~~~~~~~~
"Oh come on Cordelia!" protested Alex, putting her hands on her hips.
"We really should stay here..." Cordy debated outside the office.
"I'm going with or without you." Alex said pushing up the sleeves on her black blouse.
"Cordelia, I'm going to Gypsy Cove now, with or without you."
"No."
"Cordelia, if you're so concerned tell them where I will be."
"OK! If it will get you off my back fine."
~~~~~~~~
Wesley and Angel walked into the club and were greeted with the sounds of flutes, drums and violins.
"Angel, Wesley!" Cordelia waved them over to the corner.
"What are you doing here?" Angel questioned Alex.
"Waiting for someone."
~~~~~~~~
"Drummond!" Rye's voice echoed through the crowd.
"Rye!" Alex responded as the man with jet black hair and green eyes made his way through the crowd.
"Looking good Slayer." he said kissing her on the forehead.
"Same here. I want you to meet some friends of mine. This is Wesley, Codelia and Angel. Guys this is Rye."
"You have about 10 minutes before the jam, so rest and no fighting, we're on neutral ground." Rye reminded before he walked away.
"Anyone care to join me for some fresh air?" said Alex.
"Sure." Angel followed her out.
~~~~~~~~
Outside on the sandy beach Alex watched the waves crash on shore.
"Who was that?" asked Angel.
"He's a friend."
"How well do you know him?"
"I know him well enough to know he won't hurt me."
"Are you sure?"
"Positive." she responded.
~~~~~~~~
"I'm very disappointed in you Al." the voice sent chills through her body.
"Turn around slowly both of you." They obeyed and came face to face with a pale red haired man.
"Cypen." Alex said.
"You're the watcher?" asked Angel.
"Yes and who are you?" Cypen asked.
"Angel."
"What do you want?" stepped in Alex.
"I just wanted to see you were still in one piece." Cypen turned to walk away.
"Oh by the way your father sends his regards." He kept walking.
Angel stopped her before she went flying at Cypen.
"You're right. Not now." She heard the drums begin to beat. "Come on Irish, let's have a dance."
"I think I'll stay out here."
~~~~~~~~
"Not you again." Ny moaned as Alex sauntered into the bar that following day.
"Hello Ny." She leaned on the counter.
"What do you want?"
"Well lets see, where's Adern?"
"Don't know him." Ny's brown eyes seemed to dance.
"Bull." Alex pulled him by the shirt collar. "Where is he or I shut this place down."
"Excuse me miss..." a rather large monster with green spikes in his head came over.
"Yes?"
"You need to leave now."
"I'm not through with your boss." she replied.
"Yes you are." the monster grabbed her by the left arm and tried to escort her out.
"Please let go." she quipped. He pulled her arm again. "OK no more warnings."
The Scottish Slayer's left hand let go of Ny as the monster grabbed her around the neck.
The wrist bands she was wearing fired a wooden stakes into the heart of the monster,
and his back up, making them ashes.
"Now that I've proven that theory of you can't find decent help in L.A. Ny, you can get hold of me here." She tossed a card onto the bar.
"Have a nice day."
~~~~~~~~
"Its getting late and I haven't heard one word from her since this morning." Cordy moaned.
"She's also not answering her phone."
"Cordelia you stay here in case she contacts you. I will begin the search around Gypsy Cove." Angel planned.
~~~~~~~~
Angel found himself alone at Gypsy Cove. "Angel right?" Rye approached from behind.
"Right. Rye, have you heard from Alex? She's been gone all day." Angel asked sitting on a bar stool.
"Wouldn't worry too much. She's like that."
Angel frowned, "How do you know her?"
"Saved my life." He eyed Angel. "Got a few minutes?"
"Umm, sure."
"Her mother was once a rouge hunter, she married the only son to the leader of the
newly re-formed Council, and when she was eight months pregnant, she was bitten by a
master vampire named Adern. She went into labor, and died a few hours later.
The council locked up her body and studied her.
They ran various tests on Alex, when they found out that she was part vampire,
they wanted to train her, Council style."
"But her father didn't approve." Angel put in.
"No, as soon as he could, he packed up and moved into the States.
Alex told me that she began training her father's way as soon as she was able to walk."
"She's always been called a "half breed," and with her entire family have been either been slayers or watchers, rouge or with the Council.
I'm told when she killed her first vampire at age six, the Council was impressed.
Then about ten, heavens, it's almost eleven years ago, her watcher was turned.
Adern appeared one time she had Cypen cornered, he and what was left of his followers attacked her and then she told me, Faith appeared and managed to save her life."
Angel nodded as Rye finished.
"She's very hard headed, like her parents, and if there is one thing she will not do,
is hurt her grandfather. She promised her father that."
~~~~~~~~
"I thought you might be here." Alex said softly approaching Wes from beside the booth.
Wesley said nothing as he sipped his drink.
"May I join you?"
Nothing.
"I'm bothering you..." she got up to leave.
"Stay, we could use the talk." Wesley hoped his smile would ease her mind.
~~~~~~~~
An hour pasted before they found themselves walking out of the tavern.
"Can I offer you a ride?" Wes asked.
"Pink? Honestly Wesley." she teased getting on behind him.
"We should get back to the office." Wes replied.
~~~~~~~~
"That won't be necessary." Cypen stepped out of the ally as Alex caught an arrow before it got to Wesley.
"Very funny, next time," she pulled off the metal tip, "hit what you aim at." she finished as the arrow flew and ashed the vamp on Cypen's left.
"Wait." Alex cried moving in front of Wes. "If you let him leave, no tails, nothing, I'll come quietly."
"Absolutely not!" protested Wesley.
"Its not your descision. What about it Cypen?"
Cypen smiled, "Agreed."
She turned to Wesley and smiled. "Go on. Get on the bike and go. I'll be fine, my main concern is getting you out of harm's way."
"But you don't...."
"They'll keep their word, that's the only redeeming quality about them." She backed away from him as he started the bike. "Wesley, go."
"All right." He said before speeding away.
~~~~~~~~
"You did the right thing Wesley." Angel reassured him.
"Then why do I feel so awful?"
"Either way it was a lose-lose situation." Cordelia comforted.
~~~~~~~~