AN: First of all, I would like to thank romy, nikkichic, bahjcb, Firewolfe, SoccerStar007 and TheSwansSparrow for their reviews and support. I’m sorry I didn’t update until now, but I’m in my last year at high school and I’m pretty busy.

Disclaimer: I don’t own anything.

Chapter 2

Dusk had fallen, while the yellow school-bus continued its journey to Los Angeles. Most of the new Slayers had fell asleep, Faith was dozing near Robin, waking at every move the wounded man made, and Giles was trying to stay awake long enough to bring them all to safety. But the four people in the back didn’t feel the weariness or the tiredness. They were chatting happily about Sunnydale and past events, low enough so that they didn’t disturb anyone.

They were remembering the time they were controlled by little Bezoars (and Xander was complaining that ‘everyone hit me’) when Vi, one of the few who remained awake to keep Giles company, approached them to tell them that they will be arriving at the Hyperion in a few minutes.

After she went to went to the front of the bus again, the cheery mood seemed to transform in a rather tense one. Even though they were aware that they needed rest and food, the thought that their path was going to entwine again with Angel’s made Xander, Willow and Dawn a little nervous. The first two hadn’t really forgotten Angelus’ reign of terror and Jenny’s murder, and the fact that he left Buffy was still making Dawn wish she could dispose of the Key’s energy so she could blast him.

As for Buffy, she felt strange because … she didn’t feel anything. Before, even the mention of his name would make her feel like she had butterflies in her belly, but now… Now, all she could think about was Spike and the fact that he would return to her, hopefully very soon.

Finally, they arrived at the Hyperion. Angel, Wesley, Lorne, Fred and Gunn were waiting for them in front of the hotel, the lack of sun making it possible for the vampire to be in the ‘front lines’. After they got Robin and the gravely injured Slayers inside, Angel began to look after Buffy. Giles was talking to Wesley, informing him of their latest adventure and, mostly, Spike’s role in saving the world, yet again. Angel couldn’t help but grit his teeth in frustration. Since when did Giles like Spike? Moreover, since when did anyone like Spike?!?!

Andrew was with the more healthy Slayers, eating quietly and starring in the distance, not playing much attention to his surroundings. Fred and Lorne were taking care of the injured ones, while Gunn helped Faith take Robin in a room upstairs.

Finally, he saw her and frowned. Dawn was bandaging her middle, to help heal her cut, even though it was already only a small line. Willow and Xander were with them too. It seemed that the foursome were reluctant to leave each others side since leaving the bus.

He approached them and opened his mouth to call her, but shut it when he saw her stiffen.

“Angel.” Her voice was flat, not exactly cold, but not welcoming, either.

Seven eyes looked at him as the four of them turned. While five were filled with mild annoyance, Buffy’s gaze remained blank. He shifted slightly, uneasy under their stares.

“I see you’re all okay.” He said, trying to relieve a little the tense atmosphere, but only managing to darken it.

“On the outside.” Said Xander, his voice filled with pain. Angel took another look around and noticed that the ex-demon wasn’t in sight.

“Did Anya…”

“Yes.” Interrupted Willow, wanting to spare her friend.

“But Spike’s … gone too, so we’re not ‘okay’, not by far.” Said Dawn, throwing Spike’s name in the conversation, knowing that it would only enrage Angel, but feeling a little sorry when she saw her sister’s small flinch. Meanwhile, all other conversations stopped and everyone was watching them.

Angel couldn’t believe it. First, he had to smell Spike all over Buffy when he went to Sunnydale to help. There, he also found out that Spike - Spike, of all vampires - had a soul. A soul! Now, not only he heard Giles praising his actions, but Dawn’s proclamation that they were grieving for hid grand-childe! When, at last, he managed to collect his jaw from the floor, he began to stutter.

“Sp-Spike? Wha… Why… what does Spike have to do with ...” He was cut off by a furious-looking Giles.

“He has everything to do with, you pillock! It was thanks to him that we destroyed the Turuk-Hans and managed to close the Hellmouth once and for all!”

At this, Angel only began to laugh.

“Spike? He’s the hero?! Oh please, I…” Giles cut him off again, this time with a punch that sent him down.

“See, that’s you’re problem, Angelus,” he said, in a too-calm, Ripper-like voice. “You disconsidered Spike his entire un-life, never admitting that he was better than you, with or without the soul. Something that most of us, and, to my eternal shame, I did in particular. I was blinded by my previous… encounter with Angelus and I couldn’t believe the fact that not all vampires, and, mostly, not all of the Aurelius line, were evil incarnated. But listen to this, Angel”he spat, “and listen good, because Spike is twice the man and vampire you are; always has been and always will be.”

“Giles…” He turned to the sound of the small voice, only to find himself with an armful of slayer. Crying, on top of all.

“Thank you.” She whispered her eyes full of love and gratitude to her father figure.

“You don’t have to thank me, Buffy. In fact, I should be apologizing…”

“You already did.” She interrupted, giving him another bone-crushing hug.

“Buffy… lungs…” he rasped.

“Oops, sorry.” She replied with an embarrassed, but glowing smile and let him go. Everyone began to laugh and the tension was broken. The others returned to whatever they were doing, and Buffy turned her green eyes to Angel, who was beginning to stand up.

“Look, Angel, I’m really grateful that you put your hotel at our disposal, but if you don’t respect Spike, or, at least, stop referring to him as the monster you think he is, we’ll have to find another place to stay.” Buffy voice wasn’t loud, but it had a finality that Angel knew couldn’t be changed. When she saw he wasn’t saying anything, she took it as an agreement and turned to leave. But, after a few steps, she stopped and, without turning, whispered.

“I’m cookie. But it’s Spike’s cookie.” She made another step, but stopped again when she heard him speak.

“Why him?” He sounded genuinely confused, and she realized that he really didn’t believe nobody that Spike really wasn’t who he thought he was.

“Because he loves me.” She answered simple.

“But I…”

“He loved me without the soul, Angel. Something that Angelus would never be capable of doing. And because he stayed. Even when I was the world’s biggest bitch to him, he stayed, and he continued to love me.” She turned back to him and he froze when he saw the love reflected in her hazel eyes. Love that wasn’t directed at him.

“He gave me strength when I was alone and he believed in me when nobody else would. He stood for me and my sister in front of a hell-god and he was almost killed because of it, but he never betrayed me. He fought for a soul for me, because he thought I couldn’t love him without one. But he was wrong. I fell in love with him long before of the soul, but I never let myself give in to him. And you know why?” This time, the accusation in her eyes was only for him.

“Because I was afraid he would leave me ‘for my own good’.” She spat. ”Or that, once he would be sure of my love, he would tire of me eventually. But he didn’t. I know now that he would never leave me by his own will for good, and that he will come back to me, whatever it takes.”

With those words, she left not only the vampire behind, but she also finally closed the door to her past. She was ready to look to the future now.

She went to get a room. It was high time that she had a good-nights sleep, without any threats looming ahead.

Three women were sitting in what looked to be an old temple, surrounded by spindles. Suddenly, two blue lights filled up the room. When they were gone, two ethereal beings stood in their place, a man and a woman, dressed in black leathers. The women gave small bows, but didn’t acknowledge the couple verbally. Shortly, another light, this time gold, lit the place up, revealing another woman, dressed in pink.

“We come in front of you with a request.” Spoke the first woman, with piercing blue eyes.

“Our Champions have suffered enough,” said the man, “they deserve a reward.”

“The time for their reward,” said one of the three women, the youngest one.

“Has not come yet.” Continued the second woman, who seemed to be in her early thirties.

“We know, and we don’t ask for it. We merely ask that they could at least have a glimpse of it.” Pleaded the women dressed in pink, whose long golden hair seemed to form a halo around her head and torso.

The three women looked at each other and nodded.

“That can be done.” Approved the oldest one.

The couple smiled, while the golden-haired beauty let a small laugh of delight. The man lifted his right arm and six people appeared out of thin air.

“You may go to them,” said the blue-eyed woman, “but be careful.” she warned. “You cannot tell them of what is to come, but only to reveal them that not all hope is lost.” They nodded and disappeared again in a white flash.

That night, six people in the Hyperion, six Champions, dreamed of their loved ones. Every one of them received the same message.

“Wait for me. I love you.”

AN:Sorry its so short, but I promise I'll do my best to update sooner this time,ok?