Angel slowly did his T'ai Chi exercises as Liz's suggestion ran through his head. Buffy and Giles could be useful but Buffy would probably bring Riley. Just thinking about that guy made him want to bite someone.
He knew he should be happy that Buffy had someone in her life, but he couldn't help wishing that that someone could be him. Nor could he help resenting the lucky bastard that was there in his place.
Giving a sigh he ended his exercise and sat down in his leather chair. He took a deep breath and picked up the phone.
"Hello?"
"Willow? It's Angel. I need to talk to Buffy."
"Hi Angel!" Willow said excitedly, "How're you doing? How's life in L.A.?" She babbled.
"I'm not in LA. Willow is Buffy there? I need to talk to her it's important."
"Oh, right, sorry!" Willow said, trying not to act hurt, "I'll go get her."
"Thanks." Angel felt a little bad for being short with Willow but it was important that he talk to Buffy.
"Hello?"
"Hi." Angel muttered, "It's Angel." He rolled his eyes at himself, She recognizes your voice you idiot.
"Yeah I know. Willow told me. What's up? Some unstoppable evil getting L.A. down?"
"Actually we are in Roswell right now," Angel answered, "But the unstoppable evil might be accurate."
"Roswell? Oh God is Liz okay?"
"Liz is fine," Angel reassured, "For now anyway. It's a long story, but I think it would be best if everyone came down here."
"Everyone?" Buffy said carefully. "Even Xander and Riley?"
Angel paused, and then repeated, "Everyone."
"We'll be there as soon as we can." Buffy said before she hung up. She knew if Angel was willing to have Riley and Xander around it must be something serious.
hr
"Okay we're here. What's with the pow-wow?" Liz asked as she, Max, Michael, Maria, Alex, and Isabel walked into the house.
"Downstairs. Angel wants a word with you all." Doyle said as he opened the basement door.
"Wait we're being invited downstairs? Oh God who died?" Liz asked.
"Cute!" Angel said wryly.
"Can you blame me? The last time I was down here was to sleep after I beat Doyle up." Liz said.
"Same here." Michael said.
"What?" Max growled.
"Get your mind out of the gutter Maxwell. We were both fully clothed."
Liz giggled, again amazed that anyone could think something would happen between her and Michael. "Michael and I have agreed that we are brother and sister now. I have even begun calling him my brother."
"And she's my sister. Mr. and Mrs. Parker love me. " Michael grinned.
"I think they are going to invite him to move in soon!" Liz said, only half-joking.
"Not to interrupt this family moment but we should get back to why we're here." Alex said.
"Sorry!" was chorused all around.
"It's okay." Angel said. "I made a decision about Buffy."
"And?"
"The whole gang will be here ASAP."
There was a collective sigh of relief. "That should even up the odds a bit," Doyle said happily.
"Are they all gonna fit in the house? I mean Doyle is sharing a room with Cordy now but what about Giles? Buffy and Riley could double up, same with Xander and Anya if she comes. Willow could stay in the room downstairs. It's better to do Wicca on the ground floor. Wes what if Giles doubles up with you? We could put one of those beds in the attic in your room. It's big enough." Liz said.
Wesley sighed, "Yeah, I guess that will have to do."
"Okay good. We can give Riley and Buffy the room across the balcony from Cordy and Doyle and Xander and Anya can have the room next to Giles and Wes. We should probably start clearing them out. They've got all the weapons in them."
Angel gave a quiet sigh of relief, looked like he would still have his privacy.
"Angel where's that closet you brought with you? We'll put the weapons in there and lock it up during the day." Michael asked.
"It's right here," he responded, pointing behind the sofa.
"Hey I just thought of something." Maria said. "What about when we sleep here?"
"Oh. Oh no problem, we'll put extra beds down here and in the family room." Liz said cheerfully.
Angel groaned, there went his privacy. He didn't sleep at the same time as anyone else, but he needed to have somewhere to be that he wasn't disturbing those sleeping. He guessed he would just have to use Wesley's office or the garage/gym.
"What about the dining room? We could put beds in there." Isabelle said. She wasn't exactly keen on the idea of sleeping near a vampire, no matter how nice he was now. "We hardly use it anyway."
"That will work too," Liz nodded, "We'll get it all worked out. No worries."
"But for now Liz is right we should start clearing out the extra rooms." Max said.
"Right. Doyle are you all moved into Cordy's room?"
Cordelia was barely able to keep a blush from her face with everyone being so matter-of-fact about Doyle moving into her room. This was a new development, she wasn't sure she was ready for all the Sunnydale Scooby gang to be witness also.
"All of my stuff is now taking up Delia's closet space." Doyle assured her.
"Good. I wonder what Xander's girlfriend is like. Buffy said she's an ex-demon." Liz said as they all headed upstairs.
How ironic, Cordelia thought as she and Doyle followed Liz, One year after graduation and Xander and I have both moved on to demons!
hr
Sunnydale, CA-
"Look Xander if you don't want to come then don't. You can explain to my mom and Willow's parents why you let us go off into the unknown to fight some demon without you." Buffy said as she talked on the phone and packed her suitcase.
Xander gave a cry of frustration, "Oh you know just how to get me, don't you? Fine, I'll go, but keep Angel far away from me, ya hear?"
"With pleasure. Besides you and Anya can take your show on the road and you like meeting new slayers right?"
"Buffy, you are pushing it!" Xander growled.
"We're meeting at Giles' in an hour. Is Anya coming or not?"
"You think she'd let me go off with you two without her?" Xander scoffed.
"Like she has anything to worry about. Riley's coming with me so he'll keep you out of my bed."
"Oh I don't know!" Xander joked.
"Just get packing. I'll see you soon." Buffy hung the phone up. "Who is it?" she called when someone knocked on her door.
"Your favorite guy!"
Buffy smiled. "Oz when did you get back to town?"
"Very funny honey." Riley said as he poked his head in. "You almost ready?"
"Yeah, just about."
"I've got my bags downstairs in the car. Where's Willow?"
"Saying good-bye to Tara. She's not coming with."
"Ah, ok!" Riley nodded, "So what exactly is this trip about?"
"Angel sorta called me and told me that there's a demon that needs killing in Roswell and they're gonna need some help. Willow's bag's over there if you wanna take it to the car." Buffy turned around to face her bag and waited for the explosion.
She wasn't disappointed.
"ANGEL?!?" Riley yelled, "What does Angel have to do with any of this?"
"You remember me telling you about Wesley? Well Wes has been living in LA with Angel for the better part of the year and when Wesley got called back into action by the Watcher's Council Angel, Cordy, and Doyle, who by the way is half-demon, went with him to Roswell to help train Liz and stuff."
Riley just kept his eyes narrowed with a scowl on his face.
"Hey." Buffy went over to him. "I'm with you. I love you. Angel is of the past, okay?"
"Then why is he calling you to join him in Roswell?" Riley asked, he knew he was being unreasonable, but he couldn't help it.
"Cause I'm a slayer and according to him Liz needs all the help she can get right now." Buffy smiled at him. "You remember Liz right? Small, pretty, can drop you like a hot plate."
Riley just nodded, he didn't trust himself to say anything that he wouldn't regret later.
"That's the only reason I'm going. I had a friend to help me when I got in over my head. I only wanna do the same for her, okay? It has nothing to do with Angel."
Riley relaxed slightly, "Ok, but just keep Angel away from me."
Buffy rolled her eyes, was she gonna hear that from everyone on this trip?
hr
"My back is killing me." Michael complained as he and Liz took inventory in the storeroom at the Crashdown.
"That's what you get for lifting that box of chains by yourself." Liz told him.
"I didn't realize that it was full of chains!" Michael whined.
"Tell ya what. After we're done you can stay the night and I'll give you a back rub to pay you back for all the times you've given me one, okay?"
"Hey now!" Maria said as she walked into the room, "there will be no rubbing of my man!"
"Maria please, she's good with her hands." Michael begged.
"Do you realize how bad that sounds Michael? Its a good thing I trust you two!" Maria responded.
"Maria chill out. I think Michael just did something to his back when he lifted that box of chains today. I am merely offering to ease his pain." Liz explained as she made a little check on her clipboard.
Maria rolled her eyes, "I was just giving y'all a hard time! You two are definitely wound too tight right now. You want some cypress oil?"
"No. I'll be okay." Michael kissed Maria. "You leaving?"
"Yeah Kyle and Alex are outside waiting to take me home."
"Kyle?" Michael lifted his eyebrow in surprise, "He definitely took this all better than I predicted."
"He wants me to show him how to use a stake, if you can believe it." Liz said. "I think we're done here."
"Oh, thank God," Michael moaned as he walked to the couch and collapsed on it.
"Take good care of him Liz. He needs to be in one piece for class tomorrow." Maria giggled. "Night guys."
"Night!" they echoed.
"Don't forget to lock up." Liz called.
"I won't!" Maria called back.
They heard the lock of the front door click and Liz looked at Michael. "Can you make it upstairs?"
Michael nodded, groaning slightly as he made the slow journey up the stairs. "I never realized how many stairs there were up to your room, Liz."
"Just be glad you don't have to use the ladder." Liz teased him. "Night Mom, night Dad." She called down the hall.
"Night Liz! Night Michael!" Liz's mom called back.
Michael stopped still, "That is freaky."
"Just say goodnight Michael." Liz said as she went into her room and got the air mattress her dad had bought for her room once Michael's sleeping there had gotten to be a habit.
"Goodnight Mr. and Mrs. Parker!" he called out. He turned to Liz as he walked into her room. "I am just not used to being so welcomed! I thought they would like have a cow when they found out I had been sleeping here. Always freaked out Max's mom when I was there in the morning and hadn't been when she went to bed."
"Mom and Dad like you. More then that they trust you. For them to trust a guy to sleep in the same room as their little girl is a big deal."
"I got that," Michael replied, he was truly in awe over how nice they were to him.
"And they trust my judgment. So you sleeping in my room isn't that big of a deal."
"If you say so," Michael replied.
Liz looked at him quietly for a moment, "Michael, do you remember my comment about them wanting to adopt you?"
"Liz they can't adopt me. I'm an emancipated minor." Michael said.
"If it was at all possible, would you like it?"
Michael's got a wistful look on his face, "Yeah. Yeah, I would like that a lot."
"Dad's been talking to a lawyer friend of his. Michael if you give up your emancipation, Mom and Dad can adopt you and you'd be Michael Parker, my brother and the best part is when you sleep here you'd get your own room."
"Are you serious?" Michael asked, "Your parents really want to adopt me?" He was afraid to hope
"Yes!" Liz exclaimed. "What do you say? Wanna be my brother for real?"
Michael grinned. He couldn't speak for the lump in his throat, and his eyes were tearing up. This was just unbelievable! He just nodded excitedly and hugged Liz to him. After a few minutes he said, "Would you mind if I still slept in your room most of the time?"
"No I wouldn't mind Michael." Liz grinned. "In fact when you sleep at your apartment I have a hard time falling asleep."
Michael smiled at her, "You don't know how much this means to me," he said emotionally.
"Yeah I do." Liz grinned. "You still want that back rub?"
"Absolutely! Could you hand me the phone though? I wanna tell Maria!"
"Sure." Liz grabbed her cordless. "She's number one on speed dial." she said handing him the phone.
HR
Maria sighed as the phone next to her bed rang; she had just about fallen asleep with
pictures of Michael dancing around in her head. "'Lo?"
"Maria? It's me."
Maria smiled, well, if she couldn't dream about him, his voice would have to do. "Hey Michael! What's up? You still at Liz's?"
"Yep. I have some news for you. Are you sitting down?"
"I'm laying down."
Michael stopped for a moment, distracted by the thought of her lying in bed. He shook himself out of it, "I am gonna be adopted!"
"What? By who? Wesley?"
"Wesley?" Michael asked, "Um... no. Liz Parker is gonna officially be my sister!!"
"Oh my God you're kidding. That's awesome!"
"Yeah she just went to tell her parents that I accepted. Hold on."
"Maria?" Liz 's voice came over the line.
"Hey Liz!"
"Sorry I know you wanna talk to Michael but Mom and Dad just wanna make sure he's sure about this."
"Its okay. So they really like him, huh?" Maria asked.
"Are you kidding me? Dad adores him and Mom loves him. He's a better cook then she is." Liz giggled. "YOU are okay with this, aren't you?" she added, suddenly thinking maybe she should have approached Maria first.
"Are you kidding me? I love the idea of my best friend and my boyfriend being family."
Liz sighed with relief, "Good, I was afraid maybe I had overstepped. This will relieve so much stress for Michael, not having to pay for that apartment, and having parents to fall back on."
"Not to mention he'll have a little sister to protect."
"Ah, he already did," Liz shrugged.
"Yeah but you know now it'll be official. Is he back yet?"
"Yeah, here he is," Liz said, smiling at Michael as she handed him the phone.
"Hey." Michael said. "Sorry if I'm keeping you up."
"Hey, I am glad you called! I love being the first to get great news like this!" Maria exclaimed
"Well technically you're the second. Liz knew before you did." Michael teased.
"Get technical on me!" Maria smiled.
"Go to sleep. I'll see ya tomorrow." Michael smiled into the phone.
"Night!" Maria yawned.
Michael hung up the phone and smiled at Liz.
"So she's happy about it?" Liz asked unnecessarily.
"She's thrilled."
"I thought she might be. Are you gonna call Max and Isabelle?"
Michael thought for a moment, "Do you think they'll be ok with this?"
"Why wouldn't they be? I mean they're your family and now so am I."
"I don't know. Just seems weird to be choosing another family, like its denying them or something," he said looking at her to see if she was understanding what he was trying to say.
"Michael pieces of paper don't change the last ten years. Nothing ever could or will change what Max and Is mean to you. This doesn't lessen their importance to you and they'll know that. And if they don't I'll beat them till they realize it."
Michael gave her a little smile, and took a deep breath. He picked up the phone again, "Here goes nothing!"
"I'm gonna get a soda. You want one?"
Michael nodded, silently thanking her for knowing he needed to do this alone. He dialed quickly and paced waiting for someone to answer.
"Whoever this is, I was sleeping so it had better be good." Max's voice came over the line.
"Well, *I* think its good. Whether *you* do is yet to be determined," Michael said quietly.
"Michael? What's wrong?"
"Liz had an important question for me tonight. She and her parents want me to join their family. Officially. And I said yes," Michael said, wincing a little, still half-expecting a bad reaction.
"Liz's parents want to adopt you?" Max grinned on the other end of the line.
"Yeah, they do!" Michael said in awe. "Are you okay with it?" he asked worriedly.
"Are you joking? I'm in awe. I'm in shock. Once I'm over it I think being okay with it will be an understatement."
Michael released his breath, "How do you think Isabel will take it?"
"I think once she comes to she'll hug and kiss you."
"Where is she? Is she up?" Michael asked.
Max glanced up as Isabel walked into the room.
"Who's calling at this time of night? Is anything wrong?" she asked.
"She's right here." Max handed the phone to his sister. "It's Michael, he's got some news."
"Michael?" Isabelle said into the phone. "Is it a vamp issue? I know it's not Liz."
"No, its not a vamp issue, but it does relate to Liz," Michael replied.
"Well she's okay, at least I know she's not injured cause Max is sitting in front of me with the goofiest grin on his face."
"She's fine, I'm fine. We're all fine!" Michael said, knowing he was babbling.
"Okay now I'm worried. You're babbling and you never babble. Maria babbles, not you."
"I am giddy here Iz! I am finally wanted! Someone wants me as part of their family! And not just for the monthly check!" Michael exclaimed.
"Michael what are you talking about?"
"Liz and her parents want me to join their family!"
"The Parkers' want to adopt you? Michael that's great!" Isabelle shrieked.
Michael felt weak with relief; everyone he cared about thought this was great news. He felt as if he truly belonged, finally.
"When did all this happen?"
"Liz asked me tonight, but it sounds like they have wanted to for a while. Mr. Parker did some research to find out if it was possible before they asked me," Michael explained.
"I'm in shock. But I'm totally happy for you Michael. We both are. Have you told Maria yet?"
"Yeah. She was thrilled," Michael replied happily
"I'll bet. Oh hold on Max wants to talk to you again. I'll see you tomorrow. Say goodnight to Liz for me."
"I will. Sleep well."
"You too."
"Michael? Where's Liz? I wanna offer her my congratulations and ask why she didn't tell me sooner."
"She's downstairs, let me get her," Michael replied.
"Get who?" Liz said as she came back in.
"You. Max wants to talk to you."
"Okay." Liz handed Michael a soda and he handed her the phone. Before she put it to her ear she covered the mouthpiece. "How'd they take it?"
Michael just grinned at her, and plopped down on his air mattress.
"Told ya so." Liz said. "Max? Hi."
"Hey Liz. Great news! But, why didn't you mention any of this to me?" Max asked
"One: You can't keep a secret from Isabelle and two: I wanted to make sure Michael agreed to it before we started telling people." Liz smiled.
Max harrumphed, "Okay, fine then. But I can keep a secret from Iz!"
Liz heard Isabel faintly in the background, "Not likely buster!"
"See? I gotta go. It's getting late and I promised to ease Michael's pain before we went to sleep."
"Ease his pain?" Max asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Yeah remember that box of chains he insisted on picking up today at the house? He did something to his back."
"How are you going to ease his pain though?" Max asked, as far as he knew, he was the only one with healing powers!
"I thought I'd use some of those whips Cordelia had me take home and tie him up." Liz said.
"What?" Max gasped.
"You dork! I'm gonna give him a backrub." Liz laughed.
"Oh!" Max said, "Well remember he is gonna be your brother!" he teased
"Yes my brother and as my brother he has the authority and the right to beat up guys who break my heart by taking steps back." Liz smiled and Michael laughed.
"You hear that Max!" he called out.
"Tell Michael I hear him just fine. I'll see you guys tomorrow. Night." Max said.
"Night Max!" Liz replied softly, "I love you!"
"I love you too." Max grinned. "Bye."
Liz hung up the phone and looked at Michael, "I think everyone is happy about this! I know I am!"
"You're not the only one." Michael grinned. "Now how about the easing of the pain you promised?"
"You got it. Although I think Doyle should be doing this. He is the one that told you to pick the box up."
"Yeah well, I don't think I want him giving me a rub down!" Michael said, making a face.
"Think Cordy might have a problem with it too." Liz teased as she rubbed Michael's back.
Michael shuddered, "Don't want to ever be on that girl's bad side!"
"I think Tess is too late. Cordy was shooting some lethal looks her way at the Crashdown the other day."
"Yeah," Michael snickered, "That'll be an interesting showdown if Tess doesn't watch her step!"
"Isabel can hold Tess down while Cordy pummels her."
"Would be fun to watch!" Michael agreed.
"We could sell tickets. How's your back feeling?"
He stretched a little, testing it out, "Better, thanks!"
"Good." Liz climbed back onto her bed. "Do you wanna watch a movie or listen to music tonight?"
"Naw, I'm feeling kind of worn out by all of this!" he admitted.
"Okay then. Night Michael." Liz said as she switched off her lamp.
"Night, *sis*," he answered with a grin.
Liz giggled in the darkness. "Night big brother."
hr
Buffy walked in through the front door of the house. "Hello?"
Cordelia heard her from another room. She took a moment to compose herself before going out to greet her. It wasn't like they were enemies, but they weren't best of friends either. "Hey, Buffy," she greeted her with her patented pageant smile.
"Hey Cordy. This is Riley." She said gesturing to her boyfriend. "Riley this is Cordelia Chase."
"Nice to meet you!" Riley said in his typical friendly matter.
Cordelia looked him up and down, obviously doing a mental comparison to Angel; she raised her eyebrow, "Likewise." She turned back to Buffy, "Is that all your bags?"
"No. Xander's helping Giles outside. Riley's just carrying in the first wave. Will and Anya are right behind us."
Cordelia nodded. "Your room is upstairs. I am sure you know your way," she said, walking out of the room in search of Doyle.
"Well that was fun." Riley said.
"Cordy's just a little over protective. Just not of me."
"Who is she protecting? Angel? I think he has that covered all by himself!"
"It's a long story. C'mon. Cordy said we had the room across the balcony from her. I wanna get settled and call Liz."
Riley shrugged, sometimes he was just blown away by how complicated everything was with her and her friends. He followed her up the stairs.
HR
"Willow what the hell is in here?" Xander whined. "It weighs a ton."
"Magic books," Willow replied, "I wasn't sure what we were gonna run into, so I brought them all."
"See I told you Buffy was bringing the Wicca friend." A new voice said. "Hi Giles."
Giles smiled, "Hello, Liz! I don't recognize some of the people with you."
"Well you know Michael, Max, and Alex, and this is Isabel and Maria."
Giles cleared his throat, "Well, um... nice to meet you both."
Liz rolled her eyes, "Giles, they know everything."
"I see." Giles started clucking his tongue and Liz rolled her eyes.
"Willow right? I'm Liz."
Willow gave her a sweet, shy smile, "Hi!"
"I'm Michael. This is Max."
Willow's eyes widened, they were both gorgeous! "Hello," she managed to get out, turning red.
"I'm Alex. We have something in common."
Willow frowned, "We do?"
"We're both hackers."
"Oh!" Willow exclaimed, her face clearing up, "Then we'll have lots to talk about!"
Xander walked up, "So are Anya and I chopped liver? Anyone gonna introduce us?"
"This has to be Xander." Liz said with a grin.
"Ah! So my reputation precedes me!" Xander puffed up.
"And by process of elimination that makes you Anya, right?" Michael said.
Anya grinned and sidled up to him, "Yes, that's me!"
"Hands off Red." Maria said.
"Willow, Xander, Anya this is Maria and Isabelle."
Isabel walked over to Alex and Willow, giving Alex a small kiss on the cheek. She just wanted it clear to Willow that Alex was taken, not that she thought she was competition or anything, she assured herself.
Michael whispered something to Liz and she giggled shaking her head.
"What's so funny?" Max asked.
"Willow's gay."
Willow blushed again, hearing that out loud. She wasn't entirely used to being thought of in that term.
"Sorry Willow." Liz apologized after seeing her blush.
"Its alright," Willow said, "Where should Xander take these books?"
"Follow me." Liz said. "Michael take Anya upstairs and Max take her bags."
"Why me?"
"Cause Michael's back is still bothering him." Liz said.
Max groaned, picking up the bags and muttering to himself, "He is going to milk that as long as he can!"
"C'mon Anya. Giles you might as well come too. Your room's upstairs too."
As usual Giles looked perplexed to see things so far out of his own control, he just shrugged and followed them all up the stairs.
hr
Tess watched from down the street as everyone gathered at that big house again. She'd been following Liz, Michael, Max, Isabelle, Alex, and Maria around for a week now and they always seemed to go to that house. She needed to get closer.
Meanwhile, inside the house Xander was wandering around trying to get his bearings. He stopped dead when he saw Cordelia sitting in a chair reading a book.
"Hey Cordy." Xander finally managed.
Cordelia's head snapped up, for a moment there was wariness and hurt in her eyes, but she quickly shook it off. She formed a wide smile, "Hey Xander! Still doing the Scooby gang thing I see!"
Doyle had watched this from the far corner of the room, Xander hadn't noticed him yet. He walked up behind Cordy and squeezed her shoulders. He knew she needed moral support for this. "Who's this?" he asked, as if he didn't know.
"Xander Harris. You must be Doyle."
"That's me." Doyle said.
Cordelia was looking at Doyle gratefully; she grabbed one of his hands between her own and pulled it into her lap. She said fiddling with his fingers.
Xander looked at the expression on Cordy's face in amazement. He had never seen her look so content with someone.
"So where's Dead Guy?" Xander asked trying for humor.
Cordelia's eyes flashed for a moment. She knew he wasn't trying to start something though, so she kept her anger under control. "He is downstairs resting still. He should be up in an hour or so."
"Right. Have you seen Anya? Do you remember Anya?" Xander asked.
Cordy thought for a moment, "Yeah, I hung around with her for a little while I think. Didn't she turn out to be some sort of demon or something?"
"Well now she's an ex-demon. She's actually a lot of fun." Xander said.
Cordelia barely managed to keep from snorting, from what she remembered the girl had left a lot to be desired, but who was she to judge? She had changed a lot, and she was determined to give everyone a chance. If it killed her.
hr
"Liz!" Buffy said happily as the slayers hugged.
"Hey Buffy. How are you?"
"I am doing good! Looks like a lot has changed since I was here last! Spill girl!"
"Well Max and I are together again and it looks like I'm getting a brother."
"Your mom is pregnant?" Buffy gasped.
"No! We're adopting Michael." Liz giggled with glee.
"You're kidding. Liz that's awesome!"
"Isn't it? I have always wanted a brother, and Michael has always wanted a real family. So we are both getting what we want. Plus we had already been acting like we were brother and sister anyway!" Liz couldn't keep the silly grin off her face.
"Where is he? I wanna say congratulations to him too."
"Probably off making out with Maria!" Liz replied.
Buffy gasped again, "They got back together?!"
"Yeah. Michael worked on Maria till she caved. It's kinda cool. Our whole group is...." Liz trailed off and looked around.
"What is it?" Buffy asked.
"Someone's here. Someone that's not supposed to be."
"Alright, so we patrol. I would recognize anyone who is supposed to be here, right? You've introduced me to everyone?" Buffy asked.
"Yeah but Buffy I don't think it's a demon."
"Okay, so we don't just kill it. We grab him/her and do an interrogation of sorts." Buffy said, already planning her strategy.
"Be careful. I'll take the front of the house and you take the back." Liz said as she quietly moved out of the bedroom.
"What's going on?" Michael asked as he saw Buffy moving stealthily down the hall.
"We think we have a visitor."
"Demon?"
"Don't think so." Buffy went down the back staircase and into the garage.
Michael followed her, figuring at least he could be back up.
::THUD!::
A blonde was dropped from above and Liz followed. The blonde landed on her back unconscious and Liz landed on her feet.
"I think I found our intruder." Liz said. "I caught her listening to Wes and Giles up on the roof."
"Tess?" Michael gasped, getting the first good look at her.
"In the flesh." Liz said.
"How much did she hear?" Buffy asked.
"I don't know."
Michael groaned, "Do you realize how bad this is?"
"I have a vague idea. Tying her up won't do any good. Neither would chains."
"Right she's an alien too." Buffy said.
"Exactly." he said succinctly, "Take her into the living room. I'll go get Max and Izzy."
"I'll keep everyone upstairs in the meantime." Buffy said.
"Thanks Buffy."
"Sure," she nodded.
hr
"What was she doing here?" Max ranted as he paced.
"Apparently she's gotten a little curious about where you've been spending your time!" Isabel answered dryly.
"Do you think she heard anything?" Michael asked Liz.
"I don't know. I asked Giles what he and Wes were talking about but all he could do was mutter something about his books. That man needs a new hobby. Or a pet."
"Both," Michael agreed.
"Maybe we should talk to Angel." Isabelle suggested. "Is it safe for him to come up yet?"
"We could shut the curtains." Liz said. "I wonder if he's awake."
"The falling body probably woke him up," Max joked.
"I'll go see if he's up. Kill the natural light guys." Liz said heading for the basement.
She returned a few minutes later with a grumpy Angel following her.
"What's that?" He asked pointing. "Another new member of the Scooby Gang?"
"No, this would be a problem," Max answered.
"I caught her on the roof listening to Wes and Giles. I knocked her out and then I dropped her."
"Who is she?"
"Tess. Roswell's answer to the Loch Ness Monster." Liz said.
There was a groan from the prone body on the couch.
"It's waking up." Isabel said.
"Now what?" Angel asked.
Everyone just glanced around at each other. They would just have to play it by ear.
"Where am I?" Tess muttered.
"You think hard enough, you'll figure it out." Liz couldn't help but say sarcastically. "Apparently you were wandering around on the roof and you fell. We brought you inside to patch you up."
"You hit me." Tess accused as she sat up.
"I did no such thing!" Liz replied, acting shocked at the suggestion.
"How'd I end up on this couch?"
"Well after you fell off Michael decided you needed someone to tend to you so we brought you inside."
"Who's he?" Tess pointed at Angel.
"A friend," Liz answered, not welcoming any more questions. "What were you doing on the roof, Tess?"
"I was looking for Max." She said with a sniff.
"On the roof?" Max asked in disbelief, "Why would you be looking for me to begin with? We are long over with."
Angel groaned, finally placing who Tess was in the scheme of things. This was beyond bad.
"Max I just wanted to know why you were hanging out here so much. I thought it might be important to our destiny."
"Is that why you were on Liz's roof last night?" Michael asked.
"What?" Liz said.
"And what is going on between you two?" Tess asked, "You sneaking around behind Max's back?"
She was startled when all in the room burst into laughter over that question.
"Oh God. Michael do we send out some sort of vibe or something? Why do people keep on thinking you and I are doing something besides being friends?"
"I think its the belief that guys and girls can't be platonic. At least soon no one will question it anymore!"
Angel looked at him questioningly, "Why's that?"
"You didn't tell him?"
"No I had other things on my mind like her and well you know." Liz turned to Angel. "In a few weeks Michael is gonna be a Parker!" Liz told him, grinning widely.
"What?" Tess shrieked. "Michael you can't do that!"
Michael just gave her a chilling glare.
"It's none of your business Tess." Liz told her. "Somebody should take her home. We've got work to do."
"Work?" Tess latched on, "What kind of work?"
"The kind that's none of your business." Liz said. "Now leave."
Tess knew she had no choice, but she couldn't resist adding as she walked out the door, "I'll be watching you!"
"I hate that girl." Liz fumed.
"She isn't worth your time, Liz," Max tried to reassure her and calm her down.
"We need a new base of operations." Michael said. "Tess knows about this place. It's to dangerous."
Angel nodded in agreement, "Michael is right. This is your town, any ideas?"
"What if we got Wesley a job? Giles used to do the school librarian thing. Maybe Wes could do it too." Liz suggested.
"Its worth a shot I guess," Angel agreed, "but he'll take it a little better if we manage to make it look like it was his own idea."
"If that doesn't work, we'll start looking for warehouses." Isabel said.
"Okay, lets go fill everybody in on what happened," Liz said reluctantly, she wasn't ready for a Wesley-fit at the moment.
"Giles will keep him under control." Michael murmured.
"If he doesn't start clucking his tongue." Liz said.
hr
"Wesley you're gonna give yourself a stroke, would you attempt to calm down?" Liz asked her watcher.
"Calm down? Calm down?" Wesley screeched as he paced back and forth, "How can you ask me to calm down when pretty soon the whole damn town is gonna know about you! This is a catastrophe!"
"Giles anything to say?" Liz asked.
Giles just shook his head, he figured Wesley had covered his own reactions, if at 10 times the emotion.
"Look I didn't know she was gonna follow us." Liz said. "If it makes you feel any better I don't think she heard anything."
"You don't THINK she heard anything?" Wesley groaned, collapsing into the nearest chair.
"Look Wes, if she had heard something she would've thrown it in our faces." Michael said. "She knows nothing."
"You can say that again." Maria muttered.
Isabel, Alex, Max and Liz all nodded in agreement.
Wesley sighed, "I guess I am just going to have to trust you on this, since you are the ones who have dealt with her before. But we DO need a new 'home base' as I believe you put it."
"Right some place where we could go easily and not be regarded as suspicious." Liz said.
"Some place close." Michael added.
"With materials." Max said.
"And sewer access." Angel put in.
They all looked at Wesley expectantly.
"Do you already have a place in mind?" He asked.
They shook their heads innocently.
"Well I can give this a little bit of research and then make my decision. In the meantime, we'll communicate by computer."
Alex nodded happily. Maria gave a slight groan, computers were not her thing.
"Angel she'll be looking for you too now. Be careful okay?" Liz asked.
"I think I can manage it," Angel responded dryly.
"She's dangerous Angel." Isabel said. "You have no idea how very dangerous she is."
"Angel has lurking and blending into the woodwork down to an art form," Buffy popped up helpfully.
Liz looked at Xander, Anya, and Willow. She desperately wanted to say something but they didn't know what Max, Michael, and Isabel were. She couldn't betray them like that. She wouldn't betray them like that.
Max was watching Liz, knowing what she was thinking. He caught Michael's eye and raised an eyebrow in question.
Michael looked at Liz and then back at Max. He nodded slightly and they both looked at Isabel.
Isabel got a wide-eyed expression on her face, feeling slightly cornered. But she took a deep breath and nodded herself, Alex pulled her into his arms, realizing what courage that took her.
Meanwhile Xander and the others were watching the silent communication in confusion. What was up with this bunch?
"Liz go ahead." Max said.
Liz looked at Max. She hadn't even noticed Max, Michael, and Isabel's silent exchange. Max nodded at her. She looked at Michael. He gave her a small smile and nodded. Isabel nodded as well.
Liz took a deep breath, Here we go again! "There is something you need to know about Tess. She is an alien. And she has powers that can make you see things that aren't really happening."
"Alien?" Anya asked. "Wow I guess I missed that when I was here in '47."
The Roswell group gave her an odd look, they hadn't heard about Anya's history as a demon. But they shrugged it off for now, there were more important matters at issue.
"Aliens? There are no such things as aliens." Xander said. He may be from Sunnydale but there were some lines he'd drawn at things he'd believe in.
"Right. No such things as aliens, vampires, demons, witches, slayers, or locker ghosts." Liz said. "God you are small minded."
"Liz break his nose, then you guys can prove it!" Cordy suggested with a certain gleam in her eye.
"Hey there will be no breaking of my man." Anya said.
Liz sighed, she looked at Isabel, Max and Michael, "Guys? Any other suggestions for demonstrations?"
"Where's that lock for the chains we used on Spike last time he got annoying?" Michael asked.
"Probably down in the basement," Liz answered.
"C'mon." Michael led the group through the house and into Angel's domain.
"So now you are going to get into some S&M?" Xander joked.
"Careful Xander or I'll get Liz here to beat you unconscious so I can chain you to some she-devil at her high school." Cordelia said.
Doyle came up behind Cordy and laid his hand on her arm. She turned to look at him and he shook his head slightly at her. She looked slightly ashamed of herself, but said nothing more.
Michael locked the lock and then turned to the crowd. "Watch and learn boys and girls. What Liz didn't tell you is that Max, Isabel and I are also aliens," He then proceeded to put his hand over the lock. His hand glowed and the lock shook for a moment and then popped right open.
"Oh wow!" Willow said.
Michael grinned proudly, he liked to display the powers he was able to control.
"So Aliens do exist?" Xander asked.
"Yes!" Just about everyone in the room chorused.
"I still don't know how I missed you guys. I mean I stayed at the crash site for two weeks." Anya said.
"What are you talking about?" Isabel asked.
"Anya used to be a vengeance demon," Willow explained, "She is over 1000 years old."
"Vengeance demon? What did you do?"
"I granted wishes for the brokenhearted. It was actually kinda fun."
"Yeah, for YOU!" Xander replied, "She only did this for the FEMALE brokenhearted, you see."
"So what exactly did you do?" Maria asked.
"Whatever they wished for. For the man to never have been born, for him to have boils on his genitals..." she went off and listed several other extremely painful wishes.
"Okay you two aren't allowed to play together." Michael said tugging Maria to him.
"Don't worry, she doesn't have any powers any longer," Xander reassured.
"I don't care. There are spells for this sort of thing yes?" He directed his question to Willow.
"I believe so," Willow confirmed, she couldn't help smiling at the fear that flashed across his face.
Liz was laughing. "Don't worry Michael. I don't think witchcraft would work on aliens."
"Too bad. Maybe we could cast a spell on Tess." Max said.
"Well, it is worth a shot! I mean we don't know for sure it doesn't work on aliens!" Maria exclaimed, getting excited.
"Oh you are definitely not allowed to play with Anya." Michael groaned.
Jessi's Other Stories | Lori's Other Stories
Jessi's Roswell Fan Fiction Site | Jessi's General Hospital Fan Fiction Site