Author's note: Thanks for the reviews! They're meaning a lot to me.

Ann, don't feel grief for Angel. He died before you know :) By the way, nothing is what it seems in the story, so keep up the hope. Maybe he will come back to kick Wesley's ass.

Choosing sides

"Ladies and vamps, here is the Main Man himself, Mr. Wyndam-Pryce!" - the drunk vampire screamed out, when Wesley entered to the lobby of the Sunshine Motel. It was only a Motel by name - for real it was the home of New York's oldest vampire pack. Wesley spent the last two days here - the world was fast in the underground, and everybody knew, he's the one, who killed the legendary Angel.

He was never able, to become a respected hero of the light. Now, the creatures of the dark practically worshiped him. Since Angel took the Chase Foundation to New York, it was pretty hard to be a vampire in the Big Apple. There was a slayer on every corner of the city. So, since they knew about Wesley's really effective crusade against the champions, there was no vamp or demon in the city, who would betray him. And Wesley really needed a place where he can hide and prepare for his next move.

"It's gonna be the usual, Mr. Price?". - the bartender asked. He nodded, as he sat down next to the bar. So, the vampire filled a glass, with the best Irish whiskey. Wesley used to drink that back in the academy all the time. It was a different continent, different time, and really different man. - "Word is in town, the Prime Slayer is here in the city, and she's after you."

"Too bad for her." - Wesley said with a grim expression.

"So it is true, huh?" - a vampire girl asked as she sat down next to Wesley. - "You made some name for yourself lately handsome." - she said. Wesley remained silent as he drank from his glass.

He couldn't help it, but since he was hiding in the Sunshine Motel, his view of the vampires changed radically. The Watcher's Council made him believe vampire's are pure evil creatures of the darkness, not capable to anything else, then killing and fulfilling their dirty desire for destruction. But in the two days, Wesley was able to see the mortals behind the demon-faces. The innocents, they once were. They were the innocent victims of darkness, infected by a demonic virus. And the Watchers never focused on anything else, than destroying them. Helping them never even crossed their minds. But after all, vampires wasn't anything more than a disease. But of course, it's hard to think about helping them, when you barely have the power to defend yourself.

"Don't get me wrong, I know how is it to change sides. Buffy and the rest of the gang can bitching so much about evil and good. But now I can see, those are only words." - the girl said.

"You know Buffy?" - Wesley asked. He didn't look on the girl.

"Kinda. I used to be one of her pet slayers. Until that guy there - she pointed his finger on the drunk vampire, who was sleeping at the billiard table now - didn't made me one of them. He was curious what will happen to a slayer, if he becomes a vamp. He has the stupidest ideas when he's high." - she said. Wesley raised his eyebrow. An actual vampire/slayer. There were legends about them in the council, but nobody met any of them in the past few thousand years.

"Ambrose Sinclair." - the girl said, as she gave her hand to Wesley - "My friends are calling me Sin." - Wesley didn't take her hand. After a moment of silence he said.

"So, tell me Ambrose..."

"Sin."

"Sin... Tell, me how is it to slugger innocents? To kill and destroy, everything you believed in. Feasting on others, only to buy some more time for yourself from the reaper?"

"Well... it's cool I guess." - she answered. Two vampires just entered the room. with two mortal girls. Wes had seen the two vamps before. They were young and full of energy - they still liked the idea of being immortal, and they were in love with their own evil power. The girls - one with blond and one with dark hair - were barely conscious - they had no idea what's happening or where they are. The two vamps probably drugged them.

"Hey, Wes, look what we've got!" - the taller vamp said proudly - "Pure virgins as far as we know!"

"Yeah!" the other one said "Listen, Mr. Price, it's such a great honor to have you here, we decided to give you the girls for a while before we feast on them. You're a "mortal" but I'm sure you could take you're time with them for you're pleasure." - Wesley looked at the face of the dark haired girl. She was so young, and looked so innocent - there was something in her, that reminded him to Fred. Wesley stood up, and grabbed the broom leaned to the bar. He broke into two pieces with a single move, and then, he throw the two spikes, right into the hearts of the two vampires. It took less for him then five seconds, and both vampires turn to dust. He was a little bit scared himself, about how good his getting in this.

There was dead silence in the bar, everybody was scared to death. A Slayer was the worst thing a vampire can meat - superhuman strength, speed, agility, healing... Wesley had none of those. He was a mere mortal. And still, the way he fought was a thousand times more effective and inventive than a slayer-fight.

"Nice moves dude." - Sin said after some time.

"I could dust you all, you know that, I wouldn't even get tired." - Wesley said, as he looked over the crowd of bloodsuckers - "I'm so sick of the smell of human blood. It's all around this place... all over you losers." - he said. - "You know it's the end, don't you? Slayers are in the city. More and more vampires arrive here every day god knows why - and they are a lot older and powerful then you are. Trust me, lot of them just can't stay newbies!" - all the pathetic little vampires looked at them in fear. They knew they are the small fishes in the sea. It was scary for them, to look at a shark after this time. And Wesley just said all those things they knew, but were too scared to talk about. - "That's why you're glad I'm around here. You are killing people. For fun. But you gave me sanctuary in the time of need. And I'm not going to forget that. I will take this place under my protection under one condition." - he said.

"What would that be?" - the bartender asked.

"No more human blood. No more killing. Don't forget I can smell it on you." - he lied - "This, or turning to dust right now." - he said as he grabbed one of his infamous sun-grenades "These are you're options. So... who's in?" - he asked. Slowly all of the vampires raised their hands. Sin for the last time.

"Great. Now, have a good night. Enjoy yourself, enjoy each other. Because tomorrow you will have a lot of work to do." - he said. Yes, they will have to organize a way, to get blood for the motel, and Wesley needed some stuff himself too, to make new weapons.

"Boss..." - one of the vampire asked. - "What about the girls?" - Wesley thought for a moment, as he looked at the two mortals.

"Check the blond one for an ID. Take her home."

"And the other?" - the vampire asked. Wesley thought for a while.

"Take her to my room." - He answered. He felt it. He has seen it many times. With Faith. With Angel. And know it was happening with him. The darkness slowly swallowed him, getting into his system trough his skin. And it felt really good. Too good.

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"Hey Angel. What's up? They're not telling me anything lately."- Xander asked. - "I so can't hear you man. What's wrong? Angel? Where are you running. What's wrong with these people?" - Willow stopped the player.

"And it goes on like this." - Andres said to Buffy. They've been listening to the records from Xander's room in the last few minutes. .

"You said his eyes are not operational yet." - Buffy said.

"Well, he's healing faster than we expected. He sees pretty blurry. Willow says don't see too much into it. But Buff, there was no one in the room this morning. Look at the monitor. He's talking to himself! "

"Don't call me Buff... ever." - the slayer said - "I think we shall tell Xander Angel is dead. It's so not fair to keep this from him."

"I don't know Buffy. He has his own problems now. I don't think telling him, he saw a dusted vampire walking around in a "Sixth Sense"-ish way is the best for him now. It would freak him out"

"I don't think a vampire can have a ghost." - she said - "I always thought they're going straight to hell."

"Buffy, you don't have to pretend every thing's alright." - Andrew said - "Angel is..." - he did not know how to finish that

"I'm fine Andrew..." - she answered. The door opened, and Faith, Gunn, Willow and Spike walked into the conference room - the very same room where Wes turned Angel to dust. They were the "elite". Gunn wore the grimmest face from the crowd. He didn't only lost one but two friends in that incident.

Spike felt grief for Angel too. They were not exactly friends, but they spent centuries together. He really missed the rival he lost.

Faith was suffering from the pain of guilt. Angel sacrificed himself to save her, and it was eating her from the inside.

But Willow behave the stranger way. She was perfectly calmed, and said, they shall left Wesley alone, wait for his next move. Buffy was never suspicious about her friend, but now she felt like Willow is hiding something from her.

"Hi guys." - she said - "Please have a seat." - they all did. Buffy arrived from Rome a day ago. Since then, she's been running the Chase Foundation. - "I know none of us had much sleep since the incident happened. And I tell, you we won't until we solve this problem."

"Fine with me." - Spike said - "I want to rip apart that psycho nerd myself."

"Thank you Spike." - she said - "You all know, Angel meant a lot to me. And now he's dead. But he's been dead before. I mean most people in this room died once or twice. Rise you're hands." - she said, and raised her hand. Spike and Andrew followed her. Spike looked at Andrew in disbelief.

"You died?"

"A little shaving accident. Willow and Norbert resurrected me in time."

"We're living in a bloody strange world."

"The point is." - Buffy continued - "I don't believe for a moment this is the end. We will find a way to bring him back. Wolfram & Hart was able to bring back Darla, who was staked just like Angel. But till then, I want to put an end to Wesley's killing spree, before it starts, and find out what happened to him. He talked about the end of the world. Andrew, hit the books. Prophecies, hints, anything."

"Gotcha boss."

"Willow, you and you're team should work on a more advanced locater spell. I mean, how can he possibly hiding from you?" - she asked. Willow looked down in shame.

"I dunno..." - she said - "I'm trying."

"Please, try harder." - she said. Willow was hiding something, it was obvious now. But she had no time or energy to deal with it right now. - "Gunn you know Wesley better then any of us. If there is someone who can predict his next move it's you."

"Well... I knew Wesley. But the man I knew, would never do anything like this."

"Still..."

"Well, we shall try to find Illyria again. I bet he will try to contact her somehow."

"Good. Work on that." - Buffy said, Gunn nodded. - "Faith, Spike, we will research in the original way."

"Hitting the shit out of some street vamps?" - Faith asked.

"Exactly."

"Fine with me, B. I could use some mindless violence."

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"Do you want some more potatoes?" - father asked. He was never able to eat everything he put on his plate, and gave the rest to Fred. That girl seemed to have at least four stomachs in her little body.

"No thanks, I'm full." - she answered. And it was true. She couldn't eat another peace of food. even if her life would depend on it. Her mother tried to convince her to stay home, with her great cooking ever since she moved back to Texas from L.A. She never remembered exactly, what happened in the City of Angels. Her first memory was, when she knocked on the door of the Burkles. They loved her so much. That was the reason why she came here. She needed their love, it was the missing piece of her life. And she loved them back, with all her heart.

"But honey, you haven't ate you're dessert." - mother said, worrying. - "Are you all right honey?"

"I'm fine mum. I think I'll just go back to my room, watching TV before sleep." - she said, as she kissed her mother's forehead. Then he kissed her father's. - "Good night" As she walked up on the stairs, she was able to hear her mother and father talking. She knew she shouldn't hear it. Biology was never her field, but she knew human ears are not that effective. And still, she heard their voice clearly.

"She's so strange latley..." - mum said - "What happened to her appetite."

"And what is that obsession with the TV. Like there's any new in that box. I told you, the big city ruined her. Made her a lazy good for nothing!"

"Don't say that!"

"And where are her famous demon hunting friends? None of them showed up since she came back. And she don't want to tell us what happened to her..."

"She will when she's ready."

"It's so hard mother... It's like she's not even our little Fred..."

Fred shout the door behind her, and looked into the mirror.

"I'm Winifred Burkle." - she murmured. - "I'm Winifred Burkle!" - she said a little louder. It still didn't sound convincing. "I'M WINIFRED BURKLE!" - she screamed at the mirror. Her skin and hair turned blue at her anger. It happened to a lot lately. Deep down she felt, she's living in a lie. But this lie was so comfortable. Fred - average ordinary little girl, with loving parents and unusual level of intelligence. Not some ascent demon who lost her god-like

powers, and went crazy because the grief she felt for a mere mortal.

She walked to the window and opened it. The smell of the fresh air was pretty pleasant for her. She felt the night is calling her. To show her true power - well, at least what left from it - to those who are possessed by their own little power. With a single jump, she left her room, and found herself outside in the night. Since the short time she lived here, she made this little Texas town one of the safest places on earth.

There were legends about a strange, mysterious blue woman, who's jumping from roof to roof, looking for trouble makers. Fred's parents of course laughed at these kind of stories.

It was kid's stuff.

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Tell me, what do you think. Please review! I know you want to! :)

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