Several hours later, Lorne knocked on the door to Buffy's room. Warwick, the perpetual doorman, opened the door for him. "I had to get around all Angel's spies."
"Hello Lorne, come on in, make yourself at home. Seabreeze, right?"
The green demon gratefully accepted the drink, gulping it down. "Okay, cheese doodle, what can I do for you and the Powers?"
"I knew there had to be at least one person in his group that wasn't completely corrupted. You are wasting your gift. Why aren't you helping people anymore?"
"I'm not allowed, Buffy. Unless it somehow helps Angel in the end, of course," Lorne sighed.
"So, he is more Angelus, with a side of Angel, than the reverse?"
"He blames the PTB for everything and doesn't brood anymore. He just decided that being a champion didn't get him anything. Angel has created his own little world to rule over, and we are all the subjects. He's not as cruel as Angelus, but he's not the same Angel anymore," Lorne explained to her.
"Angel never wanted to take responsibility for anything. He always took the easy way out of everything," Buffy sighed. "The tough choices are what define you. If Angel stays on this path, are you going to continue to follow him?"
"I don't know anymore. It's getting to be too much for me. They've been my family for a long time."
"Sometimes you have to find a new family; you're welcome to go with me when I leave if you wish. I'm going to be doing some traveling, and there should be opportunities to help people. It's up to you, no pressure. Angel won't be able to force you stay if you don't want to."
Lorne looked at the beautiful woman sitting in front of him and wondered if her offer was too good to be true. "Would you sing for me, Buffy?"
"I will, but I will have to prevent you from telling anyone what you learn. Is that alright?" Buffy sang in a clear beautiful voice causing tears to overflow Lorne's eyes. "Now, I understand. How could he just walk away? You're right; he does choose whatever the easiest path is for him. Whenever you are ready to leave, I want to go with you."
"Good, I'm glad. You can help me ensure that my husbands don't take themselves too seriously. Oh, please, be gentle with Warwick and Nathaniel. They have been through a lot. They are slowly getting better, friendship and caring goes a long a way."
"You are just a little Mother Earth, aren't you?"
"Nope, I'm more of a moon gal." Buffy winked at Lorne. "I can send you somewhere if you describe it to me, if it's safer for you." She worried her lip.
"Do you know the little club in Hollywood, Storm?" Buffy nodded, her contacts provided her the overview of all the safe places in the city. "Put me in the alley behind it."
Buffy kissed his cheek before looking up at him with glowing eyes. Lorne found himself precisely where he asked to be. "Well, ain't that a handy trick." He walked away feeling lighter and happier than he had in years.
The AI team was in Angel's office discussing Buffy's offer. They had another meeting later tonight and needed to decide what they were going to do.
"What do you think, Wes?"
"It's a good offer, if the other Masters receive it, and can move about during the day we are vulnerable."
"What about feeding though?"
"We can negotiate. Possibly, if we expanded into other businesses that weres could work, that could be used as leverage."
"Gunn, as Nimir-Raj, what do you think?"
"Having more say in matters would be nice. My pard will negotiate for feedings. I'm certain that the others will as well, since most of them already do," Gunn told him after considering the question.
"Charles, I never said that you would have more say. All final decisions for LA are as always mine to make." Angel smirked at the werepanther. "This way I willingly give up my power, but don't lose any. See, it's simple; I just had to think outside the box. Fred, call Buffy and confirm our meeting for tonight at ten," he barked.
She rushed out of the room, only to return a few moments later. "Buffy will be here. I guess that she isn't a threat to you, since Cordy hasn't had a vision."
Angel looked at his human servant closely. "You haven't kept anything from me have you, Cor? You aren't hoping that I'll have to kill Buffy, are you?"
"I swear I haven't had a vision," Cordelia pleaded with him to believe her.
"What is your answer, Angel?" Buffy looked at her former lover.
"I willingly give up my animal to call and receive the gift you offer, Buffy."
"Wrong answer, Angel. Do you think that you are still dealing with the naïve little girl you knew? The one who believed your lies. You thought you could say one thing while you were still planning to control Gunn's pard. Sorry, wrong move."
Angel started towards her with a half-smile. "Buffy, where did you hear that? I would never do such a thing. You know me better than that." He stood in front of her, looking into her eyes. "Buffy." Angel said her name exactly the same way he did when they were together, like a prayer.
"Angel," she returned the favor in kind. Angel smiled at her when she placed her palm on his chest. That changed when she said. "Psych." Her eyes glowed blue, while amber lights lit up under the hand. Buffy aimed the other hand at Gunn. Angel screamed as she dragged the power from him and pushed into Gunn.
Cordy sprang up to draw Angel away from Buffy. "Let him go, you bitch."
"Gladly."
Angel gulped in large, unneeded breathes. "What did you do?"
"I took your power to call."
"Then why all the dramatics, if you were going to do it anyway?"
Buffy's anger rose. "You weren't listening. The gift was for those willing to give up their power. You weren't, you were trying to find a way to maintain the status quo, so you lose both, Angel!"
Angel morphed out screaming, "NO!"
"You choose you lose." She turned to leave, but called back over her shoulder. "Angel, I still protect innocents, the ones that others won't stand up for. Don't make me return here and clean up after you."
The others followed her out, Angel still screaming for her to come back and speak to him. Buffy got to the center of the lobby and could feel the old ward. Her eyes started glowing as she called the scythe. The instant the mystical weapon landed in her hand, it began spinning, faster and faster, then suddenly stopped. She sent the stake end crashing into the floor, creating shock waves that knocked everybody off their feet. When they stood back up, they saw Buffy standing there smiling back at them.
"That's better, that was really starting to bug me." The scythe vanished and she continued out of the building. The former AI team heard her laughing comments before the doors closed. "Sweeties, let's go home. I hate smog."
"What the hell just happened here? What did she do to my lobby?" Angel snapped at his resident witch.
"My theory is that she shattered whatever wards W&H left. As for you and Charles, she literally pulled your power to call from you, and used Charles as a symbiotic receptacle. She is very powerful, her magics, I've never seen before. It's too bad they're leaving, I have about a million questions I'd like to ask her," Fred rambled on and on.
"Thank you, Fred dear." Wesley kissed her forehead. The former Watcher looked at his sire with an uneasy feeling.
Angel paced the lobby, a study of barely controlled anger.
The penthouse at the Four Seasons was a welcome sight for Buffy's group. "Okay, boys, let's get packed. I'm ready to leave LA. Things are going to get difficult, and I'd like to be gone before it hits the fan."
Warwick answered the door to allow Lorne into the suite. "Sweet pea, you sure know how to make an exit. My head is still ringing," Lorne exclaimed dramatically. "Angelcakes is still growling the place down. Seems he based a large part of his power base on the wards and none of us even knew it. When you went all Merlin on us, those of us that could escape did. Gunn walked out, taking his pard with him. He told Angel that he would have to negotiate with written contracts for blood. I did a little Pylea tango in the middle of their shouting match."
"What about Wesley and Fred?"
"I'm not sure. They love each other. I wouldn't be surprised if they did midnight shuffle of their own." Lorne sighed; he would miss his little Fredikins.
Warwick played doorman, allowing more visitors into the room, once Buffy indicated her consent. Fred looked around the room, smiling at everyone and waved at Buffy. Wesley entered the room as if he owned it; his confidence was very attractive. She realized the years had changed him for the better.
"Buffy, I would like to speak to you on some private matters," he said. Neither he nor Fred having seen Lorne yet.
She transferred to a different seating area, motioning for them to sit. "Sure, Wes, what can I do for you?"
"Fred and I would like to leave LA with you. Once we land, we will head for another city. We won't cause any problems, Buffy."
"You are more than welcome to come with me, both of you. Wes, you don't have to leave St. Louis after you get there. I can offer you sanctuary at my home, if you would like. There is plenty of room, like I told a friend; I'm going to be traveling a lot and I could use some extra help with what I'm doing."
"But how could we help you? You are so powerful, you could do just about anything," Fred stammered nervously fidgeting in her chair.
Buffy laughed at the naiveté of her statement. "Everyone needs help, Fred. I learned that a long time ago. I can't be everywhere at once, plus there is something in St. Louis I have to keep an eye on. What do you say? Sound like a deal?" Buffy placed her hand out and they took turns shaking hands. She looked at Wesley closely then made a decision. "Wes, if you're willing to give up the power that is about to be yours, I will offer you the same gift."
Wesley looked at her astonished, he had felt the power growing inside him getting stronger as well as his connection to the hyena. How could she know? To be able to sleep each night with Fred, to hold onto my soul, Angel was a fool.
"I accept." The truthfulness of his words could be smelt and tasted in the air.
Buffy turned to Carlos, the youngest wererat bodyguard. "Will you help me? I need someone to send the power into someone. It won't hurt you."
He stepped forward kissing her cheek. "Mi Madona pequeña, (my little Madonna), I would bear any pain for you. Whatever you require, you only have to ask."
Buffy blushed at his sincere words. "Thank you, Carlos. But, I'm not a Madonna, just your friend."
Wesley observed the byplay with curiosity. Just then, Asher came into the room from the bedroom, padding barefoot over to Buffy. He scooped her up in his arms and twirled her around. She laughed all the while, holding onto him then leaned in to kiss him. They spoke to each other in French, both modern and old. Where did she learn to speak so many languages, certainly not in Sunnydale? The former Watcher continued to watch. Asher put her back in her chair. Buffy's face was beaming, her cheeks flushing a pretty pink.
"I'm sorry, Wesley. Asher just woke up, you know how it is." She shrugged a slender shoulder at the commonplace occurrence. "Now, where were we? Oh, yes, Carlos, please stand here, and Wes, you here." Buffy stood and positioned each man to her liking. The ritual was over in only a matter of minutes.
As soon as it was over, another knock sounded at the door. Angel was pounding and screaming with all his might. "Buffy, answer this door right now!"
Buffy turned to look at Lorne whose terror she could feel hitting her from across the room in waves. She turned back to Wes and Fred with a question in her eyes. He nodded his head and stood beside her, but sent Fred with Lorne who finally revealed his presence to his two friends.
Warwick opened the door, just as Angel started to kick it open, and he fell into the room. Buffy laughed at the vampire's humiliating entrance. "Hello, Angelus."
"Don't call me that. I am not him, my soul is still intact." Angel got up with as much dignity as he could gather before advancing into the room.
"Ooh, that makes it so much better. Let me guess, you spent how many years whining and brooding about 'Poor Angel', the Powers were so mean to me? Then, you said screw it, I'll just take over. Right? I'll conquer the evil from the inside and show those Powers that I don't need them, don't need anyone. So, tell me, Angel did you beat the Sr. Partners? Did you wipe out their clients, or did you replace them? Having a soul doesn't mean squat, you moron, it's what you do with it. Every person on Earth has a soul, doesn't stop crime, does it? Exactly how old are you?" She advanced on him with each word she said, until they stood nose to nose.
"Don't talk to me like that, Buffy. I deserve better from you. After everything, we went though together, you at least owe me some respect. I brought you the amulet, I would have stayed and helped you, but you sent me away." He growled, but underneath it sounded more like a whine.
"You couldn't have helped Angel. A champion, one with a pure heart, who places others before himself, was the only one who could have worn the amulet. That was Spike, not you, Angel."
"SPIKE! What does my ill-begotten childe have to do with any of this?" Angel bellowed vamping out.
"Spike was a champion, a vampire with a soul, someone who put the ones he loved before himself. He fought beside me for years, Angel. He loved me, and I loved him. We died in each others arms. We had hard times together, I pushed him away a lot, but he never left, except to get his soul. Then he returned to be by my side until the end." Buffy glared at Angel with her hands on her hips. Hazel eyes began slowly fading to royal blue.
Angel laughed a very Angelus-like laugh. "Spike wouldn't know how to love you. He only did it to get back at me."
"Great logic ya got their, doofas. Man, everyone was right about you. You are a self-centered ass-hole. You didn't know about it so how could he be doing it to get back at you. As Spike would say, 'Bloody Hell, Peaches', pull your head out, you're cutting off air to your brain."
"I have had just about enough of you, little girl. You are still my mate, and you will obey me. It is the law. Give me back what you took from me, and pack your things, you're coming with me."
Cordelia walked in just as Angel said this. "What! Angel you can't do that. I'm your mate." She ran over to throw herself at him.
"What happens to Cordelia if I'm your mate? Will you continue to fuck her?" Buffy asked in a deceptively calm voice.
Angel's eyes darkened at the idea of having both women at his disposal. "If I wish, she is my human servant, and I will do with her as I choose and I will do exactly the same with you, Buffy. You're mine, just like you always have been." He moved to seize her arm, but she moved out of his reach.
"How am I your mate? Oh yeah, I carry your mark right? Look at my neck, Angelus, and read me loud and clear. There is nothing here that belongs to you." Buffy moved her hair away from her neck to stand there like an Amazon facing down an army.
Damian joined the group when he heard Angel pounding on the door. He and Asher stood behind Buffy, ready to step in if necessary. In fact, every man in the room anxiously waited for Angel to give them an opportunity to inflict some pain to the arrogant vampire. Buffy soothed her mates, letting them know she needed to take care of this herself.
Angel stepped forward to touch her neck, only to see that his mark was gone. He leaned in, nostrils flaring, scenting her, but couldn't detect any traces of magic covering it. The connection between them was truly gone. Angel shattered inside. She was supposed to be waiting for him when he was ready to go back to her, then she died. Now, here she stood. He wanted her and he had no claim, worse still she didn't want him. Buffy stood before him without any feeling except - disgust and pity. Angel stepped back to look into her eyes.
"Get your city together, Angel, and yourself. If you change your ways, I can offer the gift again. If not, I will make the offer to the next Master. Goodbye and good luck." Buffy turned leaving the room without ever looking back at the man who was once the most important person in her life.
Angel tried to grab after her when a stream of flame shot from Warwick's hand. Angel jumped back growling. "Lady Buffy has finished with you. Please take your pet and leave," Warwick said with a flash of fang.
This demonstration surprised Damian and Asher, who had never heard him speak this way. They smiled at each other; their friend was coming into his own. Angel looked around the room only to realize that they were previously cloaking their power. These vampires were all masters, and Buffy's mates were extremely powerful.
He roughly grabbed Cordelia's arm, barking out. "Come on Wes. We are out of here."
"I'm not going with you, Angel."
"What!" Angel looked back around so quickly that Cordelia fell to her hand and knees with a cry. He didn't let go of the bleached blonde seer, instead he drug her back across the room to confront his childe.
"Fred and I are leaving with Buffy." Wesley quietly answered.
"Oh, no, you are not. You belong to me, and you are staying here." Angel threw his human servant away from him to take several more steps forward, only stopping at the shocking words that hit him like blows.
"We are leaving. I'm strong enough to fight you, Angel, don't make me do it. I can't watch you do this anymore, we want out. I received the gift from the Powers, and gave up the power to call. Do you really want me to stay? It would be tempting to visit you one morning," he quietly threatened.
"Fine, leave. I declare you rogue. Never return to California, or you're dead. You have betrayed me once again, Wesley, I should have seen it coming." Angel grasped Cordelia's arm, never allowing her to stand up properly, and yanked her out of the room, slamming the door behind him.
Lorne and Fred stuck their heads out. "Are the fireworks over? Is Angelbritches gone?"
"Yeah, Lorne, come on out."
"So guys what about your stuff?" Buffy joined them since Angel was gone.
"I left it with the concierge." They all said simultaneously, causing everyone to laugh.
"Kinda confident on the ride, huh, Wes?" Buffy lifted an eyebrow at him.
"Just hopeful and, we understood there wouldn't be an opportunity to get anything."
"Okay, let's kiss LA goodbye."
At dawn, the jet landed at a private airport, pulling into a darkened hanger. A matching limousine in midnight blue, with the license plates LSTAR1 awaited the occupants.
Wesley relished not having to retreat to his coffin. It was what he hated the most about being turned. The other was Angel deciding that he didn't want to live without his team. He turned Wesley against his will, and the former Watcher never forgave him for it. Angel resented the fact that Wesley retained his soul. That's when they realized that every vampire's soul had been returned to them. Angel took it as a personal insult from the Powers, and was never the same again.
Fred squeezed his hand, almost reading Wesley's thoughts. She begged him to change her, but he couldn't bear to do it. They finally compromised with him marking her as his human servant. She was really his wife, his everything. She smiled at him and Wesley found that like always he couldn't stop himself from smiling back.
"Okay, guys, we will be at the house in about an hour, so relax. I have plenty of space and you are welcome to stay as long as you like. If you wish a place of your own, then we can do that too. Whatever will make you the most comfortable. Lorne, if you would like to open another club I think that I know a great place. There's a mansion about a mile outside the city. It would make a great club. Think about it." Buffy closed her eyes snuggling into her mates' arms.
"Buffy, if you don't mind my asking, where did you get all the money? Do you charge people to help them?" Wesley asked hesitantly, knowing that she was barely getting by before she died. He kept up with Giles on things in Sunnydale, even if Angel didn't.
"You could say that I inherited, from some relatives, enough to live on for several lifetimes very comfortably. No one pays us to help them. I'm not trying to hurt your feelings, but that is just wrong. It's not genuine if you are being paid to do it. You can open the club though, and use that for income to give you some independence. I'll loan you the original investment, you manage it, and we each receive one-fourth ownership, then as soon as my investment is repaid, buy me out. We can agree on the final stuff later, after you see the place. It could probably be converted into separate homes for each of you."
They looked at her, amazed at the way her mind worked. She offered them a home, a new way to support themselves, and ideas to get everything accomplished in an easy manner like she was speaking about plans for dinner. Buffy didn't seem to expect anything from them, but they were still leery after being under Angel's thumb for so long.
The limo pulled into the garage behind the house so that Warwick and Wesley could enter. Wes' eyes brightened when he saw the motorcycles. There were ten different types from Harleys to Yamaha Z5000 Racers lined up against a wall.
Buffy noticed the expression on his face. "You're more than welcome to use any, except the red Z500, that's my baby." She walked into the house to show Lorne around.
Later that night Fred and Wesley stumbled on to Buffy meditating. They stopped cold in the doorway to stare, their jaws slack with awe.
"She's quite a sight, isn't she?" Asher appeared behind them. "Buffy will be finished in a minute, and will talk with you then. Please, join us in the den." He signaled them to follow, but his eyes lingered on Buffy feasting on the sight.
They found Lorne in the den mixing drinks and trying to persuade Warwick to sing for him. "I know my destiny, Lorne; it is with Lady Buffy, to aide and protect her. That is all I need to understand," he responded with conviction.
"How did you meet Buffy?" Wesley asked the knightly vampire.
"She killed the sire of my line, Morte d'Amour, and offered to be my friend. Lady Buffy said that she could see my soul and it was beautiful. She said that she would never let anyone hurt me again. Lady Buffy brought me here into her home and protected me from the Council until she destroyed them, so that I was safe." Warwick told his story proudly.
"Buffy is the one that destroyed the Council, but how? Certainly not alone," Wesley exclaimed in shock.
"Yep, just little ole me. Well, I had some help distracting a few nasty helpers when they came here, but not at Transylvania Central. Can I say that Lizard Man was really ugly, he made Kakistador look good."
"The Dragon..you killed the Dragon alone. How? Are you crazy? You could have been killed, again!" Wesley got up and started pacing about the room.
"Uh, Wes, been there done that, got another T-shirt. Told you I got an upgrade."
"Fredikins, calm your dumplin' down. We don't want our sweet little moonbeam to have to spank his bottom." Lorne advised.
"Its okay, Lorne. You can say whatever you want, get angry, even spar it out in the gym. That's what friends and family do, work things out, say what they think, no matter what. I came back for a reason, guys. Taking care of the Council was one, freeing the weres was in another. I hope that you want to be a part of that, but if you don't, I understand, and will help you get to wherever you feel like going."
"You have grown up, haven't you."
"It was bound to happen. Only had to die four times." Buffy stuck out her tongue at him.