Thanks for the memories folks. I don't own it, and I don't want to. Enjoy.
Krevlornswath of the Deathwok Clan hadn't intended to go to the alley that night.
The plan had actually been to head for Mexico. Sun, sand, and beautiful women. And also far far away from law firms. And the entertainment industry. And Angel.
But awfully close to Texas. So then the plan had been to go to Canada. But that was too snowy.
Eventually Lorne figured he might as well just go keep an eye on things and then get out of dodge after the battle was over and done with, so he could make sure that someone saw the end. After all, someone had to make sure his friends didn't fade away.
But he wasn't prepared for what he saw.
First, it was about what he figured. Giant horde of demons running straight down the alley. And the next moment, they were gone, just like that. And looking closer, he could see that so was Gunn. Weird.
And then Angel started down the alley at the same time a whole crowd of girls started up it, and was that – Faith? Right in front of the crowd. And who was with her? Buffy?
It had to be Buffy. Lorne doubted that Angel would use quite that much tongue to say hello to anyone else.
And then there were five figures standing in a circle around Buffy and Angel, and they began to chant.
"Five are without life, yet they live."
Lorne squinted at them. They seemed to be bathed in light, but he could make out the one facing him. A dark-haired man, shorter than the average human. Wouldn't have lasted two seconds in Pylea.
"Five are without breath, yet they live."
And he could see the woman next to him, who seemed alight with happiness. He would know her anywhere. Cordelia.
"Five are without body, yet they live."
And beside Cordelia was Freddikins, grinning and giggling as she recited the words along with the rest.
"Five are without time, yet they live"
Fred glanced to the figure next to her, and Lorne could see that it was Wesley, but not the broken shell of a man they'd had to deal with the last few months. This man had never known the pain of losing someone he loved for no good reason.
"From the ashes of these five, one will be restored."
Gunn looked up from the circle just long enough for Lorne to see that the customary defeat the man wore was gone, as if life had finally stopped handing him bad breaks.
But what happened next was way better than any of the rest had been.
Angel collapsed to the ground, and then slowly stood up again. Buffy put out her hand and touched his chest, right above his heart. And slowly, a grin wider than Lorne had thought was possible for a human broke out on her face.