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The last thing Buffy wanted to do right now was let Angel go. Life was unfair. Now, in the middle of a crisis, a time where a crucial battle for reality was being fought, now she was finally able to feel the human touch of her soul mate.
"I.. I don't know what this means." Angel whimpered, almost overcome by the sudden restoration of his humanity. After so long, centuries, he was free of Angelus, the demon within him.
"How is this possible?" the slayer asked, holding him as tightly as before.
"I.. I don't know. All of a sudden I felt this tearing. It was.. I don't know. There was a terrible pain but then.. it was gone. The evil was just.. gone."
"Angel. It has to be magic. we should ask Giles but.."
For a second there was silence. Then they kissed. For the first time, human lips met, savoring the breath of the other. There was only one kiss before they went to their duty. But it was a very, very long kiss.
******
"So the big nasty demon is summoning small nasty demons to do it's bidding?" Phoebe asked, hoping that it was all a misunderstanding on her part and there was nothing wrong at all.
"That seems most likely." Giles mused. "And given the already phenomenal power of a Chaos demon and the number of lesser spirits in Sunnydale.."
"Things are going to be bad." Willow finished.
"Well, is there a way to reverse the spell." Piper suggested. "Maybe we can block it before they cast it."
"They already have."
The group which had formed a circle around the book now turned to the door. For a brief second they each felt a glimmer of hope. Rachael Leigh Cook, Guardian of Balance, as back on her feet. She wore what looked like PVC pants and jacket and a determined expression that she wasn't going to let the universe be torn apart without a fight. Despite her seriousness, Sarah ran to the girl, hugging her tightly. She was pleased that Rachael returned it. Beside them, Jauden entered.
"Everyone who doesn't know, this is Jauden. A genie from our world."
"Oh great." Phoebe rolled her eyes. "Another genie."
"I assure you all hat I'm on your side. I'll be of whatever help I can."
"I'm sorry to interrupt," Giles interrupted, "but you say the spell has already been cast."
"Yes." Rachael nodded. "We both felt the surge in magic."
"Now that I think about it," came a voice from beneath the table ," the air does smell slightly different."
Salam walked out from his hiding place, looking up at the others. "I'm a cat, I have a sensitive nose."
"If Yeatril has all the demons in Sunnydale in his thrall then goodness knows what he can accomplish." Giles stared helplessly at the Book of Shadows.
"Not to mention three witches." Willow added.
"That might be fixing itself now." Alyson quipped as she and Xander entered. "We think managed to cast an anti lust spell on Katie. She should be able to break free now."
"You spent an hour on an anti lust spell?" Willow raised an eyebrow.
"Inter dimensional magic difficulties." Xander shrugged.
"Does that spell affect vampires too?" Sarah suddenly realized.
"My god. Angel." Willow gasped.
"Is here. Well sort of." Buffy and Angel completed the very full library.
"So Dead Guy" Xander smiled. "Not bound to the evil demon then."
"Yes and no."
"He's human." Buffy quickly added, almost unable to contain her exuberance.
"Human?" came numerous voices.
"Actually it makes sense." Giles nodded. "In Angel there was both a good and evil soul. The spell bound the evil."
"Meaning that somewhere out there, Angelus is lurking?" Buffy scowled.
"Possibly. Along with all the other demons. Probably marshaled for the battle when Yeatril breaks out."
"Whenever that is." Piper bit her lip.
"Three hours." Rachael stated flatly. There was a deathly silence. "We go to war in three hours."
******
What had been a full library was now all but empty. Rachael, Jauden an ever curious Willow had gone to try and summon as much natural energy as they possibly could from the surrounding, Piper and Phoebe were getting some well deserved rest, Xander, Alyson, Buffy and Angel had all vanished and Salam had curled up in a corner to sleep. Giles sat in silence, thumbing through the Book of Shadows. Some found solace in magic, some in love. For Giles, it was books.
"So this is how you spend what might be your last hours on earth?"
Giles looked up to see Sarah pulling up a chair and sitting across from him. "Well, after about the fourth time, one gets used to impending Armageddon."
"Yeah, well I guess you've had plenty of practice. I guess Joss never realized how sadistic he was being."
"Joss?"
"The guy who... writes Buffy."
"Ah. I see." He returned to the pages. "In many ways I wish I'd never learnt about that."
"Funny you say that, cause I've been thinking. Maybe our being here, supposing we actually win, is going to set your world free."
"How exactly would that happen?"
"Well, from here on in, things are going to be different right? Now that you know the truth, your reality diverges from what occurs on my show."
"Yes. Well it's comforting to think that we have free will."
"Whose says you don't? Who says I don't? Reality is a big thing Giles. And all the realities makes it even bigger. That's why we have to stop this demon. Otherwise, real won't be real anymore."
"Well, I think there might be something here. This page here in the Book of Shadows. It's a code breaker. The only thing is there's no code in the book to break."
"So what use is that?"
"It wouldn't be. If I didn't have this." He pointed to another open dusty tome on the table. "This book has been passed down from one Watcher to the next for centuries and no one had any idea what it was about. Now I do."
"Because of the code? Why did no one figure this out sooner?"
"Because there was no code. Not in this universe. Your arrival, you, Rachael, Alyson and Katie. It changed everything. It made things possible."
"So what does it say?"
"I've only managed to translate the first page. It talks of a man called The Gateway."
"Must have had confused parents."
"The Gateway was a man completely unskilled with any magical talent. But with the purity and vision to open portals between worlds."
"So where can we find him?"
"We can't. No magical power save that of The Gateway. He was mortal and now he's dead. His power was gifted to him by a 'The Princess Who is like Gods Spear".
"And I thought Gateway was a pretentious title."
"But it means that humans can possess the skill to traverse worlds."
"But it doesn't help us. In less than three hours, Yeatril is going to collapse that reality anyway. There won't be anything left to traverse."
"Sarah.." Giles frown as he looked up at the actress. "Do you think we can win?"
Sarah swallowed nervously. "If this were on T.V I'd say yes. But the rules have all changed now." She looked out the window at the endless night. "I don't know Giles. I don't know."
******
It was hard to remember an event as being so magical when everything that followed had been so tragic. When Buffy and Angel first consummated their, love, the passion between them, the moment of happiness had almost taken them all to Hell. It had certainly ruined the life of Giles, stealing the woman he loved. It had almost killed Willow. It had forced Buffy to slay her true love at the moment of his return.
Seldom in history had one single night of passion created such chaos. And never again had Buffy and Angel made that physical connection again. Until now.
Buffy could remember the rush of adrenaline, the thrill of electricity running through her body as Angel ran his hand over her thigh. It was the same now, perhaps even more intense. There was no fear, no danger of Angel reverting to evil. All that was evil in him now resided elsewhere. Perhaps they were destined to die this day.
This was their first, last and possibly only chance to consummate their love. Given that, it was remarkable that they spent so much time on foreplay as they did. Buffy’s singlet fell to the floor, followed by Angels shirt and they hugged and kissed, warmth against warmth. Buffy shivered at his touch, a touch which she had feared for so long, something she had been forced to deny herself. Now it was here and the excitement was almost more than she could bear. She felt his fingers stroking up and down the skin of her back, hands holding her tight yet maintaining their gentle caresses. Her bra strap was easily removed, held in place only by the pressing together of their bodies. She moved away just long enough for the garment to fall away, bare flesh pressed together. Buffy could feel the beating of her own heart, but more comforting was the beating of heart of her lover, human once again.
Angel lifted her light body, resting her down on her back. The Sunnydale High sickbay was hardly a romantic location but given the circumstances and company, anywhere would do. Buffy ached her back as Angel ran his hands over her thighs, down her athletic limbs then up again, tugging at her waist band and sliding her track pants down and onto the floor. He leant down and kissed her thighs, moving gradually higher until her reached last the white fabric barrier. Lifting one leg then the other, he softly removed the last garment, leaving Buffy naked upon the bed. He lowered himself down and Buffy wrapped her legs around him, hands stroking the back of his pants. Now it was her turn.
******
"So." Xander sighed, "This is the teachers lounge huh?" He reclined on the couch slightly, looking across at Alyson as she sat on another plush chair.
"Xander," Alyson rose and crossed to him. "We have three hours before our universe might end." She knelt down, face to face with him. "If you want to fuck just say so."
Xander couldn't help but splutter. "I. Well Sort of But.. I mean."
Alyson grabbed him and kissed him hard. When she broke away, she maintained eye contact. "You don't always have to be so awkward Xander. You're more than just a character."
"Am I? What If I'm not? What if all I am is a work of fiction?"
"In that case." She smiled. "You're a fantasy." She kissed him again, this time pulling her shirt over her head. Her bra followed almost immediately. Then she stopped. She looked at her companion earnestly.
"Xander. This is where you get to chose. You're not physically over powered, you're not possessed and your not enchanted. You're just Xander Harris."
Xander looked at Alyson, hugging him tightly, bare-chested and giving him a choice. He really did have the choice. And for the first time, he looked at her and didn't see Willow. He saw Alyson Hannigan, a young woman with the strength to take her life in her own hands, to overcome mental anguish. Had he known her longer, he would have loved this woman.
He kissed her, without reservation, without fear. She reached her arms beneath his shirt and held him tight.
******
Protection had been easy enough to find in the medical bay. Even in the midst of passion, they'd had the care to consider it. After all, Angel was fully human at the moment, anything could happen. Buffy exhaled as she felt him enter her, the warmth filling her even more than before. The connection between them tight and unbreakable. She twisted her legs to entwine his, pulling them tighter as they moved gently, pressing their bodies back and forth against each other. Buffy let out a sigh of contentment. Whatever happened tonight, tomorrow or any time to come, this was their moment of happiness.
******
Xander had never seen Willow naked, at least not since they were any older than four. Alyson’s body, exposed before him, must have been identical. But the thought of his school mate didn't cross his mind. He grasped her, wrapping his arms about her and pulling her close to him. He felt her hands on his back, felt himself sliding into the warmth of her body. The single condom which had burned inside his wallet for two years now finally having use. For the first time in his life, Xander truly made love to a woman. And he realized that whatever hardships he had suffered to get here, and whatever he would face along the way, right here, right now, it was worth being Xander Harris.
******
The Halliwell sisters saved people. They saved themselves. It was not a regular occurrence for them to save the world.
Yet, despite the enormity of what they now faced, both Piper and Phoebe could think of only one thing. Prue. Their sister was what made them what they were. They were the Charmed ones. The power of three. Without Prue they were simply sisters. To lose her would be like losing the universe. It was selfish and they knew it, but as they rested, as they prepared for the upcoming battle, they couldn't help but think what their trapped sister was doing.
******
To conquer the world, one needed to do away with much of a conscience. And being a cat only aided to the nature of being selfish. But despite all this, Salam cared for Sabrina. For all his quips and gibes, the young witch proved she had a good heart and he hated the thought of that heart being perverted by evil. He wanted to save her. He wanted to combat the forces of evil and rescue her from its clutches. But he was just a cat. And right now, there was nothing he could do.
******
"Rachael?" Giles turned to her as Guardian, genie and would be witch walked through the library door. "What do you know about the Gateway?"
"I thought it was a myth. Until recently I didn't know if parallel worlds existed for sure. Jauden?"
The genie shrugged. "I am not familiar with such a legend among magical creatures."
"You wouldn't be." Giles nodded. "The Gateway is non magical."
"Oh." Willow shrugged, "You're not going to find much non magical about here. Even Xander was turned into a jackal once."
"Gee, thanks for bringing that up." Xander entered with Alyson close behind. Very close, Willow couldn't help but notice.
"It doesn't matter." Sarah sighed. "We're out of time in our recruitment drive. Where's Buffy?"
"My bet," Xander began, "Is that human Buffy and human Angel are doing the 'human thing'"
"Please Xander," Buffy entered and crossed over to him, "stay out of my personal life."
Xander folded his defensively. Buffy leant over and whispered into his ear. "Three times."
"Oh man." Xander stepped away as the Slayer laughed.
"Buffy, I think the time has come to focus." Giles took charge. "I'm sure you all had your own ways of preparing for what is to come."
He cast a look at Piper and Phoebe as they entered.
"And I know we all have stakes in this. For some of us, this is our job. For some, our destiny. For some of us, it's just protecting the ones we love. But we all are united in wanting to stop Yeatril. And that must be achieved at any cost. All of us are expendable tonight. We must win."
Twelve heads, human, magical being and animal, all nodded in agreement
******
They stood before the barrier, eternal night dark above. An energy seemed to fill the air, an anticipation of what was to come. Each, in their own way, was prepare for what was to come.
"It's happening." Rachael said softly, though all the massed warriors could hear her.
Then it did.
The Barrier fell.
At first there was silence. The entire crew merely stood, each anticipating what was to come. It was Buffy who saw them first.
"Demons."
All attentions turns to the edges of the grave yard.
Demons of every sort, vampires, humanoids and other assorted beasts.
"So who's up for a slaying?"
"I'm in." Angel lifted a sword and turned towards the approaching pack
"Well I can try. " Xander shrugged. "Anyone got a chain saw."
"The rest of us stay here." Giles said plainly. "We don't know what kind of magic Yeatril will have."
"We have to get Prue back." Piper said, matching her younger sisters concern.
"And Sabrina." Salam added.
"Come to think of it," Xander asked, "Des anyone know what this Yeatril actually looks like."
"Speak of the devil." Giles pointed to a light approaching.
"It's not the devil." Rachael said coldly, raising an aura of light about herself. "He's worse."
The light became more intense. And walking from it came three figures, three naked woman, each as emotionless as the other. The blonde, brunette and dark haired woman walked with a sense of purpose. Their purpose was chaos. But behind them came a shape even more terrifying. It was barely a shape at all, more like a storm. A seething mass of energy, light and sound. An entity of pure chaos, Yeatril had no true form. His power was multiplying, rippling the nature of reality itself. This was the final battle field. Beyond this graveyard lay in infinite number of universes, real and unreal, fiction and reality.
Those with magic moved to fight the witches. Those without were forced to battle the demons.
Rachael and Jauden both unleashed a wave of magical energy at the demon. It didn't make it that far, stopped by a previously invisible barrier. Sarah couldn't help but shiver as she thought the air was filled with a mad laugh.
"Why can't they hit it?"
Rachael growled in frustration, ceasing her assault. "The barrier. The witches of three worlds can create a combination of magical energy that we can't penetrate."
"So what does that mean?"
"So long as Katie, Prue and Sabrina are working for Yeatril, we can't even touch him."
"Meaning what?" Alyson asked.
"The success of your anti-lust spell just became the balance of the universe."
THE END??
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