Giles quickly rushed into the house calling out to Joyce. She came out of the kitchen to see what had her normally calm husband so upset. "Rupert, what is the matter? Did something happen to Faith?"
"No dear, I have to take a trip to LA and need for you to go with me, no questions asked."
Joyce looked at him and simply asked. "How long will we be gone and what should I take?"
Giles sighed in relief. "I'm not sure but I doubt that it will be more than a few days." He walked over to pull her into his arms. "Thank you, Joyce, I know that this doesn't make any sense now but it will as soon as we get to our destination. Please dear, just trust me."
While her 'parents' quickly packed, Buffy slipped a note into each of their bags. She reassured Joyce that she would be all right and not to worry about her. It was just her mother's nature to cluck over her little chicks and as far as Joyce was concerned, she was the newest chick.
They pulled out of the driveway while Buffy watched. As soon as she could no longer see the car, she slipped back into the house. She made short work of gathering the necessary weapons for tonight's patrol. There was only two hours left before everything came to a head and the Council paid for all the deeds - past, present and future.
Buffy thought about her conversation with the Special Ops man yesterday. She walked down to the basement where they were all being held as well as Xander. She went by his cell without even a glance. He screamed at her to let him out this minutes but it all fell on deaf ears. Buffy walked to the cell that had the man in it that Tara said she should talk to.
"I understand that you have something that I should hear about?"
"Don't I always, kid?" The man morphed into Whistler.
"Whistler, I should have known that you were involved in this. No doubt, you are the one that is responsible for Angel getting out. What do you have to tell me?" Her stance was pure Buffy, a controlled anger emanating from her. She crossed her arms while she waited for her answers.
The balance demon wasn't any happier about this assignment than the Slayer was. "There are a few things that you need to know before you go off half-cocked tonight. You can't kill them, kid. You have to leave their fate to the Powers."
Buffy snorted at that. "Like they will get off their butts and do anything about the Council. Where were they when Lil and Lilly were killed? Why haven't they done anything about all the senseless deaths over the years of Slayers who did nothing wrong other than think for themselves. No Whistler, I will finish this tonight, once and for all. You can go back and tell them that I said it was a washout."
"Slayer, you know how this works. I can tell them what you said but it won't change anything and you have to choose a side. If you kill those men then you will be no better than they are. What about your daughter? Have you even thought about her?"
A feral growl curled her lips. "Don't you dare even speak her name. The Council is the reason behind all this and they have to be stopped. Everything that I am doing is for her."
"Are you sure about that kid? Isn't she just an excuse for you to take out the people that you see as responsible for you and Angel not being together anymore?" The last few words came out as a yelp when she tore the door off the cell.
Buffy stalked towards the small man and when she was within reach, she pulled him up to her until they were eye to eye. "You don't know anything about what makes me do what I do. The Powers sit on their butts while good people die and for what, so that they can use all around like chess pieces. I am going to do this my way, just like I've had to do everything else in my life. No, it all ends tomorrow and that is final."
Whistler morphed back into the man he was supposed to be and looked at her with sad eyes. "I told them that they can't throw everything at you and expect you to do as they say. I'm just the messenger kid but what you do tomorrow will make a difference for you and everyone that you care about."
The doorbell to Buffy's house rang at exactly 7:00 pm. She went to answer it and made sure to look tired and lethargic. The door opened and there stood Wesley looking more nervous than usual. "Hey Wes, I'm ready just let me get my bag."
"There is no need, I have everything that we will need in here." He patted a large duffel bag with his foot.
"You're the Watcher, let's get this party started. I'm not quite 5x5 but I do feel better." She stepped out of the house and locked the door behind her.
"There is a nest that we only got word about an hour ago. Mr. Giles wasn't around so I took the information and thought it would be an easier patrol for you if the targets are all in one place. I'll drive us over, do you mind carrying the bag? You can look through it and determine which weapons you prefer."
Buffy nodded and picked it up. The bag was heavy but she suspected that nothing inside be useful. When they were both seated in the car and headed towards the 'nest', she asked Wesley how he found out about this place. He wouldn't explain where he got the information just parked in front of an abandoned house. Taking a deep breath, she looked through the bag and took out several weapons, for good luck, she put a bottle of holy water in her back pocket. They walked up to the front porch but Wesley stopped at the door.
"You should go in alone, Faith. I'll come to help if you call for me. In order to asses your strengths properly, I need to watch you in action. I will be right behind you and document your progress."
"Sure Wes, I'm ready to kick ass and take names." She popped her neck and limbered her shoulders. Her foot shot out and the door flew open. "Hello boys ready to party?"
Wesley was a little shocked at her actions but didn't see it as out of character for Faith. He waited for several minutes and was about to go inside to observe when he was turned around by a man that he didn't recognize. He was a large man with slightly thinning hair who was pure muscle. There was a gleam in his eyes that made Wesley swallow hard and try to take a step back.
"I don't think so." Max grabbed the young watcher's arm in an iron vice and pulled him to a large limousine that wasn't there a moment ago. "If you have even an ounce of brains then you will sit here like the scared little man that you are. This night is only just getting started and you are going to have a front row seat." Max slammed the door shut and moved quickly back to the front of the house. He looked over at Johnny and the two old friends nodded at each other.
"I think it is time to make sure that our girl doesn't have all the fun." Johnny laughed but it was a harsh, hard sound. A sound that scared more than man over the years.
Buffy walked carefully through the house. There was an eerie silence that didn't seem right but she knew that there should be at least four Watchers and one crazed vamp inside. The others should be arriving soon but Buffy wanted to take care of the psycho-vamp herself. Stopping when she didn't immediately find what she was looking for, she closed her eyes and waited for her senses to guide her. As if she had a map inside her head, Buffy started up the stairs. She turned left and found the four watchers dead, their neck literally ripped out.
The cage that previously held the vampire who was supposed to kill Faith was empty. The 4-inch thick steel walls had been punched clean through. Buffy wondered if the Council knew what they created. No normal Slayer would have been able to go against a vamp like this one let alone one that had no strength. No wonder there were only a number of Slayers that made it through the trials. Her senses went into overdrive and she knew her prey was directly behind her.
"Mmm, Slayer blood, it has been a long time since I have tasted the sweet ambrosia. I am going to enjoy this." A large clawed hand swept out to grab her but found only empty air. Zachery Kralik was one of the Council's most effective weapons. He was used to tasting Slayer's fear immediately before he filled himself with their rich heady blood.
Buffy slipped under his arm and slid between his legs. "Is that all that you have, my mother can swing better than that." She sprinted out the door knowing that he would follow her. Buffy was down the stairs in a flash. She could hear the heavy footsteps not far behind her.
"You are making this much more interesting, Slayer. The other ones always died so easily, not much fun at all." An evil smile crossed his face as he made his way downstairs. This Slayer was different but she already made a huge mistake. She went straight to the basement.
Buffy was ready for what would come next, not sure how she knew what weapons she would need to succeed. She only hoped that Max and Johnny would stay out of sight or they would end up like the dead watchers upstairs. The drugged out vampire was making his way down to the basement. Buffy concentrated on what she needed to do next. In her hand was her own little surprise for Kralik. She rattled the bottle of steroids.
"Does the big bad vamp need to take his vitamins? We wouldn't want you to not have strong teeth and bones, now would we?" She stepped into a dull patch of light, not that either of them needed it to see the other.
"Give me that you bitch. I will make your death less painful."
"You want this so bad then catch." The bottle was airborne only to be caught by Kralik.
He looked around for some water and found some in a pitcher that must have been used by one of the watchers. This must have been where they hung out trying to drown out Kralik's screams and threats. Grabbing the bottle, he all but tore the top off and downed the water in one long gulp. Kralik's hand clutched at his neck while he tried to speak. "What...did...you...do?" His voice was raw as he gasped out the few words then turned to dust.
Buffy brushed the dust from her leather-clad thighs. "Holy water, dumb ass. The Council may have made you stronger but they didn't make you smarter. Buffy -1, Council - 0. Way to go, slay girl." It was the first time that she called herself by her old nickname. It was the first time that she felt like her old self and it scared her to the tips of her toes.
Johnny and Max burst into the basement with a gun in both hands. "Buffy are you here? Please, honey, talk to us."
"I'm okay guys. Stay there and I will be right up. I think that it is time for us to finish this once and for all." She made her way up the stairs until she stood next to the two men who helped her survive that last few years. It only took a minute for them to have her sandwiched between them in two sets of powerful arms. Buffy closed her eyes and reveled in the feeling that they always brought out in her. They made her feel safe and understood her better than anyone else ever would.
Joyce and Giles pulled into a secluded mansion in LA. Neither one of them knew what to expect after Giles explained, they rode the rest of the way in silence. Their thoughts were both on their daughter and praying that she was safe. They walked into the house and were amazed at the beautiful grounds and house. The house was guarded by several large men with guns. Giles just shook his head at Joyce until they were safely inside.
"I saw Buffy, she was in Sunnydale. I'm not sure for how long but she begged me to bring you here, for both of us to be out of town. She said that we would understand better once we were here and that there was something that we need to do for her if things didn't work out the way that she planned."
Joyce was heartbroken not to have been given the opportunity to see her daughter in person but understood how careful that she needed to be, especially now. The housekeeper showed them to their room and one of the guards brought their bags up. Joyce went about putting their things away when two envelopes fell out. One was addressed to her and the other was for Giles. "Rupert, Buffy left each of us a note." She held his note out to him not able to control her own excitement. The last few weeks were hard on her not being able to hear from her baby.
They each tore open their notes and quickly read what Buffy wrote. Joyce finished first since there weren't as many things to tell her mother about. Giles' letter was much longer and his face paled while he read. Tears filled his eyes and he cursed the foundation that he finally after his wild youth came to believe in. When he was finished, he looked up to see his wife's worried eyes. They were in each others arms in minutes.
"I'm sorry, Rupert. I couldn't tell you, the Council," her voice turned bitter, "they were watching us all the time. It seems my little girl did manage to keep one large secret from me as well. We are grandparents can you believe it? I can't wait to see her, I wonder if she looks like Buffy."
Giles kissed her forehead then held her close. His eyes shut while he absorbed everything that Buffy wrote. "She will be beautiful like her mother and her grandmother. I wish that she was here so that we could get to know her while we wait."
They held on tightly to one another when a bright light shown in the room. They heard a child's laughter then the air swirled around the room but didn't disturb anything. A tiny hand pulled on Giles' pants leg and he looked down to see a fairy child with soft blonde curls and huge warm brown eyes. Two little dimples peaked out when she smiled, her little finger pointed at him then motioned for him to bend over.
"Hi ganpa, mes Lil. Ghowsty Giwls say I stay with you and ganma. Thems help mommy and da, now." She waved at Joyce then pouted. "No cwyin, you not wants to pway with me?"
Joyce bent down to pull the little girl into her arms. "No, your silly grandma just cries sometimes when she is really happy. Ask you grandpa if you don't believe me."
Lil looked at Giles to make sure that Joyce was telling the truth and he couldn't get over how much she looked like Buffy. He sat down on the floor beside Joyce. "That's right Lil, your grandma cries when she is happy. Isn't that silly, she should laugh don't you think?"
"Yous talk wike Pike. I wike you." She lunged at Giles and he caught her in his arms. Her fat baby arms wrapped around his neck and placed wet kisses on his cheek.
Giles wasn't sure that he wasn't about to break out in tears of his own. He knew that Buffy expected him and Joyce to take care of her daughter if she didn't succeed in taking down the Council. Husband and wife looked at each other over the small head and came to the same conclusion. They would protect Lil with their lives. They would never let Buffy down again.
"Do not worry we will help the Slayer, yes we will." Three intertwined voices spoke at once.
Giles and Joyce spun around to see three women. There was little doubt that they were related or part of the supernatural world. The Furies floated at least three feet above the ground. The oldest sister spoke to Buffy's parents. "We will keep her safe, yes we will. She is meant to do many things and we will help her see her path. You must watch over Lil, it is your time and place to help. Keep the little one safe, she is important for the future."
Everyone moved towards the hotel where the Council waited to hear of the untimely death of Faith. Quentin Travers' fingers tapped on the arm of his chair. He was ready to leave this accursed place and go back to civilization. Finally, there was a knock on the door and one of the junior watchers went to open it. He was knocked out when a fist shot through the open doorway.
"What is the meaning of this?" Travers' voice boomed in the room. He was used to everyone jumping at his every command. The next few minutes were chaos. As soon as all the intruders were inside the hotel, room. He once again tried to gain control of the situation. "I demand to know what this is about, this instance."
"Sit down and shut up this is my party and I will be the one handing out all the favors." Buffy stepped forward.
"Miss Dawkins, what is the meaning of this? What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be on patrol with your watcher. Where is Whydham Pryce if I may ask?"
"Told you that I would be the one asking the questions. I might as well start now. As for watcher junior, he has been detained. If you are wondering about your other watchers, the ones that were guarding your pet vamp, well they are all dead."
"You killed them, this is outrageous."
Johnny was across the room faster than a man his age should be able to move. "No what is outrageous is that you sent a young girl to her death. That you killed other's who wouldn't follow your stupid rules. Did you really think that you had the right to be judge and jury?" A gun was pressed to Travers' head.
"No Johnny, not before he understands what is going to happen to his precious Council. Oh, I almost forgot, how rude of me not to introduce myself."
"I am not amused with this, Miss Dawkins. I already know who you are, now leave my room."
"You don't know as much as you think that you do. Like say that I am not the only Slayer. You remember Buffy Summers, don't you?" Her eyebrow rose in question.
"What does your predecessor have to do with any of this? She died years ago."
Faith stepped out from behind the others. She smirked when she saw the big cheese's eye pop out of his head. She gave him a perky wave.
"But you died, the reports." His mouth clamped shut realizing that he almost said too much.
"No you killed my aunt and an innocent girl who never hurt another soul." Buffy spoke and her voice held all the anguish, hate, vengeance and demand for justice.
"Why would Miss Summers be staying with your aunt?"
"I wasn't. There are a lot of things that the Council has lied about over the years. You stuffed shirts couldn't stand to give up your power and no doubt money if you were ever found out. All demons aren't evil and the Council isn't the only ones out there protecting against evil. In fact, you aren't even performing your roles according to your own mandates. It is time that the Council was put down once and for all."
"Young lady, you don't know what you are talking about. There is nothing that you can do to stop the Council we are more powerful than you could ever imagine."
"I wouldn't bet on that. You see I've made a lot of good friends while I've been dead. Let me do just one more thing before we get down to business."
It was then that he noticed that she wore a very special cross around her neck. Buffy's hand caressed the stone that stood at its center and everyone watched in awe when it started to glow. Both Slayers' eyes glowed the same deep red of the stone until the room was bathed in the same color. When everything returned to normal, each Slayer was in her own body.
Faith popped her neck. "I have definitely been missing being in my own leathers. You 5x5, B?"
"Yeah F, I know what you mean. Now, let's finish this." They looked at each other and knew that their connection would always be there. Even if they weren't actually feeling what the other was, they understood each other from the inside out. "As we speak, the five potentials around the world are being escorted to safe houses and will no longer have anything to do with the Council."
Travers tried to shoot up from his chair but stopped when he felt Johnny's gun press further into his temple. "I know every single Council member. All of your little nasty secrets. Just think of me as Santa but I won't be handing out switches, you're going to pray that I was."
Doyle and Lorne looked at each other and knew that they had to say something before Buffy stepped too far over the line. "Lass, please listen to me. You can't pass judgment on these men. I know that you want to but it isn't your place."
Before he could continue, Buffy whirled on him with pure green fire blazing in her eyes. "I don't have the right. Who has the right then if not me? Who is going to stand up to them, to stop them? Are you going to do it Doyle or you are any of you willing to do what has to be done?"
"We will Slayer, we are here to take back what has been abused, and yes we are." There stood the Furies in all their glory. Looking at them didn't cause anyone to have to guess where they got their name from.
"What are you doing here, is..?" Buffy's voice trailed off. Her heart was in her eyes as she begged the sisters to assure her that Lil was safe.
"We are here and all is safe. Never fear young warrior, we will do what needs doing, yes we will." Their voices once again blended with one another's to tell Buffy what she needed to know.
"No, I am going to end this. It is what has to be done." Buffy's chin went out and she advanced on Travers.
Angel's hand came out to turn her around. His eyes were full of love, understanding and the wish that he could end this for her. "Buffy, Ioniin, please. You are not someone that can kill in cold blood it just isn't what and who you are."
A harsh bark of laughter came from full pink lips as she looked up at him. "Then you'd be wrong Angel. I killed the man who set the bomb, after I made him tell me everything that I needed to know. So, I am that person."
"No you aren't, we know, we know what you did. You were full of grief and pain, yes you were. It was only right that you decide that man's fate, yes it was. Slayer, you have done much good while you waited, yes you did. Now we will take care of these men, yes we will."
"Listen to them kid, don't let it take over your life. You could lose everything that is most precious to you. Are you willing to trade her for you vengeance?" Whistler stood beside the two soulmates. His bowler hat was in his hands and he prayed that she would make the right decision.
Faith came to stand on the other side of the couple. "B, I know how you feel, believe me. I saw and felt everything they did to you. But if you kill them won't you become what they are?"
"The Powers with the sisters help will take care of the Council. They know what punishment is fit for each watcher. There is also a big decision for you to make, kid. But, they plan to give you and the new kid here a break for a while. You have some other things to take care of, very important things."
"What do you mean that they will decide our fates? We have served for centuries, training Slayers to fight against the darkness. Who are you, any of you to judge us?"
"We are the ones, the ones who made the First and set this into motion, yes we are." The oldest sister floated forward to touch Travers' temple. He screamed in agony at what he saw.
"No, you can't. I am the Head of the Watchers Council and I demand that you hand over the Slayers to us. We will decide what their fates will be, it is our duty."
"Your duty is to kill young women. To allow some of them to be so dependent on their Watchers that they did whatever was demanded of them. How many girls did you take away form their parents so that you could mold them into perfect little soldiers? What happened to all the ones that weren't chosen when the next Slayer was called? And the ones that passed the age limit, what did you do with those girls? Are they still alive or did you discard them like you did me? Who is going to avenge their deaths?" Buffy asked furiously, she couldn't believe that they were all trying to stop her now. Now, that she worked so hard to get here, everyone stood in her way.
"You were a rogue Slayer, a danger to yourself and others. It was within the Council's rights to decide your fate."
"No, it wasn't." Whistler moved to stand directly in front of the man who carried on the tradition of corrupting the Council's Charter. He not only continued it he took it to new heights. "You will be quiet!" The normally soft-spoken balance demon's voice shook the room. "The decision will be up to the Slayer not you." He turned his back on Travers once more to face Buffy.
She looked at Angel then Faith. Buffy turned around to look at each of the faces of her friends who stood behind her one hundred percent. Can I do this, can I make them into murderers. What about Lil? Is Whistler telling me that I will lose my baby girl if I finish what I started? She turned back to look at the sisters and Whistler. Buffy couldn't bring herself to look at the watchers that stood beside the man in charge of them all.
Buffy closed her eyes, she felt Angel then Faith take her hands. In the back of her mind, Lil's face came to her. She was a little older but none of the life and joy showed in her face. "I want to know what is going to happen to them. I won't let them control the potential Slayers and I won't sit idle while they make more attempts on Faith's life."
Whistler's respect for Buffy multiplied. He turned to look at the sisters who floated closer. "We are the rage and the fire, we are the passion and the love, we are vengeance and we are justice. We are the Furies and we will show no mercy to those who stray from the light." Their voices intertwined but it wasn't the soft effect that everyone was used to. It was like thunder inside a cave, each of them caught their breaths and their hearts race, even those who no longer needed to do either.
The Furies moved into an ever-widening circle around the watchers when they stopped there was only one watcher left and that was Wesley. He was held at the back of the room by Spike who was in full game-face. His eyes grew large with fear and he passed out when the sisters caused the rest of the Council members to disappear.
"We have sent each to a world they fear. They will stay there until death takes them. We have done what was needed as have you, Slayer. Justice has been served here now it is time for you to start your life again. What say you?"
Buffy nodded her head, pulling away from Angel and Faith. She walked over to Johnny, the only one that truly knew and understood her pain. He pulled her into his arms not caring that everyone could see the tears fall down his face. "Honey, you made the right choice. Nothing is worth any threat to our little girl. Lil wouldn't have wanted it and I couldn't bear it. Let it go, honey. We have to let her go and live for the Lil that is here now."
She cried silently against his chest then pulled away. "Wesley, you need to make a decision. Are you willing to continue believing what they taught you or decide for yourself? They tried to kill me and instead my aunt and a friend died horribly. They burned to death in a fire from a bomb one of the Council's goons set."
"But that is unheard of, why would they do such a thing. The Council is meant to guide and protect Slayers not slaughter them." Wesley was faced in the moment with the realization of what he was a part of but more then that what his father was a part of. "I will not be returning to England. It appears that I have a lot to learn about being a watcher." He looked at Faith. "That is if someone were willing to allow me to learn along beside them."
"We are 5x5, Wes. I'm sure that I can drive you as crazy as B drove Mr. G. Look how good she turned out. I don't think that Mr. and Mrs. G will be staying in Sunnydale, so it will just be me and you."
"And me." Gunn stepped up to take Faith's hand in his. "I think there are still a few moves that I need help with." Without another word, he pulled her into his arms for a passionate kiss.
Buffy went to face her past so she could move towards her future. Her first stop was the basement of the mansion. She needed to talk to Xander, to confront him about the lie that set all the events in motion. Walking up to the cell, Buffy took a deep breath. There he was pretending to be asleep with his arms crossed behind his head.
"Hello Xander." Buffy sat on the floor in front of the cell. She watched his breath hitch then he shot straight up on the cot.
"Buff, is that you? Am I seeing ghosts now? First Faith goes off the rails now I'm being visited by the ghost of Slayer past."
"You're not dreaming Xander, I'm alive no thanks to you."
"What does that mean? I'm not the one that ran away when the going got tough." He glared at her for not seeing what was in front of her face.
"You think that your lie was just a little thing to help me out right. My knight in shining armor who I would of course turn to as soon as I killed my lover. But that was just a nasty little detail that would be out of the way when Angel was dead."
"Don't you mean Angelus? Are you forgetting that he killed your friends not to mention Jenny? I did what needed to be done. You had lots of chances to kill him but couldn't go through with it."
"No, you knew that Willow was doing the spell to restore Angel's soul. You didn't want that to happen or for me to know about it. Did you Xander? Kick his ass those were your words weren't they. I had to kill him just as his soul returned. Do you have any idea what that does to a person? To kill someone that they loved, someone that was your whole world, the one person that made you feel safe and loved."
"What about us? What about Willow and me? Didn't you even care that I came to help you straight from the hospital where she laid in a bed because of Dead Boy." His eyes blazed with all the hatred and jealousy he felt for the man who took away any chance he had at Buffy.
She realized that nothing that she said would make a difference to him. Buffy couldn't believe that this bitter, jealous boy was hidden under the sweet goofy one that she considered her friend. She stood and walked away with Xander's screams following her, telling her that he was right and he would do it again.
Faith stood out of sight the entire time. Buffy told her that however she decided to handle Xander she would support her. The dark haired Slayer watched her sister in arms walk by and although her face was drawn, there was a lightness in her steps that said a world of things to Faith. Buffy was going to let go of the past and that was all that Xander was to her. Now, she was faced with the same dilemma. What did she want to do about, Xander? Her thoughts couldn't help but go to Gunn. He was honest and straightforward. Ever since her first morning in her Buffy suit, the two of them had hit it off. She knew that Gunn didn't see Buffy as anything more than a friend. Could she ever trust Xander again? Did she even want him in her life at all?
"Hello Xan, I guess tonight is your night for Slayer visits. I heard yours and B's conversation. There wasn't anything there that I didn't know except that you are still hung up on her." Faith opened his cell door with a click and left it and him behind her. She walked up the stairs to find the street fighter waiting for her. Faith walked up to him and pulled him down to her waiting lips. "Now that I have my own body back, how's about a nice long ride?"
Gunn picked her up and all but ran up the stairs straight to his room. He kicked the door shut and the fell on the bed in a tangle of limbs. Faith's husky laughter could be heard though the door.
Buffy smiled for her sister Slayer and thought that they made a great couple. Gunn was grounded but didn't mind the wild and wacky. Faith knew when to have fun and when to take care of business. They would be 5x5.
Opening the front door, Buffy stepped out into the night air of Sunnydale. There was a peaceful calm to the town tonight, as if the Hellmouth itself knew that it was not the time to mess with the Slayer. Angel moved out of the shadows to walk beside her, waiting for her to talk to him or send him away. They walked along in a comfortable silence that made his heart fill with hope. Buffy walked to the Bronze where she knew that she would find Willow. It seemed as if the time was only a matter of seconds until she stood outside of the local hangout. Angel put a hand on her shoulder to stop her from walking inside.
"Let me go in and have her come out here so that you can speak in private."
She nodded her head and stepped back. While she waited, Buffy started to pace back and forth across the back alley. She heard her name and turned to see Willow stagger. Angel kept the red head from falling to the ground. Buffy heard his soft words to her best friend and then he set her back on her feet.
Willow's large eyes gleamed with joy and she raced to Buffy with her arms open wide. The petite blonde swept her friend into her arms. They spun around laughing at being able to be together again. They started talking at the same time then stopped and started once again.
"Buffy, it's really you. How did this happens, oh who cares, you're alive and you're back here with me with us. Does your mom and Giles know? Wait till I tell Xander, he is going to flip. I have so much that I want to tell you. It has been so hard not having you to talk to."
She stopped talking when a slender finger touched her lips. "I have a lot to tell you, Willow. I've kept tabs on you but I couldn't come back. The bomb that killed my aunt was set for me."
They walked down the alley ending up on their favorite park bench. Angel followed behind them but kept out of sight. He knew that they needed to talk things out. Willow was always good to him and he hoped that she would listen to everything that Buffy had to say before making any decisions. Buffy and Willow spoke for an hour with Buffy talking and Willow interrupting with gasps of disbelief or shrieks of pleasure.
"I can't believe that you are a mommy, Buffy. Lil sounds like a wonderful little girl. The fact that Xander never told you that I was going to try to restore Angel's soul. He was so happy with Faith or I thought he was anyways. It took me a longtime to forgive them both for cheating on Cordelia the way they did but Xander and I have been best friends since kindergarten. Do you have to go back to LA right away? I want you to meet my boyfriend, Graham. He is wonderful and we have so much in common."
"I'm going back later tonight. Lil and I have been apart for too long. I think it is time that she got to meet her father. He wants to start over but I'm still not sure that I trust him. How could he not know that I was alive? It hurts Willow that he gave up on me so quickly. If I didn't have Lil I'm not sure that I would still be here."
Willow took Buffy's small hand into hers. "He didn't believe it. Angel told me that no matter what he did that he could still feel you. I think that he went to Ireland to die, Buffy. He didn't want to go on without you. The only reason that he didn't was because he knew that you wouldn't want him to. That doesn't sound like someone who gave up on the person that they loved. Cordelia tried to make it sound as if they were a couple but I knew better. There wasn't even a spark in his eyes when she was around. When you were anywhere nearby, his whole face glowed with the way he felt about you. Buffy, you know that you belong with Angel. It isn't a betrayal to your aunt to admit that you still love Angel. You deserve to be happy, just as much as anyone else. Lil would want you to do what was best for you and your daughter."
"I know that she would, Willow. Lil only ever wanted for me to be happy. I just don't know if I have it in me to let him back in again."
"Try Buffy, please try." Angel's soft voice came out of the shadows. "I have only ever loved you, no one else. I can't love anyone else, you complete me. I want my life to be with you and Lil, if you will let me." He stepped out of the dark and bent down in front of her. Angel took her hands in his and gave Willow a smile of thanks.