CAPTER THREE
"Okay, so my premonition gave this address, but it doesn't really look like a ghost would be haunting it." Phoebe said as they stood outside of the beach house her premonition led them to. Paige looked at her. "Yeah, but we don't really look like super witches either but we are." Phoebe looked at her younger sister. She was right. Piper looked at her sisters. "Okay, so what do we do now? Go up to the door and ask if there is a ghost haunting them? Hello? Can you say 'demented'?" Prue glared at her sister. "Piper, this is no time for jokes. This ghost sounds really bad. We need to find out why he is after them. But she has a good point. How do we find out? They will think we are crazy if we just confront them with it. Even if they are the ones being haunted." At that moment a car pulled up behind them. They turned around to see a man get out. A very cute man too, Paige pointed out. He was tall and wore all black. He walked toward them and halted. He stared at them. Phoebe recognized him from her premonition. She leaned toward and whispered to her big sister. "He's one of the guys from my premonition. One of the ones who were fighting." Prue nodded. The man began to walk again.
Piper stepped out to meet him. She held out her hand to him and smiled. "Hi! I'm Piper. These are my sisters Prue, Paige, and Phoebe. And you are?" The man looked down at Piper's hand before taking it. "I'm Angel." Paige smiled. Angel, she thought. That's a nice name. I'd love to scream it during- Her thoughts were interrupted by her oldest sister's voice. "Do you
know who lives here?" Prue asked, trying to seem as innocent as possible. Angel stared at her. Something didn't seem normal with these sisters. It was almost as if they weren't entirely human. He nodded anyway. "Yeah, I do. Why do you want to know?" All three sisters paused at that question. Prue nudged Piper in the side. Piper began to yell at her sister but stopped when she realized what Prue wanted her to do. Piper threw her hands up to freeze time. The man named Angel still stood. But unfrozen. Piper gasped. As did her sister's. "He didn't freeze!" Paige yelled, then her hands flew to her mouth as she realized what she had done. Angel looked at them strangely. "Freeze? What do you mean ' he didn't freeze'? I don't see any cops around. No one shouted 'Freeze'. What did you mean?" Piper winced. Her powers never failed like that. She threw her hands up again, hoping it would work. It didn't, the man still remained able to move. She looked to her sisters for help. They were as shocked as she was.
Phoebe looked at the mysterious man. There was something about him. Something that reminded her about Cole. Was he a demon? But then why would she have seen him fighting with the good guys? Angel looked at them and finally figured out why these three girls seemed not normal. 'He didn't freeze'. Freezing time was a power of a witch. "You're witches. That's why you don't smell human. You aren't." He said. The three sisters stood frozen in place. "That's not so! We are too human. Just not full human." Paige said, defending them. Piper elbowed her in the ribs. Prue stepped toward Angel. "What did you mean by SMELL human? How can you tell if someone's human by smelling them?" Angel looked at the girl who had addressed him. She had a certain look in her eye that told him she knew something wasn't right with him, and he noticed it in the other' s eyes as well. "Because he's not human either." All of them turned to the voice that had interrupted them. Bright, white lights appeared and a man took their place. "Leo?" Piper asked, surprised to see her husband there. Right on cue, another form appeared beside him. "Cole?" Phoebe said at the same time Angel said "Balthazar?" The sisters looked at him, and he looked right back.
Cole stepped toward Angel. "Angelus. Long time no see. How you been? We saw each other, what? 70? 80 years ago?" he said, regarding Angel with, what looked to the sisters as respect. He only looked at him. Then he replied, "It was 75 years ago." Cole nodded. Phoebe looked at her demon boyfriend and back at the man who was obviously not what he seemed. "Uh, okay. So Angel? You obviously know Cole and vice versa. But, if you two saw each other 75 years ago, you aren't human. What are you? A demon?" Phoebe asked. Angel began to answer but Cole interrupted. "No. Angelus here is worse than a demon. He's a vampire." Angel glared at Cole. Paige looked at them both. "A vampire? As in the sucking blood, changing into bats and sleeping in coffins sort of vampire?" "Coffin. I hate that stereo type," Angel grunted, not for the first time. He turned to the sisters. "First off, vampires don't sleep in coffins. They don't change into bats. That story was made popular by hackwriters. We do move around during the day as long as we stay out of the sun. We do not change into bats. Unless we have the power of transmografacation. Which not many of us have." The witches stared at him.
"So, you really are a vampire? As in Dracula?" Piper asked, suddenly very interested. Angel shook his head. "Dracula. He's a sorry excuse for a vampire. He's the one who let everyone know about us. Let on to the way to kill us and the no reflection thing." Prue looked at her sisters in disbelief. So this hottie is a vampire? Well, I'm for a new experience, Paige thought as she looked at Angel again. Angel finally turned his attention to Cole. "What are you doing here, Balthazar? In team with witches? Or are they warlocks?" he asked. Prue looked offended. "Hey! We are anything but warlocks! Just because Piper dated one, does not mean we are warlocks! We are good witches. We are the Charmed Ones." Her sisters nodded their heads. Angel looked at them shocked. "The Charmed Ones? I thought they were just a myth." The sisters looked at him confused.
This time it was Leo who answered. "Well, that's what they were thought of for the longest time because they never were out vanquishing demons until about three years ago. Now they are known all through the Underworld. It's no wonder you don't know about them. Of course, you aren't really into all the evil stuff now, right?" Okay. Now I am confused, Phoebe thought. "What do you mean, Leo?" Piper asked her whitelighter husband. "Angel, that is what they call you now, isn't it? Angel?" At Angel's nod he continued. "Angel is a vampire. That is true. But he isn't like other vampires. He helps people instead of kill them." "Why? What is it? One of those 'Dr. Jeckyll, Mr. Hyde things?" Phoebe asked. They could all tell she didn't trust Angel. Cole was the one who answered. "No. About, oh, I'd say a hundred years ago, Angelus here was cursed. These gypsies restored his soul. See, when you turn into a bloodsucker, your soul leaves your body, allowing the demon to enter so you have no remorse, no guilt. But the curse made him so he knows all that. Torture if you ask me. Trust me. I know." He turned to the vampire, who was still trying to handle the Charmed Ones news. "What changed, Angelus? Last time I saw you, you were on the brink of suicide. What makes you so strong now? But, even if you don't tell me, I think I have a pretty good idea. Little blond Slayer that saved your soul and also took it away. What was her name? Betty or something?" Angel glared at him. "Us demons. We hear about you vamps. Especially you. Is it true? Any of it?" Angel nodded. "Even the part about Darla? That you staked her?" Angel just looked at Cole. "Man. You sorta got burned for eternity for that one. Staking your own sire. That's pretty bad, considering that your supposed to stay loyal to them. Bet your reputation really got ruined for that one."
Now it was Angel's turn to ask the questions. "Shut up, Balthazar. What are you doing here? Did you just shimmer in to give witches the 411 on vampires and bring up old memories? And for the record, it's Angel now." There was a tone in Angel's voice that made Piper shiver. But there was also a look in his eyes that made her feel like she had seen it before. Cole shrugged. "What can I say? I'm good now. And don't look at me like that. You can ask them. I've saved their lives several times." Angel nearly laughed. "You are good now? The mighty Balthazar? What happened? Did you wake up one day and have a change of heart? Or was it a witches spell?" Cole nodded and bobbed his head in Phoebe's direction. "Yeah. It was a spell alright. The spell of love. You know what that is like from what I hear." Angel looked to Phoebe. She looked at him too and smiled. He recognized that smile. It was the smile of a young woman in love. Buffy had worn that smile a lot when he was around. Angel winced. Why did I have to think that? He turned his attention back to the witch. "He's telling the truth. He fell in love with me and he is good now. He wouldn't hurt anyone. Just like you wouldn't."
"Look, Angelu-Angel. I know you don't believe me. And trust me I can understand that since you were a witness to a lot of me acts. But I am good now, just like you." Angel looked at him again. He didn't see the hateful eyes of a demon anymore. He didn't see the menacing glare of a killer. He saw something different. He saw pain filled eyes and a look that was screaming for forgiveness. He imagined that he himself looked much the same. Angel nodded. "Alright, so you're good. And the Charmed Ones do exist. What are you doing here?" "Uh, we were sent here. By them. You know the higher powers or what ever people call them. Phoebe had a vision and it led us here," Piper explained, still concentrating in what was so familiar about this…vampire. "Why are you here?" "Pretty much the same scenario. My colleague had a vision and we got this address. We own a private investigation agency and the women Doyle saw in the vision hired us to help. I was coming to talk to one of them." Prue nodded. "Yeah, basically the same with us. Except we never met them yet. Plus it doesn't look like anyone's home. We haven't tried knocking yet. We were gonna but then you showed up and we pretty much ended up where we are right now." Angel nodded and looked at the house. All the windows were dark and there was no car anywhere other than the one he had driven and the one the young witches had arrived in.
"It sorta looks like no one's home," Paige said, her gaze still fixed on the vampire. He was still good after all. "Should we maybe come back later? You know, go somewhere and sort everything out?" She looked to her older sisters, who looked to the vampire. "Well, I guess it's up to you Mr. Angel," Prue said, just as interested in the vampire as Paige was. "It' s just Angel. No mister. Just the one name thing. Makes the job easier. Pleasantries don't take too much time." Prue smiled and nodded. She was falling for a vampire. Well there's always a first time for everything, isn't there? Angel smiled weakly back at the witches. His attention was mainly focused on the one who introduced herself as Piper. There was something very familiar about her. Not in the sense that he had ever met her, but in her eyes was a familiar look. He recognized it instantly. He had seen that look in Buffy's eyes many times. And he had put it there. Despair, mixed with pain and love. He noticed that the whitelighter had the same look. The lighter was obviously more than a guide to that Charmed One. He shook it off and nodded.
"Yeah, that sounds good. We can head back to my offices and that way you all only need to explain things once. Just follow me. I can take someone in my car if you don't have room," he said, indicating Cole and Leo. Prue and Paige jumped at the chance. "I'll go with you" they both shouted in unison. The sisters looked at each other, then turned to the handsome vampire who stood there giving them strange looks. He nodded. "Uh, okay. You guys can just follow behind us. I'm sure my co-workers will enjoy your story." He turned and began walking toward the black convertible, Prue and Paige on his heels.
Piper looked at her older and baby sister. She turned to Phoebe. "Something tells me this is going to be a very long assignment." With that, Piper started the car and followed the vampire into the night.
*****************
Allie followed Buffy to her "Watcher's" apartment. She had told Buffy the entire story of the haunted beach house and Buffy had convinced her to tell her Watcher the same thing. Now as they walked toward the door, Allie looked at her best friend. "Um, maybe you should do this instead, Buff. You know, he is your Watcher and all. You can tell the story better." Buffy glanced at her friend as she knocked. "Allie, the person who can tell the story better is the person who lived the tale. That' s what Daddy used to say remember?" Allie nodded and held her breath when the door opened and a middle aged man stood inside, smiling when he saw the young blonde at his door. "Buffy," he said, his English accent very clear. "What brings you here? And who is that with you? Has something happened?" Allie was amazed at how fast the smile melted from the man's face and was replaced by a look of worry.
Buffy shook her head. "Not yet, anyway. This is my friend Alexandra Sullivan. She's from L.A. This is Rupert Giles. A friend of mine." Giles extended his hand and shook with the young brunette. "Hi, you can call me Allie. I hate it when people call me Alexandra. It sounds too proper." Giles grinned at the young girl. She was a very pretty thing, with long blonde hair and blue-green eyes that shined. She looked a bit like Buffy, but a little taller and less muscle built. Although, Buffy wasn't exactly muscle built, she did have muscles, while this girl, if she did have any, they were certainly not visible. "How do you do? You may call me Giles if you wish. It seems that everyone else already does, so I can't see why you cannot. Please come in." Giles stepped back to allow the two girls to enter, giving his ex-Slayer a strange glance that said, What is she doing here? "Rupert?" a female voice yelled from the kitchen. "Is someone here? I thought I heard Buffy." Allie looked up to see a beautiful dark haired woman come from a hallway. She was medium sized and her eyes were brown. She smiled when she saw the young Slayer. "And I guess I was right. Hello, Buffy." Buffy waved and smiled. Buffy looked at her friend. "Allie this is Miss Jenny Calendar. She used to be a teacher at Sunnydale High. Before it blew up." Allie looked at her friend. This was the Jenny Calendar who had died? She remembered Buffy talking about her. The vampire she had fallen in love with—Angel, if she remembered right—had killed this woman those years ago. He had broken her neck. So why was she standing there right now? Jenny smiled at the newcomer.
"Hi. Allie? I like that name. It's very pretty. As Buffy said, I'm Jenny. Nice to meet you." She extended her hand and Allie shook her hand and smiled. Giles stepped forward towards the two young women. "Jenny is my fiance. We'll be married in 2 months," he said proudly, as the love of his life looked up at him. Allie smiled. "Congrats. Hope it works out. Not that it won't but you now, just some good luck." Buffy stepped forward. "Okay, Giles back to the reason we came here. As I said, Allie is a friend of mine from L.A., and she and my friend Kristi, who is with Willow right now, came here to ask for my help. See, Allie here…knows that I'm the Slayer. She found out that summer I was gone." Both Jenny and Giles looked at her. Buffy seemed to be very nervous. Allie took this as her cue to take over. "It's not like she just came out and told me. It wasn't anything like that. We ran into each other and then I got attacked by a vampire and Buff saved me. Then she had no other choice but to tell me. She told me everything. She was going through a lot, you know. It's amazing that the Slayer here is still standing. But then again, she always was really strong." She smiled at Buffy who was smiling back, and it was like it was a long time ago, when they were best friends who smiled all the time and never hid secrets from each other. Allie's little reverie was interrupted by Giles. "Buffy would this be the summer that you ran away?" he asked. Buffy looked down, regretting the memory. She nodded and looked up at her old Watcher, who looked very confused. Then her gaze shifted to Miss Calendar, who was smiling at her sweetly. Buffy smiled back and knew that the young Gypsy would not let Giles be mad at her. The two women had made up a while ago, when Jenny had first come back. They were okay now, friends. And it was gonna stay that way.
Giles looked at Allie, who stood beside Buffy, not sure of what to do next. "What kind of help did you need from Buffy?" Allie looked at him and answered simply, "I've got a ghost." Giles once again looked confused. "Me and Buff's friends, Kristi and Amber, we moved into a beach house. We live there together and we found out that it was haunted. We have a ghost who wants us out or dead and we need Buffy's help to get rid of him." Giles still looked confused. "Rupert, they are being haunted and they need Buffy's help to get rid of the ghost. I think that's what Allie is saying," Jenny said. Giles nodded. "Ah," he said and Allie looked at Buffy. "He always does that. It means that he gets it," she said. Allie smiled. "Giles. The thing is, is that we have only come up against one or two ghosts. We don't really know that much about them and from the way Allie described this ghost, I need to know a lot about them and ways to kill them. So, what do you know about ghosts?" Buffy said, sitting down on the couch and motioning for Allie to join her.
Jenny looked at Giles and then back at the girls. "Rupert, why don't you fill them in on all the fun info on ghosts and I'll make some tea." She smiled again at Allie and then disappeared into the kitchen. It was then that Giles noticed that Allie was still standing. He motioned for her to join Buffy on the couch. "Please, Allie, make yourself at home. Now if you could please tell me about this ghost and what exactly brings you to think that it wants to hurt you and your friends." Allie nodded as she sat down. "Well, it all started when Kristi, Amber and I got settled in….."
*******
They all sat in the lobby of the Hyperian Hotel. The vampire, the witches, the whitelighter, demon, and the humans. "Now, you said that you three are the Charmed Ones, the three sisters that one of the prophesies speak of?" Wesley asked the four girls who sat in the center of the room. They nodded. "And yet there are four of you?" Prue smiled at the British man's confusion. "Yeah. There were originally three of us. But then I was killed and Paige," indicating the woman on the farthest right, who smiled and waved, "was discovered by Piper and Phoebe as our long lost half sister. So she became the third sister. Then a few months ago, They, the higher powers or whatever you wanna call them, decided to give my sisters back something so they brought me back to life, erasing my death from everyone's heads who don't know the truth about us. So the prophecy was a little mistaken, but we are still the Charmed Ones, it's just not the Power of Three anymore, but instead the Power of Four."
Wesley nodded and smiled. "Fascinating." The four witches smiled. Angel looked at the witches. Two of them, the ones called Piper and Phoebe sat next to Balthazar and the whitelighter, who introduced himself as Leo, and the other two who had ridden with him, Prue and Paige, sat on either side of him, smiling brightly whenever he looked at them. Which is what they were doing right now. He looked between them and smiled, obviously uncomfortable. He wasn't really fond of witches. They tend to be very hostile when it comes to vampires. Even though these witches have made no move to hurt him, he was still on his guard. "Okay, something I have to know," Cordelia said, getting everyone's attention. They all looked at her. "What about your names? Does having them all start with 'p' help your magic or something? Cause they all start with 'p' and I'm sorry if I'm being rude but I am just curious." All of the sisters laughed. It was Piper who answered. "No. Doesn't help our magic or anything, I think. Names that begin with 'p' just run in the family. Our mother's name was Patty and our grandmother's name was Penny. So I suppose they just run in the family." Cordelia nodded. "Okay, can we get back to business here? These witchy women said that they had some kind of vision that led them here. What did you see?" the man who they had been told was named Gunn asked. Phoebe looked at him. He was obviously impatient. She wasn't really fond of him. "I saw three women who were obviously scared beyond comprehension. Then I saw a lot of people fighting and, I know now that a few of those people are all of you. I saw everyone of you in my premonition."
Doyle stood up and walked to Phoebe. "Did you see a ghost and a blond girl losing her battle to a bunch of demons?" he asked. She nodded. "Same thing I saw. Only I didn't see us. I saw the four of you flipping through a very big book. Now I can assume that it was your book of magic?" They all nodded. Paige looked at Angel, but talked to Doyle. "It's called the Book Of Shadows. We brought it with us to L.A thinking we might need it. It's back at the hotel. I mean the hotel we are staying in. Not this one." She smiled and Angel returned it, more uncomfortable than he was before. It was obvious that he could tell she and Prue obviously thought he was attractive. He thought that they were attractive too, just not in the wanting-to-date-them sense. "Uh, excuse me?" They all turned their attention to the girl they had been told was Fred, which, when they looked at her strangely, told them it was short for Wenifred. "Uh, I was just wondering. If Doyle and uh, Phoebe? Right? Phoebe had the same vision, does that mean something? Like we are supposed to work together or somethin'?" The group looked at each other. Wesley cleared his throat. "Well, it would be nice to have more experienced magic users in our midst in case we need it. I would be honored to do work with the Charmed Ones although I suppose it is their choice." Before any of the young witches could answer, Leo stood up and addressed them all. "Actually that is exactly what the visions meant. The Elders want you all to work together to get the job done. Because, not just the girls or any one here can do it alone. Also, the Slayer has to assist us." Angel looked up sharply. His associates looked at him. Prue and Paige looked at him. Cole chuckled. Phoebe looked at him. Piper just looked confused. "What's a Slayer?" she asked. "It's what made Angel here turn his life around and actually see that there are people who matter," Cole said and laughed when he saw Angel glare at him. "A Slayer is exactly what it sounds like. A Slayer. Uh, Mr. Wyndam-Pryce? You were a Watcher once weren't you? Would you tell them? I'm not entirely sure how the speech goes," Leo said. Wesley looked up at the whitelighter, then at the young witches who were looking at him. "Uh, into each generation a Slayer is born. One girl in all the world; a Chosen One. One born with the strength and skill to hunt the vampires to stop the spread of their evil. She is the Slayer. I believe that is how it goes."
"Oh," Piper said. She turned to Angel, who looked depressed. "So, what did Cole mean? Were you friends with the Slayer?" Cole laughed again receiving yet another glare from Angel. "Pretty good friends from what I hear. The kind of friends you and Leo are." With those words Piper's mouth dropped open. "You slept with a Slayer? As in, dated one? A vampire dated the one person who was born to kill your kind and you dated her? Isn't that like, a big no-no for you guys?" Angel just looked at her. "Isn't it a big no-no for witches to get married to their whitelighters?" At that remark Piper smiled. "So, I assume you and this Slayer aren't much for following the rules either, huh?" Angel smiled back. He liked this sister. Obviously she and Leo had been through the same trouble as he and Buffy had. Well, maybe not exactly the same. He doubted that Leo ever turned evil if his wife gave him perfect happiness. Angel, stop thinking of things that remind you of Buffy, he thought. He winced. If it was so hard to just think about her, how was it going to be when he actually came face to face with her? The voice of one of the sisters broke into his thoughts. "So, what's this Slayer's name?" Phoebe asked. She was asking Angel. "Uh, her name is Buffy. Buffy Summers." Piper gasped. "Buffy Summers? Are you kidding? Little blond girl from L.A? Her mom is Joyce Summers? Is this the Buffy you are talking about?" Angel nodded. Prue looked at her sister. "What is it, Piper?" Piper smiled. "I was her tutor for two years when she still lived in L.A. You remember when I moved out here after college? I tutored her for two years. Then she got expelled for burning down her school gymnasium. Did that have something to do with the supernatural? Or was she just being a rebel liked everybody thought?" Angel looked at her. "Vampires." Piper nodded. "Oh. But are you sure she's the Slayer? I mean, she's so little." Angel laughed.
"Anyway, back to business. How do we get the Slayer, Buffy, here?" Phoebe asked. "Two of the girls already went to get her. They were friends of hers from high school. I guess we don't have to worry about getting her here," Cordelia said. Phoebe nodded. "So, I suppose we should all get to work if we are to defeat this ghost. Fred, would you mind getting on the computer and locating anything about that house that Amber and her friends live in? Perhaps previous owners? She said something about the ghost being dressed as a mobster. Perhaps that may help," Wesley said. The young brunette nodded and went over to the computer. He turned his attention to Doyle. "Doyle, would you accompany one of the Halliwell sisters back to their hotel and retrieve their Book of Shadows? Gunn, check your sources. See if you can't find anything out." They all nodded. Doyle looked at the four sisters. "Well, who wants to help a poor man get a so called magic book from a hotel? One of which he has no idea where it is. Or which one?" Phoebe stood up. "I'll go. I'll look through it on the way back here. See if there is anything useful in it." She took her coat and pulled it on as she followed Doyle out the door.
Angel got up, with a little difficulty since he had Prue and Paige on each of his arms. "Uh, ladies. I am sort of going to need my arms back now," he said, looking between the two witches. They both blushed and let go. Angel smiled and walked over to the counter, picking up a book entitled, Ghosts: Secrets and Facts. It was then that Leo spoke up. "I'll go talk to the elders and see if they know anything. I'll be back as soon as I can." He leaned down and kissed Piper lightly on the cheek, then orbed out, stunning Cordelia, Fred and Wesley. "Whoa! What just happened? What happened to him?" Cordelia yelled. Prue turned to look at her. "Oh, he just orbed out. That's what whitelighters do. Paige can do it too. She just hasn't completely mastered it yet." Cordelia just nodded and got back to doing her research. Piper stood up and looked at the group of people busy at work. "What can we do?" she asked. Wesley tossed them each a book. "If you don't mind, we could use some assistance in researching ghosts." They all nodded and took seats. Angel came and sat next to Piper, smiling at the young witch.
She returned the smile and opened the book. After a minute, she looked back up at the vampire, watching him as he read. "Can I ask you something?" she asked. Angel looked at her and shut his book. "Sure." "Why, of all people in the world, did you fall for a Slayer? And before you say anything, I don't know about Leo. I'm just wondering. Why start dating a Slayer? I mean, that had to be hard. Didn't it ever worry you that she might stake you? Or you might have bitten her?" He looked at Piper and realized what she was wondering. She wanted to know if he had gone through the same kind of pain she had. He laughed a little. "Can you really control anything like that? Who you fall for? And I didn't fall for a Slayer. I fell for Buffy. Just ordinary Buffy. I saw her before she became the Slayer, when she was just a normal girl and that was who I fell for. I never worried about biting her. Because I knew I never would. I would never hurt the woman I love. That's the entire reason why I left. So I wouldn't hurt her." Piper looked at him more closely. "You loved her?" Angel shook his head. "Not loved. Love. I still love her and I always will. Does that answer your question, Piper?" She nodded and looked down at her book, and Angel didn't miss it when she wiped tears from her eyes.
"That's how I felt about Leo, I guess. He started out as our handyman as a way to look after us. Then we found out that he was our whitelighter. But I fell in love with Leo before that. And that still didn't change when we found out the truth." Angel smiled again at the girl, seeing that she still wasn't looking at him. "Did, did you have trouble with Buffy? Keeping your relationship going strong?" she asked. It was then Angel knew that she had had trouble with her relationship. Maybe longer than he and Buffy had. "Yeah. We did. We came across a lot of hard decisions. Sometimes we gave up. But not for good. We always found some way to be together," he answered. Piper finally looked up at him and she wore a sad smile on her face. "Then why are you here without her?" she asked. He looked down. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to bring up bad memories. I tend to do that sometimes. Bad, bad Piper. Just forget I ever mentioned it." Angel smiled again and was amazed at how much Piper reminded him of Buffy. "It's okay. There was one obstacle we didn't get passed. Well, at least, I couldn't. I wanted her to have a normal life. Or at least as normal as it could get. And I realized that I couldn't give that to her. I can't give her children or a real future. There wouldn't be a lot of sunshine picnics in the park if she spent her life with me. So I left, giving her a chance to move on. I know it hurt her. We were more in love than anything. But I wanted her to have a future and move on. So I gave her that chance."
Piper looked at him, and now tears were rolling down her cheeks. Angel smiled and wiped them off. Piper laughed and blushed. "Sorry. I didn't realize I was crying. It just sounds like you had a rough time too. So, did it work? Did she move on?" Angel looked down again. "Yeah. She met a guy named Riley Finn." Piper smirked. "Riley Finn? You sure he wasn't some type of fish demon? Or possibly related to fish? Because, that's the impression I am getting from his name." Angel smiled and laughed. This was definitely his favorite Halliwell sister. That was decided right now. "I don't know. But that's what I thought at first. But she started seeing him. But it didn't last. He left her not long into the relationship. I found all that out from her friend Willow. She kept asking me to come back and give the relationship another shot. But I told her no. I still want to give Buffy a shot at a normal life. Give her a chance to move on."
Piper nodded. She understood that. Leo had wanted that for her too. Of course, they were married now. "Piper?" Piper turned at the sound of her older sister calling her name. She looked back at Angel and smiled. "Sister needs me." She got up and sat the book on the couch she and Angel were sitting on. Before she walked away she turned back to the vampire. "You know, Angel. I'm not trying to meddle or anything, but I think there is one thing you failed to consider. Buffy can't move on. No one can move on to another love when someone already owns their heart. You own Buffy's. She can't give it to anyone else now. Because, until the end of the world, or longer, you will always posses it." With that she smiled at the vampire and turned to see what her sister wanted. Angel watched her as she walked away, her words stuck in his mind. That's why he didn't see Cole until he sat down beside him. "Piper got to you didn't she?" he asked. Angel just looked at him then got back to reading. "She does that. She makes you see the things you don't consider. That's what she did with me after I asked Phoebe to marry me. She made me see that just because she never answered me proposal until a few weeks ago didn't mean she didn't want to marry me."
Angel looked up from his book. "You're marrying a witch?" Cole looked at him. "You bedded a Slayer. Why is it wrong for me to marry a witch?" Angel sighed and looked back at his book. "But Angel. You need to realize that whatever Piper says you should really think about. Because she usually is always right." Cole looked one more time at the vampire, who now wasn't looking at the book at all, but somewhere into space, and got up, leaving Angel alone with his thoughts.
Meanwhile, in the hotel the sisters were staying at, Doyle watched as Phoebe unlocked the door to their room. "So, you are half demon?" she asked. The entire ride to the hotel they had talked about their lives. Doyle had been very intrigued by Phoebe's story of how the Book was discovered and how the sisters came to as where they are today. Then it was Doyle's turn to share, and he had just told her he was half demon. "Yeah, sure am. My ma was human. My da, well, he wasn't." Phoebe nodded. She wasn't even worried that he may attack her. She had learned from Cole that not all demons are evil. She realized that Doyle's story wasn't that different from Cole's. The only difference was that Cole's mother had been the demon. His father had been human. "Did you always know? Or did you not?" Doyle smiled. "I didn't know first thing, if that's what you mean. I didn't find out till I was…21. I was married at the time. You can sorta say it didn't work out," he said, feeling sad when he thought of Harry, his previous wife.
Phoebe turned to him before walking into the room. "She couldn't accept it?" she asked, remembering how long it had taken her sisters to accept Cole. "No, she did. That was the problem. Well, course she freaked out at first, but then she just kept wanting me to mingle with other demons and I didn't want that. I wanted to try and have a normal life. Not to mention that Harry and I were talking about having kids of out own and I couldn't handle the fact that my kids would be part demons. The marriage just hit rocky paths after that." Phoebe nodded and smiled a sad smile. She knew that some marriages that involved one of the significant others were supernatural. Her mother and father had gone through it. Their marriage didn't work because he wanted to raise the girls as little girls, not witches. Of course, their mother wouldn't hear of it. But it all passed and no one really talked about it anymore. Especially around Prue.
"Sorry. Well, anyway, here we are. The hotel we are currently staying at. Just hold on one sec while I get the Book and then we can go." She smiled at Doyle then went to a suitcase that was sitting on the bed with a padlock on it. "Pretty over protective of that book I assume?" Doyle asked, a slight smirk on his face. "Well, demons are always trying to steal it. Hell, Paige even took it once. Of course, she didn't realize it's importance at first. Now she does." He watched as the witch unlocked the suitcase and pulled out a very large book that looked old. Very old. "Wow. That's something. How old is that ting?" he asked. Phoebe grinned up at him. "First, tell me how old Angel is." Doyle thought a moment. "Oh, I'd say about 248." Phoebe laughed. "This book is over 100 years older than him." She laughed again when she looked up to see the half demon's mouth hanging open. "Okay, Mr. Shocked-and Confused. Let's go. We have a ghost to research.
*********
Allie had told her story, but not without Giles interrupting her time and again, and every time receiving a glare from his former Slayer. "So, the ghost said to get out or you will die? Correct?" Giles asked. Allie nodded. "He was really serious too. Or at least he seemed like he was. It really freaked us all out. And we are still scared stiff. We can't even sleep at night. Is there any way that you know of to get rid of him. It. Whatever you call it." Giles looked at her for a second before answering. "Uh, well, it will most likely call for some research. It will not take that long if everyone pitches in. Buffy, if you would please give Xander and Anya a call? Ask them to come and give us a hand. Also get a hold of Willow. She knows quite a bit about the supernatural. Uh Allie. If you don't mind my asking, your other two roommates, they do not know of Buffy's true identity, do they?" Allie shook her head. "I swore to Buff that I would not tell a soul and I kept that promise. I didn't tell anyone. Kristi and Amber just know that Buffy can help us. They don't know anything else but that." Giles nodded. Buffy rose and walked towards the phone. She turned to regard Allie. "All, maybe you should call Amber first. Tell her that I will help. You know, so she can be ready to expect me."
Allie nodded. She got up and picked up the phone, dialing the number of her home. "Amber, it's me. Yeah, I am here with Buff. Okay," she pulled the receiver away from her ear and smiled at Buffy. "Amber says hi." Buffy smiled. "Tell her hey for me." Allie's smile grew as she returned to her conversation. "Buff says hey. Yeah she's gonna help us. Uh huh. No she doesn't think we are crazy. I am pretty sure. Yeah. What? What people? PI? As in an actual Private Investigator? He what? Believed you? Oh. So they came to you. How did they know? Never said? Okay. What's the name again? Pretty girly, ain't it? Alright. So the ghost isn't bothering you right? I mean, nothing's happened? Good. Okay. We'll be there soon. Bye." Allie hung up the phone and looked at the three people in the room who were staring at her. "What?" she asked, confused once again. "What was that about a PI? Since when do they come to find you?" Jenny asked. Allie shrugged. "Don't know. Am just said that a PI came to see her and believed her story. So they are helping out. That is good right? I mean, having more people on our side?" Giles looked at her. "Uh, well, I would say so. It means the odds are on our sides." Suddenly, Buffy, who had been quiet since the mention of the word PI, spoke. "Allie, what is the name of the Private Investigator?" she asked and Giles automatically knew why. "A girly one, I'll tell you. Check it out. Angel Investigations. Bet the workers are really religious huh?" she laughed but stopped as soon as she saw her friends face. "Buff, what's wrong?" Buffy looked at the floor and after a few seconds looked at the three people in the room. Giles and Jenny looked at her nervously while her old high school friend looked at her with concern. "Allie do you remember the story I told you? About what all had happened?" Buffy asked. Allie nodded. "Yeah. About vampires and zombies and that vampire you loved…named…Angel. That PI is Angel? As in YOUR Angel?" At her nod, Allie sat down.
"Oh boy. This is going to be sooo bad," she groaned and looked at her friend. Buffy had a strange look in her eyes that Allie had never seen before. It looked like pain. And a little of remorse. "Look, Buff. If this Angel guy is gonna create a little problem with it all, you don't have to help. I'd understand." Buffy stopped her with a shake of her head. "No. I said I would help and I stick by my word. Angel isn't the important problem. The ghost is. And I am gonna kick his ass." With those words, Allie smiled. But Giles and Jenny just looked at each other, wondering if Buffy's words were referring to the ghost or the vampire.
An hour later the entire Scooby Gang were assembled. Allie and Kristi were at Buffy's mother's house. Buffy had insisted that they stay there instead of in a cheap and trashy motel room. They had accepted and now Buffy assumed they were regretting that decision because they were probably getting tortured by Dawn. Allie and Kristi had always been her favorite of Buffy's friends. Even if those memories were fake, Buffy still considered them real. "I don't understand why we have to research. Where are the so called victims? They should be here researching so Xander and I can stay home and copulate. Many times." The gang all squirmed at Anya's remark, choosing that it was best if they just ignored it. They all knew that the ex-demon still had much to learn about being human. Not talking about sex in public, for example. Xander grinned at her. "An, please don't talk about our sex life in front of everyone." Anya glared at him. "Why not? It's not like they haven't done it many times too. They know what it all is. Why should you be embarrassed? They have done it before. Of course, Buffy just chooses the wrong guys to do it with." She turned toward the Slayer, who looked rather offended. "Nothing personal, Buffy, it's just that you do. I mean, you and Angel could only do it once. Parker was a one nighter. And you didn't even sleep with Riley." The Slayer was gonna reply, but thought better of it and got back to reading the book on her lap. Willow glanced at her friend, seeing her taking no offense, but knowing it was just an act. Anya's comment had hurt her. The red-headed witch glared at her ex-demon.
"What? What do you care about the men Buffy slept with? You're gay. You have Tara. You don't even drool over men anymore," Anya yelled. Willow rolled her eyes and glanced at Tara, who smiled at her. She returned the smile and turned back to her laptop, every now and then glancing at Buffy to make sure she was okay. Anya huffed and cuddled deeper into Xander's chest, ignoring the book in her arms. Giles emerged from the hallway carrying a very old and big book. He looked at all the people he had grown to call his family. They all looked up at him expectantly except for Buffy, who was looking down at a book. He knew she wasn't reading it. For one, it was upside down and for two, it was in Latin. He wondered what was wrong, but one look at her distant eyes he knew that it was Angel. "Whatcha got, G- man?" Giles's thoughts were interrupted by Xander's voice. He looked back at Xander and continued to walk into the room. "Something good, I think. And do not call me that ever again." He sat on the couch next to Jenny and smiled at his fiancee. "Based on the story Allie told us, I believe the ghost that is currently haunting their home would most likely be a poltergeist. A ghost which makes trouble because it was never laid to rest peacefully. It has some kind of….unfinished business, if you will."
Buffy finally looked up from her book. "So how do we get rid of it?" Giles looked at her and shook his head. "I'm not sure. But most likely it would be to find out what happened to this ghost and right it so the ghost can finally rest in peace." " 'Rest in Peace.' Yeah, like those words are ever true," said a voice from the doorway. They all turned to see Spike leaning in the doorway. "Spike, what are you doing here?" Jenny asked. Spike smiled at her. He liked the Calendar woman. She had a type of spunk that Spike had to admire. "Just poppin' by, Gypsy. Now, what's this I hear about lying someone to rest?" Buffy stood up. "Nothing that concerns you, Spike. What do you really want?" The blonde vampire shrugged and came into the room. "Slow night. Thought maybe you bloats might have something I can kill." Xander looked up at him. "How about yourself? That will save everybody a lot of trouble if you just stake yourself." Spike glared at him. He had never liked Xander. He had learned to dislike him even more after Spike had had to live with him for a while. And that was enough torture, Spike thought. "Why don't you just shut your garb? That is what will save people a lot of trouble." Anya opened one of her eyes and glared at them both. "Why don't you both be quiet? Some people are trying to sleep." She closed her eyes and snuggled closer to Xander. Spike glared at Anya, and turned his attention back to the Slayer and the Watcher. "So, do I have a job? Come on, Slayer. You can't leave me out."
Buffy looked at him skeptically. "Oh? And why not?" she asked. Spike frowned. "Well, for one, I am part of this group. I have helped all of you out one bloody time or another. I deserve to have some of the fun too." Behind him, Willow smiled. He sounded like a child who was being denied going out to play with his friends. Buffy groaned. "Fine. You can help. What do you know about poltergeists?" Spike looked caught off guard with that one. Then he laughed. "A ghost? Since when is anyone being haunted around here?" he said. Tara was the one who answered. "It's n-not one of us. It's one of B-b-buffy's friends. She and her roommates are being haunted by a g-g-ghost. She wants us to help her." Spike turned to look at Buffy, a smirk on his face. "And of course you do-gooders accepted the request." Buffy glared at him. "Can it, Spike." She really didn't want to put up with the vampire right now. Especially since a different vampire was on her mind. "What's wrong, Slayer? What has your knickers in a twist?" Spike asked, acting concerned, but knowing he really wasn't. "Oh, she's just mad because her ex-vampire lover is helping the same friends she is. Her mind is occupied about what to do. I told her to just go and copulate with him, but she won't listen. Really Buffy. Copulating with him would solve all your problems," Anya said. Spike grinned when he heard this. "The poof is helping the same friends? Cor, I have to help now. I want to see this." Buffy glared at the blond vampire, but it didn't faze him at all.
"Oh, oh! Guys, I think I might've found who's haunting the house." They all turned to Willow, who sat in front of her laptop. Buffy walked over to her. "What've you got, Will?" she asked, peering at the screen. "An article about a man who used to live there. Allie said something about the ghost looking like a gangster. Well, I looked up all the old home owners that lived there and all old newspapers and I think I found a match. Robert James Barber. He used to live in the same house Allie and her friends live in now. He was a member of some mob. It says in this newspaper article that he had killed over 100 people before he was shot down in the house by some other mob, I guess. 'Cause there isn't a mention that the police did it." Jenny nodded and looked at the computer screen. "Makes sense. Willow, does it say when he died?" she asked. Willow tapped the keys a few times. "Uh, 1945. It says that when the police searched the house after his murder, they found bodies wrapped in plastic and blankets and stuff in the basement. This guy sounded bad. If it is him, we have to hurry and find some way to help the quick, coz they could be in real trouble." Buffy nodded. Allie, Kristi and Amber probably were in big trouble. They had to do something. But they had no idea how to get rid of it. Did they? "Giles, do you know how to get rid of this guy?" the Slayer asked her ex-Watcher hopefully. Giles looked at her and shook his head. "No, I'm afraid not. But there is one person I think may know how." He hesitated. Buffy looked at him. "Well, Giles. Who?" Giles looked at his Slayer, hoping she would stay calm when he suggested what he was going to. It was then that he realized that everyone in the room was looking at him now. "Well, Buffy, the only other….person, I know that knows a bit about ghosts, is, um,…" he stopped talking and looked down. "Giles," Buffy said impatiently. Giles looked back up into his Slayer's waiting face. "Angel."
Buffy froze. Everyone else did also, except Spike who was enjoying the look on the Slayer's face. Giles leaned in towards Buffy, searching her face for a reaction. All he saw was shock. He didn't know why. She had already known he would be helping. Of course, he also thought that she had assumed she wouldn't have to confront him. "Buffy," he repeated, and this time she blinked and looked at him. "So, does this mean I'm gonna have to see him again?" she asked, her voice a whisper. Giles nodded. Buffy closed her eyes and inhaled sharply. Willow, Jenny and Tara looked at her sympathetically, Anya was asleep again, Xander was looking at Buffy sadly along with Giles, and Spike was still smiling. "As I said already, this should be good." Buffy opened her eyes again and looked at the vampire, right before slugging him.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Well, Allie, Kristi, it is so good to have you two here. I just can't believe how much you two have grown up," Joyce Summers said as she poured the two girls another cup of Pepsi. Allie smiled as Kristi laughed. "Yeah, we know what you mean. Dawn, when did you grow up?" she demanded playfully, looking at the 15-year-old who sat across from her. Dawn smiled and shrugged. "Who knows. Time flies when you're young." Allie and Kristi both smiled. Joyce sat down and smiled at the two girls who had once been her oldest daughter's best friends. "So, Buffy tells me you had a problem with a ghost?" she asked. They both nodded. Buffy had told them both that Dawn and Joyce knew everything. Kristi still didn't know about Buffy's whole secret, just that Buffy knew about ghosts and could help. "Uh huh. Bad one. I think he wants to kill us. So, we need her help," Allie said. "So, why didn't Amber come? Why did she stay at the house?" Dawn asked. Kristi and Allie exchanged a glance. "She said that someone should stay there in case the ghost does something so she can call us to tell us. She said she would. But, I really think she was just nervous to see Buff again. But she'll be okay. She has other people who know this stuff and that are helping there with her."
Dawn looked at them. "Who?" she asked. Allie smiled. "Actually, I think you know him. Both of you. Angel?" Allie looked at both of them as their faces went blank, then as they were replaced by different emotions. Joyce's face was combined with anger and, what looked like to Allie, regret. Dawn's face held hope and confusion. "Angel? Are you sure?" Dawn asked. She had always liked Angel. He had been like the big brother she had never had. She had liked him a lot more than Riley. Riley had been weird and he hadn't loved Buffy. Angel had and still did. That she knew. She remembered when it hadn't been long after she had met him that she asked him why he kissed her "irritating older sister". He had smiled and told her, "No matter how irritating she gets, it won't bother me. I love your sister and I always will." That was when Dawn had realized that Angel was the man for her sister. Then all the bad stuff happened and he left. Then he had come back and he and Buffy had been like they were before. Then he left again. And this time, he didn't come back. She remembered how she could hear Buffy cry every night after that, and she still did when she stayed at the Summers house every once in awhile. Then Dawn's heart stopped for a second when she realized that these memories weren't real at all. They didn't even happen.
For Dawn wasn't real either. She was the Key. Nothing but energy. She had been sent to Buffy to be protected, and they created false memories of a sister. But now, the truth was out. And after a lot of talking, they had all convinced her that no matter what, she was still Dawn Summers, and she would always stay that way. At Allie's nod, Dawn smiled. Maybe he and Buffy could work it out somehow. And they could go back to the way they used to be. But one look at her mother's face told her differently. "Is Buffy going to see him," Joyce asked, her voice tight. Allie shrugged. "I don't know. She didn't say anything about it, but-" she was cut off by the phone ringing. Dawn was the one who answered it. "Hello?" she said into the receiver. "Oh, hi Buffy. Yeah, Allie's right here. Hang on." Dawn turned around to Allie, holding out the phone. "Buffy wants to talk to you." Allie stood and took the phone. "Hello? Yeah. You have to what? Go there too? Why? Oh. You really think he knows how? Listen, if it's gonna be a hassle, you don't have to help. Yeah, I know you promised, but. Okay. Fine. When? Tonight? Yeah Kristi and I will meet you there. Okay. See ya there. Bye." Allie hung up the phone and slowly turned to the other three people sitting in the room. "Uh, Joyce? In answer to your question, yeah." Joyce looked at her. Mamma Summers wasn't happy. Allie turned to Kristi. "Kris, Buff said she's gonna go to LA with us. She has to check in with that Angel guy. She said to meet her at Mr. Giles's place. We'll head out from there." Kristi nodded and stood up.
Suddenly Dawn stood up. "Mom, can I go too?" All the women looked at the young girl. "Honey, why do you want to go to Los Angeles? It isn't a vacation. Buffy's going to get rid of a ghost," Joyce said. Dawn nodded. "I know, but I don't get to really go to LA much and I want to. This could be the last time for a long time. Please?" Joyce looked at her youngest daughter. She sighed. "Hand me the phone. We have to check with Buffy first." Dawn smiled and handed her mother the cordless. She watched as her mom dialed Giles's number and talked with her first born. "Okay, honey. I love you too. Bye." Joyce pushed the 'off' button and looked at her daughter. "Buffy said that it is fine as long as you be careful and stay out of the way. Now if you want to go, go pack a bag. I have a feeling this will be more than a one night visit." Dawn smiled and cheered before rushing up to her room to pack a bag, leaving the others to look at her retreating figure. Yes, I am going to LA. I will get Buffy and Angel back together if it's the last thing I do, Dawn thought as she packed her back. She made that a promise as she ran down the stairs and kissed her mother good-bye before rushing out the door with Allie and Kristi.
"Okay, so my premonition gave this address, but it doesn't really look like a ghost would be haunting it." Phoebe said as they stood outside of the beach house her premonition led them to. Paige looked at her. "Yeah, but we don't really look like super witches either but we are." Phoebe looked at her younger sister. She was right. Piper looked at her sisters. "Okay, so what do we do now? Go up to the door and ask if there is a ghost haunting them? Hello? Can you say 'demented'?" Prue glared at her sister. "Piper, this is no time for jokes. This ghost sounds really bad. We need to find out why he is after them. But she has a good point. How do we find out? They will think we are crazy if we just confront them with it. Even if they are the ones being haunted." At that moment a car pulled up behind them. They turned around to see a man get out. A very cute man too, Paige pointed out. He was tall and wore all black. He walked toward them and halted. He stared at them. Phoebe recognized him from her premonition. She leaned toward and whispered to her big sister. "He's one of the guys from my premonition. One of the ones who were fighting." Prue nodded. The man began to walk again.
Piper stepped out to meet him. She held out her hand to him and smiled. "Hi! I'm Piper. These are my sisters Prue, Paige, and Phoebe. And you are?" The man looked down at Piper's hand before taking it. "I'm Angel." Paige smiled. Angel, she thought. That's a nice name. I'd love to scream it during- Her thoughts were interrupted by her oldest sister's voice. "Do you
know who lives here?" Prue asked, trying to seem as innocent as possible. Angel stared at her. Something didn't seem normal with these sisters. It was almost as if they weren't entirely human. He nodded anyway. "Yeah, I do. Why do you want to know?" All three sisters paused at that question. Prue nudged Piper in the side. Piper began to yell at her sister but stopped when she realized what Prue wanted her to do. Piper threw her hands up to freeze time. The man named Angel still stood. But unfrozen. Piper gasped. As did her sister's. "He didn't freeze!" Paige yelled, then her hands flew to her mouth as she realized what she had done. Angel looked at them strangely. "Freeze? What do you mean ' he didn't freeze'? I don't see any cops around. No one shouted 'Freeze'. What did you mean?" Piper winced. Her powers never failed like that. She threw her hands up again, hoping it would work. It didn't, the man still remained able to move. She looked to her sisters for help. They were as shocked as she was.
Phoebe looked at the mysterious man. There was something about him. Something that reminded her about Cole. Was he a demon? But then why would she have seen him fighting with the good guys? Angel looked at them and finally figured out why these three girls seemed not normal. 'He didn't freeze'. Freezing time was a power of a witch. "You're witches. That's why you don't smell human. You aren't." He said. The three sisters stood frozen in place. "That's not so! We are too human. Just not full human." Paige said, defending them. Piper elbowed her in the ribs. Prue stepped toward Angel. "What did you mean by SMELL human? How can you tell if someone's human by smelling them?" Angel looked at the girl who had addressed him. She had a certain look in her eye that told him she knew something wasn't right with him, and he noticed it in the other' s eyes as well. "Because he's not human either." All of them turned to the voice that had interrupted them. Bright, white lights appeared and a man took their place. "Leo?" Piper asked, surprised to see her husband there. Right on cue, another form appeared beside him. "Cole?" Phoebe said at the same time Angel said "Balthazar?" The sisters looked at him, and he looked right back.
Cole stepped toward Angel. "Angelus. Long time no see. How you been? We saw each other, what? 70? 80 years ago?" he said, regarding Angel with, what looked to the sisters as respect. He only looked at him. Then he replied, "It was 75 years ago." Cole nodded. Phoebe looked at her demon boyfriend and back at the man who was obviously not what he seemed. "Uh, okay. So Angel? You obviously know Cole and vice versa. But, if you two saw each other 75 years ago, you aren't human. What are you? A demon?" Phoebe asked. Angel began to answer but Cole interrupted. "No. Angelus here is worse than a demon. He's a vampire." Angel glared at Cole. Paige looked at them both. "A vampire? As in the sucking blood, changing into bats and sleeping in coffins sort of vampire?" "Coffin. I hate that stereo type," Angel grunted, not for the first time. He turned to the sisters. "First off, vampires don't sleep in coffins. They don't change into bats. That story was made popular by hackwriters. We do move around during the day as long as we stay out of the sun. We do not change into bats. Unless we have the power of transmografacation. Which not many of us have." The witches stared at him.
"So, you really are a vampire? As in Dracula?" Piper asked, suddenly very interested. Angel shook his head. "Dracula. He's a sorry excuse for a vampire. He's the one who let everyone know about us. Let on to the way to kill us and the no reflection thing." Prue looked at her sisters in disbelief. So this hottie is a vampire? Well, I'm for a new experience, Paige thought as she looked at Angel again. Angel finally turned his attention to Cole. "What are you doing here, Balthazar? In team with witches? Or are they warlocks?" he asked. Prue looked offended. "Hey! We are anything but warlocks! Just because Piper dated one, does not mean we are warlocks! We are good witches. We are the Charmed Ones." Her sisters nodded their heads. Angel looked at them shocked. "The Charmed Ones? I thought they were just a myth." The sisters looked at him confused.
This time it was Leo who answered. "Well, that's what they were thought of for the longest time because they never were out vanquishing demons until about three years ago. Now they are known all through the Underworld. It's no wonder you don't know about them. Of course, you aren't really into all the evil stuff now, right?" Okay. Now I am confused, Phoebe thought. "What do you mean, Leo?" Piper asked her whitelighter husband. "Angel, that is what they call you now, isn't it? Angel?" At Angel's nod he continued. "Angel is a vampire. That is true. But he isn't like other vampires. He helps people instead of kill them." "Why? What is it? One of those 'Dr. Jeckyll, Mr. Hyde things?" Phoebe asked. They could all tell she didn't trust Angel. Cole was the one who answered. "No. About, oh, I'd say a hundred years ago, Angelus here was cursed. These gypsies restored his soul. See, when you turn into a bloodsucker, your soul leaves your body, allowing the demon to enter so you have no remorse, no guilt. But the curse made him so he knows all that. Torture if you ask me. Trust me. I know." He turned to the vampire, who was still trying to handle the Charmed Ones news. "What changed, Angelus? Last time I saw you, you were on the brink of suicide. What makes you so strong now? But, even if you don't tell me, I think I have a pretty good idea. Little blond Slayer that saved your soul and also took it away. What was her name? Betty or something?" Angel glared at him. "Us demons. We hear about you vamps. Especially you. Is it true? Any of it?" Angel nodded. "Even the part about Darla? That you staked her?" Angel just looked at Cole. "Man. You sorta got burned for eternity for that one. Staking your own sire. That's pretty bad, considering that your supposed to stay loyal to them. Bet your reputation really got ruined for that one."
Now it was Angel's turn to ask the questions. "Shut up, Balthazar. What are you doing here? Did you just shimmer in to give witches the 411 on vampires and bring up old memories? And for the record, it's Angel now." There was a tone in Angel's voice that made Piper shiver. But there was also a look in his eyes that made her feel like she had seen it before. Cole shrugged. "What can I say? I'm good now. And don't look at me like that. You can ask them. I've saved their lives several times." Angel nearly laughed. "You are good now? The mighty Balthazar? What happened? Did you wake up one day and have a change of heart? Or was it a witches spell?" Cole nodded and bobbed his head in Phoebe's direction. "Yeah. It was a spell alright. The spell of love. You know what that is like from what I hear." Angel looked to Phoebe. She looked at him too and smiled. He recognized that smile. It was the smile of a young woman in love. Buffy had worn that smile a lot when he was around. Angel winced. Why did I have to think that? He turned his attention back to the witch. "He's telling the truth. He fell in love with me and he is good now. He wouldn't hurt anyone. Just like you wouldn't."
"Look, Angelu-Angel. I know you don't believe me. And trust me I can understand that since you were a witness to a lot of me acts. But I am good now, just like you." Angel looked at him again. He didn't see the hateful eyes of a demon anymore. He didn't see the menacing glare of a killer. He saw something different. He saw pain filled eyes and a look that was screaming for forgiveness. He imagined that he himself looked much the same. Angel nodded. "Alright, so you're good. And the Charmed Ones do exist. What are you doing here?" "Uh, we were sent here. By them. You know the higher powers or what ever people call them. Phoebe had a vision and it led us here," Piper explained, still concentrating in what was so familiar about this…vampire. "Why are you here?" "Pretty much the same scenario. My colleague had a vision and we got this address. We own a private investigation agency and the women Doyle saw in the vision hired us to help. I was coming to talk to one of them." Prue nodded. "Yeah, basically the same with us. Except we never met them yet. Plus it doesn't look like anyone's home. We haven't tried knocking yet. We were gonna but then you showed up and we pretty much ended up where we are right now." Angel nodded and looked at the house. All the windows were dark and there was no car anywhere other than the one he had driven and the one the young witches had arrived in.
"It sorta looks like no one's home," Paige said, her gaze still fixed on the vampire. He was still good after all. "Should we maybe come back later? You know, go somewhere and sort everything out?" She looked to her older sisters, who looked to the vampire. "Well, I guess it's up to you Mr. Angel," Prue said, just as interested in the vampire as Paige was. "It' s just Angel. No mister. Just the one name thing. Makes the job easier. Pleasantries don't take too much time." Prue smiled and nodded. She was falling for a vampire. Well there's always a first time for everything, isn't there? Angel smiled weakly back at the witches. His attention was mainly focused on the one who introduced herself as Piper. There was something very familiar about her. Not in the sense that he had ever met her, but in her eyes was a familiar look. He recognized it instantly. He had seen that look in Buffy's eyes many times. And he had put it there. Despair, mixed with pain and love. He noticed that the whitelighter had the same look. The lighter was obviously more than a guide to that Charmed One. He shook it off and nodded.
"Yeah, that sounds good. We can head back to my offices and that way you all only need to explain things once. Just follow me. I can take someone in my car if you don't have room," he said, indicating Cole and Leo. Prue and Paige jumped at the chance. "I'll go with you" they both shouted in unison. The sisters looked at each other, then turned to the handsome vampire who stood there giving them strange looks. He nodded. "Uh, okay. You guys can just follow behind us. I'm sure my co-workers will enjoy your story." He turned and began walking toward the black convertible, Prue and Paige on his heels.
Piper looked at her older and baby sister. She turned to Phoebe. "Something tells me this is going to be a very long assignment." With that, Piper started the car and followed the vampire into the night.
*****************
Allie followed Buffy to her "Watcher's" apartment. She had told Buffy the entire story of the haunted beach house and Buffy had convinced her to tell her Watcher the same thing. Now as they walked toward the door, Allie looked at her best friend. "Um, maybe you should do this instead, Buff. You know, he is your Watcher and all. You can tell the story better." Buffy glanced at her friend as she knocked. "Allie, the person who can tell the story better is the person who lived the tale. That' s what Daddy used to say remember?" Allie nodded and held her breath when the door opened and a middle aged man stood inside, smiling when he saw the young blonde at his door. "Buffy," he said, his English accent very clear. "What brings you here? And who is that with you? Has something happened?" Allie was amazed at how fast the smile melted from the man's face and was replaced by a look of worry.
Buffy shook her head. "Not yet, anyway. This is my friend Alexandra Sullivan. She's from L.A. This is Rupert Giles. A friend of mine." Giles extended his hand and shook with the young brunette. "Hi, you can call me Allie. I hate it when people call me Alexandra. It sounds too proper." Giles grinned at the young girl. She was a very pretty thing, with long blonde hair and blue-green eyes that shined. She looked a bit like Buffy, but a little taller and less muscle built. Although, Buffy wasn't exactly muscle built, she did have muscles, while this girl, if she did have any, they were certainly not visible. "How do you do? You may call me Giles if you wish. It seems that everyone else already does, so I can't see why you cannot. Please come in." Giles stepped back to allow the two girls to enter, giving his ex-Slayer a strange glance that said, What is she doing here? "Rupert?" a female voice yelled from the kitchen. "Is someone here? I thought I heard Buffy." Allie looked up to see a beautiful dark haired woman come from a hallway. She was medium sized and her eyes were brown. She smiled when she saw the young Slayer. "And I guess I was right. Hello, Buffy." Buffy waved and smiled. Buffy looked at her friend. "Allie this is Miss Jenny Calendar. She used to be a teacher at Sunnydale High. Before it blew up." Allie looked at her friend. This was the Jenny Calendar who had died? She remembered Buffy talking about her. The vampire she had fallen in love with—Angel, if she remembered right—had killed this woman those years ago. He had broken her neck. So why was she standing there right now? Jenny smiled at the newcomer.
"Hi. Allie? I like that name. It's very pretty. As Buffy said, I'm Jenny. Nice to meet you." She extended her hand and Allie shook her hand and smiled. Giles stepped forward towards the two young women. "Jenny is my fiance. We'll be married in 2 months," he said proudly, as the love of his life looked up at him. Allie smiled. "Congrats. Hope it works out. Not that it won't but you now, just some good luck." Buffy stepped forward. "Okay, Giles back to the reason we came here. As I said, Allie is a friend of mine from L.A., and she and my friend Kristi, who is with Willow right now, came here to ask for my help. See, Allie here…knows that I'm the Slayer. She found out that summer I was gone." Both Jenny and Giles looked at her. Buffy seemed to be very nervous. Allie took this as her cue to take over. "It's not like she just came out and told me. It wasn't anything like that. We ran into each other and then I got attacked by a vampire and Buff saved me. Then she had no other choice but to tell me. She told me everything. She was going through a lot, you know. It's amazing that the Slayer here is still standing. But then again, she always was really strong." She smiled at Buffy who was smiling back, and it was like it was a long time ago, when they were best friends who smiled all the time and never hid secrets from each other. Allie's little reverie was interrupted by Giles. "Buffy would this be the summer that you ran away?" he asked. Buffy looked down, regretting the memory. She nodded and looked up at her old Watcher, who looked very confused. Then her gaze shifted to Miss Calendar, who was smiling at her sweetly. Buffy smiled back and knew that the young Gypsy would not let Giles be mad at her. The two women had made up a while ago, when Jenny had first come back. They were okay now, friends. And it was gonna stay that way.
Giles looked at Allie, who stood beside Buffy, not sure of what to do next. "What kind of help did you need from Buffy?" Allie looked at him and answered simply, "I've got a ghost." Giles once again looked confused. "Me and Buff's friends, Kristi and Amber, we moved into a beach house. We live there together and we found out that it was haunted. We have a ghost who wants us out or dead and we need Buffy's help to get rid of him." Giles still looked confused. "Rupert, they are being haunted and they need Buffy's help to get rid of the ghost. I think that's what Allie is saying," Jenny said. Giles nodded. "Ah," he said and Allie looked at Buffy. "He always does that. It means that he gets it," she said. Allie smiled. "Giles. The thing is, is that we have only come up against one or two ghosts. We don't really know that much about them and from the way Allie described this ghost, I need to know a lot about them and ways to kill them. So, what do you know about ghosts?" Buffy said, sitting down on the couch and motioning for Allie to join her.
Jenny looked at Giles and then back at the girls. "Rupert, why don't you fill them in on all the fun info on ghosts and I'll make some tea." She smiled again at Allie and then disappeared into the kitchen. It was then that Giles noticed that Allie was still standing. He motioned for her to join Buffy on the couch. "Please, Allie, make yourself at home. Now if you could please tell me about this ghost and what exactly brings you to think that it wants to hurt you and your friends." Allie nodded as she sat down. "Well, it all started when Kristi, Amber and I got settled in….."
*******
They all sat in the lobby of the Hyperian Hotel. The vampire, the witches, the whitelighter, demon, and the humans. "Now, you said that you three are the Charmed Ones, the three sisters that one of the prophesies speak of?" Wesley asked the four girls who sat in the center of the room. They nodded. "And yet there are four of you?" Prue smiled at the British man's confusion. "Yeah. There were originally three of us. But then I was killed and Paige," indicating the woman on the farthest right, who smiled and waved, "was discovered by Piper and Phoebe as our long lost half sister. So she became the third sister. Then a few months ago, They, the higher powers or whatever you wanna call them, decided to give my sisters back something so they brought me back to life, erasing my death from everyone's heads who don't know the truth about us. So the prophecy was a little mistaken, but we are still the Charmed Ones, it's just not the Power of Three anymore, but instead the Power of Four."
Wesley nodded and smiled. "Fascinating." The four witches smiled. Angel looked at the witches. Two of them, the ones called Piper and Phoebe sat next to Balthazar and the whitelighter, who introduced himself as Leo, and the other two who had ridden with him, Prue and Paige, sat on either side of him, smiling brightly whenever he looked at them. Which is what they were doing right now. He looked between them and smiled, obviously uncomfortable. He wasn't really fond of witches. They tend to be very hostile when it comes to vampires. Even though these witches have made no move to hurt him, he was still on his guard. "Okay, something I have to know," Cordelia said, getting everyone's attention. They all looked at her. "What about your names? Does having them all start with 'p' help your magic or something? Cause they all start with 'p' and I'm sorry if I'm being rude but I am just curious." All of the sisters laughed. It was Piper who answered. "No. Doesn't help our magic or anything, I think. Names that begin with 'p' just run in the family. Our mother's name was Patty and our grandmother's name was Penny. So I suppose they just run in the family." Cordelia nodded. "Okay, can we get back to business here? These witchy women said that they had some kind of vision that led them here. What did you see?" the man who they had been told was named Gunn asked. Phoebe looked at him. He was obviously impatient. She wasn't really fond of him. "I saw three women who were obviously scared beyond comprehension. Then I saw a lot of people fighting and, I know now that a few of those people are all of you. I saw everyone of you in my premonition."
Doyle stood up and walked to Phoebe. "Did you see a ghost and a blond girl losing her battle to a bunch of demons?" he asked. She nodded. "Same thing I saw. Only I didn't see us. I saw the four of you flipping through a very big book. Now I can assume that it was your book of magic?" They all nodded. Paige looked at Angel, but talked to Doyle. "It's called the Book Of Shadows. We brought it with us to L.A thinking we might need it. It's back at the hotel. I mean the hotel we are staying in. Not this one." She smiled and Angel returned it, more uncomfortable than he was before. It was obvious that he could tell she and Prue obviously thought he was attractive. He thought that they were attractive too, just not in the wanting-to-date-them sense. "Uh, excuse me?" They all turned their attention to the girl they had been told was Fred, which, when they looked at her strangely, told them it was short for Wenifred. "Uh, I was just wondering. If Doyle and uh, Phoebe? Right? Phoebe had the same vision, does that mean something? Like we are supposed to work together or somethin'?" The group looked at each other. Wesley cleared his throat. "Well, it would be nice to have more experienced magic users in our midst in case we need it. I would be honored to do work with the Charmed Ones although I suppose it is their choice." Before any of the young witches could answer, Leo stood up and addressed them all. "Actually that is exactly what the visions meant. The Elders want you all to work together to get the job done. Because, not just the girls or any one here can do it alone. Also, the Slayer has to assist us." Angel looked up sharply. His associates looked at him. Prue and Paige looked at him. Cole chuckled. Phoebe looked at him. Piper just looked confused. "What's a Slayer?" she asked. "It's what made Angel here turn his life around and actually see that there are people who matter," Cole said and laughed when he saw Angel glare at him. "A Slayer is exactly what it sounds like. A Slayer. Uh, Mr. Wyndam-Pryce? You were a Watcher once weren't you? Would you tell them? I'm not entirely sure how the speech goes," Leo said. Wesley looked up at the whitelighter, then at the young witches who were looking at him. "Uh, into each generation a Slayer is born. One girl in all the world; a Chosen One. One born with the strength and skill to hunt the vampires to stop the spread of their evil. She is the Slayer. I believe that is how it goes."
"Oh," Piper said. She turned to Angel, who looked depressed. "So, what did Cole mean? Were you friends with the Slayer?" Cole laughed again receiving yet another glare from Angel. "Pretty good friends from what I hear. The kind of friends you and Leo are." With those words Piper's mouth dropped open. "You slept with a Slayer? As in, dated one? A vampire dated the one person who was born to kill your kind and you dated her? Isn't that like, a big no-no for you guys?" Angel just looked at her. "Isn't it a big no-no for witches to get married to their whitelighters?" At that remark Piper smiled. "So, I assume you and this Slayer aren't much for following the rules either, huh?" Angel smiled back. He liked this sister. Obviously she and Leo had been through the same trouble as he and Buffy had. Well, maybe not exactly the same. He doubted that Leo ever turned evil if his wife gave him perfect happiness. Angel, stop thinking of things that remind you of Buffy, he thought. He winced. If it was so hard to just think about her, how was it going to be when he actually came face to face with her? The voice of one of the sisters broke into his thoughts. "So, what's this Slayer's name?" Phoebe asked. She was asking Angel. "Uh, her name is Buffy. Buffy Summers." Piper gasped. "Buffy Summers? Are you kidding? Little blond girl from L.A? Her mom is Joyce Summers? Is this the Buffy you are talking about?" Angel nodded. Prue looked at her sister. "What is it, Piper?" Piper smiled. "I was her tutor for two years when she still lived in L.A. You remember when I moved out here after college? I tutored her for two years. Then she got expelled for burning down her school gymnasium. Did that have something to do with the supernatural? Or was she just being a rebel liked everybody thought?" Angel looked at her. "Vampires." Piper nodded. "Oh. But are you sure she's the Slayer? I mean, she's so little." Angel laughed.
"Anyway, back to business. How do we get the Slayer, Buffy, here?" Phoebe asked. "Two of the girls already went to get her. They were friends of hers from high school. I guess we don't have to worry about getting her here," Cordelia said. Phoebe nodded. "So, I suppose we should all get to work if we are to defeat this ghost. Fred, would you mind getting on the computer and locating anything about that house that Amber and her friends live in? Perhaps previous owners? She said something about the ghost being dressed as a mobster. Perhaps that may help," Wesley said. The young brunette nodded and went over to the computer. He turned his attention to Doyle. "Doyle, would you accompany one of the Halliwell sisters back to their hotel and retrieve their Book of Shadows? Gunn, check your sources. See if you can't find anything out." They all nodded. Doyle looked at the four sisters. "Well, who wants to help a poor man get a so called magic book from a hotel? One of which he has no idea where it is. Or which one?" Phoebe stood up. "I'll go. I'll look through it on the way back here. See if there is anything useful in it." She took her coat and pulled it on as she followed Doyle out the door.
Angel got up, with a little difficulty since he had Prue and Paige on each of his arms. "Uh, ladies. I am sort of going to need my arms back now," he said, looking between the two witches. They both blushed and let go. Angel smiled and walked over to the counter, picking up a book entitled, Ghosts: Secrets and Facts. It was then that Leo spoke up. "I'll go talk to the elders and see if they know anything. I'll be back as soon as I can." He leaned down and kissed Piper lightly on the cheek, then orbed out, stunning Cordelia, Fred and Wesley. "Whoa! What just happened? What happened to him?" Cordelia yelled. Prue turned to look at her. "Oh, he just orbed out. That's what whitelighters do. Paige can do it too. She just hasn't completely mastered it yet." Cordelia just nodded and got back to doing her research. Piper stood up and looked at the group of people busy at work. "What can we do?" she asked. Wesley tossed them each a book. "If you don't mind, we could use some assistance in researching ghosts." They all nodded and took seats. Angel came and sat next to Piper, smiling at the young witch.
She returned the smile and opened the book. After a minute, she looked back up at the vampire, watching him as he read. "Can I ask you something?" she asked. Angel looked at her and shut his book. "Sure." "Why, of all people in the world, did you fall for a Slayer? And before you say anything, I don't know about Leo. I'm just wondering. Why start dating a Slayer? I mean, that had to be hard. Didn't it ever worry you that she might stake you? Or you might have bitten her?" He looked at Piper and realized what she was wondering. She wanted to know if he had gone through the same kind of pain she had. He laughed a little. "Can you really control anything like that? Who you fall for? And I didn't fall for a Slayer. I fell for Buffy. Just ordinary Buffy. I saw her before she became the Slayer, when she was just a normal girl and that was who I fell for. I never worried about biting her. Because I knew I never would. I would never hurt the woman I love. That's the entire reason why I left. So I wouldn't hurt her." Piper looked at him more closely. "You loved her?" Angel shook his head. "Not loved. Love. I still love her and I always will. Does that answer your question, Piper?" She nodded and looked down at her book, and Angel didn't miss it when she wiped tears from her eyes.
"That's how I felt about Leo, I guess. He started out as our handyman as a way to look after us. Then we found out that he was our whitelighter. But I fell in love with Leo before that. And that still didn't change when we found out the truth." Angel smiled again at the girl, seeing that she still wasn't looking at him. "Did, did you have trouble with Buffy? Keeping your relationship going strong?" she asked. It was then Angel knew that she had had trouble with her relationship. Maybe longer than he and Buffy had. "Yeah. We did. We came across a lot of hard decisions. Sometimes we gave up. But not for good. We always found some way to be together," he answered. Piper finally looked up at him and she wore a sad smile on her face. "Then why are you here without her?" she asked. He looked down. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to bring up bad memories. I tend to do that sometimes. Bad, bad Piper. Just forget I ever mentioned it." Angel smiled again and was amazed at how much Piper reminded him of Buffy. "It's okay. There was one obstacle we didn't get passed. Well, at least, I couldn't. I wanted her to have a normal life. Or at least as normal as it could get. And I realized that I couldn't give that to her. I can't give her children or a real future. There wouldn't be a lot of sunshine picnics in the park if she spent her life with me. So I left, giving her a chance to move on. I know it hurt her. We were more in love than anything. But I wanted her to have a future and move on. So I gave her that chance."
Piper looked at him, and now tears were rolling down her cheeks. Angel smiled and wiped them off. Piper laughed and blushed. "Sorry. I didn't realize I was crying. It just sounds like you had a rough time too. So, did it work? Did she move on?" Angel looked down again. "Yeah. She met a guy named Riley Finn." Piper smirked. "Riley Finn? You sure he wasn't some type of fish demon? Or possibly related to fish? Because, that's the impression I am getting from his name." Angel smiled and laughed. This was definitely his favorite Halliwell sister. That was decided right now. "I don't know. But that's what I thought at first. But she started seeing him. But it didn't last. He left her not long into the relationship. I found all that out from her friend Willow. She kept asking me to come back and give the relationship another shot. But I told her no. I still want to give Buffy a shot at a normal life. Give her a chance to move on."
Piper nodded. She understood that. Leo had wanted that for her too. Of course, they were married now. "Piper?" Piper turned at the sound of her older sister calling her name. She looked back at Angel and smiled. "Sister needs me." She got up and sat the book on the couch she and Angel were sitting on. Before she walked away she turned back to the vampire. "You know, Angel. I'm not trying to meddle or anything, but I think there is one thing you failed to consider. Buffy can't move on. No one can move on to another love when someone already owns their heart. You own Buffy's. She can't give it to anyone else now. Because, until the end of the world, or longer, you will always posses it." With that she smiled at the vampire and turned to see what her sister wanted. Angel watched her as she walked away, her words stuck in his mind. That's why he didn't see Cole until he sat down beside him. "Piper got to you didn't she?" he asked. Angel just looked at him then got back to reading. "She does that. She makes you see the things you don't consider. That's what she did with me after I asked Phoebe to marry me. She made me see that just because she never answered me proposal until a few weeks ago didn't mean she didn't want to marry me."
Angel looked up from his book. "You're marrying a witch?" Cole looked at him. "You bedded a Slayer. Why is it wrong for me to marry a witch?" Angel sighed and looked back at his book. "But Angel. You need to realize that whatever Piper says you should really think about. Because she usually is always right." Cole looked one more time at the vampire, who now wasn't looking at the book at all, but somewhere into space, and got up, leaving Angel alone with his thoughts.
Meanwhile, in the hotel the sisters were staying at, Doyle watched as Phoebe unlocked the door to their room. "So, you are half demon?" she asked. The entire ride to the hotel they had talked about their lives. Doyle had been very intrigued by Phoebe's story of how the Book was discovered and how the sisters came to as where they are today. Then it was Doyle's turn to share, and he had just told her he was half demon. "Yeah, sure am. My ma was human. My da, well, he wasn't." Phoebe nodded. She wasn't even worried that he may attack her. She had learned from Cole that not all demons are evil. She realized that Doyle's story wasn't that different from Cole's. The only difference was that Cole's mother had been the demon. His father had been human. "Did you always know? Or did you not?" Doyle smiled. "I didn't know first thing, if that's what you mean. I didn't find out till I was…21. I was married at the time. You can sorta say it didn't work out," he said, feeling sad when he thought of Harry, his previous wife.
Phoebe turned to him before walking into the room. "She couldn't accept it?" she asked, remembering how long it had taken her sisters to accept Cole. "No, she did. That was the problem. Well, course she freaked out at first, but then she just kept wanting me to mingle with other demons and I didn't want that. I wanted to try and have a normal life. Not to mention that Harry and I were talking about having kids of out own and I couldn't handle the fact that my kids would be part demons. The marriage just hit rocky paths after that." Phoebe nodded and smiled a sad smile. She knew that some marriages that involved one of the significant others were supernatural. Her mother and father had gone through it. Their marriage didn't work because he wanted to raise the girls as little girls, not witches. Of course, their mother wouldn't hear of it. But it all passed and no one really talked about it anymore. Especially around Prue.
"Sorry. Well, anyway, here we are. The hotel we are currently staying at. Just hold on one sec while I get the Book and then we can go." She smiled at Doyle then went to a suitcase that was sitting on the bed with a padlock on it. "Pretty over protective of that book I assume?" Doyle asked, a slight smirk on his face. "Well, demons are always trying to steal it. Hell, Paige even took it once. Of course, she didn't realize it's importance at first. Now she does." He watched as the witch unlocked the suitcase and pulled out a very large book that looked old. Very old. "Wow. That's something. How old is that ting?" he asked. Phoebe grinned up at him. "First, tell me how old Angel is." Doyle thought a moment. "Oh, I'd say about 248." Phoebe laughed. "This book is over 100 years older than him." She laughed again when she looked up to see the half demon's mouth hanging open. "Okay, Mr. Shocked-and Confused. Let's go. We have a ghost to research.
*********
Allie had told her story, but not without Giles interrupting her time and again, and every time receiving a glare from his former Slayer. "So, the ghost said to get out or you will die? Correct?" Giles asked. Allie nodded. "He was really serious too. Or at least he seemed like he was. It really freaked us all out. And we are still scared stiff. We can't even sleep at night. Is there any way that you know of to get rid of him. It. Whatever you call it." Giles looked at her for a second before answering. "Uh, well, it will most likely call for some research. It will not take that long if everyone pitches in. Buffy, if you would please give Xander and Anya a call? Ask them to come and give us a hand. Also get a hold of Willow. She knows quite a bit about the supernatural. Uh Allie. If you don't mind my asking, your other two roommates, they do not know of Buffy's true identity, do they?" Allie shook her head. "I swore to Buff that I would not tell a soul and I kept that promise. I didn't tell anyone. Kristi and Amber just know that Buffy can help us. They don't know anything else but that." Giles nodded. Buffy rose and walked towards the phone. She turned to regard Allie. "All, maybe you should call Amber first. Tell her that I will help. You know, so she can be ready to expect me."
Allie nodded. She got up and picked up the phone, dialing the number of her home. "Amber, it's me. Yeah, I am here with Buff. Okay," she pulled the receiver away from her ear and smiled at Buffy. "Amber says hi." Buffy smiled. "Tell her hey for me." Allie's smile grew as she returned to her conversation. "Buff says hey. Yeah she's gonna help us. Uh huh. No she doesn't think we are crazy. I am pretty sure. Yeah. What? What people? PI? As in an actual Private Investigator? He what? Believed you? Oh. So they came to you. How did they know? Never said? Okay. What's the name again? Pretty girly, ain't it? Alright. So the ghost isn't bothering you right? I mean, nothing's happened? Good. Okay. We'll be there soon. Bye." Allie hung up the phone and looked at the three people in the room who were staring at her. "What?" she asked, confused once again. "What was that about a PI? Since when do they come to find you?" Jenny asked. Allie shrugged. "Don't know. Am just said that a PI came to see her and believed her story. So they are helping out. That is good right? I mean, having more people on our side?" Giles looked at her. "Uh, well, I would say so. It means the odds are on our sides." Suddenly, Buffy, who had been quiet since the mention of the word PI, spoke. "Allie, what is the name of the Private Investigator?" she asked and Giles automatically knew why. "A girly one, I'll tell you. Check it out. Angel Investigations. Bet the workers are really religious huh?" she laughed but stopped as soon as she saw her friends face. "Buff, what's wrong?" Buffy looked at the floor and after a few seconds looked at the three people in the room. Giles and Jenny looked at her nervously while her old high school friend looked at her with concern. "Allie do you remember the story I told you? About what all had happened?" Buffy asked. Allie nodded. "Yeah. About vampires and zombies and that vampire you loved…named…Angel. That PI is Angel? As in YOUR Angel?" At her nod, Allie sat down.
"Oh boy. This is going to be sooo bad," she groaned and looked at her friend. Buffy had a strange look in her eyes that Allie had never seen before. It looked like pain. And a little of remorse. "Look, Buff. If this Angel guy is gonna create a little problem with it all, you don't have to help. I'd understand." Buffy stopped her with a shake of her head. "No. I said I would help and I stick by my word. Angel isn't the important problem. The ghost is. And I am gonna kick his ass." With those words, Allie smiled. But Giles and Jenny just looked at each other, wondering if Buffy's words were referring to the ghost or the vampire.
An hour later the entire Scooby Gang were assembled. Allie and Kristi were at Buffy's mother's house. Buffy had insisted that they stay there instead of in a cheap and trashy motel room. They had accepted and now Buffy assumed they were regretting that decision because they were probably getting tortured by Dawn. Allie and Kristi had always been her favorite of Buffy's friends. Even if those memories were fake, Buffy still considered them real. "I don't understand why we have to research. Where are the so called victims? They should be here researching so Xander and I can stay home and copulate. Many times." The gang all squirmed at Anya's remark, choosing that it was best if they just ignored it. They all knew that the ex-demon still had much to learn about being human. Not talking about sex in public, for example. Xander grinned at her. "An, please don't talk about our sex life in front of everyone." Anya glared at him. "Why not? It's not like they haven't done it many times too. They know what it all is. Why should you be embarrassed? They have done it before. Of course, Buffy just chooses the wrong guys to do it with." She turned toward the Slayer, who looked rather offended. "Nothing personal, Buffy, it's just that you do. I mean, you and Angel could only do it once. Parker was a one nighter. And you didn't even sleep with Riley." The Slayer was gonna reply, but thought better of it and got back to reading the book on her lap. Willow glanced at her friend, seeing her taking no offense, but knowing it was just an act. Anya's comment had hurt her. The red-headed witch glared at her ex-demon.
"What? What do you care about the men Buffy slept with? You're gay. You have Tara. You don't even drool over men anymore," Anya yelled. Willow rolled her eyes and glanced at Tara, who smiled at her. She returned the smile and turned back to her laptop, every now and then glancing at Buffy to make sure she was okay. Anya huffed and cuddled deeper into Xander's chest, ignoring the book in her arms. Giles emerged from the hallway carrying a very old and big book. He looked at all the people he had grown to call his family. They all looked up at him expectantly except for Buffy, who was looking down at a book. He knew she wasn't reading it. For one, it was upside down and for two, it was in Latin. He wondered what was wrong, but one look at her distant eyes he knew that it was Angel. "Whatcha got, G- man?" Giles's thoughts were interrupted by Xander's voice. He looked back at Xander and continued to walk into the room. "Something good, I think. And do not call me that ever again." He sat on the couch next to Jenny and smiled at his fiancee. "Based on the story Allie told us, I believe the ghost that is currently haunting their home would most likely be a poltergeist. A ghost which makes trouble because it was never laid to rest peacefully. It has some kind of….unfinished business, if you will."
Buffy finally looked up from her book. "So how do we get rid of it?" Giles looked at her and shook his head. "I'm not sure. But most likely it would be to find out what happened to this ghost and right it so the ghost can finally rest in peace." " 'Rest in Peace.' Yeah, like those words are ever true," said a voice from the doorway. They all turned to see Spike leaning in the doorway. "Spike, what are you doing here?" Jenny asked. Spike smiled at her. He liked the Calendar woman. She had a type of spunk that Spike had to admire. "Just poppin' by, Gypsy. Now, what's this I hear about lying someone to rest?" Buffy stood up. "Nothing that concerns you, Spike. What do you really want?" The blonde vampire shrugged and came into the room. "Slow night. Thought maybe you bloats might have something I can kill." Xander looked up at him. "How about yourself? That will save everybody a lot of trouble if you just stake yourself." Spike glared at him. He had never liked Xander. He had learned to dislike him even more after Spike had had to live with him for a while. And that was enough torture, Spike thought. "Why don't you just shut your garb? That is what will save people a lot of trouble." Anya opened one of her eyes and glared at them both. "Why don't you both be quiet? Some people are trying to sleep." She closed her eyes and snuggled closer to Xander. Spike glared at Anya, and turned his attention back to the Slayer and the Watcher. "So, do I have a job? Come on, Slayer. You can't leave me out."
Buffy looked at him skeptically. "Oh? And why not?" she asked. Spike frowned. "Well, for one, I am part of this group. I have helped all of you out one bloody time or another. I deserve to have some of the fun too." Behind him, Willow smiled. He sounded like a child who was being denied going out to play with his friends. Buffy groaned. "Fine. You can help. What do you know about poltergeists?" Spike looked caught off guard with that one. Then he laughed. "A ghost? Since when is anyone being haunted around here?" he said. Tara was the one who answered. "It's n-not one of us. It's one of B-b-buffy's friends. She and her roommates are being haunted by a g-g-ghost. She wants us to help her." Spike turned to look at Buffy, a smirk on his face. "And of course you do-gooders accepted the request." Buffy glared at him. "Can it, Spike." She really didn't want to put up with the vampire right now. Especially since a different vampire was on her mind. "What's wrong, Slayer? What has your knickers in a twist?" Spike asked, acting concerned, but knowing he really wasn't. "Oh, she's just mad because her ex-vampire lover is helping the same friends she is. Her mind is occupied about what to do. I told her to just go and copulate with him, but she won't listen. Really Buffy. Copulating with him would solve all your problems," Anya said. Spike grinned when he heard this. "The poof is helping the same friends? Cor, I have to help now. I want to see this." Buffy glared at the blond vampire, but it didn't faze him at all.
"Oh, oh! Guys, I think I might've found who's haunting the house." They all turned to Willow, who sat in front of her laptop. Buffy walked over to her. "What've you got, Will?" she asked, peering at the screen. "An article about a man who used to live there. Allie said something about the ghost looking like a gangster. Well, I looked up all the old home owners that lived there and all old newspapers and I think I found a match. Robert James Barber. He used to live in the same house Allie and her friends live in now. He was a member of some mob. It says in this newspaper article that he had killed over 100 people before he was shot down in the house by some other mob, I guess. 'Cause there isn't a mention that the police did it." Jenny nodded and looked at the computer screen. "Makes sense. Willow, does it say when he died?" she asked. Willow tapped the keys a few times. "Uh, 1945. It says that when the police searched the house after his murder, they found bodies wrapped in plastic and blankets and stuff in the basement. This guy sounded bad. If it is him, we have to hurry and find some way to help the quick, coz they could be in real trouble." Buffy nodded. Allie, Kristi and Amber probably were in big trouble. They had to do something. But they had no idea how to get rid of it. Did they? "Giles, do you know how to get rid of this guy?" the Slayer asked her ex-Watcher hopefully. Giles looked at her and shook his head. "No, I'm afraid not. But there is one person I think may know how." He hesitated. Buffy looked at him. "Well, Giles. Who?" Giles looked at his Slayer, hoping she would stay calm when he suggested what he was going to. It was then that he realized that everyone in the room was looking at him now. "Well, Buffy, the only other….person, I know that knows a bit about ghosts, is, um,…" he stopped talking and looked down. "Giles," Buffy said impatiently. Giles looked back up into his Slayer's waiting face. "Angel."
Buffy froze. Everyone else did also, except Spike who was enjoying the look on the Slayer's face. Giles leaned in towards Buffy, searching her face for a reaction. All he saw was shock. He didn't know why. She had already known he would be helping. Of course, he also thought that she had assumed she wouldn't have to confront him. "Buffy," he repeated, and this time she blinked and looked at him. "So, does this mean I'm gonna have to see him again?" she asked, her voice a whisper. Giles nodded. Buffy closed her eyes and inhaled sharply. Willow, Jenny and Tara looked at her sympathetically, Anya was asleep again, Xander was looking at Buffy sadly along with Giles, and Spike was still smiling. "As I said already, this should be good." Buffy opened her eyes again and looked at the vampire, right before slugging him.
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"Well, Allie, Kristi, it is so good to have you two here. I just can't believe how much you two have grown up," Joyce Summers said as she poured the two girls another cup of Pepsi. Allie smiled as Kristi laughed. "Yeah, we know what you mean. Dawn, when did you grow up?" she demanded playfully, looking at the 15-year-old who sat across from her. Dawn smiled and shrugged. "Who knows. Time flies when you're young." Allie and Kristi both smiled. Joyce sat down and smiled at the two girls who had once been her oldest daughter's best friends. "So, Buffy tells me you had a problem with a ghost?" she asked. They both nodded. Buffy had told them both that Dawn and Joyce knew everything. Kristi still didn't know about Buffy's whole secret, just that Buffy knew about ghosts and could help. "Uh huh. Bad one. I think he wants to kill us. So, we need her help," Allie said. "So, why didn't Amber come? Why did she stay at the house?" Dawn asked. Kristi and Allie exchanged a glance. "She said that someone should stay there in case the ghost does something so she can call us to tell us. She said she would. But, I really think she was just nervous to see Buff again. But she'll be okay. She has other people who know this stuff and that are helping there with her."
Dawn looked at them. "Who?" she asked. Allie smiled. "Actually, I think you know him. Both of you. Angel?" Allie looked at both of them as their faces went blank, then as they were replaced by different emotions. Joyce's face was combined with anger and, what looked like to Allie, regret. Dawn's face held hope and confusion. "Angel? Are you sure?" Dawn asked. She had always liked Angel. He had been like the big brother she had never had. She had liked him a lot more than Riley. Riley had been weird and he hadn't loved Buffy. Angel had and still did. That she knew. She remembered when it hadn't been long after she had met him that she asked him why he kissed her "irritating older sister". He had smiled and told her, "No matter how irritating she gets, it won't bother me. I love your sister and I always will." That was when Dawn had realized that Angel was the man for her sister. Then all the bad stuff happened and he left. Then he had come back and he and Buffy had been like they were before. Then he left again. And this time, he didn't come back. She remembered how she could hear Buffy cry every night after that, and she still did when she stayed at the Summers house every once in awhile. Then Dawn's heart stopped for a second when she realized that these memories weren't real at all. They didn't even happen.
For Dawn wasn't real either. She was the Key. Nothing but energy. She had been sent to Buffy to be protected, and they created false memories of a sister. But now, the truth was out. And after a lot of talking, they had all convinced her that no matter what, she was still Dawn Summers, and she would always stay that way. At Allie's nod, Dawn smiled. Maybe he and Buffy could work it out somehow. And they could go back to the way they used to be. But one look at her mother's face told her differently. "Is Buffy going to see him," Joyce asked, her voice tight. Allie shrugged. "I don't know. She didn't say anything about it, but-" she was cut off by the phone ringing. Dawn was the one who answered it. "Hello?" she said into the receiver. "Oh, hi Buffy. Yeah, Allie's right here. Hang on." Dawn turned around to Allie, holding out the phone. "Buffy wants to talk to you." Allie stood and took the phone. "Hello? Yeah. You have to what? Go there too? Why? Oh. You really think he knows how? Listen, if it's gonna be a hassle, you don't have to help. Yeah, I know you promised, but. Okay. Fine. When? Tonight? Yeah Kristi and I will meet you there. Okay. See ya there. Bye." Allie hung up the phone and slowly turned to the other three people sitting in the room. "Uh, Joyce? In answer to your question, yeah." Joyce looked at her. Mamma Summers wasn't happy. Allie turned to Kristi. "Kris, Buff said she's gonna go to LA with us. She has to check in with that Angel guy. She said to meet her at Mr. Giles's place. We'll head out from there." Kristi nodded and stood up.
Suddenly Dawn stood up. "Mom, can I go too?" All the women looked at the young girl. "Honey, why do you want to go to Los Angeles? It isn't a vacation. Buffy's going to get rid of a ghost," Joyce said. Dawn nodded. "I know, but I don't get to really go to LA much and I want to. This could be the last time for a long time. Please?" Joyce looked at her youngest daughter. She sighed. "Hand me the phone. We have to check with Buffy first." Dawn smiled and handed her mother the cordless. She watched as her mom dialed Giles's number and talked with her first born. "Okay, honey. I love you too. Bye." Joyce pushed the 'off' button and looked at her daughter. "Buffy said that it is fine as long as you be careful and stay out of the way. Now if you want to go, go pack a bag. I have a feeling this will be more than a one night visit." Dawn smiled and cheered before rushing up to her room to pack a bag, leaving the others to look at her retreating figure. Yes, I am going to LA. I will get Buffy and Angel back together if it's the last thing I do, Dawn thought as she packed her back. She made that a promise as she ran down the stairs and kissed her mother good-bye before rushing out the door with Allie and Kristi.