Disclaimer: I do not own Buffy the Vampire Slayer or Angel. I claim all rights to characters of my own creation including but not limited to Marguerite and Sarah.

Mid-afternoon traffic in L.A. wasn't really any worse than Seattle in terms of the amount of vehicles, but other things about it scared the living daylights out of the slayer that was standing outside a clothing boutique waiting for her ride. One was the way people drove. She'd never seen anything like it in Washington, or even in the other 30 odd states she'd been through in the last six months. It would be very ironic if her death was caused by something as everyday as being hit by a car. At nineteen, almost twenty she'd survived a long time for a slayer, and now that she wasn't the only one, well one of three, or the "forgotten" slayer as she'd been dubbed she was hoping to breaks some records in terms of age. The nick name itself really made no sense to her. The scoobies, as they called themselves, hadn't even known she existed. There'd been nothing to remember and so nothing to forget.

To her immense relief it was at that moment the black Sedan she'd been awaiting pulled up to the curb. Climbing in she settled herself before grinning up at the rear view mirror. Her own blue eyes reflected back at her briefly before being replaced by the green ones of the driver.

"Well?" he asked as he turned his eyes back to the busy street.

"He's got the letter," she shrugged, "and a serious attitude problem, but hey so do I. Although I generally don't threaten people with guns."

"Innocent people," she defended when he snorted.

"You're a lot of things sweetheart, but innocent ain't one of them."

"Shut up Lindsey," she scowled.

"Hell, I didn't mean it like that. Lighten up. I'm just sayin' you could kick the guys ass six ways to Sunday even if he did have a gun."

"By the way," she said straightening up and leaning over the front seat, "I can't believe you told me he was a wuss."

"I said he was a wuss," Lindsey corrected, "but he'd probably changed if Wolfram and Hart wanted their hands on him so bad."

"I hate mind games so fucking much," she scowled.

"I thought you didn't like that word?"

"I don't, and I don't like mind games either. Especially the kind the "senior partners" are playing."

"Just remember I warned you how crazy this is. Messing with the senior partners is like committing suicide."

"Then why are you here Linds?" Marguerite shook her head, "You got out. Why come back?"

"And let you guys have all the fun? Besides almost everybody that was important when I was there is either dead or, well, actually, I think they're all dead."

"Doesn't bode well for us does it?"

"Technically none of them were killed by the senior partners. Gavin was turned into a zombie, and Lilah was killed by Angelus. I'm not sure exactly what happened to Holland, but he's disappeared too. At least that's what I remember being told."

"We've already decided to run with the theory that the mind wipe only affected L.A., and the memory alteration only affected Charles Gunn, Winifred Burkle, that demon guy Lorne, and of course Wesley and the family they stuck the kid with. Angel we're not sure about, but Buffy seems convinced he wouldn't possibly, "go all evil," as she says it without mitigating circumstances. I think the girl needs to stop seeing things in black and white, but that's another story."

"Faith and Willow told her about the kid yet?"

"Willow's flying into Rome as we speak," Marguerite answered, "I guess she finally figured she can't put it off any longer."

"I wouldn't want to tell a slayer something like that."

"I don't see why it's such a big deal. They'd been broken up for like three years."

"Now who's seeing things in black and white?"

"I think I already said this once, but Lindsey, shut up."

A drive that should have taken half-an-hour ended up taking a lot longer, but Marguerite didn't really mind. It gave her overworked mind a break. However it lasted all to briefly. Soon they were pulling up to two-story house that sat a hundred yards from a cliff that over-looked the majestic Pacific Ocean. Bordered by trees on three sides it was hidden from the other houses that dotted the coast.

Marguerite waited for Lindsey before heading down the walk to the front door. She knew the cameras had probably picked her up at the entrance to the estate, but she made sure to look into the video camera tucked in the corner of the entrance covering. It was of course a decoy for the real one that was just above it and all but invisible to the naked eye. The door swung open immediately.

"Hey Oz," she greeted as she stepped inside, "Anything happen while I was gone?"

He shrugged and she crossed her arms over her chest.

"Come on Oz. Words. Use 'em."

"Confirmation on the flight plans," he supplied, "June's meeting Willow in New York Wednesday."

"That means Willow's only staying in Rome for what, not even a day?"

"Someone's started asking questions," said a tall, athletic woman as she entered the hallway, "Let's go in the living room. The schedule's just been sped up."

Sarah Wyndam-Pryce was forty-two years old. As the oldest child of Roger Wyndam-Pryce a lot of responsibility had been laid upon her shoulders. Responsibility she'd rebelled against, but not in the same way Rupert Giles, or Ripper as he'd been called when she'd met him. She'd gotten top grades when she was training to be a Watcher and been discreet personal life. That had been the deal with her father. She didn't embarrass the family name and he left her alone. Wesley had been so different from her. Thinking of others before himself, always wanting to please everybody. In their household those perfectly admirable traits had been the kiss of death. From the time he was a toddler she'd made it her personal mission to protect him.

"You've got that look again," Marguerite informed her.

"What look?" Sarah said as she busied herself with the files on the coffee table. She passed one to each of the people in the room.

"The one where you're getting ready to fly to England and kill your father even though it won't fix anything."

"It would give me great personal satisfaction," Sarah disagreed.

"Think we can curb the homicidal tendencies until after you've filled us in?" Lindsey questioned in amusement.

"Right," Sarah cleared her throat, "Securities been compromised. We move tonight."

asdeed- Good to hear from you again. Like this one any better?

Imzadi- Glad it holds your interest. I removed Arms Deals because I felt like it was really amateur. You know us artist types. Never quite satisfied. Lol.

Moonjava- Glad you like it. I hope you like this latest chapter too.