Disclaimer: I own nothing… they all belong to Joss Whedon. All right, well this chapter I ma going to try and eliminate the Wary sue quality applied to Rhea. Hope you like it don't forget to RnR!
The next day Angel groggily pulled him self out of bed. Of course when I say day I mean about six o'clock at night. Rhea came out of her room; her long hair was wet and straight. She looked at Angel who looked absolutely awful. He reminded her of all the old movies when the zombies drag themselves through the streets.
"Wow you look like crap." She commented before walking across the hall to the bathroom. She looked in the mirror and began fixing her hair. Angel walked in behind her before saying "It's not like I can check in the mirror." A grin broke out on Rhea's face as she walked back into her room. Angel went to the kitchen to get something to eat and hope fully some blood or tea to drink.
He opened up the fridge to find another fresh bunch of blood packets. Some of them still hadn't thawed properly quite yet; Angel assumed that they were from the freezer and that Lindsay hadn't managed to destroy them. Angel could here Rhea's footsteps approaching but they stopped right at the kitchen doorway.
"Angel!" She said. Angel turned his head in question, still holding a blood packet to his mouth to open it. All he saw next was a bright flash before blinking and seeing Rhea holding a Polaroid in her hand, a camera in the other. Angel immediately began to chase after her. Rhea began giggling incessantly. She jumped over chairs, couches and even the dog. Every chance she could get she took a picture of Angel. Finally Angel managed to corner her by the doorway. Rhea held the camera close to herself as she hunched over to stop him from retrieving it. Angel began to tickle her sides making Rhea burst out laughing, she lost her footing and fell to the ground. Angel himself was laughing too; he was actually having fun for the first time in a long while.
Rhea managed to turn around and grab Angel's sides leaving the camera behind her. She began tickling madly Angel tumbled back as he tripped on the leg of a chair dragging Rhea down with him. She fell on top of him, both were laughing. Rhea propped her elbows on Angel's chest and began looking at the pictures she had taken.
"Yeah, you look like crap" Just then the doorbell rang and Rhea jumped to her feet. Leaving the Poloroids on Angel's chest. She fixed her hair and ran over to the door and opened it. It was Mrs. Garrison, the next-door neighbor.
"Hello Rhea. Are you ready to take me to the airport?" She asked with a smile. " Yes, I did say I was going to do that didn't I? Just give me a second to get my coat." Rhea looked over into the window and saw that it was dark outside. "Angel, you wanna come?" Rhea asked. Angel nodded and grabbed his jacket. Then the three of them left for the airport.
Rhea's car was amazing. It was a viper, a car built for the wealthy. When Angel had asked where she got the viper. She explained to him what she called the rich kid complex. Mrs. Garrison sat in the back and Angel and Rhea sat in the front. Angel was just looking out the window when something on the dashboard caught his attention, it was a ring. As a matter of fact it was the ring that allowed Vampires to walk during the day. He picked it up and looked at it, just in case he was wrong.
"Where did you get this?" He asked Rhea.
"I gave it to her." Replied Mrs. Garrison. "My Devon found it last time he was here he was just snorkeling off the docks. He told me to give it to Rhea"
"Why what's so special about it?" Rhea asked Angel.
"This ring permits" he looked back for a second and then began whispering. "Vampires to walk in the sunlight."
Rhea looked at him before slowing the car to a stop in the airport parking lot. The thereof them got out and waked Mrs. Garrison to the terminal.
"Hope you have fun in Ireland. Tell Devan that I say hello" Rhea called. Mrs. Garrison turned around and waved before continuing on her way. Angel turned around and began to walk away but accidentally knocked someone in the shoulder.
"Watch it mate," the person said. Angel stopped and turned around.
"Spike?" he asked. The man turned around and looked at Angel before running up to him.
"I thought you were dead. I at least thought you would have been mortal. This is Tina. She found me half dead on the cement and saved my life." Spike replied. There was a girl standing next to him, she had deep burgundy hair that was feathered to the side. She looked at Angel with her almost clear blue eyes and waved.
"Yeah, I signed the prophecy leaving it to you." Angel replied.
" So you heard from Buffy at all?" Spike asked Angel. "Yeah, I went there after the battle I was half dead. I can't believe she married Xander. That's not like her at all" Angel replied. Spike nodded in agreement.
Spike looked at Rhea before asking Angel. "And who's this lass?"
"I'm Rhea." She shook Spike's hand and gave him a look over. Angel saw this and interrupted.
"So what's new?" Angel asked Spike.
"Well I got the flu last week and through up. That was weird. How's the vampire life for you?"
" Immortal" Angel replied glumly.
"Well I better go." Spike replied. " I don't want to miss my flight. Going to Ireland." Spike turned around to walk away.
" Say hi for me" Angel replied, he hadn't been to Ireland in a very long time, and to be honest, he really missed it there. Angel and Rhea turned around to leave.
"This is so depressing. I think we need to go out." Rhea replied.
" I don't usually go out." Angel replied.
"Well this is an unusual occasion then. We're going to go to a club. Besides, I'm supposed to Dj there for a bit tonight anyways."
"Rhea, really I don't do the whole clubbing, dancing thing." Angel replied.
"It really doesn't matter how badly you dance. Besides if you really hate it you can just stay at the bar and waste some money on booze. I think I have gained enough interest in my bank account to feed a third world country."
The door to Rhea's apartment slammed open as Rhea and Angel walked in. Rhea was under Angel's shoulder carrying him in as he stumbled through the apartment.
"I thought Vampires didn't get drunk," She mumbled as she dragged him into his room.
"Not unless we drink a lot" Angel replied as he giggled. Rhea dropped him on the bed, but Angel had had a hold on her hand and she flopped down beside him. She couldn't help but let out a chuckle. The two of them were both extremely drunk. Angel on a mass of different concoctions. For Rhea it was on a few shots of tequila. Angel rolled over and looked at her. Rhea got caught in his gaze. Damn. Why did I have to get saddled with the drunken hot guy? She thought. He ran his hand over her face. Rhea looked into his eyes as Angel moved in and kissed her. She closed her eyes as his soft lips pressed against hers. She could feel her heart quicken its pace. Angel wrapped his arm around her torso and pulled Rhea closer to him. His soft tongue graced hers before he slowly pulled away.
"You smell really nice," he whispered into her ear as he playfully bit it. He embraced her again and the two began to kiss passionately.
The next morning Rhea awoke in her own bed. She looked around pushed her face into her pillow and let out a moan. Her head was pounding. Still it was morning and she really needed to wake up. She pulled her self out of bed and trudged over to the mirror above her dresser. Her hair was an absolute disaster; her make up was al over her face. She grabbed the brush and went to drag it through her hair but instead placed it back on the dresser. Her head was way to sore to be brushing her hair. She walked out into the living room and through herself onto one of the sofas.
She heard Angel's foot steps from the kitchen. He looked at her and handed her a glass of water and put a tray on the coffee table beside her. The contents on this tray were, a cup of coffee, three Advil, and some dry toast with chicken noodle soup. The perfect cure for a hangover. Rhea thought to herself. She looked up at Angel who was moving towards the love seat located on the other side of the coffee table.
"What happened last night?" Rhea asked before putting all the Advil into her mouth and taking a sip of water to wash them all down. Angel thought for a moment before answering.
"Well, both of us were pretty much smashed last night. When we got home, you and I we." Angel stopped trying to find a way to phrase the actions that had taken place the night before.
"Oh, we didn't you know… Do it. Did we?" Rhea asked alarmed.
"No." Angel rushed to say so that he didn't alarm the girl. "But, we were fairly close. But I guess vampires sober up faster than humans too. When I realized what we were doing I stopped and brought you to your bedroom."
"Thank god. I was worried that we'd- not that there's anything wrong with you, I just really wouldn't want to damage our friendship." Rhea said slightly confused. Partially because of her hangover.
"Don't worry I know what you mean. Nothing serious happened, we were both drunk so yeah." Angel finished. "You just make sure you get rid of that head ache. I checked your bank account to see how much we spent last night. We spent about, fifteen hundred dollars on alcohol."
"Holy crap"
"Leaving a total of ten thousand dollars in your account, and about another twelve in your savings. I also found out that you've spent the last couple of years in a cemetery. Hey that brings up the question… why does your neighbor know you're still alive?"
"It's because I left her everything in my will and told her that I might come back but to take care of everything. She agreed." Rhea paused a moment before saying "I feel weird."
"Yeah, I know what you mean. But you get used to it after a while."
"Not about that. I just feel weird. Like something bad is going to happen." Rhea replied as she looked down at her hands. Angel looked at her for a moment before the telephone rang. He walked over and picked it up.
"Hello?" Angel asked. On the other line was Giles.
" Angel? I have something to tell you. This may be hard for you so I would suggest taking a seat."
"Giles what is it?" Angel asked. He knew something was wrong; something had to be very wrong.
"It's about Buffy she passed away last night while giving birth." Angel was astounded. Buffy was dead, he shook his head from the thought. Willow could probably bring her back or something. But the next thing Giles said shattered all hope. " Unfortunately Buffy can't be brought back. Willow tried bit the Powers That Be won't permit it. She's no longer their champion. Because she had a child, she is no longer a slayer."
Angel stood beside the phone in absolute shock. His mouth was slightly open as tears poured down the sides of his face it felt as though his heart had been ripped from his chest and ground up in front of him.
"W-what?" he managed to stammer out.
"Angel, I know this is hard on you. I know that you're upset so if you need to talk you can call any of us."
Angel hung up and just stood there still totally astonished. Rhea looked at him and walked towards him. His back was still turned and she just got a feeling of sorrow from him.
"Angel?" she whispered. He turned around and looked at her before saying "she's dead, Buffy she's dead."
"Oh, babe" Rhea said with deep sympathy as she embraced Angel.
" I need to see her. Just one last time." Angel said as he pulled away. Rhea nodded in agreement and the two left for the hospital.
At the hospital all of Buffy's closet friends were waiting and talking. They all stopped and looked at Angel. Giles opened the hospital room door to allow Angel to go in. There sitting beside her bed holding her hand was Xander. He stopped and looked at Angel who was about to leave.
"Wait" Xander said in a choked voice. " It's only right that you get to say good bye." Xander got up and reluctantly left the room. Angel walked over to the bed and stopped when he saw an envelope on the dresser with his name on it. He opened it inside was the cladagh ring he had given her years before.
Angel sat on the chair beside Buffy and began to speak to her limp body. He held onto her cold hand and began spilling his heart out.
"So, all this time you still had it. You know, I really am going to miss you; I know that you've earned your place in heaven. But, I don't know if I will see you again I don't think I'll ever be able to earn my way into heaven. I just wish I could have said good bye properly." Angel squeezed Buffy's hand one last time and gently kissed her cheek before leaving the hospital room.
All of Buffy's close friends; Willow, Giles and everyone else came over and gave Angel a hug, except for Xander who settled with a handshake. Rhea and Angel began heading there way out of the hospital when Rhea stopped one of the nurses that were going into Buffy's room.
"Excuse me. I'm a relative of Buffy Summers and was wondering if I could see the medical charts." The nurse looked at her reluctantly but handed over the medical chart and walked into the hospital room. Angel watched as they placed a sheet over her head.
" Oh, God" Rhea mumbled. Angel looked at her and motioned for Giles to come over. "According to this medical chart Buffy's been poisoned for a long time now. These chemicals take months to come into effect and when they do it's to late."
"Wouldn't she have had to take a blood test when she had her baby?" Giles asked.
"Yes she would have. But look at who owns this hospital." Angel and Giles looked at the bottom of the paper Wolfram And Hart was there.
"You did this?" Giles said looking at Angel.
"No," replied Rhea. " This is the work of the law firm long before Angel owned the LA it. As or how it wasn't caught using blood tests there are also likely mystical properties to it, it only shows now because this is supposed to go to the firm as proof of the death of the slayer. As a matter of fact this is just around the time Buffy came to LA to see Angel. Giles did she tell you about any bars or restaurants she went to?"
" Just one The Griffin she went with her father." Giles replied. " She said she went the night that she saw you, Angel, and left the next day."
"Giles listen to me. Tell Xander to get that baby out of here. Take it to a small clinic and ask them to take a blood test before they can cast a spell on the baby too or it will die. That's all I can tell you."
Angel and Rhea left to go back home. The whole ride back to the apartment was silence no one spoke a word. When Rhea and Angel entered the apartment Angel turned around and looked at Rhea before asking.
"Why, why didn't she tell me? Why didn't she ask for help?"
"Angel, she knew she was dying. She knew it would tear you apart, you would out live her and you would be more than wiling to sacrifice yourself for her. She wouldn't be able to live with that."
"Then why Rhea! Tell me why she went and had a baby with Xander!"
"Because it wasn't Xander's baby. She knew she was dead Angel she needed someone who could care for her child in a regular way. You're a vampire, it would never happen."
" It's all my fault." Angel said as he fell to the floor in dismay. " This would never have happened, this is all my fault."
Rhea ran to his side and gently laid his head on her lap.
"Shhh, it's not your fault Angel. There was no way you could have stopped this. None of us knew she was poisoned until it was too late, not even me." Rhea's voice had changed. It was soft and comforting and sounded wise. She gently began massaging Angel's forehead.
"That's not true. The day she came, we were attacked by a Moré demon and my blood mixed with its and then I became mortal. Buffy and I spent that night together and then I went to find the demon and I was almost killed it but Buffy saved me and then I went back to the Oracles and, I asked them to turn back time so I would be mortal so Buffy could survive but really. I just made her life shorter." Angel told Rhea.
"She would have just ended up facing your trials. She would have failed Angel and died, and there would have been nothing that you could do to prevent her form dying Angel. Mortals live to die and pray that they find their destiny on the way. You're immortal Angel. You have more time to find your destiny, and gain your mortality."
"But, you don't get it. Spike got his mortality I signed mine away. That's it, I'm just going to be a vampire and live my life as the damned forever. That cross on my chest is just a reminder of what I am and that I'll never redeem myself."
"Angel, does that cross burn your body because it touches you? I think that it is a sign that you're on your way and that God hasn't forgotten about you. He has a plan and you don't have to be mortal to gain your redemption." She stroked his hair and wiped his tears before wiping her own. "You have a soul Angel the equivalent to a human soul. You are full capable of being redeemed." She bent over and kissed Angel's forehead. "Besides I'm your guardian angel."
A/N: Wow, that was long and actually it was fairly hard to write. I didn't kill off Buffy in order to kill her for bashing purposes. It was an idea that came to mind when I thought about how out of character her and Xander's relationship was. I figured I would show a human side and a teenaged side to Rhea. I guess the idea is that her wisdom comes out when she starts to come more in touch with her angelic side. I have to say I did enjoy writing this chapter… I think I should make Angel drunk again in the future. But yeah I think I ran Angel through the ringer. A lot of mixed emotions you know? Well hope you enjoyed it… PLEASE READ AND REVIEW tell me what you want to have added ect.