Family Ties

By Subtleshadeofgrey

A Buffy the Vampire Slayer fanfic

No pairing as yet but options are kept open in case the story or the reader takes me in that direction - any suggestions welcome be they het or slash (but no Spike /Angel because that wouldn’t work in this fic or Dawn/Spike because she‘s too young)

Summary: When Angel returns to the hell mouth, and Buffy, to stay, Spike’s unlife goes from bad to worse. But he’s declared the scoobies to be his family, even if they didn’t know it, and Spike protects his family. When the whole, expanded, team travel to England to prevent a possibly apocalyptic event the Scoobs get a lesson in love and loyalty that they never expected and William’s family get to meet their favourite black sheep.

A/N A long summary I know but I do tend to waffle:D This story is kind of based on a challenge but I can’t remember where I saw it. It wanted Spike’s family to support him and teach Buffy a lesson or something like that. Anyway that’s where I got the idea from.

A/N2 I reserve the right to muck about with Canon something rotten and reinstate characters at my whim so consider this totally AU even though some events did occur - like Glory. But no Wolfram & Hart etc. Also no Gunn or Connor. Please note that although Spike isn’t perfect you’d be hard pressed to tell from my depiction….I refuse to apologise…..Sorry. ( I’m not really, but I am polite:D)

Warning: Angel bashing ahoy! Also mentions of past abuse, maybe non con m/m. Lots of smarm; lots of angst.

Disclaimer: J.W. is all powerful and owns the universe - well BTVS anyway. I on the other hand…don’t.

A/N This is one of those character development chapters that are so necessary to the story but can seem a bit slow.

It took some time for things to quieten down once again, although Angel’s constant pacing indicated that quiet did not necessarily mean calm. Giles noted this and gave himself a mental reminder to keep a very close eye on the vampire. Just because he was no longer evil didn’t mean that he was necessarily good. He also noted, with amusement this time, that the self-proclaimed ‘Big Bad’ was being subjected to a severe bout of mother hen syndrome. Tara was pouring a healing concoction down him to soothe the throat bruised by Angel’s hand after his abortive attempt to throttle the un-life out of him while Willow was lecturing him on how taunting cranky sulky Grandsire’s was not the smartest of moves. Giles thought that he should agree with Willow on that one but the sight of Angel’s shock and discomfort at the revelations had put a warm fuzzy feeling deep inside him that he would treasure for a long time to come. Giles laughed as Dawn once again foisted her kitten on the blond vampire and it, with total trust, snuggled into the crook of his arm and went to sleep.

Giles had been surprised that Buffy had allowed the teen to keep the animal; she never had before but he hoped that it was a positive sign that she was returning to them. Of course Doyle could be very persuasive…maybe his type of demon had thrall? It was the only way he could explain the fact that not five minutes ago he had agreed to take a grey tabby kitten. He was relieved that he wasn’t the only one conned into pet ownership since Anya was now the proud parent of a white Persian ball of fluff. It obviously proved that only bunnies were evil since she kept sneaking off to the stock room to check up on it. When caught she put on her business face and claimed that as a mouser it would earn it’s keep. Giles didn’t have the heart to point out that they had never seen a mouse on the premises; he suspected that the kitten’s true worth would be as a companion to the heartbroken ex-demon. He knew from a few brief comments that she and Xander had split up and that would explain the kicked puppy look on the boy’s face but they had split up several times before and he couldn’t see their separation lasting for ever, which was a pity because privately he thought that she could do so much better than the prejudiced little git. Giles winced at his inner Ripper who was getting increasingly vocal of late and turned his attention back to kittens. Doyle had kept a kitten for himself ‘as a souvenir’ against Angel’s will, and had one picked out for Willow, though he would probably come up with another now that Tara was back with them. He was just glad that he had managed to convince the half Brachen demon not to offload any of his winnings on Spike. He thought that the poor vampire had had enough shocks for one day; he would certainly find it hard to hang onto the tattered remains of his ‘Big Bad’ image with a pet kitty cat in tow, especially since the species seemingly had a particularly soft spot for vampires, or at least this vampire.

As everyone finally settled, amidst the grumbling of having to make room for those who had previously been left out, Giles absently wondered if they could get a group rate at the local cattery since taking pets to Europe was not an option. Giles found himself feeling less like a Watcher and more like the custodian of a three ring circus and realised that he wouldn’t change it for the world. As he heard Angel demand order he amended that thought to not changing MOST of it.

“So there was nothing specific then? No clues as to where to search for this prophecy? If indeed it is an actual prophecy. For God’s sake Doyle what use are your visions if they raise more questions than answers?”

Doyle flushed red at Angel’s rebuke. In the early days of their association he had considered them to be friends, but the more pressure the champion for the PTB felt, the more he took it out on those around him. Doyle suspected that was the main reason that Cordelia had decided to jump ship, and he couldn’t altogether blame her. Not when their boss was like this anyway. He sometimes wished that he had the same proactive attitude that the Valley girl had but he had become used to having his efforts belittled, not that he felt it fair, he was only the messenger after all. But he didn’t see it ever being any other way and he was still at least a little proud that he could play his part in keeping the world safe from his more evil brethren. Given his acceptance of being constantly undermined and harassed it came as a big surprise when a voice rose in his defence….that was new!

“I disagree Angel.” Giles frowned at the senior vampire’s attitude. It seemed that brooding a lot and actually being intelligent didn’t always have to go together any more than quiet and calm did. “Answers to questions can always be found but if one lacks the right questions to ask how is one to know where to search and what to search for?” While he was pleased to see the constipated look cross Angel’s face he gave Spike a sharp kick under the table to quell the laughter that threatened to bubble to the surface - for a supposed Big Bad the younger vampire had quite an infectious laugh and he knew it wouldn’t take much to set him off. Besides he wanted to keep the dialogue flowing to gather as many ideas as possible, although his own suspicion that the Trinity aspect may have it’s part to play was something he wanted to keep to himself until he had as much information as possible. Spike may be able to take care of himself but Willow and Tara, despite their magic abilities were still incredibly vulnerable.

Doyle straightened a little at the support and although directing his reply to Angel he nodded his thanks to the Watcher who unlike the vampire or their own Watcher seemed to be seeing the bigger picture here and understood that his visions were meant to guide rather than offer pat solutions.

“As I said Angel, I saw London; a giant serpentine demon that looked like something out of a Japanese horror flick and hordes of lesser demons and vampires rampaging through the streets - you know, your regular apocalypse hellmouth world-ending situation. Except that London doesn’t have a hellmouth of course.”

“Are you sure it was London? Could it possibly have been Cleveland’s hell mouth?” Doyle didn’t appreciate Wesley’s condescending tone but it was a valid question.

“Not unless Cleveland has started using big red double decker buses and the Queen decided to relocate Buckingham Palace.”

Wesley simply nodded. London was rather unmistakable even to those who had never been there.

Tara had been sitting as silently as she always did. With her nervous stutter and her mouse like demeanour she was seldom listened to when she did attempt to speak. And in her family women seldom spoke unless spoken to. She just hoped that somebody else, somebody more confident, would have the same thought that she had just had; unfortunately nobody showed any indication of it and she vowed to have a word with Giles in private after. He never seemed to get annoyed with her halting speech which usually meant that her stutter almost vanished. She wished that some of the others would have that effect on her but unfortunately the opposite was true. Having made her decision not to set herself up for a fall she was suddenly overwhelmed with the fragrance of roses. Breathing in the powerful yet calming scent her inner strength seemed to grow a little and before she knew what she was doing there was a lull in the conversation and she was speaking.

“I…I w…wondered if it w…were p…possible…” Although she had raised her voice to above whisper level and her stutter, though present was at least allowing her to complete words quite quickly it made little difference as Wesley, with a polite yet dismissive ‘excuse me’ proceeded to cut across her in an effort to make a general comment about hell mouths to Angel with the inevitable result of immediately driving her back into her shell.

Giles recognized instantly that this was one of those situations that Gaia had entreated him to handle. To ensure that her shyest child be heard. Tara, like her two pseudo siblings was extremely intelligent and he had no doubt that whatever she had to say was worth listening to and would, even if it didn’t answer their questions, add to their general knowledge surrounding the riddle. He noted with satisfaction that Buffy was scowling at Wesley over his rudeness, and while a part of him was selfishly happy that she didn’t look impressed with the other Brit, it being bad enough that Angel & Co. had made him feel useless without his Slayer aligning herself with the prat. The greater part of him, however; the part of him that saw Buffy as the daughter he had never had was pleased to see her pre-tower personality peeking out from her depression. He didn’t comment on her attitude though he saw that Spike had also spotted the fire in the hazel green eyes; it was best to let things progress at their own pace as long as the fates allowed. In the meantime he had a Watcher to deflate.

“No Wesley. Tara has as much right to speak at this meeting as you or any of us. And given her recent experience I for one am glad that she is still able to do so.” It was a less than subtle dig at Wesley’s failure to correctly translate the ritual and he nodded curtly in acknowledgement and apology. Tara smiled in gratitude at Giles and favoured Wesley with such a look of disappointment that he felt as guilty as a little boy faced with his misdeeds.

Tara felt Willow’s hand clasp hers in encouragement and Spike’s blue gold flecked eyes were full of confidence in her ability. She took a deep breath and with much more authority began again.

“I just w…wondered if Mr Doyle’s v…vision could be an indication of the f…forming of a new Hellmouth I…in L…London. After all Hellmouths have to c…come from somewhere don’t they?”

“Good Lord!” exclaimed the two Watchers simultaneously while the admiring looks from most of the others present made Tara blush. Whether her idea played out or not Tara felt proud that she had at least been able to contribute. She was particularly grateful to Giles; without his support she doubted that she would have had the courage. She would never upset her lover and her new brother by admitting it but she had felt like the weak link in their Trinity even though they would strenuously deny it. She was glad to be able to pull her own weight for once.

“Is it possible Giles? Is this how hell - mouths are created?”

It was Buffy’s first contribution to the debate and she felt a little self-conscious at the attention her innocuous question attracted. Surely she hadn’t been that bad! Her mind side-stepped the question neatly as Giles soft tones, a sound that she had missed so much, answered her.

“Indeed Buffy; I believe that it is entirely possible. No-one knows exactly hell-mouths form. It is suspected that like the pressure of lava in a volcano, evil builds in a weak area until the correct ritual at the right time causes an eruption resulting in a new mouth of hell.”

“Will we be able to stop it forming or is this a containment job?”

Wesley frowned as Buffy addressed her question not to him, the Watcher appointed by Angel to answer exactly these sorts of queries, but to Giles who had just waltzed in like he owned the place…. He hoped that nobody noticed his blush as he realised the sheer stupidity of that thought…Giles did own the place.

“That will be impossible to ascertain until we are on site but while arrangements are being made I do believe that we have several books that theorize on the subject that we can consult.”

“Oooh research party!” Spike, Tara and Giles chuckled at Willow’s exclamation and little bounce in her seat. Even an audience with Gaia couldn’t stop her inner nerd getting out.

“I hardly think that we should rely on children to research…”

“It was those ‘children’ that researched a way to send your sorry souless self to hell Angelus…and it’s those children who did all the hard work in protecting the world while you just popped in with the odd cryptic warning now and then. For goodness sake Xander was more use than you were.”

“Hey!”

“Hey!”

Dawn sniggered at the twin protests. Who would have thought that Angel and Xander finally agreed on something, even if it was only to disagree with Giles. As the conversation once again descended into snapping and sniping Dawn watched Spike as he watched Buffy. It was still there, she thought, that spark that had always ignited the fire between them. Even if neither of her two favourite people in the world were exactly the same any more. She wondered, with a maturity that belied her years, and would astound anyone used to her normal teenage thought processes, i.e, boys, clothes and music, whether, given the opportunity, the less manic vampire and the more introspective Slayer could find a new start; preferably one without trying to kill each other in the process. She certainly hoped so because she was convinced that Buffy needed Spike to bring her back to life properly. She certainly didn’t need Angel sticking his oar in and turning her against the younger vampire. She had tried to tell Buffy of all the good that Spike had done while she had been away but it was as though she never seemed to quite understand how important both he and Tara had been to keeping her safe and as happy as she could be under the circumstances and keeping Sunnydale from becoming an all you can eat buffet. In fact now that she came to think of it, it wasn’t so much that she didn’t understand, more that she felt guilty for it being hard for them to carry on. Did her big sister really think that she was expendable. That they could replace her as easily as the Council replaced a dead Slayer? Well if she did then Angel certainly wasn’t helping to disprove it because he had taken over every aspect of both their lives, ordering her about like he was her father or something, and that was just eeeeww. She really needed to speak to Spike. If anyone could make Buffy happy again it was him. And to see Tara well again was just amazing. Dawn had given Angel and Wesley her patented smug smirk, learned from a certain peroxide hottie, as Spike’s role in her healing was revealed. She was a bit worried at how close Spike, Willow and Tara seemed now. She hoped that they wouldn’t cut Buffy out of their relationship….Nah, what was she thinking; all three of them loved her sister, and her, just in different ways. The trick was going to be to get Buffy to see that…and to get Angel out of the way long enough for them to try.

B*T*V*S

It was dusk by the time that the Scooby meeting and research/welcome home Tara party had finished, not that there had been food or drink at said impromptu party, just lots of hugs and well wishes, which surprised Tara since she hadn’t thought herself so well liked, always being on the outside like Spike; tolerated because she was Willow’s girlfriend rather than liked in her own right. Well there might have been food and drink, especially if Xander had had his way…a Scooby meeting alone being needful of pizza and sodas at the very least, and Spike hadn’t eaten for far too long; the new link that they shared didn’t give them access to each others thoughts, or not yet anyway because who knew what would happen given time; but she could feel his hunger, though thankfully not his demon’s bloodlust. Unfortunately for both hungry vampires and hungry construction workers Wesley had been horrified at the risk to his precious books from spilled coke and tomato sauce…or even worse, he had added with a dark glare at Spike…‘please!’ thought Tara, Spike could be a very dainty eater when he put his mind to it, and when there wasn’t a throat to be torn out….though the Watcher may have had a point about Xander; more than one tome in Giles’ collection bore silent witness to Xander’s eating habits. A sudden thought occurred to Tara as they were putting away the files and notes, no solid conclusions having been drawn.

“Where are we going to stay?” she asked nobody in particular, aware that there were now three of them to house and the likelihood of Spike being welcome at Revello drive being as slim as the vampire in question.

It was a situation that the others didn’t seem to get, except Willow, Spike and Giles who frowned in consternation.

Angel thought that the answer was obvious. He didn’t know Tara well but she seemed nice enough; obviously not too bright though. It puzzled him why so many of the others had been upset that he hadn’t risked his, far more valuable life - in his humble opinion, and obviously in the opinion of the PTB - to save a perfectly normal, slightly talented witch. She didn’t seem to have half the power of Willow so except that she was Willow’s girlfriend he hadn’t got the point. But he did know the answer; or at least so he thought.

“You will be coming back to Our place with Willow, of course. Buffy will have it no other way.”

Buffy silently wondered just when she had become a ventriloquist’s dummy because though Angel had been right in telling Tara that her home was on Revello drive she was finding it increasingly annoying to be spoken for like some sort of idiot child. She didn’t dare comment though because the resulting lecture would last half the night and for the very first time in a long time she found herself feeling hungry. Her hunger was overwhelmed, however, by her surprise at Tara’s reply.

“But what about Spike?”

“What about Spike!?” replied Angel sharply.

“It’s okay Glinda, the crypt is my home, remember. It’s plenty good enough for the likes of me and I won’t be far away.”

Spike realised that whatever this new bond was it didn’t like the idea of them being separated but to make a fuss would only make the others suspicious that there was more to last night than a minor miracle. His gut told him that Giles was right to withhold the details of their connection. It would put his ladies under a spotlight of at best benign interest and at worst outright suspicion. And if Angel realised that he was in any way connected to the girls he wouldn’t have them in the house, and it was obviously his word that ruled…not so different from his Angelus days in that respect, except that Angelus’s orders to his fledgling Childe had been of a much more intimate and sadistic nature than Angel’s lording it over the telly remote. He did wonder why their familial link hadn’t picked up on the new bond though. He supposed that it had been weakened by decades of non use and he didn’t dare try to find out if it was still in place since the last person he wanted in his head was the Great Brooding One.

Willow understood Spikes reasoning instinctively but that didn’t mean that she had to like it. She would just have to find a way to work on Buffy. She had been a bad friend lately, though Goddess knew she had reasons aplenty, but Buffy, and Dawn, obviously needed their proper family around them at the moment; she glanced at Xander who was alternating glaring at Spike, which she didn’t appreciate one little bit, and making cow eyes at Anya who was giving him the very cold shoulder. Willow had the feeling that it was more than one of their normal tiffs but this new maturity she seemed to have gained in her communion with Gaia steered her away from her normal reaction of automatically siding with her childhood friend. Anya wasn’t the type to cut herself off like this and Xander was exactly the type to have done or said something to drive the blunt yet sensitive ex-demon away. But as Xander’s kindergarten buddy she didn’t feel that Anya would open up to her, she needed to prove herself first and that took time. She would speak to Giles about the situation. He worked closely with his assistant and she knew that he both respected and liked her. If anyone could get the facts it was Giles. And if he ended up with another stray to look after she was sure he could handle it - though she suspected that if given the right opportunity Giles could have an entirely different relationship with Anyanka than he did with herself, Tara and Spike/William. It wasn’t till her mind had stopped drifting that she realised that Tara had acquiesced to Spike’s refusal to rock the boat. She also noticed Dawn’s anger at having her big brother back thwarted and Buffy’s surprise at Tara’s attitude to the vampire. She almost chuckled out loud at what she suspected was a hint of jealousy in those not quite as dead as they previously were hazel eyes. She had a feeling that they were in for an interesting time.

In England! Wow! It suddenly registered in the witch’s brain, alongside the I’ve got Tara back, a new brother, a substitute father who actually cares and a blessing from my Goddess parties that were going on inside her that she would be going to England - at least she hoped so because by the sound of it Angel was trying to dictate the players in the upcoming drama but she wasn’t too concerned as he wasn’t having much luck. Doyle, who had given her a beautiful little kitten, well not actually given but it was waiting for her at home - jet black as befits a familiar he had said, sweet man. Anyway, Doyle kept citing the Powers That Be as his source every time he told Angel that individuals he had cut out had to be there….including herself, Giles, Tara and….ooooh, Spike! That didn’t go down well she thought as the elder vampire started to look distinctly constipated. At the inclusion of Dawn the elder vampire groaned and the Key dashed over to her big brother to exchange a victorious high five. Willow watched Buffy smile at the antics…‘that’s right Buffy’ she thought. ‘Let yourself see what we all saw last summer’

Wesley protested at the inclusion of what he termed as the ‘superfluous watcher’, at least he wouldn’t be repeating that in a hurry, she thought Not after being caught between the twin Summers glares of Buffy and Dawn and the rumbling growl of Spike’s demon; Willow wondered if she would get a chance to visit the British Museum. If she hadn’t become a Scooby and demon ass kicking witch she would have liked to have worked at the prestigious institution. It struck her as a very Gilesish place.

As the group were about to split up Giles had a sudden urge to not let Angel whisk his Slayer away so quickly. Whilst in times past he would have acted on his instincts, that was back in his Ripper days; of late he had been far more cautious. His caution, and his watcher training, had caused him to distrust Spike for far too long, even when it was the vampire who was doing what he himself should have been doing and caring for his Slayer and her family. He had since learned that his Ripper side while often not cautious enough had good instincts. He gave in to them now. He had seen more life in Buffy tonight, surrounded by her friends than in all the little glimpses he had caught of her as Angel shuffled her from place to place in an attempt to keep her isolated from anyone not of his choosing. Even if he could only prise her from his grasp for a few hours it would be something.

“Buffy, Dawn, what say we celebrate Tara’s return with a meal. I haven’t spoken to you properly in quite an age” Buffy’s eyes misted as she saw the emotion in her Watcher’s eyes although his voice was calm, at least until it broke slightly when he admitted. “I’ve missed you very much.”

Buffy looked towards Dawn who had hope written all over her face and yet Buffy suspected that she expected the request to be denied. She also saw Angel and Wesley both about to speak and jumped in before her courage failed her or her jailer, and where did that come from, she thought, managed to put his foot down.

“That’d be great Giles. I could eat a horse, or at least a salad with full fat dressing; and I can’t think of a better reason to celebrate than Tara being healed” she gave a genuinely grateful smile to Spike who dipped his head shyly at the gesture. Buffy was shocked, and intrigued. The in your face vampire obviously had more layers to him than she had thought.

“Well that’s settled then. Willow you are of course invited too.” Giles added and before he could think of a valid reason to include Spike his saviour came in the form of a brown haired cat carrying teenager.

“And Spike.” It wasn’t a request but rather a demand, that much was clear and both Buffy and Giles, sensing the refusal on Angel’s lips, quickly agreed. Anything that pissed off Angel suited Giles and anything that kept Dawn happy suited Buffy. At a whispered comment from Willow Giles made an addition which surprised the others.

“Anya dear, I would be grateful if you would agree to accompany us, if of course, you have nothing else planned.”

Nobody else in the party party commented as Giles made his request and they could see from her almost overwhelmed reaction that he had done the right thing.

Anya was shocked. She hadn’t realised that they had remembered that she was there. They seldom did and Xander always pestered her to keep quiet as she embarrassed him with her forthright comments. She could see also that the invitation was genuine. But what if they asked Xander too, as they surely would. She decided to take a chance anyway, she could always slip away if it all became too much.

“I would like that very much, as long as you’re sure that I won’t be intruding?”

Giles and Willow were both about to reply when Buffy beat them to it. She was surprised that Anya would think herself to be in the way; she was a Scooby like the rest of them wasn’t she. A little niggle in the back of her mind asked how she could know her place in the team when Xander was always putting her ‘in her place’ every time she tried to make a contribution.

“Of course you won’t Anya. You’re family,” Buffy knew that she had said the right thing when Anya beamed a 1000 megawatt smile at her.

Xander saw that this was the perfect opportunity to talk to his girlfriend without her being able to walk out on him…again.

“I’ll come with, guys. It’s been ages since we had a bronze night.”

Giles noticed Anya’s face fall and Willow’s subtle shake of the head. He stepped in before anyone else could accept Xander’s self invitation… which in itself was the height of bad manners.

“I don’t think that that would be a good idea Xander; you have work tomorrow and I would never forgive myself if you got into trouble for partying on a work night. And besides, you will need to be in your employer’s good graces to get the time off at short notice.”

Xander nodded but they could tell from his expression that he wasn’t happy. He couldn’t quibble with Giles reasons but he suspected that they weren’t the only ones. He felt like he was being shut out, replaced and he didn’t see it as any coincidence that as much as he was being pushed out the peroxide blond menace was being pulled in. He said a brusque goodbye and with a last accusing glare at Spike and a disappointed nod to Anya he left.

“Wesley follow him and make sure he gets home safe.” instructed the older vampire. While he personally couldn’t give two hoots whether Xander got home safe or was eaten by a fungus demon he knew that Buffy wouldn’t forgive him for killing one of her friends. Friends who were being more bothersome than he had envisaged. He was the only one that Buffy needed, or that she should want; they had a destiny…and he was damned if his pathetic Grandchilde or the inanely titled scoobies were going to get in the way of his destiny. He was the Champion of The Powers That Be, dammit! And Buffy was his reward. And there was one thing that both he and Angelus were agreed on. Neither of them were good at sharing.

Angel brightened a little as he contemplated the trip to England. Perhaps when they reached his mother country the Sunnydale contingent, and especially Buffy and Dawn, would see Spike for the uncouth, ill educated anachronism that he obviously was. Once Buffy saw the less than salubrious part of London where the younger vampire’s accent marked him as being from and saw that he didn’t fit in any circles that they would be mixing in she would realise the truth. Angel admitted to himself that he had never been too interested in his Grandchilde’s origins, that had been Drusilla’s department but he knew one thing without a doubt…Buffy would soon see , as would they all, that Spike was beneath her. Perhaps he would tell her of the time, at the very beginning, before he had the ‘William’ beaten out of him, well perhaps he didn’t have to go into too much detail on that, but he could tell her of the fake Giles type accent the boy had affected to try and impress him and how quickly his own gutter English had replaced it. And she would cast him away like the irrelevance that he was. And if she didn’t then he would have to resort to other, stronger methods to get rid of his rival….NO! Not rival, where the hell did that thought come from! His idiot offspring was no real threat. He was just an ill educated, North London street brat with a low cunning that had kept him ‘alive’ for far too long. He certainly wasn’t worthy of the Slayer, or the ability to walk in the sun.

His bastard Grandchilde would pay dearly for upstaging his Lord and Master, and Buffy would be free of her unhealthy fascination with the peroxide pest. But not tonight he acknowledged as the little group trooped out of The Magic Box together. Tonight they would drag his Slayer further away from him. And tomorrow….tomorrow he would have to arrange a plane transport for a coffin while the no longer daylight challenged interloper got to sit in a proper seat…to sit where he should be, next to Buffy, in the sunlight.

Soul or no soul there was one thing that Angel knew for sure and that was that there would be one less member of the Sunnydale crew returning from England and that the one remaining behind would be dust scattered to the four winds.

TBC