Chapter 65
Giles and Wesley returned to the cave to recover Kennedy's body and found Xander. His death was listed as a suicide. Kennedy's body was returned to her family in Boston while Buffy held a small service for Willow and Xander. They were buried side by side on the mound of Buffy's former resting place. She had destroyed her headstone since she was finally leaving Sunnydale and her former life forever.
When Fred and Gunn returned to pack their belongings there was no sign of Angel and Cordelia anywhere. The couple couldn't pack their things fast enough. The place that was once their home where they shared so much with their former friends was now empty almost haunted.
The parting was harder on Fred than Gunn; she felt that maybe their was something they could have done to save their friends. It was hard for her to have to turn her back on them forever.
Gunn looked at it differently his feelings of betrayal for the vampire that he had trusted and fought beside, ran deep. After losing so many friends but especially his sister, Allona, to a vampire made what Angel did even worse.
He watched Spike closely not wanting to trust or even be near another souled vampire. Gunn had to admit, there was a huge difference between the two men. His reservation dissolved quickly when Spike came to LA with Faith.
Lorne returned to run Caritas, once more. He asked around but none of his contacts had heard a single word about Angel or Cordelia. The Host was happy to be back where he belonged and that most if not all of his friends had survived the apocalypse. He was relieved that he didn't lose Buffy. Lorne had grown to love his little angel friend. The demon population of LA held her in high esteem, as well. She had made many friends on her visits to sing. Caritas become information central on the demon grapevine.
Anya and Giles found a little shop whose owner was ready to retire. It was over on Melrose and Vine not more than ten miles from Wild Angels. Buffy had helped them to find an apartment in a small building called Melrose Place. The couple fell in love with old building and were pleasantly surprised to find out that Buffy was their new landlord.
Faith and Spike were going to move into the building as the apartment managers. It would give them a place to live and relieve Buffy of the oversight of the building. So a few months after they had aided in the defeat of the First the couple were prepared to leave the Hellmouth forever.
The day that Faith and Spike left the former Hellmouth, once and for all, was the day that he became human. He screamed as Faith caught him in her arms. She held him, while he died right before her eyes.
Buffy and Connor, who had come to help them move, stood in shock. Buffy rushed over to try to help. When she touched Spike's body a bright light engulfed the three of them. Connor screamed as he tried to get to his lover but some force held him back. As the light faded, a human, Spike was breathing in his slayer's arms.
Tears streamed down the two chosen ones faces as they realized the Shanshu Prophecy was meant for Spike. For a man that never forgot who or what he was and overcome all of obstacles thrown in his path.
One Year Later - Happy Ending
Connor and Buffy were married in a huge wedding thrown by Quentin and Robert. Giles gave her away then he and Anya eloped to Las Vegas. Fred and Gunn were engaged, as were Faith and Spike. Wesley and Tara were dating and everyone expected an announcement any time now.
Buffy was now the sole owner of Wild Angels. She had opened another one in Malibu for private classes only. She and Connor bought a house on the beach there.
Tara was living above the original store but everyone expected Wesley to move in any day now. She worked in the store with Anya and Giles and continued her classes at UCLA. Several months after returning to LA, he found one of her mother's relatives in LA, the blond witch finally admitted she was in love with this man. They were enchanting to watch, as they give the other comfort and confidence with a look or a touch.
Caritas was still doing well. No one had destroyed the club in the past year. Lorne told Buffy she was his good luck charm. No one would dream of harming the club or its owner since they all knew of the Slayer's feelings for the Host.
She would still sing for him occasionally and the crowd of demons of ever type would find themselves falling for the little golden angel/slayer.
Everyone had agreed to meet at the club tonight for a surprise celebration for Connor. When they arrived, Lorne escorted them to their special table.
Buffy moved to talk to her green friend in private. "Kermie, how are you? I don't get to see you enough. Now that we have the house in Malibu, you can come over more. That is an order in case you missed it. I don't want to lose touch with you. Got a surprise for my sweetie tonight but I wanted to ask you an important question?"
"What Sugar Plum? You know I would do anything for you." Lorne smiled at her and he noticed that she seemed to be glowing even more than usual.
"Well, I heard that you were a great baby-sitter and I wanted to book you early, just in case."
"What? You mean, oh Twinkie. I am so happy for you and Connorkins. Of course, I will baby-sit, you won't be able to keep me away from your little piece of heaven. Does Connorkins know? He seems awful calm."
"Not yet but he is fixing to find out in just a minute. You are going to join us aren't you? Go sit beside him and make sure he doesn't pass out. I have a special song to sing to him." Buffy stood on her tiptoes to kiss his green cheek then ran off to the stage. Lorne touched his cheek, "Wow honey buns I love you too." Lorne walked over to the table and sat down to watch Connor's face.
Buffy prepared to sing. "Hi everybody this is a little different from my usual but it is a special song for my husband. Stephen, baby this one is for you." Her face glowed as she sang to Stephen.
Lullaby and Good Night.
Go to sleep little baby
When he realized what she was singing, Connor stood straight up, a look of wonder on his face. The whole club smiled at his reaction; he and Buffy were favorites of all the demons that came to Caritas. They appreciated the respect the young couple always treated them with.
Buffy had created an intricate demon network of friends that she had protected or helped during her time in LA. She knew them all by name even their family members. They watched as Buffy finished the sweet lullaby and Connor rushed up to swing her off the stage causing her to laugh. The crowd clapped called out their congratulations to the Slayer and her mate.
The group of survivors were leading full happy lives, which they had more than earned. They never turned their backs on their personal mission and the Powers smiled on them in appreciation.
Chapter 66 - Dark Ending
The Hyperion Hotel:
The former home of the Angel Investigation team had fallen into ruin, the front doors were boarded up. Teenagers in the neighborhood would dare each other to enter the old hotel. People crossed the street to keep from walking on the sidewalk in front of the building. No one knew who owned the old hotel or why the city didn't have it torn down. Some people said it was haunted, others said they had seen monsters living there.
Inside the hotel, Angel and Cordelia lived in the basement. They stayed out of sight of humans and demons alike. When they returned from Sunnydale almost a year to the day as they stepped into the hotel their lives changed forever.
Angel carried their luggage in and dropped on the hotel floor with a shattering scream. He fell down on the lobby floor as his body was engulfed in a red mist. Cordelia ran to him but a slicing pain hit her own body the minute she touched him. They writhed on the floor for what seemed like hours. When the pain finally stopped, they slowly got to their feet.
Cordelia looked at Angel and screamed. His once beautiful face and body was grotesque to look at. Her eyes were wide as she stepped away from him. Angel looked down to see what was causing Cordy to have such a reaction. He roared when he realized what had been done to him.
Angel now had large hooves for feet, which led to grotesque legs that resembled Kakisto's misshaped body. He resembled a centaur more than a man. The only evidence that he was still somewhat of a man was the large penis that hung from his body. His hands came up to touch his chest, which had remained unchanged. Angel felt his face, only to realize that it was forever stuck in his game face. His fangs were elongate and hung over his lips.
He stared at Cordelia only to realize that she too had been transformed. "Cordy, what is happening to us?"
"What do you mean us? I haven't changed but you Angel, you." She couldn't form the words as she looked at his once beautiful face and body.
"Look at yourself before you talk about something looking horrible." Cordelia ran to the bathroom not trusting her own eyes to tell her the truth. She screamed over and over, as she looked in the mirror with horror. Her face was sunken to a skeletal mask. Large scars slashed her face creating a permanent look of malice on her once smooth skin. A hand reached up to hair that was now a grey bird's nest of snarls and knots. She looked down at her body to see her lush body was now no more than skin and bones. The only thing remained the same were her large breast that now seemed grotesque.
Angel strode into the bathroom to grab her in his clawed hands. "What is the matter, Cor? Don't like what you see? Well lover, it seems that you and I are a pair. Go and try the door see if you can walk out of the hotel, Cor." He ordered her as he shoved her towards the entrance of the hotel.
"No Angel. I am not going anywhere that someone might see me," Cordelia protested.
He slapped her across the face. "I said to go try the door."
She looked at him in shock, he had never hit her like that before. Cordelia walked towards the entrance and tried the door. A shock sent her flying back into the lobby to slide across the floor hitting the wall.
Angel laughed and strode over to her. "Well, Cor, you got your wish. I am all yours and we will always be together forever."
"No, Angel, there has to be some mistake. I was a higher being; I get visions from the Powers. Someone must have done this to us; I know it is W&H. When Fred and Gunn return they will help us fix this. I can't live looking like this. I am Cordelia Chase, men stare at me when I walk by because they all want to touch me. Women envy me because they know they will never be as beautiful as I am. I do not look like this, this hag, I see in the mirror. It has to be some spell, some trick."
"Well let's see if it is real or not." He grabbed her up tearing the clothes from her body.
She looked at him dazed until understanding hit her. Cordelia tried to get away from him when she saw him grow hard. Angel wore a look so much like Angelus that she shrieked. "No, Angel, you can't; it will kill me. Let me go, let me go right now." She tried to run from him but Angel quickly snatched a hand full of grey hair.
"Come on Cor, you know you want it. You always want it and you like the pain, remember. Let's see how much you like it now." He held her up easily as he forced her body down onto his hard shaft.
Cordelia screamed as the tearing pain wracked her body. His long fangs bit into her large breasts; he drank from her until she passed out from pain and blood loss. They moved into the basement that very day. Angel's new body was even more sensitive to sunlight.
He listened to Cordelia's endless complaints each day until his control snapped and he would force himself on her. He would drain all the blood from her body in the hope that she would die.
But each time she would recover to start the same day all over again. Their lives turned into an endless daily struggle of pain and humiliation. Cordelia's new body didn't require any food. She was all the food that Angel needed and he took what he required from her daily. She would pass out as he drained her, only to wake up to the same thing almost the same day over and over.
Cordelia had tried to kill him several times but nothing happened as she shoved a stake into his chest. He laughed and pulled it out only to chain her to the ceiling and beat her with a whip then take all of her blood once again. They were held in an endless day of their own making. Their worse fears became true and their inner self were now visible.
The Powers looked down on them nodding sadly at their fallen champion and his seer. They agreed the fate passed on them was just punishment for their crimes.
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