Sorry it took me so long to update :os. Don't shoot me :p

Anyway, I'm gonna be able to post one more chapter next week, then the story is on hiatus ;) or Easter Break or whatever :o) (but will be back after that, don't worry)

Chapter 4

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'What are you doing here?' Angel growled before picking up his crying son, whispering him soothing words.

'What, I can't come over and visit?' Spike asked in an innocent voice as he stepped further into the lobby of the hotel.

'Spike?' Cordy asked as she rubbed her eyes, still sleepy, when she saw the vampire standing there.

'There's always a reason when you're somewhere, Spike' Angel said.

'Angel' Cordy said in a warning tone. It was true last time Spike was in town he was after the Gem of Amarra, but from what she'd heard from Willow, he'd gotten a chip and was a do-gooder now.

'Cor...' Angel got ready to reply, but one look in his lover's eyes was enough to make him hold his peace.

'So, why are you here, Spike?' she asked, taking the baby form Angel and walked on to the bleach-haired vampire.

Fighting back a laugh, Spike gave Cordy an annoyed look. 'The poof's really become a lapdog' he thought

'I already told you... just visiting' he said, letting out a sigh.

'Okay...Angel! Will you prepare a room for Spike?' Cordy called out, giving Angel one of her sweetest smiles, but before she could give him any more comments, Angel was next to her, pulling her into the office.

'He's not staying' he said, his voice giving away a hint of anger and panic.

'Angel...he's your grandchilde' 'Yes... a vampire!...no soul! That's why he's leaving.'

'Chip... he's staying'

'He could hurt Connor, or you!'

'Again...Chip!'

'No!'

'Angel, stop being such a baby. He's good now, he wants to catch up, and last time I checked he wasn't hitting on me, and I wasn't attracted to him, so you shouldn't be so jealous! He's staying and that's final!' And with that she opened the door, leaving a dazed Angel behind.

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Letting out a sigh Kate Lockley picked up the page that emerged from the printer. She'd turned once more to the Internet when her search in the books had led to nothing. She was at a dead end, but wasn't really ready to give up. There was something about the symbols; she could feel it in her guts! She remembered some site she'd come across when she was researching Angel a while ago, some demon database... It sounded quite absurd, but in her desperation, she'd decided to try it anyway.

All she wanted to do was forget about it all, turn away and pretend it wasn't real...But she no longer could do that. Not after what happened to her father, not after Angel...

The demon database had given her a name, a description... More then she wished, but then again, deep inside she wished she'd find nothing there either.

Sitting down at her desk, she took a sip of her coffee, looking at the paper in front of her, thinking over her options...

She looked over at the board on the wall, the pictures of the mutilated corpses pinned upon it. Taking a deep breath, she put down the cup, got up and walked out of the office, making her decision. Wanting to make a difference.

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He'd been lying on the bed for about an hour now. The sun was up, but heavy old curtains prevented the rays of sunlight to come in and turn him into a pile of ashes. Although he was pretty tired, he couldn't sleep. His eyes were open and he was staring at the ceiling. Only a brief moment his gaze shifted, that's when he heard a knock on the door. Instead of answering, he just let out an unnecessary breath, and continued his visual exploration of the ceiling.

A moment later the door opened with a peeping sound, and Cordy's face popped through.

Seeing his eyes were opened, she entered the room, handing him a mug.

'Here' she said, a smile on her face, 'I figured you might be hungry' then she turned on a light. He grumbled, but sat up, taking the mug from her.

'It's hot' he stated, a bit surprised.

'Well duh!' she said, sitting behind him on the bed, 'you want it cold?'

'Well, no!'

'Aren't you going to drink?' she asked, smiling at him.

He raised his eyebrows, marvelling on how the girl next to him had changed in the past few years. Of course he never really knew her that well, but still... He could notice the change she went through. She wasn't the shallow rich girl he knew back in Sunnydale, that's for sure. She even seemed nice now. And way too friendly with the poofster. If he didn't know better, he'd say they were in love... It was just a bit too weird too, Cordelia with a child (he did see that right, right? And heard that too, right?), Angel being the whipped puppy with the goofy smile, all weird to say the least.

'You don't mind?' he asked. He actually had planned on giving her a bitty remark, but just couldn't, somehow he liked her.

'Nah! I'm used to it.' He gave her a sympathetic smile and started to drink.

'Poor you.' He added, getting a bright smile in return.

'So... How are things in Sunnydale?'

'Pretty much the same'

'Dru still gone?' she asked, now she being the one giving the sympathetic look.

She knew how Spike felt, or used to feel, about the crazy vampire. The look on his face was enough to quickly change the subject. She knew something was bothering him, and she wouldn't be Cordelia if she didn't find it out...

'What about Buffy... She still being...' she started asking, but something in his eyes made her stop.

'Bingo' she thought.

'It's her, isn't it?' Cordy triumphant...

'What are you talking about?' Spike changing status to defensive...

'Buffy... she's the reason you're here'

'So...What's the deal with you and peaches?'

'Oh, we're okay, perfectly in love.' she started babbling again, a bright smile covering her face, then suddenly realising...' Hey, not changing the subject, mister!' hitting him on the arm.

A sigh escaped the vampire's throat, then silence.

'That bad, huh?'

'Look, luv, I don't really want to talk about it'

'You love her' she stated. She just knew it.

'I...'

'Oh, don't you try to deny it! I just know it! You love her' Another sigh, then Spike started telling his story...

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