Once a Year

Notes: This is my little contribution to Kate Holly’s 2002 Christmas Archive, the first part is set in November but then I jump to December. Begins where ‘Rain of Fire’ left off. After that it goes into my own little world. * * Indicate thoughts.

Disclaimer: I own Ephanie everything else belongs to Joss, Mutant Enemy, and so on.

Dedication: To Kate for inspiring me and to Joss for creating Angel(us).



Angel stood on the roof across from Connor’s building and stared at his love and his son.

*Why?* That one word swirled around in his aching head over and over. While he and the others were fighting for their lives and the lives of millions of faceless people all over the world they were here. Together. Despair settled around him like a thick smothering fog as he watched the two people he cared most about move in harmony against one another.

“Angel.” The voice from behind him was soft and musical.

He turned and looked the girl over quickly. The pointed ears that poked through her waist length cascade of raven hair, the slight, almost unnoticeable, tint of blue to her pale skin, and the sparkling silver eyes revealed why he hadn’t heard or fher her approach. She was an elf. Wherever there was shadow an elf could move freely between the human world and it’s own, appearing and disappearing like the breeze.

Her posture and voice indicated no threat so he turned his eyes back to the depressing scene across the street.

“Angel.” She implored again as she moved to his side and placed a gentle hand on his shoul “Th “There’s no use torturing yourself by watching this. There’s work to be done.” The hand on his shoulder slid down his arm to lightly grip his hand. He looked into her pleading eyes for a moment then nodded his head and let her lead him away.

They both remained silent during the trip to the hotel. Once they arrived Angel saw that Gunn, Wesley, and Lorne were there already, each with their nose buried in a book and looking as if they hadn’t just been beaten to the ground by a Hell beast. Fred had reappeared and was next to Gunn. Angel’s companion dropped his hand when they entered the lobby and answered his silent question.

“I healed them all and made sure they got here safely before I went to find you.” She told him quietly. “I brought some books I thought would be useful.”

“Why are you here? I thought elves didn’t concern themselves with the human realm?” Angel asked. The others lifted their heads to await her answer.

“We don’t under normal circumstances, but when this beast finishes with your world he will move to another, then another, and eventually my world will be destroyed too.”

“Where are the other elves?” Wesley asked.

“All elves are magickally inclined but we are mostly a peaceable people. Only a small group of us are warriors. One representative was sent to each world, each dimension that is likely to be the next target, to prepare for the beast in case I fail here and it moves on. There aren’t enough of us to spare more than one to each place.” She explained.

“What should I call you?” Angel asked.

“Ephanie.” She said as she moved to the front desk and picked up a book. “We need to learn as much as possible about this thing or I won’t know what magicks are appropriate to destroy it. And we don’t have a lot of time.”

Angel nodded and followed her lead, picking up a book from the multitude spread out across the counter top.

They researched long into the night, only stopping to make a few notes or share a bit of information. One by one the humans nodded off until about an hour before dawn only Lorne, Angel, and Ephanie were still reading. Angel watched as the elf stood and gathered all the notebooks his friends had been writing in. She read everything carefully then set them aside.

“I think I have what I need.” She whispered so she wouldn’t disturb the sleeping mortals. “I should go now while they’re asleep. It’s too dangerous for them to be there.”

“You’re right cupcake, but are you sure you can handle this thing alone?” Lorne asked.

“I’ve been training to battle demons like that thing my whole life. The warriors of my people don’t choose that path, we are born to it. Much like your realm’s slayer.”

“I’m going with you.” Angel said. “This is my world and I have an obligation to protect it.”

She looked at him for a moment then sighed. “Fine. You can distract him while I’m casting my spells.”

He nodded then turned to Lorne. “If I don’t make it back, take care of them for me.”

“You know I will. Be careful.”

When Angel turned back to Ephanie she handed him one of the larger battle axes. “I put an enchantment on it, it’ll do a little more damage now.” Then she turned to Lorne. “I also put a spell over the hotel so once Angel and I leave, no one, and I mean no one, will be able to go in or out until either I get back or my heart stops beating. One way or the other this will be over very quickly.”

Angel looked to each sleeping human and said a silent goodbye then moved to the door with Ephanie on his heels. Once they were out side she spoke again.

“I put the same spell on your son’s building, they’ll be safe.”

He nodded. “How are we going to find the demon?”

“I can sense it. He’s close.”

They began to run and only traveled a few blocks before the vampire began to hear screams. As soon as the thing came into view they both attacked. Ephanie fought with him for several minutes until the demon began to show subtle signs of fatigue then she ducked away and began casting spells. With every magickal blast the elf threw the beast became weaker. The demon was still doing damage but Angel found he could handle the blows now instead of just being flung around like an undead rag doll.

“Angel! Get away from him!” She shouted after about 10 minutes.

He did as she said and watched as golden lightening swirled around her. She shouted something Angel couldn’t understand then the lightening gathered in her hands and she threw it at the beast. It writhed in agony then it let out an unearthly howl before imploding. An instant later the night sky cleared and the fires that burned in the city went out.

“We need to get you home.” Ephanie said. “We only have about 15 minutes until dawn.”

They made their way back to the hotel and found every one was still asleep, Lorne was sitting on the steps by the door waiting for them.

“It’s over?” The green skinned demon asked.

They both nodded.

“Get some rest.” Angel said pulling Lorne to his feet then giving him a slight push toward his room.

“Come on, I’ll heal those wounds then you can get some sleep too.” Ephanie said. Angel was too exhausted to even consider arguing so he let the elf take his hand again and lead him to his room.

She had silently used spells to heal herself on the way back to Angel’s home so she could put her full attention on fixing the vampire’s injuries. When they reached his room Angel collapsed onto his bed, hissing as new and old wounds received pressure they didn’t appreciate. Ephanie sat behind him and dragged her hand just above his body, the aches in his limbs easing as her hand passed over them. When she finished Angel almost moaned in relief.

“Thank you, thank you, thank you.” He muttered.

Her light laughter sounded like sweet tinkling bells.

“Your welcome. Thank you for helping me.”

“Welcome.” He said then his thoughts turned back to Connor and Cordelia.

“Don’t.” She said.

“What?” He asked turning to face her.

“Think about them. There’s nothing you can do, Angel. They’ve made their own choices.”

“How did you know what I was thinking about?”

“Female elves are empathic. Right now I can feel your sadness, and pain, but the sense of betrayal was what gave you away.” She slid down the bed, stretching out to lie next to him. “You just saved this world and possibly several others. You deserve a tiny bit of peace for a few hours.”

“It hurts.” He said simply.

“I know.” Her musical voice soothed his frazzled nerves as did the elegant hand she brushed down the side of his face. “Don’t think anymore, Angel. Just rest.” She began to hum softly and it lulled the heartsick vampire to sleep.

When he woke several hours she was still next to him but they had moved closer together and their arms were wrapped around one another, her breathing and heart rate indicated she was asleep so he took a moment to study her. She looked to be no older than 20 but Angel knew elves aged differently than humans, she could very well be older than he was. She had a pretty face but then again with the pictures he’d seen and the others of her kind he’d glimpsed over the years he’d never seen an unattractive elf. Even the men of her race had a certain beauty about them. She was tall, about 5’11” but that wasn’t odd either, humans often had the misconception that elves were small in stature, dwarves, but they were actually very tall. It was unusually to see an elf under 5’8”. When he first saw her she was wearing a long black wool duster, which now rested on a chair in the corner leaving her in a gray silk tank top and black gauzy skirt. At her right elbow a tattoo began, the flowing, intertwining vine pattern ran the rest of the way up her arm to the middle of her neck. He pullne ane arm from around her and traced one of the vines gently then his thoughts turned back to Cordelia, as if sensing his distress even in sleep Ephanie’s arms tightened around him. He complied with her unsaid command and let sleep claim him again. The next time he woke he looked up just in time to see Ephanie smile at him kindly then fade into the shadows of his room.


TBC