Disclaimer: Since my name is not Joss Whedon, 'Angel' and all the characters associated with the show belong to someone who isn't me. I also don't own the storyline - that's taken from gidgetgirl's 'Twice The Trouble' Challenge, posted on the Chocolate Covered Strawberries Challenge Archive.

'Twice The Trouble' Challenge

A Fred Throwback. In season five of Angel, Illyria's attempt to takeover Fred's body is thwarted by the Powers that Be, and the result is that, when Illyria enters Fred's body, the body splits in half: into two identical little girls, save one has blue hair. The Angel gang has to keep little Illyria (if that's her name...) from taking over the world, and take care of little Fred. You take it from there.

Requirements:

The evil one must have blue hair.

Harmony must make an appearance in the fic.

Both Gunn and Wes must babysit... one of the girls must like each of them better than the other.

Chapter 9.

Three days later, ten o'clock in the morning, Gunn's office.

The worst part about having been an older brother, Gunn reflected sourly, was that it seemed to give people the impression that you were good with children.

Ordinarily, he wouldn't have had a problem with babysitting, he liked kids and had always gotten along quite well with them when he was a teenager but taking care of his mystically youthened friend, especially when he was partially responsible for her transformation, was a decidedly uncomfortable experience.

To be fair, Angel, and Wesley in particular, had been taking more than their fair share of babysitting duties and Gunn had been offered his choice as to which of the two girls he wanted to take charge of but he would still have been more than happy never to be left alone with the pint-sized reminder of his mistake.

Part of him would have given anything to be able to tell his friends about the part he had played in the arrival of the sarcophagus and in Fred's transformation, if only to ease his conscience.

The other, sadly stronger, part of him would not allow him to speak, fearing his friend's reactions, their anger and, worse still, their disappointment.

Thankfully, little Fred, supplied with paper and crayons, was being as good as gold.

Gunn made a mental note to thank Angel for the drawing lessons he had given the little girl the previous day.

Since then, there had scarcely been a peep out of the four year old as she devoted her time and energy to producing enough drawings to paper half of the building.

Gunn was amused to see that most of little Fred's works of art depicted a very familiar bespectacled English man.

Needless to say, he was more than happy that his young charge was amusing herself rather than demanding his constant attention.

In the past few days, the Angel Investigations team had been neglecting their various duties as they worked on a cure for Fred, meaning that Gunn now had a pile of case files and paperwork taller than he was, to deal with.

He sighed.

/Better get stuck in. /

Angel's office.

"You understand everything that I've said?" Angel grilled his secretary.

Harmony heaved a dramatic sigh. "I've got it, bossy. No giving Illyria advice on how to take over the world. No encouraging any violent or destructive tendencies. No hints about where to find minions. Is that all?"

Angel glared at her. "Harmony, the only reason that I'm trusting you to keep an eye on Illyria is . . ."

"That nobody else can cope with her." Harmony finished dryly.

Angel had the grace to look sheepish. "Pretty much."

An hour and a half later, Gunn's office.

"Charles?"

Gunn flashed the little girl a grin. "What's up, baby girl?"

Fred scowled. "I'm not a baby."

"Sorry. What can I do for you?"

"I need more paper." Fred informed him.

"Again?" Gunn raised an eyebrow. "Didn't anyone ever tell you that we have to save the rainforests?" Fred gave him a puzzled look. "Never mind." He liberated a few more sheets of paper from his printer and handed them to her. "Are you writing a book or something?" He asked teasingly.

"It's a surprise."

"Really? Can I get a hint?"

"It's not for you, silly." Fred told him blithely, not noticing that she was being rather rude. "It's for Wesley."

"Of course." Gunn gave her a slight smile. "You'd better get to work then, hadn't you?"

"Uh-huh." Fred took the paper eagerly and returned to her spot on the floor, flopping down on her stomach before taking the jumbo box of crayons that Harmony had bought for her, selecting the colour she wanted with as much care and deliberation as if the fate of the world rested on the shade of blue she used, the got to work on her picture.

Gunn shook his head, amused.

/At least she's behaving herself. /

Twenty-five minutes later, the lobby.

"I don't know who she thinks she's fooling." Harmony snorted derisively, stabbing the offending picture in her gossip magazine with an accusing finger. "She so does not have the legs to wear a mini skirt."

Little Illyria nodded her agreement, despite the fact that she had not understood a word of what the vampire was saying.

So far, Harmony had given the little goddess a manicure, painting the nails a glittery blue that Illyria quite liked, done her hair in half a dozen ways before settling on a French plait threaded with a primrose yellow ribbon that matched the embroidery on the child's white cropped top and even experimented a little with make-up.

Illyria had endured the primping stoically, preparing herself for the moment when she could make her request known.

"My Qwa'ha Xhan has failed me." She told the vampire solemnly; unaware of how adorable she looked when she wore a serious expression on her little face. "He was supposed to gather an army for me, but he has not done so."

Harmony laughed. "Knox? I'm surprised that that guy can tie his shoes! He couldn't fetch milk, let alone an army."

"Exactly." Illyria slipped her hand into Harmony's. "I need a Qwa'ha Xhan who will serve me better. Someone who will serve me faithfully. You are far better than my pitiful excuse for a Qwa'ha Xhan."

"Liri?" Harmony's voice was gentle. "Are you asking me to be your new Qwa'ha Xhan?"

A smile of relief spread across the miniature deity's face. Finally! She had been hinting for several days now, thoroughly fed up with waiting for Knox. While Harmony was not up to the standards she was accustomed to in her servants, she was the best Illyria could expect in her present circumstances.

"Yes." She gave Harmony her sweetest smile. "I would like you to replace my Qwa'ha Xhan."

"Sorry, kiddo." Harmony shrugged apologetically. "No can do."

Illyria's small face fell.

"Why not?" She demanded. "When I rise to power again, my Qwa'ha Xhan, and all the priests of my order, will enjoy the most exalted positions in the new regime."

"I'm sure they will." Harmony spoke pacifically. "But I won't be one of them."

"Why?" The child goddess looked stricken. "Winifred has a minion. Why can't I have one?"

"It's not that." Harmony patted her head sympathetically. "It's just that once you've had your own minions, you can't go back to being someone else's. It would just be so demeaning."

Illyria was silent for a moment as she took in the blonde vampire's answer. The enormity of all she had undergone in order to win Harmony over to her side hit her like a ton of bricks.

Manicures, make-up, hairdressing, gossiping, answering to that stupid nickname, listening to her inane prattle day after day after day.

Her small face contorted in rage.

"I HATE YOU!" Her shriek was loud enough to wake the dead. "I WANT MY ARMY BACK! IT'S NOT FAIR! IT'S NOT FAIR! IT'S NOT FAIR!" She flung herself to the ground, pummelling the floor with her small fists and kicking for all she was worth..

"Liri!" Harmony's voice was sharp. "Calm down. Now."

The child flew at her, pummelling her with all her strength. "I WANT MY MINIONS! NOW! NOW! NOW!" She made a beeline for Harmony's desk, snatching up every item she could find and flinging them at the unfortunate vampire.

Harmony, showing remarkable patience, endured Illyria's tantrum until the little goddess did the unthinkable.

"Illyria." Harmony thundered, her voice cold. "Put. The. Unicorn. Down. NOW!"

Her eyes blazing with defiance, Illyria flung Harmony's prized glittery unicorn to the floor, stomping on it with all her strength.

/There. / She glared up at the vampire. /What are you going to do now? /

Thirty seconds later.

"Unhand me, you filthy half-breed! How dare you treat me in this fashion!"

Ignoring her, Harmony marched through the halls, an indignant Illyria tucked under her arm, struggling and kicking as hard as she could.

She opened the door to one of the unused offices, depositing Illyria inside before closing and locking the door.

"You stay in there until you've calmed down." She commanded with more authority that anyone could have guessed she possessed. She glared at the cluster of people gathered around, drawn by the commotion. "What? You've never seen an ancient demon goddess get a time out before?"

Ten minutes later, Gunn's office.

Listening to Illyria's screams, which were audible, even from his office, Gunn was more relieved than ever that his charge was so quiet and well behaved.

He had been able to plough his way through a good tenth of his workload and, if Fred continued to be such a little angel, he would be finished by some time next week.

His phone rang and he picked it up with a sinking feeling, knowing that it was probably not a social call.

"Charles Gunn?"

"Gunn?" He recognized Lorne's voice. "I've got a client here who needs some help with his contract. Could you spare a minute?"

"Sure." Gunn sighed inwardly. "Fred and I will be down in a few . . ."

"Maybe you shouldn't bring the little cupcake." Lorne suggested. "He's being somewhat . . . vocal." He finished delicately. "It'll just be for a minute. Two, tops."

"Okay." Gunn looked over at Fred, who was still drawing. /She'll be all right for a couple of minutes. / He told himself. /She probably won't even know that I'm gone. / "I'm on my way." He told Lorne.

"Thanks." The empathic demon hung up.

Gunn smiled down at little Fred. "I'll be back in a few minutes, alright." If you need anything, tell Jenny." He nodded towards the next office, where his assistant was working.

"Okay." Fred didn't even look up from her drawing.

Satisfied that she would be alright by herself, Gunn left the room to straighten out whatever problem's Lorne's foul-mouthed client was having with his contract.

Five minutes later.

Fred reached out to take another sheet of paper, only to find, to her disgust, that she had run out.

Gunn was gone and she didn't know how to open the printer to get more paper.

She sighed, looking down at her incomplete project.

/I wanna finish so I can show Wesley. / She thought.

She looked around the room, anxious to find another surface to work on.

Her eyes fell upon the perfect blank space.

/Poor wall. / She shook her head sadly. The wall looked so dreary and lonely. /Go on. / A small voice inside her urged. /It's just like a big piece of paper. / She bent down to scoop up a handful of crayons before turning to the wall. /Don't worry, wall. I'll make you pretty. /

TBC.