Note: see I told you he was coming back. It's going to still be a bit slow, but there is a major twist coming up at the end of this chapter, or it will be the main plot of the next one. No use splitting it up if I can't make it good enough. We'll see. Read under the crypt. And review both.

The Harsh Light of day

{{    }}=Xander

[[     ]]=Spike

Mommie=Willow

Mama=Tara

Chapter 3

"Okay. Everyone just stay calm. I'm sure there is a completely logical reason for Angel being here." Giles tried to calm everyone. It didn't work. Willow and Tara were whispering quietly. Riley was sitting there with a blank face. The last time he saw Angel it wasn't a very happy meeting. Buffy was on the couch opposite Riley curling into herself in nervousness. Xander and Spike were arguing over god knows what. They were the ones being loud. Giles tried again.

"EVERYONE SIT DOWN!" and boom. They did. Spike fell onto the next to Riley again and Xander fell into an awkward position on his lap. He was fidgeting trying to get comfortable, and Spike was getting a bit feisty from having his lap rubbed from a squirming Xander.

"I'll just answer the door. Everything will be fine. Act normal." Giles walked over to the door, and opened it. There stood Angel. He was wearing his typical black clothing, and that broody look he had adapted over the years. 

"Hey guys. What's up? Mind if I come in."

"Come on in Angel." If he really was Angel and not angelus he would be able to get in. if he was angelus, he wouldn't be able to being addressed the wrong name. Angel sauntered into the room, and plopped down on the couch. So not him.

"Uh. Don't want to be rude, but Angel, what are you doing here? And why are you acting so not…you?" Willow asked.

"Oh yeah that. Well I just moved back to sunnydale. Thought I would stop, by. Yeah I guess I have changed. A lot has happened. I thought you would be pleased. Everyone seems to like my newfound confidence. I know it's different, but I like it. It's a change." He looked around. "Looks like you have been making some changes of your own. Lovely little girl. Whose is it?" he asked looking at the little girl with a coloring book in the bedroom with the open door down the hall.

"She's ours." Willow said. "Her name is Jamie. Want to meet her?"

"Sure." Tara gave a skeptical look at Willow before going to get the little girl from the bedroom. She was a sweet little thing. Tara sat down while the little girl just stood in front of Angel, not knowing what to do.

"So you're Jamie huh?"

"Yes." She answered shyly.

"Jamie. Has anyone ever told you how much you look like your mom Tara?" the little girl shook her head no.

"Well you do. You look just like her." The rest of the group sat watching with open mouths while watching Angel charm this girl. He obviously was. She was smiling and wasn't being too tense anymore. After a bit more talking she went back to her book in the bedroom.

"She looks just like you Tara. Except for that fire red hair. That I believe come straight from you Willow dear. She is very pretty." The two girls blushed. "Buffy. It took me a while to notice it, but any ring that is that big is kinda hard to miss. Congrats." He shook hands with Riley. It would have been way embarrassing if it weren't Riley she was marrying, but he was right.

"And last of all. This one is rather shocking, my familiar Scooby enemy, and my favored childe. Together. That was a doosy. A bit endearing actually. Not much of a surprise. Actually if we had gotten along I think I would have scooped up the boy and kept him for myself. No offense Buffy, but you did make me lose my soul. Look I just wanted to stop by and see everyone. I'll be back. If you want."

"Hey. Angel. We're all getting together for dinner tomorrow. Wanna come?"

"Ok Willow."

"We'll be here. Then we're going to that new Russian place. Spike's idea. He likes the raw meat. Be here by 8:30." She said. He nodded and walked out the door.

Everyone started talking at once. Giles was developing one major headache.

"What does he mean scooped you up. Like bloody hell he would have."-Spike

"What does he mean scooped me up. He hated me. He offered me as a snack to you to get on your good side."-Xander

"She liked him. Oh my god. She never likes anybody. Her words to Spike were. Ewww mommy."-Willow

"I don't see what the bid deal is. He seemed nice"-Tara

"Oh Tara. You don't know Angel very well he is nothing like that. Did you hear him? He is happy for us. He shook your hand Riley."-Buffy.

"Should I be worried that something is up?"-Riley

"YES!" they all shouted. All the noise had brought Jamie out of the room again.

"Mommie. Who was that man? He was nice. He said I looked just like you and mama."

"That was your uncle Angel sweetheart." Willow picked up the little girl who was quickly getting sleepy from all the excitement.

"Uncle. Do we know him?"

"Yes hunny. That is your uncle Spike's grand sire." Tara tried to explain.

"You mean like uncle Spike? Only older?"

"Yep." The small girl got down from willows lap and walked over to jump up into Spike's arms next to Xander.

"Now I know where you got all your good stuff uncle Spike, but I love you more." Aww how sweet. The good stuff comment irked Spike, but he loved the little girl, she had finally gotten used to him. The little girl fell asleep against his chest and when it was time to go home she was cranky from being woken up. She cried and whined that she wanted to stay with uncle Spike and Xander. That was nothing new. She always did. Being so small the whole vampire thing didn't even faze her.

"Let her come with us tonight. This is the first time in weeks we've had enough time to be around her." Xander said.

"Okay. Just…

"Don't worry Tara. We know the deal.

-If she is still awake when we get there. She has to be asleep by 10:00 at the latest. She probably won't be, but if she is…

-And no snacks after 9:00.

-She is not aloud to use the phone even if she knew how.

-No raiding the blood cellar to get juice for her dolls,

-She can't watch movie channels in the morning if she wakes up before us.

-No sleeping in our bed." {{She probably will anyway knowing Spike, but we're supposed to spoil her}}

"Okay. And just…well you know."

"Don't worry Tara. She'll be fine." Spike kissed her on the cheek and picked up the once again sleeping girl and the two men left for home.

They got there and Jamie was still asleep. They let her sleep with them just cause if she awoke up and she wasn't she would come into the room anyway.

" So should we be worried that he is back?"

"Nah. He obviously has his soul so what could he possibly do to us?"

With Angel

"Oh my little puppets. You have no idea what is in store for you. I must be crazy to be talking to myself, but hey, I'm a vampire with a soul. I should. I just want happiness. I deserve it. Buffy knows it. And with my childe's help she'll be more than willing to take to my side again. They won't even know what hit them. I have a soul. I should feel bad abut manipulating them, but I don't."

The plot thickens. So Angel is up to something. He's being all weird and cryptic and talking to himself, but this will defiantly unfold.