Light was flooding through the windows when Buffy slowly made her way down the steps the next morning, the twinge between her legs reminding her of the night she'd spent with Angel. He hadn't laid a fang on her, and she didn't think he'd even given her a bruise, but he hadn't been gentle either. She took a breath and kept her gaze trained on the empty hallway as she made her way toward the front doors of Wolfram and Hart.

"I kind of hate letting you go," he murmured as he walked at her side. She didn't respond, and his gaze slid over her. "I don't think I've ever seen you look more beautiful."

She stopped walking and tried to force herself to look at him, gave it up when she couldn't, took a breath before starting to walk again. The sun was warm when she pushed through the doors, and she took a moment to enjoy it, before starting down the steps.

Three months later:

Mrs. Sedgwick hung up the phone and made a quick notation before turning back to her typewriter. The door opened, and she finished typing in the address before looking at the teenager that was walking past her desk. "Miss," she called before getting to her feet when the girl ignored her. "You can't go in there, miss."

Buffy rolled her eyes before pulling open the door to Angel's office and looking over the men he was having a meeting with.

"I'm sorry sir," Mrs. Sedgwick quickly spoke up.

"It's fine," Angel murmured as he got to his feet. "I think we're pretty much done here anyway."

"Of course." One of the dark suited men got to his feet before walking over to shake Angel's hand. "It was a pleasure... as always."

"Yes," the brunette agreed as he watched the men file out of the room before looking back at his secretary. "Call Willow and shut the door, Mrs. Sedgwick."

She did, and Buffy walked farther into the room, adjusted the duffle bag over her shoulder... took a breath. "You're not him."

"Not who?" he asked slowly, his eyes narrowing dangerously.

"You're not *my* Angel."

"I am. I just healed." She didn't respond, and he gave a slow shake of his head. "I've never been a saint Buffy, but I did hate what Angelus had done. I felt like I needed to pay for that."

"There was never anything for you to pay for, but that's not the point." Another silence fell, and she glanced longingly out the window before looking at him. "I was in *heaven*, and I want to go back." She hesitated, tucked hair behind her ear. "I don't belong in this time. I..." she broke off and fought for the right words. "I've already lived my life. The Angel I knew would understand... and he would never have..." she broke off uneasily, looked at him as she remembered what he'd said and done while she'd been pregnant, while they'd had sex. She looked away. "If you ever cared about me, you'd let me go."

Silence fell before he gave a shake of his head. "We didn't bring you back, Marcus did. It's not like we control what he does."

"Don't give me that," she stated with a reproachful look. "You could make a deal with him."

"Maybe, he answered, "but I don't want to."

She nodded and met his eyes. "Like I said you're not him."

He snorted, watched with amusement. "Think what you want, but the truth is we like having you around, and we've even found a job for you." He raised his hands in surrender. "It wasn't my idea, but I have to admit I'm not against it."

She shot him a hard look, and he met it with a shuttered one before slowly lowering his hands. "I want to go to the basement," she stated coolly.

"Not yet." He turned away before opening the door. "Will."

"Yeah." She walked into the room.

"I want to know if there's any magic on her."

Willow murmured a spell before giving a shake of her head. "No, and there's nothing in her bag but snacks and clothes... a toothbrush, a couple of novels." She shrugged.

"Any weapons?"

Her eyes narrowed and she turned back to Buffy. "No. Just a sword."

"Why don't you put it in my apartment? She's not going to need it for a while."

Willow waved a hand, and Angel turned back to the blonde. "You can go to your cell, or apartment Buff, which is it?"

"Cell," she answered coolly.

"Alright," He shifted back, motioned toward the hall, and she walked past him, did her best to ignore it when he fell in beside her. "So..." he started, "what did you have? Boy or a girl?"

Silence fell. "Girl," she lied. "Redhead."

"Too bad the father didn't get his boy," Angel murmured.

She glanced at him, but he didn't look at her, and she slowed and stopped when she got to the basement door. He opened it, and she headed down the stairs before walking down the hallway, started toward the bed in her cell when the door was pushed closed behind her.

"Not curious about your new job?"

She slid the gym bag off her shoulder, dropped it on the mattress before turning to look at him. "What is it?"

He shrugged. "We've got a client that wants a child. His wife can't give him the one he wants." She didn't say anything, and he looked up at her. "He wants a boy."

"He should find a surrogate then," she answered coolly.

"He already has." Silence fell, and he shrugged. "It'll be a medical procedure, and it's scheduled for tomorrow morning." His gaze slid over her. "I mean, it's not that big of a deal is it?"

"Try being pregnant, and then you can tell me it's not that big of a deal," she stated angrily as she shot him a hard look. "I'm not doing it."

"You don't have a choice." He took a step back. The procedure will take place at midnight."

She walked to the bars, and he shifted farther away, gave her a smile as his eyes glittered with interest. "We thought we'd take you patrolling on Friday nights, and tonight's Saturday. That should give him a few days to settle into his new home before we start having nights out on the town." He turned to go before hesitating, turning back. "I missed you, lover, had trouble sleeping for a few nights. There's just something about our last night together I can't get out of my head."

She watched him leave uneasily before turning back to look her cell over. The refrigerator, radio, thermostat, duffel bag of clothes were all still there. She checked the refrigerator and it was stocked. She looked over the food, rubbed at her forehead before sitting on the bed with a frown. The silence was broken only by the sounds of demons quietly moving around their cells, and she listened before sliding a hand into her pocket and pulling out the crystal. The purple line in it was darker than it had been. Her hand closed around it tightly before she laid back on the bed and stared at the ceiling. "I wish Dawn were here so she could drain me," she breathed. Nothing happened, and Buffy frowned before sighing and making herself comfortable.

"Angel," she started uneasily a few hours later when a small group stopped in front of her cell, and she focused on the two men she didn't know.

"Yeah?"

"I really don't want to do this."

"It's just 9 months Buff, and it's not like you haven't done it before." He turned to Willow. "Put her on the bed Will, and don't forget the restraints."

"Do you want her in a nightgown and robe... maybe under a sheet?" Willow asked. He nodded, and Willow turned back to Buffy and waved a hand.

No," Buffy started before finding herself in her nightgown and robe, on her bed, a sheet draped over her, her wrists and ankles firmly held in place with wide leather cuffs. She struggled before looking up when the door opened and the doctors walked in. "I don't want to do this," she restated desperately as she tried to break free.

"Gag her," one of the men ordered. "We'll need to do a ritual.

"N..." she started before cloth filled her mouth and she couldn't talk. She jerked on the restraints.

The doctors started to speak in a language she didn't recognize before something cold was inserted into her. She struggled, went still, her chest heaved with distress as power built in the room before whatever was inserted was pulled out. One of the men murmured, there was a flash of light, a warmth filled her, and Buffy felt a hand grip her knee. "Such a good girl," he murmured as he smiled at her in the dark room. He released her, turned to look at Angel. "The spell we put on her will make sure the child's carried to term as long as it's viable, but the boy isn't entirely human Angel... your pet might feel some effects from that."

"So I've been told."

"It shouldn't be anything too bad... just a little bruising in her last month, confusion, a little more pain than is normal. It's nothing to be concerned about." He turned back to Buffy. "We'll see you again in a few months my dear and you can deliver that nice fat baby boy the Sander's requested." She looked at him uneasily, and he grinned as he met her eyes before turning to Angel. "And I would be remiss if I didn't congratulate you on earning your redemption Angelus. Although from what I hear you've decided to remain a vampire?"

"Yes. I guess being human doesn't appeal like it used to." He hesitated before looking into Buffy's sickened green eyes and giving a casual shrug. "I mean, I like helping people Buff."

The man with the white hair followed his gaze with amusement before turning back to the brunette. "From what I hear the Powers are rather pleased with your loyalty to them... With *all* your loyalty to them," he stressed as he looked at Willow.

"They are," Willow agreed with a smile.

He returned it before glancing at his watch. "Well, we should be going. The happy parents asked for an update tonight and I have another appointment scheduled in an hour."

"Of course," Angel agreed and watched as they disappeared before taking a couple of steps into the cell. "Take off the restraints, and get rid of the gag Will."

They disappeared, and the slayer self consciously got to her feet and tightened the belt on her robe before putting more distance between them.

"So..." Willow broke the silence as she turned to watch her, "want to watch a movie Buff? You can choose."

The blonde looked at her with disbelief before shifting a couple more steps back. "No... I'm pretty sure the company would suck."

Angel's eyes sparked with amusement and he nodded. "We could make you you know," he stated quietly.

"You're good at that aren't you?" she asked in a hard voice.

"Apart from your new job, what have I forced you to do?"

"You've locked me in a cell, and made me appear in a vision when I was five." Silence fell. "You..." she broke off, took a breath. "What you did..."

He met her eyes as his lips twitched up. "When we had sex? I didn't force that." She stared at him threateningly, and he shrugged. "I was just curious."

"You were a lot more than curious," she breathed.

Willow looked at him with interest before looking back at Buffy. "I can transport her to the lounge and put up a boundary sire."

"No. She's right. We'll just take her patrolling Friday night. I mean, if you want to Buff?" She nodded, and he started toward the door before hesitating, turning back. "I know you've had it a little rough tonight, but the Partners requested you for the job, and I didn't want to disappoint them," he studied her, shrugged. "I even talked to the Powers... and they didn't have a problem with it."

Another silence fell, and he and Willow quietly left.

Buffy was sitting with her back against the wall a few days later when she heard her name called... and she looked up before snorting. "What do you want Marcus?"

"Just to talk."

"About?"

He shrugged. "How about Angel, his redemption, and his family?"

She rubbed at her forehead before tiredly looking up, leaning her head back against the wall. "What about them?"

He dropped a shoulder against a bar. "Let's start with the visions Buff... Why do you think the Powers agreed to change them?"

"Why don't you tell me?" she asked with a hint of irritation.

He grinned. "They didn't. The Powers were killed thirteen years ago when the Partners called a demon to this world known as Vocah. Conveniently that was the time Cordelia's visions were changed."

Silence fell as Buffy tried to decide how much to believe. "No," she finally answered as she shifted so her legs were straight in front of her and crossed at the ankles. "Angel talks to them."

"The Powers he talks to are nothing but puppets, made to dance at the Partner's will." He hesitated, studied her before giving a slow shake of his head. "Just look at the types of visions Cordelia has Buff, children being sacrificed to Lurconis... an 8 year old being handed over to a mass murderer, a five year old being used to distract a demon... It's all designed to change their way of thinking, and the Partners couldn't be more pleased with the results."

The knot in her stomach tightened, she took a breath, gave a shake of her head. "You're lying. They offered him shanshu."

"Yes they did, but that doesn't mean they're alive. It means they've found a way to..." he broke off and hesitated before meeting her eyes. "They've managed to influence three events from the other side Buffy. The first was when they sent the vision of the slime demon. That was the night you escaped." She took that in as she stared sightlessly at the bars of her cell, and Marcus's lips twisted into a dark smile. "They also managed to offer Angel and his family shanshu."

Something about that wasn't right, and she twisted her head to look at him. "*All* of them?" she asked with disbelief.

He grinned and nodded. "It was their way of trying to take them out of the equation." He hesitated, met her eyes. "Angel and his family have been trained to follow orders, and for the last few years those orders, *visions*," he clarified, "are coming from the Senior Partners." A silence fell, and he shrugged. "He never really needed redemption for *Angelus'* sins... but he wanted it... and the Powers used it to reel him in. Now that the Partners have the upper hand though, they're more than willing to turn five vampires human if it will keep them from working for the other side."

Nausea filled her and she watched as he stepped away from the bars... looked down a hallway she couldn't see down, turned back to her. "Their third intervention was the night Cordelia sent them after you while you were pregnant. They were right to want your pregnancy ended, but they're in a different dimension Buffy, one where time doesn't work the same. They were confused about the timing. It wasn't the human they wanted dead, it's something you're going to be pregnant with in the future."

Her stomach knotted hard and she looked up. "What does that..." she broke off when her eyes opened and she sat up in bed. The cell was dark and empty. She took a deep breath, ran a trembling hand through her hair before throwing off the covers and going into the bathroom to splash cool water on her face. It was a dream. Just a dream, she tried to reassure herself even though she didn't believe it. Tears started to fall and she slid to the floor and let them.

She didn't bother to get out of bed a few days later when Angel called her name. "It's Friday night," he stated as he studied the lump under the covers. "Want to patrol?"

"What's the point?" she asked tiredly.

"To get out of the building... maybe find something to slay. I mean, I'm not against it." He hesitated before shrugging even though her back was turned. "We can get something to eat if you want, or just take a walk if you feel like it."

She stared at the wall. The last couple of days all she could think about was the 'dream' she'd had, that Angel had turned down his shanshu, her pregnancy... Any of the three alone would have been difficult to deal with, but when taken together... she broke the thought and took a breath. "Angel... Promise me you'll stop enforcing the visions and accept your redemption."

"Buffy," he broke off and hesitated before giving a regretful shake of his head. "I know you don't like them, but the visions save lives... We just want to continue to do that." He smiled. "It must be your influence." Silence fell, and he sobered, hesitated when she finally turned to look at him with sick green eyes. "Let's go out," he urged as he stared into them. "We can just take a walk if you want... No slaying."

Exhaustion swept over her as she thought about her options. If she said 'no' he'd leave her alone... with her thoughts... just as she'd been for the last six days. She closed her eyes for a long moment before slowly getting to her feet and agreeing.

There was a cut off scream in an alley across the street, and Buffy started toward it. A demon was attacking a girl. There were murmurs behind her. Angel cursed, and Willow chanted. The demon and girl were suddenly gone, and Buffy stared at the empty alley before turning to look accusingly at the group behind her.

"I took care of it," Willow stated and watched as Buffy turned to look at her with contempt.

Angel's eyes sparked with gold as he shifted closer to the slayer. "It's a gharn Buff... The Powers use them a lot in Cordy's visions." He shrugged when she turned to him. "They're practically on our side."

There was something about his statement that... She took a breath before bolting in front of a moving truck.

The driver hit the brakes with a curse, and Willow shouted her name before chanting a spell that had the slayer running into a barrier. She fell backward, her head hit the cement, and she blacked out.

"Fuck," Angel breathed as they stood over her a few seconds later.

Giles looked at him with understanding before looking down at her with regret. "With everything that's happened it's getting too hard to fix isn't it sire?"

"Yes," the brunette answered grimly.

Wesley nodded. "She does seem to be having a hard time adjusting."

Xander snorted. "That's an understatement." He looked up at Wes. "Between her finding out about Cordy's visions, and then being locked in a cell..." he broke off as he thought of everything that was wrong before giving a shake of his head. "She doesn't have a lot of reasons to like us... and she's losing weight again.

Silence fell, and Angel looked up at his childer with hard eyes. "Let's just take her home."

Darkness.

"Are we leaving it this way?"

"I don't want to."

"So just until the baby?"

"Healthy..."

Buffy struggled to get through the void as she listened to the bits and pieces of quiet conversation. "Angel?" Her eyes fluttered, and she felt a cool hand pick hers up, press a kiss to the palm before darkness pulled her back down.

Something shifted under her a few hours later, and she tiredly opened her eyes before looking up at where Angel was sitting on the edge of the bed.

"Hey," he murmured. "I was wondering how long you were going to be out."

She frowned. "What happened?"

"We were hoping you could tell us. We found you passed out on the lawn a few hours ago."

"I don't kno..." she broke off, rubbed at her forehead. "We?"

He reached down, shifted hair behind her ear. "Xander, Giles, Wes, Willow... Cordy." He shrugged. "We live in Los Angeles now." He took a breath. "We have for the last twenty-one years, Buff."

She stared at him uneasily. "No... We live in Sunnydale... and we're in high school."

He shifted slightly. "What's the last thing you remember?"

"We need to stop the Judge, and..." she scowled, "tomorrow's my birthday."

His eyes sharpened, turned dark. "Your seventeenth?"

"Yeah." She rubbed at her forehead. "Needless to say I *don't* want to celebrate it."

He looked away thoughtfully before his lips twitched into a smile. Leave it to Willow, he thought with amusement before turning back to her with a carefully shuttered expression. "We stopped the judge years ago." He hesitated, reached out to gently touch her cheek. "We've missed you."

She frowned, looked up. "You're not making sense. I mean..." she broke off, watched as he pulled his hand back, and got to his feet.

"Come on." He held out his hand. She took it, and he led her through the hall and into the living room.

She froze when she entered it before swallowing thickly and staring at Xander before looking at Giles... Willow. They all looked older... too old, she decided as she looked them over with a sick feeling, glanced at another man she didn't know. "How... um... how old are you guys?" she asked uneasily.

"We were turned when we were 25," Willow answered, "but we're forty now." She looked at Giles with a teasing grin. "Giles was turned at 40 so he's 55."

"Turned?" Buffy asked as she walked the few steps necessary to brace herself against the back of a chair.

"They were all pretty much dying Buff, and the doctors couldn't figure out why." Angel shrugged even though she didn't look up to see it. "I turned them in a cell and gave them their souls."

She slowly turned to look at him for a long moment. "Where was I?"

Silence fell. "Don't you remember?" Xander asked. "You jumped to save Dawn."

"Dawn?"

Heads turned to study her, look her over thoughtfully. "She's not important," Willow finally answered, "but you died when you were 19 Buffy."

Buffy stared at her with disbelief before snorting and shaking her head. "I can't tell you how much it sucks to learn that Will. I mean, it's like someone giving you a fortune cookie that predicts your future... and this is happening way too close to my birthday for it to be a coincidence." She scowled, ran a hand through her hair. "I *hate* my birthdays."

They looked at her with amusement before Willow laughed. "You'll get your memory back Buffy, and as far as you dying... You're here now, and we missed you." The redhead got up and walked over to give the slayer a hug.

"Thanks, Will." Buffy slid arms around her. "But I'm more than ready to go home." She released Willow and turned to Giles. "So... watcher of mine, are we ready to hit the books?"

Silence fell. "We were hoping you'd be willing to stick around and work with us," Angel finally answered before shrugging. "A slayer on the team would be a big help, and sometimes our caseload can get pretty crazy."

"Caseload?"

"We work for the Senior Partners," Wesley answered and watched as she turned to look at him.

"Who are you?"

"Wesley Pryce," Giles answered. "He used to be with the watcher's council Buffy, but now he's working with us."

She gave a slow nod as she studied him. "Just for the record, I think you made the right choice."

He smiled, his eyes sparking with amusement. "I do as well."

She nodded before turning back to Angel. "It looks like you've been doing fine without me, and I should probably go back."

"You've lost about two years of your memories Buff," he answered quietly. "If you go 'back' you're not going to be sixteen, you're going to be nineteen and dead."

She frowned and lowered her head to stare at the floor, rubbed at her forehead, the back of her neck.

"Will's right," Xander stated as he got up and walked over to pull her against him. "We really did miss you."

Silence fell for a moment as she hugged him back. "So you're all vampires," she finally asked lightly as she thought about her options.

"Yeah. And I've got to tell you, it's not nearly as bad as I thought it would be."

"No, it's not," Giles agreed as he got up and pulled her away from Xander and into a hug, looked down at her curiously. "You don't remember anything past sixteen Buffy?"

"No." Her arms circled him for a long moment before she pulled away with a frown and walked over to look out the large windows.

Angel watched before glancing at his watch. It was almost three am, and he turned back to look at Buffy. "Tired Buff? I've got a spare room you can have if you want to try to sleep."

She nodded as she stared outside. "Yeah. I guess I could try."

"What about clothes?" Willow asked as she looked at Angel before turning to Buffy. "When you turned up, I dug through some of our old stuff and found your clothes. I know I should have gotten rid of them, but I couldn't do it." She picked up a couple of large duffle bags that had been sitting on the floor and dropped them on the sofa.

Buffy looked at the bags before giving a weak smile. "Thanks, Will."

Willow nodded before following Xander, Wes, and Giles out of Angel's apartment.

The slayer waited for them to leave before walking over to run fingertips over the heavy canvas of one of the bags. "I um... guess I should..." she broke off when Angel moved with inhuman speed to wrap arms around her waist.

"They're not the only ones that missed you you know," he murmured.

She swallowed and stared sightlessly at the wall before giving a shake of her head. "It hasn't been that long. We patrolled last night."

"Did we?" he asked as he dropped his head and nuzzled into her hair.

"Yeah. Dusted three minions."

"Did we go someplace private afterward?"

Silence fell as his hands slowly slid from her waist down to her stomach, her hip. "Angel," she started uneasily.

"Shhhh," he soothed. "They're not going to give us a problem anymore Buffy. We can do whatever we want, and they won't say a word about it."

She slowly turned to face him, and he studied her with interest before leaning down to give her a kiss that she hesitantly returned.

Four days later:

She woke with Angel's arm across her hip, his chest pressed against her back, and she did a slow stretch before turning to look at him.

"Morning," he purred.

"Morning," she answered before kissing him when he leaned toward her. He broke it, dropped his head back on the pillow. "Feel like eating something?"

"Um... I...," she broke off. She'd gotten sick a couple of times, but she felt okay today, and she nodded. "Yeah. Cereal sounds good."

His lips twitched up. "You're soo high maintenance," he teased.

"That's me," she answered lightly before watching as he rolled out of bed and walked across the room naked to get his robe. He slid it on before walking back to offer her hers. She reached for it, self consciously slid it on before shifting the covers back and climbing to her feet. He was watching with amusement, and she looked away as she felt her face heat. They'd been sleeping together for the last four nights, and she was still trying to get used to it.

"Come on," he murmured with a grin before entwining their fingers and starting to tug her toward the kitchen.

"Um, Angel..." She slowed when they got near the bathroom, gave him a smile when he turned to look at her. "I uh... I'll meet you there okay?"

"Alright," he agreed before releasing her and continuing down the hall. Buffy watched before stepping into the bathroom and picking up the mirror he'd given her a couple of days ago. The dark lines under her eyes were starting to go away, and she ran a hand through her hair thoughtfully. It was longer than she remembered it being... and she was thinner, her breasts larger. The small differences were enough to drive home the point that she really had lost her memory instead of just being transported through time... Of course, that didn't change that she'd died 21 years ago according to her friends. She set the mirror back on the counter with a frown before taking a quick shower and going to find Angel.

He looked up from the newspaper, and she moved to get the cereal, bowl, spoon, milk. "So um... I mean, Cordy and Xander are together?"

"Yeah," he answered lightly. "Off and on anyway. I guess you could say they have an open relationship. I mean, sometimes it's Cordy and Wes... or Xander and Will."

Buffy looked up at him with disbelief as she sat down. "You're um... serious?"

He nodded before shrugging. "Cordy likes them both, and Xander, Wes, and Will don't mind."

She took in his casual attitude with a hint of nausea. Angel was gorgeous and she knew without a doubt Cordelia would sleep with him in an instant if she had the chance. "Have um... have you..." she broke off, uncertain she wanted to know about his and Cordy's relationship. Deciding not to push it, she reached for the box of cereal. "So... Cordelia had a vision last night. How'd it go?"

Silence fell as he settled back into the chair. "It went great, but they almost always do." He watched as she took a bite of cereal. "And to answer your other question Buff... Cordy's a friend, who happens to be my seer. We work together." He picked up his cup and moved to the sink before starting to rinse it out as Buffy waited. "We've had sex... but I've also turned her down a time or two." He dried the mug, put it back in the cabinet before turning to walk over and crouch in front of her chair, meet her eyes. "She knows the score Buff. You're the only woman I've ever said 'I love you' to... and you're the only one I've ever wanted to move into my apartment." He brushed hair behind her ear and studied her stricken expression before tugging her toward him so he could kiss her forehead. A moment later he released her and met her eyes. "You were dead for twenty-one years," he stressed quietly, "but I love you... and I know how to say 'no'."

She dropped her eyes to the floor, and he frowned before standing to his full height and glancing at his watch. "I've got a meeting in an hour."

Buffy nodded and looked up gratefully when he turned to leave the kitchen. She took a breath and rubbed at her forehead before deciding to get dressed.

Ten minutes later, she was standing at the door with her hand on the doorknob. "I'm going to take off for a while," she called before stepping into the hallway and heading for the stairs.

Angel caught her before she reached them. "When will you be back?" he asked quietly.

She shrugged and forced herself to meet his eyes before giving a weak smile. "A few hours."

He reached for his wallet before holding out a credit card, and Buffy looked at it with surprise before slowly meeting his eyes with a frown. "I wasn't going to buy anything. I just..." she broke off. She'd only wanted to take a walk, but now that she thought about it jogging might be better. Of course, if she did that, she'd have to change clothes. She broke the thought, brushed hair behind her ear. The truth was she hadn't thought her plans through, but she did want some time alone.

"Take it," he ordered quietly. "You might see something you'd like to buy."

She looked at him with troubled green eyes before slowly reaching for the card.

The day was warm and the sun was bright. It baked into the pavement and the concrete sidewalks, and Buffy was almost grateful when she entered Wolfram and Hart a few hours later with two shopping bags around her wrist, a large cool drink in her hand, the jacket she'd left in tied around her waist. She dodged the well dressed lawyers and clients as they made their way through the halls before stopping when she heard her name called.

"Hey Wes," she greeted the man she was starting to make friends with.

"How did your shopping go?" he asked with a smile.

"Good. I got some slacks and a new shirt." She shrugged. "A swimsuit."

He glanced at the colorful plastic bags before looking up at her. "We were talking about going to Carita's tonight. Would you like to come?"

Buffy stepped out of the way of a woman walking through the hall before looking curiously back at Wes. "Carita's?"

"It's a karaoke bar. We're not really good at it, but it's fun once in a while."

She hesitated. She was still trying to deal with Cordelia and Angel sleeping together, still trying to deal with her friends looking twenty-five when she could only remember being sixteen. "I don't know," she finally answered. "I think I'd rather stay here."

"Ah... well it's up to you," he murmured before giving a coaxing smile, "but I'm pretty sure everyone wants you to go."

A man in a suit was walking toward her, and she shifted out of his way. "I should go Wes, but thanks for the offer." She met his eyes for a moment to soften the blow before juggling the bags on her wrist and heading down the hall.

The lounge had several well dressed people in it that she didn't recognize, and she continued past it and toward the apartments only to frown when she noticed Cordelia making her way down the stairs. Neither of them spoke as they passed, and Buffy headed up to the apartment and changed into her swimsuit before starting toward the Wolfram and Hart roof to work on a tan.

"She's not coming?" Willow asked with disappointment.

"I don't think so," Wes answered.

"Well I'm not going to miss her," Cordelia stated as she smoothed a hand over her skirt.

Angel glanced up before rubbing at the back of his neck. "I think I'll stay here as well. You guys go ahead."

"You've got to be kidding me," Cordelia breathed with annoyance. "Little miss goody two shoes won't be around to get in our way and *you* don't like it?" Silence fell, and she walked over to press against him, start to encircle his neck with her arms before scowling when he shifted away.

"I'm staying here," he repeated as he headed toward the door leading out of the lounge, "but you guys should go and have fun."

The apartment was dark and quiet when he entered, and he started checking through the rooms before slowly walking over to crouch in front of the chair she was sitting in. "Hi," he greeted quietly as he looked into tear filled eyes.

She swallowed thickly before taking a shaky breath. She'd been over this all day. Twenty-one years was a long time to be dead, but it wasn't like she could remember the twenty-one years, or even anything past sixteen. She met Angel's eyes before getting to her feet and brushing past him, walking over to look out the window. "Is mom still alive?"

Silence fell, and he got to his feet, turned to look at her. "No. She died when you were eighteen. It was sudden." He walked up behind her and looped arms around her waist.

She took an audible breath before more tears fell. "I need time."

"We've got time," he answered before dropping his head down to rest against hers.

"I think I need another bedroom too."

He stilled, his eyes opened, his arms tightened. "You can use my spare," he finally offered

"Okay," she quietly agreed.

Seven months later:

Buffy moved her monopoly piece on the board and landed on Park avenue. "I'm buying it," she stated with an evil look at Xander.

"Buff... come on," the brunette spoke up with a scowl.

The slayer handed Willow the money and took the deed from her before aligning the card neatly in front of her.

"Fine," he breathed. "I'll trade you for it." He glanced down at his property. "I'll give you Marvin Gardens," he finally offered.

"I want the last railroad," she answered before looking up when Cordelia walked into the room and pulled Xander to his feet.

"Vision," she stated as she pressed against him. "Six year old in an alley. A gharn plays with it before chewing its head off."

Heads turned to look at Buffy as she stared at the seer in distress. "I want in on this one," she stated grimly.

"You're pregnant Buff... you could get hurt," Angel answered before turning his attention to the seer. "When Cor?"

"Three hours from now. It's close to that laundromat we used a couple of times when we were at the Hyperion."

"In the alley with the orange square painted on the wall?" Wes asked.

"Yeah," she answered before pulling Xander out of the room.

Buffy carefully got to her feet, her arm going around her distended stomach before walking over to look out the lounge windows.

Silence fell before Angel got up and walked over to tug her against him. "You worry too much," he murmured. "In the years we've been getting visions, there's only been two we haven't been able to pull off. One of them involved a seven year old girl and the other involved a pregnant woman."

Buffy frowned at the information even as she slid both arms around her stomach. She didn't know how she was pregnant, but Angel told her he'd talked to the Powers and the child was suppose to be born. "You think you can take care of it without me then?" she finally asked lightly.

"We'll take care of it," he assured in a quiet silky voice that was close to her ear as he stretched his arms around her stomach.

"Alright," she agreed quietly as she realized there wasn't a lot she could do to help. "But I'd really like to be there."

Willow watched with dark amusement. "I'm pretty sure you kill gharns by cutting off their heads sire, but Wes and I can research it." The ex-watcher looked up, and the redhead smiled at him. "I mean if you want to."

"Yes. Of course..." he agreed with a smile before getting up and following her out of the lounge.

Angel listened to their steps before his eyes glinted with gold. "I've got some time Buff. Want to go to bed?"

She frowned at the odd response before swatting his hands away. "What is it with you and visions?" she asked with irritation as she turned to look at the man she'd been sleeping with for the last four months.

He shrugged, met her eyes. "Every vision we make come true saves lives. I don't have a problem with celebrating that, do you?"

Her frown deepened and she tucked hair behind her ear. "No," she finally answered as she thought about all the times she'd slay and then go to the Bronze, or sneak off with Angel for a heavy make out session.

He stepped closer, and her round stomach brushed against his flat one. "So... you want to go upstairs?" he asked again.

She rolled her eyes. "Maybe *after* you kill it." She stepped away. "And I don't know why you're so interested in..." she broke off and looked at her stomach before looking at him with irritation, holding her arms out to make the point. "Do you even *see* me Angel?"

"You're just so cute Buff... and tomorrow you'll start your final month." He hesitated. "It's not like we've got a lot of time left."

She rolled her eyes with irritation before flattening a hand on her stomach. "Four weeks of being pregnant *is* a lot of time Angel."

He grinned and kissed the top of her head before taking a step back. "You win. I'll do a quick patrol and be back after the vision. Alright?"

"Yeah," she answered before watching him leave the lounge. She took a breath and turned back to look out the windows, brace her hands on the small of her back as she stretched as much as she could before sighing and walking into the hall, up the stairs, and back into their apartment.

She didn't bother to flip on a light as she walked through the dark rooms before finally turning one on in their bedroom. Soft light cut through the shadows, and she reached into a drawer and pulled out the crystal she'd found in her pocket a few months ago. There was something about it that drew her, and she held it up to the light and looked at the purple stripe in it curiously before knotting a hand around the hard smooth stone. It noticeably warmed, and she uncurled her fingers and looked at it thoughtfully before putting it back in the drawer and starting to change clothes.

Three hours later, she'd almost kicked the covers off the bed as she struggled to understand what was happening. There were groups of people running and screaming... ruined buildings, bodies... She looked away from the images in horror and found herself looking at three well dressed men that were standing a few feet away. They were watching the destruction with smiles before one of them turned to look at her with eyes that slowly turned red. A hand touched her arm, and she found herself looking up at Angel.

"They won't all die," he stated. "Some of them have their uses... just like you do pet." He glanced down at her stomach with a smile.

She followed his gaze. "Angel?" she asked with a hint of panic as her flat stomach started to expand.

"Shh..." he soothed before shifting behind her and then pulling her head up so she was once again looking at the images of war. "That's my girl..." he murmured with approval when she didn't try to fight him. "Just enjoy the show," he leaned down to her ear, "because there's nothing you can do to stop it."

She woke up, her ragged breath tearing at her throat as she stared sightlessly into the darkness before she wiped at the film of perspiration on her forehead.

"Buff?" Angel asked. "Are you alright?"

She looked over at his side of the bed and watched as he started to unbutton his shirt. "Dream," she finally answered knowing it was a lie. It had been too detailed for that, too many pieces she didn't understand... She turned back to stare at the ceiling. It had been a war, man against man, nation against nation, and she had a sickening feeling the three men watching were going to pick up the pieces...

"Mmm..." his low purr broke into her thoughts. "Anything good?"

She ran a hand through sweat dampened hair. "It... I think it was a war."

He stilled, his eyes narrowed before he turned to drape his shirt over a chair and began to take off his slacks. "A war between men you mean?"

She nodded, swallowed. "I think so."

"Then it's none of our business." He finished undressing before climbing onto the bed on his hands and knees. She looked at him with a troubled frown, and he met her eyes. "What?"

"Three old men... white hair, suits. Who are they?"

He gave a shake of his head. "I deal with a lot of men in suits Buff."

"Three men with *power*," she clarified.

His eyes glinted with sparks of gold. "What about them?"

"I think..." she broke off and struggled to find the right words before awkwardly starting to shift so she could sit up. "I think you were on their side."

He pressed a hand to her shoulder, and she slowly relaxed back against the mattress. "It was a *dream*. Nothing more than that." He released her before shifting closer. "And if there's something going on I should get involved in, the Powers will let me know." His hand went to rest on her thigh before slowly starting to slide between her legs.

She took a breath. She was talking about a war... the images still fresh in her mind, and his hand was buried between her thighs, his erection plainly visible. Disbelief ran through her before she pushed him away and met his eyes. "No," she stated firmly before shifting onto her side and turning her back to him.

"The vision went off without a hitch Buff." Silence fell, and he glanced at the clock before changing the subject. "It's going to be midnight in a few seconds... You'll be in your ninth month." She rolled her eyes and snorted but didn't reply, and Angel turned back to her. "The baby's going to be more active, and you'll start to feel the effects of its venom." He reached out to touch her cheek, and she curiously shifted to meet his eyes.

"What are you talk..." she broke off with a cry of pain before circling arms around her stomach.

"Right on schedule," he murmured before shifting her shirt up so he could see the angry bruises that were appearing. He carefully smoothed it back down before looking at her with gold sparks in his eyes when she shifted off the bed and started to walk toward the door.

She made it a few steps before doubling over with a quiet sob, and he hesitated before reaching for the item he'd left on the bedside table and walking over to buckle it around her neck. "The baby's getting stronger Buff... You might feel a little pain once in a while." He hesitated before reaching out to hook fingers under her chin and look into tear filled eyes. "Will said the collar would help keep you calm."

She looked at him, took an audible breath. "Ange..." she started before breaking off when her face went blank.

"Buff?" he asked. She didn't reply, and he placed a kiss on top of her head before intertwining their fingers and starting to lead her back toward the bed.

Half an hour later:

It was dark, the only light coming from the faint glow of invisible walls... and the moving image that took up one side of the room from floor to ceiling.

"He's going at her harder than usual tonight," a voice cut through the void as the three beings in it watched.

"He does seem to be enjoying himself," the one on the right agreed before giving a dark smile. "And to think I thought she'd turn him against us if we brought her back."

"It was always a possibility," the demon's eyes glowed red as he watched Angel thrust into Buffy hard enough her head bumped against the headboard, "but given how things are turning out, I think we made the right choice."

"Yes," another voice broke in. "And with his easy dismissal of the upcoming war and the slayer's assurance he'll be at our side, I'd say we have our boy right where we want him."

Buffy slowly lifted her head as she tried to figure out where she was. She was on her hands and knees, her stomach hurt... and there was a weight on her back. Her forehead creased with confusion before she tried to awkwardly shift off the mattress. Her thoughts broke and fractured when hands pulled her back, centered her in the bed before the weight resettled firmly against her.

It was almost 9 the next night when Angel led Buffy into the lounge and had her sit at a table before walking a few feet away to sit opposite the man that had been waiting for him.

"She looks like she's been rode hard and put away wet," Xander murmured with a soft laugh as he and Willow walked over to sit with Buffy.

"Yeah," Willow agreed with a smile as she looked over Buffy's messed hair and robe before looking over to where Angel sat in a suit and tie. She turned back to Buffy thoughtfully. "I suppose I could help her out a little." She got to her feet and started to brush Buffy's hair before tousling it and trying different clips and styles. When she was done, she threw out a hand and returned it to the mess it had been before she'd straightened it.

"Mmmm..." Wes murmured as he joined them. "That looks nice."

"It does, doesn't it?" Xander agreed before looking back at Buffy with a sly smile. "How did you get him to agree to the dog collar Will?"

"It wasn't that hard." Willow leaned back in her chair. "The baby's venom is mildly toxic... I just told him the collar would keep her from getting too worked up about it." Her eyes gleamed with darkness. "He didn't have a problem with it after that."

Angel watched as the woman who was his third appointment for the night left the lounge before looking up when Adams walked over to join him. "What do you have for me?" he asked before looking down at the paper that was slid across the table and starting to read through it. His lips twisted into a dark smile a few seconds later. "You've caught ryleens?"

"Three of them," Adams answered.

"Come on Buffy eat your snack," Willow's quiet order had Angel looking up and over to where Buffy was sitting, and he watched as the redhead tapped the bowl in front of the slayer. The blonde looked down, took a breath before dipping a spoon into the bowl, and he turned back to the papers.

"You've got kylicks," he murmured with interest.

"Four of them." Adams set back in his chair. "Aren't they a month of freedom each?"

"Yes."

"And the ryleens?"

"A thousand a piece," Angel answered as he continued to read through the list before putting it on the table when he was done and turning to Giles. "Can you make sure the marrows get the ryleens and see to it the kylicks make it into the basement?"

"You're giving the ryleens to the marrows?" Adams asked with a smile.

Giles returned it. "We've given them some in the past and they seem to enjoy them."

Adams nodded. Ryleens were known for their ability to regenerate limbs... and the marrows were bone eaters. He laughed before giving a shake of his head. "I knew you wanted them, but didn't know why."

"It helps keep them away from humans," Angel answered as he thoughtfully glanced over the list one more time before looking up. "We'll take the seven... everything else is yours to do with as you please."

"Come on Buff," Xander encouraged as he tapped her bowl, and Angel glanced at the other table, watched as she took another spoonful.

"Pay him," he ordered flatly as he got to his feet and walked over to Buffy, watched as she finished the last bite.

"How's she doing?"

"Good," Willow answered before shrugging. "I mean, she's not crazy about the taste of blood worms... but they're good for the baby."

"Mmm," Angel murmured.

"Are we taking her for a walk tonight?" Wes asked hopefully.

"Maybe some other time." Angel walked over to take a hold of Buffy's wrist and tug on it. The blonde quietly got to her feet, and he led her out of the lounge, up to his apartment, into the bedroom. He stripped before sliding her robe off when he was done. Her stomach jumped, and he looked up into unaware green eyes before smiling and tugging her onto the bed. "Do you remember last night?" She didn't reply, and he nipped at her shoulder. "I guess that's probably a good thing lover."

"It's over," the woman stated.

"No... She still has the wishing stone," the man beside her answered, "and it's fully charged now."

"But she doesn't know what it is... or even that she has good reason to use it."

Silence fell before the man shook his head. "It's out of our hands now. You know there's very little we can do."

She nodded. "It's a shame though with the coming war and what the Partners are planning... and then there's Angel's refusal to accept his redemption."

"A redemption he never needed," the man answered, "but one we offered to get him to agree to the visions." Silence fell before he gave a slow shake of his head. "The boundary on L.A. alone has saved more than enough lives to make up for the ones the demon took... and we both know it wasn't the soul's debt to repay."

The woman turned back to watch Angel whisper something into Buffy's ear before frowning when the image began to flicker in and out of existence. "The Partners are interfering with our ability to see what's happening."

"Yes," the man agreed. "And once that's gone, there will be nothing more we can do to help."

THE END