Chapter 1 - Identity Unknown

It was a bright sunny afternoon as Cordelia Chase walked down the street. The air was crisp and a warm breeze passed across her face. There was just one problem. She couldn't remember who she was.

This realization hit her hard and fast. Her eyes flickered from side to side, searching the files of her brain, but access was denied. She absolutely had no idea who she was. She didn't know her name, where she lived or even what she looked like. She could remember that she was going to meet Angel, but she couldn't remember who or what Angel was. Was it a person and if so, why did he/she have such a strange name? Was she spiritual or had she lost somebody and believed an Angel would help her? Was it some kind of group she was a member of?

People began to knock into her and curse at her for getting in their way. She looked around and took in her surroundings. The street looked and felt familiar. Had she been here before? Did she live or work on this street? She knew that she was American and by the sounds of people around her she was in California, but where in California? Why could she remember her nationality and the sounds of people's accents? Was she from California or on holiday? Did she look or sound like any of the people around her?

She decided that standing in the middle of a busy street was not helping her, so she started walking. Perhaps something would trigger in her memory or someone would recognize her. As she walked she felt her hands brush against her thighs. She could feel that she was slim and as she placed her hands across her stomach, she felt a well toned abdomen. She let her hands trail up and down her arms. They were also well toned. Was she a fitness instructor, or gym junkie?

The shear material of her clothing tangled in her fingers. She was wearing a flowing white dress and matching overlay. She glanced down at her shoes. At least she knew how to accessorize. She reached the street corner and stopped, looking from side to side, trying to make a decision of which way to go.

"Excuse me Miss, are you lost?"

Miss? The women standing before her called her miss. It was very likely then that she was somewhere in her early to mid twenties. When you are older, then people start to call you mame don't they?

"Young lady are you OK?"

There, young lady. She had to be in her twenties, or perhaps younger. But tracing the feel of her body, she was sure she was not younger then twenty. The women standing before her placed a hand on her arm. Cordelia looked up at her.

"Do you know who I am?"

She didn't mean to say it, it just blurted out. Cordelia's eyes were pleading as she looked at the woman. The woman's gaze showed no familiarity, just fear as she stepped away from Cordelia.

"No dear, I'm sorry."

The woman stepped around Cordelia and continued down the street.

Cordelia looked to her left and could see a small park area with an empty bench. She decided to head over and take a seat. She removed one of her shoes and inspected it closely. They were a white leather, size 6. They looked as though they were brand new or perhaps only for special occasions. Was that where she was headed, somewhere special? It would explain her clothing. She looked at the brand name of the shoe. Not quite Gucci, but not too bad. Gucci? Popular fashion designer. What other designers did she know? Prada, Versace, Channel, Armani. Hundreds of names flew through her brain. Great, can't remember my name but I could tell you all about the Armani fall collection! As she placed the shoe back on her foot she could feel the blisters beginning to emerge. Where ever she was going she obviously wasn't planning on walking.

She felt the warmth of the sun gleaming across her face. She squinted at it's brightness and intensity. Something told her she didn't spend too much time in the sun, that she was more of a night person. She held her hand above her eyes to block out the glare. She notice one single silver band on her middle finger. She drew her hands to her lap and examined the ring. She removed it from her finger and search the inside, hoping to find an engraving. With disappointment she returned it to her finger. She inspected her hands and found that they looked young. They weren't as pale as she thought they may have been. A tan was noticeable but fading. Perhaps from a holiday or a trip to the solarium. Did she do either of these?

Cordelia looked around to make sure no one was looking at her. She then brought her hands to her face and began to trace her features. Her hands were rough against her soft skin. She brought them in front of her eyes again. Something told her she worked hard for a living. Small, dry calluses were visible below her fingers. She obviously lifted heavy objects or frequently gripped something of fair weight. A vision of a sword appeared before her. She sat silently for a few moments and drew in some deep breaths. Don't panic.

She brought her hands to her face again. She felt well placed cheekbones and a proportioned nose. Her upper lip was smaller then her lower. She separated them and found a row of large teeth, but she didn't think that they were too large. She smiled. No, not too big. She traced the shape of her eyes, they were large and her lashes felt soft. What colour were her eyes? Blue, brown, green? Her eyebrows were manicured into a fine arc. She trailed her hands through her hair and felt that it was longer across her face and cropped at the back. What color was her hair. Black, blonde, brown? She had a funny twitching feeling when she thought of blondes. She doubted she was that hair colour, she got the feeling she was too fond of blondes.

She looked across at the bench next to her where a woman was going through her hand bag. Of course! My bag! Cordelia searched both her shoulders for a strap, but failed to find one. She searched around the bench in case it fell, still nothing. She searched her dress for pockets. Yeah right, like you'd get a dress with pockets. Wouldn't she? Obviously not. The woman on the other bench studied Cordelia suspiciously. Cordelia ignored her and search her surroundings again.

There was a convenience store situated across the other side of the park. Cordelia took in a deep breath and decided to go to it. Perhaps she picked things up frequently there and the clerk would know her. As she walked she felt her shoes rub against her feet. I was definitely not expecting to walk.

As she entered the store she could see a magazine rack. She reached for a copy of Vogue which had a picture of Cameron Diaz on it. She turned her nose up slightly. Must be the blonde thing. She flicked through the pages.

"Hey, you can't look at it unless you're going to pay for it."

Cordelia was startled by the clerk and dropped the magazine on the floor.

"Geez."

The male clerk came from behind the counter and picked the magazine up and returned it to the rack.

"What's your problem lady!"

"Do you know who I am?"

The clerk looked her up and down a few times.

"Should I? You famous or something?"

Cordelia stared in silence. Was she? The thought of being an actress felt comforting.

"Well I'm sorry, but famous or not famous, you still have to pay for the magazines."

Cordelia looked over the shoulder of the clerk to see a bulletin of the LA Times. It read "Man in box dragged from ocean. Alive!" She pointed at the page and the clerked turned to look.

"Yeah, kinda freaky huh? They don't know how he survived, they reckon he was down there for a while. Disappeared before they could ask him any questions."

Cordelia looked at the story line for a few moments.

"LA Times? This is LA?"

"Nah, you're about two hours away. We get the papers here too though."

"Here?"

"Yeah, you're just outside of Sunnydale."

Now why did that sound familiar?

Chapter 2

Gunn and Fred slowing moved towards the back gate of the Hyperion. There was misery and depression in their demeanours that even the comfort of one another's presence could not relieve. They mourned for friends lost. They had searched and searched, with devastating results.

Fred stopped dead in her tracks, causing Gunn to fumble and lose his footing. Fred stepped forward as Gunn hit the pavement.

"Hmmm."

"Nope, nothing to worry about Fred, I like the pavement."

"I don't remember us leaving the gate," Fred slowly turned to where Gunn was standing, "op- Oh Gosh! Are you ok?" She knelt down by his side and placed her hands on his shoulders. "I'm sorry, I just saw and then I thought and then I turned and you were on the ground."

Fred's face went red as she starved her body of oxygen. A strong warm hand came to her face.

"I'm fine."

Gunn pulled her head down and placed his lips softly on her forehead. Fred sat, legs tangled under her body, staring into Gunn's eyes. They were usually so clear and peaceful, but since recent events she supposed both their minds and souls had become clouded. Clouded with that one niggling question. Why?

"You ok baby?"

Fred contemplated the question for half a second too long. Gunn's facial expression showed his concern.

"I just…I miss them."

A tear formed in the corner of Fred's eye. Slowly it started to trickle down her face, glistening in the moonlight. Gunn's thumb stopped the tear from descending further and traced it's trail back up his girlfriends face. He then wrapped his hand across the back of her neck and moved her head to his chest, embracing her slight frame.

"I know baby…I know."

They sat there for a few moments, two figures as one. Breathing together in a rhythmic motion. For one moment Fred felt a kind of peace. If only that moment could last forever.

"Come on, let's go inside. It's getting cold out here."

Gunn rose to his feet and offered Fred his hand. She accepted the offer and let Gunn lift her from the ground. They slowly climbed the garden stairs in one another's arms.

Gunn pushed the doors of the hotel open and stepped inside. He placed one foot on the tiled landing and felt it go from under him.

"Like I said, love the pavement…well tile."

He placed his hands on the floor beside him. Water seeped through his clothing and formed small puddles under his hands.

"What the f…FRED!"

As Fred watched Gunn go down on the landing, two cold hands grabbed at her. One moved to her mouth, preventing her from screaming. The other wrapped around her body, isolating her movement. A cold, wet face rubbed at her necked and sniffed her hair.

Gunn returned to his feet and tentatively moved towards Fred. The figure holding her was bathed in darkness. Fred whimpered in fear, her eyes wide and pleading. Gunn took another step closer to the figure. The figure moved off the landing and into the light, taking Fred with it. It growled at Gunn as it step back.

Gunn's eyes widened in shock, his breathing became slow and heavy.

"Angel?"