous?"

He growled. "Not bloody likely."

She nodded. "Good," she said. "I mean, we were lovers, afterall. Why shouldn't I be...'chummy'...with him?"

Spike's grasp on the bottle of Cuervo tightened and the glass shattered to pieces in his hand. "Bloody fucking hell," he cursed lowly. He opened his fist and saw that three large chunks of the bottle were stuck in his hand.

"Ooooh," Kiara murmured unsympathetically. "That's gotta sting."

She almost giggled when he looked ready to send her flying over the bar counter. He bent over and plucked the glass from his hand, letting the shards drop to the floor.

"Come now, any passing person could cut themselves on that. You should clean up after yourself," she admonished. Spike's glare was hot enough to burn her. She couldn't resist one last barb. "You know what they say....." He looked at her with a mixture of contempt, hatred and....amusement. "Cleanliness is close to godliness," she quipped.

With a groan, Spike stalked off, content to nurse his wounds in yet another bottle of liquor.

As Kiara turned, she realized with a start that Angelus was nowhere around. Neither were Buffy or Aidan. She tried to search the bar, but she knew inside that they were long gone. She couldn't feel him anywhere near.

*Dammit! Look what you've done. While you're here flirting with William the Bloody, you've let Angelus get away with Buffy. Real good, Slugger! What now? Do you want to wait around 'till he kills them all?* With a quiet snarl, Kiara pushed away from the bar and strode towards the exit. She didn't even look as she grabbed the back of Spike's leather duster and dragged him out behind her. Once they were out in the open night, she threw him against the wall.

"Okay. Where are they? I want to know, and I want to know now!"



* * *




Spike and Kiara crept along the outside of the old abandoned warehouse.

"You're sure-"

"Yes!" Spike whispered loudly, for the umpteenth time. "Now would you quit your yapping? If he's here now, he'll be long gone once he hears you."

Kiara didn't fight him. She knew he didn't know of their link. She couldn't feel Angelus' presence, but if Spike said this was the place, it was worth a shot. Besides, the kids might still be here.

He'd filled her in on the way to the warehouse. Kiara could kick herself by not thinking of it sooner. She should have known that he would go after all of them. He'd asked her how Angel had "lost his bloody soul" again, but Kiara couldn't answer. She didn't rightly know *how*. Perhaps it was just through a greater power.

Spike held her back, placing himself in front of her in a subconscious act of protection. She almost smiled until she thought of what they might find inside.

However, the place was deserted when they walked in.

"Dammit!" Spike cursed, his voice bouncing through the empty room.

"Well...I guess there's only one other logical place they'd be," Kiara said.

"His apartment?"

She nodded.

"Why would he choose such a fool place - nevermind. Angelus never was one great on details."

Kiara smirked. "Oh I don't know. He seemed pretty *intent* on *details* when I knew him. I mean-"

"Shut up," he growled, pulling her out of the warehouse. "We don't have time to discuss your sex life." On second thought, he stopped and pushed her against the cold steel door. He pressed his body against hers, relishing the feel of her every curve molding to him. "Besides," he drawled, tracing a fingertip lightly over the pouty curve of her bottom lip and letting it dwell in the sweet indentation above her perfect cupid's bow. "I doubt you have ample references to compare it to, pet." With a wink he pulled back from her and started off down the dark, abandoned street.

Kiara had to take a moment to catch her nonexistent breath. It was hard being so in love with Angelus and having this tiny part inside of her be so attracted to the rebel vampire. She watched furiously as he walked away from her.

"I'm not your PET!" she yelled after him.

Spike paused and half turned back to her. "Fine. *Dumpling.*"

"Bastard!" she spat.

"Tsk, tsk, pet," he admonished with a smile.

"Oooooooh!" she shrieked.

Spike shrugged. "Well, until we find the right name for you, *doll*," he watched amusedly as she flushed, "we'll just have to experiment. Ok, *honey*?"

Just as she was about to dust him, a form came running around the corner at break-neck speed. Kiara leaped into action, shielding Spike from the oncoming visitor and settling into a strong defensive stance at the same time. Just when she was about to attack, it stopped.

Spike was shocked when Kiara acted to protect him, but he would have to think about that later. Right now there was a very tired, very rumpled, very out of breath Oz in front of them.

"Oz?" Kiara said. She relaxed and moved forward, guiding him to rest against the building. "What is it? What's happened?"

"Willow," he panted.

Kiara's eyes got round. *If anything happened to Willow.... I promised Oz....* "What is it, Oz?" she asked slowly. "What happened to Willow?"

The boy's eyes were wild and she could swear she saw his wolf swimming to the surface. "He...he got her. She's...she's gone."

Without any questions, Kiara knew what he meant. "Fine," she said with an air of determination. "We'll just have to go get her then, won't we?"

The trio ran off towards Angel's apartment, each hoping they weren't already too late.



* * *




Angelus paced around the den of his apartment, his demeanor extremely pleased. As he looked around at all the familiar faces, he felt downright giddy. This had turned out better than he ever could have hoped. He regretted having to leave Kiara and Spike behind, but duty had called.

It was a masterpiece really. And the tears streaming from Buffy's face, the guilt written all over her, had been the piece de resistance. The tiny Slayer was now chained in front of his fireplace, her arms straining against the shackles to no avail. A thin trickle of blood ran down her forearm from her wrist, where the heavy metal was biting into her tender skin. She was suspended about a foot off the ground.

He turned and spotted Cordelia and Xander. They were sitting next to each other on metal folding chairs. However, he was not afraid that they would get loose. Each of their wrists was handcuffed to the metal piping of the chair, and their ankles were chained together. *They should have tried this before breaking up* he though. *Maybe the sex would have been better.* Then again, the thought of Xander actually having sex made him want to laugh.

Her boy toy was tied up and gagged in the corner. Angelus couldn't even stomach looking at him. Oh yes, he'd enjoy gutting that one. Maybe he'd brand him first.

On the sofa lay the unconscious Willow. He had no worry that she would wake up any time soon. In fact, without the hospital equipment, he thought she just might die. It would be interesting to watch her fade away of her own volition.

But these were not his pride and joy. No, that had been a surprise even to him. But there they were, huddling together on the floor in front of Buffy, their feet chained to their wrists so that they could not move much. Her mother and her Watcher. They'd showed up not long after he had revealed his presents to Buffy. In her shock, it had been east to subdue her. She'd barely resisted. Angelus knew that in the back of her mind, Buffy probably felt as if she deserved anything he did to her.

Which she did.

Angelus sighed with glee. His party was just beginning.

"So, Buff, what do you think of my gifts? A bit much? I wasn't sure. I almost got you this quaint tennis bracelet, but then I thought, *Angelus, man, that's not what chicks dig this century. She'd want a gift from the heart.* So here you are, lover."

Buffy's voice was ragged as she lifted her gaze to him. "Why are you doing this?"

"Why not?" He stepped close to her. "I hate how you make me feel. Shouldn't you hate how I make you feel?" He leaned in close to her, his fingers trailing up the inside of her thigh. "And you do, don't you? You hate that you can love me, that your body can still respond to me."

Buffy tried to swing her legs out to kick him, but they were restrained by yet another set of chains. "Fuck you!" she spat at him.

Angelus merely grinned. "Oh, you'd like that lover, wouldn't you?"

Buffy flushed. She hated this man. Hated him as much as she loved him. She hated that her family and friends had to sit and listen to his filthy words. Hated it because they were true.

Angelus walked away from her and squatted down next to her mother. As he let a fingertip glide over her cheek, he head Joyce whimper in fear beneath her gag.

"Don't you touch my mother!"

"But darling. There's something Mommy Dearest hasn't been telling you," he stood up and looked down at his captives. "Isn't there?"

Joyce's eyes widened in acknowledgment and Giles groaned next to her.

"Do you mind if I spill the beans, Joyce? I know you would do it yourself...it's just at the moment you're all tied up." He grinned at his own joke. He turned to Buffy. "You're gonna be a big sister, lover. Isn't that sweet? Well..." Angelus sighed softly in feigned remorse. "You *would have been* a big sister. You know," his eyes lit up, "maybe it would have been a girl who'd have wanted to grow up to be a Slayer just like her big sister. Wouldn't that have been just precious?"

Buffy's green eyes sparkled with even more tears. She looked towards her mother to see if he was telling the truth. But Joyce Summers wouldn't meet her gaze. Buffy swallowed her tears. "You will not lay a hand on my mother, do you hear me? Or so help me God I will tear you apart with my bare hands." Her voice was calm and deadly as she spoke. She looked to Giles, knowing, hoping, that he was the father. "Giles?" she whispered brokenly.

Rupert Giles looked up at his small Slayer, guilt written in his features.

Buffy nodded. "I'm glad it's you," she said.

Relief flooded through Giles' body until he heard Angelus' growl. Flashbacks to his previous time spent with the demon ran through his mind.

"I'm so sorry to split up the family reunion, but there's business to go about." Angelus stalked over to the corner and wrapped one hand around Aidan's neck, lifting him and dragging him to the center of the room. "Tell me, lover, what should his punishment be for inciting your infidelity?"

"Go...To...Hell," Buffy bit out.

"Been there, done that," Angel grinned. "Oh, I'm sorry, that wasn't *me* was it?" He laughed as pain washed over Buffy's features. He held Aidan away from himself, one hand still grasped around his neck. He could see the boy turning blue from lack of oxygen.

That's how Spike, Oz and Kiara found them seconds later. As they burst through the door, Kiara swept a glance over the room, making sure everyone was as safe as could be. She heard Oz's strangled cry as he saw Willow lying unconscious on the couch, and made no attempt to stop him as he rushed to her side.

Angelus turned from his prey to see who dared interrupt him. When he saw Kiara, he smiled widely. "Ah, love, you were able to make it. And you brought the last simpering idiot for me too, how thoughtful."

Kiara shut the door behind her and shook her head. "No, my Angel, I'm sorry, I haven't," her voice was soft as she talked to him. "Put the boy down. Please."

Angelus looked at her. "I'm sorry," he said tightly. "I can't do that."

"Yes, you can." Her gaze wandered to where Buffy was hanging on the wall, and she winced. Whistler was not going to like this turn of events at all.

"Believe me," Kiara continued. "You don't want to kill him. He's not worth it." She rolled her eyes. "Literally. Leave him."

"Why in the world would I want to do that?"

"Cause the lady asked you to?" Spike answered.

"Oh I see. The two of you. Together. This is some plan to get me out of the way, is it?" Angelus' eyes narrowed dangerously.

Kiara's gaze pleaded with him as she walked forward slowly, mindful not to make any sharp movements. "No, my Angel. You're the only one for me. You know that. For over four centuries I've loved no one but you. You're mine, and I'm yours. We can be together forever, but you've got to stop this."

Angelus dropped the boy from his grasp, hearing his leg snap as he hit the floor. As she stepped in front of him, he caressed her cheek with the back of his hand. "Is your love conditional, then?" he asked deceptively soft.

Kiara couldn't keep the tears from her voice. "No. I've loved you through massacres. Despite everything you've done, I love you. Rape, torture, murder. None of that has stopped me from loving you, and nothing ever will. My heart is yours forever."

Hot tears slid down Buffy's face as she watched the morbid scene unfurl. She could at least thank Kiara for distracting him, but for how long?

Angelus drew her to him, his powerful arms wrapping around her in a secure embrace. "I lost you once, I won't lose you again. I thought you were weak, that you made me weak, but I now know you're not." He cupped her face in his hands. "We can be together forever. We can rule over this earth and no one can stop us. Don't you want that for us?" he asked.

Kiara had no choice but to answer truthfully. "No," she whispered. "I want to be with you for eternity, yes. But I cannot allow you to continue this...this torment."

His eyes grew cold, practically blasting her with his gelid countenance. "You can't stop me."

"Maybe not," she said simply. "It's up to you, my Angel. Me or you. You've got to make the choice."

"What kind of choice is that?" he asked coarsely.

As the two carried on their discussion, Spike went around the room unnoticed, releasing Cordy and Xander and Joyce and Giles from their bindings. The couples drew back against the walls, trying as hard as possible to remain inconspicuous.

Kiara gazed sadly at Buffy. She knew that the girl was coping as well as possible, considering the circumstances. But she didn't know how long Buffy would hold up. If she failed....Buffy's life would be on her conscience.

Kiara placed her hand over Angelus' undead heart. "You love me. You tried to kill me, because you loved me. And you hated that. You hated loving me. And yet you couldn't escape it, could you? And now you're ready? You want to accept me? Make me your Queen?" She shook her head. "I can't. You have to make the right decision here, Angelus. You can spend eternity with me. Or you can live forever alone. If you choose me, you get me. But you also give up this body to it's rightful owner. If you choose to let me go, then you will stay, and undoubtedly you'll be re-cursed and things will not have changed much for you. Either way, you lose something. Plain and simple truth."

Angelus quaked with fury. "And you? What do *you* gain, love?"

Kiara shrugged. "If you make the right decision, I spend eternity with the man I love. If you make the wrong decision, I leave anyway. Either way, I'm outta here."

"I won't let you leave me," he threatened darkly.

Kiara smiled for the first time. "It's not something you have control over, my Angel. Believe it or not, there are those with powers greater than your own."

He fought with his emotions. He was not used to caring for anyone, yet he was loathe to let her go. Truth be told, she was the one being he never wanted to hurt again, though he would never admit that to anyone. But if he chose to stay and revel in this madness...then he would lose her, and in all likelihood would have that damn curse back within a week. But was he giving up if he chose her? Would she have defeated him?

"And if I choose you, how do you propose we spend eternity with each other?"

"That's something you'll just have to find out if it comes," she told him.

Angelus looked around the room, not particularly caring that his prisoners had gotten free. His gaze landed on Buffy. He could practically taste her fear and pride. It seemed as if she would win either way. And yet, he knew she would never forget him. The thought made him smile.

Now that he had her back, the hunger burning him from the inside out, he couldn't bear to let her go. So he chose her. "You."

Kiara nodded, relief evident in her posture. "There's just one thing you have to do," she said.

"What?" he asked shortly, wondering if he was going to regret his decision.

"You have to drink me. All of me."

Angelus opened his eyes wide. "You want me to kill you?"

She shrugged. "Can't you do it? You are Angelus...."

He took a hesitant step towards her. He felt so...human dammit! Actually, the thought of killing her didn't sound so bad at that moment. Hadn't he always dreamed of it?

Looking down into her beautiful face, he remembered what the damned sot Angel hadn't.

When he had fed from her so many years ago, as she had reciprocated, he'd seen that she had no demonic visage. She was as purely beautiful as a vampire as she was in her human guise.

Angelus morphed into his game face and attacked her slender neck, his fangs cutting deeply and raggedly into her flesh. Instantly the warm sticky liquid filled his mouth, arousing his senses. She was liquid fire to him and he felt as if she consumed him. It was a sensation so unfamiliar to him, that it actually frightened Angelus.

The Scooby Gang looked on in gruesome fascination. They couldn't tear their gazes away. They knew they should be running for safety, but not without Buffy - and not without knowing what would happen.

Buffy cried mercilessly. With any luck, Angelus would finally be out of their lives forever. But would Angel? If he ceased to exist without his demon.... Buffy knew she had to be ready to accept that fact. It hurt more than she could imagine, but the lives of her friends and family were worth it.

Kiara was fading fast. Angelus had to wrap his arms around her just to keep her standing. She could feel the blood flow out of her in ebbing waves. Soon she would be hollow, but she felt no regrets. This is what she wanted. She'd done her duty. She could end it in peace and love.

Angelus tasted her resolve, her peace, her undying love, and it seemed to set him free. His sense were still on fire, but as she weakened, instead of getting stronger, he felt as she did. They collapsed to the floor, his mouth never leaving the warm supply of life spilling from her flesh.

With her last ounce of strength, Kiara wrapped her arms around Angelus. She gazed into his obsidian eyes and smiled. "My Angel," she whispered.

As the last drop of her blood flowed down his throat, Angelus fell next to her. Neither body moved. The gang inched forward slowly as Spike released Buffy from her chains. Her legs buckled beneath her weight, yet she fought to stand and walk over to Angel's prone body. She knelt down beside him and picked up his free hand. As she ran her fingers over his claddagh ring, she placed a light kiss on his palm. "I love you," she whispered against his cold skin.

Suddenly, a luminescent blue light began an outward glow from Kiara's body. Moments later, a shimmering red aura of the same nature extended from Angelus' chest. They watched in awe as the iridescent blue rose up and encompassed the red like a cocoon. It swirled and twisted around the red light until it was completely covered. Then, it began to shrink into a dense sphere of twinkling blue. Buffy looked around the room and saw her friends bathed in the dancing reflection of the heavenly blue light. Without any warning, brilliant beams of white light shot out of the sphere, and Buffy saw that many of the small beams went through the gang. She herself could feel the soothing warmth of the light course through her body. It calmed her fears, and somehow, she knew everything would be ok, despite the events of the last few hours. Buffy turned halfway and saw the light hover over Willow. It traveled up and down her comatose body and then, in a blink, the room was bathed once again in darkness.

They stood in silence for a long while.

"Wow. I wouldn't have thought I'd see anything like *that* outside of the Hellmouth," Xander said. "No wonder you're always running to L.A."

The total inaneness of his comment caused everyone to collapse in laughter. Tears ran from relief and happiness as tension and stress was released.

"Ummm....guys. I've got one hell of a headache and I'm feeling a little disoriented." Willow's feeble voice ceased their laughter and they turned one by one to watch her stand up and walk over to them. Oz jumped up and offered his assistance, wrapping his arms around her tightly. It was more for his assurance than it was to help her walk. As she neared the group, Willow looked down, horrified. "I didn't do that, did I?" she asked innocently, peering at the two bodies.

Buffy smiled sadly. "No, Will, you didn't do that."

Willow nodded. "Oh. Good. 'Cause he's movin', and if I had, I'd have wanted to get outta the way."

Buffy turned swiftly back to Kiara and Angel and watched as he began to stir. Tears of happiness sprang to her eyes and she couldn't remember a time she had cried more. He sat up, obviously muddled, and looked around.

"Angel?" Buffy questioned quietly.

He turned towards her voice. "Buffy? Wha-what happened?" Angel shook his head. "The last thing I remember is...is dancing with you...and then...Spike and Kiara dancing together...." He looked up at the sea of faces around him. "Where is Kiara?"

Spike stared despondently down at the form of the beautiful girl and stalked out of the apartment. No one answered Angel's question. They didn't need to. When he saw her lying next to him, her throat slightly torn, and began to shake his head in denial.

"No...No," he whispered to himself. He turned to Buffy and saw the blood on her arms. "Buffy. You're hurt. You...." He looked down at himself and then to the disheveled states of his "friends". "It happened, didn't it? I...I...."

Buffy knelt down beside him and wrapped her arms tightly around his neck. "It's ok," she told him over and over again. "It's going to be alright."

"It was him!" Willow gave a strangled shriek. Oz tried to calm her fears. "It's ok. You're ok now. It was Angelus, not Angel," he said, trying to comfort her, though he had a hard time looking at the *friendly* vamp.

"No, no, no, no, no..." she chanted, her eyes wide with fear.

"Willow..." Buffy started.

"NO!" she shouted. Willow took a few deep breaths. "It wasn't Angel," she said in a hushed tone. "It was him." She pointed to Aidan, still lying on the floor, nursing his broken leg.

"What?" he said, confused.

"Will, are you sure-" Buffy tried again.

Oz had no such qualms. He pounced on the disabled man and began beating him. Xander was close behind, not one to be left out when it came to his best friend. The sound of bone crunching against skin filled the room until Buffy stood up and dragged the two boys off of her boyfriend.

She looked coldly down at the bloody mess. "Is it true? Did you attack Willow?"

"Buffy," he began, his speech impaired by a few broken teeth. "Let me explain..."

"Explain?" she erupted. "How the hell do you think you can explain trying to kill Willow?"

"I wasn't trying to kill her. I was just trying to keep her mouth shut."

Oz tried to leap on him again, but Giles and Xander held him back.

Willow looked at him, confusion adding to the terror in her eyes. "What?"

Aidan looked at her in disgust. "You kept telling Buffy she was trusting the wrong people. That she should look for happiness. You think I was willing to lose her?"

Willow shook her head in denial. "No," she whispered.

Aidan scoffed. "No. I had to stop you from putting ideas in her head. Since day one all of you have shoved Angel," he sneered at the name, "in my face. There was no way I was going to let one little girl ruin my chance with Buffy."

"What chance?" Buffy said hostilely.

"Buffy," Aidan whined. "You've got to know I only did it for you."

Buffy turned her back on him. "You're sick," she told him.

Aidan climbed to a standing position, heaving all of his weight onto his one good leg. "Don't walk away from me," he warned Buffy. "I'll never stop. You're mine. I won't let these people stop us from being together. They're the ones brainwashing you. I'm only trying to protect you. You can't escape destiny, Buffy," as he spoke, his voice rose to a shrill pitch. "And I'll kill anyone who gets in our way, if I have to."

"Wrong, *mate*," Spike said as he walked back in. In one giant leap he was upon the startled man, his fangs buried in Aidan's thick neck. He drained him quickly and carelessly and when he was finished, he let the body fall to the floor with a thud. Spike licked his lips as he shifted easily to his human form, and looked around at the gang's stunned faces. "I've been wanting to do that for a long time," he said.

He moved slowly to kneel beside Kiara's lifeless form. His fingers traced over her perfect porcelain features. "Love," he quipped bitterly. "It's a funny thing, y'know?"

In the silence of the night, the group relinquished itself to the love that they shared. Buffy held Angel in her tender grasp, Willow leaned into Oz's strong embrace, Joyce yielded to Giles' welcoming arms, and even Cordy submitted to Xander's friendly hug.





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