Rating: PG-13 (I have my reasons for putting up the rating.)
Summary: Takes place a five months after Darla stakes herself.
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters… It all belongs to Joss Whedon and co.
A/N: Had a bit of trouble getting on to ff.net so I couldn't update. (mumble gumble).
Chapter 18- Confessions
Cordy turned to Wesley and shook her head. "No. It was all kinda blurry. But we have to get him out."
Wesley nodded. "Go home."
Cordy gave him a grateful smile and left with Gunn in tow.
"So." Faith sighed.
"I think we should start by looking up all the… buildings in the Los Angeles area." Wesley took off his glasses. "In forests."
"I'll go ask around." Angel offered.
"Good idea. Take the sewers."
"I know." Angel nodded.
"Um… Faith." Wesley paused. "You can help me."
"OK." Faith grinned.
"Right. Good luck then." Darla started to move towards the door.
"Where do you think you're going?"
Darla looked at Angel as if he was mad.
"We need you're help."
"It seems like you have everything here under control."
"No. Angel's right. We need to cover more ground. You and Darla," Wesley nodded at Angel. "Will stay here. Faith and I will go and ask some contacts."
"Why can't I go?"
"'Cause you have this sunlight problem?"
Angel glared at Faith. "But still…"
Wesley shook his head. "Fred's probably asleep."
Angel nodded. "Let's hit the maps."
Darla rolled her eyes and followed him downstairs. "Oh, joy. What fun."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Wesley led Faith through a dark alleyway.
"Wes, do you know where we're going?"
"Yes." Wesley peered into the darkness in front of him. "This is one of his favourite places."
"Demon?"
"Yeah."
"Well that figures." Faith nodded. "So what's his name?"
"He doesn't really have a name."
"Oh."
"Here." Wesley put his hand on the metal door to their left. He slowly pushed it open.
There was a shuffling sound and moments later a candle was lit. Faith let her eyes adjust to the new light.
"So where's this guy?"
"There."
Faith followed his eyes to see a small purple demon, no more than 3ft tall, blinking up that them.
"Aw. Isn't he cute?" Faith laughed.
The purple demon looked very annoyed and puffed himself up and said in his squeaky voice. "Slayer."
"Clever." Faith nodded.
"I'm here to ask for you're help."
"Again?"
"Yes." Wesley cleared his throat. "Have you heard of the Initiative?"
The demon pondered for a second. "Yes. They disbanded last year. After their project failed."
"What was the project?"
"That, I do not know."
"OK." Wesley sighed. "Do you know anything else about them? Anything recent?"
"No."
"Right then." Wesley looked at Faith and then the demon. "Thank you."
The purple demon nodded and watched as the pair left.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Darla sighed for the sixth time five minutes. Angel looked up from his map.
"Now what?"
"Nothing."
"Darla!"
"Yes."
Angel shook his head. "Never mind."
"Angel?"
"Yeah?"
Darla shook her head. "Never mind."
Angel glowered at her.
"Don't do that. You'll get wrinkles."
"Do I have wrinkles?" Angel felt his face.
"Yeah. Worry lines." Darla nodded.
Before Angel could answer, Riley walked into the hotel with a very dazed (A/N: was gonna put dopey.) looking Buffy clinging onto his arm.
"I er… have something for you." Riley gestured to Buffy.
"Thanks for bringing her back." Angel strained a smile.
"No problem." Riley nodded and pried Buffy off his arm. "Bye Buffy."
"Hm… Bye… Riley?" Buffy squinted. "Yeah. Bye Riley."
To the surprise of everyone there, Buffy leaned up and kissed Riley on the mouth. Darla raised her eyebrows and looked at Angel.
"I have no idea what that was about." Riley said quickly, noticing the look on Angel's face.
"Yes you do, silly." Buffy swatted his chest lightly. "You're goooooooooood."
Darla smirked. This was going to be fun. Angel looked as if he was going to kill someone. Namely the idiot standing in front of them.
"I don't know what you're talking about Buffy." Riley shifted nervously.
"What? That meant nothing to you? Was I not good enough?" Buffy wailed.
"No, no, you were great but…" Riley trailed off, knowing he had said too much.
Angel growled menacingly and charged at Riley, knocking both him and Buffy to the ground.
"Now, now." Darla moved to where the fight was. "Not now, my boy. Plenty of time for that later."
"Who the hell are you?" Riley managed to choke out.
Darla smiled and offered him a hand. "I'm Darla."
"Hi. I'm Riley." Riley looked surprised as Darla pulled him to his feet with remarkable strength.
"No, no. You're breakfast." And with that, Darla morphed into her game face.
Riley's eyes grew wide. "You're a…"
"Vampire? Yes." Darla grinned at him toothily.
"Help!" A faint voice shouted from upstairs.
"What was that?" Riley glanced towards the stairs.
"It was nothing."
"I heard a voice."
"No you didn't."
"But I-."
Before Riley knew what was happening, he was out cold on the floor. Darla dusted off her hands.
"Why did you do that?" Angel stood up, pulling Buffy with him.
"He was getting suspicious."
"Still…"
"Anyway, I didn't think you'd mind since you were about to kill him yourself."
Angel looked away from her.
"Did I hit a sensitive spot?" Darla teased.
"I'm gonna go put Buffy to bed."
Darla watched Angel as he trudged miserably to his room. It's going to be one hell of a day. Darla smiled to herself.
To Be Continued…
A/N: You likes? Heehee! Say 'i' if you want to know who the man is. You know. The one that's getting beaten up. *Raises hand* "i"!