"I know, I'm happy to be out of the lawyer business myself. Yes….if you need anymore help just give us call. You're welcome." Angel hung up the phone and was straightening the case file in front of him. Another job done. He didn't know if he could re-open Angel Investigations after the fall of Wolfram & Hart 3 years ago, but after a year things were finally running smoothly. Angel settled back in his chair and looked around. There were pictures of the friends he lost along the way as well as the pictures of his new team. Wesley's books still remained on the bookshelf, the furniture Cordelia had picked out for the Hyperion still remained. They no longer filled him with guilt, but a comforting remembrance. Just then, a young woman poked her head around the door.
"Angel, you getting hungry? Connor's in the kitchen getting' lunch, want something?" she asked. She blushed a little when she mentioned Connor's name.
"No thanks Dawn. I'll probably go get something in a minute." Angel smiled at her.
"Okay, I'll let him know."
And with that she was out the door. She wasn't' the little girl of 15 he remembered. Dawn had come to stay with them a year ago after the wedding. She was desperately wanting to put her Watcher skills to use so Angel allowed her to come to LA. She'd changed so much. Her hair was now a few shades darker and she definitely gotten a few inches taller than her sister. The only thing they shared besides working in a supernatural world was the hazel eyes they both shared.
But Buffy's were greener, he thought. Angel shifted and pushed the old memories of his former love from his mind. He walked aimlessly into the lobby and started to head towards the kitchen, when the front door opened. Several young girls walked in carrying various weapons and covered in blue slime. Following closely was a tall thin woman with dark hair and ice blue eyes and a dark man in a wheelchair.
"So, I take it the hunt for the S'volschk demon went well?" Angel asked amused.
"We were successful in its death," the woman said.
"Alright ladies, how 'bout y'all go upstairs and take a few showers while I debrief the head man here on what went down," the man in the wheelchair said.
"Connor and Dawn have food for you in the kitchen when you're done," Angel called after them as they headed upstairs. Angel walked back into his office followed by the two adults.
"Well, Gunn. How'd they do?" Angel asked sitting again behind the desk.
"They did fine actually. Besides the complaining about ruining their shoes and stuff. I think they're about ready."
"I still do not understand this obsession with 'shoes'. Is it a dysfunction they suffer?" Illyria asked.
"You could call it that. Anyway bro, I'm headin to the kitchen for some grub." They both left for the kitchen and once again Angel was left in his office to remember. He didn't think Gunn would survive the final battle, but they got lucky.
5 minutes into the battle a flash of blue and white streaked the sky and formed a portal. And stepping through was Buffy, Willow, and about several thousand slayers. Willow was able to heal Gunn to a point, but couldn't prevent his paralysis. Gunn was just grateful to have survived the battle, along with everything else. It was a few months after the battle that they decide to start Angel Investigations again. Knowing about the battle ahead of time had given Angle enough time to store the firm's money and much needed future supplies away. Now, the whole team was set for life without having to help out the evil law firm.
Angel walked over to a picture hanging on the wall. It had been taken right before Fred had become Illyria. Wesley was now gone and, in a sense, so was Fred. Gunn no longer stood on his own. Lorne was standing there holding a Sea breeze, which he was sure he was doing right this second in Vegas. Angel smiled at the thought of the empathy demon and was glad that Lorne had forgiven him. All it took was some groveling and the money for a state-of-the-art club in Vegas. Finally, Angel's eyes rested on the face of a blonde vampire named Spike. Spike. Angel felt the growl in the back of his throat, but let it go. Spike was gone, living in Prague with Andrew helping out other new Slayers. At least he didn't get the prophecy and he didn't get Buffy.
Buffy. This time he let his mind go back to the last time he saw her a year ago. She looked beautiful in her wedding dress as she walked down the aisle on Giles' arm. She was smiling brilliantly at everyone. His heart ached as he watched her go stand at the front next to the man she was about to marry. Angel knew Xander would take care of her and he knew the young man truly loved her. Angel knew they were happy. At least, she didn't marry Spike. And that thought gave him more than enough comfort. Buffy still called occasionally. Mostly to talk to her sister and ask how the Slayers in LA were doing, but she always made time to talk to him as a friend. Something Angel appreciated and now accepted. The ringing of the phone from his desk broke his reverie.
"Angel Investigations, we help the hopeless. Hey Lorne, how's Vegas treating you?"
"Peachy keen. I'd love to chit-chat Angelcakes but I got actual PTB stuff to discuss with you."
"You got a reading on someone?"
"More like a flashback, and sweetie you were in it."