"I've known Angel since the day I was born, which was February 12, 1937 in Galway, Ireland. Obviously I'm not quite human, but I didn't know that till much later. Angel's family and my family went to the same church so I've known Angel, or back then Liam, since I can remember." Catherine paused for a second, letting some memories filter through. Angel was doing the same. Recalling her at the age of 10 years old getting in trouble for tearing her dress while climbing a tree. Connor and Dawn just sat quietly. Completely taken aback by knowing this woman was probably the only one left in the world who knew Angel when he was human.
"So, you guys are what, the same age?" Dawn asked timidly. Trying to get her mind into Watcher mode. This is definitely something that needed to be researched and documented.
"Not really. I'm only like 270. Angel's about two years older than me."
270! Holy crap, this woman was the same age as his father but looked younger than Dawn, Connor that. He wasn't sure he could take more of her story but he desperately wanted to know more about a past his father rarely spoke of. Catherine read the looks of shock on their faces and giggled.
"I know, I'm pretty damn well preserved for my age. Anyway, my parents were Risteard and Erin Sloane. My father was a direct descendant of the Tuatha De Dannan, but my mother was 100 percent mortal."
"Wait, the Tuatha De Dannan? I though they weren't around anymore?" Dawn asked. All eyes looked at her with mild surprise. "Uh, Giles had a book on Faery folk and legend. The Tuatha were like humans only with extreme supernatural powers. They supposedly defeated a clan of demons called the Fomhoire and drove them from Ireland. But when humans came, they went into hiding and were just considered a myth."
"Well, I'm glad some one taught you Irish history," Catherine smiled, "But we're not completely gone. We're just very few and far between. Some however fell in love with the mortals, case in point my parents."
"I always knew there was something different about you. Long before the slayer thing." Angel commented.
"Yeah, you got a taste of that first hand, Catherine jokingly said. Angel smiled but the hurt on his face was visible. She had hoped he'd gotten over that. Well, she'd just have to talk to him later about it, she thought. Connor's next question broke her out of her thoughts.
"So, you guys were like friends?"
"Yeah, we were friends in a way. And please don't think we were like intimate or something. We never got all groiny with each other." Catherine laughed along with Connor and Dawn. Angel slightly embarrassed smiled a little.
"What does groiny mean? Are you talking of sexual relations?" Illyria asked.
"I'll explain it later Lyrie, I promise." said Dawn, "Okay I'm still wondering about the slayer thing. And why you're still here?"
"At fourteen, I was told that I was to begin training for the possibility of my becoming a slayer. The Council at the time didn't know that the Tuatha's or Faeries were still around. So I began training. When I was 16, the Council came to instate me, but they learned of my faery heritage. Faeries become immortal at the age of 18, in a sense, and the last thing the council wanted was an immortal slayer, so I was passed over. But I kept all the supernatural power a SIT has."
"Okay, but here's a question. In all the Watcher's Diaries, you're not mentioned. Why not, I mean if you knew Angel before he was Angelus, you'd think they'd come looking for you for help or at least a reference?" Dawn asked.
"When Liam became Angelus, he killed everyone he knew to rid himself of the memories of his humanity. I know he came looking for me, but I'd already left not ready to face him. Everyone just assumed I had died with the others. It wasn't until years later that I ever even came close to seeing him again." Catherine said with some sadness. Connor felt her hold something back. Like she was lying. And Catherine was. She didn't want Angel to have to relive the day he came looking for her. The day Angelus left his mark upon her neck and drank from her. Only to let her go when her blood, tainted with the faery, made him sick and have mild hallucinations. That's when he knew what she was. Angel hung his head, obviously remembering that encounter. The things he'd yelled at her and watched her cry over the body of her dead mother.
"That's why the Council never looked for you." Dawn said with understanding.
"Exactly, I have a grave and tombstone and everything. People just assumed me dead so I stayed that way. If I'd had come back, they would've burnt me at the stake for sure. Not many people survive a vampire attack. So, I stayed hidden with my Watcher Edmund Talbot. I'm sure you've heard of him Dawn. And he trained me for twenty years till he passed away from cancer. I've been fighting the good fight wherever I could ever since. I didn't come to Owensdale till around 1990."
"Why here? The Hellmouth is only a few hours away. Why not go there and help?" Angle asked a little heated. He was mad that Catherine had been so close all this time and never came to him. Never letting him know that she was still alive.
"That's why I came here. There was a real slayer in Sunnydale already. You think the energy from the Hellmouth just sits in a neat little ball? It has veins of energy stretching out like fault lines. And this city just happens to sit on one of the main lines. Somebody was needed here to try and hold back some of the demons that would've made their way to Sunnydale and really cause a panic. I stayed here to keep the flow of demons from becoming to much. I stayed here during the Final Battle to protect the younger SITs who weren't old enough to fight yet. And I continue to stay to try and save this town. So don't a tone with me Angel. You don't know everything about my life," Catherine said firmly. She didn't appreciate his anger towards her. He'd do that a lot when they were together, she wasn't going to put up with it now. Angel returned her glare.
"I just meant you could've picked up a phone or something."
"And said what exactly, 'Hi remember me? I'm a ghost from your centuries old past calling to just say hi and invite you out for brunch' yeah okay whatever."
Connor and Dawn looked at each other, the tension making them uncomfortable. Catherine and Angel continued to stare at each other in heated looks. Both not sure whether they wanted to punch each other or hug each other.
"If you wish to do violence, I suggest the street where there is more space." Illyria said casually.
Catherine leaned back a little in her chair, her eyes never leaving Angel's face.
"I assume you didn't come for a reunion, what with you thinking I was dead and all. So, why are you really here Angel?"
Angel softened his face. "We came because we were told you might need help fighting a demon. One you were having a problem with."
Catherine lowered her eyes. Her heartbeat jumped up a notch. Angel quickly noticed the change in her. She's holding something back, he thought. Life must not be that easy for after all. Catherine quickly recovered.
"A lot of demons give me problems. I'm sure it's nothing I can't handle." She forced a smile.
"Just in case maybe we should stick around," Angel said slowly rising form his chair. Catherine began to stand as well.
"Really, everything here is fine. You guys should just head back to LA."
Suddenly the elevator doors opened and a tall thin blond-haired boy ran through the doors. Angel recognized him as the DJ from downstairs. He ran over to Catherine ignoring the other occupants in the room.
"We've…got a…problem," he blurted out while trying to catch his breath.
"CJ, what are talking about?" Catherine said growing concerned.
"Quinn's got a message for you downstairs."
"Dammit!" Catherine said walking over to a tall cabinet standing beside the couch containing Dawn and Connor. Opening it she took out a two daggers and placed one in her boot, the other in the waistband of her jeans. She then pulled out two ornate swords.
"Who here wishes to do violence?" Catherine asked. Illyria quickly stepped towards to the cabinet and proceeded to pull out a weapon.
"Um, who's Quinn," Angel asked taking one of the swords from Catherine's hands.
"I guess you could call him an ex-boyfriend."