Chapter 21
Cole turned, box in hand, as Phoebe opened the door to him. He leaned down to kiss her cheek. Phoebe refrained from flinching and gave him a phony smile.
'Hey! You're early.'
Cole handed her the box and stepped into the house. He saw the group in the room and frowned at the sight of Spike, who looked as if he were being restrained by Wesley and Leo. What the hell was that loser's problem?
Cole then turned back to Phoebe, who opened up what looked to be a filmy looking crystal ball.
'What is this?' she asked. But Wesley let go of Spike and hurried over to them. He took the item from Phoebe.
'An Orb of Thesulah. This is what we will need to help restore Angel's soul to him.' Wesley answered.
But Phoebe didn't like the sound of this! She gave Cole a pointed look.
'Why are you bringing that to us?'
Cole rubbed the back of his neck.
'Phoebe, you're not forgetting about our agreement already, are you?'
'No, but you are. I asked YOU to restore Angel's soul. Why are you bringing me this thing? I don't have any idea how to help Angel.'
'Phoebe, I do plan to keep my word. I'm just showing you how I plan to do it. Please believe me when I tell you that I would do anything to be with you again.'
Phoebe didn't answer. Cole turned around and looked into the room. He focused in on Spike.
'Hey, vampire creep! What brings you by?'
Spike began to rush him! Leo and Wesley tried to pull him back, but Spike flung them both aside!
'Damnit, Spike!' Piper screamed, freezing him. No one, with the exception of Cole, had the physical strength to match Spike's vampire strength.
'What the hell is his problem?!' Cole asked, moving towards his frozen form. But Phoebe, who was wearing a pink halter dress, pulled on Cole's arm.
'Oh, you know how Spike is. Let's go, okay?'
Cole nodded absently, then picked up the Orb of Thesulah that Wesley had set down earlier. He turned and looked at Phoebe.
'By tonight, Angelus will be Angel again.' he said, reaching out with one hand to caress Phoebe's cheek. Paige turned away. She was going to be sick!
Phoebe smiled tolerantly and pulled on Cole's hand.
'We're going out! Bye!' she called out. Cole looked back and gave Paige a look.
'You'd better go and pick up your boyfriend, Paige. It looks like Billy Idol there really did a number on him.'
Paige rolled her eyes and looked at Piper, who was helping Leo and Wesley up. Cole and Phoebe left, closing the door behind them. Spike's freeze wore off. He looked around, then turned to focus in on Piper.
'Don't you ever do that to me again! Do you know how bloody confusing that is?!'
Piper squinted at him.
'You are unbelievable! You were getting ready to tell Cole about the baby, weren't you?'
'No!'
'Oh right! You know, you need to calm down! Maybe we can find you some blood somewhere...mixed with whiskey or something!' Piper snapped. Leo put an arm around her.
'Piper, calm down.'
'I'm not going to calm down, Leo! I'm sorry, Spike. I understand that you're upset. The woman you love is carrying someone else's child. But Dru doesn't want to be in this situation and now is the time for you to decide if you're going to be in her life at all!'
Paige nodded.
'I'm going to go and find Dru. If this pregnancy is going to be over in two weeks, then she needs to come back here to stay. We can look after her.'
Wesley walked over to her.
'I'm coming too. I want to make sure Angelus is still locked up tight in a holding cell.'
'Why wouldn't he be?' Paige asked, smoothing down his hair and smiling at him.
'Because the holding cell is at Wolfram & Hart. And they seem to think Angelus is more of a capable CEO than Angel. I wouldn't put it past them to try something.'
Leo sighed.
'Okay, well, while you two are doing that, I'm going up to see the Elders.'
'Why?' Piper asked.
'Because we shouldn't have had to hear about Dru from a demon girl. Our side should be just as up on what Dru will be going through, than the dark side.'
Spike, who was sitting on the couch, suddenly looked around.
'Where is the little chit anyway?' he asked.
'Fiathna?' Piper called out.
A closet door came open, and Fiathna stepped out. She closed the door behind her and looked around.
'Is Belthazor gone?'
'Yes for a bit now.' Spike said, standing up. 'What is it that you do for Belthazor anyway?'
'I'm a seer.'
'A seer?' Spike repeated. 'Then why the bloody hell are you coming to us now?! How come you couldn't 'see' that this was going to happen to Dru? Hell, why couldn't Dru or Phoebe foresee this?!'
'Their powers are all tied to their emotions. Conflict and strife, sadness....it gets in the way sometimes.' Leo answered. Spike looked down. Conflict, strife and sadness. Dru had had plenty of that lately. Still, no one told her to shag that goddamned Belthazor! He looked at Fiathna.
'Well? Why the hell didn't you foresee any of this?'
Piper put an arm around Fiathna.
'Alright, Spike. Cut her some slack...she's young.'
'No, Piper,' Fiathna said, 'you don't have to defend me. I'm not the best seer. I only see the events after they happen. Sometimes it's still enough to be able to tell other people about something first...but I can't actually warn the people involved....do you get what I'm saying?'
'Oh I get it alright! You're bloody useless!'
'Spike!' Wesley snapped. 'Stay here with Piper and pray we're able to bring Dru back here. And when she does come, you behave yourself!'
Fiathna turned to Piper and Leo.
'I'm going to shimmer back down under. Belthazor has a lot of suck up's that are always watching everyone else. Tell Phoebe to watch herself around Belthazor. I can't tell if he really plans to help Angel.'
Spike snorted, but said nothing. Fiathna ignored him.
'Also, I am a mid-wife. Let me know when Dru is ready to give birth and I'll shimmer back and help.' she said cheerily. She then shimmered away. Spike pointed at the spot in which she had just stood.
'She is not touching Dru!'
But Leo frowned.
'You know, it sounds like there's a lot of chaos going on down there as well.'
'It is hell, Leo.' Paige said.
'I understand that, but maybe Fiathna's powers are just on pause as well, until she works through some issues.'
Piper rubbed the side of her face.
'Maybe. But are we in the business of helping a demon girl fix her powers, so she can use them for evil?'
Wesley shrugged.
'She seems like a nice enough girl. Well, we're off.' he said, holding hands with Paige. They orbed off. Leo kissed Piper and orbed away as well. That left Piper and Spike alone. She eyed him briefly, before Wyatt could be heard crying. Piper turned and walked towards his play pen, which was in the sun room. She picked him up, then brought him back into the other room with Spike. Spike stared at him.
'The little one there, he has powers?' Spike asked, as Wyatt stared at him curiously. Piper nodded, eyeing him. She would never admit it out loud, but she actually felt sorry for Spike at that moment. He looked so sad.
'Spike, I know this news came as a shock, but Dru loves you, not Cole. That's been apparent from the first day I saw the two of you in a room together. At the same time, I guess I can also understand if you're not willing to raise another man's child. Especially a magical child. I thank God everyday that I have Leo with me.'
But Spike was still looking at Wyatt. He held out his hands.
'May I?' he asked.
To say that Piper was slightly apprehensive about turning her baby over to a vampire, would've been an understatement. But, something in his eyes, made Piper trust him. She gently handed over Wyatt.
Wyatt just stared at Spike, not reacting at all. Spike looked even more morose, and handed the baby back to Piper. Piper tilted her head.
'What is it?'
Spike sighed heavily, deep sadness almost weighing him down.
'I want this baby to be mine, Piper. I want the child Dru's carrying to be mine.' he said, his voice thick with emotion.
Piper shook her head.
'I suspect that Drusilla wants the same thing you do as well. That's why you need one another, more than ever now.' she said quietly, rubbing Wyatt's little back.
Drusilla sat in her office at Wolfram & Hart in the dark. She just stared into space. How could this be happening?
Well, she knew HOW she had ended up pregnant. It was the WHY this had to happen to her, Dru would never understand.
Buffy Finn was pregnant with her husband's child. Dru was pregnant with Cole Turner's child.
Neither of them were having Spike's baby.
Dru knew that neither Spike, nor Angel, could father children anyway, though she was aware of that odd situation with Angel and Darla's son. Drusilla never asked where the boy was or what happened.
She suddenly felt uncomfortable, as if her clothes were too tight or something. She swung her chair away from the door, and pulled up her shirt. She then gasped!
Drusilla already had the equivalent of a 'baby gut'. Oh God! The baby was growing already!
She heard a noise and put her shirt back in place, swinging around. Who she saw almost made her fall out of her chair.
Angelus surmised that many of Dru's new 'powers' had a lot to do with the movement of her hands. So when he first smelled her scent in the building, he followed it, then watched her sitting in her darkened office, from one of her windows.
Angelus then figured out that if he just subdued her arms, he could do pretty much whatever he wanted with her. And even if she tried to orb, if he held onto her, she would be forced to take him with her!
Drusilla could do nothing, before Angelus pulled her up and out of the chair. He then turned her around and pinned her arms behind her back!
'How did you get out of that cage?!' she seethed, struggling against him.
'Oh, the powers to be were smart enough to know that their money maker can't make them any money, locked up in a cage.' he whispered, bending down to lick the side of her neck. Drusilla began to struggle even more.
'Dru? Drusilla?' Angelus said in a sing song voice, 'you know I like it all the more when you struggle! Now, why can't we just...'
He had looked down and saw the her stomach seemed to be protruding a bit.
'Tsk, tsk, Dru! This human life...dining on fattening foods...it'll put weight on you. I'll bite you again and we'll have you back to your own, slim self again.' he said, as his vamp face emerged.
Drusilla, desperate and unable to break his hold, orbed away with Angelus hanging on to her!
They returned to the manor and Drusilla used Angelus's momentary confusion at the orbing to break away from him! She then turned and flipped her hand, so that Angelus went crashing into one of the mirrors, before falling onto a table and breaking it!
Piper and Spike came running in, and Spike leaped on Angelus! But, Angelus took a few blows, before getting Spike in a head lock! Angelus then saw a piece of wood from the table that had broken and snatched it up, pointing it at Spike's heart!
'Now you listen here, Dru, and you listen carefully: I'm going to summon a dark priest and we'll be married. Otherwise, Spikey bites the dust, literally!'
Piper had had enough of this! She moved her hands and froze Angelus's body, leaving just his head normal. Spike was able to wriggle from his grasp and make his way back over to Dru, who threw her arms around him in relief!
'What the hell have you done to me witch?!' Angelus seethed. But Piper turned to Spike and Drusilla.
'I'm calling Phoebe at the restaurant. Cole's getting his ass back here now and restoring Angel's soul.'
Piper turned and walked over to a phone. Meanwhile, Spike held Drusilla, then set her away from him.
'Are you alright, luv? Did he hurt the baby?'
'Baby?!' Angelus asked with glee. 'What the hell are you talking about?'
Drusilla shook her head at Spike, but Angelus wouldn't leave it alone!
'You got knocked up by Spike? How? Is it because you're magical now?'
Drusilla pulled away from Spike and walked up to Angelus.
'Never you mind! You won't be around much longer!'
'Ouch! That hurts! But not as much as the first time for you did, right Dru? I mean I always meant to tell you that I was sorry that I couldn't have been more gentle...but, by then you didn't care! You liked a bit of the rough stuff...being a vampire will do that to you! Let me bite you again, Dru! We can leave the brat with Spike and blow this place!'
But Spike pulled Drusilla back. Who knew how long the freeze would continue?
'What was that crap about a dark priest? Hey, Angelus?'
'Oh, well, I am a man...vampire in love! I wanted to make Drusilla my very own...legally. Though you know that she will always belong to me anyway, don't you Spike?'
The freeze wore off then, just as Wesley and Paige orbed in. Wesley was carrying a cross bow, and shot Angelus, just as he began to charge Spike and Dru. The arrow had a very, very heavy sedative in it and they all watched, as Angelus dropped to the floor.
Spike pulled Drusilla into his arms. He could feel her shaking. He looked over at Wesley and Paige.
'How did you know?'
'We dropped by the office looking for Dru, and Wesley discovered that Angelus had been let out.'
Drusilla's eyes got even bigger! Spike was outraged!
'Let out? By who?'
'Lilah.' Wesley said solemnly.
'That bint? Figures!' Spike sniffed. But Drusilla was shaking her head.
'I don't understand...I mean, did Lilah do it because Angelus is good at what he does for the company...why?'
Paige looked at Wesley again. He cleared his throat.
'Lilah was kind enough to pass on a few facts to me about the future of Wolfram&Hart. It looks as if the senior partners are looking to replace Angelus.'
'And that's why they let him out of the cage?' Drusilla asked, still not understanding. Spike didn't want her getting anymore upset. Even though she worked for the evil firm, he suspected Dru didn't have a real understanding of true nature of the place.
'Dru,' Spike interrupted, 'I think you should go upstairs with Piper there and get settled in.'
Drusilla just stared at him.
'You don't want me to live with you anymore, right?'
'It's not what you're thinking! Luv, you're getting ready to give birth to a half demonic baby! Your family here has everything at its disposal to make sure that you want for nothing. I'll be at your side, I promise.'
Drusilla said nothing, but nodded. She then looked at Piper, who had just hung up the phone.
'C'mon. We'll get you settled in your old room. Leo is up with the Elders right now, trying to find out what we can expect.'
Drusilla nodded again, but did not look at Spike again. Of course he would be there for her, but she knew it was over between them. She could feel it.
Spike, Wesley and Paige watched as Piper and Drusilla headed upstairs. Spike then turned back to Wesley and Paige.
'What's going on at the firm?' Spike asked. Wesley took a deep breath.
'Cole Turner has put in a bid to be the new CEO.'
Paige's mouth dropped open!
'You didn't tell me that!'
'Paige, there was no time.' Wesley said calmly. 'And it gets worse. The senior partners are actually giving Cole real consideration...due to the fact that he will be marrying Phoebe, a Charmed One.'
Spike snorted. Paige looked him up and down.
'What's your problem?'
'Oh c'mon people! I mean there is no doubt that your powers are kick ass, but Phoebe's are the lamest, no offense.'
'None taken. I'm not Phoebe.' Paige said dryly.
'Oh don't go getting bent out of shape now! I'm just saying that I can't see Wolfram & Hart being impressed with an enpath witch that's psychic. I mean Dru has better powers than that!'
Wesley glanced at Paige. Spike raised a brow.
'Out with it all! What aren't you telling me?!'
'Drusilla is part of this deal as well, although I don't know how Cole plans to use her.' Wesley admitted.
'This is just great!' Paige snapped. 'Phoebe can't get stuck married to that bastard again! She just can't!'
Suddenly, Cole and Phoebe shimmered in. Cole was carrying the Orb of Thesulah and set it down on a table. Phoebe looked around, saw Angelus on the floor unconscious and rushed to him! Cole tried to hold her back, but she pulled out of his grip and knelt down, stroking his hair. She looked up at everyone.
'What happened? Piper said he tried to attack Dru.'
Spike walked up to Cole.
'We need you to keep your bloody word and turn him back to 'I wouldn't kick a puppy Angel'. Now!'
'I don't take orders from the likes of you, okay?' Cole sniffed. Phoebe reluctantly stood up and walked back over to Cole.
'Can you do it now? Please? I mean he'll be hard enough to deal with when he wakes up.'
Cole looked from Phoebe to Angelus's still form, back to Phoebe.
'I do this, then as soon as it's done, you and I shimmer out of here and get married...right away.'
'Phoebe, no!' Paige cried. But Phoebe wagged a finger at her to quiet her.
'Paige, this has been decided, okay? Now, Cole. Perform the spell now and we'll leave as soon as Angel, is Angel again.'
Cole reached into his suit pocket and pulled out a piece of paper. The Orb of Thesulah was sitting on a nearby table. He looked over at Wesley.
'Someone has to say the translation in English while I'm doing this.'
Wesley nodded. Paige put an arm around him. Spike watched Belthazor like a hawk.
Cole took a deep breath and began.
'Te implor, Doamne, nu ignora aceasta rugaminte.'
'I implore you, Lord, do not ignore this request.' Wesley translated.
'Lasa orbita sa fie vasul care-i va transp'ta, sufleful la el.' Cole chanted.
'Let this orb be the vessel that will carry his soul to him.' Wesley repeated.
'Asa sa fie! Asa sa fie! Acum!
'So it shall be! So it shall be! Now!' Wesley yelled.
Suddenly, the orb began to glow and a light seared through Angel's form. His eyes opened and filled with the light for a moment, before his eyes turned dark again. He was breathing heavily.
Phoebe eased over to him. Spike eyed him.
'Angel?' she asked tenderly. Angel began to try and sit up, but saw he had an arrow in his chest.
'What the hell? What happened? Was it a demon?' he asked wearily.
'Angel!' Phoebe yelled, pulling his face to hers and kissing him. Angel kissed her back, still not quite sure what was going on, but uneasy. For the only time he had lapses in time, was when he became Angelus.
Cole didn't like this reunion one bit! He began to walk toward Phoebe, when Paige jumped in front of him.
'It's over Cole! She doesn't love you and you can't hold her to that deal!'
Cole back handed Paige so hard, that she went flying up against a wall! Outraged, Wesley rushed him but got a similar blow for his trouble, causing him to go flying back against, and over the couch!
'Cole stop it!' Phoebe screamed. Angel jumped up and together, Spike and him began wailing on him! Cole was thrown backward and as he got up, he produced a fireball. He bounced it and looked around, as if deciding who he was going throw it at. He looked at Phoebe.
'You never had any intention of keeping your word, did you?'
'What word?!' Angel snapped, looking at Phoebe.
'Phoebe?' he asked gently. Phoebe rubbed his arm.
'Angel, I love you. More than I've ever loved anyone...'
'Thanks, a lot!' Cole hissed. But Phoebe ignored him.
'I wasn't about to let you stay Angelus. I offered to become his wife again if he restored your soul. He did.'
Angel stared at Phoebe.
'I love you too.' he said, before looking at Belthazor. 'Go take a cold shower because Phoebe isn't going anywhere with you!'
'I know.' Cole said simply. 'And that's why I've decided that if I can't have her, then no one will...especially a piece of filth vampire like you!'
Cole then flung the fireball at Phoebe! Angel grabbed her and knocked her to the ground, just as the fireball zoomed over their heads and seared the wall!
'Sonofabitch!' Spike screamed. 'Get the hell out of here! You've lost, you stupid ponce!'
Cole produced another fireball, just as Piper came down and accessed the situation. She blew Cole up, and they all watched his molecules swim around, then slowly shimmer away. Piper shook her head at everyone, then eyed Angel, who was helping Phoebe up.
'Are we soft and fuzzy again?' Piper asked.
Phoebe smiled and jumped into Angel's arms, wrapping her legs around his waist.
'Very!' she answered, kissing him hungrily. Spike averted his eyes and walked over to where a fallen Wesley lay and helped him up. Piper helped Paige up, then called out for Leo to help with injuries.
'How is Dru doing?' Spike asked, just as Leo orbed in. Piper looked from Leo and Spike.
'We have a problem.' Piper said in a low voice. Angel and Phoebe were too busy getting reacquainted to hear any of what they were saying.
'What? Is she feeling poorly?' Spike asked.
'She's got cravings now.'
'Well, that's normal.' Paige said, as Leo put a healing hand on her. The bruise Cole had left disappeared. He then moved over to Wesley.
Piper took a deep breath.
'She's craving blood...as if she were a vampire again. Leo, do you learn anything at all?'
Cole shimmered down into the underworld, livid! He stopped short, when he saw a few of his minions had restrained Fiathna, the worthless seer.
'What is going on down here?!' he snapped. One of the suck-up demons came running up to him.
'We held her here when she tried to make a getaway.'
'Make a getaway? Why was she trying to get away?' Cole asked, not really interested.
'Well surely you know that she has been consorting with the Charmed Ones behind your back?'
Cole's rage returned, as he slowly approached the terrified girl.
'You've been hanging out with the Charmed Ones? Are you the reason my plans to get Phoebe failed?'
'No!' Fiathna screamed. 'I just wanted to make sure that your plans did work out!'
'She lies!' another minion hissed. 'She told the witches that you had killed the original witch that cast the spell on Angelus.'
Cole instantly produced a fireball, but Fiathna, fearing for her life, blurted out the secret that the Charmed Ones were so desperate to keep from him.
'Please! I did not betray you! I found out a secret!'
Cole bounced the fireball.
'A secret? You finally found out something important that someone should know? My, Fiathna, you are to be commended.'
Fiathna wriggled!
'It concerns the lost witch...the one that has all of the new powers!'
Cole made the fireball disappear.
'Drusilla?'
'Yes! Her new powers are not powers at all...they are symptoms...she is with child! Your child! Please, they trust me! I can find out things for you...but please do not kill me!'
Cole's eyes lit up, as he realized that a half demon, half witch child, would be the perfect offering to the senior partners at Wolfram & Hart, to ensure him the post of CEO.
Cole turned, box in hand, as Phoebe opened the door to him. He leaned down to kiss her cheek. Phoebe refrained from flinching and gave him a phony smile.
'Hey! You're early.'
Cole handed her the box and stepped into the house. He saw the group in the room and frowned at the sight of Spike, who looked as if he were being restrained by Wesley and Leo. What the hell was that loser's problem?
Cole then turned back to Phoebe, who opened up what looked to be a filmy looking crystal ball.
'What is this?' she asked. But Wesley let go of Spike and hurried over to them. He took the item from Phoebe.
'An Orb of Thesulah. This is what we will need to help restore Angel's soul to him.' Wesley answered.
But Phoebe didn't like the sound of this! She gave Cole a pointed look.
'Why are you bringing that to us?'
Cole rubbed the back of his neck.
'Phoebe, you're not forgetting about our agreement already, are you?'
'No, but you are. I asked YOU to restore Angel's soul. Why are you bringing me this thing? I don't have any idea how to help Angel.'
'Phoebe, I do plan to keep my word. I'm just showing you how I plan to do it. Please believe me when I tell you that I would do anything to be with you again.'
Phoebe didn't answer. Cole turned around and looked into the room. He focused in on Spike.
'Hey, vampire creep! What brings you by?'
Spike began to rush him! Leo and Wesley tried to pull him back, but Spike flung them both aside!
'Damnit, Spike!' Piper screamed, freezing him. No one, with the exception of Cole, had the physical strength to match Spike's vampire strength.
'What the hell is his problem?!' Cole asked, moving towards his frozen form. But Phoebe, who was wearing a pink halter dress, pulled on Cole's arm.
'Oh, you know how Spike is. Let's go, okay?'
Cole nodded absently, then picked up the Orb of Thesulah that Wesley had set down earlier. He turned and looked at Phoebe.
'By tonight, Angelus will be Angel again.' he said, reaching out with one hand to caress Phoebe's cheek. Paige turned away. She was going to be sick!
Phoebe smiled tolerantly and pulled on Cole's hand.
'We're going out! Bye!' she called out. Cole looked back and gave Paige a look.
'You'd better go and pick up your boyfriend, Paige. It looks like Billy Idol there really did a number on him.'
Paige rolled her eyes and looked at Piper, who was helping Leo and Wesley up. Cole and Phoebe left, closing the door behind them. Spike's freeze wore off. He looked around, then turned to focus in on Piper.
'Don't you ever do that to me again! Do you know how bloody confusing that is?!'
Piper squinted at him.
'You are unbelievable! You were getting ready to tell Cole about the baby, weren't you?'
'No!'
'Oh right! You know, you need to calm down! Maybe we can find you some blood somewhere...mixed with whiskey or something!' Piper snapped. Leo put an arm around her.
'Piper, calm down.'
'I'm not going to calm down, Leo! I'm sorry, Spike. I understand that you're upset. The woman you love is carrying someone else's child. But Dru doesn't want to be in this situation and now is the time for you to decide if you're going to be in her life at all!'
Paige nodded.
'I'm going to go and find Dru. If this pregnancy is going to be over in two weeks, then she needs to come back here to stay. We can look after her.'
Wesley walked over to her.
'I'm coming too. I want to make sure Angelus is still locked up tight in a holding cell.'
'Why wouldn't he be?' Paige asked, smoothing down his hair and smiling at him.
'Because the holding cell is at Wolfram & Hart. And they seem to think Angelus is more of a capable CEO than Angel. I wouldn't put it past them to try something.'
Leo sighed.
'Okay, well, while you two are doing that, I'm going up to see the Elders.'
'Why?' Piper asked.
'Because we shouldn't have had to hear about Dru from a demon girl. Our side should be just as up on what Dru will be going through, than the dark side.'
Spike, who was sitting on the couch, suddenly looked around.
'Where is the little chit anyway?' he asked.
'Fiathna?' Piper called out.
A closet door came open, and Fiathna stepped out. She closed the door behind her and looked around.
'Is Belthazor gone?'
'Yes for a bit now.' Spike said, standing up. 'What is it that you do for Belthazor anyway?'
'I'm a seer.'
'A seer?' Spike repeated. 'Then why the bloody hell are you coming to us now?! How come you couldn't 'see' that this was going to happen to Dru? Hell, why couldn't Dru or Phoebe foresee this?!'
'Their powers are all tied to their emotions. Conflict and strife, sadness....it gets in the way sometimes.' Leo answered. Spike looked down. Conflict, strife and sadness. Dru had had plenty of that lately. Still, no one told her to shag that goddamned Belthazor! He looked at Fiathna.
'Well? Why the hell didn't you foresee any of this?'
Piper put an arm around Fiathna.
'Alright, Spike. Cut her some slack...she's young.'
'No, Piper,' Fiathna said, 'you don't have to defend me. I'm not the best seer. I only see the events after they happen. Sometimes it's still enough to be able to tell other people about something first...but I can't actually warn the people involved....do you get what I'm saying?'
'Oh I get it alright! You're bloody useless!'
'Spike!' Wesley snapped. 'Stay here with Piper and pray we're able to bring Dru back here. And when she does come, you behave yourself!'
Fiathna turned to Piper and Leo.
'I'm going to shimmer back down under. Belthazor has a lot of suck up's that are always watching everyone else. Tell Phoebe to watch herself around Belthazor. I can't tell if he really plans to help Angel.'
Spike snorted, but said nothing. Fiathna ignored him.
'Also, I am a mid-wife. Let me know when Dru is ready to give birth and I'll shimmer back and help.' she said cheerily. She then shimmered away. Spike pointed at the spot in which she had just stood.
'She is not touching Dru!'
But Leo frowned.
'You know, it sounds like there's a lot of chaos going on down there as well.'
'It is hell, Leo.' Paige said.
'I understand that, but maybe Fiathna's powers are just on pause as well, until she works through some issues.'
Piper rubbed the side of her face.
'Maybe. But are we in the business of helping a demon girl fix her powers, so she can use them for evil?'
Wesley shrugged.
'She seems like a nice enough girl. Well, we're off.' he said, holding hands with Paige. They orbed off. Leo kissed Piper and orbed away as well. That left Piper and Spike alone. She eyed him briefly, before Wyatt could be heard crying. Piper turned and walked towards his play pen, which was in the sun room. She picked him up, then brought him back into the other room with Spike. Spike stared at him.
'The little one there, he has powers?' Spike asked, as Wyatt stared at him curiously. Piper nodded, eyeing him. She would never admit it out loud, but she actually felt sorry for Spike at that moment. He looked so sad.
'Spike, I know this news came as a shock, but Dru loves you, not Cole. That's been apparent from the first day I saw the two of you in a room together. At the same time, I guess I can also understand if you're not willing to raise another man's child. Especially a magical child. I thank God everyday that I have Leo with me.'
But Spike was still looking at Wyatt. He held out his hands.
'May I?' he asked.
To say that Piper was slightly apprehensive about turning her baby over to a vampire, would've been an understatement. But, something in his eyes, made Piper trust him. She gently handed over Wyatt.
Wyatt just stared at Spike, not reacting at all. Spike looked even more morose, and handed the baby back to Piper. Piper tilted her head.
'What is it?'
Spike sighed heavily, deep sadness almost weighing him down.
'I want this baby to be mine, Piper. I want the child Dru's carrying to be mine.' he said, his voice thick with emotion.
Piper shook her head.
'I suspect that Drusilla wants the same thing you do as well. That's why you need one another, more than ever now.' she said quietly, rubbing Wyatt's little back.
Drusilla sat in her office at Wolfram & Hart in the dark. She just stared into space. How could this be happening?
Well, she knew HOW she had ended up pregnant. It was the WHY this had to happen to her, Dru would never understand.
Buffy Finn was pregnant with her husband's child. Dru was pregnant with Cole Turner's child.
Neither of them were having Spike's baby.
Dru knew that neither Spike, nor Angel, could father children anyway, though she was aware of that odd situation with Angel and Darla's son. Drusilla never asked where the boy was or what happened.
She suddenly felt uncomfortable, as if her clothes were too tight or something. She swung her chair away from the door, and pulled up her shirt. She then gasped!
Drusilla already had the equivalent of a 'baby gut'. Oh God! The baby was growing already!
She heard a noise and put her shirt back in place, swinging around. Who she saw almost made her fall out of her chair.
Angelus surmised that many of Dru's new 'powers' had a lot to do with the movement of her hands. So when he first smelled her scent in the building, he followed it, then watched her sitting in her darkened office, from one of her windows.
Angelus then figured out that if he just subdued her arms, he could do pretty much whatever he wanted with her. And even if she tried to orb, if he held onto her, she would be forced to take him with her!
Drusilla could do nothing, before Angelus pulled her up and out of the chair. He then turned her around and pinned her arms behind her back!
'How did you get out of that cage?!' she seethed, struggling against him.
'Oh, the powers to be were smart enough to know that their money maker can't make them any money, locked up in a cage.' he whispered, bending down to lick the side of her neck. Drusilla began to struggle even more.
'Dru? Drusilla?' Angelus said in a sing song voice, 'you know I like it all the more when you struggle! Now, why can't we just...'
He had looked down and saw the her stomach seemed to be protruding a bit.
'Tsk, tsk, Dru! This human life...dining on fattening foods...it'll put weight on you. I'll bite you again and we'll have you back to your own, slim self again.' he said, as his vamp face emerged.
Drusilla, desperate and unable to break his hold, orbed away with Angelus hanging on to her!
They returned to the manor and Drusilla used Angelus's momentary confusion at the orbing to break away from him! She then turned and flipped her hand, so that Angelus went crashing into one of the mirrors, before falling onto a table and breaking it!
Piper and Spike came running in, and Spike leaped on Angelus! But, Angelus took a few blows, before getting Spike in a head lock! Angelus then saw a piece of wood from the table that had broken and snatched it up, pointing it at Spike's heart!
'Now you listen here, Dru, and you listen carefully: I'm going to summon a dark priest and we'll be married. Otherwise, Spikey bites the dust, literally!'
Piper had had enough of this! She moved her hands and froze Angelus's body, leaving just his head normal. Spike was able to wriggle from his grasp and make his way back over to Dru, who threw her arms around him in relief!
'What the hell have you done to me witch?!' Angelus seethed. But Piper turned to Spike and Drusilla.
'I'm calling Phoebe at the restaurant. Cole's getting his ass back here now and restoring Angel's soul.'
Piper turned and walked over to a phone. Meanwhile, Spike held Drusilla, then set her away from him.
'Are you alright, luv? Did he hurt the baby?'
'Baby?!' Angelus asked with glee. 'What the hell are you talking about?'
Drusilla shook her head at Spike, but Angelus wouldn't leave it alone!
'You got knocked up by Spike? How? Is it because you're magical now?'
Drusilla pulled away from Spike and walked up to Angelus.
'Never you mind! You won't be around much longer!'
'Ouch! That hurts! But not as much as the first time for you did, right Dru? I mean I always meant to tell you that I was sorry that I couldn't have been more gentle...but, by then you didn't care! You liked a bit of the rough stuff...being a vampire will do that to you! Let me bite you again, Dru! We can leave the brat with Spike and blow this place!'
But Spike pulled Drusilla back. Who knew how long the freeze would continue?
'What was that crap about a dark priest? Hey, Angelus?'
'Oh, well, I am a man...vampire in love! I wanted to make Drusilla my very own...legally. Though you know that she will always belong to me anyway, don't you Spike?'
The freeze wore off then, just as Wesley and Paige orbed in. Wesley was carrying a cross bow, and shot Angelus, just as he began to charge Spike and Dru. The arrow had a very, very heavy sedative in it and they all watched, as Angelus dropped to the floor.
Spike pulled Drusilla into his arms. He could feel her shaking. He looked over at Wesley and Paige.
'How did you know?'
'We dropped by the office looking for Dru, and Wesley discovered that Angelus had been let out.'
Drusilla's eyes got even bigger! Spike was outraged!
'Let out? By who?'
'Lilah.' Wesley said solemnly.
'That bint? Figures!' Spike sniffed. But Drusilla was shaking her head.
'I don't understand...I mean, did Lilah do it because Angelus is good at what he does for the company...why?'
Paige looked at Wesley again. He cleared his throat.
'Lilah was kind enough to pass on a few facts to me about the future of Wolfram&Hart. It looks as if the senior partners are looking to replace Angelus.'
'And that's why they let him out of the cage?' Drusilla asked, still not understanding. Spike didn't want her getting anymore upset. Even though she worked for the evil firm, he suspected Dru didn't have a real understanding of true nature of the place.
'Dru,' Spike interrupted, 'I think you should go upstairs with Piper there and get settled in.'
Drusilla just stared at him.
'You don't want me to live with you anymore, right?'
'It's not what you're thinking! Luv, you're getting ready to give birth to a half demonic baby! Your family here has everything at its disposal to make sure that you want for nothing. I'll be at your side, I promise.'
Drusilla said nothing, but nodded. She then looked at Piper, who had just hung up the phone.
'C'mon. We'll get you settled in your old room. Leo is up with the Elders right now, trying to find out what we can expect.'
Drusilla nodded again, but did not look at Spike again. Of course he would be there for her, but she knew it was over between them. She could feel it.
Spike, Wesley and Paige watched as Piper and Drusilla headed upstairs. Spike then turned back to Wesley and Paige.
'What's going on at the firm?' Spike asked. Wesley took a deep breath.
'Cole Turner has put in a bid to be the new CEO.'
Paige's mouth dropped open!
'You didn't tell me that!'
'Paige, there was no time.' Wesley said calmly. 'And it gets worse. The senior partners are actually giving Cole real consideration...due to the fact that he will be marrying Phoebe, a Charmed One.'
Spike snorted. Paige looked him up and down.
'What's your problem?'
'Oh c'mon people! I mean there is no doubt that your powers are kick ass, but Phoebe's are the lamest, no offense.'
'None taken. I'm not Phoebe.' Paige said dryly.
'Oh don't go getting bent out of shape now! I'm just saying that I can't see Wolfram & Hart being impressed with an enpath witch that's psychic. I mean Dru has better powers than that!'
Wesley glanced at Paige. Spike raised a brow.
'Out with it all! What aren't you telling me?!'
'Drusilla is part of this deal as well, although I don't know how Cole plans to use her.' Wesley admitted.
'This is just great!' Paige snapped. 'Phoebe can't get stuck married to that bastard again! She just can't!'
Suddenly, Cole and Phoebe shimmered in. Cole was carrying the Orb of Thesulah and set it down on a table. Phoebe looked around, saw Angelus on the floor unconscious and rushed to him! Cole tried to hold her back, but she pulled out of his grip and knelt down, stroking his hair. She looked up at everyone.
'What happened? Piper said he tried to attack Dru.'
Spike walked up to Cole.
'We need you to keep your bloody word and turn him back to 'I wouldn't kick a puppy Angel'. Now!'
'I don't take orders from the likes of you, okay?' Cole sniffed. Phoebe reluctantly stood up and walked back over to Cole.
'Can you do it now? Please? I mean he'll be hard enough to deal with when he wakes up.'
Cole looked from Phoebe to Angelus's still form, back to Phoebe.
'I do this, then as soon as it's done, you and I shimmer out of here and get married...right away.'
'Phoebe, no!' Paige cried. But Phoebe wagged a finger at her to quiet her.
'Paige, this has been decided, okay? Now, Cole. Perform the spell now and we'll leave as soon as Angel, is Angel again.'
Cole reached into his suit pocket and pulled out a piece of paper. The Orb of Thesulah was sitting on a nearby table. He looked over at Wesley.
'Someone has to say the translation in English while I'm doing this.'
Wesley nodded. Paige put an arm around him. Spike watched Belthazor like a hawk.
Cole took a deep breath and began.
'Te implor, Doamne, nu ignora aceasta rugaminte.'
'I implore you, Lord, do not ignore this request.' Wesley translated.
'Lasa orbita sa fie vasul care-i va transp'ta, sufleful la el.' Cole chanted.
'Let this orb be the vessel that will carry his soul to him.' Wesley repeated.
'Asa sa fie! Asa sa fie! Acum!
'So it shall be! So it shall be! Now!' Wesley yelled.
Suddenly, the orb began to glow and a light seared through Angel's form. His eyes opened and filled with the light for a moment, before his eyes turned dark again. He was breathing heavily.
Phoebe eased over to him. Spike eyed him.
'Angel?' she asked tenderly. Angel began to try and sit up, but saw he had an arrow in his chest.
'What the hell? What happened? Was it a demon?' he asked wearily.
'Angel!' Phoebe yelled, pulling his face to hers and kissing him. Angel kissed her back, still not quite sure what was going on, but uneasy. For the only time he had lapses in time, was when he became Angelus.
Cole didn't like this reunion one bit! He began to walk toward Phoebe, when Paige jumped in front of him.
'It's over Cole! She doesn't love you and you can't hold her to that deal!'
Cole back handed Paige so hard, that she went flying up against a wall! Outraged, Wesley rushed him but got a similar blow for his trouble, causing him to go flying back against, and over the couch!
'Cole stop it!' Phoebe screamed. Angel jumped up and together, Spike and him began wailing on him! Cole was thrown backward and as he got up, he produced a fireball. He bounced it and looked around, as if deciding who he was going throw it at. He looked at Phoebe.
'You never had any intention of keeping your word, did you?'
'What word?!' Angel snapped, looking at Phoebe.
'Phoebe?' he asked gently. Phoebe rubbed his arm.
'Angel, I love you. More than I've ever loved anyone...'
'Thanks, a lot!' Cole hissed. But Phoebe ignored him.
'I wasn't about to let you stay Angelus. I offered to become his wife again if he restored your soul. He did.'
Angel stared at Phoebe.
'I love you too.' he said, before looking at Belthazor. 'Go take a cold shower because Phoebe isn't going anywhere with you!'
'I know.' Cole said simply. 'And that's why I've decided that if I can't have her, then no one will...especially a piece of filth vampire like you!'
Cole then flung the fireball at Phoebe! Angel grabbed her and knocked her to the ground, just as the fireball zoomed over their heads and seared the wall!
'Sonofabitch!' Spike screamed. 'Get the hell out of here! You've lost, you stupid ponce!'
Cole produced another fireball, just as Piper came down and accessed the situation. She blew Cole up, and they all watched his molecules swim around, then slowly shimmer away. Piper shook her head at everyone, then eyed Angel, who was helping Phoebe up.
'Are we soft and fuzzy again?' Piper asked.
Phoebe smiled and jumped into Angel's arms, wrapping her legs around his waist.
'Very!' she answered, kissing him hungrily. Spike averted his eyes and walked over to where a fallen Wesley lay and helped him up. Piper helped Paige up, then called out for Leo to help with injuries.
'How is Dru doing?' Spike asked, just as Leo orbed in. Piper looked from Leo and Spike.
'We have a problem.' Piper said in a low voice. Angel and Phoebe were too busy getting reacquainted to hear any of what they were saying.
'What? Is she feeling poorly?' Spike asked.
'She's got cravings now.'
'Well, that's normal.' Paige said, as Leo put a healing hand on her. The bruise Cole had left disappeared. He then moved over to Wesley.
Piper took a deep breath.
'She's craving blood...as if she were a vampire again. Leo, do you learn anything at all?'
Cole shimmered down into the underworld, livid! He stopped short, when he saw a few of his minions had restrained Fiathna, the worthless seer.
'What is going on down here?!' he snapped. One of the suck-up demons came running up to him.
'We held her here when she tried to make a getaway.'
'Make a getaway? Why was she trying to get away?' Cole asked, not really interested.
'Well surely you know that she has been consorting with the Charmed Ones behind your back?'
Cole's rage returned, as he slowly approached the terrified girl.
'You've been hanging out with the Charmed Ones? Are you the reason my plans to get Phoebe failed?'
'No!' Fiathna screamed. 'I just wanted to make sure that your plans did work out!'
'She lies!' another minion hissed. 'She told the witches that you had killed the original witch that cast the spell on Angelus.'
Cole instantly produced a fireball, but Fiathna, fearing for her life, blurted out the secret that the Charmed Ones were so desperate to keep from him.
'Please! I did not betray you! I found out a secret!'
Cole bounced the fireball.
'A secret? You finally found out something important that someone should know? My, Fiathna, you are to be commended.'
Fiathna wriggled!
'It concerns the lost witch...the one that has all of the new powers!'
Cole made the fireball disappear.
'Drusilla?'
'Yes! Her new powers are not powers at all...they are symptoms...she is with child! Your child! Please, they trust me! I can find out things for you...but please do not kill me!'
Cole's eyes lit up, as he realized that a half demon, half witch child, would be the perfect offering to the senior partners at Wolfram & Hart, to ensure him the post of CEO.