Disclaimer: Standard disclaimers apply. Joss, ME, I'm not making any money.

The demon stood three feet taller than Angel and was immensely strong. It had caught Angel's sword and tossed it away. Now he had Angel by the throat. He could easily crush the vampire's throat and behead him. Angel hadn't told anyone what he was planning; hadn't asked for any help. But somehow he had expected Buffy to show up at the crucial point, leading her army. Then suddenly a crossbow bolt flew over head, burying in the creature's throat.

Angel turned and there at the front was a woman he loved, who had helped him become the person he was. But the warrior at her side wasn't Faith and the army wasn't comprised of young girls. It was all men, some human and some with the green skin and horns of Pyleans.

Groo pointed his sword forward. "For your queen and her homeland: ATTACK!"

"Cordy?"

She dropped her crossbow and headed for him while ordering someone to get Gunn to a healer.

"You're alive and in Pylea? How?"

"New body from the PTB because of what Jasmine did. And I'm in Pylea because they opened a portal under my feet."

"You're queen?"

"Democracy didn't work so we're trying constitutional monarchy. We'll talk later, like about how this wasn't what I had in mind with that vision."

Angel was slammed into the ground with the demon'a tackle. Before it could do anything it's head was sliced off, the blade of the weapon stopping inches from Angel's own neck.

"Buffy?"

"Sorry it took so long to get here. It took some time to get everyone and for the coven Giles and Willow hang with to gather enough power to teleport all of us."

"Just glad you're here. The green demons with the horns and red eyes are on our side."

"Okay. Uh... I guess we'll talk later. I want to know what you were thinking starting an apocalypse you couldn't finish and not telling anyone"

She turned from him heading for the fight and yelled. "Spike! What they hell are you doing alive and why am I just finding out?!"

The blow to the back dropped Angel to his knees. But before the creature could follow up it's neck was snapped.

"Connor? I told you to stay away."

"I know, Dad. But the fact is I'm a fighter. And I think you made enough decisions for me when you rewrote my life."

Angel found himself slammed into the alley wall. Suddenly the creature holding him jerked and collapsed. He caught a glimpse of army fatigues moving away. Then he heard Buffy's voice.

"Riley, what're you three doing here? Are you alone?"

"No, the rest of my team is securing the perimeter. I decided it had been to long since I saw an apocalypse up close. Sam and Graham insisted on coming with me."

Angel slid down the wall. Now he owed his life to Riley Finn. He looked to the sky and addressed the heavens.

"You're just screwing with me now, aren't you?"

End