A/N: Hullo! Sorry my hiatus lasted a little longer than expected! I do however have a birthday present for you (in my house on any one's birthday everyone gets a present and the birthday person picks them out and of course the birthday person gets way more presents)! I'm almost done with a song-fic I've been writing and I'll put that up in a few days. I am a diviner! I predict you will all become very happy within the next minute.

Disclaimer: I own a lot of things (my Mp3 player for example) also Angel, Taber, all previously mentioned characters, and the plot. Everything else belongs to AAR I know this... Oh and steal my stuff and I will stab you with the pretty dagger I got for my birthday!

When I awoke Rachel wasn't there. Ate oatmeal for breakfast and wandered around looking at paintings.

"Little pet, where are you?"

"In here." I called from a room in the back of the house that looked out on a graveyard.

"We're leaving."

"Where are we going?"

"South Carolina."

"To Taber's house? I don't want to go."

"Look, little girl it's not like you have much of a choice I am much faster and stronger than you besides in light of... recent events I'm giving you back to Taber."

"Really?"

"Yes!"

"Why?"

"I rather like my damned existence." She put her hand on my shoulder and the warm muggy mist of night made my skin into goose flesh. Rachel propelled me into the house and into the main hall downstairs. "Come out, come out, where ever you are!" She yelled rather loudly. There was a pause. "Oh, come now, Taber, I'm not here to tease you." It was clear he was speaking to her telepathically.

‡Taber?‡

¥What, Angel?¥

‡I over hard her talking to Silver he's disowned her and told he might not have her destroyed if she gave me back.‡

¥Really?¥

‡Yeah.‡ He appeared a few feet in front of where we stood. I wanted to go to him and hide behind him but Rachel kept a firm grip on my shoulder as though she could read my thoughts though she herself had professed that she could not.

"Rachel, why are you here if not to tease me?" He arched an eyebrow up. "To save your skin perhaps?"

"Hardly."

"Oh, I heard you'd been disowned and Silver was threatening to have you destroyed is that true?"

"News spreads fast I see but no he was not threatening to have me destroyed he did disown me though."

"Liar." Taber laughed smirking.

"Call a witness I've not all night to make this transaction legal."

"Transaction?"

"I'm giving you your girl back, ok? Call a fucking witness."

"Gee, Rachel never thought you for the heroine type." He leered. "I bet he did threaten you probably told you to give Angel back to me or he'd have Aubrey's kid destroy you."

"Call a witness." Rachel said trying to remain calm.

"Truth first, Rachel."

"Fine, you want the truth this is what he said: You bought a slave out of spite, and hate of Taber. I can understand my line fighting, Hell, I can understand humans fighting but when Vampires proud predators that we are go around doing human things, stabbing each other in the back then I cannot forgive and forget. You have a week to get rid of her. I suggest highly, for your own sake, that you give her back to Taber. If you do I may not have you destroyed but mark my words Risika. From now on you are on your on in this world I, who protect my own when they cannot, will no longer protect you Risika as you are not my own. I bid you a good-bye but remember what I said Risika and remember well!" Taber paused and appeared to be looking through us but his gaze snapped back to focus when a punk teenager appeared.

"What do you want, you evil bastard?"

"Ouch, that hurt Sazzie." Taber said sarcastically. She rolled her eyes skyward.

"Yeah, whatever what do you want anyway I have stuff to do, like my job and I really need a drink?"

"We just need a witness."

"Wonderful. I get turned into a Vamp. so I am above the law and instead get to subject myself to zillions more."

"I turned you to save your life now shut up." Taber growled.

"Yes, 'dad.'"

"Good I'm giving this girl back to Taber got that Sazzie?" Rachel asked.

"Sure. Can I go now, 'dad?'"

"Call me that one more time..." Taber threatened.

"Fine can I go, Mr. Cyr?"

"Yes, please."

"See you soon... Not!" She said leaving.

"You're touching my property." Taber said feeding Rachel's words back to her. Rachel let go of me cursed at Taber and left. I stood uncertainly wondering what was going to happen now. To my utter surprise Taber closed the space between us with a few long strides and pulled me against him in a fierce hug. "I missed you." He whispered his warm breath caressing my face. I didn't know what to say. I had at times cursed his existence and others wished I were right where I was now. I was torn between hitting him and leaning into his embrace and crying. He tilted my head up with his long pale fingers and looked into my eyes. I could feel him edge into my mind pressing on my thoughts forcing me into a kind of thrall. I knew I could try to push him out but instead I watched as if on the outside slightly amused at how easily I gave in. I could feel he felt a slight rush at the feeling that he could over come this weak creature and how at this moment if he so commanded she would throw herself off a cliff. He wouldn't though no this human he liked and no matter how seductive the sense of power was he only wished to slip into her mind and see what had happened in the time he hadn't been around her. My senses came back in a rush when the thrall broke and I came slamming back into my body. My knees buckled but Taber caught me and held me concern flashing in his eyes. "Are you ok?"

"I think... I'm fine I got kind of... dizzy."

"Sorry."

"For what?"

"Everything. Selling you. Gabriel. Angoras. Everything I cannot I didn't think I–"

"I'm fine. I killed Gabriel and managed not to get myself killed the rest of the time."

"That's not the point." He answered angrily. I could tell he was angry with himself and not me. "It was stupid I shouldn't have done it shouldn't have-"

"Stop it." I said pulling away from away steady on my own feet again. "I said I was fine don't beat yourself up over it or I will." I said assuming a fighting stance. He looked at me and laughed. I knew how he saw me. He saw me as a fragile human even though I was frozen in time by his blood and made stronger by it. He stopped and smiled he spread his arms palm up.

"If you land one good punch I'll let it drop." He invited. I was surprised by his words. I swung at his stomach but he blocked my punch with an open palm. The same happened when I swung at his groin, his chest, his face or anywhere I tried. I stopped and hunched over my hands on my knees panting.

"It's not... fair... you're a lot... faster than... me."

"See? I can do anything I like and you couldn't stop me."

"Evil." I muttered straitening up. I stalked up the stairs to the floor my room was on I didn't hear him follow me which is probably why I screamed when I saw him in my room laying comfortably on my bed. "What in Hell?" What was he playing at? "Why are you in my room? I thought you were through annoying me for the day."

"I am done annoying you."

"Why are you in my room?" I asked sitting down on my table instead of a chair, as the table was much farther away from him.

"Your room? It belongs to me. I can do what ever I like with it. Currently it serves a your bedroom I could make it into say a gym instead." I rolled my eyes.

"You know bloody well what I meant, Taber."

"Do I?" I didn't say anything but simply settled for glaring at him. "Aren't you going to ask where you'd sleep?"

"Huh?"

"Aren't you going t ask where you'd sleep if I made this room into a gym?"

"Nope."

"Why not?"

"I can guess."

"There's no fun in that." He pouted. I laughed at his expression it reminded me of the kids I used to baby-sit and my little brother 'Vahn. My laughter evaporated I scowled at him instead. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing I'd care to tell you so bugger off." I crossed my arms over my chest and glared at the closed curtains. I jumped off the table and walked over to the curtains. I pulled one aside looking out at the bright stars. I didn't feel Taber come up behind me until he slung his arm around my waist. I gave myself a mental pat on the back for not jumping to high when he surprised me. He just stood there, a strong comforting presence, his warm arm around me. I leaned against him resting my head on his shoulder. I sniffled feeling hot tears sting my eyes and trickle down my cheeks. I wiped at them ineffectually. "When you made that face you reminded me of my little brother 'Vahn. He would have been seven in July."

"Would have been?" Taber asked quietly.

"He was... murdered when-"I stopped and took a deep shuddering breath. "When Lord Carlo burned down my house."

"Don't say 'Lord' it only makes the fear worse. You could kill him now you're strong enough but first you have to be strong enough here and here." He said touching my head first with his free hand then my heart.

"I know. I know it's stupid, oh Gods..." I turned into his accommodating arms and let him hold me while sobs wracked my body.

"Shhh. Shhh. It's ok my beautiful Angel fairytales always end well don't they?"

"This isn't a fairytale Taber, it's real life and in real life the bad guy has as much if not a better chance at winning." I squeezed my eyes shut tight wishing it really was a fairytale and that in the end everything would be all right if I could just hold on until then. But no this was real life and if I wanted a happy ending I had to write my own and hope it all played out as planned.

"Look at me." I shook my head and pressed my face into his shoulder. "Angel, look at me." I moved my head slightly and peered up at him. "Everything will be fine the idiot who killed your family is no where near as powerful as you can be. When he's dead you can move on, grieve and start your new life."

"Thank you, Taber."

"Your welcome. Come on we're both tired let's go to sleep." I found my self again in the room where I got my new name. I lay down in his bed cuddled up to him for once I felt comforted and happy to be sleeping here with him.

A/N: Aww wasn't that sweet? There pats reviewers on their heads happy reviewers! Reviews or Flame! (--) (Reviews are nice but I'm gonna use flames to burn my homework.)