Timeline

Chapter 32

Time was running out for the team.Giles , Wesley and Fred had worked non stop , trying to work out where the battle would take place.Lorne and Willow had driven around L.A trying to sense 'hotspots'. Illyria had gone out with them tonight . They arrived back and they had looked extremely stressed . Angel and Buffy were sure they had only a week left til the heavens opened and spewed out the Senior Partners and their spawn.
Wesley had acquired some more books from a dimension hopping demon that had owed Wesley alot . Wes had apparently saved it from a hunter , back in his rogue demon hunter days.
"Eureka!" he yelled from the front desk. Wesley picked up the book and walked to Angel ,who was still reeling from his outburst.
"Look " He pointed to a passage in the book.
Angel took the book and sat on a stool . Once he had read the passage he handed the book to Buffy , Giles was reading it over her shoulder.
"That changes things alot" Buffy gave the book back to Wesley.
"Suspense is killing us here , what you found out" Faith said
Angel walked over to the circular sofa and sat , holding his head in his hands. " Layton , Xander and Dawn will have to leave tomorrow on the first flight , I'll arrange that tonight.The rest of you , take tomorrow off . Meet back here at midnight. "
Gunn was the first to get what Angel was trying to say " It's going down sooner than we thought "
Silence .
Finally after a few minutes .
"We have two days "
Everyone stood in shock.
"We're not ready , we're nowhere near ready" one of the potentials said .
Angel looked up at Buffy .
"We are ready , we are prepared for this fight . We have more power in this room than we had against the First , and we won that fight. The Senior Partners won't know whats hit them. We have plans , spells , strength, all of you hold more power than you know." Buffy stood next to Angel , her hand on his shoulder.
"We take a day for ourselves to have fun , relax , do what you want. Be with the ones you love. We will meet up with you all at midnight. Those of you that don't come back , we will understand , but know this , we can't do it without you . "
Silence.
Lorne was the first to stand up." I'm not a fighter Angel , you know that . I won't be in this fight. I'll take care of Cordy, don't worry about her." He went upstairs and packed his things.
Angel understood.
Wesley had stayed as had Giles and Willow . Gunn and Fred huddled on the lobby stairs , Illyria and Spike were stood by Layton's crib. Angel and Buffy sat on the circular sofa.
The Potentials drifted off , talking about going to the beach and having a huge party there. As the foyer emptied all the noise went. Silence again.
Angel went into the office and made the call. The one that would send his son away. Ten minutes and he returned and sat back next to Buffy.
"Xander , Dawn go and pack" His tone choked and barely above a whisper. " Your flight leaves in three hours. Don't take too much , just what you need. Everything you need will be ready at the house for you"
Angel went and gathered his sleeping son from the crib and went up to the bedroom with him.
Buffy remained downstairs .
"Shouldn't you go and be with him?" Willow asked
"No , he needs time with Layton. "
"And you don't?"
" I do , I really do , but I know we're going to make it." She looked at Giles " What time is it in London?"
" Erm ... it's nine p.m"
"Time to call Andrew and get the assaults on the Wolfram and Harts of this world started "
"Buffy , when does it start" Faith asked
" Midnight , day after next" She looked at her watch " Its one p.m now so we got thirty six hours or there abouts. I'll get Andrew to co-ordinate the attacks for then"
Everyone sat silent again, taking in the fact that they had thirty six hours , thirty six hours until another apocalyptic battle , some will live , other will die .

Buffy had given the speech before the battle with the First. Spike had perished , yet here he was again , to stand by her side.Her life had changed , she had an army of slayers backing her up. She had Angel back in her life , and a son .Everyone that she loved surrounded her and she felt stronger than she had ever felt before. How could they lose? Her place would be at the front along side Angel. She felt pride for everyone that would stand with her .

Giles just stared at his slayer. She had accomplished so much more than other slayers before her . He felt immense pride. She had died twice, been through numerous fights to the death and many apocalypses. She had shared her power and had turned every slayer in waiting , into a full slayer . Willow had become a powerful wicca. He would be at the back of the fight , with Wesley.

Angel was laying on the bed , Layton was laying beside him. Angel held his tiny hand and stroked his fingers . Layton kicked his legs and stretched . He gurgled and gave Angel an occasional smile.
" You have to know I love you more than anything in this world . I didn't expect this ever, I'm a Father. You may never know me Layton , I want you to know me for the man I am today, not the monster that I was. Your a part of who I am and because of that , I will live on . " Angel laid his head down beside his son and tears fell from his eyes .


Faith entered her room and Robin was up watching t.v. She straddled his lap and kissed him deeply." Thirty six hours , countdowns started. I got a day to live by the looks of it. Front line , that's me. I'm not going to sit and reminisce, waste time brooding. I wanna do what feels good so I can go with a smile on my face" She kissed him hard, full of need and want. Robin knew what she was saying and responded. He carried her to the bed . That's where they stayed.


Buffy entered the room and saw Angel curled around Layton on the bed .She slipped beside them and held Angels hand. The other hand held Layton's.Two hours before their son will leave with Dawn and Xander. Tears fell from them .
" The world asks us to make sacrifices every day. Why does this one seem like too much Buffy?"
She didn't answer . She felt it , didn't like it anymore than he did . Hated the fact that her son was going to Ireland , she could die , Angel could die , and he would never know his parents. No , she definitely thought the world and the powers that be were definitely asking too much this time.
" Because we are it's champions " Her voice was barely above a whisper.
They laid there holding their son in silence.

The potentials were at the beach , music played and they all sat around a fire. Nobody talked about the fight that was coming , they just let it all go by dancing and having a blast.


Wesley was in his room , going through even more books.

Gunn and Fred were in bed , making love.

Willow and Kennedy were in bed.

Spike had found a bar and was trying his best to get drunk. In a perfect world it would be the slayer and him that had gone to his bed. He swung off his stool and took up the microphone . The crowd watched as he settled his ass on a stool and recited poems that had been burned into his memory.
"My soul is wrapped in harsh repose,
Midnight descends in raven-coloured clothes,
But soft... behold!
A sunlight beam
Butting a swath of glimmering gleam.
My heart expands,
'tis grown a bulge in it,
Inspired by your beauty...
Effulgent."
The crowd went mad , cheering and whistling .

Xander was in his room busy packing . He knew he wouldn't be much of a fighter , after all he lost his eye in the last battle . His depth perception was shot and well , he had lost his nerve. Maybe once this is done I will just go and settle down somewhere he thought. Who was he kidding ? He couldn't do that. His life was by her side, researching and helping every way he could . Even if it was just fixing the place up after a demon had trashed her house. He sniggered , her house , that would be the one at the bottom of a huge crater formerly know as Sunnydale. No , he would come back and be there still . To help her , and now Angel . He packed his suitcase and put it by his rooms door.He looked back into the room . " Nah this could be home , still needs work"


Dawn had packed and sat on her bed crying. Her Mum had died , Buffy had died , O.K. she had been bought back to her , but , here she was again , about to die. It sucked . She was about to go to Ireland with her nephew and hide. She had been the key to open portals. Maybe if she was still that power , she could stay and help . She looked out of the window at the people walking around in the sun , doing everyday stuff . No idea of what was going to happen , how people that look out from the shadows , never really having the sun on their faces , would keep that sun shining for them. No thanks , no reward. She took a deep breath and looked at her watch. Two hours to go.


Lorne had arranged for Cordy to go into a private health clinic . It was in Las Vegas. Far enough away for them to be safe.A place where he could be accepted and work again. He had packed his things and was in Cordy's room packing her things. He tucked a photo of the team in her bag. "Just in case you actually wake up sleeping beauty ". He heard the knock at the door and allowed the ambulance crew to put her on the guerney. He watched her go and looked at her room. " Bye Angelcakes " and he shut the door.
The hotel was silent and empty as they left.

The foyer was empty , the front desk was unmanned , the phone rang.
Cordys voice echoed through the hotel
"Angel investigations , we help the helpless..............