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This is dedicated to JD who inspired me with her/his review, to write a sequel. And may thanks to everybody who reviewed Part One especially Cordy2K.

Hidden Truths - Part Two
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'Daddy'
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You're the sweet crusader
And you're on your way
You're the last great innocent
And that's why I love you.

Alanis Morissette - Mary Jane.

The sticky LA night air clung to Angel as he disembarked from the plane at LAX. It had been a hard decision for him to come back to LA, after all what did he have? A ghost and now a broken heart all over again and all the time he wanted to brood in his empty hotel. His mind flashed back to the days when Cordelia would come and literally drag him out of his brooding sessions but the memory caused his heart to break afresh. He tried to flood his mind with happy thoughts, not an easy task for a cursed human, and the first one was of Gunn and Faith. They now had a new born baby boy to keep them busy, named Wesley as a reminder to the friend they had lost. He didn't have time anymore to worry about things he couldn't change, he had to prepare for his daughter, his and Cordelias daughter. The list of questions he had grew everyday as to how a dead Vampire could father a baby, never mind with someone who medically couldn't have children. When will she be arriving? Why him? The convertible was still waiting where he had left it 3 weeks before; before when he was with Cordelia. His ride back to the hotel was made in a mixture of dread and fear. How was he going to look after a baby? He didn't know the first thing about children and he still had to help in the fight for the PTB. What kind of life could he offer her? He didn't have any answers but he knew a Wicca that would...Willow.
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Angel threw his bags across the marble entrance floor of the hotel not caring where they landed. He didn't need to think as he dialled the Sunnydale number, he had after all been in constant contact with Willow, looking for the new Slayer.

"Hi, Willow, it's Angel."

"Angel where have you been? I've been trying to get in contact with you for two weeks now. The new..."

"Willow I know about the new Slayer, I was there when the old one died. I found Cordelia again, she was the Slayer" He heard Willow gasp on the other line. "She died in a hit and run. Listen I need you to do some research for me on any prophecies regarding me and Cordelia as the Keeper of Sights or Fate."

"We know about this one, you find the Keeper and they turn you human but it doesn't involve Cordelia or the Slayer."

"Cordelia did grant me my Shanshu but she also told me that we have a child together called Hope. She is genetically mine and Cordelias but it is impossible, can you shed any light on it?" Angel strained.

"Well there has been cases of Vampires and Humans producing offspring. It's always been between a male Vampire and a female Human so that agrees with you and Cordelia, they are called Dhampir. But that can only happen if you and Cordelia...well sleep together...Angel did you sleep with Cordelia?" Willow asked curios at what Angel hadn't told her about his time in LA.

"No! I only just found her again and told her how I really felt. We never had a chance...What am I going to do Willow?" Angel sighed in exasperation.

"God Angel, your not going to go through this alone. I'll get there as soon as I can, just hold on."

Two figures entering the hotel drew Angels attention away from Willows conversation. "Um Willow, I think that Hope has arrived. I'll see you soon."

He put down the phone and turned to the shortish man and the little brown haired girl that stood protectively beside him. He motioned them futher into the hotel and started to walk towards them. The little girl shied futher away from Angels advancing steps and sucked harder on the little pink rabbits ear she was carrying.

"Warrior Angel, I presume. My name is David and I was Hopes guardian."

Angel looked down at the little girl and was struck by her resemblance to himself and Cordelia. Her brown curls swished around her face as she slowly peered around David's legs, looking at him with big brown eyes in caution. Angel bent down in front of his small child and put out his hand. "My name is Angel. You must be Hope. I'm very glad to meet you Hope." Angel extended his hand towards the girl. She looked at him and then stepped forward. She reached out a small hand, the other still holding her bunny, and placed it palm down in Angels.

"Angels a funny name isn't it?" She wrinkled her nose just like Cordelia did when she was researching demons. Angel could do little but stare at his daughter in front of him. A silent tears rolled down his cheek, a new feeling to his human body. Hope reached up and wiped away the tear before looking back to him. "Angels don't cry."

Angel stood up and David thrust a rucksack into his hands. "These are all the things that Hope has, I'm afraid that we lived a...mobile life. You must protect her with your new found life as she holds the key to all the light. Here." He handed Angel a file folder. "These are all the documents you'll ever need for her. Birth certificate, medical cards and records. I've made up a list of her favourite things, dislikes, diet and such things. I must go now, and I wish you luck. She does not know of her mothers fate nor that you are her father but I will leave it up to you to tell her in your own time."

David bent down and picked up the child, smothering her hair against his cheek. Well Munchkin I have to go now but Angel is going to take care of you from now on."

"Will I see you again?" Hope asked, her eyes filling up with tears as the man turned around to leave.

"You have a new life now Munchkin and I have to go and take care of someone else. Angel is a good man, he'll make sure you don't get into to much trouble."

Angel held Hope to his legs as David turned and walked away from the duo. Hope turned into his legs and began to cry, he could feel her tears through his trousers. Maternal instinct kicked in and Angel picked the girl up and held her close to his chest. She put her arms around his neck and clung to him as if he was going to leave her too. He moved them over to the couch as Hope continued to sob slowing down until she fell asleep in his arms. Angel gazed down at her, she looked exactly like Cordelia when she slept over at the hotel. Angel would sit for hours just watching her sleep, whispering soothing words in her ear as she tossed and turned from a nightmare. He was only disturbed from his musing by the hotel door creaking open.

Willow stared at the ex-Vampire sitting on the couch with a little girl sleeping in his arms. It reminded her of lions lying with lambs but this was more a reward than a fable and it was real in front of her. The hotel hadn't changed in the 6 fateful years since she had last been there but she knew that was more Angels reluctance to move on than anything else, now he didn't have any choice.

"Willow I'm so glad you came." Angel gently placed Hope on the couch and made his way over to Willow, who was standing with a trolley case in her hand.

Willow sensed Angels awkwardness and drew him into a warm embrace. "How could I not come? You have so much to deal with and with two new babies in the gang how could I resist?"

Angel chuckled slightly. "Willow I haven't a clue what I'm doing!"

"Right does she have a room?" She noted Angels embarrassed expression. "Right well where's your room?"

"On the third floor. That's to far away. She can have...Cordy's old room, it's on the first floor, room 122. You can take the room next to it and I'll just stay in my room when I get back."

"Angel she will need to be near her daddy. It's a strange place for her and your the only one she knows. I'll take your room and you take mine. How about I put her to bed and you put on some coffee. Night clothes?"

"I don't know. Here." He handed her Hope rucksack. "If not, Cordelia had some old high school T-shirts, use one of those for now."

Angel turned away in sadness at the sound of Cordelias name. He was in the same state now as he was over Buffys death, only worse because Cordelia had died in HIS arm to give HIM a chance at life. Willow took Angels silence as a signal to take Hope upstairs. She picked up Hope over her shoulder and made her way upstairs, following the old room guide on the wall. A rush of cool air swept passed her and opened the door to room 122 for her. Willow let out a small squeak but it was enough to bring Angel running to her, smelling the fear in the air.

"Willow, what's wrong?" Angel asked looking at Hope and then Willow. Willow managed to unfreeze herself and point to the room where the white dust sheets were being pulled off the furniture and the large four poster bed. "Oh that's Dennis, Cordelias ghost. He sort of haunts the place and loves to tidy all the time. Dennis, Willow. Willow, Dennis."

Dennis floated over to Willow and plucked the rucksack from Willows hands. He began to unpack it, placing the clothes and toys in it, into little neat piles. He pulled Cordelias faded 'SUNNYDALE HIGH' T-shirt from the closet and set it on the now pulled back bed.

"Willow, I have to go out but I'll be back before 3am. Make yourself at home and stop worrying about me." He said as if he were reading Willows mind.
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Angel stood before the little stone basin and took a deep needed breath.

"I Besiege Access To The Knowing Ones."

"WHAT GIFT DO YOU BRING US MORTAL?"

Angel tossed a CD in the air and the female oracle caught it. The chamber filled with the soft tune of Debussy's Claire de Lune.

"THE GIFT OF MUSIC IS WELCOME. WHAT KNOWLEDGE CAN WE GRANT YOU?"

"I want to know why I given Hope?"

"SHE IS YOUR DAUGHTER. SHE NEEDS YOUR PROTECTION WARRIOR."

"So it's true, I am her father. Why does she need my protection, I was once your enemy."

The female oracle looked sympathetically upon Angel. "DID YOU NOT SEE YOURSELF IN HER FACE? THE SLAYER DID NOT TELL YOU ALL BEFORE SHE LEFT? THE CHILD NEEDS YOUR PROTECTION BECAUSE SHE IS THE FINAL ONE."

"The Final What?" Angel shouted.

"YOU BORE US MORTAL LEAVE AT ONCE." Angel tossed another CD to the male oracle and Beethoven's 5th symphony filled the chamber. "SHE IS THE FINAL ONE OF HER MOTHERS DUTIES. NOW BE GONE."

In a flash of light Angel found himself flat on the ground and back in the vault underneath the post office. He was for once thankful that the PTB had given him as close to a straight answer as he was going to get.
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Angel could hear the two heart beats as he walked through the Hyperion towards his new room. As he passed Hopes ajar door, she caught his eye. She lay, her hair spread out across the pillow, on the bed, dressed in Cordelias over-sized T-shirt. Angel saw for the first time what Cordelia must have looked like when she was 2 years old; vulnerable to the world and yet peacefully unaware as to what her future would hold. He neared the little girls bed and sat beside her, his figure sinking into the mattress. Hope stirred slightly before turning to face him and snuggling futher into the pillows. Angel removed his duster and lay down beside her, stroking her hair and loving watching her sleep. It was all he could do to stop himself sinking futher into his shrinking pit of despair. The Powers were right; Hope needed him to protect her, protect her from what he wasn't sure but Willow would help with that. Angel slowly drifted off to sleep beside his daughter now that his body had adjusted to the fact that he was no longer a Vampire and couldn't keep on going for days without sleep.

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Angel could feel someone watching him as he slowly came around from his sleep. A pair of huge brown eyes stared back at him with a pink rabbits ear sticking out of the culprits mouth.

"Hope, what are you doing up at..." He glanced sleepily at his watch. "6 in the morning? huh?"

"I was hungry but you don't have anything but these in your refrigerator and I couldn't open it." She held up an out-of-date blood pack.

Angel bolted upright and snatched the pack from the little girls hands. She stared back at him, scared and confused. Angel saw Hopes confusion and quickly realised what he had done. "I'm sorry Honey but these aren't for little girls like you." The smell of fear dissipated from the room. "I know how about we about we wake up my friend Willow and then we'll go out for breakfast. You can have pancakes or what ever it is that you eat." Angel suddenly realised he didn't know what a two year old ate or even what kids eat full stop.

"OK but there is a man and a lady down stairs. I think they're waiting for you. One had blonde hair and speaks all funny. The lady didn't say anything."

"Hope stay here and don't move OK. Angel will be back up to get when it is OK to come down." He placed Hope on the bed and set her fallen rabbit back in her hands.

He headed down the Hyperion's stairs and carefully looked around, hearing only one extra heartbeat. As he rounded the corner he spotted Hopes two extra visitors and worry began to creep over him. His well practised stealth attack pummelled Spike against the wall before he knew what literally hit him. Angel felt a sharp kick to his torso and he dropped Spike and turned to face his attacker. The girl was no older than 17 and she looked at him with a familiar hate and determination in her eyes. Familiar because he had seen the same determination in Buffys eyes when she was training or fighting but he knew that hate from his own thoughts at every demon he killed or when he had finally left Darlas clutches. His thoughts were interrupted by a punch to the face and a kick to his solar plexus that left him flying across the smooth lobby floor.

"Lea. Enough." A voice shouted from the top of the stairs. Angel looked up to see Willow, fully dressed, staring down at them. "Angel this is Lea, our new Slayer. I didn't know how long I was going to be here so I asked Spike to bring Lea here so we could continue training. I'm her Watcher." she looked at Spikes angry face. "Angel, Hope is crying in her room. I think she needs you."

Angel glared at Spike and walked up the stairs. Hope was sitting on her bed, crying softly into her tiny rabbit. Angel crouched down beside her and gently lifted her chin away from the rabbits soft body.

"Hope, why are crying?" Angel asked with a voice full of maternal concern.

"The man with blonde hair didn't have a heart beat; he was dead. I got scared when you left me alone. Angel why are you taking care of me?"

Angel knew now would be that time to tell her the truth but he didn't know if a 2 year old would be able to understand.

"You see Hope. Spike didn't have a heart beat because he died a long time ago but something happened to him and now he can act like he's alive. Now.."

"You mean a Vampire! David explained it to me. He said I was intelly advanced."

"You mean intellectually?" Hope shook her head. "That's good. You see I take care of you because I am you...I'm your daddy." He watched for a reaction but she just seemed to be drinking in the information. "David was looking after you until I was ready to take care of you. You don't have to call me daddy but I you have to know that I will never leave you alone OK. You might not always be able to see me but I will never leave you OK."

Hope didn't answer him, instead she flung her arms around his neck and gripped on for dear life.

"Right how about you go in the bathroom and get washed while I pick out something for you to wear and we'll go and get pancakes."

"With surup?"

"With syrup."

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Jack cooed softly in the back of the rental car as Anne made her way passed the 'Welcome to Sunnydale' sign. A shiver ran down her spine as she passed the cheery looking sign, somehow she sensed that the sign hid what Sunnydale was like. She couldn't shake the feeling of danger as she checked into the only descent hotel in Sunnydale and placed Jacks carrier onto the double bed. She pulled out her list of places she had to check out and the first was the local Records Office, the man by the grave had mentioned her mother dying so that was the only way to prove what he was saying, not that he had any reason to lie. The second was the University of Sunnydale, he had said that was where she first met Riley so if she didn't attend then Riley must have. After she unpacked Jacks things she headed back into Sunnydale center, still unable to shake her sense of dread. The Town Hall was a huge building dating back to when the town was first established, but for Anne it held more of a purpose than a history lesson. The Town Hall was also the Records Office for births, death and marriages. The lady at the front desk had kindly shown her, with a motherly touch, where the records for any deaths for the last six years would be. The bookcase was packed solid. 'A lot of people seem to die here' thought Anne as she flicked through the names. They were mostly 16 to 35 years of age and died under mysterious circumstances. She didn't know where to start because she still couldn't remember her mothers name or where she had lived. A name caught her eye and filled her with urgency and panic. 'Elizabeth Anne Summers': Her name. What was someone by her name doing in the deaths register? She pulled out the file and began looking through it.

Name:- Elizabeth Anne Summers (Also know as Buffy)
Age:- 20
Next Of Kin:- Father untraceable, Sister - Dawn Summers.
Cause of Death:- Assumed multiple fatal injuries caused by a fall from a large height. Body was never recovered but 6 witnesses saw her fall. Death was inevitable.
Buried:- Plot 354 in East Cemetery, Sunnydale.

The colour drained form her face; she was staring at her own death certificate. People had thought she had died. The news that she had a sister was more of a shock to her than the death certificate. If she could find her sister then maybe she could start piecing thing together. As she placed the file back into the metal file box the death certificate next to hers caused a stirring in her body: Joyce Helen Summers.

Name:- Joyce Helen Summers
Age:- 42
Next Of Kin:- Daughter - Elizabeth Anne Summers
Cause Of Death:- Aneurysm caused by previously know malignant brain tumour. no suspicious circumstances.
Buried:- Plot 213 East Cemetery, Sunnydale.

It was true: Her mother was dead and her father hadn't even bothered to find her sister, when she had died. A ripple of hate ran through her but was quickly forgotten as she picked up Jacks carrier and headed to the cemetery. Luck was on her side as the sun stayed high in the sky, Sunnydale was not a place she wanted to be in when it was dark. Everyday she had visited a grave, everyday for a month. Today was the first time she had been to the grave to leave flowers or to tell Riley what she had been up to that day or about what she was painting. Instead she was now standing in front of her mothers grave, a mother she couldn't remember any more. Her hand ran gently over the inscription in an attempt to rationalise her new situation. A memory flashed through her mind of a time she had long forgotten. She was standing in front of this very grave but it was newly dug and it was a little later in the afternoon. A man appeared behind her and slipped his hand in hers. It was the man from Rileys grave, his loved ones grave sitting besides her. She saw herself with the man, curled up underneath a tree talking, kissing. He hadn't changed at all in those six years, except from looking more haggard and now defeated. The result from the death of Cordelia, his loved one, no doubt. His name ran easily off her tongue, unused for years but yet brought a longing pain to her heart: Angel!

At last her classes had finished, three years into her English degree and she was being to hate Ramond Garth's lectures on how Victorian novels effected today's writings. Dawn noticed the figure beside her mothers grave and began picking up her pace. Her heart took a plunging leap as she neared the stone reminder and the woman's appearance came into a better view. Her bottle blonde hair highlighted with ginger streaks, long down her back. The petite woman held a baby carrier loosely in her hands as if she was in deep though. Dawns hand raised and tapped Anne on the shoulder. Anne spun around at the interruption to her memories.

"Buffy?" Dawn whispered hopefully. "Buffy, it's you?"

Buffy stared at the girl as she tried to place her somewhere in her memory. "My name is Anne Summers not Buffy." Then Anne stopped. The death certificate had said that she was also known as Buffy at school. "I must be Buffy. Who are you?"

"I'm Dawn, your sister. Don't you remember me? I saw you fall, I saw you die. We buried you up there." She pointed up the hill, under a young willow tree. "You jumped to protect me."

"I know, I saw the death certificate today, but I'm alive." She guided Dawn to a bench. I had an accident in England and lost my memory. I can't remember anything up to about three years ago when I came out of the coma and met Riley, my husband."

"Why are you called Anne? You married Riley! He cheated on you, well sort of, and you married him."

"I couldn't remember the first part of my name but Riley had told me it was Elizabeth so I just stuck to Anne. What do you mean Riley cheated me? You knew him? This is getting confusing, why don't we go for coffee?"

Dawn agreed and they headed off to the only Starbucks in Sunnydale. Dawn told the story of Buffy Anne Summers from the start when they had all moved to Sunnydale, leaving out the part about Dawn only being a ball of energy only granted the power of a mortal since it would make her safer.

"You see? So you and Angel were like these tormented star-crossed lovers. He lives in LA now with Cordelia Chase, Wesley and a guy called Gunn. Willow is there with Lea, the new Slayer and Spike to help look after Angels little girl. I don't know how he managed to have a kid or who with since Vampire can't have kids."

"Cordelia Chase? I recognise that name. She was the name on the grave that Angel was burying. He said something about a two year old called Hope. They were married or lovers at least." Buffy felt hurt by this and changed the subject. "I thought that Vampires couldn't go out in the sun. Well when I met Angel it was the middle of the afternoon and the sun was blazing. He wasn't turning into no fireball then."

"I don't know but here." Dawn handed Anne the address to the Hyperion Hotel. "Buffy...I mean Anne, don't leave us again please. Your my only family and I can't face losing you again. You don't know what I went through when you died. Please." Dawn flung her arms around Anne's neck and sob lightly before pulling back and placing a feathery kiss on Jacks forehead.

"I think I'll keep the name Buffy. It has a sort of...attitude to it. I guess it used to fit. You know when I was the Slayer. I better get going if I'm gonna make it to LA for night fall." She turned to Dawn and looked her straight in the eye. "I will be back Dawn. I promise."

Dawn walked away from Buffy, leaving her to make her way to the car. Buffy made a quick stop at the hotel to pick up there things and explain to the receptionist that some urgent business had come up so she would be leaving a day early. The journey to LA was fairly traffic free until she hit LA city center and at 6pm and hit the rush hour traffic. After 30 minutes in a traffic jam she had arrived at the Hyperion Hotel, stunned by it's beauty gothic appearance. She hadn't been surprised or astounded when Dawn had told her all about demons, Vampires and Slayers. To her it seemed natural and now she knew why. While driving, Buffy had tried to place Dawn in her hidden memories and after an hour had found her. She was the annoying sister that seemed upset her life in every way. The memory that had clicked into place was when they were at the funeral home picking out a coffin for their mother, they had been arguing over which one Joyce would like to be buried in and Dawn had felt left out of the decision. There was also a red head that Dawn had described as Willow: her best friend. Dawn had shown her a picture of Xander and Anya together at their engagement party. It was all clicking into place at last.
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The heavy knocking echoed throughout the hotel lobby, alerting it's inhabitants to the visitors that stood outside. Hope sat on the floor playing with Lego blocks her daddy had bought her that afternoon, along with all the new toys and clothes that were sitting up in her new room. Hopes head spun around to the door a few seconds before the noise was heard and stared plaintfully at the old oak panels. She had turned to Angel, who was putting the finishing touches to his lego house, and said 'Daddy, someone is at the door.' Angel had simply looked at her in confusion until he heard the resounding sound. He walked over to it, his guard up, his hearing in a focus attitude. When he pulled back the door, he felt as if it was his first time seeing her again but this time he didn't have Cordelias strength by his side.

"Buffy...I mean Anne. I expected you to come here sometime. Come in." He motioned her through the door to feel Hopes eyes on his back. "Hope this is Buffy, Anne, Ms Summers. She's an old friend of mine."

"Angel, I'm using the name Buffy now. You never know it might bring back some memories. Hello Hope. Your certainly your daddies little girl aren't you."

The groups began to filter out of their spaces on various sides of the hotel lobby. They all reflected the same sound: A sound of disbelief and confusion. Buffy noticed the petite redhead on her left hand side and started out towards her. Willow backed away slowly but stopped when she felt Buffys warm hand on her face.

"Willow? Willow is that you?"

Willow couldn't believe what she was seeing and she had seen some pretty unbelievable things in her life. "Buffy?" She whispered, covering Buffys hand with her own. "I can't believe it!" Willow flung her arms around Buffys neck and held her in a long embrace before the gurgling of a baby disturbed her reunion with her not-so-dead best friend. "Who's this?" Willow asked in baby talk to Jacks smiling face. "Ah look he's smiling."

"He probably has wind. This is Jack, Rileys son." She took one glance at Willows face and shook her head. "I have a lot to tell you guys."

A cough came from a darkened corner near the stairs to the training room. "Do you remember me, Slayer?"

Buffy glinted into the dark curiously but her features softened. "Of course I do Spike. I still didn't stake you huh? I must have been delusional before I died huh!"

Spike looked on at her in confusion and kind, an expression Buffy was getting used to seeing again, but quickly hid his joy behind a fake scowl. "You've got more lives than a bloody cat. How many times are you going to die before you actually stay dead?"

"Spike!" They all hissed. He turned a redder shade of pale before turning his back on Buffy and Jack, heading back down to the training in a starling silence. Lea stepped forward from behind Willow and moved towards Buffy. She grasped Buffys hand in her on and looked in awe at Buffy.

"I've heard of you. My name is Lea, I am the new Slayer. I was called about three weeks ago. Your name is famed all over the world, feared by all demons."

"Three weeks?, but I have been gone over six years who was the Slayers in between?"

Silence descended over the room and everybody looked awkwardly over to Angel who hung his sullenly and cleared his throat. "The Slayer before was...Cordelia Chase. You used to go to school with her back in Sunnydale."

"I remember her and Dawn kinda filled me in on my Sunnydale days. Cordelia, she was the one that you buried next to Riley. You were lovers?" She asked cautiously. "I thought you had the happiness curse so you couldn't sleep with anyone with out Angelus coming out to play." Buffy let her hurt at Angel turn her voice into anger.

Angel turned away from Buffy and bent down to Hope. "Why don't we go and get some...ice cream before it gets dark and then we can go and get a movie?"

Hope disappeared to the cloakroom to get her jacket where Angel had installed two-year-old-sized hooks for Hope. He refused to look at Buffy, instead picking Hope onto his hip and walking out of the hotel. Buffy yelled after his and made him turn around.

"Angel, are you mad? It's still light outside, you'll turn to ash."

"Watch me!" was all he muttered before climbing into the convertible, top-down, with Hope in her new bumper seat beside him.

Buffy turned to Willow, a mixture of horror and utter disbelief written all over her face. Willow slowly placed her hand on Buffys back and lead her into on off the old offices, deep inside the former Angel Investigations.

"So how much do you remember now? You said that you couldn't remember your life before you died but you remembered Spike and I."

"When I met Angel in London he said that he knew me in Sunnydale so I went back there and found mine and my mothers death certificates. When I went to my mums grave, Dawn found me there and she told me all about my life in Sunnydale and why I was there and what I was. It all came back to me, you know, like the missing piece in a jigsaw finally clicking into place and you finally get to see what the picture is." Buffy chuckled to herself. "I've kinda got a bit poetic since you last seen me huh? I guess it comes with the whole painting thing."

"You're wondering about Angel and Hope aren't you?" Buffy nodded. "Right time to tell you a story that no one except me, Angel and Cordelia know. When you died, Cordelia blamed herself because Angel was in another dimension saving her when you died and she never had a vision to tell of your death. She ran away from Wes, Gunn and Angel and they never saw her for six years, she vowed that when she had made up for her part in your death she would come back but she never did. Anyway, Angel found her fighting a demon and followed her back to her place by the sea. It turned out that the Powers had granted her the right of Fate and asked her to be the next Slayer. She fought for six years as well as having looking after the Powers closest people including you. You've gotta understand Buffy that she carried around the knowledge that you were alive and not be able to tell anyone, not even Angel. Eventually she did and she took him to see you, a chance to say goodbye. Cordelia did a very brave thing, she saw that he would be happier with you instead, as his Fate dictated, with her so she ended her life so that he could back to you. Angel was granted his Shanshu, a chance to become human, by Cordelia and told that he would receive a gift called Hope."

"But Angel told me that he couldn't have kids. I don't understand how he has a daughter that is two years old and his when he became human three weeks go."

"Hope was gift from the Powers. She is genetically Angel and Cordelias child in every way except that Angel and Cordelia were never lovers. There was never enough time for them to act on the feelings they had for each other."

"But we were meant to be eternal lovers. It was our destiny, our Fate to be together and Angel was to become human and we would live happily ever after." Buffy whined.

"Buffy this isn't about you at all. Give Angela a break. He has just lost the woman he loves who gave her life for his and he is learning to be a parent. You had seven and a half happy years with Riley while he only had a week with Cordelia." Willows face softened as she gazed at her best friend again. God how she had missed her. "So tell me, what have you been doing all these years you've been 'dead'?"
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Angel pushed Hope on the swing in the nearly empty park as the sun slowly began to set on LA, stirring the night alive. Hope climbed off the swing and tore the ball from Angels arms with surprising strength and started to run across the grass. Angel stood for a moment watching as she took off at lighting speed down the playing field, the ball bobbing wildly in her hands. Her brown curls, that reminded him so much of Cordelia, were tossed in the summery breeze, her laughter filling the air. Her laughter was her mothers giggle and it warmed his heart for the first time since he had seen Cordelia again. He didn't need pictures or home movies to remember Cordelia, he had a living memory in Hope but the sadness filled his heart as he realised that his Final One would be shackled to a life of demons and apocalypses. His little Hope would be the final Slayer, chosen to fight to her death in order to save humanity. But for now she was his 'Little Hope' and always would be.

"Daddy!" She shouted, "Come and catch me." Angel breathed a sigh as he finally heard words that were never meant to grace his ears: His own child calling him Daddy.