Timeline

Chapter 22


Ireland.

Buffy had spent the day shopping. Not for clothing or for food , not even for the baby , but for research equipment and a P.C. Angel had spent the day at the house keeping an eye on Lilah.
"Well you seem pretty determined to make this place slayer central" Angel joked as he set the books in the bookcase.
"I know , I swore I'd use this place as a getaway. Guess there is no getting away from my calling, even though I'm not the one and only chosen one now."
Angel walked past her and kissed the top of her head. " Your still my one and only chosen one"
"Sweet. " She huffed and groaned .
"Whats wrong?"
"It's this thing , I swear they're made by pesky demons " Buffy said throwing a cable at the P.C.
" I'm not much better with them , Cordy set the one up at the hotel" Still ,Angel picked up the cable and had a look." I think the demons that made this, made mobile phones too"
After ten minutes he turned the computer on and watched as it blinked to life " Ha! " he said victorious.
Buffy walked into the drawing room and stood staring at the screen . "We'll have to clear some of the rooms if the guys are coming here"
"Your going to rest while I do it" Angel said
"I haven't even been in those rooms , so I'm helping , deal with me helping." Buffy said as she walked up the back stairs.
Angel followed her up the stairs . His phone rang and he answered it.It was Wesley.
"What's going on Wes?"
"And her world and army were destroyed"
"How is Gunn doing"
"So you'll be back here at about six tonight , O.K . we'll get looking.
Angel closed his phone and went upstairs to help Buffy get the rooms ready for the 'guests'.


Illyria sat in her temple alone.Her world was dust and the new world didn't want her in it. Humans had grown in numbers and plagued the world .All of the old ones were now trapped in the Deeper Well. Illyria felt alone and hated it.Her statue had crumbled over time and the head laid on it's side at it's feet. Illyria sat there motionless.


It was gone six when the group arrived at the house. Everyone was tired and sat where they could. Liam and Angel bought the sarcophegus into the house and put it in the drawing room. They both joined the rest in the lounge.Buffy had stood by the fireplace . Willow stood the other side of the fire. Liam sat with Spike on the floor . Faith, Giles and Wesley took the couch. The potentials sat on the floor , where they could.
Angel noticed Gunn was missing and went to find him.
Gunn was with the sarcophegus. His eyes transfixed on the stones set in the lid.
"She was curious , always curious , always looking for the things we couldn't see. Always looking for answers that were buried , hidden"
"I know"
"She couldn't leave it alone y'know"
Angel stood silent.Gunns tears flowed as he spoke.
"I'm angry with her for that" Gunn continued " Yet it was a part of her I loved , her constant searching and her passion for the unknown"
"We all do ... did " Angel huffed at himself for his clumsiness.
"She was brave right up til the end" Gunn wiped his eyes " I wanted to kill Cordy for doing this"
Angel looked at Gunn, amazed that he had admitted that.
Gunn turned and walked away from the coffin and sat with Wesley.

They all talked well into the night about the events at the Deeper well.Buffy kept the drinks coming , Angel went over strategies with them ,and discussed what they had learned so far. Liam joined Buffy in the kitchen .
"Angel, you scared me"
"It's Liam not Angel" he said softly.
"What do you want?" she felt uncomfortable and hated that she couldn't tell them apart.
"I haven't eaten in hours and I was wondering if ye had anything for me"
Buffy went to the fridge and bought out a tub of pigs blood. She put it in the microwave . Buffy walked to the table and picked up the tray of drinks, trying to keep out of his way. Liam shot round the table and stood in front of her.
"Let me get that while ye rest" Liam took the tray and put it on the table.
He advanced on Buffy.
"Back off" she slid round the table, backed up to the fridge.
"Or what" he placed a hand either side of her and leaned in.
"Or I stake your no good sorry ass " Spike hissed. Vamp face in place, he grabbed Liam and pulled him back.
The microwave stopped and the alarm rang out , letting them know it had finished warming the blood.
"You don't touch her " Spike growled
Liam laughed and held his hands up. " And I thought she was fair game seen as she had a thing for us vampires" he walked out of the kitchen still laughing.
"Thankyou Spike " she sighed heavily " Yet again you save my ass"
"Think nothing of it pet, just don't let ya guard down around him, just cos he looks like the poof."
Buffy got the blood out of the microwave and grimaced . " Would you " she handed it to Spike " Not handling gross things too well right now " she gestured to the bump .
Spike laughed and took the blood to Liam.
Angel noticed the tension between Liam and Spike . Then watched as Spike went into the kitchen. He held his hands up to the rest , to excuse himself from the conversation and stood in the doorway unnoticed.
Buffy washed up the cups and Spike sat on the table.
"You gonna tell Angel"
"No , he has enough to deal with right now. It's nothing I cant deal with anyways"
"Didn't look that way to me"
" I doubt he would be stupid enough to do anything , I mean house full of slayers and it's not like I'm totally defenseless"
"Could you bring yourself to stake him if you needed to?"
Buffy looked at Spike " As much as I know he's not Angel , he is him. He's back to the future him. If I stake him the here and now Angel dies, my god I need therapy for this"
Spike smiled " I knew Angel when he was like Liam , take it from me he will try again. He was a pompous ass in his day. Thought he was gods gift.He is dangerous slayer , even with the soul you shoved up his ass"
"Like you?" Buffy teased and then pointed to his forehead " You planning on getting your ass staked, your still grrrrr"
Spike finally shook off his vamp guise "Sorry, guess he got me more wound up than I thought"
He jumped off the table. Angel sunk back from the door and watched as Spike walked to Buffy.She turned to face him and kissed him on the cheek.Spike put his hands on her hips and returned the kiss.
"You just make sure you have someone with you when Liam's around. Now slayer , feed me"
She broke away and got Spike his blood.
Angel backed off and went to see Liam who was sat on the fountain.
"Seem weird being back in the family home for ye to?"
Angel said nothing . In one swift movement he pulled a stake from his pocket and had Liam by the throat and had him bent back over the fountain.
Anger raged on his face "You stay away from Buffy! Go near her again and god help you, I'll stake you . I'll fill this fountain with holy water and drown your sorry ass in it , you get me" He let Liam go and Liam fell back into the water.
Angel shook his duster back into place , threw the stake in after Liam , turned and walked away.
Liam wiped the water from his face and sat there laughing.
The front door slammed shut.
Spike's turn.
"Spike!" Angel yelled , drawing everyones attention
He came into the hall , his mug of blood in his fist.
"First I want to say thanks for what you did with Liam"
Spike , taken aback by the thanks , looked up from his mug , and nodded.
Angel balled his fist and smacked it into Spikes face.
"OWWWWch , what was that for you wanker!"
"I see your hands on Buffy again and I'll strap you to a cross, get me!"
Spike put his mug down and punched Angel back, sending him flying into a wall.
"Buffy means alot to me , think yourself lucky, if she didn't, I'd do more than just that.Hope that reminds you that your human now and not a superhero, don't do anything stupid!"
Angel got up and went into the kitchen.
Spike went in and rejoined the group , still holding his chin. "Wanker" he muttered as he sat down.

"I thought you were joking when you said an irish wife was chained to the kitchen" she turned and noticed he was bleeding "How'd this happen?"
"Spike" he pulled away as Buffy wiped the blood from the cut on his lip .
" What bought this on, you trying to be all macho ?"
"No .... Yes...... maybe" He hissed and pulled away.
"Stop being a baby" she dabbed it with antisceptic.
"It stings , and I wouldn't of had to if you had told me about Liam and you hadn't of kissed Spike"
"Are you spying on me now"
"Just a little, good job I did "
"Liam , I can handle and I get the impression that he got the message, and Spike's , Spike means alot to me"
Angel cut her off " That's what he said"
"Spike means alot to me and yes , he is in my heart, he died for me and he's there for me, but he's not you"
"You love him?"
"Yes but not in the same way I love you. I could never love him that way. He knows that."
Angel poked at his lip and wished he hadn't , it stung.What Buffy said had stung, but he understood.Realising he had acted like a jealous jerk , stung. "It stings"
Buffy knew what he meant and just smiled at him "We O.K now?"
Angel walked over to her and hugged her.


Illyria was sat in her temple , still contemplating her next move. She stood up and shook the dust from herself and re-opened the vortex. Stepping into it she smiled.


The air in the house rushed and the vortex opened in the back room. Everyone grabbed the weapons they had discarded and rushed into the room. Just in time to see Illyria walk through Liam,Buffy and Angel were the last to get there.
Illyria stared at them all and cocked her head.
"Warriors. I was beginning to wonder if this world was void of your kind."
"Plenty of us to go 'round, luv." Spike said
"Two half-breeds and a band of primitives. Is this all that challenges me now?"
" That, and a whole lot of weapons." Angel said stepping forward.
The group raise their weapons and pointed them at Illyria
"Enough to temporarily incapacitate even you. " Wesley said.
Angel walked toward her ."We know what you are, Illyria. We've seen the rest of your kind. All the old ones, sealed away forever, like you were. Where you should've stayed. You've taken something of ours, something very precious."
Illyria cocked her head to one side.
"Stand down and I promise we won't destroy you taking it back. Your choice." Angel said.
"I decline." Illyria answered.Illyria grabbed Angel and threw him through the window; he fell to the ground outside.
"Take her!" yelled Wesley.
With a wave of her hand, Illyria created another vortex, when it reached the others, it slowed their movements down to super-slow-motion. As Wes, Gunn, and Spike try to approach her, they are virtually frozen in their anger. Illyria, able to move in real-time, grabbed Gunn by his sweater, and walked out of the room past the others without their notice, accidentally knocking the cups to the ground, shattering them on her way out.
Angel walked back in through the kitchen, just as the vortex closed, the group fall to the floor in real time.
"We best set up a guard of some sort , in case she returns" Faith said.
Angel sat on the arm of the chair , Buffy sat on his lap " She got what she came for"
"Great. She's super strong and she can alter time" Buffy said
Faith looked at Buffy "Well, that's not fair."
"It makes it complicated, but doesn't change what we need to do. Wes, check the books. Check Lilah's files, the sarcophagus, anything that can help us get Fred back" Angel said as he stood up, one hand on his hip , the other on his swollen lip.
"Any thoughts on how we're supposed to track Illyria ?" Spike asked.
"We just do it, that's all. " Angel snapped.
"She was standing right there in front of me, but there was no scent. Nothing. It's like she wasn't even there."
Angel just looked at him, he knew what he meant though , he himself had had those enhanced senses once.
"Look... I want Fred back as much as any of us... but seeing her there, like that... maybe she really is......"
" No. I almost lost Cordelia because some thing violated her. It crawled inside and used her up.No way in hell am I letting that happen again."


Illyria took Gunn to the temple. She threw him to the ground at her feet.
"Your breed is fragile. How is they came to control this world?"
"What they lack in strength, they make up for in extraordinary valour and sneakiness"
"They are deceivers?"
Gunn opened his mouth to answer her
"Be silent."

Back at the house, Willow had gone to where the vortex opened . She felt the air and turned to Angel
"I think I can re-open the vortex"
Everyone back away to make room for Willow.Angel went into the back room .
She raised her hands and waved them in front of her. Slowly the vortex opened in front of her.
The group picked up their weapons , headed by Buffy , Faith and Angel they all walked through.

The temple
Angel , Buffy and Faith were the first to come through the vortex, closely followed by the rest.
Illyria turned and glared "How?"
"Told you we're sneaky" Gunn said
" Why do you follow me?"
"You want the short version? Let's start with you walking around looking like the woman you murdered." Angel replied.
"You think your actions will restore her?"
"No." Angel stepped forward.
"Yet you seek a confrontation you cannot win."
"What you're trying to do, reclaim your world, innocent people would die. Like Fred. I can't let that happen."
"You are the protector of these creatures?" Illyria asked.
"Yes."
"You'd fight for their lives?"
"Yes. Life and this world, isn't always pretty, but it's a hell of a lot better than what came before. And if it comes down to a choice , then yes, I would fight, just like anyone here. Because that's what people do. That's what makes us who we are"

Angel swings his sword at Illyria, but she ducks. They begin to fight, and the others join in. Illyria throws Angel across the room. She punches Spike in the chest, knocking him into the opposite wall. When Wesley shoots at her, she kicks Spike at him, knocking him down. Angel gets to his feet and starts swinging his sword at her, but she outmaneuvers him, ducking his blows and kicking him across the floor again. Spike comes at her next, swinging his sword, but Illyria avoids his swings as well. Angel gets to his feet and comes at Illyria, who is now fighting them both off. When they swing at her, she grabs both blades simultaneously, with her bare hands, and she swings the vampires off the end of the swords, flinging them against opposite walls.
Illyria said "Unimpressive." as she throws their swords to the ground.
As Wesley got to his feet, Illyria waved her hand, creating another slow-motion time wave before he can fire at her again. Spike tries to get to his feet, and Angel reaches into his pocket. Illyria turns to continue with the portal opening, but stops when she sees Angel standing in front of her in the flash of an eye.
What's the rush? He said as he punched Illyria hard in the face, sending her across the room,
"How?"
"Angel reveals he was holding the crystal in his fist."From your sarcophagus. It's connected to you, I'm connected to it."
Illyria smirked "Sneaky."
Illyria swings her leg at Angel's ankles, knocking him to the ground. Spike swings at her as she gets to her feet, but she punches him hard in the gut. Wesley sees that she's about to make a run for it, and shoots at her.Illyria , knowing her army has gone and the humans and half breeds will keep up their campaign, gives in and stops fighting.
She looks at Gunn and the others "You grieve still... for a single life."
"Why are you here?"
"I... I'm uncertain. " Illyria answered. " You had feelings for the shell?" She asked Gunn.
"Don't call her..... Gunn breathe deeply "The woman you killed had a name."
"This is important to you. Things have names. The shell... Winifred Burkle... She can't return to you."
"I know." Gunn said sadly.
"Yet there are fragments. When her brain collapsed, electrical spasms channeled into my function system... memories."Illyria held up her fingers, making a gap between her thumb and index finger where an electrical spark forms. In Fred's voice she said " Please...Gunn, why can't I stay?"
Gunn turned away, nearly sick, crying. "No." He looked away"Leave."
"I've nowhere to go. My kingdom is long dead." She said softly "Long dead. There's so much I don't understand. I've become overwhelmed. I'm unsure of my place."
He turns to her, angrily "Your place is with the rest of your people: Dead and turned to ash."
"Perhaps... but I exist here. I must learn to walk in this world." She slowly approaches Gunn."I'll need your help... Gunn".
Frowning, choking back tears he replied "If I were to help you find your way... you have to learn to change. You mustn't kll.I'm probably the last man in the world to teach you what's right."
"But you will. If I abide, you will help me." she said
Gunn looked at her."Yes."
"Because I look like her?"
Gunn looked at her with tears in his eyes,and whispered "Yes."
She stood beside Gunn, and looked out across her ruined temple."We cling to what is gone. Is there anything in this life but grief?"
"There's love. There's hope...for some. There's hope that you'll find something worthy... that your life will lead you to some joy... that after everything... you can still be surprised."
"Is that enough?"She looked at Gunn."Is that enough to live on?"