Authors note: WARNING spoilers are included in this chap for the ending of both Buffy and Angel. Do not read if you don't want to know what happens!! By the way, this is my own way of season 4 angel, yes its incredibly similar but tough!!

Here goes..

Chap 18

THE PAST

I looked over the banister and down onto my crowded foyer. Here and there I could spot Gunn and Wesley making light conversation amongst the bustling crowd and Lorne was even discussing the latest musical hits with a young gentleman.

My Son.

He was stood at her side proud. And so he should be. She is magnificent, full of beauty and courage. I smile to myself as I watch them approach.

"Angel" Her voice is so magical.

"Jasmine." I reply

She smiles that beautiful smile and I feel everything start to crumble inside. "What are you so worried about?" She asks quizzically.

"I'm afraid I'm gonna."

"Change?" Conner finished the sentence.

"Yeah." I look down at my feet.

"Do not fear Angel for if Angelus is brought fourth not even he could spread much evil across this land. Relax, enjoy."

I turn away to look down at the crowds once more. Suddenly everything fell quiet as I spotted Fred, stood in the centre of the room her face stricken with fear.

I make my way to her.

"Fred?" I question but she doesn't seem to be able to hear me. I follow her gaze and see that she is staring at Jasmine. "What is it?" She looks at me and whispers a sorry.

I look back puzzled. "Angel, I have to do this." She lifts a knife and slashes fast across my chest drawing blood instantly. I can feel the warm liquid drizzling across my skin. Anger brews inside me but I have no chance to react as Fred lifts a blood-covered hand and places it across my chest.

I swing out and knock her to the ground. Wesley has seen the commotion and is soon at my side.

"What is it Angel?" Then he noticed Fred's body, stretched out on the floor at my feet.

"I don't know, she stabbed me."

"Angel?" I looked up and to my horror at Conner's side stood a 7ft tall demon, its body hidden by a scarlet cloak so only the face could be seen. And what a face it was. Green, mouldy skin hung, peeling away from the already maggot eating crevices, maggots hide inside the empty holes for eyes.

"DEMON!" I yelled leaping towards my weapons cabinet.

There I grabbed a sword, its silvery appearance shone inside the room. I ran at it but suddenly I was stopped. Conner stood in its way.

"Get out of the way Conner."

"Why are you trying to kill Jasmine?" He looked back baffled.

"That is not Jasmine, Conner." I replied.

"Damn boy, is there something wrong with your eyesight?" Gunn grabbed me from behind.

"So you can't see it?"

"See what Angel? There's nothing there but Jasmine." Wesley replied.

"Let me go Gunn."

"Drop the sword and I'll think about it." He tightened his grip.

"Fine." The sword fell the ground with a loud clatter.

I was released from his grip yet I felt the tension. They weren't going to let me near Jasmine and by the amount of people that had gathered around the exits I'm pretty sure they weren't going to let me leave either.

I picked Fred up from the floor and went into my office. Yes I knew I was being watched and I knew that I was practically a prisoner in my own home but this thing had to be stopped.

******

PRESENT DAY

I sat in my chair debating what I should do, Jasmine had been defeated and now I sat alone in my office. "Quit the brooding." Gunn sighed, walking in and sitting in a chair opposite me. "Its really weird seeing you like that. Kinda creeps me out."

"What you haven't got used to my brooding?"

"No idiot, the fact you're sitting in direct sunlight." Gunn gestures to the large window that spreads across the entire wall.

I stand and walk to it, feeling the sun against my face as I stare out to the city below. It feels amazing almost as if I was human once more. If only I was human.

"Amazing creation, only Wolfram and Hart would think about that one wouldn't they." Wesley smiles from the doorway.

"We could so sell that idea and get money for it." Gunn adds.

"What is it Wes?" I sigh, knowing he was here on business.

"It's Lilah she wants to show you something." Wes replys.

"O yay yet another surprise." I sigh and follow Wes out of the room.

Lilah is waiting in a room near by and I enter cautiously. I still don't trust the woman. She says nothing and just points a remote control at a wooden panelled wall. I wait patiently, there are so many hidden secrets that I have to learn about this place.

Behind the wall there are TV screens, dozens of them, covering the entire wall. This wasn't that much of a surprise - hell I'd seen a TV before. It was what was on them that shocked me.

Buffy. Her muscles tensed as she fought onwards, her face was cut and bleeding and clearly she wasn't doing to well in this particular fight. I watched as she continued to fight this man, priest thing and horror struck me as he continued to beat her down.

Lilah saw my shock. "Angel, it's the first." She looks at me slightly bemused.

"The first evil." I remember that day well when the first tried to get me to kill myself. But why hadn't she told me? Why hadn't she called me to tell me she was struggling?

Lilah reaches out and places a large envelope in my hand. "Inside you will find all the details you need to know about what has happened after you left her, also inside there is an amulet that should help her win this war."

"Thanks." I whisper running out of the room. I stand in my office for what seems like hours as the sun starts to set, casting an eerie orange glow over the city of angels.

I then take this opportunity to leave and make my way back to Sunnydale.

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