Chapter 7

Finally, after a lot of debating they decided that Gunn, Lorne, Wesley, Kate, Lindsey, Xander and Anne, would stay in LA. Buffy, Spike, Angel, Cordelia, Fred and Willow would go back to England.

It was very emotional as the AI team said their good byes. Although not unused to being separated while out on cases, this was different. They had only just got Cordelia back, making their family whole and they had even started to get used to having Spike around watching their backs, it was a heavy blow indeed. And Angel had always been around, even if he was evil half the time.

Fred was having a particularly hard time dealing with Wes's decision to stay, and she didn't know why. Sure, they might not make it through this alive, but what was new? Why was she so upset that he didn't want to stay with her?

Wesley himself was trying hard not to look at Fred. He was an idiot, it was the only explanation. He'd been wanting out of this city for years, even if it was only for a little while. Here was the perfect moment…and he'd chosen to stay. My own personal hell, he thought with a silent sigh. His reason was that they had more then enough brilliant minds on the case, Fred, Giles Willow…even Buffy when she really thought about things. He was more use here. Definitely an idiot.

"You guys, it'll be fine," Angel was saying. "We'll be right back!"

"Promise!" Added Cordelia. "Just stay alive alright?"

"Look who's talking kid," said Lorne sadly.

"Yeah, we should be looking out for you! I mean…you only just…" started Gunn.

"Not going anywhere," she answered him, cutting him off.

"You're forgetting who she's with Gunn," said Buffy from across the room. "We'll look after her."

"Just don't do anything we wouldn't do," put in Xander. "Watch out for the library. Move anything in there and Giles will never talk to you again!"

Willow smiled at her friend, surprised at the joke that had come out of nowhere. Lately Xander had been so quiet, but now…then she noticed Anne who hadn't moved from his side since they'd arrived back at the shelter. Question answered, she thought.

Xander then moved forward to give Willow and Buffy a hug. "It's gonna be weird without you around," Buffy whispered. "Africa was different. At least you always called! LA's fast turning into a battle ground. Be safe ok?"

"Don't be so overdramatic," he told her off, mock serious. "It's fine. Get to see how the other half live," he pointed to Angel at that. "Plus living this close to that many shoes got to be a plus, right Cor?"

"Two jokes in one minute? Feeling alright Harris?" she shot back.

"Well, the spell's ready," said Willow in the silence that followed. "I guess we'd better get going."

Wesley watched with dread as Fred began to fade, and then she disappeared altogether. Strange, that he'd only noticed her.

Fred was only thinking about Wesley as well at that moment, so much that at first, she didn't realise that anything had changed. Then, she realised they were in a completely different place….and the sound of rain pouring outside surrounded her.

"Welcome to England," said Willow.

Spike glanced at Angel and rolled his eyes. "Home sweet home!"

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"She made me tell her Spike! Threatened me and everything…besides, you know what I'm like with secrets…" Started Andrew a while later.

Spike narrowed his eyes and took a step forward. "Don't you start with me!"

Buffy lay a hand on his arm. "Spike play nice. Andrew don't lie. I did not threaten you…I will now though!"

Andrew fled from the room, something about getting more tea for Giles.

"Works every time with him…" her voice trailed off and she hastily removed her hand.

Angel cleared his throat, followed by Cordelias laughter. "If you two could just get a room and get it over with? We'd all be better off!"

Angel looked at her in horror at this thought.

Willow spoke up suddenly. "Well, I'm thinking we should start with locator spells? We have some very powerful crystals in our collection."

"I don't think that's going to work. They're both guarded with magic so powerful…now would be a great time for a vision update guys," Cordy said suddenly, looking up at the ceiling. "Find out anything useful for us lately?"

Suddenly, cordelia looked like she was being wracked with pain. She started to shake violently and would have sunk to the floor if Angel hadn't caught her in time.

"Wow, it actually worked!" exclaimed Fred in surprise. "She must have made an impression up wherever she was!"

Angel had moved her over to a chair and was trying to calm her down. "It'll be ok Cordy. Can you hear me?"

Cordelia's eyes came back into focus slowly. "Thanks," she whispered. Then she looked up at Willow.

"The vision I just had…it was about you."

"Me?" the witch looked at her startled. "Why…I mean….what can I do?"

"You can perform a spell. It's very powerful, high level of magic. You've done something like it before…you can contact people through their thoughts….through their dreams. Find out information that way."

Willows face had drained of colour. "Look…I may have some control over my powers now, but ever since I released the power of the slayer from the scythe, I haven't done anything like that since. The stuff you saw at Wolfram and Hart…barriers and turning evil to stone…that's just small stuff. But this…."

"The powers believe you have the strength to do this," Cordelia sounded desperate now. "I believe you can Willow. Please you have to try."

They listened to what sounded like a distant crash of thunder outside for a few seconds, then Willow finally nodded. "Ok. I'll do it."

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"This is absurd!" Giles said sometime later, as Willow went about gathering ingredients from around the Watchers council. The actual spell was in a book of shadows, locked safely in the council's volt.

"It's the only solution we have," Buffy countered him angrily.

"Don't blame me Giles. For once I had nothing to do with this ok? The answer came from on high…literally!" Cordelia defended herself.

Giles couldn't say anything back to this, but it didn't make him any less angry. "But it's ridiculous to ask Willow of all people…after all she's been through…"

"She's stronger now," said Buffy. "We've seen how in control she is of everything haven't we? Besides apparently she's the only one…"

Angel had tuned all of this out, and was now biding his time until they could start the spell. Which he knew they would…he just hoped it was soon. The rain had thankfully stopped, and since all he could do was think about Connor's safety, he turned and walked out onto the balcony of the room.

Spike, sensing his chance of escape from the endless debate that was going nowhere, followed his grandsire out of the room.

"Feels strange to be back here don't it?"

Angel looked up in surprise.

Spike shrugged. "Got bored with all the chit chat. They'll figure it out eventually. Always do."

Angel nodded. "Do you mean back in England? Or both teams back together?"

Spike looked out at the countryside before him. "Both I guess."

"Good way or bad way?"

"Confusing as hell way!"

Angel actually laughed. Then he grew silent. "You know…sometimes I miss it."

"Now, I know you can't be talking about the good old eighteenth century coz then I'd have to say you're bloody crazy!"

"Not the time…the whirlwind."

Spike looked blank.

"It's what Darla called it. I miss the whirlwind. Me, Darla, you and Drusilla. The excitement and adventure we had. No rules, responsibly no worries."

"That's what having a soul means Angel." then he smirked. "Wait I didn't say that. No way am I giving a long speech like that at least not to you of all people!"

"You know what I mean though. It was all a thrill ride, you never knew what happened next…you could actually have fun!"

Spike sighed. "Listen Angel, the kids gonna be fine. We'll get him back."

"How do you know?"

"It's what we do ain't it? And look at it this way. We've got a new whirlwind now….you, Cordelia me and…" Spike stopped short. Of course, he had no idea if there was ever going to be him and Buffy together again, but he knew how Angel felt about that from the dark look in his eyes. And the many arguments and fights to the death they'd had about the girl before. "You know what I mean," Spike finished off lamely. "It's different now."

Angel relaxed after a moment. "I guess. I have to believe that you're right. When all of this is over, I'll have my family back and…..and the kid has a name."

"Connor," Spike said thoughtfully. "Don't think I like it."

"Knew you wouldn't."

"Guys, we're all set in here," said Cordelia, coming out onto the balcony. Realising she'd probably interrupted something, she hurried back in as quickly as she appeared.

"If you told anyone we had this conversation I'll…." Spike started.

Angel rolled his eyes. "I know, I know. You'll kill me."

"And more," Spike threatened.

After they'd closed the balcony doors behind them, they turned to see a room of shadows, with a circle of candles being lit.

Angel looked up in concern at Willows anxious voice. "I hope that I can do this."

TBC