A/N

Banner completed by the most excellent Methos in the version of this story posted on Twisting the Hellmouth!

Life update for those who read my author notes in the previous chapter – I have a job! It pays very little but I get to work with teens, which is my favorite demographic (regardless of how many of my hairs turn grey from working with them;) Thanks to all the well wishers from last time, it was appreciated. I hope that life and work and school is going well for all of you! :)

Thanks to catherine and potentiallyawesome for issuing recs! :D

Note: This chapter follows the episode'Phases'. Ignore the last chapter that indicated that the chapter took place within 'Passion'.

***
The trickster and Hindu goddess surveyed Sunnydale atop the downtown cinema roof, observing the flow of humans in and out of the theatre. It was past eight o'clock and the only illumination stemmed from the cinema sign and several lamp posts. Clouds covered the waning moon and the air was still, although the scent of the nearby ocean filtered into their nostrils. It was a most typical evening and nothing appeared amiss, although they knew differently.

"It astounds me that these humans actually live upon the most powerful and destructive Hellmouth." Kali, goddess of eternal energy, spoke softly in a musing tone. Her fathomless dark gaze glanced at a couple leaving the theatre and walking down the street, seemingly oblivious to the danger that lived in the city.

"Eh." Gabriel shrugged. "The mystical currents of energy draw them in, like a siren's song. The poor beasts don't even know better."

"And to wander around without the protection of the sun. These humans are either brave or foolish." Kali's tone turned scornful, with a mix of curiosity.

Nearby, a stifled scream pierced the air. Gabriel turned to Kali with a raised brow. "Feel like getting that true Hellmouth experience?"

The corner of Kali's lips quirked into a smile. "It has been a while since I've tasted demon blood."

Gabriel grinned and bowed. "After you, milady."

After finding the Kwarnish demon that was intent on slurping the marrow of a friendly-looking married couple, Gabriel took Kali on a tour of the Hellmouth. By nature she was a goddess that embodied death, but contrary to Western perception her craven desire for blood was sated in the killing of demons that threatened her people. The sub-continent of India was once awash in demonic dealings, led by the almighty demon Raktabija, but Kali destroyed them long ago. She rarely ventured out of her home due to distaste for the Western world which sought to destroy her people centuries ago, but Gabriel had seduced her to the Hellmouth.

After all, what goddess could resist sex (care of him) and violence (care of the Hellmouth creations)?

Following an erotic moment in a cemetery crypt that an hour earlier hosted a nest of twelve vampires, Kali turned to him with her well-practiced half-smile. "Let's visit the epicenter of the Hellmouth. I would love to see what sort of depravity it has produced."

Gabriel let out riotous laughter as he shook his head. "Depravity?" he grinned. "Kali, just wait 'till you see it."

He folded the sultry goddess into his arms and teleported them into the Sunnydale High School Library. Releasing her, he watched with giddy satisfaction as Kali glanced around at the study tables and bookshelves. "This…is the famed Hellmouth?" Surprise and disappointment lined her face.

Gabriel snickered and shook his head.

Frowning, Kali sauntered to the nearest bookshelf and picked up the first book that her roaming fingers found. Her nose crinkled in distaste. "It is already strange that the epicenter of the Hellmouth houses a library, but Emily Dickenson? I expected grimoires and ancient texts on wicked creatures."

"This is actually the library of the local high school," Gabriel smirked. "Whoever the hell thought that a school needed to be built over the Hellmouth…" He laughed and shook his head. "Depraving location, isn't it?"

Her eyes, rimmed with black eyeliner, flitted over to his and her full red lips curved into an amused smile. "Certainly."

Several sets of footsteps echoed into the hallway outside the library and Gabriel frowned slightly. He still wasn't exactly sure howhe would make his plan work but knew it wouldn't be good to be caught by his son and the others just yet.

"Remember the Slayer I told you about?" Gabriel asked.

Kali's eyes stared at the entryway. "Please do not tell me that the mythical Champion against evil ordained her headquarters to be none other than on top of the Hellmouth itself?"

"Ironic, I know," Gabriel smirked. "Still…you know those slayer types. They dolike to make with the stabby when it comes to non-human types – and unfortunately a stake to the heart kills us just like a vampire."

A shadow of worry passed over Kali's face. "Indeed. We should leave." The goddess paused as the footsteps neared closer. "Or perhaps observe, hidden."

"Kinky," Gabriel drawled. "I never knew you were into watching."

Kali gave him a bored stare and slunk back to the shadows of the bookcases. Relieved that Kali was rather predictable when it came to these things – she loved anyone, be they human or demon, who caused carnage; Gabriel hid in the shadows with her.

"So her boyfriend's a werewolf," Buffy stated with a shrug as she pushed the library doors open. "It could be worse."

"Right, like a crazy murderer worse?" Xander snorted as he set the bag of weapons into the book cage lying at the edge of the library.

Silence met his words and Xander immediately cringed in response. He snuck a peek at Buffy and found her earlier sunny expression had wilted at his careless words. "Er, I meant worse like crazy ax-murderer worse! Or, like, Family Guy worst – you know, seemingly nice and charismatic but actually really, really sub-par humor and…" Xander stopped his run-off sentence. "Uh, anyways, I don't think Willow should be dating Oz. After all, what's to stop him from humping random legs?"

Buffy let out a snort of amusement and shook her head; Xander's shoulders sagged in relief that she didn't hold his comment against him. He had just begged his da—the Trickster two weeks ago to take out Angel but nothing had happened yet. Considering that Angel wanted them all dead, he wasn't sure how much time they had. Sure, Xander would stand up against Angel when the time came but if Angel wantedto kill him, he probably couldn't stop the vampire. After all, he was just human.

Or well, mostly. Maybe. Dang it, he didn't even know. With a pagan god as his dad and that weird moment when he killed the demon possessing Cordelia a few months back, he really didn't know whathe was.

"Well, Willow likes him. Don't be miffed just because you're jealous. You could have had her if you wanted her," Buffy pointed out with a stern look as she collapsed into a wooden chair next to the study table, exhausted from a bout of patrolling they had just completed.

Xander's mouth gaped open. "Wha-what? I'm not jealous!"

Buffy just stared at him and raised a questioning eyebrow.

"No. It's not like that. It's just…she's my best friend." Xander saw Buffy start to frown. "Along with you!" he added frantically. Taking a breath he added, "She's been my best friend since kindergarten and all of a sudden there's someone more important in her life." He shrugged listlessly. "It sucks."

"Well, you do have Cordelia," Buffy added with a sympathetic smile. "Even if, ya know, that is all sorts of crazy."

Xander smirked as he reflected on his weird-but-somehow-functional relationship with Cordy. Man, he loved broom closets.

The phone in Giles' office began to ring and the two friends shared a look. "Think that's Willow?" he asked. "She and Oz were supposed to meet us here after picking up Cordelia." Xander laughed when he remembered how mad she was that her car was in the shop after someone keyed it the other day. "Being late is not her – she's more so the 'to be on time is to be late' gal."

Frowning, Buffy went to answer the phone. Soon her speech became urgent as she gave Xander a warning look. After a quick good-bye she hung up the phone and Xander felt his stomach tie in knots by the expression on her face.

"That was Cordelia on her cell phone. Apparently Oz got a flat tire a couple blocks from here and, well, he can't really change it because there are some vamps outside."

Xander's expression hardened. It seemed never-ending, this threat of danger in their lives. He was so used to it that sometimes he even forgot where they lived – but then something like this would happen and he would remember instantly.

The image of Jesse's face drifted through his mind's eye; as it always did when he feared losing one of his friends. It always fanned the fire in his soul to do whatever it took to help kill as many evil things as possible.

"Let's go," Xander stated with a firm nod.

"The Slayer…is quite talented," Kali mused with a smile as they watched the slayer and Xander fight off six vampires. Buffy jump-kicked a vampire and then leveraged herself against the van so she could kick the next attacking vampire. Each of her movements were fluid and enchanting to the casual observer.

"Yes, she performs well. Invigorating," Gabriel commented mildly. His attention was, of course, on his son as he ducked a vampire's blow. Kali had not been informed about Xander's parentage – the less people who knew, the better – so he was suddenly hoping she would notice nothing interesting about his son.

The van's occupants burst out to assist Xander; Gabriel recognized them as Cordelia, Oz, and Willow. He smiled at seeing Willow; he was rather fond of her.

Xander tackled one vampire and held him down, shouting for the others to find a stake (apparently his had become lost moments earlier). With a nervous look, Willow fumbled through her knapsack for a pencil and thrust it into the creature's heart, showering the teenagers with dust.

Kali gasped softly. "The witch is rather imaginative." Her expression bore no indications to her thoughts on Willow but there was something about Kali's eyes that let him know she had taken interest.

"Witch?" Gabriel repeated.

Shooting him a dark look, Kali scowled. "You knew she had the potential, didn't you? That was why you called me here. Or, one reason at least."

Gabriel threw his hands up in mock-surrender. "I solemnly swear I have no idea as to what you mean, my dear."

"Typically witches adhere to Hecate's ways, but this human has a tinge of darkness in her aura." Kali smiled in a way that whispered her anticipation of this future acquisition. "She is exactly like the sort I prefer."

"I know you like your humans to be complicated, Kali. And what's more complicated than a burgeoning witch born right here on the Hellmouth?" Gabriel smiled. He was pleased with tonight's turn of events thus far.

She surprised him with a kiss on the cheek. "Thank you, Loki."

Gabriel grinned. Sometimes he forgot his true name, he was so used to Loki. A fleeting thought in his son's direction made him wonder if he should ever tell Xander his true identity. But…no…that would just make the boy more confused and likely expose both of them in the process.

"Glad you liked her," Gabriel said with a dashing smile. "Now, I thought of the perfect way for you to begin to build your influence within the girl."

Kali's precisely manicured eyebrows raised in surprise. "I do not often take advice when it comes to my followers, Loki."

"I know," Gabriel said with an innocent smile. "But trust me, I do have the perfect spell – a reensoulment spell."

Chuckling, Kali spoke condescendingly in her silky alto voice. "That spell was lost by the humans I gave it to long ago."

The gypsies were originally from India and many of them still adhered to worshipping Kali in their practice of magic. Gabriel was aware, after some research the other week, that Kali had been responsible for the original spell that bestowed a soul upon Angel. As the goddess of eternal energy – one who travels between worlds and through time – she was one of the few pagan gods with the power to snatch a soul from the ether and insert it into a being.

"I think you could gift it again. One of the descendents of the Kalderash clan – Janna – lives in town and Willow certainly has the potential to perform great magic," Gabriel stated smoothly with a mild shrug.

Kali went silent. Gabriel watched the rest of the fight finish and Oz and Xander start working to fix the van's flat tire while the females looked on. They were finished fixing the van when Kali turned to him.

"I will do it," she said simply. "But I will give it to the girl personally." Kali's dark eyes shined with excitement. "And I would like to converse with the slayer. It has been many centuries since I have seen on as skilled as she."

Gabriel wanted to burst out laughing; it took all of his focus to maintain a calm demeanor. He had done it. Kali would give Willow the capability to do the spell. Angelus would become Angel once again. The slayer would be happy. The PTB would never notice his interference.

And best of all, his son would maybe (just maybe) want Gabriel back into his life after this.

An archangel could only hope.

***
A/N:
Thank you for reading! And reviewing! Wow, you guys help provide a lot of inspiration for this fic. Please keep it coming :) My muse has been rather difficult as of late so feedback is encouraged.

A lot of things got set up in this chapter…hope you like what is to come :)

Have a great weekend!

References:
Kali: Kali was seen in season 5 of Supernatural 'Hammer of the Gods'. In the episode it was shown that she was a sometimes paramour of Gabriel/Loki and also extremely powerful. My interpretation of this deity stems from wikipedia (.org/wiki/Kali) and my other readings on Kali and world religions. Note: I also use Kali in my Buffy/Balthazar fic and my Tara aka Lenore the vampire fic. She's a favorite of mine :D