The Contentment Series:
Finished Business
by Consuella T.

The school was indeed quiet that morning. The halls were strangely empty. No cleaning ladies or teachers rushing the kids out of the hall way. And to everyone's luck, Snyder the Troll, decided that he would take the day off too. Who would have thought?

Vicky and Steven walked up to the door but Steve stopped her just before she wanted to push up the door. "I'm serious Vicky, don't say anything."

The Slayer placed her hands on her hips to show that she was majorly annoyed by his pestering. "You know that pesky quality you have that I used to like when on the job? I now hate it."

He only smiled slyly and kissed her on the cheek. "I love you too honey."

"How 'bout a little wager. I don't usually gamble. But I'm willing to bet my own life on it that Buffy and Angel are pregnant." He was about to object but she continued. "But, I know how much you require help from me to carry on certain activities, and get your mind out of the gutter Steve," she said as he smiled at her last remark. "So, I purpose that you have to clean the whole entire house if I win. From top to bottom. No help from the maids. Then after that is done, you are going to sit down and prepare the meal of a life time for me and the twins. No outside help, including Angel, or Giles, Chez Maurice, La Quellar Familia Casa de Pollo, the cooks, or anyone else for that matter. Period."

Steven thought this through knowing that he was more likely to lose then win. But since he was more often the voice of reason, he decided it would be nice to prove her wrong on this one. "If you throw in a little something extra for. . .pure recreational purposes, then I'll consider. However, if I agree to do all of that, then if I win, have to do whatever I tell you to do, for a whole twenty-four hours. You can't talk back and you can't demand. Just simply do."

Vicky considered the odds in her favor and thought it would be fun to see her husband in an apron. "Well, I think that you have yourself a nice little deal. I'll see you first thing in the morning for a wonderful Irish breakfast with the works."

The two shook on it and sealed the bet with a kiss and walked into the library, since they were among the first to show up. Willow and Oz were already seated at a nearby table discussing something with Giles.

Pretty soon, all arrived and as always, placed themselves at their favorite table for regular Slayer Meetings. Cordelia began to examen her nails and sighed loudly. "I mean I know that we said they would be here and all, but is there any possible way that we could speed things up? I mean sitting around here on a Tuesday when there is no school at five in the morning isn't my idea of a glam day. I could be in bed right now sleeping away the lines, not that I have any, and wrinkles, not that I have any. I think there is a whole shot in this plan."

The May Queen used her hand to toss back her hair and glared at Buffy. "Besides, why would they even come here if there was a day off on school?"

Vicky rolled her eyes and closed her eyes. "Because, they don't know that we have a day off of school."

"Duh! But why would they start a fight in the middle of the day if their was school? If that's not Beavishly retarded, than I am at a definite loss for what is. All those people around? I don't think so."

Giles rubbed his hand over his face in a frustrated gesture. "Cordelia is-is right to a certain point. Surely risking themselves in a crowd would be insanely. . .well stupid. Yes, quite idiotic. Perhaps they aren't coming today."

Oz raised his hand to say something. "Yeah, but what if they knew somehow that school was off today. And I say this with no offense, but we all know from Angel that vampires have the ability to go lurky far and wide. Its a basic instinct."

"Oh, please. Lurking is the polite term for sticking your nose in other people's property," Cordelia said with a sniff.

"But he might have a point," Buffy said sitting up in the chair. A sudden wave of nausea travel through her stomach to her throat but she was able to put it off. "Two students were killed last week by them and they came up the night I had off, plus there are other young ones there. He could be using them as look outs."

Angel nodded. "Yeah I did notice a few. . ." his voice trailed off as he realized that he was about to give himself away. Several pairs of eyes were waiting for him to finish. "When I was with Buffy patrolling a couple of weeks back." Nice save, he thought. "If Spike is using them, they definitely are telling him what's going on with the school. Vampires like young fresh kills. Part of catching the bait is to be three steps ahead of them, and besides that, its not all that hard for anyone to find out anything around here."

Xander snorted. "Leave it to Angel to take the little Utopia that we have and make it into one big Wes Craven fest." That received looks all around.

They all decided that they would wait there all day if they had too, though Cordelia threatened to leave earlier. With the exception of Giles and Angel, who were in the back reading a book about something or another and Willow and Oz, who were on the computer and doing some new chords on the guitar respectively, the rest were bored stiff out of their minds. Even Vicky and Steven who thought themselves to be quite tolerable.

"I'm so bored, there just isn't anything worth the while around here. Even the hellmouth has taken a day off," Buffy complained as she yawned. She saw the desk in short walking distance and didn't even realize that she was soon lying on top of the desk clutching her stomach. "I feel so wasted right now without the actual wasting fest."

Vicky looked dazzlingly at the ceiling. Steven was worried. She hadn't blinked in a whole hour. "Look at the pretty ceiling. How the chips just fall off slowly. And then the way they fall down on the floors."

Steven moved his hand in front of her. "Honey. . .honey! There aren't any paint chips falling on the floor," he said softly. He snapped his fingers and she came out of it. She sat up and put a hand to he head.

"I must have dozed off."

Xander called Giles out. "Come on Giles, we're dying here literally. Buffy collapsed on the chair. And Vi-"

"And Ms. Slayer Wonder here is going completely freako-tick. I think its time we called it quits don't you?" Cordelia demanded more than asked.

Buffy felt energized for some reason. She got up off the table and got the tingly feeling. "Oh yeah, Spike should be coming in these doors any minute now." Suddenly the door burst open with Spike, Drusilla, and their entourage of vampires close behind them. "What did I tell you?"

Spike lit a cigarette and through the trash near Giles' foot. The Watcher sighed heavily and picked the trash up. "Wouldn't anyone mind throwing things away? There is a paper basket right by the door."

"Well, excuse me June Cleaver. I forgot how this place means so much to you. Well, at least you'll die where you're supposed to," Spike said in his cockney voice.

He directed his attention over to Buffy. "Hope you're able to fight baby. I wouldn't want to make it harder on you than it already is." Buffy's face grew mysteriously blank. Spike smiled at that. "What, no Angel to tell me his message? That I'm going down?"

And because he never lost his knack for stealthiness he appeared magically out of the stacks. "Maybe you should think again Spike." Spike looked at him with a sense of bafflement. "Did you really think that you could outsmart us?" When Spike didn't answer, Angel smiled thinly and took his place behind Buffy.

"Just answer this question mate. How did you get in here without being toast?" Spike wanted to know.

Angel wasn't going to fall for it. He wouldn't get a thing from him. He would sweat it out to the death. "How did you get in?" Again, Spike didn't say anything.

Dru looked around the room dazed until she saw two unfamiliar-yet very familiar- people looking at her. Once she remembered who it was she cried out to Spike, "Spike! Look who it is." Spike saw Steven and Vicky there and his whole attitude changed. Whatever he was feeling at the moment, though he squashed it quickly.

"Well, well, if it isn't the handsome nobleman and his Slayer make two. It's been a long time Victoria, Steven. Dru said that Angel had some old friends in town."

Vicky smiled and then stepped up to him with Steven by her side. "Yes, it has been awhile. The last I saw you Steven left you with a scar to remember while I tortured Dru. My memories of Barcelona couldn't get any better. As a matter of fact, they are my fondest yet."

Steven broke out into laughter. "I remember that one. Dru was talking about her visions," he said as he remembered. Tears were coming down his cheeks. Vicky joined in.

"Those were good times," she said wiping away her tears.

"Yeah good times," Steven echoed.

Spike scowled at the both of them. "Isn't it funny that we're all gettin' ready to go at it? It just like the good ol' days ey mates?" He glanced at Angel and Vicky with a wicked grin. "It'll just make me feel better about killing you. Its in the Bible even. There are those who are born to lead and others are meant to be slaves or be eaten. Of course I'm paraphrasing."

Buffy lifted up her stake. "Its hard to believe that Spike can actually remember what was in the Bible. I mean I can't see him picking up one before he was a vampire, in which I'm sure that before he grew a nice new pair of the points he was as devout and obedient as there ever was."

"Yeah, those last nights are kind of blurry. Maybe Angel can fill you in on what actually life was like. He could tell you about me better than I could. He liked to play with his catches. Turned Dru on to it. I was just a victim of a vampire hunt." He smiled as he saw Angel get the guilty look. "Back to the current argument at hand. As I was saying, us Brits, being the first to be here and all are just bloody likely to be the ones to overrule. Right Giles old chum?"

Giles gave him a disgusted look. "Unfortunately people like you make it hard for me to be proud of my country.

As if she came out of a thoughtful prelude, Vicky shook her head. "I wouldn't say that though. I mean I'm just not sure that the whole statement you just said was true. Drusilla didn't complain much about Angel and all. And he's as Irish as they come," Vicky said smirking as Spike stepped forward to her.

Buffy rolled her eyes and scrunched her nose up. "I hate to agree 'cause the thought itself makes me nauseous-not agreeing with Vicky, just what she said-but Vicky there does have a point."

"Of course," Vicky continued, "history agrees, as well as woman, with me. Irish men are known for their heavenly Greek god bodies. They're right up their with the elusive group of cultured men who have romance in their blood. You know Latinos, Africans, Greeks, Romans, Italians and French." Her eyes went from Spike to Drusilla. "That must have been why Dru was so hot for him." Spike punched her in the mouth. Undaunted, she wound up her fist and gave a powerful blow to both eyes and then the stomach. He fell back but go up quickly.

Dru twirled around in the air with her Ms. Edith going up and down as Dru caught her. "Ms. Edith says that she won't let these nasty people ruin her party. When we kill them we're going to have a party just for her. And we'll invite Lucy, and Gardenia, and Chelsea, and Marie and . . . Spike, I can't remember who else is supposed to come."

"Well we know its not your brain. That must have taken a slip out of the back door a long time ago. And for the record, doesn't anyone find it just a tad absurd that Dru sleeps with dolls and has parties for them? How did you handle that Angel? I mean I wouldn't let her talk to dolls in our bed if she was sleeping with me."

"Don't go there!" Spike, Buffy, and Angel shouted at Xander at the same time.

Meanwhile, Cordelia was checking out Spike's face and she had to admit that she thought he was hot. "You know I don't mean to interrupt you from your little fighting or whatever but I just have to say to you Spike that you've got the whole Billy Idol thing working for you. I mean you're doing it better than he ever could. You look totally hot."

Everyone glanced at her. Spike straightened up and smiled. "Yeah? You really think so?"

She nodded enthusiastically. "Oh yeah. If we weren't supposed to be enemies and all. And if we weren't taken, I'd definitely date you. You're a total turn on."

Spike smiled at her happily. "Wow ducks. I'm flattered. Maybe I'll kill you last."

Xander stepped in having about as much as he could handle. "Could you stop now? You're both making me sick. Go play with Loony Toons over there."

Spike came back to Vicky. "Shall we then?"

"Ooohhh. . . .Spike. . .the moon is telling me something."

Buffy rolled her eyes towards Dru. "Don't you ever have anything else to say? Can't a cactus tell you something, or a goat?"

"Or a pig?" Steven suggested.

"What about a rock?" Buffy said.

"How about a worm?" Oz offered.

"That's a good one," Willow replied supportively.

"Shut your bloody mouths up and stop making fun of her. If it hadn't been for a certain torturer who will remain nameless since we already know who it is, then this would have never happened." He turned back to Drusilla. "Now, pet, what did the moon tell you?"

Drusilla made a biting motion to his neck. "It said love, that we were going to have a feast of blood."

Vicky laughed. "Well the moon told you wrong. After all it was Shakespeare who said not to swear by the moon because the orb it self changes faces so periodically. Romeo and Juliet Scene II spoken by Juliet herself. Of course I am paraphrasing."

"And now that we've gotten our literature history lesson from Vicky can we fight now?" Xander asked.

Angel picked Buffy up and carried her over to the weapons closet. Once they were in he set her down. She brought her forehead to his and placed her arms around his neck. "I hate doing this Buffy. I feel like him."

She kissed him gently. "If you were Angelus, do you think I would be having your baby right now?" she whispered in his ear. "You aren't him honey. You're Angel. We both agreed that since I can't fight myself, the best thing for me and this little one would be to stay locked up."

"I love you Buffy Edmington. I can't wait to announce you as my wife to the world." He kissed her forehead.

She smiled and then frowned. "Please be safe. I can't live without you. I've tried. And if you don't not die then you're going to get a major can of whip." He nodded and kissed her one more time. It held much passion and promise and yet, tenderness. He let her go slowly and stepped out closing the gate slowly. She stepped up to him and reached for his hand. He turned around to see everyone looking at him.

Angel noticed Vicky smile at Steven who put his hands up as if to surrender. "Okay you were right. I can admit it. Pancakes or French toast?"

She put a finger to her mouth and pretended to think hard, then she look at her wonderful husband and smiled wickedly. "French toast with syrup and Cool Whip."

Xander looked between Angel and the couple. "Right about what? Angel, why did you lock Buffy up? I knew you were faking this whole you're on our side thing. But no, Buffy had to trust you. Its those big brown soulful eyes isn't it? It get them every time." He took his stake and put it Angel's chest.

Buffy called from behind him. "He's not bad Xander! I'm sick and I can't fight and Angel's going to fight for me and for himself so he'll be super strong. Back away slowly." Xander removed his stake but still eyed him suspiciously.

Spike took his sort out as well as Drusilla. "We know your little secret people. A stake my not be able to kill or a gun. Or maybe it will. But your real death will come when we take your head," he grinned evilly. "So I'm guessing you don't know about this."

Willow pulled out her sword first. "See, that's where you're wrong Spike. We've been practicing and we've been knowing. But we'll just call this a test killing to see what we can do," she said smirking.

Her boyfriend looked at her which caused her to blush. "That's my baby." He pulled out his sword. The shock on Spike and Dru's face alone was purely enough for them to take advantage.

Everyone on both sides pulled out a sword. "Let the games," Angel said darkly as he turned to Spike, "begin."

Spike thrust his sword towards Angels stomach but Angel ducked quickly. He forwarded on Spike causing him to back up to a wall. Angel kicked him in the groin. Spike doubled over in pain. He looked at Angel and put his game face on. They went at it again.

Meanwhile, Vicky was holding off Drusilla and another vampire. Dru took her nail and sliced it across the Slayer's neck. Vicky smiled at this and punched her in the face. She grabbed a stake from off the near by table and plunged it in the other vampire's heart. "Doesn't work on me Dru."

Another vampire came after her but Steven grabbed him from behind the head and banged his face on the table hard. He did it again. "Are we," he said repeating the violent notion, "having fun yet?" he asked nonchalantly. He brought the vampire up to his view and shoved the sword into his chest. A woman vampire jumped off the stacks. Just as she got to him he turned around with his stake point side up.

Vicky looked at Steven. "Nice one hon."

She turned her attention back to Drusilla who had a few tricks up her sleeve as well. "I try," he replied.

Willow was fighting a vampire with a sword. Once Willow knew she had to take this immortal thing seriously. She paid more attention to Giles' instructions during their fencing and swords lessons. This was what Willow needed. To feel stronger about herself physically. She had always wished she had Buffy and Victoria's strength and doubted that she would ever get it but now, this new life that she had, made her more stronger and more powerful. Giles had pulled her over one day and said that she was doing wonderful and she could be one of the finest swords person he might ever see. She was happy to hear that for it made her feel special to have talent in the strength department. She no long had to feel dependent among the four. Well, not as much.

As the vampire moved his sword toward her head she counter blocked it and kicked him in the face he fell down and she knew this was her chance. With all her strength she brought the sword down through his neck.

The fight had been right in front of Buffy who had been watching Angel most of the time but took her eyes off of it to see Willow. She cheered Willow on. "Go Will! Congratulations. You just beheaded your first vampire."

"Thanks," she said shyly. "You're right Buffy, this stuff makes you energized. I want to kill another one." She ran off without waiting for Buffy to reply.

Surprisingly Cordy and Xander were doing well too. Well Cordy mostly. Xander was trying but Cordelia actually focused her attention on her opponent without thinking about how she looked. Giles looked over at her as he sprinkled holy water on a girl vampire. This distraction allowed Drusilla to sneak up on him. She placed the sword to his neck.

"Well, well Watcher. I'm going to have a big party and you're invited." Victoria saw Giles and troubled and staked her opponent quickly and did a series of somersaults and back flips over to Giles.

"What about me? Am I invited? 'Cause that would be a pity if I wasn't." She reached for Drusilla's hair and pulled her back so that her face was close to the young girl's. "Find someone else. We can't make it."

Giles looked on with amazement as Victoria lifted Drusilla who was three times her weight in size up. She threw Drusilla over to Angel who had just dusted another vamp. Steven was fighting Spike who was loosing terribly. He saw Drusilla being thrown and growled at Vicky who laughed in his face. "Oops Spike, I slipped. Sorry."

Angel got up and picked Drusilla up with him. She whimpered as he brought her up by her hair. He looked at her, not with hatred, but with guilt. Guilt for what he had done to her. Guilt for having to kill her because of what he had done to her. Spike tried to get to her but Vicky and Steve held him in place.

She smiled at him lazily. "Does it end this way Angel? Hmm? I always knew that you would be the one to kill me. Not the Slayer, not the Watcher, not anyone but you. Will this make all your pain go away? Hmm. The child. I forgive you Angel if you forgive me. But I will still hate you and love you just the same."

"That's got to be the most intelligent thing Dru's ever said," Buffy said. Only Xander laughed at this.

Angel understood and sadly lifted the stake. "I'm sorry Dru, for everything. For making you crazy and for killing your family. Torturing you the way that I did."

She smiled and closed her eyes. "I love you. You don't love me like that. You never did but I always have loved you. You'll live forever. But you already have. Angel can you make the pain in my heart go away? In my head? Please."

Angel let go of her head. "I can Dru." He kissed her on the cheek and then plunged the stake in her heart. She didn't turn to dust until she said, "Angel? Do I go to hell because I'm alive again or is my soul in heaven?" He looked away from her.

"Wherever it is, you'll be okay. I believe." Then she exploded into dust, leaving her ashes over and around Angel."

Spike looked at the spot where she stood. Where his love stood. His life. All the memories of what they had before flooded through him. The world lay motionless. A deep abyss to bury himself in. He stood like a statue. Like time had stopped and frozen him as well. "Dru? Baby. No. Nooo!" He looked at Angel and ran towards him with his sword and Angel knew that this was it. In the end, just as the quote so painfully stated, there *could* be only one. Spike still raced towards him. "You'll bloody well pay for this you bastard! You killed her!" Spike went for Angel but then he stopped. " I know exactly who I can get." He ran towards the weapons closet.

For the first time in her life since the Master, Buffy was truly scared. She couldn't fight or she would lose the baby maybe. But if Spike got to her he would kill her and the baby. She backed away from the door. "Angel!" Angel saw where he was headed and ran to Spike.

Spike was trying to jar the door open but it wasn't working. "How do you open this bloody thing?" he said shaking the door violently.

At this point Vicky was about to step in. Steven stopped her though. "Vicky, you know the rules."

Angel reached for Spike who spun around. Spike knocked Angel up against the cage. The immortal went down to the ground. Spike kicked him yelling at him and cursing at him and blaming him for everything. He held the sword to his sire's neck. "So how does it feel. Huh? To be this close to death? You've been there before but this time it's the person you hate the most. The person that you hate yourself for hating is going to kill you. You were my freaking sire. I'd have done anything for you. And this is what you do for me? No. If Dru goes and I have to grieve then someone who loves you is gonna have to grieve. The Slayer and her little booligan of hers is gonna suffer just like me. Looks like I've got the better end of the stick chap."

Angel looked over at Buffy who by this time was down on her knees begging Spike. Something that she wasn't quite used too. He remembered what he was fighting for. He knew that he did wrong but he was truly sorry and he could no longer beat himself up over it. He would always be remorseful and guilty but he couldn't do it. He couldn't. That would be selfish. He had a family that he had to think about now. Something that he had always dreamed of even as Angelus at times. And now he was going to have it.

He swept his legs under Spikes and got up. "Maybe Dru didn't," Angel said coldly, "but you do." He took the stake he was hiding in his sleeve and plunged it through his "son's" heart.

Spike looked at Angel in astonishment. "I'm coming Dru," he said as he became nothing but a pile of ashes.

Angel dropped to his knees with his sword and let go. Once again things were silent. The vampires were gone and they were all left. It was just the Slayers and the Slayerettes. Vicky looked on knowing that she couldn't help him. Only his soul mate could. Buffy shook the door crying. "Let me out. Let me out." Vicky ran over and unlocked the door. Buffy practically ran over her as she went to Angel.

She bent down immediately. "Shh it's okay honey. It's going to be okay."

Steven turned to the others. "We'll leave the room." Everyone including Xander agreed, leaving the couple on the middle of the library floor.

"It's over now Angel," Buffy whispered in his ear.

He lay his head on her chest and placed his hand on her stomach rubbing it absentmindedly. "It's not over. It'll never be over. My old life will come back to haunt me forever. As long as there is a hellmouth, there will be my past. It won't allow me to forget and move on."

"You, yes you, Angel are exactly what you are called, an angel. You are not the person you were all those years ago not even a year ago. We can move on. You have me and you have our child. You're going to be a good father. A wonderful father. And you've been an excellent husband. We are strong. And together we are stronger and we can fight all of the demons that is brought to us. You have me and no matter what I will never leave you or hurt you if I can help it. You've been forgiven, and we've all forgotten that part of your life. Now you have to. Remember the lessons but throw away the baggage. We have forever now."

Angel looked at her. This girl, this woman who was so young and still had some sort of innocence to her. For her to love him. He never thought it possible. He felt like she had more to offer to him then he could ever have for her. All he could do was kiss her. Kissed her with so much love that it blew Buffy away. She had never been kissed like that before. They had never kissed like that. She melted in his arms.

The gang thought it would be safe to return. Giles coughed silently letting them know that they were watching. They didn't break apart right away but finally let go of each other. "Are you guys done now?" Xander asked impatiently.

The two immortals made their way off the floor still holding each other. Oz looked at Angel. "You okay man? Out there was pretty intense. And that's an understatement. You know what I mean?" Angel nodded his eyes still on his love.

"So are we still going out tonight? I mean we should have killed all the vampires. Can't we just go and watch a movie? I don't feel like doing anything strenuous. I think I already pulled a muscle," Xander complained rubbing his throbbing shoulder.

Buffy finally turned attention on her friends. "Yeah we can watch it at our place. I finally talked him into getting a VCR to go with the TV I had to beg him to get."

"I'm up for it," Oz said putting his arm around Willow. She agreed as well.

Vicky reached for her bag and purse. "Which bring us to the question, what are we going to watch?"

"How about Nightmare on Elm Street? It's a cult classic," Xander offered.

Cordelia smacked him upside the head and gave him a glare. "Once again Xander you show your romantic side. I think we should watch Clueless. It's the perfect date movie. It's got everything romance, clothes, boys, clothes, cool cars and more clothes. What more could you possibly ask for in a movie?"

Willow rolled her eyes and muttered under her breath. "It figures Cordy would pick that one."

Buffy thought for a moment then smiled. "Titanic hands down." The other girls swooned and agreed while all the males but Giles groaned. "Please. It's such the chick flick. 'Promise me you'll never let go,' " Xander said in a falsetto voice. He continued his mockery. "I'll...I'll never let go Jack, I'll never let go.' "

He received looks from all around. "Besides," Steven continued in the boy's defense, "all you want to see is that Leonardo guy. He's not that great looking if you ask me. I definitely could take him any time in all categories."

Vicky rolled her eyes but nodded. "True."

Angel was the last one who brought up a suggestion. And no one would have ever thought that someone like Angel would even mention it. His days of becoming a human certainly had lightened him up a bit. "I think we should watch Scream 2." Everyone looked at him.

Buffy put her hands on her hips and shook her head repeatedly. "No! every time that chic Sarah Gellar or Sarah Michelle whatever her name is, dies, you scream at the TV like its it's fault. You like her better than me."

Angel sighed and put his arms around her again. "That's because she looks just like you. It's like she could be your twin. But no one could replace you. You know that."

Buffy turned around to face him. "Yeah I know. But she looks nothing like me. She's a total waif. I have meat on my bones."

Vicky laughed at that. "Didn't you say you had lost a lot of weight the second year you lived in Sunnydale? Isn't that telling you something?"

"Are we seeing this thing or not?" Willow asked rather un-Willow like. Everyone thought it was a good idea. Buffy finally gave in and decided that it would be okay. The four headed out leaving Giles to look at them in wonder and smiled.

He noticed the trash on the floor. "Oh Buffy?" he called out. The small slayer turned around. "Please pick up the paper." She clutched her fist to her sides and picked up the paper then stomped back out.

Epilogue

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