AN: Here we are guys. The final chapter. I hope you enjoy it and forgive me if there are any mistakes. I've been up all night trying to perfect it, haha. ~C

Willow was still reeling from her magic high by the time they had made it back to the library. To both her and Xander's utter surprise, Giles was there. Not only that, but an exhausted looking Joyce Summers was there, as well.

The Watcher looked up as the doors swung open, "Children... what are you doing here?"

Willow instantly sobered looking to her friend, "Uh..."

"We thought you would be gone by now." Xander said without thinking. He grimaced as he realized he had just implicated himself. Willow shot him a look of irritation, but it was too late.

Giles looked down and saw the items they were now trying to conceal. Anger appeared in his eyes, "What have you gotten yourselves into?"

The red head sighed and stepped forward, "We were just trying to help Giles. But, I think it worked! I think we broke their bond!"

"You should have seen her, G-man! She was a bond destroying beast!" Xander cheerily added.

Willow blushed deeply and looked down, "Well...it was pretty neat. Though, I couldn't have done it without your help-"

"Enough!" Giles snapped at them. He stalked up to Xander, who had the book they had stolen clutched tightly to his side, and ripped it from his hands. "You went directly behind my back, stole my property, and conjured dark magic! Why on Earth did you think you were capable of doing this alone?"

Willow opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out. Her eyes filled with tears as she struggled for words to speak. Confrontation had never been easy for her.

Instead, Xander decided to step in, "Giles, we weren't doing anything to help Buffy! It was like we were just going to lie down and wait for Angelus to completely ruin her."

"So, you foolishly thought that you could change it yourselves? The magic used in this book is dark and could go horribly wrong if you aren't careful!"

"But, we were careful!" Willow found her voice, tears still blurring her eyes, "I made sure that it was the right spell, had all of the proper tools. We did it, Giles. It worked."

"You think so, do you? And how many successful rituals have you completed before then? You put your lives in danger and the lives of everyone around you." Giles tossed the book on the table and paced slightly.

Before the teens could make a retort, Joyce stood, "If they did a spell to break their bond… what exactly did we do, Rupert?"

Willow and Xander looked at her confused then looked back to the watcher. A look of indignation appeared on the teenage boys face, "So, it was ok for you to go behind our backs? You didn't think we cared about what happened to Buffy, too?"

Giles turned to him quickly, ignoring Joyce's question. He was obviously trying to control his temper, but failed at doing so, "I have been learned in these sorts of dealings for longer than you have been alive. Unlike you, I didn't randomly pick a book and hope for the best. I did my research and carefully at that. You have no right to shame me!"

"Then what did you do, Giles?" Willow asked, rewording Mrs. Summers question.

Giles sighed and forced himself to calm down, "You may have picked randomly, but it was correct. Vampir e speriat juramintul. The vampires…"

"…sacred oath." Willow nodded a worried looked splashed her face, "We…w-we did the same one."

Joyce sat back down, dazed with confusion at what was happening, "Why would that matter? I mean…it probably would reinforce the…spell."

"We won't know for sure, Joyce," Giles wrenched his glasses off and rubbed the bridge of his nose tiredly. "Not until we find Buffy."

"Not until she finds you."

The four pairs of eyes looked to the newcomer.

"Buffy! You're here! You made it!" Willow began to make her way over to her friend.

The look on Buffy's face made her stop cold. The Slayer stood with her hands loosely at her sides. From her angle she couldn't yet see her mother. With an icy voice, she spoke, "What did you do to us?"

Willow stopped at the intense look on her friends face. She back peddled a couple of steps, "We…we-"

"I'll ask you again, a little slower. What did you do to us?"

Joyce took that opportunity to speak. She stood and moved into her daughters view, "We did what we had to do, Buffy. It's time for you to move on with your life, away from all this nonsense."

Buffy's cold expression slipped from her face. Shock, anger, sadness, but above all, hurt replaced her aloof attitude, "…mom?"

"She's right, Buff." Xander noticed the ice breaking on Buffy's face. Angelus obviously wasn't with her, the spells must have worked! "You may not think it, but we saved you from that monster."

Buffy ignored him and focused on her mom, "You…you wouldn't take my calls. I haven't seen or, or talked to you since…And now you think you can dictate my life? You think I'm going to listen to you?"

Buffy let out a small laugh. Then another and soon it grew to a laugh similar to when she found out she was to die at The Masters hand. She covered her eyes with her hands and took several deep breaths. Worried, and the closest one to her, Willow reached out a consoling hand to her friend. Buffy's eyes snapped open and revealed their now purple, unnatural color. She spoke through her new subtly sharpened canines, "If you touch me…"

Willow shrieked and pulled away. "Oh my God…Buffy… he turned you!"

"Oh, the follies of youth." The doors slammed open as Angelus chose that moment to come into the library. Six of the vampires at the cave formed a half circle behind him. Among them Sandra, the cherry red head, and Mick the large male.

"I didn't turn her. She's no vampire." Angelus slid an arm around his mate, "Sadly, this beautiful creation is because of you."

While the gang tried to digest what Angelus was saying, Buffy turned to him, {They were behind this. Even my mom, Angelus.}

He shifted his gaze over her head and focused on her Mother. She looked back at him with false bravado, her hands clenching the sides of her dress. {Then it was a good idea to send you in first. Now, they've no choice, but to tell us everything.}

Willow shifted her wide gaze from the now silent duo to Giles, who looked as panicked as she had ever seen him, "What is he doing here? The-the spell worked!"

"Of course the spell worked, Red! Just not the way you wanted it to." Angelus mocked. On his face he wore a smirk, but everyone could feel the anger trembling underneath. He lifted his arm and snapped his finger. Sandra quickly stepped forward and handed him an ancient looking piece paper and went back with her brethren.

"Looking for this?" The gang looked on in confusion.

Buffy growled out, "It's the last page of the prophecy that you've oh-so-conveniently forgotten about."

Angelus had the paper up with one hand and reached out to possessively wrap his other around Buffy's waist.

"Magick will swarm and

And threaten formed energy

Duality of darkness recoils

The union will twist and alter

Stronger than ever

Evil now resides in Good

Good in Evil

Amid disloyalty forms

A kingdom of the day

And a kingdom of the night

Both natures will live in balance"

"'Both natures will live in balance.' Hm." Angelus let out an amused chuckle that was shared among the fellow vampires. He looked to his clan, "Now, I've never been too good at math, but I would say the bad guys are definitely tipping the scale on this one!"

Joyce timidly walked closer to Giles and peered down to him, "What is he talking about?"

Buffy snarled at her mother, still wounded from her secrecy, "Yeah, Giles. Tell the class your interpretation."

Giles raised his eyes to his charge. He shook his head as he spoke, as if not wanting to believe what was happening, "That could only mean…the…the bond wasn't fully completed …until we tried to break it. We unknowingly did the spell twice. The duality of darkness."

"I was kidnapped by some psychopath who thought he would take Angelus' place. He managed to find the other half of the prophecy, while my so-called allies didn't even know I was missing."

The gang all had a look of shock on their face as they learned of her latest predicament. Willow shook her head, the idea that they didn't care about Buffy saddening her, "Buffy, we didn't know."

"Of course you didn't know!" She snipped. "You were too busy trying to destroy the Eternal Bond."

Angelus was enjoying their turmoil immensely. He would remember this moment for the rest of his unlife. He laughed again, "But, in doing so, you've made our connection even stronger. It would have taken years, decades to reach the power we're at now."

Xander's eyes burned with hatred the moment Angelus stepped into the room. Hearing his laughter when obviously everyone was suffering, was the final straw. With a scream of rage, he grabbed a random stake from the table and charged at the vampire full speed.

"Xander, no!" Willow screamed, but it was too late. Mick had the young boy by the throat in the next second, his face already turning blue. Neither Buffy nor Angelus had moved.

Buffy, though angry, flinched at the sight of her friend in turmoil, but did nothing to stop it.

Giles reached for his crossbow and held it up, "Put the boy down!"

"I think it's time you little white hats learned a little lesson." Angelus moved smoothly over to the choking boy, "Especially you."

"Buffy, please!" Willow pleaded watching the scene helplessly before her.

"There's no telling what that bastard would have done to her, if I wasn't there." He stared directly into Xander's eyes, "Instead of helping her, you walk out on her... calling her a whore. So, in theory, I blame you for her going missing."

The Slayer immediately recognized the look in her lovers' eyes. She stepped up to him, "Angelus. No."

They met each others' eyes. Buffy shook her head and reached out to him mentally, {Please, don't. Please. For me.}

Still keeping her gaze, Angelus ordered, "Let him down."

Just before he passed out, the large vampire let Xander go and he crumpled at his feet.

The boy gasped and sputtered for air. The moment he had a bit more oxygen, he raised himself from the floor and attempted to walk back to his group.

Angelus was in front of him in the next second, "Just because I didn't kill you, doesn't mean I'm through with you, little boy."

The way he moved had everyone gasp in shock. He was a blur of motion. Then, again, he moved and had Xander pinned against the wall. A knife seemed to suddenly appear in his hand and he moved it along his face.

Joyce was in tears and Giles was once more on the defense, "Angelus, I'm warning you! I will fire!"

Buffy was a blur of speed as well as she grabbed the crossbow from his hands. She broke the strong metal easily and clutched the two parts in each hand, "And I'm warning you… you've already tried to ruin my life enough."

Giles was shocked to see the strength his Slayer now possessed," Buffy…"

"Buffy! Oh, God, he's going to kill him!"

Willow's shriek drove their attention back to the matter at hand. Angelus had settled the knife on the right side of Xander's neck.

"You'll remember me forever…" He gripped the boys head and pushed it tightly to the wall, so he couldn't move. He moved quickly, but deeply, and carved an 'A' into the side of his neck.

Joyce clasped a hand over her mouth and squeezed her eyes shut. She sobbed into her hands as quietly as possible.

The Aurelius in the room had spanned out slightly, watching the humans carefully for another attack and to make sure no one tried to stop Angelus.

Blood ran down Xander's shirt and Angelus let him go, his form once again crumpled to the ground. Buffy's eyes watched Xander hit the ground and in the next second was kneeling down by his side.

She ripped a piece of his shirt off and pushed it to his neck. She was incredibly angry at Xander, and all of her so-called friends and family, but she couldn't just stand there and watch while he was hurt.

Seeing her resolve weakening, Angelus said strongly, "Buffy!" and held out his hand.

Her head snapped toward him, her eyes swirling with silver and purple. She felt the anger rumbling through him. She looked to Willow, who now had tears spilling down her pale cheeks, "Willow. Help him."

As Buffy got up and returned to Angelus' side, Willow scrambled to soothe her bleeding friend. She placed his head in her lap and kept pressure on the deep wound. As Angelus casually wiped the blood off of his hands, Buffy spoke,

"You don't understand and you'll never understand. You were supposed to be my friends…. my Watcher." Her back straightened and she looked into her mother's eyes, even though she wanted to hide and curl herself into Angelus even more, "You were supposed to act like a Mother."

Her mother looked abashed and her eyes welled with tears, "Buffy I-I-"

"Don't. Speak." She shushed her mom, shortly. "Did you know that I died, mommy? I was 16. I knew that if I went into that fight, that I would lose, I would die. But, I chose to fight the good fight over making it to my 17th birthday."

Giles, still wracked with guilt over the incident with The Master, put a hand over Joyce's shoulder. Tears still filled the older Summers' eyes, but she was now listening intently to her daughter.

"I couldn't fight that prophecy. It was in the Codex and it was going to happen one way or the other. I didn't want to sacrifice my life, but I knew I had to, and so did you, Giles." She shrugged and looked away, "It's funny how it's ok for me to give up my life to some creature, but it's forbidden to be with the man I love."

"I tried to avert it, dear Girl. You know I did, just like we did with Angelus. We didn't want to lose you again." Giles ignored Angelus intense stare and bravely locked eyes with her.

"You never got me back." The blonde took a deep breath. "I love you guys. All of you. Believe that Angelus would love to rip each of you apart, but because of me he isn't. That may not say much to you, but it means everything to me. And even if there was no prophecy, he fills in the emptiness inside of me. That void that none of you would ever be able to comprehend." She looked up to her lover.

"Such beautiful poetry, love, but we must be going. Much to do, as you know. One second longer in this town and…well I don't think I'll have much control left." He gripped her hand tightly and scanned the once all honorable white hats.

The group of misfits that were once so united now didn't know what to do with themselves. He removed their apex, tore down their confidence, and tainted their so-called righteousness.

He should write a book.

Buffy nodded quietly, completely aware of his thoughts, but suddenly feeling the exhaustion of the past few weeks.

Joyce stood as they turned and began to leave out of the library, "Buffy, wait! Where are you going?!"

Buffy gave a sullen look to her mother, but stayed quiet, leaning into Angelus' dominant embrace. He replied, with a serious voice, "To build our empire, of course. When I want us to be found, you'll know."

Giles stepped forward, "Buffy!"

She turned at her Watchers, her fathers voice, "I'm so very sorry, dear girl. I'm so very sorry."

She wasn't sure if he was sorry for trying to break their bond, or sorry for not stopping this whole thing all together. At that point, it didn't really matter. She looked up to Angelus and he gave a slight roll of his eyes, before letting her go.

She slowly walked up to Giles. He was tentative, unsure of her intentions. Her straight face broke and she embraced him in a hug. A tear slid down his face as returned the embrace. She let go and turned around, wiping at her tears. She stopped at the small voice.

"Goodbye, Buffy."

"I'll be back, Wills." The girls nodded at each other and knew that Buffy's words were a promise.

Buffy returned to Angelus side, once again. Dramatically, he tilted her head back and gave her a domineering kiss, a final show of ownership to the Scooby Gang. He turned and tossed a wink at the girl still comforting her friend, "Oh, little Weeping Willow. That evil looks really good inside of you."

Buffy and Angelus walked through the doors the fledglings held open for them. All they heard was Joyce's whimpering sobs as they left.

Willow kept a soothing hand on her friend, but was slightly traumatized by what Angelus said. Was the prophecy not only about Buffy and Angelus?

" Willow ." Giles knelt down in front of them, "We need to get him to the hospital."

Xander would survive, but he was bleeding profusely. She nodded at him and they made eye contact for a moment. They knew that nothing would be the same after this night. Not only did they lose Buffy, but they also lost trust in each other.

Giles helped Xander to stand, while Willow tried to console Mrs. Summers.

No. Nothing would be the same.

*

"You don't always have to flirt with her like that, you know?" Buffy complained as they walked out of the school. There were a lot of emotions going through her, but none she was ready to deal with so quickly.

Angelus smiled arrogantly at her, "Is my little girl jealous?"

"No, I am not." She lied, knowing well that Angelus could tell her emotions.

"Yes you are!" He held her close to him, "You have nothing to worry about, my dear. I just love seeing you green with envy."

She allowed him to hug her, knowing he was telling the truth. When he looked at Willow, there was only the lust of power going through his body. "Maybe it should be my turn. I mean, Spike is pretty good looking."

Angelus growled, "If you even think about-"

"Masters, we've just received word from Spike. They're ready when you are." Mick said, interrupting his words.

Angelus gave her a look of warning and turned to him, "Tell him to leave now and we'll be right behind him. We'll meet him there."

"Yes, sir." Mick smiled at his superior and walked away to deliver the message.

"Sandra, you and Esla join Mick and follow Spike. It's time to see our new territory."

"Of course, Masters." She smiled to Angelus and Buffy and left them alone.

"We're leaving now? Right this second?" Buffy questioned as they walked up to Angelus' car. She chose to ignore the fact that Sandra had addressed her as Master, for now.

He opened the door for her, "Why? Having second thoughts? Want to rejoin your mommie dearest?"

"They should be joining me." She sat down and waited until he was sitting next to her, "It's just that… I just- I didn't get to bring anything with me."

He snuck a knowing glance at her. He started the car and they began to drive off, "I can have your clothes and things shipped to us."

She nodded, disappointed and reclined in the leather seat, "Where are we going anyway?"

"Los Angelus, of course. We need to be where the action is!"

"Los Angelus, huh? Listen, I've had enough action to last a lifetime these past couple of weeks."

He gave her a lusty leer, "Oh, I beg to differ."

That made her smile. She look to him an innocent tone to her voice, "Beg, you say?"

"Oh, yeah. Something like how you begged for Harris' life." His leer left his face, "So, how should I be punishing you for that, lover? Almost picking a human over me?"

Buffy stared at him incredulously, "Punish me? Are you insane? I was nowhere near going to pick him over you."

"That's not what it looked like to me." He sighed with feigned reluctance, "We have 2 hours till LA. I'll think of something."

Still too tired to even argue with him, she mumbled, "I can't believe you sometimes…"

After all she had been through because of him; he still didn't have the decency to at least be nice to her. She even felt that he was putting up a wall between their bond. She leaned against the cars window and a weary tear slid down her face. They passed the "Now Leaving Sunnydale!" sign, and it left her wondering about everything else she had left behind.

Angelus kept driving down the long road his expression completely blank. After a long while he spoke, "Open the glove box. I need a cigarette."

She didn't move, as she was still slightly irritated with him, "You know, smoking is bad for you."

He tossed her a vicious look, "No, sunlight is bad for me. Just get me my fucking cigarettes!"

Buffy glared at him, the spark coming back to her, despite her exhaustion, "You can't talk to me like that, Angelus and get your way! I thought we went over this?"

Angelus rolled his eyes, "Fine. Can you please get me my fucking cigarettes?"

Buffy sighed and opened the glove compartment. When she saw the contents, she squealed loudly, "Oh my God! I can't believe you!"

He said nothing and kept his eyes on the road, although there was a tiny grin on his lips.

Unexpectedly, Buffy launched herself on top of him, causing him to swerve violently.

He pulled the car over safely, thankfully, and shouted at her, "Are you trying to kill us?"

She felt him open up his side of the bond once again. She felt pride in that he had made her happy. Along with that, the closest thing she had ever felt of love from him. Tears built in her eyes as she stared down at him, "I love you so, so much, Angelus."

Then it clicked inside of him, as if believing it for the very first time. She loved him. He felt every bit of it in that moment and he squeezed her closer to him. He said nothing, but devoured her mouth in a passionate kiss that she returned instantly.

They were quickly caught in another frenzy of passion and there was only one witness:

The innocent eyes of Mr. Gordo resting comfortably in the glove box, waiting to be taken home.

.Terminat.

**

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AN: So, this is it. The final chapter of Forsaken. Thank you guys *so* much for sticking it out with me. I'm kinda sad that it's over. But, don't fret, if you are too. This is not the end of this saga. I have several vignettes that I have in mind for this story, including Buffy's demand for a ceremony before being called Angelus' wife :), Buffy's strange magical influence(when she broke the vase mentally) and being coached by Willow, and possibly Drusilla's view point on what was happening. Then, of course, we have to get to their adventures in the City of Devils, er, Angels.
Also, Black Wind is totally different story and is not the sequal to this one. Though, I may have changed my mind and will submit another story, All The World, before that one(it's a little shorter, but still B/Aus). Hopefully, you'll enjoy that one, as well.

Once again thank you SO much, especially to those who have subscribed, reviewed, and given constructive criticism.

~Chyna~