Title: Who's next 12/?

Arthur: Christen Hays (PurplehaysC@hotmail.com) if you want to email me during the week email me at (cha005@latech.edu)

Disclaimer: These Characters belong to Joss Whedon, except Tiama and anyone else you do not recognize.

Distribution: Take it, but let me know. If you have any of my other fics, go ahead.

Comments: this is my first fanfic so please be gentle! And I want all the comments good or bad you have!  (Oh I got this idea from reading Child of Love so who ever wrote that thanks) The song that Angel sings is I'll Have To Say I Love You In A Song by Jim Croce Ok guys it's been suggested that I get an beta reader (editor) for my stories. If you are willing to do that then email me please.

Tiama's head finally hit the pillow. She woke up and felt the wind on her face. It sent a chill down her spine. She couldn't put a name to the place where she was but it felt oddly familiar. She passed a group of people who almost knocked her to the floor of course they couldn't see her so they didn't even know what they'd done to her. She looked around the street to try to figure out where she was. "The Bronze" was the only name the building had.  She figured she should go in. She reached for the doorknob but quickly realized she could go right through the door. She looked around and saw people playing pool, talking, eating and a band was playing. She knew there was a reason she was here. She noticed a couple on the dance floor. She walked over to them and recognized the guy. It was her father. He was holding someone tight. She looked closely at the girl and noticed it was her mother. As her mother pulled away she noticed her father had a cross burned into his chest.

Angel came to the door, knocked and slowly started to open the door. He saw Tiama in a deep sleep. She had Andy bear clutched close to her. She had tears coming down her face. Angel sat down next to Tiama's bed and watched her. She looked so troubled but he still didn't wake her up. He took a deep breath, closed his eyes and let his mind wander. Angel kissed a little Tiama on the head and started to leave the room.

"I'm not asleep." She exclaimed.

Angel came back in the room smiling. "Then why were your eyes closed?"

"I was just pretending."

"I thought you were. So what can I do to get you to got sleep?"

Tiama thought for a minute. "Another story?"

"I've already read you three."

"A glass of water?"

"You already had one and one is the limit remember?"

"I remember. Ok a song?"

"You know I can't sing."

"No I don't. I think you have a very pretty voice."

"You are a little bias."

"Bias?" She asked confused.

"Never mind. You sure you want me to sing?"

"It's the only that will put me to sleep."

"Ok what song?"

"You pick."

Angel thought for a minute. "Ok I've got a song. How about you get comfortable?"

Tiama hit her pillow and then laid down flat. "I'm ready."

"Ok…. Well, I know it's kind of late
I hope I didn't wake you
But what I got to say can't wait
I know you'd understand
'Cause every time I tried to tell you
The words just came out wrong
So I'll have to say I love you in a song

Yeah, I know it's kind of strange
But every time I'm near you
I just run out of things to say
I know you'd understand
'Cause every time I tried to tell you
The words just came out wrong
So I'll have to say I love you in a song

'Cause Every time the time was right
All the words just came out wrong
So I'll have to say I love you in a song

Yeah, I know it's kind of late
I hope I didn't wake you
But there's something that I just got to say
I know you'd understand
'Cause every time I tried to tell you
The words just came out wrong
So I'll have to say I love you in a song." By the time Angel was through Tiama was asleep.

Angel came back to reality, looked down at Tiama and kissed her on the forehead. "I love you. I hope you know that the only reason I'm fighting this so hard is because I love you."  Angel said as he got up and left the room.

Cordy walked into Tiama's room and started laughing. "What did you do to the poor child?" Cordy asked Angel.

"Do I look pretty?" Little Tiama asked as she got up and spun around for Cordelia. "Daddy did my hair." She said proudly.

"I can see that." Cordy said laughing.

"What's so funny? I think she looks great."

"You would. Oh Tia, how about you let me do you hair like mine?"

"Is that ok, daddy?"

Angel looked at Cordy. " Yeah."

"Ok and let's make sure that if you ever have another question about your hair or cloths you come to me, ok?"

"Why?"

"Because your daddy despite his best efforts really doesn't know that much about this girly stuff. And well I do."

"Daddy is that true?"

Angel smiled. "Sadly enough yes it's true. Now why don't you go get your brush, so Cordelia can you do you hair?"

"Ok." Tiama said as she started searching for her brush.

"Thanks." Angel told Cordelia.

"No problem I'm just glad that I'm good for something."

"You're more than just something in Tiama's eyes. I hope you know that."

"You ok?" Xander asked as he came over to Cordelia.

"What?" Cordelia asked as she came back to reality.

"Where did you go?" Xander asked as he sat down next to her.

"I don't really know. Back into some happy old memories." Cordelia said smiling.

"Mind sharing?"

"Just some memories of when Tiama was little. I can't believe her life has come to this."

"You know even if she is the slayer, she'll be ok."

"You don't know that."

"But I believe it and so should you. There's no reason to give up on her. She wouldn't give up on you, now would she?"

"I guess not."

Damon came out of the closet. He walked over to Tiama. It was a close call that Angel didn't catch him sitting next to her bedside. He looked down at Tiama and noticed how unsettled she looked. He worried that maybe giving her those sleeping pills wasn't a good idea. That it only made things worse. That's the last he wanted to do. He was running out of ideas though. He wanted to be there for her. He wanted to help her but he didn't even know where to begin. He wanted to take away all the pain she was feeling but he knew he couldn't. What she was going through was her very own "calling".  And from what Tiama's mother had said about her calling it wasn't something that you got to choose.  Damon got up and decided he wasn't going to be much help up here so he should try to help downstairs.

"So who wants to be the one to tell them that there's nothing we can do?" Oz asked.

"I vote Giles." Spike said.

"I'm not saying anything." Giles said.

"Ok then Will."

"No I can't tell Angel to give up on his daughter."

"Why not?" Spike asked confused.

"Because if Damon was in her place I wouldn't want to give up on him."

"But sweetheart there isn't anything we can do." Oz said.

"We may know that but they don't need to know that." Will said looking at Cordy, Wesley, Fred and Gunn.

"Find anything?" Wesley asked Fred and Gunn.

"Not yet. But we're not giving up." Gunn said.

Fred didn't hear them; her thoughts were somewhere else. "Fred, Cordy and I are leaving do you think you can watch Tiama?" Angel asked as he came downstairs.

"Why am I coming with you?" Cordelia asked confused.

"Because your details of the vision were too vague. I need you to help me find it."

"You know I'm not a dog. I can't just sniff out the location." Cordelia said annoyed.

"Wait, why am I watching Tiama?" Fred asked worried.

"I don't have the money for a babysitter, she knows you and I don't really trust her with Gunn or Wesley."

"But…"

"Fred our cell phone numbers are at the desk. You'll be fine she's only a little girl." Angel said.

"And if we don't answer the phone. It's because I killed Angel for comparing me to a dog." Cordy said as her and Angel left.

"Ok." Fred said nervously. "I can do this."

"Daddy!" Tiama screamed.

Fred dropped the folder she had in her hands and ran upstairs to Tiama's room. When she opened the door, she saw Tiama crying. "Tiama, what's wrong?"

"Where's my daddy?" She asked.

"He and Aunt Cordy went out for a while. But I'm here."

Tiama was silent for a second. "Have you ever played hide and seek?"

"Yes. Is that what you want to do?"

"Chutes and ladders?"

"Yes."

"Gold fish?"

"Yes."

"Ever been to Disney land?"

"No."

"Do you want to go?"

"Why do you asked?"

"Just seeing if you were a good babysitter or not."

"Am I?"

"So far, you're ok but it all depends on one question."

"Which is?"

"Can you take me to Disneyland now?"

Fred laughed. "No."

"Well I had to try." Tiama said smiling.

"Angel: What's happening?
Buffy: Shh. Don't worry about it. I love you.
Angel: I love you.
Buffy: Close your eyes."

Tiama watched the scene and before she could think about what she saw the scene changed.

"Whistler: She's gonna have it tough, that Slayer. She's just a kid. The world's full of big, bad things.
Angel: I wanna help her. I want...I wanna become someone.
Whistler: God, jeez, look at you. She must be prettier than the last Slayer. This isn't gonna be easy. The more you live in this world, the more you see how apart from it you really are. And this is dangerous work. Right now, you couldn't go three rounds with a fruit fly!
Angel: I wanna learn from you.
Whistler: Alright.
Angel: But I don't wanna dress like you.
Whistler: Again, you're annoying me. You're lucky we need you on our side."

"Why was she seeing all this? What was this?"

"Angel: You still my girl?
Buffy: Always."

"Ok there's my dad and mom again but why?"

"Buffy: The funeral was... (sighs) it was brutal, but it's tomorrow that I'm worried about.
Angel: What's tomorrow?
Buffy: That's exactly what I don't know. Up until now I've had a road map. Things to do every minute, having to do with Mom.
Angel: Tomorrow the stuff of everyday living resumes.
Buffy: And everybody expects me to know how to do it, because... (sarcastically) I'm so strong."

"Why am I watching this? Why do I need to know this?"

"Angelus: My boy Acathla here is about to wake up. You're going to Hell.
Buffy: Save me a seat."

Tiama was so confused. She was seeing and hearing pieces of things that made not sense. She felt so lost and confused. She just wanted to wake up.

"Need some help?"

Tiama turned around. The voices and flashes stopped. "You look familiar."

"I should. Your dad, Aunt Cordy and I go way back."

"Doyle?"

"You got it."

"Why are you here?"

"Your mother sent me to help you."

"Help me how?"

"She said I'd be your guide."

"Do you know how to be my guide?"

"No clue."

"Great! This should be tons of fun!" Tiama said sarcastically.

"Everything that involves me always is."