Timeline

Chapter 29

Angel had left the Hyperion after getting Willow to do a cloaking spell on him. He took the car to a secluded spot on the beach and headed to a cavern . Once inside he took out a piece of paper and the small urn. He chanted the inscription on the paper and picked the urn back up. A blinding light lit the cavern and Angel walked through into it.

"Time has passed slowly since our last meeting "
"Yes , yes it has" Angel replied
"You are no longer the champion which serves us , what have you come here for" The male conduit said .
" What gift have you bought me this time Angel" The female conduit asked.
Angel held the urn out and it flew through the air to her hands
" It's lovely . Eighteen century Irish crystal ."
The male conduit was short on temper and shook his head at the sentimental female."What have you come here for ".
" I need your help. You must know that I bought the newly sired Liam back with me when I went through the portal"
"We do indeed " The male conduit looked at Angel curious to see what he was going to ask.
" I need you to fully restore the soul to me and send him back "
" You have ways and means to do it yourself, why bother us with such a request?"
" The slayer can't do it , I won't let her and I have enemies trying to take my son and kill me , if we use the spells and wait nine days the chances are I'll die"
"There are risks in life we must take" the conduit answered.
" If I die the slayer will perish as well. I have a son that I can't protect , if she perishes , then he will be left unprotected"
"The god Illyria is there is she not?"
"Yes"
"Then as all things are , so shall it be , your son is protected" The male replied
" Then send Liam back a soulless monster and make me what I once was, take this humanity back"
"We did not release you from your calling. That was the witch, was it not" the female said
"Yes"
"Then it was an accident" she continued
"Yes"
"And you would sacrifice your humanity"
"Yes"
"You are a rare and brave champion." She returned her focus to the small urn and stood by her male companion.
The male conduit smiled at the female and then at Angel. "We will grant your request. You have one more sunrise . We will restore the soul to you and leave the vampire without one. We will send the vampire back to his time. You will remain the ensouled vampire you once were ."
"Thankyou" Angel smiled
"Leave us "
The bright light flashed and Angel hurled into the cavern wall. He struggled to get to his feet. His back hurt but he still had the same smile firmly in place. Angel got into his car and rushed through the traffic to get home and enjoy his last night as a man.


Once he had parked in front of the hotel he sat there and thought about what he had just done. How was he going to tell Buffy? Tears ran down his face . "What have I done".
Angel walked in through the lobby doors , he rubbed his eyes and took a few deep breaths. Xander , Willow, Buffy and Spike were all sat around the crib talking. Willows spell was still working so nobody saw Angel come in. He stood watching Buffy with his son , she was smiling and laughing. It hurt him to think that he had only been human for a year and it was what he wanted, what he had worked his ass off for.It had been a struggle. He had faced numerous foes, taken on many battles, and won, and for what ? So he could have a year as a man and give it back, and the reason he had given it back...... his vampire self , how ironic .
He fought to keep the tears from falling , he was losing that fight fast. He sat next to Buffy , not that she could see him. He hoped she would understand why he had made the choice he had.
The spell that Willow had cast wore off and he appeared suddenly . Xander fell off the circular sofa in shock.
"Bloody hell!" Spike took a few steps back.
Everyone else took it in their stride.
"Buffy can we go upstairs , I need to talk to you , alone"
Buffy looked into Angels eyes "What's wrong?" she asked. She handed Layton to Spike and asked him to fetch Illyria, while she went upstairs with Angel.
She went into the bedroom after Angel and shut the door.
"Whats going on?" she stood near the bed in a very defensive pose.
Angel paced the room and then stood in front of her. He kissed her and drew her hands up to his chest.
"I want us to spend the whole night together with no interuptions "
"That's not all is it ? what's wrong?" she instinctively knew when something was stressing Angel .
"No , that's not all . The reason I want you to myself ......" he took a deep breath and closed his eyes , trying to hold back yet more tears
"Angel? Your worrying me"
" I went to the conduits this afternoon"
"The conduits?"
"They're the middle men to the Powers that Be. I went to them and asked for their help"
"Why? I thought things were finally getting put right"
"Buffy . Nothing is right here, the only good things in my life right now , is you and Layton. That won't last if I don't do what needs to be done. I can't protect you like this , a man."
"What have you done" she knew deep down and tears welled in her eyes, threatening to fall the moment he confirmed her fears.
" I asked them to take the soul from Liam and restore it to me . That way there won't be a nine day wait and you won't have to do anything either. Once that's done they will send him back."
"I'm sensing there's a but " her voice was shaky.
"But I have to sacrifice something. You know how these things work Buffy"
She nodded , the tears that threatened to fall , now fell in torrents.
Angel hugged her close to him and stroked her hair. " I will go back to what I was before , a vampire with a soul"
That pushed Buffy over the edge, she punched his chest and ran out of the room.Angel ran after her, he caught her on the stairs.
"Buffy . Wait!"
" Why , so you can tell me how this will make things perfect, that its the right thing to do" she continued down the stairs.
Angel followed her and grabbed her arm. Buffy spun and punched him in the face.She reigned punches on him, he took them all without a fight.Finally she sank to the floor , Angel scooped her into his arms and sat down , Buffy curled in his lap.
"You know it was the only way. I'm a liability, to you and everyone. I put you all at risk. I won't be able to protect anybody like this."
Buffy nodded "When will it happen?"
" I have til tomorrow , after sunrise."
They sat there in silence for what seemed like an age. Finally Buffy wiped her tears away and pulled away from Angel.
"If we only have til sunrise , I don't want to waste it sat here" her voice was choked and full of sadness.
She stood up and went into the hotels garden.
"Illyria , don't let anyone near Layton , Willow can you help her , Spike guard the hotel and Liam, get Gunn to help." He rushed out after Buffy.
He found her sat on the stone bench , looking at the sky.
"Buffy , lets go out , to our spot on the beach"
She got into the car and they drove to the beach. They held hands and walked to the cave. Angel put down a blanket and sat down, holding Buffy in his arms.
They sat in silence , listening to the sound of the waves crashing along the shoreline.Angel nuzzled into her neck, holding her tight against him.
" I understand why you had to do it" she finally said " I'm just not sure that we can go back to the way things were in Sunnydale. The risk to the soul was why you left me to begin with , is that what will happen again?"
He pulled Buffy round to face him and kissed her with such passion.
"I'm not leaving you again, ever. This time we have had , made me realise what a fool I was back then , I was a coward and ran from love because I had never felt it before and I didn't think I deserved it. That's not a mistake I will repeat. "
They kissed and were consumed by their passion for each other .Slowly they sank to the sand.Angel laid Buffy down and continued to kiss her.
"Make love to me, til the sun comes up" Buffy whispered in his ear, her eyes filled with tears.
Angel looked deep in her eyes and kissed her tears away.His hands moved down to her waist and pulled at her tank top, raising it slowly over her head, only breaking their kisses to remove it. Buffy unbuttoned his shirt and it slid off his shoulders. They both grappled with their pants and one they were naked they laid back down. Angel pulled Buffy close to him and she could feel his arousal pressed against her, heightening her need for him.Angel pulled her on top of him and thrust into her. Buffy cried out completely lost to the sensations he was building within her.
"I love you so much Buffy, I'll never forget this, you feel so good babe"
She couldn't fight the tears that threatened to spill with his words. Pulling him closer to her, she whispered into his ear " I love you so completely Angel, always"
He rolled them over so that he was above her and he quickened the pace. He felt her getting close and his hand drifted down to rub at her sensitive nub, sending her over the edge and head first into a very powerful orgasm. Holding her tightly, he followed her a second later.
They made love on the beach for hours. Exhausted and sated they laid wrapped in each others embrace.
"Angel, are you awake?"
"Of course, like I would miss a second of this "
"We better get you back to the hotel ,when they turn you back , the beach is the last place you should be"
"Good point " They gathered their clothes and got dressed . Angel pulled Buffy to him and kissed her. " I'm sorry "
The first signs of the sunrise started to show , the horizon looked lighter and birds started to sing. Buffy and Angel ran to the car and Angel sped in the direction of the hotel.It was still dark when they got back to their room. Angel opened the doors to the balcony and stood watching, waiting for the sun. Buffy walked to his side and wrapped her arms around his waist.
Angel held Buffy tight as he felt the sun coming up. He kissed her and cried .
" I can feel it , the change it's happening already Buffy" he fell to the floor clutching his chest.
Buffy picked him up and got him onto the bed , and closed the balcony doors. She laid on the bed beside him and held him, her head to his chest. She could hear his heart slowing down . Angel laid still on the bed , holding her to him, crying.He whispered "I'm sorry " over and over again.As the sun peaked over the horizon Angel screamed out , a bright white light glowed around him and his eyes shone .He double over in agony and cried out. The light faded and Angel calmed down. He laid back on the bed and wept.
"Angel?"
"I'll be fine , go check on Liam, make sure he's gone"
Buffy ran out of the room and headed downstairs to the cellar. Just as expected, the cage was empty. Buffy leant against the cage and let out a huge sigh. She walked back to the bedroom and shut the door. Angel was not in the bed.
"Angel? You O.K?"
Angel leapt from behind her and grabbed her arms , turning her to face him, his face was morphed.
" I'm feeling great as it happens Buff , seems you forgot something"
Buffy frowned , confused "Your scaring me . Let me go Angel"
"I don't think so , I got something I need to get off my chest first"
Buffy struggled to get out of his grasp "If you struggle I'll make it hurt , now keep still"
She stilled under his hands "Good girl"
"Why are you doing this to me " Tears fell from her eyes again.
" I got a little extra memory up here , from our guest, seems you weren't entirely honest, were you?"
"Stop it , please" Buffy whispered
"Those are words you should of said to him , not me!" Angel hissed out. He threw her on the bed and pressed against her." He said you liked a little demon in your man and like a fool I didn't understand what he meant."
"He said he would kill you if I didn't "
"What do you think this is doing to me huh?"
"I'm sorry , I'm so so sorry" Buffy cried , her face was soaked with tears.
Angel softened and his face morphed back. He still kept her pinned to the bed. " I know you are sorry Buffy"
"Let me go Angel "
" I look at you and I see his mark on your neck and then I see the pictures of you two making love and then him marking you , drinking from you like your his, I can't live with that " Angel got up and walked to the balcony doors.
"Don't do anything rash , Angel, you can't go out there "
He laughed , "I'm not going out there"
He rushed at her and they fell onto the bed, his arm cradling her back and neck, while the other ripped her clothes off , leaving her naked under his body. He undid his jeans and slipped them off, he tore his shirt off. His vampire mask returned as he buried himself inside her , taking her roughly. Buffy wrapped her hands around his neck and pulled him closer to her . Angel could hear the blood coursing through her , driving him crazy , he poured the anger and frustration into her body . He kissed and licked her neck and let out a loud feral growl as his eyes fell on the mark left by Liam. Buffy was so close , she moaned in his ear and kissed and nipped at his neck , urging Angel on. He was close and scrapped his fangs along the bite mark, suddenly plunging them deep into her scar , he drank hungrily as he came.Buffy tensed and tried pushing him off. The mix of sex and being drank from had weakened her and all she could do was wait and hope that Angel didn't take too much.
He rolled off her and immediately went back to his human features. He got dressed and left the room. He was angry at her for letting Liam have what was 'his' , and angry at himself for letting the demon control the anger and claim her again.Angel went down into the basement, his intention was to do some training and some thai chi , to calm his anger and the beast inside him. He leant against the wall and cried.
"So , your back then, and in more ways than one" Spike said , coming out of the shadows.
"Go away Spike" he hissed.
"Look I don't want to rattle your feathers but , what you just did to the girl, wrong way to go mate"
Angel looked at him with so much hatred."How'd you know?"
"Vampire hearing you twit" Spike took a few steps back " You want this to still work now your ridges and fangs again , go easy on her. You know what a bastard you were before, you know the slayer, which one do you think should really be to blame?"
Angel calmed down and looked at Spike " Your right"
"Yeah, course I am, oh and I took the time to tell Liam when and where to sire Dru n me, just in case you didn't tell him , couldn't have that now could I "
Angel laughed "S'pose I best get my ass up the stairs and apologise to Buffy"
"You got that vampire lust and anger under control now I hope?"
Angel ran up the basement stairs two at a time and headed for the bedroom.
He opened the door slowly and saw Buffy wrapped in the duvet , sobbing.
"Can I come in"
"It's your room , you don't need to be invited in"
He entered and closed the door softly. He sat on the bed next to her.Angel hung his head .
"I'm sorry , I shouldn't have done that. The anger and the memory , plus newly turned back , it was too much. I want you to know that I don't blame you. "
" I just want to know that you have your soul, the Angel I know wouldn't have done that , plus we had sex and , If you had your soul, well you wouldn't now, the perfect happiness clause, remember that" Buffy's voice was flat and showed no emotion.
To hear Buffy like that hurt Angel to the core. What she had said was true though. He had his soul still , even though they had just had sex. Something was wrong.
"I best go see Lorne , get him to read me and tell me what he see's."
"I'm coming with you , I need to put my mind at rest "

They both went to Cordy's room . Lorne had taken up perminent residence there to care for her.
"Hey there muffins, how's you both doing?"
" We have a problem Lorne , I need you to read me"
"Reading you loud and clear Angelcakes, and I mean loud, as in I need ear defenders"
"What do you see Lorne " Buffy asked
"EEk , You scream out as well , can you both turn it down?"
"Tell us what you see " Angel said .
"O.K O.K O.K , Angel , your souls intact , completely intact , the powers that be mixed it up a little and took out the perfect happiness clause , they figured you deserved something back for your sacrifice. As for you little lady , well , I wouldn't go there .You leave with Layton now and he'll try tanning as a hobby. you don't have to fret about having to stake him either.And the rest of your worries are the same as his so , will you two love birds just go , be love birds ."
Angel and Buffy left the room and went to theirs.

"So that's good news , as far as the souls concerned " Buffy said as she sat in the easy chair.
"You were going to leave and take my son?"
Buffy hung her head
"I can't believe this , I did this so that our lives would be less of a mess and I find out that you had sex with Liam , you don't trust that I have my soul and you were going to take my son and leave me"
" I thought you were Angelus , the way you treated me and then the bite and the drinking , would you stick around after that? I was worried you would hurt Layton or worse."
" I wouldn't hurt a hair on his head Buffy , he's my son ".
"You say that you did this so that our lives would be less of a mess and yet it's made it worse. We had a way of dealing with Liam , but you couldn't wait , you should have discussed it with me before you ran of to your conduits and powers that be and got turned back . "
" I couldn't , if I had seen the look on your face and saw your pain and heard you say no , I wouldn't of been able to do it"
"And that would of been bad , how?"
"I wouldn't be strong enough to fight , to protect you and Layton"
"Take a look around us , how many strong and capable fighters do we have on our side Angel, how many slayers do we have at our side, and more waiting to be found. Illyria , Spike , Willow , who's like the most powerful witch ever. How many more fighters do we need?
Angel slumped on the bed .He knew Buffy was right . As per usual he'd rushed in , pig headed and stupid , patience wasn't one of his qualities either.
"Your right . What do we do now? where do we go from here?"
" I don't know " Buffy sighed "I'll move back into the room next door"
"No , Buffy, I don't want you away from me for a second. Last time we went through this , I left and spent years regretting it , I'm not going through that again, I can't"
" So we stay as we are and carry on , hope that we get past this? Buffy said
" I know we can get through this "
"Been through worse right"
Angel smiled at her
"At least we have a cage and chains in the basement should you go all Grrr on me "
"Don't tease Buffy "
"Who says I am?"