The sequel to Nephilim has finally arrived! Thank you to everyone for your patience, I will do my best to update twice weekly. First chapter or two are slow but will pick up quickly after that. Thanks for reading!

A laugh unwillingly escaped Buffy as she tried to keep her attention on Giles, which was proving difficult with Angel standing behind him. On the ceiling. It was really quite a sight because his clothes and everything stayed perfect, his angelic abilities ignoring the laws of gravity.

Giles sighed heavily and removed his glasses, before placing a hand on his hip in agitation. "Really Buffy, what is so blasted amusing?"

Angel vanished just as Giles turned around causing Buffy to laugh harder and Willow to start to giggle uncontrollably. Even Xander began to chuckle.

Giles looked around the room before staring towards the heavens in exasperation, "He's here isn't he?" He laid his glasses on the table and crossed his arms, his lips pursed. "Show yourself Liam."

A contrite looking angel suddenly appeared a few feet in front of him with a mischievous smile and hunched shoulders, his wings tight to his back. He had the wounded puppy look down to a science. "Sorry. I'm bored."

"Yes that seems to happen quite often doesn't it?" he bit out sarcastically.

Angel chest heaved as a heavy sigh left him, walking over to a chair and collapsing on it with a huff a second later. "There's just nothing going on anywhere, it's weird. Home is safe, Hell is running smoothly and there's nothing big happening here. I've never sat still so long in my life. I need some action. I swear I'm thinking about starting a war just to have something to do."

Everyone looked uncomfortable at his words, no one knew it he was joking or serious. Xander even opened his mouth as if to ask before snapping it shut when he thought better.

The angel's request for action was granted as someone suddenly appeared in the shop and knocked Angel to the floor in a blur of leather and bleached hair. The pair fought and wrestled in a flurry of punches and wings, Xander yelping and jumping out of the way as the two headed towards him.

Willow glanced at Buffy who was watching her boyfriend affectionately, her best friend enjoying how carefree Angel was lately. Ever since mating with Buffy Angel had almost done a one-eighty in the personality department. He still had his serious moments and an extremely short temper but Buffy accepted them as his demon traits and enjoyed him for who he was. Her attention turned towards the angels when Angel growled playfully and Spike yelped before they both finally stilled with matching grins, the glint from Angel's fangs clearly visible.

Since he had come back everyone noticed small changes that weren't there before he ran Hell. His fangs, which used to only appear when he was angry, were now longer and mostly permanent, Angel only hiding them when absolutely necessary. His wings, which were huge before had grown another foot making them even larger and his eyes which used to turn from black to red when angry now turned completely red when he was furious, no white showing at all. Being in hell had definitely changed him but thankfully had not warped his mind in any way, at least as far as anyone could tell. No one asked and Buffy never discussed Angel's mental state with the gang.

Spike shoved Angel away laughing before jumping up off the floor. "Heard you needed some excitement." He looked around at the group and smirked, "Boring lot aren't they?"

Xander glared at the peroxide haired angel, "So sorry we're not up to your 'world in crises' level. I'll go cause chaos to amuse you."

Angel arched an eyebrow, "You seem to do that just fine on your own."

The teenager's jaw dropped as he looked at a smirking Angel and Spike before muttering something under his breath.

"I heard that!" Angel and Spike both barked a second later before laughing again. The shorter of the two fished out a pack of cigarettes and a lighter. Giles watched as he handed one to Angel and stuck one between his lips and flicked his lighter, "Not in the shop you two."

Angel glanced at Spike who rolled his eyes and a moment later the two disappeared leaving only a few feathers behind from their skirmish.

Giles watched as Angel's black feathers ignited and burned to ash before disappearing, another more recent side affect of his time in hell. "It's like having two juvenile delinquents with wings," he grumbled as he picked up Spike's white feathers. Angel had been around more and more lately, his duties lessening with each passing day allowing him to be on earth with Buffy quite often. Spike seemed to follow Angel like a little brother and wreaked havoc whenever he visited earth, which was at least once every couple weeks. He wasn't exactly sure which one was the bad influence, both seemed in dire need of some discipline and manners.

"Now that the children are gone can we please discuss what we know about Dracula?" he asked.

Xander groaned before slamming his book shut, ignoring Giles' wince at the treatment of the centuries old tome. "Why can't we just ask Angel? He knows stuff right?"

Buffy shook her head, "Whomever he got his information from isn't allowed to tell him anything else. The big man upstairs got upset that Angel could change events if he knew too much."

Xander jumped and released a very unmanly shriek when Spike materialized behind him and shouted, "Boo!" He clutched his mid section and laughed heartily before looking at Buffy with an easy smile, "Azrael needed Angel for hell business. Said he'll be back as soon as he can."

Buffy's face dropped as disappointment set in, Angel's 'hell business' never having a set length of time made it difficult to accept. "Right. Well I should probably go anyways," she offered as she gathered her belongings and stepped out of the shop into the sunlight.

A couple weeks later Buffy was sitting in the living room watching tv when the couch suddenly dipped next to her, a grin covering her face as she turned and met Angel's eyes. Not wasting anytime she climbed on his lap and kissed him deeply, his hands rising and fingers threading through her golden hair. The kiss continued as they both ground into each other, Angel's grip on her hips tightening as she kissed behind his ear. "Buffy," he panted weakly. "Your mom just drove up. I'm guessing she still doesn't know about me?"

She pulled back reluctantly, "You'd be guessing correctly. I think I'm going to tell her soon. I want you to be able to be over here with me."

"Do you want to tell her now?" he asked slowly and cautiously.

Nervousness filled the air as she heard her moms steps get closer and closer, Angel staring at her intensely for any indication of what she wanted him to do. "Tell me what you want," he whispered as they both heard a key enter the front door lock, the tumblers clicking into place.

Her eyes darted to the front door before cutting back to where Angel was still staring at her. "Hide your fangs," she said as she stood and ran over to the door to greet her mom.

Angel retracted them with some difficulty, they were so permanent now that he had to use energy to alter his appearance, and stood up to greet Buffy's mom.

Joyce pushed open the door and smiled at her daughter before noticing the man in the living room. She frowned and looked at Buffy who took the lead, "Mom you remember Angel right? Giles' assistant from a while back?"

She nodded slowly with narrowed eyes, "Yes, I do. Can I ask what he's doing here in my home with my daughter alone?"

Buffy blushed and Angel fought a smile at how uncomfortable she looked. He knew he could jump in at any moment and help her but this was far too amusing. "Oh, um… I just ran into him and invited him over." She subtly looked at Angel who looked unamused at her vague lie. A huge sigh escaped her and she looked at her mom again. "That's not true. Angel and I are uh... dating."

Joyce's eyebrows shot up to her hair line as she whipped around to look at Angel who was standing with his hands in his pockets, a neutral expression on his handsome face. "Excuse us, I need a word with my daughter," she managed to bite out before she practically drug Buffy to the kitchen. After throwing down her purse on the counter she crossed her arms and stared at her only child. "Buffy he's older than you, by a lot. I don't like this at all and I don't understand why you wouldn't tell me about him."

"I know he's older but I'm twenty now. I'm an adult and I love him. He's a really good person."

"I don't know Buffy. I don't even know him."

Buffy licked her lips wanting to tell her the truth but knew that that wouldn't fly at all. "Just give him a chance please?"

Joyce stared at her daughters pleading face and released a groan, "Fine. Lets go talk to him. I still don't lie this though."

They reentered the living room and Buffy felt her heart rate increase at his focused expression that was directed at the couch. If he was speaking to another angel and had to go now it would not look good to her mom.

Angel snapped out of his daze when he felt fear creep in from his bond and looked up at Buffy with a comforting expression. He knew it had looked like he was speaking to another angel but in reality he had just zoned out; it seemed to be happening a lot lately, which was strange. His foces had never waned before but then again he had always had something to focus on. When Joyce came closer he stuck out his hand, "Hello Ms. Summers, nice to see you again."

She shook his offered hand and indicated for them all to sit. "So Buffy tells me you're together?" He nodded once. "Now Angel, is that really your name?"

He shook his head, "No, my name is actually Liam."

"And how old are you Liam?"

Every part of Angel longed to say two millennia just to get a reaction but he kept it in. "Twenty-six."

"And what do you do?" she asked politely.

Run Hell. "Not much right now. I'm transitioning out from my last job so I help out Giles and everyone with whatever they need."

She nodded with pursed lips as she looked over his neck and arms, "Quite a few tattoos I see."

He glanced down at the burns and nodded slowly as memories assaulted his mind in quick succession, his relaxed smile slowly sliding off his face. "Yeah, quite a few," he said quietly.

Joyce picked up on the uncomfortable vibe coming from him and felt bad she had brought up a touchy subject. He seemed nice enough, polite and very handsome. Deciding to give him a break she paid him a compliment, "What color exactly are your eyes, they're beautiful. I don't think I've ever seen eyes that dark before."

Buffy looked at Angel sharply before looking back at her mom. Angel's eyes looked normal enough to people in passing but when you really looked at them you could tell something wasn't right, that normal people didn't have completely black eyes. It was the one thing, other than his sins, that he couldn't change or hide. "They're a really dark brown color. Angel didn't you have to be somewhere?"

He picked up on the hint and nodded, "Yes I should get going, I'm sure Mr. Giles will be needing me early in the morning. Pleasure Ms. Summers."

She smiled tightly, "You too Liam."

Buffy walked him outside where she blew out a breath and leaned against the exterior of the house, "That was too close. She's not happy about the boyfriend thing but I don't think she could handle the angel thing." His face darkened at his words and she noticed agitation coming from him in waves. "What?"

He shook his head, "Nothing."

"Talk to me Angel, what's got you wigging?" she asked as she grabbed his hand.

Sometimes he felt like such a whiny child but he couldn't help how he felt. "I don't like it when you call me your boyfriend."

She knew what he meant. Boyfriend indicated something not serious, something that everyone had. Mate was the word he was looking for. "I'll only use it when I have to then ok? I love you, I know you're my mate and I'm not afraid or ashamed to tell anyone that."

He nodded stiffly as his tongue slid around one of his fangs. "Right, well I'll see you later."

"Don't leave, talk to me. What's up?"

He rolled his eyes and turned around, "Just thinking lately. I just feel worthless all the time, not contributing to anything. It's just wearing on me and I'm sorry I'm taking it out on you." He continued lapping at his fangs and gums until Buffy called him on it.

"Stop that."

His eyes narrowed for a second, "They're bugging me. It hurts to keep them hidden."

"Sorry," she offered. "I'll tell mom who you are eventually."