I dedicate this chapter to MyExcellentStories for the triumphant comments! Thanks duder! \m/ Party on!

The Doctor climbed out of the Delorean with the proudest look on his face, just like the look Bill and Ted had shared when they got guitars for the first time.

He shook Doc's hand and thanked him profusely for all the help.

"You're welcome to stay in the TARDIS if you'd like. We're trying to heal up a paradox, and honestly, a bit more mad sciencey-wiency knowledge wouldn't hurt," The Doctor was saying, his hands a blur as he gestured back and forth.

"I don't see why not," Doc Brown grinned. The Doctor grinned ecstatically, his mouth open in a cheesy, excited smile.

The Delorean parked and the Doctor climbed out and looked proudly at the TARDIS. Bill and Ted jumped out of the TARDIS interior.

"That was excellent!" Ted exclaimed. "Can we do that again?"

"Not right now. I need to unhook Neo from the console. He was guiding us." The Doctor pinched the clip at the back of Neo's neck, and the man sat up. "Fantastic steering!" He congratulated.

Neo rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly, "Thanks."

"Now, everyone take a seat. Jack, I need you for a minute," The Doctor began.

The vampires lingered in the corner, except for Marko, of course. David and the others had put up whit a crap-ton of The Doctor's antics, and felt a bit of rebellion was long overdue.

Bill, Ted, and Marty sat down on the console beside The Doctor. Doc Brown stayed at the entrance to the TARDIS, a curious look on his face the whole time.

The Frogs were in the farthest corner away from the vampires, still glaring suspiciously. The Doctor made a deliberate step between them to break the eye contact and put all the focus on him.

"Now, you're not going to like this news. I'm sorry, I'm so, so sorry," he began, "but Jack and I came to this conclusion when we fixed up the TARDIS after he arrived."

He looked at Bill and Ted individually.

"I'm sure you remember the test I made you do. It's time to admit it--although Neo had it figured out-- it was just a test. None of you were meant to get out.

"What it did do, however, was tap into your subconscious in an attempt to figure out your fears and how to connect you all. The end result was, well, what you all experienced."

Bill paled just a moment before Ted did as realization hit, but Marko vocalized it.

"So you're saying... we have to die?"

"Yes. Well, yes and no, well, no and yes. Technically, yes. It's a paradox, you see. There's two of each of you. So that means one of you can't die without the other being affected by it."

Doc Brown stepped in this time, much to everyone's surprise.
"It makes sense. I'm gathering that, since these two--" He gestured to the Stallyns and their counterparts, "--are the same person, getting rid of one but not the other would cause a time rift. It's very tricky, dangerous stuff. It should never be tampered with."

"This guy is the king of tampering with dangerous things," Jack laughed easily. The Doctor raised an eyebrow.

"Now, like I said, I didn't think you'd like the solution. We've tried everything... Neo, Marko, you two need to be the ones. When the two of you die, it'll cause a paradox in which I can enter the timelines and patch it up from the inside, Tinelord style."

"Wait. Just a minute," the voice was David's. He came from his dark corner with an evil look in his eye. "You're not killing my brother."

"I'm sorry, David, I am so, so sorry, but he was never meant to exist!"

"HA!" Edgar yelled, "I knew The Doctor was on our side! Death to the bloodsuckers!" Edgar and Alan rushed at Marko, who flew to the very top of the TARDIS interior instantly.

Paul was on his feet, fangs bared, already in the air with the Frogs' necks as his target.

A very loud alarm suddenly blared, strong enough to cause everyone to hold their ears and drop. Even Marko fell from the ceiling. When the noise stopped and people looked around, they saw The Doctor flip a switch to turn it off. He looked extremely angry, angrier than they'd seen him.

His voice was low and threatening.

"Listen here, and listen good. I am on no one's side. I believe everyone is equally important to the success of the mission, and if any of you--- Frogs, David, Bill, Ted, Neo--- screw this up, you will destroy our chance at ever saving the future. Would you like to see what happens?"

David forced his way forward.

He grabbed The Doctor by his bowtie. The Doctor paled and swallowed hard, but he didn't shoo the vampire off.

"You're asking me to kill my family. As far as I'm concerned, that makes you the enemy," David whispered.

"Then why didn't you take your chance and bite me yet?"

Silence fell between the two ageless men, neither wanting to blink first. It was much like a Weeping Angel in the room. Paul was on his toes, bouncing slightly, ready to strike at a moments notice, Dwayne retreating to the shadows for the unexpected jump.

Edgar and Alan were ready, faces emotionless, weapons drawn. Who would strike first, humans or vampires?

Bill and Ted watched, like a car wreck that they couldn't stop staring at, with no way to intervene. Doc Brown and Marty didn't have a clue, but rightfully positioned by an exit, the way one would when staring into the eyes of an angry dog.

The only one who hadn't moved was Neo, and that was because he knew the truth. He'd known it all along.

"He's right," Neo said, breaking the tension like glass. "The Oracle said I would have to die, and it would be for the greater good. I was never meant to be real. Neither was Marko. We were made when the timelines warped."

For some reason, the vampires didn't head for Neo upon hearing the news. They glared, sure, looking eager to kill, but Marko pulled them out of it.

"He's right, dudes. I was meant to be Bill S. Preston, Esquire, and Bill S. Preston, Esquire only. If Ted didn't go to Oats, I wouldn't have gone to Santa Carla. If I hadn't gone to Santa Carla, 'Marko' would never have been made."

Slowly, he moved between David and The Doctor, his hand flat on his leader's chest, and pushed him back. Another long, silent moment fell.

"I wanna be the one to kill him," Alan finally said.

Ted snapped this time.

"No!" He barked unexpectedly. "That's my friend. Vampire or not, that's my friend, and I'm tired of you two always making comments like that!"

All eyes turned to him, and he rubbed the back of his head, stammering in embarrassment but holding his ground.

"What The Doctor says, goes, because you two don't seem to know anything about this. Marko may be a bad guy, but guess what, so are all of us. So stop it. That's my best friend you're talking about killing. I love the guy, I'm not letting you hurt him."

He out his arm around Bill protectively.

"Did... you just say you loved me?" Bill asked finally, giving Ted a quizzical look.

Ted turned tomato red and felt like he'd burst into flames.

"What I meant was-- I-I-I... I mean... dude, I... Y-Yeah, I mean, uhh--"

Bill laughed teasingly, "Don't hit me with that sentimental crap, Ted."

Ted didn't redden any less, but he smiled awkwardly and looked down at his feet, shuffling in embarrassment.

There were a few small laughs, including Bill, who punched Ted in the arm.

"Love you too, duder," he smirked, then pulled a face like he was going to throw up. He threw his friend an air guitar riff, which was graciously returned, like always.