Disclaimer:All characters belong to Joss Whedon and Angelthe series.

Synopsis: Angel and his crew have all moved on from their former lives and onto this new path, but when presented another chance will they follow their destinies or take the chance to try again at a life Unfettered? Takes place in season 2.

Chapter Seven

Tara reached for Cordy, wanting to pull her away, but Glory's face was scrunched up in confusion and pain. Willow and Dawn were heading out of the store and seeing the three at the bench Willow stopped Dawn in front of the window as she yelled for her girlfriend and ran over.

"Tara!"

Glory finally let go of Cordelia, stumbling back and shaking her hands as if shocked. Cordelia slumped to the ground. Tara tried to keep her up, holding onto her arm but looked up instead to Willow. Dawn was clutching a bag to her chest, and frozen to the spot across the street. Glory shook herself.

"Well that didn't help! What's wrong with your brain anyway? It's like, dead!"

Her body bowed as something hit her from behind. While it didn't hurt, it did annoy her and she turned, hands on her hips, to glare at Willow. That's when her eyes found Dawn and she smiled. As Willow ran towards her Tara got up and did her own spell, a spark of something hitting Glory's hair.

"Hey! That's my hair!"

With another turn she backhanded Tara over the bench and strode past Willow towards Dawn while Willow made a small strangling noise and rushed over to help Tara up. Tara groaned and pushed up offering a sad smile to Willow.

"I-I'm okay. Not as h-helpful as I th-thought."

Willow smiled just glad she was all right and looked her over, smoothed her hair from her face, before helping Tara up again. She then looked to Cordelia and walked around the bench to check on her. She had just found a pulse when she heard Tara gasp. Her head came up and she looked around.

"What is it? She's breathing and stuff so, I think, she might be okay. Tara can you get. . . "

"Dawnie!"

Willow's head came up and she looked around. Glory was gone, and so was Dawn.

AA

Heart to hearts over, everyone was walking back into the shop when Buffy's phone rang. She stepped aside to take the call while Giles and Wes nodded to each other and Angel moved towards the table. He was the first to stop. Vampire hearing had him turning to stare at Buffy. Which in turn had everyone else frowning in confusion and looking over at Buffy. She was shaking her head and muttering, the moment she hung up Angel was there, Spike wasn't thrilled with it, but kept back.

"Where are they?"

"The park."

Buffy just stared at him and he nodded, heading over to grab his coat. Spike frowned.

"Bit too bright for th' likes a us, mate."

Gunn frowned and stood up, now worried himself.

"Someone wanna explain?"

Angel and Buffy looked at each other and Angel nodded.

"Take Gunn, I'll tell them. Gunn, grab a weapon."

He didn't need to be told twice and Gunn followed Buffy out. All eyes were on Angel and Giles was obviously not happy about being out of the loop. Angel sighed and rubbed at his face.

"Glory found them. Dawn is gone."

AA

Angel had managed to explain what he knew in the time it took Buffy and Gunn to go find the girls. Spike was growling and pacing, Giles was at a loss, no research would help now. Tara entered finally carrying the bags they had accumulated through the afternoon and holding the door for Gunn. He came in carrying Cordelia and Wesley jumped to his feet to come check on her. Buffy was following with Willow and shook her head at Spike. She had no idea where Dawn was and only a vague idea of what had happened. Angel and Wesley moved to the office to clear way for Cordelia to be settled on the cot. Wesley shook his head and checked her over. Angel left her in with him and headed into the office.

"What happened?"

Willow was distraught and sitting at the table, Tara held her hand and glanced up at Angel trying to explain.

"C-Cordelia and I were sit-sitting at the park. She j-just showed up."

"Glory."

Willow sniffled. A quick apologetic look to Buffy and Spike who were both standing sentinel nearer the doors. Buffy shook her head, she didn't blame her in the least, but it gave Willow the okay to go ahead.

"Dawnie and I went to get something from a store, when we came out we saw them. Glory was, doing something to Cordy. I made Dawn stay at the store and when she, she finished with Cordelia she attacked Tara. I tried to stop her but when I looked up again, she was gone. So was Dawn."

Angel shook his head, crossed his arms and glanced to Buffy and Spike. Now wasn't the time, and he could tell that Spike was upset as well. The two vampires looked to each other and there passed a mutual understanding. Right now, it was about Dawn.

"Do you know what she did to Cor?"

Tara answered this time, or tried to. Until Willow gave her hand a squeeze.

"Her fingers w-went into her head. Like she was, was tryin' to get something f-from her. She said that he-her brain was –"

Angel frowned, so did Buffy, but a look passed between lovers that now wasn't the time. So Tara got up and excused herself.

"I'll go ch-check on her."

As she headed to the office Spike and Angel looked to the door then each other.

"So we find out where an' bring 'er back, yeah?"

"We'll need an idea of where she is, then weapons. Nothing is going to happen to her Buffy. I promise."

AA

Tara closed the door behind her and smiled to Wesley as she walked over.

"Ho-how is she?"

Wesley sighed and ran a hand through his hair.

"She isn't waking up. I'm not sure what else to do for her to be honest."

"I can, t-try something. If that's o-okay?"

With an appreciative smile and a nod he moved aside. Tara sat down and closed her eyes. Putting her hands together she muttered something and her hands started to glow slightly. Parting them she laid a hand on Cordelia's head and then heart and let the glowing spread. Wesley took his glasses slowly off, watching with no small amount of wonder. When Tara finally pulled her hands away her shoulders slumped slightly and she sat back.

"That's all I-I can do. I think it might s-slow it down. I can-can't stop it though."

Confused he opened his mouth to ask what she meant when Cordelia groaned and went to sit up. Wesley moved to help her up and she blinked rubbing at her head, she could feel the difference and looked at Tara. Wes kept an eye on her but glanced to Tara.

"Slow what down? What did Glory do?"

Realization dawned on Cordelia and her eyes widened. Tara gave her a small shy smile in answer and Cordelia answered it with a smile of her own.

"She screwed up Wes, that's what she did. Hey tell everyone I know where she is, and where she's taking Dawn. I'll be out in a minute."

He looked like he was going to argue so she gave him a small push. With a nod he headed out and left the two women alone. Unknowingly letting them have time for secrets, and bargaining.

AA

Cordelia and Tara hadn't taken long. Good thing too, because no one was in a mood to be patient right now when Cordelia had the answers they needed. Tara promised to keep the secret, after all now wasn't the time to deal with it and she'd given her a bit more time. Cordelia was incredibly grateful and even hugged the witch before they headed out.

As soon as they walked out everyone was up and staring. The two froze, feeling very much like deer in the headlights, and looked at everyone then slowly at each other. It was Spike that broke the silence.

"Well, cheerleader? Where's the big bad keepin' th' bit?"

"Hey give her a minute, bleach boy! You feelin' okay Barbie?"

Cordelia smiled that gunn was worried and ignored that no one else was. She waved it off and nodded.

"Yeah, thanks to Tara Im good. So, basically I think Miss Stuck in the 80s was trying to suck my brain but kind of left a little information behind. I'm not sure where they are now, but I know where they'll be, and where it's all going down. She's safe, they need her safe. We have a couple of hours, and, we're going to need it."

AA

Dawn sat in the corner and stared at the, well, things, that were guarding her. Glory had disappeared for a bit. Leaving her in some fancy hotel room. As far as being captured went, it wasn't' too bad. She even got some food, but hten they brought in some weird dress for her to change into and she was not changing. Definitely not in front of them. While they seemed scary enough, they were pretty, well yes man, about things. So Dawn was feeling pretty brave.

"No way. You want it, then you can wear it! I have some fashion sense you know!"

She was sure she did, and well Cordelia had told her as much so she had been feeling pretty proud about it all. No one pressured her, and so she wasn't too worried about it. Until Glory came back. Dawn couldn't quite explain it but she looked like, well, she'd just had a really good meal. Or sex. Sometimes Anya looked that excited and glowy when she was bragging about sex. Maybe she had both, and that just made Dawn feel all kinds of squicky. Shifting a bit on the edge of the bed, Dawn wasn't sure what was going to happen when Glory stalked over to her and sat down next to her.

The hell god picked at strands of Dawn's hair and smiled. She might have been trying for a motherly or big sister kind of thing but it just made Dawn more uncomfortable.

"Hey there Dawn. So, my little friends here tell me you don't want to wear the dress I picked out for you?"

She spoke in a slightly pouty voice, as if she was upset over it, but there was a thread of steel under it. A threat that even Dawn felt and so she thought twice about her answer. Glancing to the offending dress she shrugged.

"It's just, really not me, thanks."

Glory just smiled and her fingers wound Dawn's hair around and around before tightening and pulling her head sharply to the side. Her other hand shooting up to grab Dawn's face in her hand. Still the bright smile stayed painted on.

"I wasn't. Asking."

Letting go of her she stood and paced a bit. A kind of manic energy filling her steps and hand movements as Dawn shrunk back and rubbed at her head.

"See, here's the problem, Dawnie. I have been STUCK here for centuries! Stuck waiting and looking for a way home. When all the time, some stupid monks were hiding it from me! Hiding you!"

Her face softened and her head tilted to the side. Her hands coming up pleading with Dawn.

"Do you know what it's like to be home sick, Dawn? Well I'm home sick. That's all, I just want to go home. What's so bad about that?"

She was waiting for an answer, and Dawn really didn't' want to disappoint her again. So she stammered out as she shook her head.

"N-nothing. "

Rewarded with a grin Glory seemed to finally relax.

"Thank you. Thank you for understanding. So, now I just need you to change into your party dress so you can open the door for me tonight and I can go home."

Hands together she nodded to the others to leave the room and turned to leave herself. Dawn should have let her go, but her curiosity got the better of her.

"But, I don't know how to get you home. I mean, I'd help if I could but, I, I can't. I'm sorry."

Stopping at the door Glory turned and looked back at her with another manic smile.

"Oh that's okay Dawnie. I know how to get home. I just need to bleed you dry. Now change, chop chop!"

With that she closed the door and left Dawn alone. The teen looked at the door as if waiting for it to open again. As if she'd somehow be told it was a joke, but the sinking feeling in her stomach told her that wasn't going to happen.

A/N:Oh we are so close! Well, to the main plot. Believe it or not, this is only the first half of it all! I got plans for our heroes and don't forget they have decisions to make! Here's hoping they make the right ones!