Her figure swayed gently in the candle lit room, a warm glow tinting her skin, a simple black gown covering her as she sauntered towards him. "Buffy," Angel managed to croak, all his feelings for Cordelia, his anger at her pregnancy, jealousy that she'd slept with Spike, guilt over all that had happened as Angelus, vanished at the sight of her. "What. when. what.?"

"Good, Angel, now whole sentences," she teased gently, in her soft, happy voice. It had been a long time since he'd heard that tone. He smiled wryly and she stepped closer. "I miss you," she pouted a little, slipping her arm around his waist. "So much."

"I. we. Buffy." he groaned, as she started to move sensuously against him. "No. We can't. I just."

"Got your soul back, I know," she reminded him, her words sliding over him, cloaking him in a false sense of security. "It doesn't matter," she pulled away a little. "That's not why I'm here."

"Why are you?" he looked hard at her for a sign of something.

"Truth is, I'm not even really your little princess," the figure continued. Angel blinked, more confused, and a little frightened. "Your Buffy never came back. She's still floating around in Heaven. I heard she's an Angel or a Goddess or something. doesn't really matter. Without her on this plane, I got control back."

"What?"

"Angel, baby, you always knew I'd come back," it walked to him again, kissing his cheek. "You always knew this would happen, ever since Christmas before you left that bitch."

"The First isn't corporeal," he argued immediately, backing away.

"No, I'm not," it agreed. "Usually. But see, this is a special case. Red's little spell didn't work completely. Only brought back part of Buffy. I still have to fight down her mind's ridiculous morals half the time, but as of. well, now, I'm in complete control. I won."

"No," Angel backed out of the room, shaking his head. The First ignored him.

"Here's the thing, handsome. This 'dark power' in L.A. is from another dimension. It doesn't belong here and it's pissing me off. I need it out of the way. Now, I know you want me locked away where you don't have to deal with me, but here's the thing: I'll take a break, if you help me defeat your other bitch."

"What the Hell are you talking about?"

"The Beast Master, as you've so cleverly named it, is your newest blond plaything, Cordelia," it leaned casually against the doorframe. "She spent so long in Hell after she defied the Powers that there's no good left in her. The kid in her's a demon, and I am going to kill everyone the real love of your life cared about. Your help will ensue that it's with minimal pain."

"Stop," a small light formed in the middle of Angel's bedroom. He blinked as it spoke in Buffy's voice.