Angel stands on the street, watching the construction work where the Wolfram & Hart offices used to be. Are they really gone?

It’s been a month since the alley way. Although the populace still remember their time in Hell-A, it doesn’t seem to stop them carrying on as normal.

Angel finds himself, finally, at the front of a very long line at the City Council office. According to every record, nothing has been on the spot the offices stood on since 1994 – even though Angel and company were working there six weeks ago! The clerk doesn’t know what to say. She asks if it’s demons and then she asks him on a date. Angel leaves – times really are changing.

Later that night, at the Los Angeles Public Library, Nina is ribbing Angel about being famous. He’s not loving the attention and clearly wishes that it would go away. She notices everyone staring at him. Is it always like this? Angel says it gets worse: some throw cash at him. Like, bundles of cash. But the last thing he wants is more attention: he’s already had to make some changes he’s not happy with.

He thinks back to a few days earlier. He’s reluctantly sending Cordelia the dragon with the Groosalugg on his travels. He can’t save Los Angeles on the down low with a dragon in tow. He gives Groo a list of pointers – telling him to treat Cordelia like a partner and not a beast. When Groo hears the name, he’s delighted, and takes off with the dragon for parts unknown.

Angel shakes himself out of the memory. Nina has found something in the books. Wolfram & Hart could have used too much power and the final strike tapped them out. That’s what the Partners meant when they said it would cost too much – cost them too much financially. They really have gone. Nina says that that can only be good, right?

Angel thinks. He knows that most people will convince themselves that it was a dream. Some will simply want to resume their lives like nothing has happened. The demons will go back to planning against each other with more gusto. Some, like Gwen, will be changed forever by the decisions they’ve made, never letting it go, haunted by it. Some, like Spike and Illyria will never look at each other the same way. He has a lot to think about. Nina says goodbye and Angel closes the library door. This wing of the library has a new dedication plaque and signage, just recently unveiled at a public ceremony. Angel says goodbye as he passes.

The plaque dedication reads: “Burkle Wyndam-Pryce Wing”. They will never be forgotten. He walks to his car. He hopes that wherever his friends are, that they’re together. He knows it can’t be – the Wolfram & Hart contracts would keep them apart – but he knows that the people in his life defy logic. Every time he doubts that, he feels a breeze. Just a quick, warm, gentle breeze. But he knows that it’s her.

He knows it’s Cordelia Chase, watching her Champion.

Or I’m crazy for thinking the wind is talking to me, he reasons. He calls Spike, hoping he has a lead on Wolfram & Hart’s disappearance.

At that exact moment, Spike is getting his face punched! His opponent is Kr’Ph, alive and well and unrepentant about his treatment of Betta George in Hell. Spike is there to make him change his mind. In the middle of the battle, the phone goes. Spike answers it. It’s Angel. He drops what he’s doing and turns to leave, telling Betta George that the boss needs them. Kr’Ph laughs at Spike’s obedience and warns him that Angel’s end is coming. Spike turns and asks him what he’s talking about.

He pulls up outside the Hyperion to find Angel waiting for him. He has a shiny new car, he proudly states, thanks to his actions in Hell. Betta George thinks he’s been suckered. Spike gets out of the car and moves to the trunk: Kr’Ph is inside. He orders him to repeat to Angel what he knows. Kr’Ph tells him that the demon lords want revenge for their deaths in Hell. And they’ll come after Angel, starting with the weakest first! Shoving the demon back into the boot, the vampires jump into the car and speed off.

Who do they warn first? Gwen? Is she even still on the team, Spike wonders aloud. Angel tells him that the weakest is Gunn, still in hospital recovering from his wounds. While they’re driving, Spike asks Angel about the Shanshu, asking him what was the point of all of it? Seriously, after everything they’ve been through, after everything Spike has fought for, why would he not be in for a chance at the prophecy? And if the whole thing is never going to happen, what was the point of putting Angel through it at all? Spike shrugs. Perhaps it’s all real – history books and all. Or perhaps they shouldn’t care. Maybe they should both wait anyway. Spike says it could be either of them, but he doesn’t want the fuss. He prefers when he’s out of the spotlight. Angel smiles at him. Whatever Spike does, he says, no one will ever see him coming.

Spike leans back. He’s thrilled with the compliment. He sits there, smile on his face. Angel sits there. Betta George then declares they can stop pretending: he knows they just thanked each other in their heads. The pair, of course, deny this, but George notes how much better the two are getting along. Baby steps, but still steps, regardless.

Arriving in Silverlake, where Angel has secured Gunn for treatment, they’re ambushed as soon as they get out of the car: Burge and his son, still rather angry about their deaths in Hell. Angel gives them a chance to back off, assuming vamp face while doing so. As the demons prepare to move, a voice booms from above, commanding everyone’s attention.

“Nobody kills Charles Gunn.”

Illyria stands there, the head of a demon on her lance. She will protect Charles. He meant something to Fred, so therefore anyone who disagrees is welcome to try. She throws the head at them. “Heed my words” she commands. “The last lord who ventured into Silverlake did not.”

She turns back and slinks into the shadows, still there, watching. So that’s where she’s been, mentions Spike. He doesn’t want to see her. It hurts too much. As he walks away Angel goes to stop him, but Spike rants at him before he can speak: “Yes, don’t worry. If and when the time comes that you do try to tip the balance of good and evil in the favour of whatever side I’m not on, I will absolutely kill you. No problem.” With that he walks away. Angel points out that he was actually going to thank him for everything he’s done since he arrived in Los Angeles. Spike shrugs it off: “Yeah, you’re welcome. Cheers mate.” He is gone before Angel turns around.

Angel enters the hospital and walks to Gunn’s room. He finds Lorne in there. He smiles at his old friend. He looks down at Gunn, hooked up to machinery, unconscious. “It wasn’t you,” he says quietly. “I’ve been there, trust me, and it wasn’t you. I’m not talking about the vampire thing. I’ve made mistakes. Big ones. But it took me time to realise that a man isn’t measured by his mistakes – he’s measured by what he does about them.” He gently places something in Charles’ hand before moving to leave.

He smiles once again at Lorne and leaves the room, telling him to take care of himself and Charles. After he’s gone, Lorne sees what is in Gunn’s hand: it’s an old Angel Investigations business card, with the Hyperion’s number scribbled on it. Angel knows he’s not brilliant with words. He knows he babbles. But he also knows that he can help Charles Gunn.

After all, Angel knows his way around atonement. It’s what he does. He’s done some very bad things. He’s been told he’s destined to do more.

But for now, he’s simply here to help.