Title: Family: On to LA

Author: victoriamartynne

Rating: R

Disclaimer: I own nothing!

Spoilers: None, I think!

Summary: Sequel to Family: Back to Sunnydale, Family: Forward to LA and Family: Return to Sunnydale. The Scoobies visit LA and a haunted house.

"You have got to be kidding me." Cordelia murmured and sat down on the couch next to an also shocked looking Angel. "A week?"

Fred nodded solemnly. "I'm so sorry, I agreed before she told me the conditions. And I mean, it is for the greater good."

Cordelia raised an eyebrow. "How is being celibate for a week for the greater good?"

Fred pulled a face. "You'll be helping my aunt and uncle but that is one of their conditions, we all have separate bedrooms."

Fred had dropped a bombshell on them. Her aunt had called and told her they'd bought a hotel in LA, so they could be closer to her. The only problem was, it was haunted. They wanted the AI gang to move in for a week to find out why the spirits were there and 'get rid of them humanely'. Apparently Mrs Burkle felt sorry for them. And Fred being so eager to please, had agreed before consulting the gang.

"Do you think it's even possible?" Angel asked Cordelia quietly as Fred went to inform Lorne and Wes of the plan. Gunn had already been told and was taking his frustrations out on his axe, cleaning it furiously.

Cordelia shook her head glumly. "Nope. What about Connor and Ash? Can we take them with us if the hotel is haunted?"

Angel considered the question. "I wouldn't want them to go if it could be dangerous but there's nowhere to leave them, is there?"

An idea popped into Cordelia's head. "Stay here, I've got an idea."

She bolted to Wes's office and picked up the phone.

"When do we leave?" Angel asked Fred as she came back to him with Wes and Lorne.

"In two days." Gunn replied bitterly from the other side of the lobby. "Two nights."

Fred pulled a face at him and spoke to the others. "Ignore him; he's just mad because he can't do things he'd like to."

"Rather too much information there Fred." Wes replied.

"The hotel is just across town and it's rather large apparently, I haven't seen it. My aunt and uncle said that they wanted us to have a room each so it must be quite big. I think they've got guests already." Fred told them. "It's pretty exciting."

"Problem solved." Cordelia interrupted, coming out of the office. "Willow and Tara are going to come to LA and baby sit for us so we don't have to worry about them. And Buffy said she and Spike would come and help with the case."

"Did you tell her about the sleeping arrangements?" Angel asked, suspecting the answer.

"Of course not." She replied. "I'd never get her here. Besides, I want to see Spike's face when he finds out there's no sex for him for a week."

Angel snorted and admitted that it would be a worthwhile moment.

"I can't begin to say how grateful my aunt and uncle will be that you agreed." Fred gushed and went to the phone to call them and let them know.

"I'm glad someone's going to be happy about the arrangement." Gunn muttered under his breath.

The hotel was tall and imposing, rivalling the size of the Hyperion. Why the Burkle's had chosen such a vast project was beyond Cordelia, who knew how much work it took to run the Hyperion as a home and office, never mind a functioning business. From a first glance she could understand how the place could be haunted. It was huge and dark and rather dreary. As they pulled up outside in Angel's car she could see Buffy perched on the hood of Spike's car with him stood in front of her smoking a cigarette.

Cordelia hopped out of the car to greet Buffy. "Good to see you!"

Buffy grinned. "You too! Look at the size of the place! It's huge."

"I know, have you been inside?"

"Hell no, I thought we'd wait for the poof and his merry men." Spike said, finishing his cig and flinging it over his shoulder.

Cordelia pulled a face at him. "Hi Spike."

"Chit." He nodded hello.

"Well." Angel said as everyone else came up behind them. "Are we going in or what?"

Cordelia grabbed her bag off Angel and followed Fred into the hotel.