Chapter 19
Drusilla felt herself being shaken awake. Her eyes opened to find Spike's face looming over hers.
'Are you alright, luv?' he asked. Drusilla sat up and looked around. Her eyes then focused on the TV.
'What happened to the movie?'
'Well, you fell asleep. I figured we'd watch it some other time. Then, I was making dinner...'
Drusilla gave him a knowing look. Spike sighed.
'Alright, I was calling for a pizza for you and next thing I know, you're over here screaming bloody murder.'
Drusilla sat up even straighter.
'Oh.' was all she said.
'That's all you have to say?'
'That's all I want to say.' Drusilla said, as she began to stand up. Spike stood as well.
'Thanks for trying, but nothing is going to take my mind off of Angelus. I need to be with the girls and find out what's going on. Hopefully, Cole isn't involved in any of this.'
'In what world are you living in, luv? The man's claws are all over this thing! He needed a way to break up Angel and Phoebe and now he's done it! Just like he needed a way to come between us with his 'Buffy Shenanigans'.'
'So, you're still sticking to that story, hey?' Drusilla asked, too tired to be upset by Spike's accusations. She just didn't want to keep going over this.
'Dru, I want you to orb me over to Belthazor's apartment.'
Drusilla blinked.
'Why?'
'Because I'm going to prove to you that he was the one that you threw into that wall, not Buffy.'
'Oh, Spike! We don't have time for this! Now, I'm going back over to the manor. Maybe I can help Wesley and Paige find a spell for Angel.'
'First thing is first! Because after we do cure Angel, there's still the problem with your attitude towards that bloody bastard! He's the enemy, Dru, not me.'
Drusilla smoothed down her hair.
'You know what? Fine! Let's just do this and get it over with.' she said, snatching his hand and orbing off with him.
****
Cole had just stepped from the shower, with a towel wrapped around his waist, when Drusilla and Spike orbed in. Dru, for her part, was a little startled to see Cole in this state of undress.
Cole, for his part, didn't care to see Spike, in his apartment, eyeballing him.
'Dru? What's going on here?'
But Spike moved so that he could see Cole's back. He then grinned.
'Turn around for us, won't you Belthzor?'
Cole ignored Spike.
'Dru? What is this? I have a date tonight.'
'With who?' Drusilla asked suspiciously. Cole walked up to her.
'Dru, now don't be jealous. This thing that we have wasn't going to last, you were the first to say that...I packed up all of the rest of your stuff...Phoebe and I are getting married again.'
Drusilla's mouth dropped open and she looked over at Spike, who raised a brow.
'How is that possible? Phoebe loves Angel.'
'Dru, we both know Angel isn't himself and probably never will be again. Phoebe came to me, a little bit before you and 'Billy Idol' here orbed in. She wants to be with me again.'
'Oh bollocks! She wants to save Angel! What did she offer you? A proper shagging?' Spike asked with disgust.
'Dru, get him out of here!' Cole snapped, then turned and began to walk towards his bedroom. Drusilla gasped and Cole turned around again.
'Dru? What is it?'
But Drusilla was staring at the very nasty looking bruise that ran down Cole's back.
'What happened to you?'
Cole lifted a brow.
'I don't understand.'
'What she means, 'mate' is where did that sodding bruise on your back come from?'
Cole realized what was happening then. He thought about lying. But, now that he had another chance with Phoebe, maybe it was time to cut ties to Drusilla.
But, his intention this whole time, was to turn her to his side, so that he could solidify his powerbase in the underworld. No, maybe he would lie.
'You're getting ready to lie to me!' Drusilla snapped. 'I can tell...I can feel it!'
Oh bloody hell! Spike thought. Now Dru had Phoebe's enpath powers! Bad bit of luck for old Belthazor here!
'You can 'feel' it? Dru, tell me what's going on with your powers!' Cole demanded. He took a step towards her, but Dru put out her hands to ward him off....and ended up blowing him up!
'No!' Drusilla screamed, as she watched his molecules swarm around like flies! Spike hurried over to her.
'Let's get out of here, luv, before he puts himself back together. Chances are he'll have a fireball waiting for us!'
'I don't care!' Drusilla snapped, angry. She wanted an explanation from Cole, NOW!
Sure enough, Cole managed to morph back to his human self. He smiled.
'Dru...you have the powers off all of the Charmed Ones. Can you freeze things...like this!'
Cole threw a fireball at her and Spike! Dru moved her hands towards it and froze it halfway! Spike's mouth dropped open!
'Oh, Dru...we really need to get to Leo!'
But Drusilla ignored him and focused in on Cole.
'You did this. You turned Angel back into Angelus to get Phoebe back and now....now...now she's offered herself to you to get Angel back only....' Dru began shaking her head.
'What is it, pet?'Spike asked. Dru bit her lip.
'There's something else...he can't do it...he's lied to Phoebe....I sense it!'
'I can do it! It will just take a little longer! The point is, Phoebe doesn't need to be with someone like Angel! What kind of life can the two of them have together, if they can't have sex? And Phoebe is VERY sexual. Being with a eunuch would not be her style!' Cole barked.
Drusilla turned away from him and grabbed Spike's hand.
'Let's go.' she said. Spike could see that she now believed him, and the idea that she had been so wrong about Belthazor, did not make her happy in the least. They orbed away, leaving Cole to realize that he had to find another witch to restore Angel's soul, before Dru told Phoebe her suspicions about his not being able to live up to his part of the bargain.
****
But instead of orbing back to Spike's apartment, or to Haliwell manor, Drusilla ended up taking them back to her crypt. The one that she had been living in when she first arrived in San Francisco. The one that Spike had tried to nurse her back to health in.
Drusilla let go of Spike and walked over to the bed and sat down, leaving Spike in the middle of the room.
'Huh, Dru?'
Dru stared at him, but did not respond.
'What are we doing here?' he asked, looking around.
'Oh, that's right. I guess you don't know.'
'Know what, luv?' he asked, walking over to the bed and sitting down beside her.
'I lived here...when I first got to town.' she said, then looked over at a small, empty shelf. She pointed at it.
'That's where I used to keep Miss Edith and my other dolls...oh Spike! I can't deal with this soul and being human! It was just so much easier as a vampire!'
'Dru, I've told you, your powers are manageable! We'll find out why you're so powerful and we'll deal with it. Don't let Belthazor's betrayal get to you...although I did tell you he was no damned good...'
But Drusilla began shaking her head adamantly!
'And if I was still a vampire I could shrug all of this off! I would just have regular vampire strength...I could move on!'
'Like you did when I told you I loved Buffy?'
Drusilla chose not to answer that. She didn't want to talk about Buffy.
'Spike, I need for you to turn me again.'
'Drusilla!'
But Drusilla jumped up!
'Oh I'm bloody serious! Turn me back into a vampire and I can then deal with Angelus! I wouldn't be a witch with out of control powers....and it wouldn't hurt that Piper, Phoebe and Paige didn't see me as a real sister. Just do this for me, Spike! If you ever loved me at all, you'll do this!'
But Spike slowly stood up as well.
'If I ever loved you? How can you ask me that? The fact that I do love you is the reason why we're going to pretend this conversation NEVER happened! You're asking me to sentence you to eternal damnation again?! I'm not the same man you spent over a century with and just the very idea of your thinking that I could just rankles the very....'
But Drusilla had stopped listening to him. She was staring at his aura. Buffy was gone.
'Dru? Dru, what is it? Is it another vision?' he asked. He hoped it was another vision! Spike did not think he had ever seen her look at him like that before.
Drusilla walked up to him, closing the distance between them.
'She's gone.' she said softly. She reached out to touch his face.
'Who's gone, luv?'
'Buffy....she was there....fading away....she's gone....' Drusilla said in disbelief.
Spike sensed this was a turning point. He sensed that now, maybe, Drusilla believed that he was sincere in his feelings for her.
'Of course she's gone, lamb, she has been for a long time now and...'
Drusilla grabbed the back of his head and pulled her to him, kissing him hard! In the back of Spike's mind, he considered asking her if she was sure this was what she wanted. But instead of pushing her away to ask, he ripped the shirt that Paige had loaned her, off of her, and pushed her down onto the bed.
****
Lilah lifted a brow, as the second security guard, dropped to the floor of Angel's office, next to his partner.
Angelus wiped his mouth.
'Well, thank you darlin'! I guess that'll satiate me...for now.' he said, his eyes looking her over. He would love to turn her...yet, what would be the challenge in turning someone evil, that already was?
Angelus looked over at Harmony, who was sitting on the edge of his desk, swinging her legs back and forth.
'Honey, could you get someone in here to clean up the mess? I don't want to offend any of the clients.'
'Sure thing!' Harmony chirped, jumping down off of the desk. She started to walk past Angelus, but he grabbed her, pulling her back and kissing her roughly. The two of them began to fall to the floor!
'Hey!' Lilah snapped. Angelus, who was just as annoying, rude and murderous as usual, was also hornier than hell! He had been giving Harmony the eye, while he was sucking the security guards dry!
Angelus and Harmony stopped kissing. They both looked at Lilah. Angelus grinned!
'Lilah!' Angelus called out in a sing song voice, 'don't be jealous! I'd include you in our fun...but a threesome in the office is just so unprofessional.'
'I'm glad you think so, Angelus. We have a client coming in just a few minutes.'
Harmony looked puzzled.
'Angel...Angelus doesn't have any appointments today. I checked his book.'
Lilah looked at her.
'Go and get some refreshments ready, please.'
Harmony didn't like her tone. But, Angelus was doing nothing to come to her defense, so she walked out of the office, pouting.
'My, this client must be a real money maker, for you to get snippy with my secretary,' Angelus noted and began moving towards her, 'or is it more than that?'
Lilah didn't break off eye contact. While she preferred Angelus to Angel anyday, the memory of his trying to kill her a few years back, had cooled any attraction she could've felt for the vampire.
'Clean these bodies up before our client shows.' was all Lilah said.
'Oh, don't go out of your way on my account.'
Angelus and Lilah turned to see Cole walk in, dressed in a designer suit. Lilah smiled. Cole/a.k.a.. Belthazor, had interned at Wolfram & Hart, some years back. He looked...looked...rich and prosperous, Lilah thought.
Angelus sensed Lilah's attraction for the demonic lawyer, and found himself feeling a bit put out. What the hell was he doing here?!
'Well, well, well! Belthazor! Come to take me to task for mistreating your witches? You know, Phoebe and Dru...though Dru will always be all vampire to me.'
Cole straightened his tie. He still couldn't believe this vampire trash had touched his Phoebe!
'Actually, I called Lilah here because I want to throw a wedding reception here...in one of the banquet rooms here.'
Angelus eyed Lilah, who was still leering at Cole. Angelus realized he would have to get the information he sought, by himself.
Cole smiled thinly at him.
'Phoebe and I are getting re-married.'
Angelus burst out laughing!
'Yeah, well I'm sure that's because I'm not interested anymore. My, she must be desperate, to go back to the likes of you.'
'Actually, I thought the same thing when she started hanging out with someone who couldn't go out in daylight.' Cole said smoothly and turned to Lilah.
'Lilah? A word, please?'
Lilah only half glanced back at Angelus, before walking out into the hallway with Cole. She closed Angel's office door.
'Alright, Cole. What really brings you by?'
'Oh, Phoebe and I really are getting re-married.'
'God! I heard she hated your guts.'
'Yes, well, I suspect she still does. But, we've come to an arrangement. One that I need your help with.'
Lilah folded her arms.
'I'm not in the business of making deals and not getting something in return. So, what is this 'help' that you need?'
'I want Angelus turned back to Angel.'
'No. The senior partners think Angelus is a money maker. And with his murderous reputation...'
'You tell the senior partners, that I am a money maker as well.' her reminder her. Lilah said nothing, but mulled it over. Belthazor had once been the Source. The Source of all Evil. That was nothing to sniff at. And, she knew he had murdered Raagon, a demon who had been trying to rule in the underworld....hmmm.
'I don't know, Cole. I mean, while your offer is appealing, we all know why you were not successful. The witch. And now you're telling me that you want to become the CEO of Wolfram & Hart, and re-marry the same witch that caused your fall?'
Cole put a hand on her shoulder.
'Lilah, we both know what I can do. And with Phoebe, I can bring a Charmed One into the fold here.'
'I thought you were living with Drusilla? Word is her powers are beginning to surpass the three witches combined. What good do we need with a witch that has no real, physical powers?'
'The premonitions will be invaluable to the firm. And don't count Drusilla out yet....this is the deal Lilah. None of this will be possible if I don't restore Angel's soul. And I killed the witch that knew the spell.'
'Oh, smart, Cole!'
'I know, I know! I messed up! Look, can you help me out or what?'
Lilah smiled at him.
'I'll run your offer by the senior partners and see what they say. I won't make any promises, but, I do believe they will be intrigued.'
Cole smiled, then planted a kiss on her cheek. Lilah walked off. Cole shimmered away. Harmony emerged from behind a potted plant! She had to tell Angelus that Lilah and Cole were getting ready to knife him in the back!
****
'I can't believe you did this!' Paige yelled. Wesley rubbed the back of her shoulders.
'Paige, it is the only way, for now. Phoebe won't actually have to marry Cole.' he reassured her.
But Phoebe looked at her younger sister.
'I'm prepared to do so. I'm prepared to do anything to get Angel back.'
'So you can live without him?' Paige asked. 'No, there has to be another way!'
Piper came into the room looking quite irritated.
'Wyatt is asleep in the other room, Paige, and I want him to stay that way.'
'Sorry.' Paige muttered. Phoebe smiled at her.
'I love you all for caring, but I will be okay. And believe me, I don't plan to stay married to him forever either. Look, I have to get ready...I'm having dinner with him tonight.'
'Oh Lord!' Paige sighed. Phoebe turned and left the room. Piper shook a finger at her sister.
'Paige...'
'Look, guys, I'm sorry, but am I the only one that thinks this is just wrong?! And Cole isn't going to restore Angel's soul! I mean it's too his advantage to keep him evil so that Phoebe will probably grow to hate him!'
Leo orbed in. Wesley let go of Paige and walked over to him.
'What did you find out about Drusilla's powers?' he asked the Whitelighter.
Leo looked grave.
'She will, if she doesn't already, have all of your powers. We already know she can freeze time.'
'But how is this possible? I mean, none of our other ancestor witches could do so much. That's why we're the 'Charmed Ones'.' Piper said.
'I know. It looks like the secret is in finding out Drusilla's real father's origins. All of your ancestor witches had mortal fathers.'
'My real father isn't a mortal.' Paige reminded him.
'Yes, and you can do more than Prue could because of it. But, for Dru to have so much power....the consensus is her father was a demon of some sort.'
'Oh God!' Piper cried out.
****
Upstairs, Phoebe half-heartedly began to pick out a dress to wear on her date tonight with Cole.
But the only face she kept picturing was Angel's. How he had looked when she first saw him in his office. How he had looked all the other moments they had spent together. How is eyes got all soft before they kissed. How gentle he had been with her while they were making love...she just found it hard to believe, that there wasn't a trace of the man she loved, left inside the monster that was inhabiting his body now. She missed him.
Phoebe sighed and pulled out a red, strapless number. This was for a good cause. She just had to keep telling herself that.
She closed the door to her closet, then looked in the mirror on the outside of it and jumped! She turned around.
'Who are you?!' Phoebe demanded to know.
Fiathna, daughter of the late Raagon, and half assed seer, took a step towards her.
'My name is Fiathna. Belthazor murdered my father and will probably kill me too. I know what you're going through...or at least I foresaw it...a little late...well, that's not the point.'
'What is?!' Phoebe snapped, looking the small looking girl, up and down.
'I want to help you stop Belthazor. But I need your help...and your protection.'
'Why should I help you? Why should my sisters either?'
'Belthazor killed the witch that took Angel's soul. He's lying to you. He wants to rule in hell and use Drusilla's powers against all of you. Now will you help me?' Fiathna begged.
Drusilla felt herself being shaken awake. Her eyes opened to find Spike's face looming over hers.
'Are you alright, luv?' he asked. Drusilla sat up and looked around. Her eyes then focused on the TV.
'What happened to the movie?'
'Well, you fell asleep. I figured we'd watch it some other time. Then, I was making dinner...'
Drusilla gave him a knowing look. Spike sighed.
'Alright, I was calling for a pizza for you and next thing I know, you're over here screaming bloody murder.'
Drusilla sat up even straighter.
'Oh.' was all she said.
'That's all you have to say?'
'That's all I want to say.' Drusilla said, as she began to stand up. Spike stood as well.
'Thanks for trying, but nothing is going to take my mind off of Angelus. I need to be with the girls and find out what's going on. Hopefully, Cole isn't involved in any of this.'
'In what world are you living in, luv? The man's claws are all over this thing! He needed a way to break up Angel and Phoebe and now he's done it! Just like he needed a way to come between us with his 'Buffy Shenanigans'.'
'So, you're still sticking to that story, hey?' Drusilla asked, too tired to be upset by Spike's accusations. She just didn't want to keep going over this.
'Dru, I want you to orb me over to Belthazor's apartment.'
Drusilla blinked.
'Why?'
'Because I'm going to prove to you that he was the one that you threw into that wall, not Buffy.'
'Oh, Spike! We don't have time for this! Now, I'm going back over to the manor. Maybe I can help Wesley and Paige find a spell for Angel.'
'First thing is first! Because after we do cure Angel, there's still the problem with your attitude towards that bloody bastard! He's the enemy, Dru, not me.'
Drusilla smoothed down her hair.
'You know what? Fine! Let's just do this and get it over with.' she said, snatching his hand and orbing off with him.
****
Cole had just stepped from the shower, with a towel wrapped around his waist, when Drusilla and Spike orbed in. Dru, for her part, was a little startled to see Cole in this state of undress.
Cole, for his part, didn't care to see Spike, in his apartment, eyeballing him.
'Dru? What's going on here?'
But Spike moved so that he could see Cole's back. He then grinned.
'Turn around for us, won't you Belthzor?'
Cole ignored Spike.
'Dru? What is this? I have a date tonight.'
'With who?' Drusilla asked suspiciously. Cole walked up to her.
'Dru, now don't be jealous. This thing that we have wasn't going to last, you were the first to say that...I packed up all of the rest of your stuff...Phoebe and I are getting married again.'
Drusilla's mouth dropped open and she looked over at Spike, who raised a brow.
'How is that possible? Phoebe loves Angel.'
'Dru, we both know Angel isn't himself and probably never will be again. Phoebe came to me, a little bit before you and 'Billy Idol' here orbed in. She wants to be with me again.'
'Oh bollocks! She wants to save Angel! What did she offer you? A proper shagging?' Spike asked with disgust.
'Dru, get him out of here!' Cole snapped, then turned and began to walk towards his bedroom. Drusilla gasped and Cole turned around again.
'Dru? What is it?'
But Drusilla was staring at the very nasty looking bruise that ran down Cole's back.
'What happened to you?'
Cole lifted a brow.
'I don't understand.'
'What she means, 'mate' is where did that sodding bruise on your back come from?'
Cole realized what was happening then. He thought about lying. But, now that he had another chance with Phoebe, maybe it was time to cut ties to Drusilla.
But, his intention this whole time, was to turn her to his side, so that he could solidify his powerbase in the underworld. No, maybe he would lie.
'You're getting ready to lie to me!' Drusilla snapped. 'I can tell...I can feel it!'
Oh bloody hell! Spike thought. Now Dru had Phoebe's enpath powers! Bad bit of luck for old Belthazor here!
'You can 'feel' it? Dru, tell me what's going on with your powers!' Cole demanded. He took a step towards her, but Dru put out her hands to ward him off....and ended up blowing him up!
'No!' Drusilla screamed, as she watched his molecules swarm around like flies! Spike hurried over to her.
'Let's get out of here, luv, before he puts himself back together. Chances are he'll have a fireball waiting for us!'
'I don't care!' Drusilla snapped, angry. She wanted an explanation from Cole, NOW!
Sure enough, Cole managed to morph back to his human self. He smiled.
'Dru...you have the powers off all of the Charmed Ones. Can you freeze things...like this!'
Cole threw a fireball at her and Spike! Dru moved her hands towards it and froze it halfway! Spike's mouth dropped open!
'Oh, Dru...we really need to get to Leo!'
But Drusilla ignored him and focused in on Cole.
'You did this. You turned Angel back into Angelus to get Phoebe back and now....now...now she's offered herself to you to get Angel back only....' Dru began shaking her head.
'What is it, pet?'Spike asked. Dru bit her lip.
'There's something else...he can't do it...he's lied to Phoebe....I sense it!'
'I can do it! It will just take a little longer! The point is, Phoebe doesn't need to be with someone like Angel! What kind of life can the two of them have together, if they can't have sex? And Phoebe is VERY sexual. Being with a eunuch would not be her style!' Cole barked.
Drusilla turned away from him and grabbed Spike's hand.
'Let's go.' she said. Spike could see that she now believed him, and the idea that she had been so wrong about Belthazor, did not make her happy in the least. They orbed away, leaving Cole to realize that he had to find another witch to restore Angel's soul, before Dru told Phoebe her suspicions about his not being able to live up to his part of the bargain.
****
But instead of orbing back to Spike's apartment, or to Haliwell manor, Drusilla ended up taking them back to her crypt. The one that she had been living in when she first arrived in San Francisco. The one that Spike had tried to nurse her back to health in.
Drusilla let go of Spike and walked over to the bed and sat down, leaving Spike in the middle of the room.
'Huh, Dru?'
Dru stared at him, but did not respond.
'What are we doing here?' he asked, looking around.
'Oh, that's right. I guess you don't know.'
'Know what, luv?' he asked, walking over to the bed and sitting down beside her.
'I lived here...when I first got to town.' she said, then looked over at a small, empty shelf. She pointed at it.
'That's where I used to keep Miss Edith and my other dolls...oh Spike! I can't deal with this soul and being human! It was just so much easier as a vampire!'
'Dru, I've told you, your powers are manageable! We'll find out why you're so powerful and we'll deal with it. Don't let Belthazor's betrayal get to you...although I did tell you he was no damned good...'
But Drusilla began shaking her head adamantly!
'And if I was still a vampire I could shrug all of this off! I would just have regular vampire strength...I could move on!'
'Like you did when I told you I loved Buffy?'
Drusilla chose not to answer that. She didn't want to talk about Buffy.
'Spike, I need for you to turn me again.'
'Drusilla!'
But Drusilla jumped up!
'Oh I'm bloody serious! Turn me back into a vampire and I can then deal with Angelus! I wouldn't be a witch with out of control powers....and it wouldn't hurt that Piper, Phoebe and Paige didn't see me as a real sister. Just do this for me, Spike! If you ever loved me at all, you'll do this!'
But Spike slowly stood up as well.
'If I ever loved you? How can you ask me that? The fact that I do love you is the reason why we're going to pretend this conversation NEVER happened! You're asking me to sentence you to eternal damnation again?! I'm not the same man you spent over a century with and just the very idea of your thinking that I could just rankles the very....'
But Drusilla had stopped listening to him. She was staring at his aura. Buffy was gone.
'Dru? Dru, what is it? Is it another vision?' he asked. He hoped it was another vision! Spike did not think he had ever seen her look at him like that before.
Drusilla walked up to him, closing the distance between them.
'She's gone.' she said softly. She reached out to touch his face.
'Who's gone, luv?'
'Buffy....she was there....fading away....she's gone....' Drusilla said in disbelief.
Spike sensed this was a turning point. He sensed that now, maybe, Drusilla believed that he was sincere in his feelings for her.
'Of course she's gone, lamb, she has been for a long time now and...'
Drusilla grabbed the back of his head and pulled her to him, kissing him hard! In the back of Spike's mind, he considered asking her if she was sure this was what she wanted. But instead of pushing her away to ask, he ripped the shirt that Paige had loaned her, off of her, and pushed her down onto the bed.
****
Lilah lifted a brow, as the second security guard, dropped to the floor of Angel's office, next to his partner.
Angelus wiped his mouth.
'Well, thank you darlin'! I guess that'll satiate me...for now.' he said, his eyes looking her over. He would love to turn her...yet, what would be the challenge in turning someone evil, that already was?
Angelus looked over at Harmony, who was sitting on the edge of his desk, swinging her legs back and forth.
'Honey, could you get someone in here to clean up the mess? I don't want to offend any of the clients.'
'Sure thing!' Harmony chirped, jumping down off of the desk. She started to walk past Angelus, but he grabbed her, pulling her back and kissing her roughly. The two of them began to fall to the floor!
'Hey!' Lilah snapped. Angelus, who was just as annoying, rude and murderous as usual, was also hornier than hell! He had been giving Harmony the eye, while he was sucking the security guards dry!
Angelus and Harmony stopped kissing. They both looked at Lilah. Angelus grinned!
'Lilah!' Angelus called out in a sing song voice, 'don't be jealous! I'd include you in our fun...but a threesome in the office is just so unprofessional.'
'I'm glad you think so, Angelus. We have a client coming in just a few minutes.'
Harmony looked puzzled.
'Angel...Angelus doesn't have any appointments today. I checked his book.'
Lilah looked at her.
'Go and get some refreshments ready, please.'
Harmony didn't like her tone. But, Angelus was doing nothing to come to her defense, so she walked out of the office, pouting.
'My, this client must be a real money maker, for you to get snippy with my secretary,' Angelus noted and began moving towards her, 'or is it more than that?'
Lilah didn't break off eye contact. While she preferred Angelus to Angel anyday, the memory of his trying to kill her a few years back, had cooled any attraction she could've felt for the vampire.
'Clean these bodies up before our client shows.' was all Lilah said.
'Oh, don't go out of your way on my account.'
Angelus and Lilah turned to see Cole walk in, dressed in a designer suit. Lilah smiled. Cole/a.k.a.. Belthazor, had interned at Wolfram & Hart, some years back. He looked...looked...rich and prosperous, Lilah thought.
Angelus sensed Lilah's attraction for the demonic lawyer, and found himself feeling a bit put out. What the hell was he doing here?!
'Well, well, well! Belthazor! Come to take me to task for mistreating your witches? You know, Phoebe and Dru...though Dru will always be all vampire to me.'
Cole straightened his tie. He still couldn't believe this vampire trash had touched his Phoebe!
'Actually, I called Lilah here because I want to throw a wedding reception here...in one of the banquet rooms here.'
Angelus eyed Lilah, who was still leering at Cole. Angelus realized he would have to get the information he sought, by himself.
Cole smiled thinly at him.
'Phoebe and I are getting re-married.'
Angelus burst out laughing!
'Yeah, well I'm sure that's because I'm not interested anymore. My, she must be desperate, to go back to the likes of you.'
'Actually, I thought the same thing when she started hanging out with someone who couldn't go out in daylight.' Cole said smoothly and turned to Lilah.
'Lilah? A word, please?'
Lilah only half glanced back at Angelus, before walking out into the hallway with Cole. She closed Angel's office door.
'Alright, Cole. What really brings you by?'
'Oh, Phoebe and I really are getting re-married.'
'God! I heard she hated your guts.'
'Yes, well, I suspect she still does. But, we've come to an arrangement. One that I need your help with.'
Lilah folded her arms.
'I'm not in the business of making deals and not getting something in return. So, what is this 'help' that you need?'
'I want Angelus turned back to Angel.'
'No. The senior partners think Angelus is a money maker. And with his murderous reputation...'
'You tell the senior partners, that I am a money maker as well.' her reminder her. Lilah said nothing, but mulled it over. Belthazor had once been the Source. The Source of all Evil. That was nothing to sniff at. And, she knew he had murdered Raagon, a demon who had been trying to rule in the underworld....hmmm.
'I don't know, Cole. I mean, while your offer is appealing, we all know why you were not successful. The witch. And now you're telling me that you want to become the CEO of Wolfram & Hart, and re-marry the same witch that caused your fall?'
Cole put a hand on her shoulder.
'Lilah, we both know what I can do. And with Phoebe, I can bring a Charmed One into the fold here.'
'I thought you were living with Drusilla? Word is her powers are beginning to surpass the three witches combined. What good do we need with a witch that has no real, physical powers?'
'The premonitions will be invaluable to the firm. And don't count Drusilla out yet....this is the deal Lilah. None of this will be possible if I don't restore Angel's soul. And I killed the witch that knew the spell.'
'Oh, smart, Cole!'
'I know, I know! I messed up! Look, can you help me out or what?'
Lilah smiled at him.
'I'll run your offer by the senior partners and see what they say. I won't make any promises, but, I do believe they will be intrigued.'
Cole smiled, then planted a kiss on her cheek. Lilah walked off. Cole shimmered away. Harmony emerged from behind a potted plant! She had to tell Angelus that Lilah and Cole were getting ready to knife him in the back!
****
'I can't believe you did this!' Paige yelled. Wesley rubbed the back of her shoulders.
'Paige, it is the only way, for now. Phoebe won't actually have to marry Cole.' he reassured her.
But Phoebe looked at her younger sister.
'I'm prepared to do so. I'm prepared to do anything to get Angel back.'
'So you can live without him?' Paige asked. 'No, there has to be another way!'
Piper came into the room looking quite irritated.
'Wyatt is asleep in the other room, Paige, and I want him to stay that way.'
'Sorry.' Paige muttered. Phoebe smiled at her.
'I love you all for caring, but I will be okay. And believe me, I don't plan to stay married to him forever either. Look, I have to get ready...I'm having dinner with him tonight.'
'Oh Lord!' Paige sighed. Phoebe turned and left the room. Piper shook a finger at her sister.
'Paige...'
'Look, guys, I'm sorry, but am I the only one that thinks this is just wrong?! And Cole isn't going to restore Angel's soul! I mean it's too his advantage to keep him evil so that Phoebe will probably grow to hate him!'
Leo orbed in. Wesley let go of Paige and walked over to him.
'What did you find out about Drusilla's powers?' he asked the Whitelighter.
Leo looked grave.
'She will, if she doesn't already, have all of your powers. We already know she can freeze time.'
'But how is this possible? I mean, none of our other ancestor witches could do so much. That's why we're the 'Charmed Ones'.' Piper said.
'I know. It looks like the secret is in finding out Drusilla's real father's origins. All of your ancestor witches had mortal fathers.'
'My real father isn't a mortal.' Paige reminded him.
'Yes, and you can do more than Prue could because of it. But, for Dru to have so much power....the consensus is her father was a demon of some sort.'
'Oh God!' Piper cried out.
****
Upstairs, Phoebe half-heartedly began to pick out a dress to wear on her date tonight with Cole.
But the only face she kept picturing was Angel's. How he had looked when she first saw him in his office. How he had looked all the other moments they had spent together. How is eyes got all soft before they kissed. How gentle he had been with her while they were making love...she just found it hard to believe, that there wasn't a trace of the man she loved, left inside the monster that was inhabiting his body now. She missed him.
Phoebe sighed and pulled out a red, strapless number. This was for a good cause. She just had to keep telling herself that.
She closed the door to her closet, then looked in the mirror on the outside of it and jumped! She turned around.
'Who are you?!' Phoebe demanded to know.
Fiathna, daughter of the late Raagon, and half assed seer, took a step towards her.
'My name is Fiathna. Belthazor murdered my father and will probably kill me too. I know what you're going through...or at least I foresaw it...a little late...well, that's not the point.'
'What is?!' Phoebe snapped, looking the small looking girl, up and down.
'I want to help you stop Belthazor. But I need your help...and your protection.'
'Why should I help you? Why should my sisters either?'
'Belthazor killed the witch that took Angel's soul. He's lying to you. He wants to rule in hell and use Drusilla's powers against all of you. Now will you help me?' Fiathna begged.