~*~
Chapter 53
~*~

Giles was dreaming about his earlier visit to the Oracles. It was so vivid he could almost taste the fire of the excellent whiskey that Fred poured as he listened to the instructions uttered in Wesley’s cultured tones.
~*~

"Now, as to that…no, now is not the time and you are not the person I should say this to." Wesley took a long drink before continuing. "When Spike succeeds in returning Buffy and destroying the Senior Partners’ power--and I am quite confident he will succeed--you must bring both Angel and Spike here to me. There are issues that need to be addressed. It would be best if you didn’t distract them by telling them that,
however. Perhaps you should even refer to me as the Oracle, while you’re at it. They must be focused on the mission at hand and not on themselves. There will be time to tie up loose ends later.

"Another issue also needs to be addressed, I fear," Wes added. "When all the dust has settled on this affair and life has returned to some semblance of normality, I need for you to bring both Angel and Spike to see us. There is an issue that needs to be put to rest once and for all."


~*~
Giles awoke refreshed and determined to unite Wesley with the two souled vampires before the day was over. "Might as well complete this before we head back to Mother England and new adventures," he muttered.

The Watcher’s plan had to be delayed due to the unexpected disappearance of Spike. Buffy assured Giles that Spike would be back very soon but refused to say what had taken the vampire from her side.

Angel and Nina joined the small group gathered round the buffet-style breakfast laid out on the counter. Nina piled a plate with Willow’s pancakes made from Tara’s famous recipe and tried to convince Angel that eating human food was not ‘gross and disgusting’. "Spike does it all the time, Ernie!"

"Not a big inducement, hon," Angel growled. He did, however, accept a single pancake and sausage patty, much to everyone’s amusement.

"Well," smiled Buffy, "Looks like I’m not the only one able to tame a vampire here. Good work, Nina. Angel’s in good hands. So what are your plans now that we’re all back where we should be?"

"I don’t really know for sure, but Oz and I have a plan to start a retreat. We’ll work with other werewolves, especially on getting the wolf under control. There are other demons that want more control and we can help them too. I suppose we could also branch out into anger management with humans." Nina looked at Angel and smiled softly before continuing. "Some of it, like where and how much time I’ll put into it, will depend on Angel’s plans."

Angel looked a little startled. "Well, of course I’ll back you guys up with that. Sounds like a good plan. Not like I have an office to go back to or anything." He actually looked a little lost.

"I’m sure there’s lots of stuff you can do, Angel. You can teach that Poo Chi stuff you used to do with all the stretching and posing…ooh, and that meditation stuff you’ve got down perfectly," Buffy suggested.

Dilby offered his own thoughts, "Mr. Angel could always act if he wanted to. I was sure fooled when it looked like he was working for Mr. Wolf!"

"Gotta have more than two facial expressions to act, Zorro," Spike’s voice came from the doorway as he rejoined Buffy. "Bit out of his reach, don’t you think?" He dropped a kiss on Buffy’s upturned forehead.

"Yeah, like reason number ten why you shouldn’t think of a career in comedy, Spike. Very funny--NOT," Angel glared at the younger vamp.

"Okay, all vampires out of show business, check." Buffy’s words smoothed the ruffled feathers of her ex and defused her now and future lover. "Really, Angel, given it any thought? Gonna open another agency helping the helpless?"

"Nah." At everyone’s startled reaction, he quickly explained. "Not that I’m going to stop helping or fighting the good fight or anything; I just want to be more efficient. I’m not sure how yet."

"Now that you both are here, perhaps I can help guide you to an answer to some of those pressing questions," Giles added. "When I visited the Oracles and received the orb that allowed Spike to see past the Partners’ deception, I agreed to bring both of you to see them when this was all concluded. If you are both free later today, we might get some answers from The Powers about your future destiny." Giles deliberately withheld the identity of those Oracles.

"I’m free," Angel answered.

At the same time, Spike said, "Yeah, I’ll give ‘em a listen. Make my own plans though."

"Excellent. Buffy, dear, perhaps you might like to do a bit of shopping while I have your vampire otherwise occupied."

"Hum….shopping, I’m not sure…," Buffy laughed at the surprised look on Giles’ face. "Oh, who am I kidding, of COURSE I’m ready to take the Council’s plastic and see how fast it can melt!"

"Good thing this is a small, sleepy Mexican town and not a place with a large mall," Willow quipped. "Want girlfriendy company?"

"Let’s not forget the little sister with the sharp eye for a bargain," Dawn added, grabbing her purse.

"Well, looks like we’re all sorted then," Spike nodded and filled his plate with a little of all the offerings laid out for the group breakfast. He smiled at the look of disgust Angel gave his plate and smacked his lips to further irritate his grandsire.

"It’ll be good to have you pesky Aurelians all gainfully employed and accounted for," Willow teased.

"Well, all but Drusilla," Buffy said and refused to look at Spike to see his reaction.

"Nope, took care of that little detail last night." Spike gently pushed Buffy’s gaping mouth closed before explaining. "Poof and I both felt her. Must have been drawn here because her whole family was in one spot, ‘cause last I heard she was still in Belize."

"So, what did you finally do to deal with her?" Angel clearly was concerned. He knew Dru was still among the undead because he hadn’t felt the snap of the blood tie that would have come from his offspring becoming dust.

"Took her someplace she’ll fit right in. Someplace she’ll love." Spike took a bite of pancake and smirked. "Give ‘em a run for their money she will!"

~~~

Quetzalcoatl looked pained as he poured tea into the doll’s cup. "Miss Edith is ever so grateful to have such a colorful suitor." Dru turned to his brother and flashed her best flirting look at Tezcatlipoca, "and Mummy would love one of those still beating hearts, please."

The groups of Jaguar and Eagle knights performed an intricate dance as entertainment for the rulers of their world. Soon one of the endless supply of sacrifices would be led to the altar and the ancient ritual would continue as it had daily for eons, much to Dru's delight.

The now sealed dimension would never be the same with the dark princess ruling her two new playthings. The brothers wondered, however, if she wasn’t just as dangerous as Illyria. Best to keep her involved with tea parties and bloodletting that was still under their control, since there was no way to exile her from their kingdom. Still, she was lovely, wearing nothing but an elaborate headdress of feathers and a sly smile.

~~~

The small, nondescript door opened to a dark chamber where Giles left his offerings. The room shifted around the three to the now familiar sight of vaguely Grecian décor. Giles waited for the arrival of the Oracles and the surprised reaction of the two vampires.

He didn’t have to wait long.

"WES? Wesley?" Angel was shocked into monosyllables.

"Percy! Glad to see you got an upgrade. Workin’ for real power now, yeah?" Spike was less shaken.

"Yes, so it would seem. Ever the right hand man, as it were," Wes beamed at the trio. "Bloody glad they don’t make me wear a toga though. Hard to find them in tweed," he quipped wryly.

Angel was still staring openmouthed at the friend he had badly used more than once. Now that same friend was the official spokesman for the very Powers for whom Angel was supposed to be Champion. He was more than a bit nervous.

"Oh, do close your mouth, Angel. You look rather silly," Wes teased. "Come on out, my dear. Best get the shocks over all at one time."

Fred came from around the pillar and glided next to Wesley as she smiled at Angel and then Spike. "Hey, y’all. Glad ya made it out of that dimension. Not that I thought you wouldn’t, ‘cause, you know, TWO souled vampires, champions…they didn’t stand a chance. Well, maybe a chance, since nothing is totally certain, but not a good chance and there are prophecies about how things would most likely go."

"Good to see you too, ducks," Spike grinned widely at the babbling, waiflike Oracle.

"Hey, Spike, thanks for tryin’ to save me and all. Wasn’t anything anybody could do though," Fred greeted the blond vampire and gave him a hug. She then turned to Angel. "And you! Stop torturing yourself over what happened! You did what you had to, Angel. Couldn’t turn that loose on the whole world just to get me back. You’re still the beautiful man who saved me."

"I knew a soul like yours couldn’t be gone forever," Angel whispered.

"Now that we are all caught up, perhaps you’d care to have some issues cleared up?" Wesley motioned for the group to have a seat and Fred took her seat next to Wes.

Wes looked at each vampire before him, a serious expression on his face. "I wanted to speak with you both about prophecies."

"Bloody hell," muttered Spike. "Had about enough of that rot already. Feel like a bleedin’ pawn, what with all the writin’ and visions. Like bein’ back with Dru again."

"Be that as it may, Spike, there is the issue of the Shanshu." Wesley looked closely at Angel with a slight expression of disappointment. "Angel, you deliberately began a fight you knew you would not be able to win. A fight that ultimately could have led to an apocalypse that the side of good would have no hope of ending. You usurped the role of the Powers in determining the timing of the final battle in your desire to have it all sorted out. You placed your friends in the unenviable position of leaving you to your disaster or joining in your quixotic suicidal mission."

Angel had begun to shift uncomfortably in his seat under Wes’ gaze. "In your efforts to be accepted by the Black Thorn, you signed a document that forfeited your rights to the Shanshu, this after taking the life of a true innocent." Wes was outwardly disapproving at that. "Drogyn was a faithful servant of the Powers, of the forces of good. He did not deserve you making him a gamepiece in your little crusade. Shame on you, Angel."

"So, I lost the Shanshu to Spike, figured so anyway from the time he popped out of that amulet." Angel couldn’t keep the bitterness from his voice. "Gets the girl, gets the clean slate, gets to be human. Fine!"

Angel started to get up to leave but was stalled by Wes’ voice commanding him, "Sit down!" Angel reluctantly obeyed.

"Say, Percy, any way I can turn this down? Didn’t much care for bein’ human the first time and much as I’d like that clean slate part, not seein’ becomin’ human as a reward." Spike looked almost desperate.

Wesley chuckled as he took in the varying expressions on the two souled vampires. "How very interesting! Giles, I’m surprised you haven’t been studying the differences between Angel and Spike all along. The Council had such a limited view of the makeup of vampires. I sincerely hope the new Council will be more reality-based."

"Indeed. I doubt the old guard would recognize the new Council and the differences are only going to increase if I can convince Spike to join us formally."

Spike looked to Giles in amazement. "That’ll depend a bit on Buffy, but I’m interested, yeah."

"Back to the Shanshu," Wes commanded attention to the topic at hand. "Angel, what on earth gives you the idea that anyone could simply sign away a prophecy? It is either about you or not."

Angel looked sheepish as he nodded to his old friend. "I guess I hoped I couldn’t."

"The Shanshu was always about you, Angel. What other souled vampire is so unstable that the side they would choose was ever in question?" Wes laughed at the stuttering indignation from Angel at that.

Spike practically preened at the implied compliment as he punched Angel on the arm. "Got ya there, Pops! I picked my side even before the soul. No question which side I’d fight on in a battle."

"Quite true. You have no history of starting apocalypses either," added Giles. "This is Angel’s second, if I’m not mistaken."

"I helped stop this one," Angel argued.

"I helped stop this one and the other one too," Spike countered. "Not a soul on me that first time either."

Fred felt sorry for Angel at that point, even if he deserved the chastisement of his fellows. "Angel’s done lots of good too, Wesley, don’t forget that. He’s still the Powers’ Champion and the Shanshu’s still about him, right?"

Wesley felt a small twinge of guilt at the enjoyment he felt with Angel’s discomfort. "Yes, my dear, you are right as always. To get back to the matter at hand, it has been decided that Angel shall be granted his reward immediately. You will find your memories intact even though you will be starting from scratch morally, the slate having been wiped clean. Originally, your memories and the guilt and pain they bring would have been wiped as well, but having to remember all your actions and choices was deemed to be the safest option. It has been argued that you need those memories to prevent a slide into the same behaviors you chose as Liam AND as Angel. You will not have to pay for the evils done to this point, Angel, but you do have to make the same effort as everyone else from this point on. Your soul is as fresh as a newborn babe, but it is hoped the wisdom of your years will guide you to a good end."

Angel sat back in his chair puffing out a breath of relief. "So I’m human then, in every way?"

"One hundred percent bona fide human male, yup," Fred smiled widely.

"When?"

"As soon as you leave these walls you’ll notice the signs, heartbeat, sensory changes and so forth. You’ll have the same limitations as any human, Angel, don’t forget that." Wes looked thoughtful, then warned, "You’ll need help dealing with Nina when she undergoes her changes every month."

"I think I’m liking her plans with Oz more and more," Angel admitted. "Maybe I could even give Connor a little brother or sister in time?"

"That’s entirely up to you, but yes, you’ll be fully functional," Wes responded.

Spike had been silent throughout the exchange. He hadn’t wanted to become human, but it did sting a bit that the evil done by Angelus could be set aside so easily. Wes caught a look at the remaining souled vampire and decided to give him some hope as well.

"Spike, the Powers are far from unaware of you. Just because the Shanshu was meant for Angel does not mean there is no reward in store for you as well. Indeed, who more deserves one than a vampire who chose to change for love, to fight for his soul and who has just averted the mother of all apocalypses?" Wes smiled as Spike sat up straighter in his chair. "You said yourself that you have no desire to be human again, so that wouldn’t have been a reward at all, now would it?"

Spike shook his head in agreement, "Buffy might not agree."

Giles took pity on the vampire and reassured him, "Buffy loves you as you are, Spike. You don’t have to be human to appeal to her. Indeed we were all a bit foolish to think a normal human male could ever be a proper mate for the Slayer."

"Wouldn’t have minded that clean slate though," Spike glanced at Fred before continuing, "That glimpse of hell I had when I first got back makes me sure I really don’t want to wind up there, no matter how much I deserve it."

"Oddly enough, the Powers agree with you, Spike." Wes’ smile was warm and his eyes reflected the joy he felt in passing on this message. "The slate was wiped clean the moment you accepted that amulet knowing full well it would likely cost you your existence. Like Angel, you can write your new destination based on your choices now, not those when you were the Big Bad."

"Wow," Spike sputtered, "didn’t see that as a possibility. Was still plannin’ on fightin’ the good fight, ya know, even if I was hellbound. These poor buggers need all the help they can get," he smirked at Giles.

"Help we’ll be delighted to accept," Giles replied.

Fred whispered to Wes, only to have the Oracle shake his head in the negative. When this was noticed by the others, he offered a slight explanation. "Fred wanted me to tell you the whole of your reward. It is in the prophecy scroll Lilah left behind, should you wish to research it. I think that Spike would rather just live his life unfettered by a looming prophecy and promised rewards, am I right?"

Spike shook his head in agreement immediately. "Damn straight! Nice to know I matter somehow, but I’d just as soon make my own future for my own reasons. Don’t want to start makin’ decisions or pickin’ my battles ‘cause I’m reachin’ for some brass ring. Wanna do good to be doin’ good, not for some prophecy and reward."

Angel felt shame fill him as he realized how important the promise of Shanshu had become to him over the years. The purity of his desire to be a champion for good had been tainted with the desire to win the prize. Buffy was right; Spike was the better man in the end.

"Fine. But in the meantime it was decided that you could use some freedoms and protections in battle, even though you remain a vampire." Wes took something from Fred and handed it to the shocked vampire.

Angel looked over and gasped as he saw what Wes had given Spike. "I destroyed that! How can that be here?"

"The Powers That Be are more than capable of putting it back together, Angel." Wes was amused at how limiting Angel’s view of the Powers appeared to be. "Which is harder: to wipe away one’s sins or to put a man-made ring with mystical properties back together after a vampire has stepped on it?"

Spike still stared at the Gem of Amara that rested in his hand. His mind flashed to the last time he had it in his possession and the lengths he had been willing to go to trying to retrieve it from Angel. It was his turn to feel shame; he had never been one for torture before, much less having others fight his battles.

"You sure about this, Percy?" He hesitated to put it on as he looked deeply into Wes’ eyes, searching for the confidence he wasn’t feeling.

"Absolutely. You’ve already proven yourself, Spike. This is merely a tool to make you more effective in the fight. Not all evil waits for dark, you know. Buffy needs you at her side in the daylight as well." Wes looked at the vampire who had fought for the soul he knew would damn him to guilt and he sought to reassure him. "There is no danger giving such a tool to you, Spike. You won’t misuse it and if you ever did lose that soul of yours, it will still be safe. The Powers know you quite thoroughly."

Spike slipped the ring on his finger and stared at it in awe. He let himself dream for a moment of soft days and taking Buffy to the bright Mexican beach for a day of fun in the sun before their return to England.

"Oh, and Giles, I have a message for you to relay to Willow, if you would," Wes took Giles to one side, leaving Fred with the two rewarded vampires.

"Wes still loves you, Angel. He’s sayin’ what he has to, but he’s not mad at you or anything. He’ll never forget how you took him in and helped him become the man he was. I know we plan to keep an eye on you from now on." Fred kissed Angel lightly and sent a message of her own to Nina. "She’ll be good for you, Angel. I’m glad you have her and Connor."

"And you," she playfully tapped Spike on his knee. "Don’t go thinkin’ you’re all invulnerable! You take too many chances already. Buffy couldn’t handle losin’ you now. See, I told you she missed you. Maybe you two should think about makin’ it formal between you two. A girl likes that."

"I’d do anything to please Buffy. Think she knows that too." Spike wasn’t embarrassed to admit his ‘weakness’ to the sweet girl he had come to care so much for during his year in L.A. "Yeah, I’ll be careful. Not wantin’ to dust just yet. Got things to do, places to be."

"Wonder what that’s about," Angel motioned to Wes and Giles in the corner.

"Not sure, but from the look on Giles’ face, it’s not a problem," Spike opined.

~~~

The group crowded around the newly human Angel in awe and amazement, taking turns listening to his heartbeat and trying to make him blush.

Spike and Buffy sat across the room wrapped up in each other. "So you’re wanting to try out beach volleyball?" Buffy was giggling at the thought.

"Isn’t it what you pulsers do? Head for the sand and sun to whack a ball back and forth over a net?" Spike gave her his best innocent look.

"I think you watched far too much Baywatch, buster," Buffy accused. "You do know there will be no Pamela Anderson viewing in your future, right?"

"Who needs her when I have my arms full of perfect blonde goddess right here." Spike leaned in to kiss his girl. Buffy moaned in pleasure until Spike teased her with, "’Sides, it was that Carmen Electra bint that was worth the extra looks."

They were both laughing as Buffy chased him toward their room for some serious payback, not to mention driving all thought of any other woman from Spike’s fertile imagination.

"What were the exact words again, Giles?" Willow begged.

"The message from Tara was as simple as it was clear, Willow. She loves you and wants you to find love again. She’s glad you moved away from the destructive path you started down and thinks this new girl, the student you met in London earlier, will be a healing force in your life." Giles face softened as he saw the needy look on Willow’s face. "Love never dies. She was very clear in wanting you to remember that especially: love never dies."

Willow nodded, tears falling freely. "I’ll never find another Tara, will I?"

"No, I don’t suppose you will. But that doesn’t mean you won’t love again or be loved. Every relationship is different, just as all people, all beings really, are different. I’m learning that even applies to vampires," Giles remarked as he looked at the new human standing with one arm around Nina and the other around his son Connor. "She loves you enough to want you to find that happiness again. You’d be wise to listen to Tara. She was ever wise, you know."

Willow nearly knocked the Watcher over with the exuberance of her hug.

The group went to their individual rooms late that night. Buffy and Spike made the mistake of mentioning their beach plans within hearing distance and it was turning out to be a popular idea for many of the young slayers before a return to London’s often gray skies.

Angel promised to keep in touch with the Council and be of any assistance he might be. He may no longer be a vampire, but he did have a couple of centuries of experience with demons behind him and was a fairly impressive fighter in his own right.

Nina and Oz had decided on California for their retreat. The mountainous area surrounding L.A. was a prime location and Angel even had some land there thanks to his employment package from Wolfram and Hart. He offered to set up an office for the Council’s use there once it was built and readied. The good fight needed to be fought in many areas of the world, after all, and the battle took many forms.

A brief, well-deserved vacation for all in the sunny land of the Aztecs would be enjoyed for a few days before returning to the duties they all faced. Since Faith, Robin and Xander had already begun their vacations, it was only fair to grant the same to the others who had come willing to lay down their lives in the rescue mission. This Council valued its slayers as more than glorified weapons.

~~~

********two years later*******

Buffy grabbed for the popcorn that rested on Spike’s stomach as they lay side by side in their bed watching the television. The cottage on the Council’s grounds outside Leeds had been their private retreat since they had made their relationship official.

"Shut up! It’s all Dilby’s fault anyway," Buffy insisted.

"Right. Remind me to strike some terror into the little clerk when we go back to headquarters Monday. Bloke makes a decent Watcher, even if he had to play guidance counselor first," Spike grinned and moved the bowl further from Buffy’s reach.

"Ssshh, they’re about to announce," Buffy squealed in excitement.

"Just a stupid statue, Buffy. Doesn’t mean a thing really. Lots of real talent never even get a shot at it," Spike pouted.

"Hush, you’ve got no reason to be jealous and I’ll prove it later," Buffy promised.

"And the winner for Best Actor in a Drama goes to…," the scantily clad actress was saying on the TV. Her plastically handsome co-presenter opened the envelope and the girl giggled as she yelled out, "Angel O’Connor!"

"Fancy Angelus playin’ a bleedin’ FBI agent," Spike shook his head in amazement. "Good thing they were lookin’ for stoic, what with the lack of facial expressions the Poofter can pull out."

"Spike, be happy for him. He’s got the life he wants and we have each other. That’s more than good enough for me." Buffy kissed him soundly, pushing all thoughts of Angel from his mind. They were so wrapped up with each other that they missed everything that followed on the television. Neither one cared.

Angel was on the screen holding up the golden statue and smiling to the camera. The camera panned to a beaming Nina in the audience mouthing ‘I love you’ to her husband as he accepted the award. "Lots of people got me here, but I just want to say," he held the statue aloft, "Cordy, this one’s for you." Angel looked heavenward and winked.

~fin