Landing on the cold, tiled floor stuns me awake and I jump to my feet. Gunn is doubled over laughing and Oz is smirking at me, a duffle bag hanging on his shoulder.

"I brought the bag you left in my van in for you," he drops the bag at my feet and plops on the couch I had been sleeping on.

"Ta, mate. How were the auditions I slept through?"

"Nothing worth mentioning. One didn't show. The other sucked."

"Glad I got some kip in." I smirk, "I'm gonna shower."

I step into the attached bath and flip the shower on. Damn dreams keep coming up when I least expect them. It's been three years since the fall of Sunnydale, three years since I died – er – dusted. A month later I'd woken up on the ground in LA, my last memory was of telling Buffy she didn't love me and thanking her for saying it anyway.

Angelus had told me she'd made it out, that nearly all of the scoobies did. "She's moved on," he'd said. "They left for Europe and are trying to start a school for the Slayer's in Training." The phone call six months after that nearly stopped my unbeating heart. Angelus hadn't bothered to call, his pain was far greater in his mind, and "what did I know of true love. I'd only been infatuated with her after all." Gunn had called. An explosion during an operation in Rome. After everything, a bloody bomb had taken her from this world for the last time.

The cap popping off of the shampoo top I'm clutching jerks me back to the present. It's been two years since her light left this world, and I've been drifting night after night. Oz had caught sight of my notebook one night while I was drinking at Lorne's bar and had asked me if I'd ever considered singing. Gunn joined not too long after that and we've been playing here and at a couple other dives ever since.

I shake my head and try to clear my mind. Damn, I need a smoke but I'm out of fags. I flip the shower off and step out. It's gonna be a long night if I can't get a pack of cigarettes. I towel off and inspect the bag of clothes I left in Oz's van. Pretty basic overnight-or more likely-I passed out somewhere bag. Black jeans, t-shirt, a pair of socks, and a travel sized tube of gel. It'll do.

I'm dressed and trying to tame my curls with the gel when a knock on the door drags my attention away from the internal moping I've been doing all night.

"Pussycat, you're gonna want to hear this. Best get out here before I come in there!" Lorne sing-songs the last bit and I shudder. I wouldn't put it past the demon to walk in on me like it's nothing.

"Be right out, hold your horses."

"So, Angel knows it was you two that witnessed his…enlightening performance." Lorne gives me a pointed look and I smirk.

"Not the first time he's been brassed off at me, definitely won't be the last."

"Well, he's reserved seven of my tables for tonight's performance for the entire group formerly known as the scoobies. Apparently they're all in town for a memorial or dedication."

I go still as a statue. It's all I can do to keep my emotions in check. They're talking about her. The Great Poof or one of the scoobies has planned something in her memory and as usual, decided to leave me out of the loop. As usual.

"Well then. We're performing the new song tonight. Right before the set break, alright with you two?" I don't look up from the spot I'm staring at on the floor.

"Yeah, sounds good." Gunn responds for both. "You want to run through it? Make sure we've got it down perfect for later?"

Oz steps up, as usual seeing the emotions that are about to boil over, and hands me a new pack of smokes and nods towards the back door.

"Yeah. Just give me a mo' to smoke. Thanks, mate."

"Angel, man, I get it. We're gonna be there later tonight." I pause and he gushes about taking everyone to some bar after we land. "Yeah sounds cool." I turn back to the kitchen and watch Robin move around making lunch for the house full of teenagers, only half listening to the souled vampire talking on the other end of the call.

"Wait. What do you mean Spike's band? Spike burned in the hellmouth, Angel. B saw it, she told us." He mumbles an explanation.

"What the hell do you mean the amulet brought him back? How is this the first I'm hearing about-" He interrupts me and I meet the steely green gaze as she walks into the living room from the kitchen.

"No, we weren't best buds, but we were comrades and I would've liked to know he made it out 3 years ago."

"Faith…" He whines, like it will get him some slack for being a jerk.

"Look, Angel, we'll be there. Our flight lands at six." I snap my phone shut and smirk at the blonde in front of me.

"Well B, looks like you need a plane ticket to LA."