Disclaimer: I do not own Marvel Cinematic Universe, Buffyverse or anything else you may recognize

Thank you to everyone who has favorited, followed or reviewed this fic so far.

Thanks a lot to Brainstorm Sorcerer for his help again.

Chapter 9- To mattering

Harmony was in the elevator, Groo next to her as they shared a look, then turned away.

"Hey", Harmony greeted him with a wave.

"Hello", Groo greeted back, then looking at her commented sweetly. "You have very pretty eyes." She looked at him as he added. "And pretty clothing too."

"Aww, that's so nice, you're so sweet", Harmony happily kissed his cheek, then walked out of the elevator as Groo touched the spot where she'd kissed his cheek, unsure of how to respond.

Harmony walked to her desk, putting down her coffee mug and her purse, then hung the dry cleaning on a hook in her cubicle, and took off her coat.

She grabbed a white mug from her desk and walked across the lobby with it.

Harmony walked into the employee break room carrying the white mug. The room was full of other employees talking amongst themselves.

"I should go."

Just as Harmony walked by, another woman called Tamika stood up with her coffee. Harmony accidentally bumped into her, causing Tamika to spill her coffee all over her nice clothes.

"Oh! Hey!"

"Sorry." Harmony noticed two other girls talking at a nearby table.

"So then, 2 A.M., my boss calls me, wants me to search her car for—get this—a stray Vicodin."

The other one was in disbelief. "Shut up."

"Hello, fellow grunts."

The first one looked at her. "Hey." Then she looked back at her friend, ignoring Harmony. "I mean, making me drop off her stool sample was one thing, but this? I'm so asking for a raise."

Harmony walked to the other side of the girl, and bent down a bit, trying to insert herself into the conversation. "Yeah! You know, I was thinking I've been due for a raise, too, 'cause..."

The other one cut her off. "Oh, did I tell you? That cute new shaman's in my department now."

"Right", Harmony nodded. "Nice chatting with you, too." She turned and walked toward the refrigerator. "Bye-bye."

Harmony set down the mug, opened the refrigerator door, and grabbed a stainless steel thermos labeled "ANGEL'S. Do Not Touch." There was another stainless steel thermos in the refrigerator covered with unicorn stickers.

Harmony opened Angel's thermos top and poured a thick red liquid from it into the white mug that reads "#1 BOSS."

She opened the microwave, interrupting the cooking of something in a blue bowl. She took the blue bowl out and puts the white mug in, pressing the buttons to heat up its contents.

Stick then walked through the wall and through her. She groaned. "Urggh, you're still here?"

Stick looked over his shoulder at her and quipped. "You're not dust yet."

Harmony 'harrumphed', and Stick left, walking through another employ coming towards Harmony, looking irritated, as Stick said. "Watch it, dipshit."

The irritated man walked up to Harmony. "Hey!"

Harmony smiled nervously. "Morning."

"You just can't..." He pointed to the microwave. "There are rules."

Harmony sounded sympathetic. "Oh, I know. It's so unfair. Just because my boss is your boss's boss, his needs coming first and all." The microwave beeped, Harmony removed the mug, smiled and shrugged. "See ya." She walked away. Dan glared at Harmony as she walked out.

Back at her desk, Harmony set the white mug on the ledge in front of her, with the text "#1 BOSS" facing outward. Angel was standing there, frowning, facing Harmony.

He had something on his phone and was using earphones to listen, one in his ear.

"So, you've got the department heads at 11:00, your 1:00 with Mistress Shriva from human—I'm sorry—non-human resources got moved to 2:00. Swung by the cleaners. Zippo luck getting out the Frophla slime. Oh, and I took care of the catering for the big feuding demon clan confab, unless you have any requests."

"Achite vong mochzinite." Angel clicked his tongue.

"Y'OK. Could you spell that?"

Angel took the earpiece from his ear, shaking his head. A language instructor's voice could be heard through the earphone- "Greetings, your eminence. Let me take your vong." He clicked his tongue.

Angel stopped the audio and shut it off, wrapping up the earphones. Harmony handed Angel some message slips.

"My clicks are all wrong. You figure out the catering for tomorrow?"

Harmony was annoyed. "Helloo! I just—"

Matt, Lilah and Gunn walked in, having a minor argument.

Gunn said. "I'm telling you, this negotiation can work."

"They like it in blood, we need to see who's stronger and help them out with our resources", Lilah shrugged.

"I think the violent solution is bad for the city", Matt pointed out.

Faith then arrived, greeting Matt with a kiss. "Hey, soon-to-be-hubby."

"Hey, soon-to-be-wife", Matt greeted back with a smile as Faith fist-bumped Gunn, then gave Lilah, who was trying to sneak away unseen, a scary glare, and Lilah gulped.

"Uhhh, excuse me", Lilah finally said and walked off.

"Me too", Faith walked off to her office. "Need to make some preparations for the meeting with Angel."

Gunn shook his head and told Matt. "I ever tell you, you had one hell of a love life?"

"No, I don't think so."

"Well I'm telling you now."

"Um, Gunn," the man looked up from the documents to see Matt take off his glasses, a serious look on his face, surprising the new lawyer. "I wanted to ask sooner, but things have always been coming up."

"What?"

"Will you be one of my groomsmen?" The question took Gunn off-guard as he comprehended what he was being asked. He did a mix of a choke and a laugh, before they clasped hands and did a bro hug.

"I got you, brother."

They took a minute before separating, now Matt just had to ask Wesley, but at that moment, Stick showed up. "Still quite insulted you haven't asked me."

Matt sighed tiredly. "Stick, we've been over this, you're dead."

"I can still interact! I could hold the rings."

"Lorne has the ring bearer covered." Matt told him, before Gunn made a face.

"I thought he said ring Bear."

"Exactly! He won't give us a clear answer." Matt told them exasperated while running a hand through his hair.

The whole thing made Stick laugh. "Oh yea, now I really got to be there."

He disappeared as Matt and Gunn walked to Angel. "Let's do this."

They walked in as Harmony followed. "So, about the, uh, catering? I really went above and beyond, 'cause I know this was very—" They completely ignored her, and shut the door in her face. She sighed. "You're welcome."

She walked back to her desk. A man in a lab coat pushed a small cart up to Harmony's desk.

"You're up today."

Harmony was annoyed. "Oh, come on, Rudy. You know I've been off the human blood for months."

Cordelia arrived with Connor in her arms. "Get tested, Harm, if this little kid is gonna be here, no one better be on human blood, or I'll drain them of theirs."

Harmony gulped. "Okay, okay, don't kill me." She extended her forefinger to Rudy as the phone rang. "Good morning. Wolfram &—" Rudy pricked her finger with a needle attached to a readout device. "Ow!" She said into the phone. "I'm sorry. Wrong extension. You need 529 for curses. Foiled again, huh?" She chuckled. "Hello?" She hung up.

Rudy checked his readout display: "NEGATIVE". "You're clean. Have a good one."

He pushed his cart away.

"Remain clean", Cordelia added before walking off.

A demon in a suit walked past Harmony's desk. "Eli, hi."

"Hey... you! I just got called up for a meeting with your boss man."

Harmony looked at her schedule. "Really? I didn't see any—"

"Don't want to count my hatchlings, but I think the honchos are finally starting to recognize my work in accounting." He smiled.

"Hey, good for you."

Matt came out. "They're waiting for you, Eli." He walked off.

Eli asked Harmony. "Wish me luck, kiddo." Harmony smiled and gestured two thumbs up. She sat back in her chair to catch a breath and noticed Angel's white mug was still sitting on her desk. She grabbed it and walked into his office.

Just as Harmony entered the office, she witnessed Angel decapitating Eli with an axe. "Angel, you forgot your—" She gasped. Eli's head rolled across the room, landing at Harmony's feet. She looked up at Angel, revolted.

"Get that cleaned up, would you?"

After it had been explained to Harmony why Eli was killed, Spike arrived. "Once again, keeping corporate America safe from evil."

Fred greeted. "Spike."

Gunn commented. "I was wondering when you'd turn up."

Cordelia then asked. "Where the hell were you all this time."

Spike smiled. "Just havin' some 'me time' after the mess." He added. "Just thought I'd swing by and say my final farewells."

Wesley was a little surprised. "You're leaving?"

"You catch on quick, don't you? Yeah, things are too haywire here, and Angel ain't Avenger material." He stared at Angel, who rolled his eyes and looked away.

Wesley started. "Angel, I'm not sure that's wise, given the Shanshu prophecy is still unresolved-"

"That's your problem, mate", Spike turned to Angel. "You're welcome to that heroic destiny, whether you deserve it or not. Me, I got better things to do than wait around for the 4 bloody horsemen." He walked away.

Wesley started. "Spike..."

"Let him go."

Spike turned back to Angel. "Yeah. Here's the thing. Could use a little walkin'-around money. How 'bout a few hundred?"

"How 'bout no?"

Spike nodded. "Typical, you cheap sod. Right, then. Settle for some wheels."

"If it's gonna get you out of here faster, fine. Just not the Viper."

"Viper it is, then." Angel rolled his eyes, then turned to walk away.

Spike called out. "Any message for Buffy?"

Angel didn't look back. "Tell her you're a moron."

"And that we're all monogamous so no 4-ways", Cordelia added as laughter rang out.

"Well, with you gone I'm back to most hated, thanks for that", Lilah told Spike with a wink as he winked back.

"Safe journey", Gunn said to him.

Lorne added. "Well, bon voyage, Spikester. Don't be a stranger." He walked away.

Spike and Fred smiled at each other as he said. "Well, this is it."

"Yeah", they hugged too.

She walked off as Matt and Spike shared a hug. "Be safe."

"Yeah, you too", Spike replied as he then shared a hug with Faith.

"Will show up at the wedding, no worries", Spike assured.

"If you don't, you'll be dust", Faith 'warned' as they chuckled, and the couple walked off.

Spike turned to go, without having even noticed Harmony, who was crying at her desk. "What?" Spike turned to face her. "I don't get a good-bye just because I was happy you were beaten up by Gramps?"

Spike smirked. "Keep it simple, Harm. It suits you. Besides, blandsome muscle boy didn't get a goodbye either." He walked away as Harmony whimpered.

Then Stick appeared behind Spike and kicked his butt, sending him staggering forwards.

"Bloody hell!" Spike turned to Stick. "What do you think you're doing, Gr-"

"Kicking your ass out of here", Stick shrugged and disappeared as Spike tried to punch and Spike groaned.

"Yeah, you better incorporeal or I'll kick your whiny, haunt-"

Spike then fell down on his face as Harmony laughed. Spike growled, got up, straightened his leather duster and walked off.

Angel, Cordelia, Matt, Faith, Lilah, Fred, Gunn, Wesley, and Lorne were sitting in the conference room at the table with Connor in Cordelia's arms. Harmony was sitting in a chair by the wall.

"Where's Groo?" She asked but was ignored.

Angel told the rest. "This is war. 2 demon clans, the Vinjis and the Sahrvin. They've been battling it out for 5 generations."

Gunn explained. "Way back when, clans got along OK. Shared a few hundred miles of desert, traded livestock, and even partied together once in a while. Then a Vinji used the wrong fork at a Sahrvin bonding ceremony. Sahrvins took offense, and they've been slaughtering each other ever since."

Fred asked. "You're saying this whole thing started over a fork faux pas?"

Cordelia commented. "Good Lord, Demons are so picky! Even I wasn't this picky back at high school!"

Angel then explained. "But the clans have agreed to negotiate a truce, here, tomorrow."

Fred asked. "Why now?"

Gunn said. "Demon rights activist by the name of Tobias Dupree got involved. He's liaison to both clans. Only guy in the world they all trust, and he called us for help."

Wesley told them. "Etiquette aside, the Vinji and the Sahrvin are notoriously vicious. Why not let them wipe each other out?"

"Is that you talking or Lilah?" Matt asked Wesley while turning to Lilah.

"Oh no, I don't influence him, we just happen to agree this time, honey", Lilah told Matt, sound quite happy about it.

Gunn sighed. "Hey, I got no love for these guys, but we manage to push through a peace plan and the whole demon world's gonna know we got game."

Fred sighed in agreement. "That makes sense, in a kind of gray, Machiavellian kind of way."

Angel told the group. "Obviously both clans are sensitive to the smallest slight. We don't dot an "i" or cross a "t," this whole thing could explode in our faces."

Faith handed out a document. "This is a complete list of manners and customs. We should probably all memorize this. Apparently, gazing at a Vinji's ankles can lead to eye gouging."

All cringed at that as Connor let out a sound but Cordelia and Angel soothed him as Angel said. "Hey don't worry, you won't even be there."

"Yeah, you'll be far, far off", Cordelia added.

Dan walked up to the conference room door. Lorne noticed him and waved him in. "Come on. Dandito, come on. He gets a wee shy around the big boss. All the way in, yeah."

"I, uh, finished the seating chart." Dan handed Lorne a small presentation board.

Lorne looked it over. "All right. This kid was up all night jigsawing who's going where tomorrow. He's a real up-and-comer, this one."

Fred told Angel. "My lab managed that upgrade to the weapons scanner, like you requested."

"Foolproof?"

"I'd say yes, but then some fool would just come along and sneak something past us, but it's still state of the art."

Gunn then said. "And since none of the clan representatives speak English, I'll be doing most of the talking."

Wesley was surprised. "You?"

"Yeah. Along with the law—and the Gilbert and Sullivan—also got me a few demon languages in the brain upload." He turned to Lilah. "And she has patented solutions of the firm, so she'll be there too."

"Right, peaceful negotiations, boring but what can you do?" Lilah quipped.

"And I can stay too", Matt pointed out, gesturing to his chest. "Hell-Mark."

Cordelia chuckled and commented. "So now Gunn's the lawyer and Matt's the muscle, oh how things have changed!"

All chuckled at that as Fred inquired. "So, aside from forks, ankles, and us not knowing what they're saying, any other potential minefields?"

Angel told them. "All their etiquette issues go along with a healthy dose of superstition."

An excited Harmony now piped up. "You don't know the half of it. I've been doing a whole bunch of research on these guys, their customs and stuff? Did you know that they think poodles are wicked bad luck?"

"And who'd bring those sweet dog breeds here?" Cordelia asked Harmony, annoyed, before saying. "Still, glad you're here." Harmony, I'm glad you're here." Harmony smiled, a touch proud. "We'll be needing lunch." Harmony looked deflated.

Gunn agreed. "Good idea. We should order before the crush."

Fred added. "Not Thai again. Something lighter."

Harmony was in the break room for lunch, sipping from her pink travel mug. She was listening to the two girls she'd tried to befriend earlier talk to each other.

"Burkle's always giving Mr. Gunn the eye. Heard they used to be a thing."

"I don't know. Alice said she and that Knox guy are pretty friendly."

"Maybe she's sleeping with both of 'em!"

"That's what I'd do", she giggled. "And Mr. Wyndam-Pryce, he's so rugged and hot."

"Yeah, lucky Miss Morgan", the other girl nodded. "Oh I'd just love to go up to Mr. Wyndam-Pryce and…oh!"

"The cute new blind guy, he used to date the boss' girlfriend", the first one then revealed.

Harmony started. "Yeah, I met them once when they were-"

"Heard he used to date Miss Morgan too", the girl continued, and the other one gasped again.

"Now he's engaged to the scary Slayer, her looks can murder us", the other one commented.

Another one spoke up fearfully. "He is the Devil's son. Let's not gossip much about him."

"We're gossiping good", the girl said. "He's dangerous, but also sexy and all powerful." Then she gasped upon seeing Dan walk up with a huge basket full of food. "Muffins!"

Dan set down the basket at the end of the table, placing it between the group and Harmony. "They're from Lorne. Actually from Shaq, but Lorne's declared his office a carb-free zone."

"He's totally grooming you."

"You think? He does call me "Dan the man.""

Harmony inserted herself into the conversation. "Angel grooms me, too."

One girl whispered to the other. "Explains the haircut."

"I'm his right arm. He's taking me places", Harmony's cell phone rang. "We're so connected." She said into the phone. "Yeah, boss."

"Harmony, get the hell down here. Now! Why can't you do anything right—"

Harmony gave a fake smile at the rest. "Uh, sure. No, no trouble at all. That's what I'm here for. Bye." She hung up the phone, stood up and walked out.

Angel was standing in the middle of the lobby, frowning, with his hands on his hips, waiting for Harmony. Cordelia was with him, holding Connor.

"Harmony! Do you wanna explain this?"

"OK, this is totally my fault. I specifically told the caterers the delivery was for tomorrow", there was a huge camel in the lobby, "but I should've called to confirm. You know caterers—not the best listeners."

"Neither are you it seems", Cordelia told her.

The elevator dinged and Fred walked out, reading papers but was startled.

"Ohh!"

"Harmony, uh, got us a camel."

"Which she wasn't supposed to get", Cordelia added.

Matt and Faith then arrived, with Stick appeared, and all were dumbfounded.

"Do I smell...camel?"

"Yep." Faith popped the "p".

"Oh yeah."

Silence as they absorbed that info.

"How'd they even get it up here?"

"I don't think we want to know."

Matt turned to Faith with a grin. "So, you wanted a dog, what about a camel?"

Laughing, Faith turned to him and pats his cheek. "You can clean up after him."

And they walked away, continuing their mock argument. Then there was Stick, wondering what the damn hell he'd gotten himself into by staying.

"Young people."

He disappeared.

Harmony defended herself. "Like I said, I did a lot of research. Camel meat's a delicacy, so I thought it would be a great way to kick off the summit, 'cause of the clans being so uptight? Like... comfort food."

"Comfort food."

"Uh-huh! And as host, you get the honor of slicing off its hump and sticking a hot poker through its heart. And then the demon leaders rip apart its carcass with their bare hands."

Cordelia covered one ear of Connor and put the other one next to her shoulder to prevent him from hearing it. "Mind the graphic stuff, there's a baby here."

"Oooh, sorry!"

Fred added. "Maybe the camel was the wrong way to go."

Angel told her. "Harmony, you are supposed to answer the phones, make appointments, and anticipate my needs, which does not include a petting zoo in my lobby."

"OK, but... caterer said no returns." The camel snorted.

"Get it out of here!"

"Maybe you could go with a nice cheese platter?" Harmony started crying. "Or chips and dip. Chips and dip would be fine."

Cordelia now took some pity and said. "Don't worry, you tried your best, I'll take it into account."

"Oh thank you", Harmony threw her arms around Cordelia. "I did everything right! This is what they eat!"

Fred assured. "Angel's just feeling a little off, and he—he's not in the mood to, you know, butcher a camel."

Harmony cried. "No! He hates me!"

"Uhhh….I don't", Cordelia said lamely, mostly to comfort her.

"Thank you, we're best friends again, right?"

"Uhhh…."

Fred added. "Also, I don't hate you. I—I mean, it's just I—I don't know you that well and-" Harmony stopped sniffling and looked between the two women. "What are you two doing after work?"

For once, Cordelia was silent and Fred looked stuck.

The elevator doors opened as Groo arrived and seeing the camel, got excited. "Can we keep it?"

The camel groaned.

Harmony, Cordelia and Fred were sitting at a table talking over drinks at an upscale bar.

"...and the worst part is, I can't even quit, 'cause I don't have anywhere else to go."

Fred started. "I'm sure that's not... Really?"

"She sucks at being evil", Cordelia shrugged.

"Hey!" Harmony snapped, offended, then sighed. "That's….true actually."

Fred asked. "But, I mean, isn't that a good thing?"

"Not like everything's so great now. You heard Angel. I'm useless."

"He is dealing with stress, he didn't mean it", Cordelia assured Harmony. "If I say you're useless, then you are. Haven't said it yet."

Harmony sighed and told Cordelia. "I just wish I were more like you. You are so well-settled in life, you do good help people, what do I do? Jack squat! And relationships, I have none! It's so weird!"

Cordelia told her. "Well I'm working with my boyfriend while raising a baby, and now my ex-boyfriend and his fiancée are working for us, and his ex is also the hell bitch, who gave us these jobs in the first place, that so happens to be sleeping with my high school attraction." Fred and Harmony shot Cordelia a weird look, now realizing it all. "I think we have the rest beat in the relationship department."

"Why are we talking about this?" Fred wondered.

Harmony was excited. "Because we're totally bonding! We're like gal pals! This is awesome!" She turned to Cordelia. "We were so popular in high school, we ruled it! Let's rule here too!"

"For that, you'll have to be boss or I'll have to be secretary", Cordelia pointed and Harmony groaned.

"Maybe you should try to put yourself out there more, try to mingle", Fred suggested. "People from our workplace come here too."

Harmony looked around the bar and noticed several of the girls and guys from the break room were at the bar too. "Well, there's this one really cute, hot, muscular, and super sweet guy, and he's not here. And he doesn't notice."

"Honey, go to a guy who does notice", Cordelia told Harmony.

Harmony then noticed one guy looking at her and told the other two. "I think he's checking me out."

"Go talk with him", Cordelia shrugged.

"Oh, no, I couldn't. I'm hanging with my gal pal. I would never do that to you."

Fred assured. "Oh, don't be silly. We'd be fine if—"

"OK, bye!" Harmony stood, starting toward the bar, but stopped. "Ooh, what do I say?"

"I look nice, you look nice, let's hang out", Cordelia said with a smirk.

"Right, I can do that, don't watch, thanks", Harmony turned and walked to the man.

"Let's go", Cordelia whispered to Fred.

"Oh yeah, just in time", Fred agreed as both walked off.

Harmony started talking to the man.

Next morning, in the alarm clock, when the time changed to 7:00, the alarm beeped and the radio starts playing. Harmony stopped it all as she woke up.

She rolled over and found herself facing the man from the bar. She seemed surprised to see him in her bed as she gasped, sitting up clutching the bed covers to her topless body, and peeked under the covers to see that she was naked.

She hid her face in her hand and grimaces. She sighed shakes her head, and looked at the man. "Uh... Tim? Trevor? George? Apparently you and I... you know, and I'm sure I rocked your world and all, but... I gotta go to work, so... Hello?" Harmony pushed on the man's shoulder to wake him, but he just rolled over. There were two bloody fang marks on his neck. "Oops."

Harmony was in the elevator, seeming nervous, with Groo also standing there.

"You seem nervous", he commented.

"Oh no! I'm not! I mean, I am! Summit today!" Harmony told him.

"Right", Groo nodded as the elevator opened and Harmony walked out.

"Bye Groo", she waved and he waved back with a smile before she walked out, deciding to just act normal.

And she failed as things kept piling up.

Gunn asked. "Do you know what this is about?"

Wesley suggested. "Perhaps one of the Vinjis set down a teacup improperly.

Angel stepped out of his office. "Worse. Just got off the phone with the L.A.P.D. They found a body."

Harmony spoke up. "Where? Did he say where?"

"City dump, wrapped in a laundry bag."

Wesley started. "And the police called you because..."

"Apparently, we own them."

Matt commented. "That's demoralizing."

Cordelia quipped. "That's handy."

"Now I don't have to worry about a speeding ticket." The others gave Faith a look. "And also worry for our legal system."

Eventually, it was revealed the dead guy was Tony Dupree, the liaison between the two warring clans, making it even worse for Harmony.

After an awkward talk with Fred, Harmony walked down the hallway, wringing her hands, talking to herself.

"OK, that's it. I gotta get out of here, leave the country. Maybe Mexico. Yeah, I like Mexico. Or Cancun, I hear that's..." She stopped talking to herself a moment while someone passed by, then began again, "anyway, I'll... I'll start over, change my name. Harmonita—that's kind of pre—" She stopped, having an epiphany. "Bitten on the right. He was bitten on the right!" Jumping up and down with joy, Harmony reached out to kiss the nearest person, which happened to be Rudy, the lab technician. "Oh, my God! I didn't do it!" She kissed Rudy, who pricked her finger with his needle. "Ouch!"

"You sound just like my 6-year-old. He's always sayin' that—" Rudy's display beeped and flashed the red letters: "POSITIVE. Transmitting results."

Harmony grabbed it to read what it said. Rudy stared at her in disbelief. She shrugged and giggled, then punched him, knocking him out, and caught him in her arms.

Eventually, Lorne and then Fred also got shoved in a utility closet alongside Rudy as Harmony muttered to herself. "OK, OK, OK. So...I'm being set up. Somebody put blood in my blood. Human blood in my thermos. So, fingerprints. Right. Gotta get my thermos."

She then turned around to see Groo, who'd listened the whole thing.

"Groo! Oh my God! Did you-"

"What's going on?" Groo asked. "Someone put blood in your thermos? Are you being set up for something?"

"Yes I am! Please, you have to believe me! I-"

"I believe you!"

"Yay!" Harmony hugged Groo, who just looked at her strangely. "Come with me, I'll prove I didn't do it! Come on!"

Groo assured her. "The Groosalugg would never turn down a quest to save a damsel. Come, let us find this culprit."

Harmony walked into the break room while Dan was reaching into the refrigerator for the stainless steel thermos covered in unicorn stickers.

"Aha!" Dan turned to face her, holding the thermos. "The smoking thermos!"

"What?"

"Trying to get rid of the evidence?"

"What evidence? I was just tryin' to get to Lorne's protein snack."

"Ha! You expect me to believe that? Go on. Admit it!"

"Admit what?"

Harmony yelled. "That you stole my thermos and filled it with human blood!"

"Human...what?!"

Harmony pushed Dan against the refrigerator. "It is so totally obvious you hate me!" She screamed. "You've probably been watching me sweat all day, laughing!"

"Err on the side of caution", Groo advised Harmony.

"Hate you? I don't care about you enough to hate—"

"Hey, leave him alone!"

Harmony vamped out, turning to the girl. "Mind your own business!"

"It would be wise if you all run now", Groo told the rest.

Everyone scurried to leave the break room.

Groo asked Dan. "Did you frame Harmony for murdering someone?"

"What? Murder? No!" Dan started crying when suddenly someone knocked Groo out from behind and broke a glass container on Dan's head, knocking him out too.

"What the...?" Harmony turned to see Tamika standing there and un-vamped her face. "What'd you do that for?"

"To make it look like you did."

"Why would you want to— Hey! It was you!" A beat. "Who are you?"

Tamika stalked ever closer to Harmony, who was backing up slowly. "You don't remember? Think steno pool." Harmony shrugged. "I sat next to you."

Harmony stood behind a table. "Sambuca."

Tamika hit the table. "Tamika!"

"Right!"

"Well, you were only there for, what was it? 5 weeks?"

"More like 4 1/2."

"I have been there for 5 years! I type 80 words a minute. I have an exceptionally pleasant phone voice. But you're the one who sits at the best desk in the building. You're the one in the in-crowd."

Harmony chuckled. "You think I'm in the in-crowd?"

Tamika sneered. "Oh, I see you in all the important meetings. You're on the fast track. Well, that's all about to change. I have witnesses who saw you attack Danny, and when Mr. Angel hears that I saved him, you job will be mine by the end of the day."

Tamika kicked the table toward Harmony, who leapt into the air to avoid it as it shattered against the wall. Harmony vamped out.

"You're forgetting one thing. Kinda have the advantage."

Tamika vamped out too. "Kinda not."

"She does."

Tamika turned to see Groo back up. He had only pretended to be knocked out. "I heard it all, you are the culprit."

Tamika looked between Harmony and Groo in shock, and then tried to bolt but Groo pushed her back as Harmony kicked her away too, knocking her down.

"We have a strict zero tolerance policy on evil", Groo told Tamika.

Harmony and Groo dragged Tamika to the conference room as Groo told Harmony. "Playing dead, it was the key to winning the battle of Utga-Ka'a, the Ogre-folk never saw me coming."

Harmony laughed while twirling her hair as Tamika sneered. "Pity a nice guy likes such a slut."

That did it as Harmony was about to attack but Groo restrained her. "She is the only one who can prove your innocence."

In the conference room, all but Gunn were lost on what was going on, with Cordelia almost falling asleep till Faith poked her face.

Then Tamika fell through the glass wall of the conference room, all turning to her as Matt groaned, Faith seemed surprised, Lilah amused and Angel and Gunn annoyed.

Harmony took a stake from Groo's belt and walking to Tamika, staked her.

The Demon leaders looked at Harmony who looked up at them. "I didn't mean to do that yet."

The Demon leaders seemed calmer now and talked to each other in normal tones before sitting down, smiling at Angel.

Groo came in and told Angel. "We can explain everything!"

That was when Stick appeared, with Lorne, Fred and Ruby staggering behind him, as he'd freed them. "Here you go- there's the explanation."

Lorne, Fred and Rudy sat, holding ice packs to their heads.

Angel told Harmony. "You should have just come to me."

Harmony hung her head.

Fred quipped. "Gee, I wish I would have thought of telling her that."

Harmony begged. "I'm really, really sorry, you guys. I totally wouldn't have hit you over the head and put you in the closet if I didn't have a really good reason. It's just... I was scared, and..." she sighed and turned to Angel. "I know you never wanted me as your assistant, and... OK, I made some bad choices. I mean, it's not like I have a soul. I have to try a lot harder."

Groo stood up and told Angel. "I have been your ally for some time now." Angel nodded. Groo had been an ally and helped in dire situations, and even battled his evil alter-ego at one point. "So you know that when I say that the Lady Harmony, while misguided in some of her methods, did not act out of maliciousness. A mere warning is all that I ask for her. She has become much too valued for us."

Harmony looked at Groo, surprised and touched.

Matt, Faith, Lilah and Gunn walked out of the conference room, closing the door behind them.

Wesley inquired. "How's it going in there?"

Gunn assured. "Well, so far, no heads are rolling."

"Staking the culprit worked wonders, see? Violence was the solution after all", Lilah said with a smirk as the rest groaned.

"Executions are always worth it", Stick quipped and chuckled. "Even if its dumb blonde stereotype."

"Could have been a mess too", Matt pointed out.

"Yeah", Faith nodded as she looked at Harmony. "You messed up, but I guess we can give you another chance."

Fred agreed. "Harmony could've handled it better, but she didn't kill anyone."

Rudy sighed. "You'll be clean in 2 days, but I'll be watchin' you."

"I know. He won't have to be watching 'cause... I'll just pack up my desk." Harmony turned to leave.

"Harmony?" She turned back to Angel. "Just bring us some coffee."

"You know", Groo pointed out to Angel. "Her actions did help out in your summit."

"Yeah, she messed up but she did help us out, even if it was indirectly", Cordelia agreed. "Maybe we should ease up."

"They're not wrong", Matt agreed. "I mean, she did bad things in the past but if she wants to be decent, we can be fair regarding that."

"Yeah, unless one's too far gone, they do deserve a second chance", Faith added.

Angel realized they were right and told Harmony. "Thank you for what you did."

"Oh YAY!" Harmony jumped happily, making the rest groan a bit. "I promise I'll always be there for you lot."

"Not interested", Stick groaned.

"I can help you with coffee", Groo told Harmony.

"Oh thank you!" Harmony cheered as both walked out.

"Harmony", Harmony turned to Cordelia. "After bringing us coffee, take the day off, you deserve it."

This was the first time Cordelia had spoken softly to Harmony since her betrayal.

Harmony smiled at her, then the rest and walked out where Groo was there waiting for her.

"Angel has also given me the night off. Though, I must admit, I do not have a particular purpose to do in my time."

Harmony looped her arm with his and they went into the elevator.

"Don't worry, I have an idea."

At night, Harmony was in the bar with Groo.

"No one's ever spoken for me before, you did, thanks", Harmony smiled at Groo.

"Before Angel, the Princess, and their team no one spoke for me either, no one cared about me", Groo told her. "I didn't matter except for people's games. With them I do."

Spike suddenly arrived, looking at them. "Well, congratulations on the mattering, folks."

"Weren't you supposed to go?" Harmony asked.

"Yeah", Spike said with a sigh. "But figured I didn't try hard enough. Who knows Angel might be Avenger material after all?"

"So you want to help us out", Groo realized but Spike didn't respond to that.

"Anyway, keep mattering", Spike tapped their shoulders and walked off. "I'll leave you two to talk."

He sat down at a distance for his own drink as Groo raised his glass. "To mattering."

Harmony smiled and nodded, raising her own glass.

Done at last, thank you to Brainstorm Sorcerer for the help again, and the Groo/Harmony ship is sailing a little finally.

Hope all enjoyed and see you all next time with another chapter.