Chapter 14: Unwelcome Back
So I'm back with the non-canon. In this chapter, everyone that knows Angel will have a different reaction to his return, and we'll dive more into Liam past with another flashback. Also be prepared for something completely unexpected. Enjoy.
Giles was in bed sleeping. The clock on his bedside table read 5:02. All of the sudden his phone rang. He stirred his sleep as it kept ringing. He woke up and picked up the phone.
"Hello." He said sleepily.
"Grandpa. Its Liam."
"Liam" Giles was a little more awake now. "Any particular reason you are calling me at 5 in the morning?"
"Wanted to give you an update on things. Darla's dead. Dad is saved and we are leaving the city now heading towards Sunnydale. By the time we get there, it'll about sunrise."
"Oh, then I suggest you hurry."
"No shit. How's grandma doing? Is she ok?"
"Yes. She's fine. She was released from the hospital last night actually. She was very pleased about it."
"Well that's good. How'd she take my story?"
"She was surprised at everything I told her. Much like I was when you and Buffy did. She wants to ask you some questions herself. I told her that you might not be able to because of the dangers of future knowledge."
"Thanks grandpa. But we'll be arriving there in a couple of hours so I might answer some questions. Do you think you can be at Mom's by the time we arrive?"
"Absolutely."
"Great, I'll see you there." Liam hung up as did Giles. He went back to his bed and lied there for some more sleep before getting up. Liam hung up his phone and started dialing again.
….
Angel was driving with Buffy in the passenger seat. He looked at her and then back at the road with a thoughtful expression. Buffy noticed.
"What? She asked.
"What?" He said in return.
"It looks like your thinking about something."
"I….Well….When we get back to Sunnydale, Liam's going to put the spell on me to bind my soul."
"That's correct."
"That way I can have perfect happiness with you and never lose it."
"Also true."
"But I have this life that will be our first son, and Liam told us to wait or…..uh…use…..protection."
"Yes he did."
"Uh….well….the thing is…..Uh."
"Angel spit it out. What is it?"
"I…um...don't ….know…..about protection."
"What you think that I can still get pregnant if you use protection?"
"No…I mean that…..I don't….. 'know'…..about protection."
"Oh my god. You don't know how to use a condom?" Angel had a guilty expression on. Buffy looked like she was about to laugh.
"Well…when I was human they didn't have them. And now that I'm a vampire, it isn't something I worry about. Until now." Buffy was laughing. "It's not funny."
"It's a little funny." Angel had a scowl on his face now. Buffy quieted down. "It's ok Angel. They have stuff for women too." Angel looked relieved. "So, you don't have to worry."
"Good. Good." He smiled at her and looked back at the road. Buffy shook her head and laughed a little more.
…..
Liam was driving behind his parents smiling. He had his parents together and they were going to be happy. Nothing he could think of could ruin this moment. All of the sudden, an old pick up truck hit him from behind. Liam controlled his car, not wanting it to be driven off the road. The truck hit him again. Liam was getting pissed. It hit him again.
"Bastard's really startin to piss me off" he said turned his car 180 degrees and screeched to a stop. The truck went by and stopped too. Liam got out as did the driver of the pick up. The Driver was wearing jeans, a thick, plaid flannel shirt, cowboy boots, and he had a prosthetic arm. "Hey buddy, we got a problem here." The man walked up to Liam punched him full force. Liam went down with a groan. The man went to his truck and pulled out a sledgehammer from the cab. He walked back over to Liam.
"You're gonna tell me everything." He said and Liam with the sledge to the chin, rolling him over onto his back "How you killed her." He hit Liam again. "Why you killed her." He kicked Liam. "You're gonna tell me everything."
"Who the hell are you?" Liam said looking at the man.
"Names Lindsey. And you're going to pay for what you did to Darla."
"Darla? Why?"
"Because I loved her." He hauled back with the sledge and slammed it down into Liam's gut.
"How'd you know? Drusilla?" Liam gasped.
"No. She left town. Got a tip from some demons that watched the show. She seemed angry with you. Don't know why. But you're going to tell me." he hit Liam again in the gut.
….
Angel kept on driving then looked back and noticed that Liam had stopped.
"Hey, I wonder why Liam stopped?" Buffy looked into the mirror.
"Looks like he's havin a chi chat with some guy in a pick me up." Angel slowed down and turned around.
"Lets see what the problem is." They drove and saw a man beating Liam with a sledgehammer. "Oh god" They stopped and got out. The man was beating Liam then hit him in the gut. Liam curled up around his gut with a groan then rolled onto all four in an effort to get back up. Lindsey slammed the sledge down on his back, dropping him back to the ground.
"Tell me!" he yelled and hit him again.
"Lindsey" Angel shouted. Lindsey stopped and turned to Angel.
"I thought you might have had something to do with it. But hold on ok, I'll deal with you in a minute." Angel and Buffy made a move towards Lindsey.
"Wait." Liam gasped. They stopped. "I got this." He made his way up. "It's between me and him. I got this."
"You heard him" Lindsey said and slammed the hammer into Liam again. "It's between us." He hit him again. "Now tell me what you know." he hit him again. "How come Darla was angry with you." Hit him again. "Why did you killed her." Hit him again. "Everything" hit. "Tell me." hit again. "Tell me! - Tell me!"
"No." Lindsey swung the sledge one handed like a polo mallet and hit Liam under the chin. Liam spun onto his back and ceased to move. Buffy gasped in horror and Angel had anger all over his face. Lindsey made to swing to the sledge one more time onto Liam. As it was about to make contact, Liam grabbed it. Lindsey looked confused "I'm sorry Lindsey." He pushed him away with the sledge and got up, still holding it. "I have a plan, and Darla wasn't part of it. She was interfering. But I'm sorry." Liam hit Lindsey with a hard right hook. Lindsey went down and pushed himself back up using the side of the truck for support. "I really am." He hit Lindsey in the kidneys, then turned him around. "I'm sorry that you fell in love with her." He kneed him in the stomach, then pulled him back up against the side of the truck. "I'm sorry that she never loved you back." He hit him with a left hook. "I'm sorry you're gonna have to live with that." He picked him back up. "I'm sorry that I had to kill her when there could have been another way." He smacked him against the side of the truck. "I'm sorry you made the wrong choice." He hit him with a right hook, dropping Lindsey to the ground. Liam picked up the sledge and brought it down in an overhead arc, smashing Lindsey's plastic hand to pieces. Lindsey froze, staring at his shattered hand. He glanced up at Liam who dropped the hammer. "Could have been worse. It could've the other one."
"Who are you?" Lindsey asked with a frown. Liam picked him up by the collar with one hand.
"Your worst nightmare." Liam hit Lindsey several times before he fell into unconsciousness. Liam stared at the unconscious body, then picked it up and placed it in the driver seat of the truck. He closed the door and patted the hood of the truck. "Nice truck" the truck roar to life and backed up. It turned and started heading in the other direction towards LA. Buffy and Angel went over to him.
"Are you Ok?" Buffy asked concerned and looking at his injuries.
"I'm fine mom. This is nothing remember." She did. He was tortured by Angelus. Every bit of pain that could be dealt to him now was nothing.
"You can't blame a mother for caring."
"No you can't"
"Why was Lindsey after you again?" asked Angel.
"Apparently some demon saw me dust Darla and Lindsey didn't take to kindly to that."
"Does that mean that Wolfram and Hart know?" Buffy asked.
"Don't think so, he said a demon told him. No demon knows who I am. They probably know of me."
"So that's good." Angel said. "How did the truck drive off if Lindsey was unconscious?"
"Put a spell on the truck to drive back to his place. He doesn't know where we were going so I doubt that he would follow." Lima looked the sky. "We need to go now. Lindsey held us up for too long. When we get back, it'll be past sunrise." They all got back in there cars and sped off, not wanting to have Angel turn to dust and Liam no to be born.
….
Joyce walked down the stairs of her house in a bathrobe and a scarf around her head to hide the bandage that was there. She walked into the kitchen and gasped when she saw a man in there. She relaxed when the man was Giles making tea.
"Oh…Rupert you scared me."
"I do apologize. I let myself in."
"Not that I'm not happy to have you here, but why are you here?"
"I received a call form Liam a few hours ago. He and Buffy and Angel are on their way here."
"They are? How are they?"
"Liam seemed fine on the phone. They succeeded in stopping Angel form going down his dark path and he is coming here to recuperate."
"Oh…Well that's good." The back door opened and Spike came in with a blanket on him. He took it off and turned to the adults.
"Hey." Is all he said.
"Hello Spike."
"Spike, what are you doing here?" Giles asked glaring.
"Recon the same thing you're doin here. Waitin on Buffy and the poof to arrive."
"How do you…." The door opened again and Buffy came in running with Angel under his blanket. He dropped to the ground and they both faced the family.
"Buffy" her mom said and came over to hug her. Buffy hugged back in delight seeing her mother ok.
"Mom. Your ok." Buffy said pulling out of the hug
"Of course I am. Rupert told me all about Liam and where you were." She looked to Angel. "I'm glad things are working out."
"They are mom."
"Hello Joyce" Angel said with a smile.
"Hello Angel. It's nice to see you again."
"Nice to see you too."
"Hey there peaches." Spike said. Both Buffy and Angel looked at him with similar distasteful expression.
"Spike, what are you doing here."
"I'm here waitin for the fam."
"Again the question." Buffy said through gritted teeth. "Why are you here?" The back door opened again and Liam came inside.
"You know" he started. "It's always nice to watch a sunrise."
"Wouldn't know" Spike said. "Hadn't seen one in over hundred years."
"Yeah well one of these days, I'm thinking of changing that."
"I'm thinking that day will be today." Angel said with a scowl.
"Hey, you can't do anythin to me peaches." Spike retorted. "Son says so."
"Right now the sun is shining and I don't think he will mind if I give you some color."
"He's talking about me dad." Liam said. Angel froze and Buffy looked at him with a surprised look. "Spike knows who I am."
"He does?" Buffy asked still surprised. "How?"
"Because I told him"
"Why?" Angel asked.
"Because if I didn't tell him, then at this moment, he would be making out with a mannequin version of Buffy."
"What?" Angel and Buffy said together. Liam sighed. He hated having to explain things to people.
"In the future, Spike fell in love with mom. His love for her drived him to help. Rather than it was the only thing to do. After some time, mom began to love him in return."
"I loved Spike!" Buffy yelled.
"Yeah. But you weren't in love with him. Your relationship with him never went to that level. You were always for dad." Buffy looked at Spike who smirked at her, then at Angel who was just as surprised as she was. "Spike will go on to love another woman who he will marry."
"Spike will get married?" Angel asked. Liam nodded. Angel than burst out laughing. Buffy and Giles smirked. Spike just looked annoyed. "Spike gets married. What, did Dru come back to him?"
"Actually no. and as it turns out, you will be his best man." This made Angel stop laughing.
"I'm his best man?"
"Yeah. You guys get along in the future. Practically brothers." Angel looked quizzical at him. "And mom here was the Maid of Honor. Buffy smiled.
"I'm going to be a Maid of Honor?" Liam nodded.
"So just to be clear." Giles began. "Buffy and Spike will not have a relationship."
"Correct" Liam responded. "Good thing I got to you guys before she started sleeping with him."
"WHAT?" Buffy and Angel screamed in unison. "I sleep with Spike?" Buffy asked shocked. Liam nodded again. Spike made a smirk that didn't go unnoticed by Angel, but he was to busy looking at Buffy who was making gagging noises like she was about to puke. "I….willingly…..sleep…..with Spike?" she spat at the last part.
"Yeah." She made a disgusted face.
"How? Why?"
"Because at the time, life kinda hit you hard. With Slaying, taking car of Dawn, the family, paying bills, getting a crappy job…..you turned to him as a stress reliever." This did not make Buffy feel better. "Just be glad it isn't going to happen now."
"Yeah" Spike interjected. "Now you get the poof to shag, I get a honey of my own, and we don't have to have any physical relationship at all." Buffy looked better after hearing that and hugged Liam, nearly crushing him.
"Thank you, thank you, thank you." She said as she literally crushed him. He screamed at the strength and Buffy let him go. "Sorry" He picked her up and crushed her just the same. She screamed to. He let her go and they both smiled. "Man you are strong." They both laughed. All of them had been making so much noise that they woke Dawn up without realizing it. She came into the kitchen wondering what the noise was about.
"Mom, what is going on down here? All of this noise wo…." She saw Angel in the kitchen and a smiled spread across her face. "Angel" she ran to him and hugged him tight.
"Hey Dawnie." Angel replied. She let go after a bit.
"What are you doing here? Did you here about Buffy's break up with Riley and are here to wisp her off her feet?" She asked with a smile. Angel smiled.
"Dawn" Buffy said. "That's none of your business." Dawn crossed her arms.
"I think we should tell her." Liam said.
"Tell me what?"
"Liam" Giles said. "Are you sure?"
"Tell me what?"
"I'm sure." Liam said. "Everyone else in the family knows. Why not her?"
"Tell me what?"
"Liam" Buffy warned. "She's a blabber."
"I am not. And tell me what?" she was getting impatient at this point."
"That Liam is the slayer and the poof's son form the day of tomorrow, here to fix it." Spike answered. Dawn looked stunned and confused.
"What?" Liam took off his glasses, walked to over to Dawn ad bent down so that he was at eye level with her.
"Dawn" he began. "I'm from the future. Buffy and Angel are my parents. I came back because my future has literally gone to hell. I came back to stop it and change a few things so that it's not only better for the world but for us in some ways." Dawn stood wide eyed at him. "Yeah. That's the reaction I get from everyone who finds out." Dawn looked to Buffy and Angel. They both nodded as did Joyce and Giles when she looked at them. She looked back at Liam.
"So….you're Buffy's and Angel's son." He nodded. "Which means I'm your aunt." He nodded again. "Which makes you my nephew." Again he nodded. "Oh…..ok" she started back out of the kitchen." I just gotta….go….change something's." She turned and ran back upstairs. Along the way Liam heard an 'oh my god' and an 'ew'. Spike started to laugh. Everyone turned to him with quizzical expressions.
"What so funny?" Angel demanded.
"Isn't it obvious?" Spike said while laughing. "Nibblet had a crush on her nephew. She just found out who he really is and is upstairs changing her diary entries." Everyone realized this. Every time Liam came by and was in the room with Dawn, she would always greet him in the way that little girls greet their crushes. Liam started to laugh too.
"Liam its' not funny." Buffy pointed out. "This is serious."
"Its and little funny." He said through some laughs and kept on laughing. Angel started to chuckle and joined in on the laughing. Then Buffy started, as did Joyce and Giles. Pretty soon everyone in the kitchen was laughing.
…..
Once everyone had calmed down, Joyce made breakfasts for everyone. Dawn had come downstairs, and after having a few snickering looks from everyone, started talking to Liam, getting to know here nephew.
"So what's it like in the future?" Dawn asked excitedly. "Is it all techy and stuff?"
"Well" began. "Everyone has a flying car, food comes in little pills, and the entire world is run by DAMN DIRTY APES!" he yelled the last part. This got everyone to stop eating and looked at him in disbelief. "Gotcha didn't I?" he started to laugh at everyone's expression and everyone joined in. "NO. No. All I can really say about the future is that it's bad and I'm here to fix it."
"How?"
"Well there are a series of events that play a role in the apocalypse to come. All I got to do is affect some decisions and ensure a certain outcome and then the future can be saved."
"Wow. Sounds dangerous."
"Are you going to need help with any of these events?" Joyce asked concerned.
"With some of them yeah. All I need mom and dad to do is to be themselves in a fight unless I say differently."
"Are you going to tell us anything about these events some time before they occur?" asked Giles. He wasn't too happy that Liam didn't tell about the Angel until just before he was going to go down his dark path.
"Of course I will. I'm sorry that I didn't tell you guys about dad sooner but with grandma in the hospital, I escaped form my mind sometimes."
"It's alright Liam." Buffy defended her son. "Just make sure to give us some time before the next one." Liam nodded his head.
"When is the next one anyway?" Spike asked curiously.
"It's pretty much the birth of Connor. Change his conception date and who his mother is. We just deal with this demon woman we are facing and then mom dad do the deed and I get a brother." Everyone nodded.
"So, do you have any cousins in the future?" Dawn asked with a mouth full of eggs.
"Don't answer that." Buffy directed to Liam than looked back at Dawn. "Nice try"
"Yeah, I have cousins in the future." Liam answered her question. This brought him a look from his mother.
"Any of them my children?" Dawn asked hopefully. Buffy warned not to answer. But Liam gave Dawn a wink, hinting yes. She smiled. Liam rubbed his neck and groaned.
"You ok?" Angel asked.
"Yeah. But having a cowboy hit you with a hammer can really do a number on some of your joints."
I can help with that." Spike said coming up behind Liam and grabbing his neck. "I broke enough necks in my time, I think I can fix one."
"You stay away from my son." Angel growled.
"Dad" Liam shot his father a daring look. "If you start something with Spike right now, so help me god, I will ensure you don't have your moments with mom until they are suppose to happen in the near distant future." Angel gave Spike a look before stepping back. Spike returned to his nephew's neck.
"You might feel a little pressure here." Spike positioned his hands, one on Liam's neck, and the other on his head. He pushed both his hands inward, causing Liam's head to move in one direction and his neck in the opposite one. There was a loud crack and Liam screamed. Angel lunged at Spike and had him up against the wall by the throat. Liam started to laugh and everyone looked at him confused.
"Whoa." He chuckled. "What a ride." He rubbed his neck in satisfaction. "That diffidently did it." He got and faced Spike who Angel let go. "Thanks Uncle Spike."
"No problem."
"It's not fair." Buffy pouted. Everyone turned to her. "Liam fights Darla and Drusilla, then gets beat up by some cowboy with a hammer and gets a neck rub. I haven't fought anythignin two days. I wanna fight something."
"We can always have one of our sparring matches like we use too." Angel suggested. This brought a smile to Buffy's face.
"I like that idea. Lets do it."
"Whoa hold on." Liam said. "Angelus vs. The Slayer. That's a match I'd pay money to see."
"Well it looks like you can watch it for free nephew." Spike said.
"Count on it."
"Ooo, can I see it?" Dawn asked.
"Why not. It's like the match of the century."
"Is Buffy fighting Angel something people like watching?" Joyce asked Giles.
"Well Angel is one of the most feared vampire in history with superior fighting style and years of honed skills and Buffy is the slayer." He paused. "Yes I believe a lot of people would like to watch a fight such as this. Including myself." He said with a grin.
"Then I guess I'll go too. I've always wanted to see my daughter take on a vampire and not have the fear of immediate danger."
"Well you're in luck grandma. We get to have that today." Liam said.
"It's official then." Buffy said. "The fight between Angel and Buffy will be watched by an audience."
….
It was opening time at the Magic Box and the rest of the Scooby Gang entered the shop as Giles opened up the shop. Anya went to cash register almost instantly.
"Good morning boss." She said. "Ready to get to work."
"Oh. Good Anya." Giles deadpanned. The rest of the gang piled in.
"So Giles." Xander said first. "You hear anything from Buffy?"
"Yeah" Willow said. "It's already been a day since Riley left. I'm worried about her. I'm not sure what I would do if Tara left me."
"You know I would never do that baby." Tara assured her. Willow smiled.
"Well actually" Giles said. "She's in the back currently training."
"Oh. So she didn't leave us. Good" Xander said. "Better to get out any residual feelings by punchin a bag."
"Well she isn't punching a bag but she is punching something."
"Spike." Xander said hopefully.
"Well Spike is in there but she isn't fighting him." They heard cheering coming form the back room and a loud thud.
"What's going on in there?" Xander asked and headed for the door. The rest followed suit. When hey opened it, they found Joyce, Dawn, Spike, and Liam, all cheering as Buffy fought Angel in what looked like a well planned out dance. But they were fighting each other. Xander and Willow were surprised by the presence of Angel back in Sunnydale.
Angel dealt a few blows to Buffy. All of which she dodged without a sweat. He swiped her feet and she jumped before he could make contact. She tried to kick him and he grabbed her leg. He swung her and she landed a few feet away. Angel ran to her and she tried punching him. He grabbed her fist and turned her around facing the wall. He pushed up against it with her arm behind her back.
"What's the matter slayer? You' got sloppy since I left?" he said.
"In your dreams." She responded and pushed away form the wall and did a flip over his head. She kicked him up against the wall and held him the same way he did to her. "getting slow in your old age?"
"More years means more experience." Angel responded and broke out of the hold and faced her. Her dealt a few punches and kicks to her, sending her walking backwards. She caught to his plan and dodged another blow and swiped his feet. She straddled him and pretended to stake him.
"Staked"
"Right in the heart." They smiled. Everyone but Xander and Willow clapped. Buffy and Angels fight was something that everyone wanted to see. They both got up smiling.
"OK. Can someone explain to me what the hell's going on here?" Xander asked breaking up the cheering. "Why is dead boy back?" This made the room grow incredibly silent. Buffy nervous because she had to explain to her best friends why Angel and she were back together without revealing Liam's secret.
"Um" She began. "Guys….Angel's…back in town for a few weeks."
"Oh" Xander replied. "So he's not staying. Good." This brought him a growl from Angel.
"What?" Dawn said. "He's not staying? I though he was."
"He's staying for a few weeks." Buffy answered. "Then he's going to visit every other week." After a beat. "And I'm going to visit him."
"Why?" Xander asked.
"Because." This was it. "Angel and I are….back together."
"What!"
"Buffy." Willow said. "are you sure that's a good idea?"
"Yeah. I mean Angel's ok and all but make him happy he starts killing people."
"Xander!" Buffy chastised.
"No Buffy. Listen, this isn't a good idea. Especially after Riley just left. Remember him. The guy who would do anything for you. The guy who you could do anything with and not have any consequences."
"Xander, Riley made me happy, yes. But Angel makes me even more happy. I want my life to be with him."
"Until you give him a happy again and he kills everyone. Remember Jenny." This brought pain to everyone who new Miss Calendar. Especially Giles. "Remember everything he did to you. Remember when he held Dawn and was about to kill her after your night together. He left because you couldn't work out. Why are you putting everyone at risk by going back to him?"
"Because we can be happy together without consequences. I have a spell that'll bound his soul so that Angelus can never come out a gain."
"How did you find that?" Willow asked curiously. Buffy hesitated before answering.
"Not important. All that's important is that I'm going to be with the am I love and be happy with him. You're my best friends. Can't you be happy for me."
"Of course Buffy. I'll always be happy with whatever makes you happy. Just as long as it doesn't lead to some of us getting killed."
"It won't Willow. The spell is legit. All I need is for you and Tara to cast it. I trust you guys more with it than anyone." Willow smiled a little at that.
"How do you know?" Xander asked. Buffy looked at him. "How do you know that the spell is even going to work?"
"Because I just know." she said forcefully. She didn't like that Xander was being hard to get along with. Xander turned to Giles.
"Giles, are you actually allowing this?" Giles cleaned his glasses and put them back on.
"Yes Xander I am. There is a light in Buffy's eyes that shines when she is with Angel. I haven't seen it since he left her." Angel and Buffy smiled at Giles's approval. Xander turned to Joyce.
"Mrs. Summers, your daughter is going to be sleeping with a vampire. Are you going to stand for it?" Joyce stood and looked to her daughter and her future son in law. She smiled then turned to look at Xander.
"All I care about is Buffy's happiness. If Angel makes her the happiest she can be, then I will allow it." Xander was in shock. Her own mother saying 'yes' to boinking a vampire. What was going on here. He turned to Willow.
"Will, you are the one who's going to do this spell that we don't know will work. It could take away his soul instead and then he'll kill you so that you can't perform the other spell. Are you rally going to risk that?" Willow looked conflicted. "Think of Miss Calendar. Think of you gold fish and all of our friends he's killed." Willow looked at Buffy and Angel and then back at Xander.
"I'm sorry Xander. I like Angel and if Buffy says that the spell is legit, then I believe her." Xander couldn't believe what he was hearing. Everyone seemed to be against him. He turned and his eyes landed on Liam.
"You"
"Me?" Liam said.
"Yeah." He started walking over to Liam. "Ever since you came to town, weird stuffs been happening. Demons kidnap Buffy's family and you're the one to save them. Some demon chick comes into town and Buffy survives because of you. This Pessy person arrives and you're the only one who knows about him. Now Riley leaves and Angel comes back." He stopped in front of him. "I think your messing with all of us in some way." He paused. "Are you responsible for this?"
"I have no control over Buffy and Angel falling in love." Liam responded.
"Bull"
"Xander that's enough." Buffy came over to defend her son. "He had nothing to do with me and Angel or anything for that matter." Xander just glared at her. "Angel and I are back together and it's going to stay that way. If you don't like then tough. It's just the way things are now." He shook his head in disbelief.
"I knew you were a lot of things Buffy. I didn't figure you to be stupid." He spat, turned and left leaving a hurt Buffy. Everyone not felt awkward.
"Will" Buffy said registering to her best friend. "When I give you the spell, how long will it take before you can cast it?"
"Well I'll have to look at it first." Willow answered. "But I might be able to do it by the end of the day." Buffy went to her bag and pulled out the CD with the spell on it and handed it to Willow.
"Do what you can." Willow nodded.
…..
Later at night, the gang, minus Xander and Anya, had formed up at the mansion where Angel would be staying. Willow and Tara knew how to do the spell and gathered everyone to tell them about it.
"Ok." Willow began. "The spell is pretty straight forward. It was a little complicated, but I'm sure Tara and I can do it." Willow said with a smile.
"If you are sure you can bind his soul," Giles spoke up. "Why are the rest of here to hear this?"
"Ah." Willow said, her smile faded. "Well, I'm going to need your help. All of your helps actually."
"Willow what is it?" Angel asked.
"Well….Um…." Willow glanced at Angel. "There's a catch to the spell." Angel glanced over at Laim who shrugged.
"I knew there'd be a catch." Angel said under his breath. "What's the catch?"
"It's just while doing the spell. But to put this spell on you….we have to remove the old ones first."
"You mean bring Angelus out?" Buffy asked worriedly.
"Yeah." Willow answered.
"NO." Angel said immediately. "No. Absolutely not."
Angel!" Buffy cried.
"No, Buffy, I won't do it! Never. Out of the question." Buffy pulled Angel into the kitchen so they could have a private chat.
"Come on Angel, I'm sure it would just be for a few minutes."
"Five minutes actually." Liam said coming in. he managed to slip away form the group with out them knowing.
"You knew about this didn't you?" angel accused him.
"Of course. Dad it's the only way. If I could find another spell that would bind your soul with bringing Angelus, then I would have it with me now. But I don't. And like I said, it'll only be for five minutes."
"You don't know what Angelus can do in five minutes." Angel said darkly.
"Actually I do. More than you know." this caught Angel off guard. "I was tortured by Angelus when I was 15. he did things to me that I still have some nightmares about. I know what he can do in five minutes. But its been a while since I last saw him and he doesn't know what I can do in two."
"Five minutes with Angelus and then we never have to see him again." Buffy said.
"I'm not putting you in that kind of danger." Angel shouted angrily.
"Don't you think we can handle it?" Buffy shouted back, starting to get angry herself. "We'll lock you min a cage, chain you up, and stand around the cage with weapons, before they even start removing the curse. Nothing bad will happen."
"You don't know that."
"I do." Liam responded. "If anything bad is going to happen, it'll be by me to Angelus. Trust me dad, this is Angelus's last day on earth." Angel looked conflicted. "I know he scares you dad. He scares us all. But we have shot to get rid of him. If we don't take it, then there is s chance for Angelus to come out everyday of ours lives. And you don't do this, then Connor, Kathy, and myself won't be born." Angel looked up. The thought of not having his kids hurt him. His soul was bound in the future. He must have relented and Willow casted the spell. Angel nodded his head. Buffy and Liam smiled.
…..
"We're going to need chains and weapons" Angel said coming back into the room. "There's a cell in the basement we can use, and I think I might have some chains."
"Tara and I can work in the living room." Willows aid. "We can't be distracted."
"Best that there be some people guarding you just in case." Liam said. "Don't start the spell until we have confirmation that Angel in bound down." Willow nodded. The door opened and Xander and Anya walked in. He didn't look like he wanted to be there. Everyone turned to him. He looked at Buffy.
"I'm sorry Buffy." He said after a beat. "I just really don't like him." He glared at Angel for a minute then back at Buffy. "But I trust you." Buffy smiled. "How can I help?"
"Thank you." She said. "Guard Willow and Tara while they perform the spells." Buffy said. "There's a small chance that Angelus might break free."
"Told you this was a bad idea." Buffy rolled her eyes.
"Giles and Anya will help you. Spike, Liam and, I will be in the basement with Angel." She looked to Angel and held his hand and smiled.
"Let's go to work." Angel said his catchphrase.
…..
An hour later, Buffy and Spike had Angel chained up to the wall of a cell in the basement. Liam was inspecting the cage, making sure that the bars won't give if Angelus got loose.
"There" Buffy said. "That should hold you." Spike walked out of the cage but Buffy stayed behind for a minute. She bent down to Angel and touched his cheek. "Everything will be fine." She whispered and kissed him. He kissed back.
"Don't listen to anything he says" Angel said when they parted. "He lies with the truth, don't let him trick you."
"I won't." Buffy promised. "I love you."
"I love you." Buffy turned and walked out of the cage. "Tell the girls we're ready." She said the Spike and he went upstairs. Buffy and Liam waited for a minute.
"Something's wrong." Liam said. Angel looked a little scared. "I read that spell over, it shouldn't take this long to take away his soul." Buffy looked worried. "Go upstairs and see what's keeping them." Buffy nodded and headed upstairs. Liam looked back at his father and took off his coat. He threw it down ns took the keys and unlocked the cage.
"What are you doing?" Angel asked. Liam entered and locked the cage behind him. He went over to Angel and unlocked his cuffs. "Wait I need those."
"No you won't." Liam said. "Not for this." He looked at Angel who looked at him in horror. What was his son doing? Or was it his son at all. All of the sudden Angel screamed. He felt the intense pain in his chest when his soul was taken from him years ago. The pain stopped and Angel looked at Liam. "Hey dad." Liam said. Angelus smiled and started to laugh.
I know that this is a major cliffhanger and I promised that there would be a flashback, but it got too long so I had to cut it. Surprised? I'm not. I know what's going to happen. Calm down, Liam isn't evil. He just has an alternative plan. Stay tune for the next update.