Pushing her hair behind her ear, Katie bit the insides of her cheeks taking Angel by surprise. The simple, unconscious gesture was so similar to the expression Buffy often made when she was in thought or feeling apprehensive. "Demons run the world. There isn't any sunlight. There aren't many humans left…" Katie turned her eyes upwards to Wesley, "… At least that's what you said."

"Me?" Wesley pointed to himself feeling the surprised gazes from those around him.

"Yeah," Katie frowned, "I, uh, guess you wouldn't remember…"

Gunn turned to Angel, "You can't be buying this, Angel. These kids could be Evil or something…"

Angel knew Gunn was right. The children could be Evil demons. It wouldn't the first time the forces of Evil have played cruel tricks on him. Angel shifted his attention back to the children and sighed heavily. They can't be Evil.

"What happened?" Angel asked.

Katie sat back against the red couch behind her and said, "Aunt Dawn said, the first time the balance shifted it was after Mom jumped off a tower—whatever the crap that means… But then it happened again after you guys… died…" Katie's eyes dropped with sadness. "Then a whole lotta crap—"

Angel frowned, "Stop saying crap." He scolded.

Guilty, Katie's immediately mouth closed with a frown.

"I don't know if we should trust 'em, Angel," Gunn said reminding the vampire of Evil dangers.

Going against his better judgement, Angel darted his eyes back to his trusted friend than to the children conflicted on whether to believe in them or not. He released an unneeded breath and looked at the kids. "I… I can't help but look at them and see her. Look at 'em," Angel gestured to the kids. "Look at Liam, he acts just like Buffy. The way he pouts and that little smile." Liam's mouth shifted into that crooked half smile. "And Katie—despite her dark hair she has her eyes. She looks exactly like—"

"—Buffy?" Cordelia finished with a smirk believing in the children's story.

Liam stepped forward, standing in front of Angel and asked, "Can we find Mommy now?" His bottom lip stuck out and his beady brown eyes widened giving his best pout. "Please, can we find Mommy now?"

Angel lifted his gaze to Cordelia's face. Cordelia looked down at the young six years old practically melting over his cuteness. "Oh my god, Angel..."

"I know… I know… That pout is exactly like Buffy's." Angel frowned for a moment thinking back to what Katie had said. "What did you say about a tower?"

Katie shrugged, "I don't know much… I overheard everyone talking. But whatever happened to Mom it messed up a lot of cra—" Katie caught Angel's scowl and trailed off switching her words, "—stuff."

"I don't want anything to happen to Mommy." Liam's pouting face deepened into a despairing frown.

Reaching out for the first time, Angel wrapped his hand around Liam's waist pulling him into his arms. Liam's arms wrapped around Angel's neck, burying his face in the crook of his cool neck. It was the first time that Liam could remember feeling his father's arms tightly around him.

"I won't let anything happen to your mother, I promise you," Angel whispered and held out his other arm for Katie to step into. "We'll get her back."

Hesitantly, Katie stepped forward and into Angel's arms. She slowly laid her head down on his shoulder and breathed in his familiar cinnamon scent that had been engrained in her mind.