Part 12

Only Angels Have Wings

Giles checked his watch for the third time. He began to get up to look out the window but his wife held him back with an annoyed look. They were alone with Mop in the gold room, a small study with golden-yellow walls. There were two over-sized chairs facing a fireplace where Anya had lit a group of candles. They were sharing one chair with the dog at their feet eying the empty chair enviously now and then. It was an idyllic picture to anyone looking in from the outside it would seem to be painted with light. "The sun still hasn't finished setting yet." Giles complained.

"Sorry Darling, I can't do anything to speed up time. Even when I had my powers I couldn't do that. I thought Watchers were supposed to be patient? Buffy and Spike are just took a little too long finding the vessel. They're somewhere passing time until sunset. If Buffy's smart she's finally convinced Spike to have sex. " Anya placed Giles hand on her belly. "So calm down I think you're even making the baby jumpy. My tummy's all fluttery tonight."

"I skimmed over the part on patients in the handbook. I am usually better in a crisis but I've never had this much to loose before. We've done all the research we can and I've even seen how it will end." He didn't voice his fears he just grabbed hold of Anya's hand. "Why did Buffy have to leave her phone on the charger tonight?" Giles kissed her palm and apologized. "I'm sorry; I shouldn't be laying this on you."

"Well, I'm shocked Rupert Giles 'skimming' two very important handbooks." Anya teased.

"Two?"

"Yes two, you overlook the whole chapter in the spousal handbook about sharing worries and burdens. We're supposed to lean on each other, it's a marital privilege." Anya said.

"A privilege; like making love?"

"Exactly, only for the next few months I'd recommend you keep the leaning on me figurative. My center of balance is off and I'm already hauling around one member of the family."

"Have I said how much I adore the way you think?" Giles asked.

"Not today. You did bring up how I taste and the way I smell though, that was very nice." Anya squirmed a little and groaned. "I hate to ruin the moment but I've been sitting to long and need to get up."

"I was just about to suggest that I pass the time giving you a backrub." He said as they rose.

"I love the way you think too Rupert." The backrub led to the rubbing of other body parts with certain other parts and Anya was very pleased at how long she was able to keep Giles occupied. They dozed off for a while and had to dress hastily before going downstairs when Buffy and Spike arrived.

"It's about time the two of you got back." Anya said before the travelers had a chance to even say hello. "Are you ok? I was really worried. It's not good to make a pregnant woman worried. Next time remember your stupid cell phone."

"Um, sorry?" Buffy said unsure if the rant was over. "We got the Vessel." Buffy handed Anya the simple looking wooden bowl. She felt like a grimy child offering somebody a bouquet dandelions and daisies. Looking at the condition of her clothes it wasn't far from the truth. "I think it would be a good idea to get a shower."

"We ran into a little trouble." Spike said.

"And a big pile of hay or maybe it was straw. I can never remember the difference." Buffy put in.

Spike said, "Fancy booze and dead clerics, it felt like the bad old days all over again. The one that was left alive only lasted long enough to tell us where the Tupperware was hid."

"There was a guy dressed as a priest. It was the whole Ben is Glory thing all over again but I think this guy signed the lease with the First. I don't think there was much left of him I'd call human when I killed him." A shiver went though Buffy as she remembered how cold and cruel Caleb's eyes were. Spike saw this and put his arm around her.

"He could have been the one who was used to destroy council headquarters." Giles said. "This may give us more time to get the ritual done or it could mean the First will redouble its efforts."

Andrew shrieked, startled at the sudden ring of the doorbell and Anya moved to answer it.

"Don't get up Anya; I'm closer to the door I'll get it." Buffy said wondering half seriously if it was the First. After all, everyone else she knew was in the house already. When she opened the door she saw two familiar figures. One of them badly beaten. "Oh my God, Clem come on in! What happened to you?" Clem was holding a rag to his ear the cloth was soaked in eerily human looking blood.

"It's not as bad as it looks. Ear wounds bleed terrible." Clem answered flashing a strained smile.

"William, get some bandages. It's Clem he's hurt." Buffy called out. Using the name she'd been calling Spike all night, this time without thought.

"It was one of those uglies that have been coming out of the Hellmouth." Clem continued to explain as he hobbled in. More than just his ear was obviously hurt. "Didn't fight with me or I'd be grease spot on the road. It just swatted me aside like a bug. I heard something though, something bad you need to know. My car broke down so I flagged down this guy for a ride."

"Buffy?" The second visitor asked. Buffy wasn't certain from the look on his face if he wanted to be invited in or if he just wasn't sure who she was. And he was doing that thing with his nose that made her want to check to see if her deodorant was really strong enough for Slayer.

"Oh, sorry about that, it's not really my house." She knew she could've invited him in because she lives here but it just didn't feel right. "I'll go get Giles um it's great to see you Angel." Buffy turned and tried not to run. If poop-head Parker ever shows up, she swears to herself, it'll probably be after a bad hair cut and a fight with skunk demons in the sewers.

Giles showed up at the door with Anya at his side. The invitation was issued flatly. The warning that went with it was unspoken but Angel heard it loud and clear regardless.

Seeing the expectant parents Angel wondered once more if he was still in the right dimension. He had started down the rabbit hole when Clem got in his car. The wounded demon had recognized his scent as related to Spike. Clem had chatter nervously the whole way catching him up on all the 'family' gossip. Even if Angel hadn't been overwhelmed by it all he would have had a chance to respond to any of it. Clem talked more than even Lorne did.

Everyone was gathered in the great room. There was coffee but no doughnuts. Even before Clem and Angel showed up everyone in the Giles house knew that it was time to get to business. Buffy didn't need to make a speech, Giles didn't have to utter a plea to God, and even Andrew was grave.

"We got trouble, you guys Torock Hanns are just the start and the stuff that will come after them will make the uber-vamps look like Gieko mascot. The Hellmouth needs to be destroyed now and for good. My sources say that the First has had big money backing it since big money meant clam shells and kitten skins." Clem took a sip of coffee with shaking flippers. "See, before now the 'mouth has only ever been open a crack. The money guys have found something. Something that will blow the Hellmouth wide open either find a way to stop it before it starts or get very far away."

"So, we go ahead with the ritual SAP." Buffy said. "It would be great if we could find out what the corporate big bad planned to use against us but by the time we found it, it could be too late." Buffy sat back down and took hold of Spike's hand.

"Hey look at the hand holding." Clem pointed out cheering up a little. "I knew you two would work things out." Spike smiled at this aware of Angel on brooding in the corner but too happy to look very smug.

Buffy couldn't help a little grin in return but quickly got back to business. "So what's your wonderful news Angel? Somehow I don't think you're here because you heard we could use a hand painting the baby's room."

"I thought I was here to help you out." A well fed vampire could blush in extreme circumstances and Angel was wishing hard that he hadn't drank that second thermos of otter. "But I think, maybe it's possible – I might be the corporate big bad."

Various versions of "What!" went around the table. Wes and Faith both looked sick and it was Wes that spoke first. "You made a deal with Wolfram & Hart. You actually signed a contract?"

"There were reasons, good ones." Angel said and Buffy thought it was amazing how much like Dawn he sounded for a vampire who was over 200 years old.

"Don't care who holds the title to your soul Angel, it's still accounted for. So you can still help. Whatever you've brought with you could be used to win this war" Spike said reasonably. Angel had a sinking feeling again as if he dropped further down that rabbit hole.

Giles said "Good point Spike, now we can either eradicate this weapon or turn it against the First somehow."

Angel was once again on the Giles' big porch. This time Buffy was with him and Spike was right there by her side. "Are you sure you don't want me to stay? I can help." Angel asked for the fourth time.

"No it's decided we need you for second line of defense if the plan doesn't work. Anyone left if there is anybody will head for LA." Buffy said

Spike was the first, as always, to break the awkward silence that statement. "Whatever mess you've gotten yourself into Angel, be careful alright."

"I'd tell you to do the same but you might get the idea I care." Angel tried to joke

"And the resulting terror would keep me awake for days on end." Spike said with a mock shutter

Buffy and Spike shared a look and after a moment Buffy said "I'll be up in a while Spike. Don't take a shower without me K?"

"Wouldn't dream of it love." Spike answered suppressing the urge to smirk. "I'll just leave you to say you farewells in private." Then he abandoned all his self control at the last moment by adding, "I'll just go up and turn down the bed then."

That was the last straw Angel laughed, it was a lonely laugh and a little bitter but it broke the tension. "Sorry about that Angel, Spike is about four years old sometimes."

"But he makes you happy?" Angel asked already knowing the answer was yes from the look on her face.

"Last year we were each other's weakness; this year we've been one another's strength. If we're lucky next year we can work on the happy."

"You're..."Angel searched for the right word. "different." He touched Buffy's cheek tenderly and stepped down part way off the porch so that he and Buffy were almost eye-to-eye.

"Does that disappoint you?" The idea of letting Angel down hurt and at the same time removed a burden from her. She lifted her face and gave them a soft kiss goodbye.