Chapter 24 Better Angels

A/N: So we're getting to the end I'm looking at this chapter, the planning chapter and then the battle. With the battle though haven't figured it out if it's going to be in two parts so I'm at a total of 26 or 27 chapters, might push it to 28 see how it all goes down.

A/N: The beginning of the chapter its fluff with Angel and Isabella and Giles realizes something and that all comes to play as the story goes along and even more so in The Gift. It's a sweet moment but I think we can all agree out of all the fathers that Buffy could have chosen for her child Angel was the best choice.

A/N: Isabella is now fifteen I know she's growing up. I'll fill in some details here and there from when the Council left until now. Also we get a quick hello from Andrew because he's so corky and comes back later on. Wow almost done anyways enjoy.

Isabella was out on patrol and for the most part she could take care of herself these days. She was just waiting to be called as a slayer. It sounded awful meaning she was hoping that the current slayer out there would die but she didn't want anyone to die. There were still two slayers one in jail and the other out there somewhere fighting. The Council saw Isabella more fit to win this war with Wolfram and Hart than the slayer also the slayer was to build a second front just in case AI failed. The notes given to the AI team were stacks of papers. Some of the writing was in different languages others had parts missing. The Council managed to pick out important parts but the story was missing lines and chapters. Wes and Giles have been putting all their time into interrupting what the Council didn't so Fred became the new book keeper person, person.

Isabella had grown since those months the Council had visited she was now fifteen and in high school. She was even more headstrong probably a little too much for her father's liking. Angel and Isabella were still a team though but Angel could tell Isabella was beginning to surpass pass him which didn't scare him but made him realize just how strong and how older she was getting. Isabella feared the day she would go off to college and Angel would pull out all her baby things and cry. Her father crying she's actually never seen him cry. She's seen him leak a few tears but he said it was just something was caught in his eye. She knew why he still cries alone and it was for her mother. Angel still fifteen years from that day missed Buffy. Isabella still to this wish she could have known her mother. The dreams she has with her fill in some of the empty space but she knows that's just a fragment of who her mother really is.

The one thing that comforts Isabella is her mother was a guardian of some kind to her and Angel. She watches them and protects them. But lately her aura has changed Buffy wore white but it was more like a battle suit clad in white. A Valkyrie wears a type of armor because she is a woman that was slain in battle. She chooses to protect those that need it. But her armor was gone now and in Isabella's dreams she's in a white dress with golden beads or glitter. She had a white glow to her these days. Isabella wanted to ask her father if he's seen it too but she also knew his dreams with her mother were for him and him alone just like hers.

Isabella trotted through the graveyard and for an average person this would look really strange.

"Ok vampires look I have a ton of math homework so can we make this easy?" She asked the night looking around. Isabella these days has grown in her sense of awareness in her surroundings. Of course she was young and a little careless but for the most part she was in tuned like right now. Isabella dropped to the ground and back kicked her enemy but it wasn't a vampire. "One of you," Isabella jumped and kicked the man in a suit and then punched him. She reached behind her and grabbed her sword out of his case and swung it slicing the guy's head off. Then she turned around seeing another one of Hart's members come after her and she sighed and as he got closer she held out her sword and stabbed him. "Do you guys come off an assembly line or something?" She took her sword out of his middle and stood there. But then something rustling in the bush caught her attention.

Isabella walked over to the bush and reached out pulling out a rather small guy. He looked terrified as she tossed him to the ground and held out her sword.

"Who the hell are you?" She asked confused she could sense he wasn't evil and well rather a dope.

"Uh you know out for a nice walk in the graveyard." The man said with a little bit of a shaky voice.

"Out for a walk at night alone in a graveyard?" Isabella asked and the man nodded and she saw a camera. "And I suppose that's for a school project?"

"Oh that uh that's nothing." As he went to reach for it but Isabella took it. "Hey it's mine."

"Finders keepers losers suck." Isabella said and then reached for him.

"Izzy he's harmless." A voice said and Isabella turned to the voice seeing her father walking out of the shadows.

"Were you following me the whole time?" Isabella asked her father and he said nothing. "I'm fifteen not five remember." The little man then saw Angel and smiled.

"Wow Angel it's so good to see you." The mop headed man walked up to Angel and hugged him as Angel stood there awkwardly.

"You know him?" Isabella asked.

"Yeah," Angel pried the man away. "Isabella meet Andrew, Andrew my daughter Isabella."

"I've heard so much about her and I just wanted to see her you know I'm going to become a Watcher." Andrew stated looking at Isabella and then back to Angel. "She looks just like you but also Buffy."

"You're going to be a Watcher?" Angel asked and Andrew nodded.

"Yup just you know hanging out here for a bit until they call." Andrew admitted and Angel nodded. "So I'll just go maybe they called and well the world always needs saving." Andrew walked off awkwardly into the night as Angel watched him he was strange little weirdo. Angel's caught him a number of times hanging around the hotel but it's been awhile. Isabella put her sword away and then huffed and Angel looked to her. She crossed her arms indicating she wasn't a happy person.

"Oh uh good job with the guys in suits." Angel said but Isabella continued to stand there and Angel knew that's not what she wanted to hear. "He goes way back from Sunnydale." Isabella continued to stand there. "Ok look it's just getting dangerous with Wolfram and Hart and we have yet to learn everything out of those papers I was just making sure you were ok."

"I'm fifteen not five and I can handle myself pretty well these days. You don't need to be tracking me dad."

"I know," Angel admitted she was right she was always right just like her mom. "I just," Isabella knew why it was her father he would always track her in some way shape or form. "Let's go home." He suggested and they left the graveyard together.

Angel knew he needed to trust her more but his excuse was he didn't trust the others out there. But there could be a day he's not around and if he continues to intervene then she may not be able to defend herself when it was most important. She's fifteen and she'll be sixteen in four months and that he couldn't believe. She was just growing so fast and from time to time he wanted to yell stop to the forces out there. He loved that she was getting old it meant more things that they can do together but when she was little she completely his. She was still his but she was branching away wanting to do more without him. They were close and they would always be but she was her own person and independent and Angel knew he had to respect that. She was into the teenage stuff, hair, clothes, makeup, and boys. Oh god the boys were slowly coming around. Boys were disgusting Angel thought they had one thing in mind and if he ever found out that happen he'd kill the boy before he even had a chance to run. If a boy broke his daughter's heart he rip and crush the boy's heart literally and might break his no human blood policy.

As Isabella walked into the hotel Angel had a flash back about a boy talk he and Isabella had way back when things just seemed simple.

'It was Isabella's fifth birthday party and this year the entire kindergarten class was invited to the hotel and to celebrate. Isabella, Evan and Levy were all in the same class so it was nice to have instead of three screaming kids they had twenty. The hotel was decorated and the party was at night so if Angel had to go outside he could. At the hotel there was a huge room on the first floor that was turned into a carnival. Lorne even got to join in because it was carnival style and he looked like he was just dressed up.

As they finished setting up and waiting for their guest Isabella was at a table eating some snacks before the party and to "test" the food and Angel was at the table too. These two were inseparable for the most part. He saw her getting food by herself and decided to join her and talk to the birthday girl before the party got started. She looked so cute today she was in a pink dress and her hair was parted into two braids on either side of her head. She looked older he thought as she down her drink.

Isabella had friends now more than Evan and Levy. While the whole class was invited Angel was interested to see what she would say if he asked who she actually invited.

"Who did you invite?" Angel asked her and she smiled.

"Braden," Isabella said and Angel was shocked.

"Braden wait you invited a boy?" He asked and she nodded like yeah so.

"That's my buddy," She said and Angel got a little nervous.

"That's your buddy?"

"Uh huh member when you talked to him?" She asked and he shrugged. "At school I play with him on the playground and the monkey bars." Isabella explained to her father as she leaned up against him. "I talk to him and he's my buddy."

"No hugs right?" Angel asked and Isabella looked shocked.

"No," She said. "I don't hug people," She insisted and he smiled and leaned over kissing her cheek. "I only hug you." She stated and for some reason that caused a lump to form in Angel's throat. Angel pulled away smiling at his little girl she was so adorable like a mini Buffy.

"No kisses right?" He asked.

"No," She said again and she literally climbed into his lap as he kissed her again. "I only kiss you," And she kissed her dad's cheek. "I only kiss you remember?" She asked placing a hand on his cheek Angel kissed her little hand and smiled. "I don't kiss friends," And then she wrapped her arms around him holding him in her tiny little arms. "I love you only." Her little voice said and Angel held her closely to him and felt an overwhelming feeling like he wanted to cry she was so amazing but he knew that statement would change in a few years from now. She'll still love him but kissing a boy won't be gross in a few years.

"I love you." He said squeezing his little five year old.'

Angel came back to reality and then felt a pair of arms wrap around him. Isabella wasn't tiny anymore but she wasn't at her full height yet but he knew when she reaches it it'll be like with Buffy he could rest his cheek on top of her head when they hugged. Isabella hugged her father because she could see he was remembering something about them and it meant something could happen so he was remembering the good times. For a few weeks now she could sense something wasn't right with her father. She didn't know what it was but she knew so if anything to make him feel better she would hug him. She felt him wrap his arms around her holding her close.

From a distance Giles saw the moment. Over the years Angel was becoming more human in nature no longer a vampire. He still had his moments of being a demon but that changed with Buffy so long ago. Buffy made him human and Giles always feared that if Buffy died then the good part of Angel would too and the monster known as Angelus would be unleashed. Buffy did die but she left behind their daughter a life that should have never been created entrusted to Angel's hands. Isabella made him human made him a father. Giles didn't know what type of father Angel was going to be but seeing them together it was nothing short of amazing. Angel a vampire the most ruthless vampire to be exact was the most loving and caring father Giles has ever come across. Angel and Isabella pulled away and he must have said something funny because she was laughing. She then held out her fist explaining something to Angel and he then bumped his fist to hers and she nodded. He smiled as she was still teaching him the fundamentals of being cool.

Watching these two together after everything Giles has seen it was all of a sudden so clear to him like it was to Buffy so long ago. Angel would never stop; he would never leave her he'd always be there. Angel would never hurt her, never shout at her, never get drunk and hit her or say he couldn't spend time with her because he was too busy. And Angel would die to protect Isabella. All those fathers out there the one Buffy choose for Isabella to have for a father, no other man could measure up to Angel. Buffy knew that when she was sixteen that Angel would die for her too and knew Angel would do that and more for Isabella. In this insane world Angel was the sanest choice.

A Month Later

A man was taking a beating feeling the metal pipes hitting him over and over. He wanted it to stop but they were going to probably kill him. There were four people or something beating him. But then the beatings stopped and he felt like he could breathe. Someone grabbed him and pulled him up and took the bag that was over his head off. He saw a man and for a moment felt safe.

"Thank you." The man whispered to his savoir but then his savior's face changed into a monstrous form and sank his teeth into his neck. The man panicked and felt what life was he had left in him drained out.

Twenty Four Hours Ago

Angel was on the surface of sleep knowing he was going to wake up soon. He then felt soft finger tips glide on his chest and a pair of soft lips following behind the finger tips. Angel looked down as a pair of green eyes looked up at him and her blonde hair draped around her shoulders.

"Wow," She said smiling as she placed another kiss on his chest. "Ok dreams are amazing." She scooted closer resting her head on his chest now and Angel wrapped one arm around her. "Wow I always knew there was a reason why I liked you." She smiled and planted a kiss to his lips. "You're waking up."

"I don't want to."

"Something's on your mind." She stated.

"There's a lot on my mind."

"I know I can read it."

"Then what's the point of you asking me?"

"Because you were never Joe here's what I'm thinking." She answered.

"You can read my thoughts?" Angel asked and she nodded. "But,"

"Angel please I know and I," She paused looking to his brown eyes. "You be careful." She warned him.

Isabella was working out a math problem out on the dining room table as Wes walked by the table seeing her working alone. Evan and Levy couldn't help Isabella in her homework anymore because yes they were in honor classes but Isabella was in advance placement classes which were close to college work.

"Going ok?" Wes asked as he could see that same frustrated look in her face like her dad.

"Uh yeah," Isabella said setting down the calculator and writing something.

"You know you shouldn't use a calculator to solve the problem." Wes stated and Isabella looked up to her Watcher and slid her math book, paper and calculator towards him and sat back in her chair. Wes came over to look and nodded. "Right a calculator is needed." Isabella grabbed her stuff and kept working. Spike then came in seeing what he considered his niece working on homework.

"Going ok there bite size?" He asked and she nodded. "Where's the brute known as your father at?"

"Still sleeping." She answered.

"It's five in the afternoon." Wes stated and he was concerned.

"Well uh my dad is a vampire and they tend to sleep during the day." Isabella said and Spike crossed his arms thinking Angel sleeping this late was odd. "What?"

"Well he would be up at the crack of dawn to make you breakfast and pack your lunch for you nibblet." Spike added.

'Angel yawned as he opened the huge fridge door looking to what he had to take out. Willow and Anya were in the kitchen with him packing lunches for another day of school while the kids sat at the table eating their breakfast. Angel took out what he needed and started to neatly put it together in Isabella's lunch box.

"Organized are we?" Willow asked smiling to Angel as he packed in a juice container for his six year old. Everything was stacked and neatly put together. He sighed as he packed her meal. "What?" Willow asked.

"Isabella is picky sometimes with food." Angel answered he knew she'd grow out of it but it could be difficult to please her. "She loves carrots, she hates tomatoes on her salad, and she's not a huge fan of dairy except chocolate milk." Angel finished and Willow smiled as Angel zipped up the lunch box. With the food inside was a note that said how much he loved her and would miss her until she came home.'

Isabella looked up and shrugged not really knowing what they were trying to get at.

"Maybe it's time you two go on a vacation the vamp's working too hard." Spike added and Isabella went back to her homework when she could hear her father walking into the kitchen. She knew the sound and style of his footsteps and could pick them out of a crowd. Angel came in looking tired like he hadn't slept in days.

"Morning," Isabella said her father and grunted a little knowing she was being sarcastic. Wes and Spike then left the kitchen as Angel went to heat up some blood. But then Spike poked his head back in.

"What?" Angel asked as he poured blood into a cup.

"My advice to you two get out you know take a mini vacation. The Watchers are still reading so you know enjoy the sun metaphorically speaking before you go bats." Spike then left as Isabella went back to her homework.

"You have dinner yet?" Angel asked her and she shook her head no and Angel started to look to see what he could make her.

After a training session Isabella headed upstairs to shower and get ready for bed. If they trained then it meant no patrol for the night well for her at least Angel might go out alone later. Maybe he's been sleeping more because he was up later. Isabella felt like she was starting to hit a wall with her training though. It wasn't her father's fault she was just getting good. Angel started to put away the weapons when Wes walked in and Angel knew the look it meant Cordelia had a vision.

"Angel Cordelia saw an attack happening in Funville." Wes stated.

"What?"

"The amusement park that was shut down not that long ago a girl has or is about to be attacked. This will be the third victim." Wes explained as Angel put away a sword. "What Cordelia saw indicates a Borets demon." Wes finished while Spike came over.

"Oh bloody Borets nasty buggers stink to high heaven." Spike jumped into the conversion. "They dress as transients and prey on the homeless poor sorts." Angel nodded as he finished his clean up.

"This victim will be a girl and she'll be ripped apart." Wes stated.

"Ok well I'll deal with it later." Angel stated and that made both Spike and Wes do a double take. Did Angel really say he'll deal with it later? Angel would be quick to catch it right away.

"Angel we need to save the girl and destroy the demon." Spike added but Angel walked passed them.

"What before someone else dies yeah I know but guess what people are dying every day she'll just be one more static." Angel said.

"Stacy," Wes added. "The static will be Stacy."

"You know I can't save everyone and sweat the small stuff so,"

"Small?" Wes asked.

"Look I've bigger things to do than chase after a Boret demon so if you excuse me." Angel then walked passed Wes and left. Wes turned and walked away and Spike followed Wes as he headed back to the study.

"Something's up with my sire." Spike said and Wes nodded.

"I think we all know something is up but not sure."

"Well what about bite size she has to know." Spike explained.

"She may not but I know she knows something is going on with her father but she's young so if she ignores it long enough it'll go away." Wes explained to the vampire as they walked across the lobby. Wes has noticed well everyone has noticed something about Angel. He wants to stay in or just follow Isabella or completely disappear. Maybe he was losing interest but then again something was changing.

Isabella wanted to go and patrol after training tonight because she was still worked up so Angel agreed and the two were out on patrol while Wes and Giles were once again at the books. The Council left them with a number of books to look over and Giles grabbed another one and opened it. But then Giles saw one of the pages go blanket and a sentence formed 'you're looking in the wrong place.' Then on the other page the words disappeared and a black circle with what looked like thorns on it appeared.

"Wes," Giles said and Wes got up to see what was happening. Giles quickly found a blanket sheet of paper and drew the circle with the thorns and it went away.

"What?" Wes asked and Giles looked to the book it was normal again. Then Gunn along with Spike walked in.

"We've got some problems," Gunn said. "It's Angel he's been acting funny lately."

"Yeah how you figure?" Wes asked.

"Found something." Spike added he had went after the Boret demon and found a little bit more than he wanted.

Giles, Wes, Gunn and Spike were at a little abounded apartment and a man sat on the floor.

"His name is Drogan," Gunn said. "A guardian he says he knows Angel and he says Angel isn't all here."

"Guardian of what?" Wes asked.

"I've came to warn you guys." Drogan said and they looked at him. "There isn't much time."

"What's happening?" Giles asked.

"Angel, your people are in danger especially the Day Walker." Drogan warned.

"Look stay here ok." Giles said and looked back to Wes, Spike and Gunn. "Let's get back to the hotel." The four left the place.

"Any idea what's happening?" Spike asked.

"No but listen," Giles started. "Gather the others except Isabella and Angel and bring them here." The three nodded and left as Giles stayed behind.

The entire AI team plus Connor was here in this abandon place all about to listen to Drogan.

"It was a ban of demons," Drogan started. "I managed to get away and when I went back one demon was dying and asked who sent them and the demon said Angel." Everyone looked shocked and confused. "I'm a guardian of works meaning if there's written plans I guard them ancient texts. I also watch for other things as well such as how people interact. The demon said Angel had me attacked because he was afraid that I might discover something. It would be the truth about something."

"About what?" Gunn asked.

"Death." Drogan answered and everyone was still confused.

"This doesn't make a lick of sense." Lorne stated. "Death ok,"

"Before the demon died he said something about a sacrifice of some kind." Drogan added. "Someone trusted and faithful." Everyone looked around and they were all still here except Isabella but there was one other person missing someone who did die not too long ago.

"Kate?" Willow asked and everyone looked to her. Angel has been giving everyone the cold shoulder except Isabella but even then he wasn't all there with her. "Are you saying Angel's responsible for Kate's death?" Now it was confusing. Kate came to help them with the zombie attack and ended up dying because she was bitten. Angel didn't cause that. But then Willow thought maybe Angel interfered by getting them out there.

"Angel tapped into a source letting the visions to Cordelia to go to the zombie attack which no one should have stepped into. Zombies in those numbers can take out even the strongest person. He may not have picked Kate intentionally or actually killed her," Drogan kept going but was stopped.

"Ok let's put a lid on it before this turns into an ass kicking." Lorne spoke up. Lorne knew Angel would never put anyone of his team members lives on the line if he didn't think they could handle it. Plus to mess with those powers to give Cordelia a false vision that was something Angel would never do. One person tried that stunt once and Angel blew his head off.

"You think I gain pleasure in this?" Drogan asked. "Angel is the champion of man ok and I as a guardian on earth like the gods above these plains like his wife hold him as an ally."

"God?" Cordelia asked. "Buffy is a god?"

"She's a demigoddess now soon to be god if she's not already." Drogan answered.

"Whoa," Spike added hearing the once brat from Sunnydale was now a god or possible a god. "Angel knows how to pick 'em."

"Look I know this is difficult for you guys but yes I do believe Angel was responsible for Kate's death and maybe more." Drogan finished and everyone looked at one another in disbelief.

The next day rolled around and it went pretty normal Angel woke up at five in the afternoon everyone had dinner together and then it was off to patrol. But Angel was heading off somewhere else. Isabella wanted to follow but she got a feeling she shouldn't follow him. She felt so much negativity from her father it wasn't right. Angel left the hotel and Isabella went to find the only other person she could talk to her grandfather and Watcher Giles. But Giles had already made plans to talk to Isabella.

"Giles," She walked into the kitchen and everyone was there already except Giles he had found something that could be the answer to Angel's problem and was reading but she knew they all knew something was off and not right.

"You know anything?" Xander asked and she shook her head.

"I just noticed especially in the last month it's like he's cutting everything off even me." She stated. "It's so weird."

"Angel's been doing allot of things that are weird." Cordelia added.

"Izzy we found out some news and you aren't going to like it." Spike warned her and she crossed her arms. "A man named Drogan who's a guardian,"

"Guardian of what?" Isabella asked.

"That's not the point sugar plum." Lorne added.

"The point is he wants this person dead." Spike finished and Isabella just stood there. "A guardian is a fair being innocent. Angel wouldn't kill an innocent person."

"Yeah but why now act like this?" Tara asked. "I mean why all of sudden do this? Tie up loose ends so to speak."

"He's going to make a move." Isabella stated and they looked to her. She knew this battle tactic get all your men in place make sure nothing is hanging freely and attack.

"What kind?" Anya asked and Isabella shrugged as she went to sit down. Wes then pulled out a piece of paper and placed it on the table.

"Giles was reading and this came up." Wes explained as they looked at the crud drawling. "Giles has been researching it since and it might be somewhere in the papers Council gave us."

"Came up?" Willow asked and Wes nodded and they looked to the circle with thorns.

"Maybe Angelus is back." Cordelia stated the worse and everyone looked up and it felt like it got cold. Speaking that name made everyone shiver in fear. Every one of them has dealt with Angelus for the most part. Wes came up against Angelus for a brief moment when he felt sheer bliss through drugs. Giles, Cordelia, Xander and Willow were terrorized by Angelus for months back in Sunnydale. And Spike well that was his Sire. The only people here who have not come against Angelus face to face were Lorne, Tara, Fred, Gunn, Evan, Levy and Connor. Isabella faced Angelus in her dreams which were worse than reality in dreams anything can go anything was up for grabs. So to speak of Angelus just made everyone sick. "He's back and we don't know it."

"If it was Angelus half of us would be dead already just for the fun of it." Isabella stated she knew of Angelus' ways. She has faced him and read about him. Angel kept no secrets from her but maybe now he was.

"One of us already is." Spike snapped at her and Isabella looked up at him. "Having fun yet?"

"Chill ok Spike we'll figure this out." Isabella warned him if they let this get the best of them and let it cloud their judgments then nothing would get done. "I know Angelus ok he's not Angelus."

"Not yet." Xander added and Isabella looked to him. "Maybe Wolfram and Hart found a way to take his soul." It could be true and that's what made the fear so real. "Angelus is back then we have to take him out."

"Damn if Angelus is back and actually teamed up with Wolfram and Hart we're all screwed." Spike stated. One of the most powerful evil forces led by Angelus it would equal in the world ending.

"Relax nothing has happened yet ok we're still here." Isabella was trying to remain calm.

"Yeah well you don't go out alone with him anymore you got that Izzy." Spike demanded and she said nothing. Spike over the years has become protective over Isabella and he has yet to figure out why. Maybe because she was his Sire's daughter and that made her family even though vampires aren't really family more like a pack of wolves. But Wolves do protect their pack. "Right now you and me are the only people here who can take him."

"If it comes to that I'll be the one to put him down." Isabella stated and she was serious about it. She did promise Angel to run from Angelus but if she had the chance she also promised to take him out.

"There has to be something to this." Wes stated. "It could be a ploy." He suggested. "For god sakes say something." He looked to everyone. It was a shock that Angel had a part in killing Kate. He shot her but she was already a zombie by then. But for him to not care about people and to possibly be falling and slipping it was hard to believe.

"What do you want me to say?" Lorne asked. "Angel loves us all and that he would never hurt anyone of us. I mean you heard Drogan the gods favor him he couldn't do this he couldn't be turning."

"Power it's about power and Angel has it and Wolfram and Hart wants it." Fred stated.

"Angel never cared about power." Wes added and sighed as they tried to figure out what Angel was doing and why. Any guess was good as the last.

"Yeah but like a drug one hit and that's it." Evan stated.

"So what Wolfram and Hart has been giving him power like trying to get him to join?" Spike asked. "What could they offer him to toss away what he fights for candy, pie, trips to the beach, Disney World?"

"Izzy," Connor jumped in and that made sense. "Join us or Izzy dies."

"Yeah but they've threaten Izzy for fifteen years and he killed them." Gunn reminded everyone.

"You grow tired of it." Wes said. "Fighting day in and day out with no real results you tend to give up."

"So he's giving up?" Isabella asked to Wes. "My dad never gives up."

"Izzy you get tired sometimes," But Isabella cut Wes off.

"No not my dad." Angel was her idol and her hero she looked up to him and to be told he was throwing in the towel and joining the bad people the people he swore to fight against it made no sense. Yeah things get hard but you just don't give up and she knows her father wouldn't go down without a fight. He didn't follow the cliché notion of 'Can't beat 'em join 'em' crap that wasn't her father.

"Might have found something." Giles came into the room with some papers. For the past day he has been reading, researching and studying the symbol that came up. But the look on Giles face wasn't a happy one. "There's no way Angel would do this." He blurted out and that caused everyone to look up and be more concerned.

"Giles what is it?" Isabella wanted to cry her father was in trouble and she knew it.

"It's called the Circle of the Black Thorn." Giles stated.

"Sounds like a little sewing club for pirates." Lorne added.

"It's a secret society." Giles said.

"Never heard of it." Xander said.

"That's because they're secret you wanker." Spike deadpan. "Yeah and there's tons of these and they usually spend allot of time in basements paddling one another bums to prove their manhood."

"These aren't frat boys Spike," Cordelia could tell this was important.

"The circle is small and elite." Giles read from the page of notes he made.

"Evil?" Anya asked.

"Yes and very powerful." Giles added as he read.

"Ok so they're badass what do they do?" Gunn asked as Giles read and he sighed.

"They're going to bring out the next apocalypse." Giles sat up from reading.

"That theme is just getting redundant." Xander added trying to lighten the mood but it wasn't working.

"This circle is nothing like what we've come up against they make the Hell Mouth seem like a cake walk." Giles tossed his glasses aside and rubbed his eyes regaining himself. "This circle keeps man's inhumanity going."

"What about the Senior Partners?" Isabella asked she was confused. The Council warned them about the Senior Partners and a thing called Markus so this circle was that taking a higher priority at the moment.

"They're on a different plain they can't touch us," Giles started looking back at his notes. "The circle is the Partners' tools on earth to be with them you can have unlimited power. They're one of the driving forces of evil in this world."

"The circle is their way and Angel will be the tool." Wes finished and sighed.

"Ding, ding, ding we've just won the prize money." Spike added and sat down still in disbelief.

"Getting into the circle isn't easy Angel would have had to kill one of us to get noticed." Giles added.

"Kate," Cordelia stated and Giles nodded.

"But Kate wasn't always with us." Fred added.

"Yeah but she loved Angel and saved Izzy a few times." Lorne said. "That puts here in the drawing for death."

"This is not happening." Isabella felt lost.

"Well first he had to give up the whole save the world deal." Giles said. "For over a month he hasn't done much and then there's Kate so yeah he's a good candidate for the circle."

"The circle will kill us by degrees." Lorne realized it. "Pick us off one by one."

"Yeah and save the best for last." Spike added and looked to Isabella and she looked at everyone.

"No way," Cordelia spoke up. "Yeah I can see Angel letting all of us burn but not Izzy he won't." Cordelia said panicking. "Plus Buffy I mean the Drogan guy said she was a demigoddess now I mean Buffy will interfere right?" Everyone still relied on Buffy to a degree. She could put sense into Angel's head and so when the going got tough they hoped Buffy would jump in like she did with Isabella's dreams with Angelus.

"Buffy isn't apart of these plains either she can influence but not touch." Giles said. "If Buffy is what we think she is then Angel was not influenced by her and she will no longer aid him."

"I don't believe that." Isabella stated. "No way dad turns his back on mom no way."

"Sorry to break it to ya hun but Angel has." Lorne was confirming the worse.

"No I don't believe this." Isabella said more or less to herself.

"Believe baby doll." Lorne said back to her.

"So now what Angelus comes back we're sitting ducks." Gunn added.

"Buffy will protect Izzy and fight Angelus or at least try." Wes stated and the tension in the room was so high. Then Isabella spoke up.

"My father chose a life he dedicated his life to helping and saving other. He didn't have to and it's because he wanted to. But if he's been swayed from that the," She paused for a moment and stood up. "There might be a way to save him."

"Izzy your mother is god to Angel's eyes and out of everyone, everything in this world she was the only thing to influence him. If he turned his back on her you can't help him." Giles stated the fact there was no reason to hide it. "If he is Angelus,"

"No we're not talking about this." Isabella said again.

"Yes we bloody well are!" Giles yelled standing up and everyone was in shock. Isabella's eyes widen to her sergeant grandfather as he slowly sat back down. "If Angel has been swayed if he is Angelus," Giles paused again and Isabella crossed her arms waiting for him to finish but he couldn't.

"Come on say it tell me to kill my own father. We're bloody well talking about it." Isabella spat back.

"Izzy your mother is a god in some way and if she can't get to Angel if she can't save him then you as a mortal you can't do anything." Giles stated. "If Angel will be the hand that ends the earth and Buffy could not influence him then you won't either." Giles paused again. "Besides if he turns into Angelus he's not your father he may walk and look like your father but he's not. In fact to make this just a little easier he's a vampire and vampires shouldn't be allowed to live." Isabella nodded.

"Yeah but he's my father vampire or not he's still my father. I mean," Isabella paused fighting back the tears. "In this world Giles he's all I have he's the only thing that is close to me. I'm not fully human nor vampire I don't know what I am but when I'm with my dad when I hug him when we're together everything," She paused again. "Dad is a part of me and if I kill that part," Isabella let a tear slip down her cheek and Willow reached out to her holding her.

"It's ok we'll figure this out ok stay calm." Willow assured her.

"If Angel has been swayed and Buffy could not save him and he starts the apocalypse then everything in this world will die even him." Giles stated the end of the world meant everything in dies. "What can you do where can you succeed where your mother failed?"

"I can try I have too then at least I kill him knowing I tried to save him." Isabella stated and that put a memory back into Giles' head when Willow managed to save Angel but it was too late Buffy had to kill him. He didn't want that to repeat for Isabella it nearly killed Buffy back then. Everyone was quiet as now a plan must be made to either save or kill Angel. Angel was the champion and now he's fallen from that status it was so wrong.

Meanwhile Angel jumped through fire and found a man beaten almost to death. He reached down and picked him up and took the bag off his head. The man, Drogan looked relieved but then Angel morphed and bit him. Once Angel felt he took enough blood he snapped his neck and Drogan fell. Angel morphed back into his human form looking at the cloaked figures and they removed their masks.

"Welcome Angel to the circle." One of them said with horns like a ram.

Then night was dead as Angel walked back into the hotel. Everyone must be asleep and he was going to check on Isabella in a moment. He walked across the lobby towards his office. Once he walked in Gunn kicked the door close while Spike ran up and punched Angel causing him to fly back. Everyone else came out with weapons and Isabella walked in with a loaded crossbow. He never thought he'd see the day where his daughter would have a weapon pointed to him.

"Ok dad listen to me very carefully we all know what's going on so don't play dumb. You try to hurt anyone of us I will shoot you and don't think twice I won't." Isabella threaten her own father.

"You really think you guys know what's happening?" Angle asked and they all stood there.

"Yeah Circle of the Black Thorn." Isabella answered. "Kate you killed Kate and you're turning your back on everything you've fought for, for what? Power? The Council gave us those papers and in it was the circle good thing we found out."

"What I do here is my business you don't like it then you can leave before I kill you." Angel said to his daughter and she fought the tears this wasn't her father at all.

"Kill her? You're going to kill your own daughter?" Spike asked and then Giles cocked the shot gun he had. Then in one swift move Angel kicked the shot gun away and everyone sprung into action. Isabella shot an arrow and Angel grunted at it landed in his shoulder. Angel jumped and grabbed Lorne holding him hostage.

"We done?" Angel asked.

"Let him go dad!" Isabella yelled pointing her crossbow at him.

"You don't give the orders Izzy." Angel stated.

"Yeah but I'm the one with the weapon so I do call the shots right now so let him go." She said through her teeth.

"Lorne take this out of me and do gently not having a good day." Angel said to the green demon and Lorne yank the arrow out him. Angel then reached for his pocket and took out a red jewel of some kind and chanted something. A huge light covered the room and Angel let Lorne go checking to make sure he wasn't hurt. "You ok?" He asked and the green demon looked confused they all looked confused. "Ok we've got ten minutes."

"Until what?" Isabella spat out with some attitude still holding her crossbow.

"Until the glamour clasps as far as the outside world is concerned we're all still fighting so put it down Izzy," Angel said and Isabella lowered her weapon slowly but ready to use if needed. "Everything you think you know everything you've heard is a lie."

"And I'm going to believe you because?" Isabella asked.

"Because I was the one that told it." Angel answered. "Read any good notes lately?"

"You tapped into the notes giving me the circle." Giles said and Angel nodded.

"Yes also Drogan I told the demons just enough to get Drogan to believe." Angel explained.

"Why would you want us to go against you? To think you killed Kate and maybe kill Isabella" Cordelia asked.

"Because they needed to believe." Angel answered.

"The Black Thorn if a guardian like Drogan believed," Wes started and Angel nodded.

"I needed them to believe that you guys didn't trust me anymore it was the only way to gain their confidence." Angel admitted and Isabella stood there in shock.

"So this whole evil Angel thing has been a big scamola? I smell Oscar." Lorne added.

"When and where did this all start?" Spike asked as everyone was calmer now.

"About a year ago with a dream and a demigoddess." Angel answered and Isabella perked up a little bit.

"Mom," Isabella said and Angel nodded.

"Buffy shared that with you?" Wes asked and Angel nodded. Gods never share their knowledge with beings on earth but Buffy was always known to break the rules.

"She knows more than you think but like with the Senior Partners she can only influence." Angel explained.

"She's been the driving force all along." Giles added.

"Wow." Xander said.

"Buffy showed me where the real power is and guess what I got in." Angel stated. "I used Kate's death to gain access."

"So now what?" Levy asked but she knew the answer.

"Inside job." Willow answered.

"We're taking out Wolfram and Hart once and for all. The circle dies so does Hart." Angel explained. "Senior Partners whatever they are they'll keep going its evil and evil never dies but neither does good. So for one minute we can stop them."

"About time we got our hands dirty." Spike added.

"This isn't keep fighting the good fight. We do this and win something else will be unleashed not sure what it is but it'll come. We lose then we all burn." Angel explained. "But I'm talking about killing every member of the Black Thorn and taking Wolfram and Hart down."

"Suicide mission." Isabella said and Angel nodded.

"Burn down the house while we're still in it." Spike added.

"I'm not ordering you guys to do this the door is right there. But if you stay I can't say we're all going to make it out alive." Angel was honest. "Is this worth dying for?" Everyone was quiet looking at each other. "Buffy gave her life for this, what will be your choice. We'll vote as a team." Everyone was quiet.

"Certainty of death," Xander spoke up. "Small chance of success what the hell are we waiting for?" Xander raised his hand followed by Anya then Evan. Willow, Tara and Levy raised theirs. Cordelia, Fred and Wes were next followed by Giles, Gunn, Spike, Connor and Lorne. Angel then looked to Isabella and she looked to her father and raised her hand. They were all in and Angel nodded and let out an unnecessary sigh of relief. They lowered their hands as Isabella walked up to her father and he was ready to hug her but she threw a punch to his face and Angel went down to the floor.

"Oh!" Everyone cried out. Isabella stood there as Angel grunted in pain as she stood over him.

"Dumbass." She said.

"Owe," He said and looked up to her and her eyes were filled with tears.

"I thought we both agreed a long time ago that secrets are bad! Why didn't you tell me! Why! I could have killed you!" Isabella yelled at her father as he sat up.

"The less you knew the better." Angel said as he checked his nose for blood she knew how to deliver one hell of a punch. Isabella nodded but it wasn't an 'I agree with you' nod.

"Don't lie to me dad ever again!" She yelled she looked so hurt and angry. The last thing Angel ever wanted to do was lie and hurt her. She then threw herself to him in a hug and he hugged her back. "I don't want to lose you I can't do this alone." She sobbed and buried her face into his shoulder. Angel held her close and felt her sobbing she was close to killing him and he wouldn't have been angry if she did. Everyone stood around looking at one another and thinking about what was to come. The choice they made was a truly a suicide mission and this could be one of the last nights together as a team. Isabella pulled away with tears still in her eyes and Angel wiped some away and kissed her forehead and she rested her head on his chest and he rested his chin on top of her head as she sat in his lap and he held her.

And now we begin the fight against Wolfram and Hart and the Circle. So how do you think it's going to go down? There'll be more Angel/Isabella flash backs because that gives Angel a sense of peace and simplistic before things go to hell in a hand basket. Next chapter will be a talky chapter but informative and it'll somewhat lay the grounds out for The Gift then we get to the battle. So we're almost done. Thanks for reading more to come comments and reviews are welcomed.