Author: Lilithangel

Email: abchainey@xtra.co.nz Website:   www.livejournal.com/users/lilithbint/

Genre: slash cause I'm a Spangel girl.

Pairings/Characters: Spike/Angel and the rest of the AtS gang.

Rating: includes boy on boy sex so if you don't like, don't read.

Warnings: see above.

Notes: This will start from AtS series 5 'Destiny' episode and carry on from there so there will be spoilers for various episodes. However this is going to go AU from the beginning and will deviate more and more as time goes by.

Inspired by a challenge but totally deviating from the original suggestion.

Summary: Drusilla renounces her claim as sire to Spike. Master vampires from all over the country arrive to vie for the right to claim him. The AtS gang and Wolfram & Hart have to deal with the fallout and Angel has to deal with his conflicting feelings. Spike has to come to terms with himself, his relationship with Drusilla and what he wants to do with his future.

A/N: will not be following the series episodes as closely now but certain things that happen in the series will happen in here but not necessarily in the same order.

The battle was hard and bitter, lives were lost and heroes fell. If they had not had the support of the others Angel, Spike and the gang would have been wiped out in mere moments.

As it was there were far too many close calls but Angel was determined not to lose anymore to this war. Gunn was flagging so Angel sent Lindsey to back him up and protect his back.

Angel lost concentration when he recognised Connor in the fray and was momentarily torn when he watched as Spike leapt onto the back of the dragon and began to climb determinedly towards the head.

Cleo and Simon saved him from an awful choice by flanking the young boy and fighting off his attackers.

It took far too long to reach a height that allowed Angel to join the manic blond on his precarious perch but between them they hacked at the dragon until it's death scream split the air and the body tumbled to the ground flattening dozens of demons.

Spike and Angel rolled off onto a rooftop before they were crushed. They lay there panting for a few moments gathering themselves, before Angel rushed over to the edge to check on the battle.

Huge bolts of lightning ripped open the sky and blew apart the ogre that had been about to smash Gunn and Lindsey. Angel looked across the buildings to see Gwen standing there smiling fiercely.

Spike sat up to find Philippe standing on the rooftop staring out across the city.

"What are you doing here little brother?" Spike asked causing Angel to turn.

Philippe cocked his head to one side staring out to where the demons were coming from, "they have a portal," he replied, "they will not stop coming."

"Bloody hell," Spike cursed getting to his feet.

Below them an explosion rocked the building, Spike and Angel ran to the side to see what had happened.

Fred and Wesley had entered the fray with some spare explosives and had managed to take out one of the large troll creatures.

"Damn," Spike turned to find that Philippe had vanished; running back to where the damaged vampire had been standing Spike saw him bounding across the rooftops heading for a large glowing portal.

"We have to stop him," Spike headed for the roof edge at a run and leapt off.

Angel checked the progress in the alley and realised that Philippe was right, they were fighting off the first wave but if another came through that portal they would be overwhelmed.

He saw Wulfric and his band of warriors enter the alley from behind the demon horde smashing into their unprotected rear guard. Wulf was swinging a war axe and carving through bodies like water. Knowing he could do no more Angel headed after the two vampires.

Spike ran but could not catch the slender vampire and Spike was reminded for the first time of how old Philippe really was, his broken nature and small build giving the impression of frailty that was not holding up to the pace he was setting now.

As Spike landed heavily on a roof Angel dropped down beside him. Philippe was standing at the far end in a mirror position of how they had found him the first time, head cocked to one side.

"Philippe!" Cleo's voice screamed from a few rooftops away from the three vampires.

Philippe half turned to look back and smiled sadly, "tell her I love her but I don't want to be here anymore, I want to be with Robert. This I can help with," he gestured to the portal where Spike and Angel could just make out the shapes of thousands of demons waiting to come through.

"No," Spike growled out, "not again, not another bloody portal closed with blood," he lunged at Philippe but again he was too late.

Philippe smiled sweetly and launched off the building. There was a scream of despair from Cleo as she landed on the roof in time to watch Philippe disappear.

Angel grabbed her when she would have followed him, holding her and Spike as they watched Philippe fall.

He fell into the edge of the portal. For a moment nothing happened then a bright light knocked all three vampires backwards. The portal expanded outwards and then collapsed in on itself shutting out the waiting demons.

Angel held Cleo up as she sobbed, Spike simply stood and stared down at the street suddenly so calm and empty.

Behind them the small army of slayers, vampires, magic users and assorted human support cleaned up the remaining demons demoralised by the closing of the portal.

"He said to say he loved you but he wanted to be with Robert," Angel told Cleo gently.

"Foolish boy," Cleo sobbed, "foolish, romantic boy."

Around them the sounds of the city began to come back as the rain finally slackened and stopped. As the moon broke through the clouds Spike suddenly broke free of Angel's embrace and peered down into the street.

"There's someone down there," he said urgently.

"Philippe," Cleo cried.

Down below on the street they could make out Philippe's still form. Quickly they made their way down and then froze as one when they realised the form was breathing.

"Philippe?" Cleo's voice was hesitant.

"It looks like Philippe and it looks like he's human," Spike said with amazement.

"Shanshu..." Angel breathed, "He saved the world and gets to live and die again."

"But that was your prophecy Angel," Cleo looked confused.

"I signed it away and it was for any vampire with a soul, we just though we were unique," Spike answered.

Cleo knelt beside Philippe and touched his arm gently. Philippe's eyes fluttered open and he smiled tremulously at his big sister.

"Forgot what it was like," he choked out, "don't cry sister dear, I am going to be with Robert again," he smiled gently.

"We have to get him to a hospital," Angel said urgently as the sound of sirens grew nearer.

"Wait," Philippe coughed, "he's not here yet."

"You're badly injured Philippe, he need to be tended or your life will be a short one, let us take you home," Cleo begged him, "we can look after him there," she told Spike and Angel.

"Not my home anymore," Philippe told her, "my home is with him."

"Him who?" Cleo asked in confusion.

"Robert," Philippe smiled.

"Robert was dusted Philippe," Cleo told him gently, "and you are not going to die."

Two police cars came screaming around the corner of the street and came to a halt illuminating the tableau.

"Put your hands where we can see them!" a voice ordered through loudspeaker.

Angel and Spike raised their hands slowly; Cleo remained kneeling next to Philippe as two police officers stepped out of a car and moved forward guns pointing at them.

"He's been hurt and needs to go to the hospital," Cleo told them urgently.

"Please step back," one officer directed as the other one knelt next to Philippe to check his vitals.

Cleo's eyes widened with shock as she looked at the young officer kneeling beside her, "Robert?" she whispered.

The young man looked at her questioningly, "Ma'am, is that his name?"

"No..." she stammered, "it's... it's Philippe."

"Philippe," the officer smiled, "is he French?"

"His parents," Cleo continued to stare.

"An ambulance is on the way ma'am, they'll take care of him," the officer checked Philippe's vitals.

The other officer had lowered his gun and allowed Spike and Angel to get closer.

Philippe coughed again and opened his eyes smiling brilliantly at the young man. The officer blinked and smiled back.

"He looks just like Robert," Spike commented quietly to Angel.

An ambulance came to a halt at the scene, Angel and Spike stood back to allow them to get Philippe onto a gurney. Cleo looked up at them and Angel nodded with understanding as she followed him into the ambulance.

"So that was some sort of reincarnation thing?" Spike asked curiously.

"Who knows," Angel shrugged, "Philippe saved the world and gets his reward."

"Human life with his dead lover returned, could be worse I guess," Spike mirrored Angel's shrug.

"Let's go see how the clean up is going," Angel suggested, "and I've got a son to have a word with. I told him to go home and be safe," Angel grumbled.

"And he didn't listen to you?" Spike asked in mock horror, "You just don't get any respect from your children do you?"

"Shut up Spike or I will turn you over my knee," Angel threatened with a grin.

"You promise?" Spike leered as they headed back to the alley. Angel laughed and flung a arm around Spike's shoulders.

They reached the corner to find all the demons had been wiped out. The others were helping with the wounded and the young slayers were piling up the bodies of the dead demons.

The vampires were then tossing the bodies down into the sewers except for the larger creatures that Willow and Giles were incinerating as quickly as possible with magic.

Angel did a quick head count to confirm that all the team were still there. Gwen was patching up the wound in Gunn's chest as best she could and Harmony was fussing over Wulfric who had a few deep cuts to his arms and legs.

Angel spotted Connor helping the slayers with the demons obviously enjoying the attention the young girls were giving him. Lindsey was with Eve and Lorne moving the walking wounded through the back door of the Hyperion with the least badly hurt.

There was relief on everyone's faces clearly evident through the cuts and bruises of combat.

"We need to get moving," Angel told them, "the authorities will be swarming on the place soon."

There were nods of understanding from the gang and everyone lent a hand.

The vampires faded into the darkness once the bodies were disposed of. Angel and Spike hugged their family and told Isabella and Simon what had happened to Philippe promising to catch up as soon as possible.

Soon there was nothing left in the alley but a few mysterious stains and some damage to buildings that nobody would ever be able to explain.

Spike and Angel stood in the doorway of the Hyperion staring out at the alley.

"It's not over is it?" Spike asked Angel letting his head rest on Angel's shoulder.

"It's never over," Angel replied, "but we've won a brief respite at least."

They closed the door and returned to their friends.

THE END

A/N: there will be a sequel at a later date, I have a vampire prophecy and wayward children to deal with as well as the Senior Partners but for now I want to leave it with...

And They Lived Happily Ever After. My grateful thanks to everyone who has followed this story to its completion, thank you for your feedback it's what makes it all worthwhile.