Timeline

Chapter 8


Willow woke up and immediately started to panic. It was dark and she had no way of knowing when or where she had ended up.The portal was still open , that was good, she just hoped Wesley could keep it open long enough for her to locate and save the two heroes.Willow got up and recited her location spell.The ball of light quickly slipped through the dark, heading in the direction of a little town.Willow was glad her magicks worked in this dimension.She followed the light into a backstreet, it was cobbled and dark , with no street lighting. She carried on in the direction the light was taking her , when it stopped abruptly.Willow saw a mound laying on the floor and panic set in.Willow rushed to the pile and picked them up.No sign of blood , thats a good sign. They were still alive. She knew they must have changed clothes to fit in and not draw attention to themselves. As if to take the hint, Willow conjured up a neat little dress for herself using a transformation spell. She made her way through the street , following her guide. It led her to an Inn and she entered. There , stood at the bar were her two friends. They were drinking and talking, looking like they didn't have a care in the world.If only she knew.Willow greeted them with huge hugs and a huge sigh of relief.
"Thank god you guys are ok!"
"We're fine , well kinda weird ,taking the this is your life tour of your two hundred year old boyfriend,any idea how we get back?"
"Buffy, i cant go back til I stop Darla from turning me.I can save so many lives.I can't go without doing that"
Willow was in unison with Buffy on the huge "No you can't!"
"Why not, I mean , if I do this then I will save maybe a thousand innocents, isn't that what I swore to do"
"If you dont let the Liam of the here and now get turned, You will never exist now" Willow pointed out.
Buffy must have been thinking the same thing, her head was hung and she was obviously upset.She lifted her head " I understand , really I do , but your a champion Angel , you could and will not become that if you stop yourself tonight"
"She's right , and you know it."
"How about a compromise" Buffy said
"Well , I'm listening" Angel replied
"You get turned as history dictates, then I dust Darla.She wont be there to lead you .Willow could do the resurrection spell on your newly vamp self"
"Sounds like a plan" Angel said
"One small problem" Willow said .Angel and Buffy look at her with much confusion" Wes is keeping the portal open and he can't hold it for long , he hasn't the strength .He will only be able to hold it for another two hours , tops"
Angel looked at his watch,"I get vamped in a half hour , so it's possible"
"We best get there now and set up " Willow said
The three of them headed out of the Inn and towards the alley Angel had been made .None of them spoke.It would have seemed odd to.The atmosphere was sombre, which as Buffy thought seemed appropriate, after all Angel was going to die while they watched.Only the thought of getting one over on Darla lifted her spirits.Angel held Buffy's hand tightly , as though he could sense what she was feeling.She concentrated on her task ahead of her while Willow concentrated on hers .
They stopped at the end of an alley ,it had a square in the centre, and two ways Darla could escape .Willow set up on the roof by one of the exits.This was perfect as she could help take Darla out ,without being at risk .Buffy hid behind a log pile.Angel hid at the other entrance into the square. They all looked at their watches,Ten minutes til Darla .Liam falls out of the pub,drunk..............


A horseman continues past the tavern on the far side of the square. The
door opens, and a young drunk Angel and his drunk friend are thrown out.

Angel: We'll be back when we've found a bit more
cash money! Keep the girls warm!
The tavern proprietor slams the door shut, and Angel pounds on it a
couple of times.
Angel's friend: Let's go.
Angel staggers back over to him and puts his arm around him. They begin
to walk with a definite sway in their step.
Angel: Come on. We'll sneak in and take some of me father's silver.
He'll never miss it. He eats with his hands, the pig.
His friend is too drunk to go on, and faints dead away, falling out of
Angel's arm to the pavement. Angel looks down at him.
Angel: Ah. Why don't you rest right here.

He takes a look around and spots a noble lady in a fancy period dress standing in an alley beyond an archway. The woman gives a slight backward glance to be sure she has his attention, and starts to walk
further into the alley, disappearing around a corner from Angel's view. He follows her.
The woman continues her slow pace and looks up when Angel comes through the archway and begins to speak.The woman is Darla. Her long curly blonde hair is very nicely coiffed.

Angel: So, I'd ask myself... What's a lady of your station doing alone
in an alley with the reputation that this one has?
Darla: Maybe she's lonely.
Angel: In that case, I'd offer myself as escort to protect you from harm and to while away the dull hours.
Darla: You're very gracious.
Angel: Hm. It's often been said.
Darla: Are you certain you're up to the challenge?
Angel: Milady, you'll find that with the exception of an honest day's work, there's no challenge I'm not prepared to face.

He stops in front of her and looks into her eyes.

Angel: Oh... But you're a pretty thing. Where are you from?
Darla: Around. Everywhere.
Angel: I never been anywhere myself. Always wanted to see the world, but...
Darla: I could show you.
Angel: Could you, then?
Darla: Things you've never seen, never even heard of.
Angel: Sounds exciting.
Darla: It is. And frightening.
Angel: I'm not afraid. Show me. Show me your world.
Darla: Close your eyes.

Angel follows her example.She puts her hand on his shoulder, and continues up to show her face vamped out.
She smiles , lets out a low growl and opens wide as she leans in to bite him. When he
feels the pain his eyes open wide, and he gasps. He can't keep steady, and sinks to his knees. Darla lets go of her bite, revealing his bloody neck, and stands up straight. She lifts her hand to her chest and draws
a sharp fingernail across the skin above her breasts, allowing blood to trickle out. She grabs him by the back of the neck and pulls him in to her bosom so that his lips fall directly onto the cut, forcing him to taste of her blood. He puts his arms around her and drinks.
As Liam falls to the floor on the verge of death, Darla whispers to him " I shall see you soon"
Darla heads towards the arch to make her escape.Buffy walks out of her cover.
"Leaving so soon"?
Darla spins round and glares."Who dares to ........." she stops mid sentance as Angel stands before her.
"But your dead .... , I just ....... this can't be "
"I can't let you do this anymore.I'm sorry Darla ." Angel swung a stake at her chest , attempting to drive it home.Darla steps out of the way , Buffy leapt at her and connected with her chest , sending her into some logs.Darla looked down at Liams corpse and is even more shocked.
"How can this be " she exclaimed
Angel took her shock and disorientation as his chance and staked her .

Darla was dust.Now all they had to do was make a quick exit with Liams corpse.A horse and cart had been left outside the tavern , so the three took advantage .They put Liam in the back and covered him with some sack cloth that had been disguarded in the alley. Angel took the reigns and drove them out into the fields .Nobody said anything and sat there wanting this over quickly.

Angel drew the horse and cart up and jumped down.He helped the girls down, and went to the back of the cart.He hauled Liam out,grabbed a shovel that was in the cart , and dug him a shallow grave.Angel placed him in there and shovelled the earth back over him.Buffy sat at the edge of the carts rear, Willow was setting the runes out and started chanting. From nowhere an orb appeared.
Buffy broke the silence " How'd you do that"?
"Because the portal is open , I have a link to our dimension, and I can call on anything I need from there."
Buffy, not being able to control herself asked , "Can you get a doublemeat medley and a large coke , make that three "
They all laughed .Angel finished his task and sat up next to Buffy
"How long til you , I mean Liam rises" Buffy asked
"Wont be long now " He replied
"Why didn't you just leave him , how were you found" She asked, wishing she could put a huge foot in mouth as soon as she had.
"If i had left him , my father would have got the message tomorrow night.He would have buried me in the family plot up at the graveyard.He would have spat on my grave and would have thought bad of me.The locals told him died of drunkeness .This way we can curse him and send him home , my father being none the wiser, and everyone being safe.We , I will tell Liam to move away and live near a butchers, like I do now."
"You have it all worked out"
"Its what I had to do after the gypsies cursed me"
The three of them sat on the back of the cart and waited.Buffy had started to feel tired and was beginning to doubt the new vamp would rise.
Angel felt a chill and Jumped off the cart.He walked to the burial site and turned to the girls.
"Is it time " Willow asked.
"Yes are you all set" he asked
"Yes , just need the guest of honour"
Buffy had a stake ready , and took up her position at the head of the grave.
Willow started to chant
Liam rose from the grave and shook off the earth.