The Warriors

TITLE: The Warriors
AUTHOR: Willie J
EMAIL: wmj166@msn.com
WEB SITE: N/A
RATING: Eventual NC-17
DISCLAIMER: I don't own any part of Buffy et all, not Angel the Series.
FEEDBACK: Please
DISTRIBUTION: List Archives
SPOILERS: Season 7 of Buffy Sea Season 4 of Angel
SUMMARY:
BETA'D BY: Echo's Revenge

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Chapter 3

"Oooooh, now that's gotta hurt," he snickered as his brother slowly pulled himself from the wall leaving a huge hole, brushing dust and pieces of the wall from himself.

Wesley gasped, brothers?! He marveled at Xander....while it seem that young Mr. Harris had lost a few pounds, it just seemed as if there was....more of him in some way. He twisted, hearing someone, softly coming down the stairs and gaped at the sight of Angel. A contented Angel, a very happy... he slowly backed down the stairs without taking his eyes off of Angel. His hands flickered nervously and a stake appeared in each hand.

"Wes, no! It's not what you think!" Angel said desperately, reaching a hand out to Wes then drawing back at the sight of the stakes. "I'm not Angelus, Xander somehow managed to permanently merge the two of us together with the soul me being dominant, so no more worries about Angelus coming out," he smiled desperately at Wesley, hoping that he would be believed.

He understood, for the first time, the desperation and guts it took for Wesley to take Connor from him to protect him. After all the things that Angelus had put everyone through, it was a miracle that they still accepted him in their lives, and he could do no less for Wesley. Wesley's only crime was trying to protect Connor from his father, Angelus' crimes were far worse than anything Wesley had ever done.

Wesley's eyes narrowed, "So this means you can have sex now," he questioned with a raised brow.

Angel's eyes drifted to Xander, "If I'm really lucky." He had a nasty feeling that it was gonna take more than luck for Xander to accept him. A lot more.

"So, little brother, it would seem that you have learned some skills," Anda'makta said softly, "but do you think it's enough to defeat me? After all, I am the one that taught you everything you know."

"Andy, Andy, did you honestly think that you were the only one to teach me," Xander said mockingly and shook his head, "I had more teachers over the years than just you, brother dear. After HE kicked your sorry ass out, I knew that you would be back. I didn't want to believe it but you've got too damn much hatred and jealousy in you to just leave shit alone."

Anda'makta rolled his shoulders, eyeing him, "Stop calling me by that ridiculous name!" he snapped before forcefully relaxing himself. "Apparently you've let your title go to your head, Alexander.... Protector of Humanity, what a laugh! You're nothing but a joke. Not even your precious friends and that so-called family of yours respect you. You willingly subject yourself to your precious Slayer's abuse for years. And as for that creature you call father, well, let's just say, we have a room ready and waiting for him."

Xander simply looked at him bored, "Blah, blah, blah, is that all you gonna do?"

He steadfastly refused to allow Andy to get to him, he had made his choice years ago and stood by his decision. The only time he had faltered was with that damn hyena thing, and that was such a surprise! The things he had done still made him squirm. He hadn't known that he could be quasi-possessed like that, becoming too complacent, letting down his guard. After a struggle he managed to kick the bitch out of him just as he was reaching for that boy, and then seeing Buffy on the roof of the car had given him some idea of what she planned to do. He gave thanks every day that Buffy was such a… non-thinker, depending more on her fighting abilities than reasoning, or she would have figured it out by now. When he had become 'Soldier Guy', if it hadn't been for Willow being around and knowing where he had gotten that stupid gun, he wouldn't have had to pretend that he was possessed that time.

The two brothers grimly eyed each other, knowing that this time only of thf them would be walking away from this encounter, the tension drew tighter between them….

Wesley held his breath at the charged atmosphere vibrating between the two men, getting tighter and tighter until....

Anda'makta uncoiled in a lightning-fast attack, his sword a gleaming blur of steel!

If Xander hadn't been prepared for just such a move he would have been taken by surprise, as it was steel belled furiously as he met the attack, blade to blade.

Anda'makta couldn't believe it! Many times, he had made this movement and each time he had knocked his victims on their asses, including Xander. His eyes gleamed coldly and he took three strides with a sinuous grace, his sword flicking out with viperish speed. His eyes narrowed as each stroke was blocked with ease, and he felt his rage increase. But he harnessed the power of his rage, forcing it to serve him rather then rule him as he attacked.

He snarled silently, watching as Xander made a small beckoning motion with his hand. A tiny gesture, yet it struck him like a whiplash... it dismissed him, and dared him to do his worst.

Xander's blow came without warning, in a light-silvered blur of steel with absolutely no clue from a changing expression or tensing muscles to alert him and Anda'makta's stroke went wide. Leaving him wide open for the blow that came at him perfectly balanced, with a deadly speed and brilliance which even Wesley and Angel could appreciate.

They could barely restrain their shout of jubilation as Xander's blade flicked out almost negligently.

This was no movie version of a sword fight, each move carefully choreohed hed to avoid hurting each other. There were no mad dashes around the room, jumping on tables, twisting, turning to avoid a carefully time sword stroke; no director calling 'Cut'.... this was war, boiled down to it's raw form, even though it was only two combatants.

There could be only one survivor in this battle, this war.

Time seemed to slow for Anda'makta as he watched the seemingly simple, almost gentle blow, yet it felt like an axe when it hit his sword and he staggered under the sheer force of the blow. Frantically, he tried to gather himself, feeling an unfamiliar surf paf panic, of fear, sweeping through him.

There was no way Xander could possibly beat him!

Steel rang again, harsh and explosive, foul with rage and hatred.

And Xander began to press his attack with a cold ruthlessness.

He faltered slightly when he spared a quick glance up and, in the grip of his fury, one thought rang through him...this had to end.

From the corner of his eye, he saw a flicker of movement as Angel and Wesley dashed over to Dawn, pulling her out of the way. He spared a quick thought to Angel, feeling the answering response before he turned his mind back to the fight.

His sword rang, impossibly quick, lashing out.

Then he slipped, leaving an opening that Anda'makta was quick to seize....

Angel and Wesley could only watched in horror as Anda'makta slipped through Xander's guard, and rammed his sword through!

Xander grunted as pain flared brightly in him, he could feel the blood on his lips as he looked up into Anda'makta, frozen face. He reached for Anda'makta sword arm and pulled himself up towards Anda'makta, pushing the sword further through his chest. Agony clawing at him with razor talons.

He grabbed his brother's shoulder and drove his own sword deep into Anda'makta' side, "I'm willing to give my life for theirs, what are you willing to give?" he gasped out through bloody lips.

As he savagely twisted the sword even deeper, he let his power surge up the blade into Anda'makta body before the other could recover.

Staggering back, he slipped to one knee pulling his blade free as he watched the energy burn through Anda'makta's body.

Anda'makta, his eyes wide in astonishment, stumbled back looking down at the white light spilling from the open wound in body. His head came up as his body jerked violently, convulsively as the turbulent rush of power tore through him---he stretched out one hand, pleadingly to Xander...before his eyes turned inward feeling the power building, growing....

He had time for one scream before his body was consumed in the white purity of the fire.

Dawn rushed to Xander's side. Throwing out her power she caught the falling figures of Willow, Fred and Connor. She had not dared to call upon their Brothers and Sisters for fear of distracting him, but now she screamed desperately for them while simultaneously, gently guiding the figures to the floor.

"Quick," she said urgently to Angel, "Hold him, he's dying! You need to give him your energy to hold him until our Brothers and Sisters get here."

"But how," Angel yelled, looking down at the bloody figure in his arms, he blinked as he felt a familiar presence fly past him within and he lost all awareness of the outside world, determined to catch and hold on to the fleeing presence. He raced desperately after the form, closer...closer...got 'em! He braced himself and held on, throwing every ounce of strength into his struggle to hold on. He huddled desperately around Xander, feeling the pull of Void trying to suck them in.

Wesley peered closely at Angel, what in .. h.. he gasped softly as the youthful texture of Angel's face began to show the ravages of time, slowly becoming taut.

"My God," he whispered, as Angel's face began to show his true age, as whatever force that animated vampires was slowly being leeched out of him.

Dawn screamed again for her Brothers and Sisters, at last finally hearing the answer... They were coming!

She turned to Xander, ignoring the aging Angel, to check Xander's wound. She cast a quick look at the oblivious Angel and knew that whatever he was doing would not be enough. She could only hope that help would arrive in time.

Hearing a tiny sound she turned in relief as the glowing figures of the various Warriors, Guardians and Keys appeared in all their glory.

"You need to let him go now," she said quietly to Angel, gently trying to tug Xander from his grasp.

Angel growled at her, slowly opening his eyes. By the look in his eyes, letting go of Xander was something he would never do.

"Let him stay, he will need healing as well," came a melodious voice of one of the glowing figures.

Wesley jaw dropped to the floor and he felt like prostrating to the floor as well, seeing the beautiful man? woman? kneeling gracefully by Dawn's side.

He watched in awe as the all the figures took up a position circling them and began to SING!

He saw the creation of the worlds.....

....saw new stars being born....

....the birth of a universe....

He saw everything and he wept at the beauty of their song.

"Now you must let him go," one of the glorious figures said to Angel, gy puy putting a glowing hand on the vampire's arm, and reluctantly Angel settled Xander down on the floor. Blinking as he became aware of the glowing figures. He backed away at a persistent gesture from Dawn and watched in confusion as they resettled Xander face down.

Both he and Wesley blinked in shock as Xander's back began to ripple, then on either of his shoulder blades, the skin split. In awe they watched as wet, black wings began to emerge from the slits. They moved further away as the wings buckled up, pushing softly, insistently at them. Until at last the wet leathery wings had emerged fully and began to waft gently up and down, drying quickly.

Xander began pushing himself up with a groan of pain, feeling someone supporting him firmly until he was stable on his feet. He looked up to say thanks and froze as he met Angel's unreadable eyes. His mouth tightened. Firmly he ignored that flicker of disappointment echoing through him from Angel. Stepping carefully away from Angel's supporting grasp, he looked around, seeing his Brother's and Sister's begin to fade. He silently called out a farewell to them and felt their answering reply.

He avoided looking at Angel, resentment stirring in him at the sight of Dawn's guilty face. He wrapped his wings around himself, feeling cold. He would deal with her later. He looked around for Willow, saw her lying limply on the floor and rushed to her side.

Wesley stiffened, having forgotten the others in arrival of the other beings. He quickly made his way over to Fred and froze at the unnatural angle her neck was in. Sinking down to his knees, he gently closed her eyes.

Hiding her frozen e. e.

He looked over at the unconscious Gunn and swallowed, grateful at least that he was still alive. Despite their somewhat adversarial relationship, he still called the man his friend which wae one one of the reasons he did not actively pursue Fred. He gave a glance at the fallen Slayer and Connor, breathing a sigh of relief at least three were still alive. Now where was Lorne?

He looked up at the choked cry from Xander and gasped at what he saw. "My God," he whispered.

Xander cradled Willow's tiny figure in his arms, brushing her hair from her face. After his first involuntary cry at the sight of her he refused to let any sound of distress escape his lips.

"Did...we...win," Willow asked weakly, her head lolling in his arms, "I... heard... singing... was... she..fat?" A weak laugh escaped her before she coughed. She felt something wet trickle from her lips and moaned softly in pain as the movement jarred something inside of her. She was so tired that all she wanted to do was just....sleep.

Xander looked down into her ruined face, at the burnt, oozing eye sockets, "Yeah, we won," he said huskily, letting a shaky breath escape his lips. He didn't know if what he needed to do was allowed, but he was going to try.

"You know... I thought... it would hurt... a lot more," Willow gasped out, her hands clutching desperately at Xander's forearm, "But it doesn't." She already knew by the darkness that she was blind and dying. She remembered that white light coming at her, she remembered pushing Gunn out of the way and the searing pain in her face.

Angel lowered his head, he could hear her heart beating raggedly, slowing down.

She lay e ane and tried to move her legs, "Xander, I can't feel my legs!" she gasped, then screamed, high and shrill as every last nerve suddenly came back to life. She writhed in Xander's arms. Pain blossoming in her stomach, her sides, oh Goddess, HER FACE!

She screamed again, feeling agony viciously ripping at her insides.

Xander, his face wet with tears, pulled her to his chest and screamed along with her, not knowing if his cry for help would be answered.

"FATHER!"

Willow convulsed once, twice in his arms before sagging limply.

He drew a deep breath and screamed again, "FATHER!"

Angel and Wesley crouched down crying out in pain, holding their hands to their ears trying to block out that terrible awful scream.

Xander felt a warmth encircling him like a hug. He knew he had been heard.

He had his answer and he spread his wings wide....

....and he began to sing.

Angel and Wesley slowly uncovered their ears and looked up as first Xander and then Dawn began to sing.

They watched in awe as wet, brown wings began to emerge from Dawn's back as she knelt and gathered Fred gently into her arms.

Gently the two sets of wings began to close around the singers, around the unmoving broken bodies, hiding them from view.

How long they sang, Angel and Wesley couldn't tell, lost in that unearthly song. All they knew was that they felt better than they had ever felt before in their lives.

Slowly the two sets of wings opened as the songs began fading.

With disbelieving eyes, Wesley watched as Fred's chest rose and fell with each inhalation.
Angel crawled over to Xander, ducked under a wing and peered down into Willow's face. He touched her face with trembling fingers, watching her eyes flutter open revealing green sparkling eyes!

Willow twisted her head blinking, "Uhm Xander, don't mean to scare you but there's a big black wingie thing on your back," she said hesitantly and froze, her hands swiftly moving up to her face, brushing away Angel's hands. She sat up with quickly, checking her ribs, she took a deep breath and tentatively moved her legs....they moved!

She swallowed hard, her eyes swimming with tears as she twisted around to face Xander, she touched his cheek gently and threw herself into his arms with a choked sob.

Xander simply held her, feeling tears fall down his face as welis Wis Willowgirl was back.

He had had thousands of friends over his lifetime and probably would have a thousand more but there something about Willow, some indescribable thing about her that called to him. That sang to him.

He had at first thought that Willow would eventually become his mate with Jesse as his Guardian/Companion but then he wound up accident sta staking Jesse. He hadn't exactly changed his mind, he had just decided to wait a while until at least Willow was a little older and more settled in her mind. Despite his seemingly cluelessness, he was well aware of Willow's feelings for him, but the time wasn't right for them. He fell for Cordy and typical male that he was, growled at the sight of Willow with Oz. Willow belonged to HIM.

After the fiasco of that fluke thing with Willow he gradually came to the conclusion that Willow was maybe meant to be his Companion and not his mate. He was philosophical about it, 'cause half a Bond was better than none after all, right? But he still wanted a mate, someone that he would be able to have children with, someone that that he could give all the love he had within him

He held her, feeling tears fall down his face as well…..his Willowgirl was back. His wings beat once in pleasure, in joy. Drawing closed around them, enfolding Willow in a warm cocoon of safety and love….closing around Angel.

And all three felt a shock race through them, circling binding them together.

The Trinity was now complete!

All three yelped and pushed violently away from each other.

"What in the name…," Willow gasped, her hand pressed to her heart.

"….was that," Angel choked out, looking at Xander.

Xander's wings snapped out in rage, and he turned to look at Dawn.

"You just couldn't friggin' wait could you," he yelled jumping to his feet glaring angrily at Dawn.

"What the hell did you want me to do, watch you die," Dawn spat out, gently placing the now conscious Fred on the floor.

"You mated me to a Demon," Xander screamed at her, clutching at his hair.

“You started the process, you friggin’ idiot,” Dawn shot back, her flickering with sharp restless movements.

“I did?! Like when,” Xander demanded. There was no freakin’ way he would have done that, he would have remembered.

Dawn just looked at him, “When I got here, you had already started the Bonding process. How was I to know, that you would choose the Mate Bond? You know bloody well that no one controls that but the individual.”

Xander looked at her darkly, “You've been spending too much time with Spike.”

Xander sighed, wondering when in the name of the Father did he Choose Deadboy, as a Mate. Why, oh why did his life have to be so screwed up?! Now, not did did he have Deadboy as a Mate but he had Willow too! He held his head and whimpered in frustration.

Dawn’s eyes were sympathetic watching the whimpering Xander, “Don’t worry, I’m sure you’ll make an excellent father.”

Willow and Angel glanced at each other, "Uhm, you get the feeling that we've lost part of this conversation," Willow said tentatively.

“He said, 'be fruitful and multiply'! So you tell me, Miss Smarty-Pants how am I supposed to multiply,” Xander sced aed at her, his mood switching back to rage.

“Oh, for pete’s sake, will you stop being so freaking human?!” Dawn rolled her eyes, “You can still have kids and Willow can too, you moron!”

Angel and Willow began to back away from the screaming Dawn and Xander. “We can have kids,” Angel asked Willow in a whisper.

“Why are you asking me, I’m gay remember,” Willow whispered back fiercely, keeping a wary eye on Xander and Dawn.

Xander drew in a horrified breath, “I have no intention of having kids with DEADBOY! If I wanted to have children with a demon, then I would still be with Anya.”

“Well, it’s not like it was my fault,” Dawn yelled, quickly going on the offensive. Her wings were flickering in reaction to her mood.

“EnougWeslWesley shouted at them, startling the screaming duo. They looked at him in shock, wings spreading in alarm.

“Might I remind you two, whatever you are, that there are still injured to be attended too,” he said through clenched teeth. “I would have expected better behavior from angelic creatures but obviously I was sadly mistaken.”

“Angelic?!” Xander gaped at him, moving to the unconscious Faith, his hands glowing as he lay them upon her torso.

“Angels?!”” Dawn nearly shrieked, passing a wing over the fallen Gunn. The others watched in awe as their injured comrades were restored to full health.

“We’re no angels,” Xander smirked, he glanced at Dawn before they both started laughing almost hysterically.

Wesley’s eyes narrowed. His arms crossed, his foot tapping impatiently, “If you please,”” he uttered coldly, watching as their giggles died down. Clearly these were NOT angels.

“Angels! Sorry, but that was funny,” Xander snickered holding on to Dawn, “I don’t know any one of us that would want to be an Angel. You have no idea horogarogant those high and mighty angels are. Noses all up in the air, like we smell bad or something.” He grunted as Dawn smacked him in his chest.

“Hey, I got family on that side,” Dawn said, smacking him again. “Of course, some of them are assholes,” she admitted with a shake of her head.

“So then what are you,” Wesley asked crossly. He saw Angel watching him and he stiffened slightly, keeping a wary eye on the vampire.

Despite what they had been through in past few days, he knew that he had a long way to go before A for forgave him for stealing Connor. Determinedly he turned his attention to the immediate problem of Mr. Harris and Miss Summers.

“We’re not angels as you might have already figured out. We come in four different classes: Angels, Keys, Warriors and Guardians. Angels are the messengers, Keys are the links between Angels and Warriors. Obviously you know what a Warrior does and a Guardian needless to say guards objects, places and/or people. Guardians are closer to humans than any of us and can be killed; Warriors live, die and are reborn endlessly. Keys are born and live for a very long time until eventually they die and are reborn. Angels are eternal,” Xander spoke quietly. He had caught that brief look that Wesley had sent Angel and knew he had to do something to resolve this situation, things were just to crucial to have dissension within this group.

Willow glanced at Xander, looked closely at Angel then looked down at herself. Nope, no imagining things here, I am somehow connected to Xander and Angel. There was a thick cord connecting the three.

"Okay, let's move on to something a little more important," she said loudly, "What the hell just happened between the three of us, and don't even bother trying to lie to me Xander Harris," she added sternly.

"Wills, I would never....," Xander began to gasp out....

"HA! If you thought it would get you of of trouble, which by the way you are in BIG time Mister, you'd lie like a...a...rug," Willow snorted.

Xander sighed, "Okay, here's the situation. For some unknown reason," he stressed glancing sidelong at Angel, "I Bonded to Angel. When the two of us with a recognized bond, touched you it triggered the secondary bond. And that's what happened."

Angel and Willow glanced at each other again, before Angel turned to Xander, "Bullshit. I can tell you are telling the truth, but you're leaving out huge parts of the story. Now tell us the whole truth!"

Crap! Xander tried again, watching the two hesitantly, "Angel and I are bonded? Willow and I are bonded? The three of us are Bonded?" he said tentatively.

Dawn quickly interrupted, flicking her wings, seeing that Angel and Willow were about to beat the daylights out of Xander, "Look it's kinda simple. Guardians, Warriors and Keys were promised Mates and/or Companions to give them encouragement in their lonely exile. Guardians typically are Companions with Warriors and they share a mate. Keys usually Mate with Warriors and share a Companion. Unfortunately, in Xander's case he has two Bonded Mates, Willow and Angel."

Willow blinked, "But I'm gay! I like women, not guys and I have a girlfriend. I'm very much into my gayness," she protested, then she thought for a minute, "So you were really serious about me hitting you with the gayness, huh, Xander?"

"NO! Hell no, I was just joking about that," Xander protested strongly, his wings snapping close around his body, "That was truly a joke! Ha ha ha! See a joke!" He paced restlessly, trying to control himself. What the hell was wrong with him? Why was he so friggin' antsy all of a sudden?

"So what do we do now," Angel said struggling to remain calm. His attention kept drifting to Xander, admiring the play of light on his wings....sleek and beautiful. He slowly paced forward, keeping a wary eye on the unpredictable Xander and subconsciously began to purr trying to soothe his temperamental Warrior. He stopped about a foot away from the suddenly motionless Xander.

Willow eyes kept drifting to the restlessly pacing Xander, admiring the play of light on his hair, his legs each time he moved. Her eyes slowly began to glaze and she began to walk forward, to Xander. Coming to herself with a startled jerk a foot away from Xander.

They formed a neat triangle and Angel began purring again, soothing both his mates.

Wesley whispered to Dawn, "What the hell is happening, why is Angel purring?"

Dawn whispered back, "Angel's trying to complete the Mating Ritual with Xander and Willow, it involves a lot of sex."

Wesley looked closely at Dawn, "Seriously, Miss Summers, what are they doing." He turned to see Xander swaying, his eyes half closed as both Willow and Angel touched him.

"I am serious," Dawn whispered back indignantly, "Angel's trying to complete the Bond and since the bond is a Mate bond, they want to mate."

"But I thought Ms. Rosenburg was gay and Mr. Harris was not," Wesley protested, he heard a noise behind him and saw Faith getting to her feet and helping Fred up to her feet.
"Dawn, right," Faith said, glancing at Dawn.

"Yep," Dawn replied, "In the flesh, so to speak."

Faith studied her for a few minutes, "Cool wings," before turning to help Gunn to his feet.
"I suggest someone tie Connor up before he escapes," Wesley said, looking over at the boy getting to his feet.

Connor looked around for Cordy and made a dash for the door, and rebounded against an invisible barrier.

"You?" Faith gave a look at Dawn who smiled, "Girl, you got some cool mojo working."

"I try, I can only try," Dawn said modestly, looking down.

"What's up with Angel, Wes," Gunn said with a sharp gesture to the three now motionless figures.

"Miss Summers here informs me that Angel, Miss Rosenburg and Mr. Harris are officially mates and are trying to complete the Mating Ritual," Wes said coolly watching the unfolding scene.

"No way!" Faith exclaimed, "I mean, I know the boy's had some bad luck with the ladies but I didn't know he was gay." She paused looking at Xander, "Course I didn't know the boytoy had wings either."

"Angel's gay?!" Gunn was shocked. He peered closer at the three motionless figures, "Correct me if I wrong, but did that boy have wings when he walked in? 'Cause I'm pretty sure that he didn't and I'm good about noticing things like that." He turned to Dawn, "And I'm sure that you didn't have wings when you appeared....out of thin air." Okay, now things had gone beyond weird and we have officially entered Bizarro World.

"Someone please look for Lorne," Wesley said wearily, he simply wasn't up to rehashing this conversation, "Miss Summers, is there any way we can stop what they are doing? I really don't think we have time for them to complete their ritual."

He watched as Faith, Gunn and Fred left after volunteering to look for Lorne.

"Call me Dawn," she said absently, seeing the pulsating surges growing faster between the three. "Yeah, I can temporarily stop them so that they can think, but there's no force in this world that can stop them from completing the Ritual."

"Well, I'm sure that if someone were to put a stake through Angel's heart that'll stop the ritual," Wesley said dryly.

"True, but once he is mated with Xander, he will be a true immortal. Sunlight, stakes, crosses won't kill him. He will have achieved his Shanshu." Dawn said quietly and stepped forward. She took a couple of deep breaths....oh man oh man this was gonna hurt like the dickens.

"That's not what the prophecy states," Wesley said sharply.

Dawn gave him a look over her shoulder, "And you would know because..."

"I translated the prophecy," Wesstatstated stiffly, how dare this young...., he blinked seeing the clear amusement in her eyes.

"Uhm, you know what the prophecy says," he asked quietly, watching her.

" 'That he would live until he died,' " Dawn quoted, "But Wesley, you forgot that he is a vampire. Death is the equivalent for life for them."

"But he dies, the prophecy says," Wesley protested, "And he....," he saw the quiet knowledge in her eyes. "Upstairs," he breathe, "That's why you didn't want me to look, you knew what was going to happen?"

"Yes, in order to become a mate of a Warrior, the mate must die first."

"But Miss Rosenb...," Wesley tried to protest.

"Died in Xander's arms," Dawn said quietly, she waited a beat taking in his stunned expression, "Now do you want me to stop them from mating right now or do you want to yammer at me some more?"

Wesley glared at her, knowing she was right, "Please stop them if you can."

Dawn gave him a cool look and spreading her wings and SHRIEKED! doubling over with pain at the force of her shriek. Turning around she helped Wesley back to his feet, holding his dazed face and peering into eyes, satisfied that he could stand on his own before she turned to the groaning Xander, Angel and Willow.

"Did anyone get the number of that bus that hit me," Xander muttered, pushing himself to his knees and shaking his head.

Willow and Angel helped each other to their feet, before extending a hand to help Xander up. With a grateful groan, he accepted and allowed them to pull him to his feet. All three swayed and propped each other up.

"What the hell was that," Willow moaned into Angel's chest.

"You guys were getting lost in the Mating Ritual and we need to get back to Sunnydale. You can mate there if you like but we need to get to Sunnydale," came Dawn's voice. She made no attempt to get within hitting distance of Xander.

"Oh, OH!" Willow exclaimed pushing away from Angel's chest. "Mating Ritual?! Did I forget to mention that I have a girlfriend," she said anxiously turning to Dawn, "But you already know that, right?"

"Willow take it easy, no one's forcing you to do anything that you don't want," Xander said soothingly, holding her hands. "There's no rush, no pressure, okay?"

"But Xander, I'm still gay!" Willow protested, "Remember? Me and Tara and now me and Kennedy."

Angel stood silently while the two friends argued. He knew what he wanted and he knew that both Willow and Xander responded to him.

"Do I look like I'm gay? Yet I'm Deadboy's husband for crying out loud," Xander exclaimed, releasing Willow's hand. "Whether I like it or not, I have to mate with one or both of you in order fight the First. There's no if's and's about it."

"But you just said no pressure and if that's not pressure then I don't know what is," Willow yelled.

"Well I lied," Xander spat out.

Angel began to purr, feeling both Willow and Xander instantly turned to him abruptly silenced.

"Whoa, Angel," Dawn said with a smile, "Didn't think you would catch on so fast."

Angel stopped purring, "Now enough arguing, we need to get to Sunnydale as soon as possible right," looking at Xander.

"Right, get there, kick the First's ass.....," Xander said in a daze.

"....then have wild monkey sex for days," Willow said huskily, her eyes wide. She shook her head violently, "Oh my God, did I just say that?!"

Xander came out of his daze and gave her a wide eye look, "Oh yeah, you most certainly did, I don't know about the days part but I'm down with the wild monkey sex." He leered at her, snickering softly at the blush that crossed her face. Then a surprised OW! escaped him as Willow punched him in the arm.

"Enough," Wesley interrupted. "We need to get to Sunnydale, correct? If so then are we all going or what," he said looking around, seeing Fred, Gunn and Faith coming back with Lorne.

"What in the name of Patti LaBelle was that sound," Lorne said, shaking his head. He stopped in his tracks at the sight of the winged Xander and Dawn, "Well shut my mouth and put the cat out! Two sweet chocolate morsels," he exclaimed running his eyes over them.

With ease of long practice, Angel returned the conversation back to getting to Sunnydale, "Clearly, Faith, Xander, Willow, Dawn and I will be going to Sunnydale." He stated firmly glancing around making sure no one had any objections.

"And Wesley has to go," Xander said stubbornly, seeing the instant look of resistance on Angel's face. "He goes or you don't go," he said crossing his arms.

Angel gritted his teeth, casting a cool look at Wesley, "Agreed."

"What about us," Gunn protested, "What now that you got Birdman and Birdwoman you don't need us anymore?!"

"Actually, I had something in mind for you three, that is if you don't mind," Xander said hesitantly, arching his wings and sheathing them back into his body.

Everyone blinked at that display.

"Oh, please do tell us," Gunn said sarcastically, grunting at the elbow in his ribs from Fred.

"Can you find Cordy," Xander asked in a rush.

Everyone froze at that request.

"Cordy's alive?!" Both Angel and Wesley gasped that out simultaneously.

"Yeah, needless to say that wasn't Cordy, it just took her form and memories to work on Connor. Cordy's still alive somewhere, I just don't know where," Xander said, trembling in frustration, calming as Willow laid a gentle hand on his arm.

"All I know is that she still in L.A. somewhere and something or someone is hiding her," Xander growled. This time it was Angel that put a hand on Xander arm to calm him.

"Don't worry man, we'll find her," Gunn said with a determined look at Fred and Lorne, "At least we know that she's not dead."


After receiving instructions from Xander about the general direction to look, they said their goodbyes.

Xander, Willow, Angel, Faith and Wesley were all able to travel back to Sunnydale in one car; with Dawn adding instructions that Xander, Willow and Angel had to be kept separate.....and Dawn left the way she arrived.

The drive back to Sunnydale was made in icy silence.