DISCLAIMER: Joss is Boss. Some dialogue is taken from different episodes of the series.

***

Fred's fingers tapped away at the computer almost in a rhythm, Gunn polished his axe while Wes was hunched over the scroll they had acquired earlier, they were all waiting for his 'Eureka' moment when the symbols formed words in his mind and he understood what was prophesized. From his position near the desk he could hear Angel and Cordy's bumbling conversation, 200 plus years and the boy had still not mastered the art of small talk, or any kind of talk really. s

"Angel loves me! I love him!"

"Oh my god!"

"You guys love us and we love you guys!"

Gunn looked over at Fred amused; she shared a small grin at him, her hair bobbing slightly.

"We love you Angel!"

Even Wes chorused with them without taking his eyes off the page. Gunn set down the axe, two coats of polish was more than enough. Fred was frowning at her computer, she looked so cute when her forehead crinkled like that; she barely resembled the taco loving, cave dwelling girl they had rescued months ago.

"Damn it!"

Wes's fist slammed on the table, carefully missing the delicate scroll.

"What's twisting your panties English?"

Wes had pulled his glasses off and was cleaning them; something he did when upset, before returning them to his nose, his fingers now rubbing at his temples, his agitation very evident.

"It's this Ga-Shandi cross text. I'm far from fluent and it's very tricky."

"And here I thought they made you head boy because you spoke fluent Ga-Shandi!" Gunn joked with a smirk. "Do you know anyone who is fluent? Maybe they could take a look."

The dark look that crossed Wes's face answered his question, Fred's fingers hovered a moment and she turned to look at Wes, turning back to Gunn she nodded towards Wes, Gunn groaned inwardly.

"You do, don't you? Why are you looking like this isn't a good thing?"

Wes sighed, reaching for the phone. He had that look on his face; that look that said he would rather listen to Angel sing than do this; it was an unnerving look.

"It's Giles; Angel wouldn't want me to call him but I have to."

Giles? Fred mouthed to Gunn who shrugged, he didn't recognise the name and luckily Angel was still too involved with his conversation with Cordy to be listening in on their conversation. Wes's face was rumpled, his hand all but strangling the phone. A faint voice was heard on the other side of the phone.

"Giles its Wesley." He paused. "We need your help."

The doors to the hotel opened and a bag was dropped on the floor. Angel and Cordy fell silent, Gunn glanced over at Fred who had come to stand beside him, abandoning the computer. Leaning across the desk, Gunn swore silently his eyes moving to Angel whose face was whiter than usual.

"Darla."

"Hello, lover. Long time no see."

This was not going to end well.

***

Tara was beside him looking in earnest at Willow, just as he was at Buffy, their voices harmonising together, entwining as one.

"Wish I could stay."

Oblivious to the two, Buffy and Willow continued their conversation. The phone to the Magic Box rang breaking the stillness and Giles moved to answer it, Buffy and Willow looked over in interest; the phone only rang when it was bad news.

"Magic Box."

He listened silently, recognising the voice, that small feeling of dread curdling in his stomach.

"Wesley? We have our own sit-"

He broke off as the phone clattered and he heard a rush of voices on the other end, Cordelia's ringing out louder than the rest.

"Wesley? Wesley?"

Buffy's face darkened, curiosity colouring her face, she moved forward slowly coming to hover just beyond his shoulder, the top of her head barely brushed there.

"Giles, I'll explain when you arrive, it's essential that you get here immediately. Darla is pregnant."

The line went dead and much like those idiotic actors in a movie he stared at it in shock. Buffy placed an hand on his arm, concern etched on her face, a question coming to her lips. The door opened with its cheerful bell, and the question died on her lips, a new one forming. Dawn was thrown into the store stumbling over her feet, Spike just behind her. Buffy rushed to her side, taking in her split lip and rapidly swelling jaw.

"Dawn!"

Giles's eyes softened at the sight, momentarily forgetting what Wesley had just told him.

"What happened?"

Tara looked down feeling guilty.

"I'm sorry; I just left her for a minute."

Spike spat at the ground, blood staining the floor.

"Lucky I happened by then. Found the little bit being taken by some demon minions, my guess he's the one whose caused the Rodger and Hammerstein's amateur theatre."

Xander narrowed his eyes with a snicker. s

"Just happened by? You weren't already lurking near the windows hoping to catch a glimpse of Buffy?"

Spike flipped the boy off, his mouth opening to hurl an insult back at him. Giles head throbbed; they hadn't the time for this. Darla; the resurrected vampire was pregnant.

"All of you shut up!"

Even Spike fell silent, all eyes in the room turning to him. His fingers itched to clean his glasses but he resisted. He walked swiftly around the counter his eyes falling on Buffy. She looked between him and the phone. Xander gaped openly at him but it was Anya that voiced everyone's question.

"What's-"

She was cut off by Buffy's soft voice.

"It's Angel."

***

It was very rare in his line of work that someone's aura was so easily seen, one usually had to bare their soul for it to be read. But that was not needed for now. Cordy and Darla had shut themselves away in his room, her anger at Angel all but hitting him in the face. Angel's guilt was also suffocating the air which also had a hint of desperation flavouring it. Angel had taken to pacing the small area in front of the bar.

"I don't see how anything spawned by Darla and me could be good."

Lorne wanted to interrupt, the aura of the baby was not evil; it was an instrument of good but Angel and the gang were oblivious to his sputtering.

"You know the first prophecy that said that the vampire with a soul would be pivotal in the battle between good and evil?"

Wes had guilt seeping into his words and it made Lorne's head spin, how could such a small group have so many strong emotions at one time. Angel hummed slightly as he walked and it hit him. Literally.

"I think he's waking up."

"Fred, slap him again."

It was like he was Dorothy returning from Oz, except the dream was reality. Four anxious faces peered over him, two strong arms helping him up.

"Sea breeze."

He managed to wheeze out, mildly annoyed that no one even moved to make one.

"Lorne, what did you see?"

The stage began to crackle with energy and their heads turned, a gush of wind shot out and seven people collapsed on his stage, Cordy ran out from the back room brandishing a sword. A short blonde was the first of the travellers to move, springing up with surprising grace. She moved lithely to stand before Angel; they stared at each other silently. She looked to be twenty but there was something about her that suggested she was older than her years. He knew who she was, and more importantly with one look why she was here. Lorne felt almost like he was intruding on a very private moment. The two moved and were hugging; they fit together seamlessly almost like their bodies were made to fit in the others. One word fell from his lips.

"Kyrumption."

Behind him Fred nodded her agreement wordlessly. The six other travellers had moved to their feet, the youngest holding her wrist in pain. The two warriors moved away from each other, sharing a private smile.

"Buffy."

Her name sounded perfect on his lips; over her head he regarded each of the rest with a nod.

Fred's eyes flashed with recognition and Gunn's hand found its way to the small of her back.

"We're going to need that chart."

***

Hi guys, this is just an idea I had when watching Angel. Holtz thought Angel had not changed, what if Buffy were there to show him he had? What would have happened to Connor; with Angel by her side, needing her would she feel something and not resort to sleeping with Spike? Well here is how I think it could have gone down. Please review and just for all those misguided Spuffy fans out there this is most definitely BA, but it is Spike friendly- he's an interesting character after all, just not with Buffy.