Redemption

by kinoa

This is the final book in the The PTB'S Boss Sends Help trilogy. Angel will become human a little at a time. He is being given time to adjust. The families will increase. Who will die first Angel or Cordelia?

24. Chapter 24

Chapter 24

"You have AML, Acute Myeloid Leukemia. I won't go over all of the treatments that are available to you since you're a Doctor I am sure you know all about them and their side affects. It's my guess Dr. Martin that the susceptibility to cancer runs in your family and if you are able to research the death of your ancestors I am sure you would find that most of them died of some form of these growths. It's the only thing that can explain the growths found in your uterus and now the Leukemia." Dr. Philips said. "I think your right, my mother died of breast cancer and my father died of some kind of bone cancer. I was pretty young when he died so I don't remember too much. I do remember my mother saying that cancer seemed to run in my father's family. His father and an older brother died of cancer when he was very young."

Dr. Martin and Rupert held hands as Dr. Philips informed them of what type of cancer she had.

"Most likely I will choose to just let the Leukemia run its course but I have to talk it over with Rupert. I'll call you tomorrow to let you know what we have decided. I need to ask you one thing though. If I go for the treatment what is the prognosis as compared to not taking it?" "Three to four months without, five years to indefinite with it." "Thank you Dr. Philips I'll call you tomorrow like I said."

Dr. Martin and Rupert left and returned to the Hotel without letting on to anyone as to what they were dealing with. She looked at each person at the table as though she was looking at them for the last time. While Mary was watching everyone else Angel was watching her.

At the end of the meal Dr. Martin stood up and said, "Angel would you come up to my room for a few minutes when you have time." She paused for a few seconds and was looking down at the table when she finally said "I have something that I have to talk to you about. Goodnight everyone." Everyone answered with a goodnight and Dr. Martin and Giles went upstairs.

Everyone looked at Hunter. "What's wrong with her Hunter?" "You know that I can't tell you anything." Hunter just smiled at everyone. "The only way that you're going to find out is if you go up there and ask her." Angel stood up then and stretched his back. "I'll see you as soon as I find out what's going on okay." He gave his wife a kiss then went up stairs.

The door was open when he arrived at his mother's room. "Can I come in?" "Come in Angel and close the door." Dr. Martin told him. Giles and Mary were sitting at the couch and just watching the planes landing and taking off at the L.A. Airport. Mary patted the couch next to her and Angel sat next to her. He could feel his heart starting to beat faster. For some reason he was starting to be afraid. He didn't know why but he had a feeling of dread.

Dr. Martin took Angel's hand in both of hers. "Angel I went to see Dr. Phillips today. Remember how tired I was before Christmas and I had told Dr. Fernando that I couldn't help him at the Free Clinic anymore?" "Yes I remember." Angel said as he looked carefully at his mother. She kept her head down though and wouldn't look at him.

"He saw how tired I looked and insisted that I let him check me and perform some tests on my blood. When he got the tests back he found that I had Diabetes. He talked to Hunter, who had gone with me to see him a second time and she has been helping me get my blood sugar under control. I didn't know it at the time but he had also sent my blood to a lab to get a full spectrum test. It's a test that looks for anything unusual and gives a white and red blood cell count. Two days ago I received a call from my doctor, Dr. Phillips. Apparently Dr. Fernando had contacted Dr. Phillips when he received the results and he called me with the results." She paused for a second and looked directly into her son's eyes.

"Angel he told me that I have cancer again, but a different type. Rupert and I went to see him yesterday. He said that the tests show that I have Acute Myeloid Leukemia, AML for short. If I choose not to have chemotherapy and perhaps radiation treatment I have 3 to 4 months to live. With treatment and only if they can get it to go into remission I should have at least 5 years or longer to live." Angel closed his eyes as he digested the information that his mother just gave him.

"What have you decided to do?" Angel asked as he looked at her again. They could see his blood red tears beginning to fall. He quickly wiped them away with his hand.

"I haven't decided yet. I am sure that you have heard how devastating chemotherapy is. Since Rupert was with me when I went through it during my first cancer battle he knows how hard it was on me. But Angel this battle will be much harder on me because most likely the chemo needed will be much stronger then the radiation treatment will continue to make things hard on me. My immune system will be almost non existent until I can be given drugs to help build it up again. I am going to be very; very sick Angel and no one will be able to come into my room without wearing a mask and gown for awhile once my immune system is weakened. Worst of all I am going to lose the hair that you and Rupert love so much. I have to be honest with you and Rupert. I am afraid of all of the suffering that I will go through and I did tell Dr. Phillips that I probably would not take the treatments.

Now that I have you sitting beside me though I am reminded of what you told Wesley. You told him that when we need it we will have the courage to do battle because of the love that we have for our family. The love of family can make us go through anything and Angel I want to see my grandchildren grow up. I want to see the beautiful, powerful woman that Kathleen will grow up into and I can't do that unless I choose to suffer now. It's going to be almost as hard on you and Rupert as it will be on me. No one can suffer this but me Angel. All you and Rupert can do for me is to be there for me when I need you. Best of all though Angel will be that I can offer my suffering up to God for you and hopefully ease some of your suffering." Angel took his mother into his arms and hugged her closely.

"When do you want to tell the rest?" Angel asked her. "I am going to leave that up to you to tell them. As soon as I find out from Dr. Phillips when I will start the treatments, Rupert and I will take a quick trip to Sunnydale and let them know then we'll be back the next day." Angel let his mother go then he got up and went to Rupert who stood up also. He hugged him and told him "I'll be with you and mom all the way Giles, don't forget that." "Thank you Angel I think our family will have to really pull together to get the matron of the family through this. After all it's like Lucinda says Mary is the only one that can countermand your order." They hugged each other one last time then he left.

The next day Dr. Martin called Dr. Phillips early in the morning and told him that she would go through with the chemotherapy. He was able to get an appointment for her, with a specialist, late in the evening. Giles told everyone that they were going to go out for dinner and they probably wouldn't be back until after 7.

Angel was in his bedroom with Cordelia when he heard Giles and Dr. Martin return. He waited awhile for them to get settled then he went upstairs. He knocked at the door softly.

"Come in Angel." Dr. Martin called out. "How did you know who it was?" "Who else could it possibly be? I'm surprised you were able to wait this long." "Very funny, what did the doctor say?" "He said he has already talked to Dr. Phillips and they want to start the chemo ASAP. Monday morning I'll be going to the hospital to start the treatments. Rupert and I will leave tomorrow morning to go to Sunnydale and let them know what is happening and we'll be back on Sunday afternoon." Dr. Martin said as she sat down at the kitchen table with her favorite drink, Cherry Cola.

Angel reached over and took his mothers hand in his. "Open your mind to me Momma. Clear your mind of all of your worries." Dr. Martin did as Angel said. As she closed her eyes she felt Angel's strength and courage seep into her mind and body. In return she thought of Christ standing in front of them with a smile and his arms open wide. They opened their eyes after a few minutes and Angel gave his mother a kiss then left.

The next morning Giles and Dr. Martin left right after breakfast. All they told the rest was that they were going to Sunnydale for just one night and they would be back the next evening. At Supper, when they usually were all there at the same time, Angel broke the news to everyone. Everyone was quiet for awhile as they absorbed what they had just been told. Angel kept the news that Sr. Margaret had given him, about their time being cut short, to himself.

After Supper there was more then one person that visited the chapel that evening. Angel called Fr. Barris also and let him know about Dr. Martin and asked that he offer the 9 o'clock mass tomorrow for her. After he talked to Fr. Barris he called Morgan up. The next morning the first 4 pews at Mass were filled with people that knew Dr. Martin. Everyone offered up their prayers for her that day.

At 6 P.M. Dr. Martin and Rupert came through the back doors. Everyone greeted them as they passed them in the hall or in the lobby but no one brought up the subject of her cancer. All of the children were upstairs on the third floor so they didn't see her as they came in.

At 7 everyone came down for supper and was at the dinning room table when Giles and Dr. Martin came down. As usual, Kathleen tapped her glass so that everyone would quiet down and listen for her to start the thanksgiving prayer.

"We would like to thank you Jesus for this food that we are about to eat. We would like to thank you for giving Mrs. Sanchez the talent to make food so delicious. Most of all Jesus we would like to pray for Grandma. Please hold her hand as she goes through the suffering of the chemotherapy. Give her the courage that she needs and when she can't stand it anymore take our prayers and turn them into courage for her to continue. We are not ready to let her go yet and we pray that she will be allowed to be with us longer. Thank you and Amen." Dr. Martin got up and went to Kathleen and kneeled by her chair and hugged her. Kathleen kissed her grandma and hugged her as tight as she could. After a few minutes Dr. Martin got up and they both went back to their chairs. No more was said about the chemotherapy that was to start the next day.

Over the next several weeks they watched Dr. Martin slowly become weaker as she went through the treatment. The dark circles under her eyes became darker as the skin was stretched over her cheek bones and eye sockets. On one of her better days Cordelia took her to her beauty salon and at Dr. Martins request they cut her hair and gave her a soft perm. They had put a rubber band around the hair before cutting it so they were able to neatly put it into a box which she took home with her. The whole experience left her very tired so she went right to her bedroom. She was too tired to even come down for supper so Connie fixed her a tray with soup and a sandwich which Giles took up to her after he finished his supper. She had been sleeping when he went down for supper so he didn't rush back to her.

Sometime after the chemotherapy had started Giles woke up to his wife shaking as though she were cold. Her teeth were chattering and she couldn't get warm no matter how many blankets Giles put on her. When he tried talking to her she didn't wake up so he tried to lightly slap her face several times but she still didn't respond. He called Hunter and Mike to come and check her. They both came over in their bathrobes. As soon as Mike saw her he pulled a sample of blood from her and went downstairs to check it. With all of the vomiting Dr. Martin was doing they had prepared themselves for this very problem. When he came back upstairs he had several bags that they would administer to her intravenously. As her electrolytes slowly came back up to a more normal level she stopped her teeth chattering and shaking. She slept more peacefully now. From then on they gave her a Gatorade and Smart Water every day. These drinks were full of the essential minerals that would replace her lost electrolytes every time she drank them.

Mike took care of Mary most of the time since Hunter was getting progressively more and more uncomfortable as her stomach provided a major obstacle to her movements. She was due in three weeks and could barely move without assistance from Mike. Cylindia stayed with Dr. Martin 16 hours a day and only left her side when she went to bed. The 2nd month they started the radiation treatment along with another set of drugs. Now every time she was able to get up she would leave a lot of her hair on the pillow. By the third week she started wearing a bandana to hide her sparse hair that was only left in patches now. When anyone came to visit with her they had to wear a mask and gown in order to come into the room.

At the beginning of Mary's 2nd week of radiation treatment Hunter went into labor. Because of Hunter being such a small woman they knew ahead of time that she would have to deliver by Cesarean. As she approached her last two weeks Mike had called Spike to come and spend the next 2 weeks with them as she came close to the end of her pregnancy. With Dr. Martin unable to perform the Cesarean Mike was going to need his help. Just to make sure though Mike asked Wesley if he could set up a camera over the operating table that could feed into a TV in Dr. Martin's room. He would then be hooked up to a speaker and microphone so that Dr. Martin could speak to him if she saw something that they were doing wrong. Cylindia and Fred stood on the side to except the baby and clean it up.

Within 20 minutes of starting they had the baby out. Unfortunately they had to take her uterus out as well along with the afterbirth. When Mike and Spike saw it and then showed it to Dr. Martin they could see that she was meant to have just one baby. They could see that this one baby was a miracle and a gift from God. Hunter had been awake through the whole thing and Mike showed her the condition that her uterus was in. While Spike was sewing Hunter back up Fred asked Mike and Hunter what the baby's name would be.

"His name is Michael Jefferson Thompson after my father." Mike smiled and kissed his wife.

Cylindia and Fred brought Michael Jefferson over to his parents and placed him in his father's arms. Mike bent down so that Hunter could see her brand new son. "He's beautiful Hunter. Every thing is where it is supposed to be and he has ten toes and ten fingers and it looks like his hair is going to be a solid black like yours." Fred said.

"You did a good job sweetheart." Mike said as he kissed his wife then his baby again. "Go and show him to the rest Mike then take him into the chapel and thank God for the gift that He has given us." Mike took him out into the Lobby and showed everyone the newest member of the Angel Investigations family. He held him up in the air and said "I present to you the newest member of the Angel Investigations family, Michael Jefferson Thompson." Everyone clapped then crowded around to take a good look at Jefferson.

"How is Hunter doing?" Cordelia asked. "She's doing okay except that we had to take her uterus out. If you had seen the condition it was in, in comparison to a normal uterus you would say that this child was a gift from God because it should not have been able to support the growth of a baby for nine months. It's my guess that Lou and Tom were born of two Vampires just for the purpose of joining Angel Investigations. Since their will most likely not be anymore pure Vampires in the group we have the next best thing."

When Mike went back into the clinic he found Hunter sleeping already. Spike was through with her and had her all cleaned up and the blanket wrapped around her. Fred came over to him. "Why don't you give me Jefferson Mike and I'll give him to the two Aunties that take care of all brand new babies. You go and take Hunter to bed. You can have your last long restful night." Fred laughed as she took Jefferson from his father. Mike bundled Hunter up and carried her upstairs to their suit of rooms. Willow and Tara had the bassinet all ready for the newest member. It was late at night now and everyone went to bed.

Dr. Martin had gone to sleep almost as soon as Jefferson was delivered. Her energy lasted for a very short time these days. Tonight Giles had managed to get her to eat a few spoonfuls of soup that Connie had made. Giles looked down at his once beautiful wife. Her beautiful hair was almost all gone now. Her skin was stretched tight over her facial bones. He thought she couldn't possibly weigh more than 80 lbs. now. Tomorrow he had to take her in for her last radiation treatment. The chemotherapy had ended yesterday. Sometime, during the course of her treatment, he thought never again will I ask her to go through this. Death is surely better than this. Then a quiet voice whispered to him, "Her time has not come yet Rupert, God still has work for her to do. Until her job is complete He will not call her home." Giles lay beside her and held her close to his chest.

Four days after their visit to Dr. Philips he called Dr. Martin with the test results. The cancer was in remission and they could start to rebuild her immune system. As soon as Mary told Rupert they hugged and cried in each others arms, he called downstairs to Angel and gave him the good news and at supper that evening he let everyone else know the good news. There wasn't a dry eye at the table and they each gave a silent prayer of thanks.

"Does this mean that I can go and see Grandma now?" Kathleen asked. None of the children had been allowed to go and see their Grandma while she was in such a fragile state. Wesley and Gun had set up cameras and microphones in the dinning room and the gym, so that she could continue to take part in some of the family activities.

Before the Sunnydale gang left two days later they went up to visit with Dr. Martin. Since her immune system was still weak everyone still had to put gowns, gloves, and masks on. Joyce couldn't understand why she couldn't give her Grandmother a kiss and hug like she did her Grandpa. Mary used the same idea with Joyce that she had used with Kathleen when she was little. She told Buffy to get her tube of very, very red lipstick and a clean Kleenex. She then told her to put it on Joyce's lips very thick. When she was done she gave the Kleenex to Joyce so she could place her kisses on it. Grandpa Rupert gave her an empty plastic sandwich bag and Buffy carefully put the Kleenex in the bag. "Now give this to your Grandma." Joyce gave the bag to her Grandma. You could see all of her little kisses on each square inch of the Kleenex.

"Thank you Joyce. When I am all better I am going to take out your kisses and put them all over my face then Grandpa will take a picture of me and you will be able to see all of the kisses that you have given me. Here Grandpa, would you put Joyce's kisses under my pillow until I am ready to have them?" Rupert carefully took the bag while Dr. Martin leaned forward and he placed the bag under the bottom pillow.

Everyone gave their good byes then they left to go home to Sunnydale. They made Giles and Dr. Martin promise to come for a visit as soon as she was able to. When everyone left Giles turned the lights off and opened the drapes. He wrapped his wife up in a protective blanket then helped her walk over to the couch. He made up a cup of broth soup that Connie had given him in a large container so that he could heat some up for Mary to drink whenever she felt she could keep it down. He made some coffee for himself then went to sit down next to his wife with his arm protectively around her. He turned the TV on and they watched Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune. Mary was quiet during the shows.

"Rupert I would like to go down to the chapel. Would you call Angel and ask him to meet us there?" "Yes I think that can be done but do you think it is wise to expose yourself to so many germs?" "God won't let anything happen to me yet." Giles called Angel's room but he wasn't there. He hung up and went over to the couch to pick up his wife. "Let me walk for awhile Rupert. I have to start exercising again." Giles wrapped his arm around his wife and held onto her hand. They slowly walked to the elevator and that was all that she had in her. Giles felt her start to tremble with fatigue and quickly picked her up in his arms.

As they arrived in the Lobby he saw Angel and the rest just sitting at the table and having coffee. "Angel, would you come with us to the chapel please?" When he saw the others start to get up he said "Mary just wants Angel right now." Angel got up and followed them into the chapel. Cylindia came running after them. "Wait a minute Giles let me spray the chapel with Lysol before you go in there." She grabbed a can of Lysol from Fred's desk in the clinic and took a few minutes to spray everything in the chapel. After a few minutes she came out and gave the okay. Angel went in first then Giles placed Mary between them.

"Give me a minute while I give thanks to Christ for carrying me through this ordeal then I want to pray the rosary." Angel put the padded kneeler down so that his mother could kneel. As she slid forward the blanket came off and Angel saw how bone thin she was. His mother made the sign of the cross then folded her hands together and leaned her head on her hands. She stayed in this position for the next 5 minutes. She was in such deep thought that she didn't notice everyone coming in to give thanks also. It started with Kathleen then Cordelia, Fred and the rest followed. The smaller children were sent upstairs to their room to play along with Junior, Toby and Vicky. As usual Kathleen started to say a prayer out loud. They all let her lead them in prayer because she seemed to have a gift for saying exactly what they all felt.

"Dear Heavenly Father we would like to thank you for letting Grandma stay with us. We know that you would like to have her come home but we still need her here with us. She always seems to know just what to say to make us feel better and to help us understand why some things happen. Besides Mommy said that she is the only one that can make Daddy behave himself sometimes. Amen." Everyone echoed her Amen and they all sat down while Cordelia started the Rosary. Usually it would be led by Mary but they all understood that she was too weak for this right now.

Twenty five minutes later they were done and they all started to file out and return to their rooms. Giles started to pick Mary up, who was already sleeping, but Angel put his hand on his arm to stop him. "Please let me carry her?" Giles stepped away then and let Angel carry his mother up to her bed. "Come with me Kathleen." Angel told his daughter. Kathleen held onto her Grandfathers hand as they went back to their room. Angel held onto his mother as Giles took the blanket off of his wife then he placed her on the bed in the middle. Giles pulled her slippers off then covered her again.

"Get on the other side of the bed Kathleen and take your shoes off then lay down next to Grandma. Giles this is going to take a while so you might as well take a seat on the couch." "What are you going to do?" "Kathleen and I are going to help Mom to get better a little faster. We're going to give her some of my strength and I hope that Kathleen will be able to make her hair grow back faster." Angel took his shoes and jacket off then lay down beside his mother also.

Angel pulled his Mothers scarf off and the full affect of her illness hit both Angel and Kathleen. Kathleen put her arm around her Grandmothers neck and cried for her. Angel was crying also as he saw more clearly how bad off his mother was.

"Kathleen I want you to hold onto your Grandmothers hand and put your other hand on her head. I want you to remember how pretty her hair was and concentrate on seeing it grow back. I am going to hold her hand but I am going to give her some of my strength so that she won't be so weak anymore. Close your eyes now and remember her pretty hair." Angel closed his eyes also and concentrated on giving her the strength to get better.

Thirty minutes later Angel felt Giles gently shaking his shoulder. "Angel you were falling asleep and you were starting to snore." "I don't snore, do I Kathleen?" He saw Kathleen starting to raise her head and let go of her Grandmothers hand. "I cannot tell a lie Daddy you do snore. You do like this." Kathleen lay on her back and started to imitate her Daddy with a loud snoring noise. Then she sat up and said "Who's that? Ummmmmm. Then you fall back to sleep again." Kathleen carefully rolled off of the bed and grabbed her shoes and ran out the door. Both men laughed at her as she ran out.

"Do you think you were successful?" Giles asked Angel. "Yes but we won't know for sure until she wakes up tomorrow. I'll see you tomorrow Giles." "Good night Angel and thank you." Angel nodded towards Giles and closed the door as he left. Giles removed his clothes and got into bed with his wife. When she felt her husband next to her Mary turned towards him. Every time Giles put his arms around his wife he thought of how he could feel all of her bones. He cried silent tears for his companion in life.

The next morning before he opened his eyes he felt the pillow next to him and found it empty. Giles opened his eyes and looked around. He sat up and listened. He finally heard her in the bathroom humming to herself. He got up and knocked at the door. "Mary, are you alright? Do you need any help?" "No but you can come in and take a shower with me." He was surprised at the sound of her voice, it sounded so vigorous. "You sure seem to be feeling good this morning." "I do Rupert, I do. I don't know what happened but I feel so good this morning, better then I've felt in a long time. In fact I feel so good I …………." She turned around and started to kiss him. "Settle down girl I don't think you're ready for that yet. Let's get you cleaned up then well go downstairs for breakfast."

Giles helped Mary to get dressed when they got out of the shower. Just as they were about to go downstairs Cylindia knocked at the door. "Come in." Giles answered.

"Well good morning you two. You sure are looking chipper this morning Mary." "I feel good Cylindia, for the first time in so many months I actually feel good." "Well I have some magic elixir here for you that will start building your immunity back up again. You better let me give it to you in your hip because you don't have enough meat on your poor bones for me to give it to you in your arm. I think if I try giving it to you in your arm the needle will go right through to the other side." Mary stood up from the wheel chair while holding onto Rupert. Cylindia quickly gave her the shot. After sitting back down again she said "I can't wait for the day that I can be on the other end of the needle instead of me being on the receiving end."

"I talked to your Doctor this morning Mary he told me to make sure that you keep your distance from everyone else for awhile until we see your blood count come back to a more normal level. Now because you are so underweight we are going to give you something to eat every four hours. If you fight me on this then we will cut back on your exposure to anyone. Do you agree with me on this?" "Yes Dr. Cylindia, I'll be good."

When they arrived downstairs everyone stood up and clapped (from the other end of the table). The children all wanted to go and hug their Grandma but they had been carefully instructed that they couldn't do that yet.

"Thank you everyone I can't tell you how happy I am to be able to come downstairs for breakfast. Now that I see you Angel and how tired you look I know where I got my extra strength from. Thank you." "My pleasure Madam, I would give up anything to see the smile back on your face again. Kathleen helped me last night. I think it will be a few days before we know if what she did worked or not." "What did she do to me?" "It wasn't anything dangerous for her. I asked her to concentrate on making your hair grow back faster then it usually would. While she did that I was concentrating on giving you my strength. By this evening I should be back to normal all I need to do is get some more sleep and I'll be fine."

"Well now that I am feeling a lot better do you think I can have a nice breakfast of 2 soft boiled eggs and a few ounces of steak and 2 slices of toast Connie?" "Yes Dr. Martin, anything you want just tell me and I'll make it for you." "I am hungry for your excellent cooking but since my stomach has been abused so much I have to treat it with kid gloves for a while. You can keep plenty of Jell-O in the refrigerator for me though."

As soon as Connie brought Dr. Martin her breakfast the rest also sat down to eat theirs. Mary noticed while she was eating that Kathleen and Junior had graduated to the adults table.

"When did you and Junior start sitting at the adults table Kathleen?" Kathleen's Grandmother asked her. "Last month, Mommy and Mrs. Sanchez said that we were getting to big to sit in the little chairs anymore so we had to graduate to the big table. Junior and I still take care of the smaller kids though and Vicky has graduated to a regular chair now and sits next to Toby. Toby makes her behave just like Junior and I make the smaller kids behave." "Does she know how to say her prayer's like Toby does?" "No she's still working on that. I tried teaching her how to do it but all she can do so far is just sit quietly while we say our prayer of thanksgiving." "I guess you just have to give her a little time to grow up. It's a lot for such a little dog to learn." "Yes I think so too." Kathleen said.

As always Angel was very proud of his daughter. She could carry on a conversation with any adult. Even Wesley said she articulated herself very well. If it wasn't for the sound of her voice you would think she was an adult carrying on a conversation with another adult in another room.

A thought suddenly came into Angels mind. "Giles isn't it time for Kathleen to start studying with Willow and Tara?" "No I don't think so Angel but that's only because I think she is way beyond them. Even Willow, who is a powerful Witch, has said that Kathleen's power is way beyond her and that she should go to England to study with older more experienced Witches. Kathleen has a lot of power and she needs to learn when she should use it and when not to use it.

If it's okay with you and Cordelia I would like to take her to England this summer. If Mary is up to it she'll be coming with me to England for at least a month and I thought Kathleen could come with us at that time." Giles said as he sat back in his chair after pouring himself and his wife a cup of coffee.

Angel looked at Cordelia but she didn't say any thing and left it up to him. "What about her protection?" "We will be staying on the campus of the Watchers school and she will be surrounded by people that can sense any danger that may come near her. Also, as we have seen, Kathleen is more than capable of protecting herself." "When would you be going?" Angel asked. "That all depends on how fast Mary can get back to normal and her doctor gives her the okay to travel abroad. Since I am now the head of the Council everything will wait on me."

"What do you think Wesley?" Cordelia spoke up for the first time. "Yes she needs to go but I think it will be more so that she can be tested to see how far her power goes. Then she needs to learn when and where not to use it like Giles said. If Dr. Martin is able to go at the end of June when school will be out for the summer I was going to go at that time. I am going to take the boys and Fred to England with me so that my mother can meet the boys. My mother has said that my father has been seeing a Psychiatrist that works for the council and they are confident that he won't try anything like he did before. Just to make sure though he will not be allowed to come near her and I am sure that Dr. Martin will be able to explain everything to Kathleen." "Angel and I will discuss it later and we'll let you know by tonight." Cordelia told both Wesley and Giles.

Everyone, including Angel, took this as the end of the discussion about what would happen this summer.

After lunch Cordelia and Angel took a few moments to discuss whether they wanted to let their daughter go to England or not. Angel was able to convince Cordelia that Kathleen would be okay with so many people around to protect her and it would be a good experience for their daughter. Without warning Angel jumped up off of the bed and stood in front of the bed. He beat his chest and said "Everyone will be able to see that I, a Vampire, am capable of creating a beautiful, genius of a daughter." He beat his chest then and yelled like Tarzan.

Across the street those that kept a watch on the comings and goings of everyone in the Hotel had also recorded the conversation at the breakfast table that morning. They could no longer place microphones or cameras inside the Hotel but they had the option of more sophisticated listening devices and infrared cameras. Other men came into the building around 12 noon and relieved those that had been monitoring everything since 12 midnight. All recording tapes were then delivered to Lilah Morgan along with a report on the goings on at the Hotel.

As Lilah listened to the tapes and the conversation that took place at the Breakfast table a plan started to develop in her mind. The plan was based on something that she had wanted to do for a long time but the time and locations were not right until now.

For Dr. Martin her days were filled with eating, sleeping, and simply resting. By the end of her second month her Doctor told her that her immune system was now almost back to normal and she could start exercising to get back into shape. During the last week she had been feeling like a caged animal that had more energy then she had an outlet for. When they arrived home it was 6 in the evening. Mary went into the kitchen to see what Connie was fixing and told her that they would be having Supper up in their room. She gathered up something light to eat and took everything up on a cart to her bedroom.

She lit several candles around the whirlpool bath then started filling the bath. She called downstairs to Wesley's office then and told Giles they were going to have Supper in there room.

"Well I guess that was a hint to come up stairs now." Giles said as he hung up the phone. "I have a feeling that the drought is over for you." Wesley said with a smile. "I think so also. I don't know if I'll remember what to do it's been so long but I'm sure it will come back to me. I'll see you tomorrow." Giles took off then to the elevator and was at his own door within a few minutes. He opened the door carefully.

"Mary?" Giles called out. "I'm in the Whirlpool bath Giles. Come and join me." She didn't have to ask twice. Giles quickly took his clothes off and joined her. Mary leaned forward so he could slide in behind her. As he settled himself in she leaned against him. She had already bathed herself and washed her hair. Her hair was now shoulder length, thanks to Kathleen. She found that she liked it this length and wanted to keep it like it was but because Giles and Angel liked it long she decided to not cut it.

As they sat in the tub Giles ran his hands over her shoulders and massaged them. With all of the medication she had been taking her skin had become very dry and she often asked him to rub cream all over her. The bones, that he could feel only two months ago where now covered in healthy flesh. Her hair didn't grow back the same though. The texture had changed but he had learned that this was common for people that had gone through what she had. He knew that after a month or so of working out in the gym she would regain her muscle tone and she would be almost as beautiful as when he first saw her. Giles was anxious for the drought to end so he bathed himself after soaking for awhile then got out and pulled Mary out as well. As they dried each other off Mary threw the towel around his shoulders and stood on her toes and pulled his head down so she could reach his lips.

"Tell me what you are hungrier for my dear. Supper or me?" She started to kiss him and run her hands down his front and to the back as she grabbed his buns tightly. In answer Giles picked her up and took her into the bedroom after he paused for her to turn the lights off. For the next two hours they made love to each other until they fell asleep in each others arms. For the first time in what seemed like years Mary felt good. She was emotionally and physically satisfied. The suffering that she endured the past several months had left her mind for now and she slept a deep restful sleep.

June was quickly approaching and Dr. Martin was working hard in the gym to get back into shape. Angel and Cordelia often worked out in the gym in the early morning hours and Dr. Martin had adopted this time to work out also. By the end of the school year she went to her doctor for her regular checkup and to find out if he would give the okay for her to go to England.

"You've done an excellent job of getting back into shape Mary and I am giving you the okay to go to England. Don't forget to take your medication regularly and make sure that you don't tire yourself out too much with the sight seeing. You are not a young woman anymore my dear and you have to reign in your desire to help everyone that asks for it. It's time to take care of number one now okay?" "I won't make any promises on that because I know how weak I am when God comes knocking on my door because someone needs me." "Okay Mary I won't ask you to promise me then but I want to see you for a checkup in six months okay?" "I'll see you in 6 months then. Good bye."

Dr. Martin came running into the Hotel with a big grin. She found Giles raiding the refrigerator in the main kitchen. He put the carrot down on the table when he heard her come in. She ran into his arms. "I've been given a clean bill of health and we can go to England whenever you want." The kids came running downstairs when they heard their Grandma downstairs. They saw their Grandpa swinging their Grandma around the lobby.

"What happened Grandma?" Kathleen asked. "I've been given a clean bill of health and now I can hug and kiss all of my babies. I can even give Vicky a kiss." Mary knelt on the floor and hugged all of the children, even Leilani and the other children that went to school at the Hotel received kisses and hugs. And last but not least she picked up Vicky's front paws and let her lick her face and gave her a kiss on her forehead.

Mary stood up and said "Let's go to the chapel and you can all help me to give thanks to Jesus that He has made me well again." All of the children followed her over to the chapel and filed into the pews and kneeled like Kathleen, Junior and Grandma did. Mary made the sign of the cross then thanked God and His Son for making her well again. She led them in the Our Father then the Hail Mary then she put her forehead on her hands and gave a private thank you. After a few minutes she heard the children starting to get restless so she made the sign of the cross and they all got up and went back into the Lobby. The children all gave Grandma a kiss and hug then went outside to play until Gunn came to take the children that lived at Mrs. Benton's home.

At Supper they discussed when they would leave for England now that Dr. Martin had an okay from her doctor.

Dr. Martin came to the table dressed in a blouse and slacks. The slacks were black but the blouse was a silky forest green.

"Are you and Giles going out tonight to paint the town red, because if you are you need to get something flashy for Giles to wear also?" Gunn said when he saw Dr. Martin come down the stairs with Fred and Cordelia. Fred and Cordelia took their seats at the table and Dr. Martin did a little twirl to show off her new clothes. "How do you like it?" She asked Giles. He just looked at her for a moment then pulled his glasses off and cleaned them for maybe the 1,000th time.

"I don't know Angel do you think it's safe to expose her to the public at Lorne's bar?" "If you take some protection with you I think you'll be alright. Mind you now the protection is for the patrons at the bar, not for Mom." Angel said with a smile.

"Oh come on Rupert, I don't want to go to Lorne's bar. I want to go to Las Vegas for the night. It's only 7 o'clock and it takes about 4 hours to get there." "Wait a minute young lady I have a store to run I can't just run to Vegas at the drop of a hat." "Yes you can just put the sign up that says closed for inventory and we can take off." Giles thought about it for awhile then he looked at Angel. "You and Cordelia want to go with us?" Angel looked at Cordelia and she gave a yes along with a big smile. "My boss says it's okay. Shall we leave right after Supper?" "I guess so, at least as soon as the ladies can get ready. You better sit down and eat your Supper." "Yes dear." Dr. Martin sat down and started in on the food that Giles had put in her plate.

For the next 24 hours Mary Martin/Giles caught up on all the fun that she lost out on while she was sick in bed. She spent money like it was water. She bought all of the used dice that the casino store had in stock along with all of their used decks of cards. When they went home the back half of the van was filled with all of the gifts she had bought. They didn't even stop to sleep during those 24 hours. She played the slot machines until she became bored then she heard the people at the Crap tables having fun. She looked for Giles then. When she found him she said "Rupert lets go over to the Crap tables and teach me how to play." "I'm not that good at it Mary, lets find Angel, I think he likes playing the Crap tables. When they found Angel and Cordelia Mary pulled Angel by his arm over to the tables. "I want to learn how to play this." "Okay maybe you'll have beginners luck." For the next 3 hours they played.

They finally walked away with $5,000 dollars more then she started out with. Both of the ladies were so tired now that they just barely made it to the van. Angel and Giles got them in the van and they drove off and back to L.A. It was 2 o'clock in the afternoon and they had been playing for more than 14 hours straight. Fortunately, just as Angel was reaching his limit to be in the sun, it started to go down and he was able to drive all of the way home while the others slept. He was enjoying his nice quiet drive it gave him a chance to listen to the rest of the Harry Potter book that they had never been able to finish. Listening to the book helped to keep him from listening to Angelus.

At 7 o'clock Angel finally pulled up to the back of the Hyperion. He had hit the traffic just as people were going home from work and most of the time the traffic was crawling.

"Alright everyone we're home. Giles, Mom, and Cordelia wakeup we're home." As everyone started to wake up they realized how long it had been since they had last gone to the bathroom and it encouraged them to move faster. No one, but Angel, grabbed anything they just went running into the Hotel. Since everyone else was just getting ready to sit down for supper they all came out to see if Angel needed any help. He gave each of the children a small package to carry in while the adults took the larger items. By the time the other three travelers came back down everything was in and in the Lobby.

When they were done eating and just relaxing with a cup of coffee Dr. Martin was telling everyone about how much fun she had and especially her time at the Crap table.

"Before everyone leaves to go upstairs I want you to stop and take a few boxes of cards and a bunch of dice. What ever is left Gunn you can take for your kids. Along with the cards and dice I would like to give this to you for the kids also." Dr. Martin handed over the $5,000 that she had won at the Crap table. "Thank you Dr. Martin this will be put to good use." "I know it will Gunn. Now I want all of the children under 6 to come over here by my chair and line up so I can give you a present also. While they were getting in line she went to grab several of the bags of presents she had bought at the casino stores. Along with each gift she handed over a stack of 5 silver dollars. When the children were done with all of the thank you hugs and kisses, and had run back to their parents to show them what they got Dr. Martin called Kathleen and Junior.

"For you two I have special gifts. Junior here is an autographed jacket with all of the signatures from the L.A. Lakers. I also have a stack of silver dollars for you along with $500 dollars to spend as you like." Junior's eyes grew wide as he eyed the jacket "Oh Grandma Martin thank you, thank you very much." Junior gave her a hug and kiss then went running to his parents to show them the jacket.

Kathleen stood before her grandmother. "Last but not least for my grandchild and God Daughter a stack of silver dollars and this autographed poster of the original cast of Star Trek. I am also giving you $1,000 to spend as you like." "Thank you grandma but is it okay if I give it to Uncle Gunn?" "Yes you certainly may." "Here Uncle Gunn use this to help your kids." "Thank you Kathleen. I'll make sure that they know it came from you." "No, please don't tell them Uncle Gunn, Grandma says that a good deed is accepted by Jesus better when there are no strings attached." Kathleen turned and hugged and kissed her Grandmother. They could tell that Kathleen had whispered something to her Grandmother because when she pulled away and went upstairs her grandmother was crying.

Giles pulled his wife over to his lap. "What's wrong? What did Kathleen say that has you crying?" Dr. Martin looked over at Angel and Cordelia.

"Kathleen said that she didn't need any presents because God had already given her the gift of her Grandmother which was better then any amount of money that she could ever be given." Giles gave his wife his handkerchief so she could wipe her tears away and blow her nose. "Let's go to bed my dear I think we still have some sleep to catch up on." Giles lifted his wife up from his lap and they said goodnight to everyone then went upstairs holding hands.

When they left there wasn't a dry eye in the room. One by one they left to return to there own rooms. Cordelia and especially Angel were tired, but before going to bed, they went to see their sons. At first they just watched them through the slightly opened door. As always Nicky was telling the others what part they were to play in there current game and Mike was happy with whatever part he was given.

After a few minutes of playing quietly Nicky's true nature started to assert itself. They were playing with toy soldiers and Nicky didn't like the way everyone else's soldiers were ganging up on him and winning the war. When it was apparent that he was going to lose he picked up one of the toy jeeps and threw it at the Price boys. The jeep hit Robert above his left eye which caused him to fall against his brother whose head hit the corner of the night stand. That's when Angel and Cordelia went running in. Kathleen heard the commotion and came running into the boy's room right after them.

David was crying from the injury to the back of his head and Robert was crying because his head hurt where the toy hit his head and the blood was running down his face. When he felt the cut and saw the blood on his hand he started crying even louder. This of course brought Wesley and Fred upstairs. Angel picked up Robert and Wesley picked up David and they ran downstairs to the clinic. Cordelia ran upstairs to get Dr. Martin while Fred went to get Mike.

By the time Dr. Martin got downstairs the room was full of scared parents and crying children. She went to Robert first to check the cut on his head. After she cleaned the cut and his face she found just a slight cut that didn't even need stitches. Mike was checking on David and had an ice pack on the back of his head. Robert was arguing with Dr. Martin when Wesley put his son down on the floor. "But I need a bandage Grandma, just in case it starts bleeding again." Robert touched the cut and saw a tiny spot of blood on one finger. "See Grandma it's bleeding again." Dr. Martin looked at the tiny bit of blood. She almost couldn't see it, it was so small. "Okay I guess your right. Wesley, would you please put Robert back on the table?" Wesley did as she asked and when she came back to the table she had a roll of gauze and a large square bandage along with some tape. Even though the cut was only one quarter of an inch long she wrapped Roberts head up as though it was a deep gash. She knew that this was the most important part of the whole ordeal.

While Dr. Martin and Mike had been taking care of Robert and David the parents, along with Kathleen and Junior, were in the dining room.

Cordelia and Angel told Wesley, Fred, Kathleen and Junior what they had seen when the incident happened. "You and Junior seem to be doing a pretty good job of dealing with these types of problems so can you tell me if this happens very often?" "Yes it does. At first Nicky played with the rest pretty good. At least he didn't throw any Jeeps at the rest, anyway each time it has happened we separated him from the rest and he had to play by himself. The last time that this happened we told them that we would have to put him on trial and the rest would decide what his punishment would be." Kathleen told them.

"He's barely older than a baby Kathleen, does he understand what he is doing is wrong and what a trial is?" Cordelia asked. "Oh yes Momma he understands." Everyone noticed how Kathleen called her mother Momma instead of Mommy.

"Nicky is very smart Momma and he knows exactly what he is doing. He also knows that sooner or later I am going to bring his behavior to yours and Daddy's attention and then fun time will be over." "Do you agree with Kathleen Junior?" "Yes Mr. Martin Nicky has done something like this several times before. I think though that he is trying to see how far he can push us before we let you know what he is doing." Junior answered quiet seriously.

"Okay Kathleen and Junior would you do me a favor and you and Junior go into my office. We are going to talk about how we can help you to best handle this problem. I want to tell you that we think that you and Junior have been doing an excellent job and I think you deserve a raise. I am going to discuss this with Uncle Wesley later though and see how much of a raise we can give you." Angel told his daughter.

When Kathleen and Junior left Angel called his mother and Connor so that they could have his mothers input as a psychiatrist and Angel felt that since Connor was going to lead Angel Investigation he should be a part of handling this problem with Nicky. This problem could cause Connor a lot of problems if they weren't successful in getting Nicky to understand how wrong his behavior was. Within five minutes both Connor and Dr. Martin had joined them in the lobby. They all went to sit down at the dinning room table and Angel brought them up to speed.

"So what do you think about our son Mom. Do you think he is acting as he is because he is a carbon copy of old Dad or is this something new and specific to just Nicky?" Angel asked as he drank his glass of blood that he had warmed up. "I think that we all know the answer to that Angel and that you are asking me to see if I'll say no. Well I'm sorry my boy but it is my opinion that your first guess was correct. In Nicky's case Angel I think it would be best that you take him directly under your wing. Think of the way that you were before I arrived and apply the lessons that I taught you."

For the next 30 minutes they talked about how and when they would hold court. By the time they got up from the table it was late and past the time for the boys to go to bed. Angel went to his office and told Kathleen and Junior that they were going to let her hold court to decide what they were going to do with Nicky tomorrow morning after breakfast. For now though they needed to go to bed because it was too late to do anything. Angel told Cordelia that he would put the boys to bed.

He went upstairs to tell the boys to get ready to go to bed. He was surprised when he peeked through the door opening. Nicky was apologizing to Robert and David. "I'm sorry Bobby for hitting you with the jeep and I'm sorry you got hurt when he fell against you David. I promise that I will try not to do that ever again. But it's my Daddy's fault that I have a bad temper. Mommy said I inherited my bad temper from Daddy and my good looks from her." "The only reason you're saying that Nicky is because you know your going to be in trouble with Kathleen tomorrow." "No I won't because Mommy won't let her punish me." "Daddy told us that your Daddy spanked your Mommy two times because she wouldn't behave and do what your Daddy told her. So you know what that means." Bobby stood up and raised his hand up high and hit his pillow five times as hard as he could. "Wham, wham, wham, wham, wham. Whaaaaaaaaaa!" David pretended he was Angel and he was spanking Nicky. "You won't be able to sit down for a week." Bobby yelled at Nicky.

Angel went down a few steps then made more noise as he walked back to the room. He knocked at the door then opened it. "Okay boys it's time to go to bed. Nicky we will hold court tomorrow to decide what your punishment will be." "But Daddy, I told Nicky and David that I was sorry." Angel sat down on the edge of the bed and pulled Nicky onto his lap. "I'm sorry Nicky but you did something very bad and you have to be punished. After you're punished for what you did then you and I will work on changing the way you react to situations such as you did tonight. Do you know why I am saying that you and I will work on correcting you?" "Because you're my Daddy and you get to spank me." Angel did his best not to smile. "No I am saying that because Daddy used to have the same problem as you and Grandma helped me to be a better person and I am going to do the same for you. Go to bed now." Angel gave his son a kiss and put him down then left after giving Mike a kiss and tucking him in also.

The next morning after breakfast Kathleen and Junior started to set up the children's table in the Lobby for the trial. They asked Connie if they could borrow the kitchen table to use as the judges table and 2 chairs. All of the other children were told to sit at the children's table, while the adults all brought their chairs over.

Angel and Wesley told the children that Kathleen and Junior would run the trial. Nicky was given a chair in front of the children's table and in front of the Judges. When everyone was seated Kathleen hit the table with a mallet she found in the basement.

"Will the court come to order please?" Kathleen had asked Lou to act as the court reporter so she was busily typing into her Laptop computer in front of her as the trial began.

After everyone quieted down the trial began. "Charles Nicholas Martin will you please stand up while the charges against you are read?" Kathleen said as Nicky stood up. Junior read the charges against Nicky.

"Nicky you are charged with the crime of disobeying orders for you to play nicely with the other children. You willingly disobeyed those orders and threw a fit when you weren't winning the game you were all playing which ended in you throwing a toy jeep at Bobby which hit him in the head and caused him to bleed. Bobby then fell backwards and knocked David down. When David fell down he hit his head against the night stand which although it didn't cut him it did hurt him."

Carolyn Ling and Suzy Warren were sitting in the audience along with the other children. Even though it was Saturday Carolyn Ling had been given permission to spend the day with Kathleen along with Suzy Warren. Suzie's speech problem had improved tremendously since she had started coming to the Hotel for her schooling. Just as Kathleen had said would happen, Suzy's speech and language had quickly improved beyond the boys and she had joined Kathleen and Carolyn in playing. When you listened to them talking you could barely tell them apart.

"How do you plead to these charges Nicky?" Nicky ran over to Peter. "What am I supposed to say?" Peter whispered to him. "Did you do what he said?" "Yes." "Then you say, Guilty your Honor." Nicky ran back to his chair and looked at his sister. "Guilty your Honor." "Nicky please sit down while I discuss your punishment with my colleague and Momma and Daddy." Nicky did as he was told and Junior and Kathleen walked over to Angel and Cordelia.

"What do you think his punishment should be Daddy and Momma?" "What do you think it should be?" Angel asked Kathleen and Junior. "Junior and I think that he should be spanked 5 times by Connor since he is going to be his boss one day. Then for one week he won't be allowed to play with the other children. If he should do it again then he will be given over to you and Momma to decide his punishment." Cordelia and Angel talked about it through the link they shared then they talked to Wesley and Fred. They agreed that the punishment fit the crime.

"We agree with you on the punishment." Angel said. Kathleen and Junior returned to their chairs. Kathleen hit the table with the mallet twice. "Will the court come to order please? Nicky will you stand up please?" Nicky stood up as he was told.

"Nicky you have been fairly charged and you have stated that you are guilty as charged and your punishment has been decided. Charles Nicholas Martin you are sentenced to receive 5 strikes from our brother Connor. Also for 7 days you will not be allowed to play with the other children and you will eat at one end of the table and not be allowed to talk to anyone while the rest of us are enjoying are meal. If you should make the same mistake again Charles Nicholas Martin then you will be automatically turned over to Momma and Daddy for your punishment. The punishment of the spanking is to be carried out immediately." Kathleen hit the table twice again and said "Court is dismissed."

"Connor would you please carryout the punishment?" Connor came forward to Angel and whispered to him. "Why me? You're his Father." "Kathleen said it would be better if you did it because you were going to be his boss one day and he might as well start respecting you now." Connor took Nicky's hand and guided him over to Angel's office. "Does the court mind if the punishment is carried out in private?" Connor asked. "Only if either Mother or myself, stands as a witness." Kathleen said. "Why you or Cordelia?" Connor asked. "Because I know what a softy you really are and I don't think that you'll really carry out the punishment unless Momma or I watch you. We have to deal with Nicky all of the time and you don't so you don't know how serious this is." "Okay then you can come in with us." Kathleen followed them into the room and closed the door behind her. Everyone stood outside and listened.

"After a few minutes they heard the sounds of the punishment commencing and the inevitable crying afterward." Ten minutes later Nicky came running out crying and ran up to his room. A minute later Kathleen came out then Connor. Everyone had put the table and chairs back where they belonged. Connor left to go out to his van where he could have some privacy for a few minutes. He had to fight demons and kill vampires along with the regular criminal element on the streets of L.A. everyday but this was the first time that he made a little boy cry. He remembered when his father had made Kathleen cry for the first time and how he had come back down and cried in Cordelia's lap afterward because he had caused his little girl to cry for the first time. Connor didn't feel so bad after remembering what had happened to his father. He thought it must be because they had made them cry when they were so small and defenseless. Kathleen never needed to be spanked to get her to follow the rules but Connor realized that this probably wouldn't be the last time for Nicky. The boys in his family tended to be more stubborn.

During the following week Angel spent every minute that he possibly could with his son. He tried to make him understand why he couldn't always have his way and he had to consider the other people around him. Although this was supposed to be a punishment for Nicky it was a week that Angel wouldn't soon forget. He told Cordelia that he was actually having fun with his son. He took Nicky horseback riding on Santana and when he passed Aunt Bee he noticed that she was in heat again. The first time that they had put Santana with Aunt Bee did not result in a foal and they just figured that they had waited to long to put them together. When he got back from riding he noticed how Santana was sniffing the air and wanted to get close to Aunt Bee. On a hunch he left Nicky under the tree by the arena while he removed Santana's saddle and bridle and let him loose in the arena. He called to Vince, one of the stable workers, and asked him to bring Aunt Bee out and let her loose in the arena also. A bunch of people that were at the stables came over to watch the stallion.

"He's magnificent looking, what's his name." "Santana and he's an Andalusian." They watched as Santana started to sniff at Aunt Bee then he mounted her. "What are they doing Daddy?" "Santana and Aunt Bee are making a baby horse for Kathleen." "Can they make one for me to?" "I don't think that you'll be big enough to ride a horse by yourself for a long time yet. Maybe when your old enough we'll get you one so you can go horseback riding with the rest of us. Let's go home now it's getting late." Angel told Vince to put them back in their stalls when they were done.

When they got home he told Cordelia about putting Santana and Aunt Bee together and he was pretty sure that it took this time. "Nicky saw them mating?" "Yeah." "Did he ask you what they were doing?" "Yeah, I just said they were making a baby horse for Kathleen." "What did he think of that, did he have any more questions?" "No he watched them for awhile then he wanted down from the fence and said "Let's go Daddy I'm hungry." That was that. It's like Mom says sometimes they just ask a simple question and all they want is a simple answer." "Well I'm glad he asked you instead of me. You know it's been so long since we've done anything that you might have to tell me what people do when they make love." Cordelia said as she started to snuggle up to Angel.

"Isn't today the last day for Nicky's punishment?" "Yes Mam. I think I can convince the judge that we can release Nicky on an early release for good behavior." Cordelia smiled and kissed him gently. They were sitting on the couch in their room as they were talking. Angel pulled Cordelia up onto his lap. They just looked into each others eyes for awhile. "I love you Angel. I love you more than any woman has loved a man. I love you more than I love my own children and God help me Angel but I pray every day that He'll take both of us at the same time." She kissed him then and hugged him tightly. They spent the rest of the afternoon strengthening the bound that they shared. They didn't call it 'making love' because they had it already and it didn't have to be made. It was more of a reaffirmation of their love as they brought each other to that now familiar mountain top. Never was the saying, 'As two are made one', more true for a man and a woman then it was for Angel and Cordelia that afternoon.

Later that evening they joined everyone else at the dinner table. Cordelia was surprised to see Nicky sitting with the other children. After grace was said she asked Kathleen why Nicky was sitting with the other children. "I told him that I had talked to Junior, Daddy and Connor about it and we decided to let him off early because of good behavior." "Well I agree with you Nicky has been a very good boy lately and he deserves an early parole. Did Daddy tell you that he noticed Aunt Bee was in heat and he put Santana and her together in the arena and they mated?" "Really Daddy? Do you think she conceived this time?" Kathleen was so excited. "Yes but we won't know for sure until the Vet checks her. If she didn't though we'll have the Vet check out both of them to see why she isn't conceiving."

"Just to let you know Angel and Cordelia we've booked our flight for London on the first of next month with Delta Airlines. The same flight continues on to Dublin Ireland so if you want to go at the same time I'll give you a copy of our flight schedule." "Thanks Wesley. I'll call Mr. Jenkins tonight to make sure that the house is free. Let's see if we can get the same flight Cordy." "Okay, I don't think their will be a problem since we will be booking it so far ahead." Cordelia said.

"Are you excited about going Kathleen?" Lou asked her. "Yes I am. I've been talking to Willow because she's been there and she has been telling me all about what it's like over there. I'll get to learn the how and why of what I am able to do and they will also probably try to find out how powerful I am. I wish you could come Daddy. I would feel a lot more comfortable if you were there also." Kathleen said. "I have confidence in your Grandpa and Uncle Wesley to take care of you Kathleen. Besides you will have more people then you'll know what to do with. Just make sure that you don't fall in love with some young man and run away with him because you're still my little girl." "I won't Daddy because I'll have a hard time finding someone that can measure up to you." Angel felt himself being twisted around his little girl's finger a little tighter.

The next morning as usual Lilah Morgan came into her office and saw the daily reports on what went on at the Hyperion Hotel. Today though the report had what she had been waiting for. Two weeks later she started to rearrange her schedule so that she could take two weeks off the following month. She then made reservations for a first class ticket to London England to begin the 2nd week next month.

One month later the A.I. group was on there way to London. Richard was staying at the hotel to help Gunn run things while everyone was gone since he still wasn't back 100 percent Besides Richard Gunn had Lou, Tom and Peter to help. Connor was working full time for the L.A.P.D. so the amount of time he could give to the business was rather limited. Hunter helped when she could also but most of her time was spent with Mike and the baby.

It was going to be a long flight so Dr. Martin gave her grandsons and the Price boys a light sedative to make them sleep through most of the flight. This helped to make the flight a lot more relaxing for the parents and Kathleen who was in business class with the boys. The adults all around were impressed with how well Kathleen handled the boys. What they didn't know was that Kathleen had the same ability as her Daddy. All she had to do was look at them and they quickly quieted down when they saw her eyes turn red. They knew that Kathleen was like their Daddy and didn't threaten unless she intended to carry out her threat.

When they landed in London there was a few hours before Cordelia and Angel had to get back on the jet to complete their journey. They walked around the airport to stretch their legs and also have lunch together. When it was time to go Kathleen gave her mother and father a kiss and hug. When she hugged her brothers she made them promise to be good for their Mommy and Daddy. Angel told both Wesley and Giles "I am intrusting to you two, two of my most prized possessions, take good care of them." "We will Angel and well see you in three weeks." Angel and Cordelia left then to get back onto the plane with the boys. Kathleen held her grandma's hand as they went through customs and then to the front of the airport where the Watchers Council had sent a limousine to pick them up.

Angel and the rest of his family landed in Dublin one hour later. As he did before Angel rented a Toyota Sienna and they drove to his ancestral home where they spent the next three weeks. Angel and Cordelia let the boys play all day wherever they wanted to. The boys woke up with the chickens in the morning and were usually so tired by the time the chickens went to roost that they went to sleep also and were sometimes so tired that they fell asleep eating their supper and Angel and Cordelia would have to carry them upstairs to bed. When it rained they would get so dirty that Cordelia wouldn't allow them inside until their Daddy hosed them down. Angel was having almost as much fun as the boys and on one occasion Cordelia had to hose all of them down. They took them horseback riding and riding in their own carriage where they sat on the side. The only place that Angel wouldn't take them to was the Inn where he used to spend most of his nights when he was young and before he was turned. The nightmares that he suffered after visiting that area the last time they were there were enough to nix that idea. Besides the stuff he would want to tell them about would have to wait for another 15 years or so and would most likely have to be told by Connor.

While Angel was having fun with the rest of his family in Ireland his Mother and daughter were seeing the sights in London under more than adequate guard. Two weeks into their visit to London Kathleen was being kept busy at the school while her abilities were tested. Dr. Martin had chosen to stay in their suite of rooms at the school to catch up on her sleep. She loved spending time with Kathleen but her youthful energy had her grandmother worn out. To her surprise she received a call just as she was going to make herself a salad lunch. "Hello this is Dr. Martin." "Dr. Martin this is Lilah Morgan from Wolfram & Hart. Could I meet you someplace private? I promise that this is extremely personal and has nothing to do with business." Dr. Martin was silent for awhile while she thought about whether or not Lilah was sincere or not. "Okay Lilah we can meet at the local catholic church that's close to the school. You'll find Our Lady of Sorrows at the end of the street in front of the school. I'll see you there in 45 minutes." "Thank you Dr. Martin."

For safety Dr. Martin asked one of her guards to go with her to the church while she met and talked with someone. Giles had assigned 3 men to her but she felt it wouldn't look very good to have 3 men watching her in the church.

When Dr. Martin entered the church she took a seat at the back. The church was very big and very old looking and consequently almost cavernous in it's interior. The large stone structure was also cold and Dr. Martin was glad the guard told her to bring a coat. After saying a few prayers she sat down and waited for Lilah to come to her. She didn't have long to wait, Lilah came in and sat next to her. For the next hour they talked. Also for the next two weeks, at the same time and the same place, they met and talked for one to two hours each day. Dr. Martin told no one of there meetings. She asked the guard to tell no one, especially Rupert, about her meetings with the woman at the church.

"I'm sorry Dr. Martin but I have to tell him he is the head of the Watchers Council and consequently my employer." "Okay Ben I don't want to get you in trouble but I am only asking because it is about someone that is trying to change her life and to travel a different path. We have had to meet in secret because of the people that she works for. If they ever found out what she was doing the may kill her." The guard thought about what she said for a minute. He thought of the statuesque, beautiful woman that Dr. Martin met with everyday. He saw her crying more then once as they spoke quietly. Every day after the woman left Dr. Martin would go to the Sacred Heart statue and light a candle then kneel in prayer for the next 15 minutes.

"Okay Dr. Martin, I'll keep your secret for now but I will have to tell him before you leave to go back to the states." "Thank you Ben, thank you."

Angel, Cordelia and the boys joined the London group one week after Dr. Martin had started seeing Lilah. When Lilah's two week vacation was over and Dr. Martin returned from the church she joined the rest at the school. Angel was the first to see her. "Where do you go every afternoon Mom?" "Over to the church mostly." "I didn't think they had anything but the Church of England here." Angel had his arm around her shoulders as they walked over to the back of the house they were staying at. Cordelia, Fred and Wesley's mother were all in the back having tea while they kept an eye on the boys.

"Yes, it just so happens that there is a Roman Catholic Church at the end of the street in front of the school. You'll get to see it when we go to church on Sunday." Dr. Martin said as she put her arm around Angel's waist. Angel smelled a familiar scent on his mother but he decided not to say anything because she hadn't offered any information on the person she had seen recently.

Kathleen was busy at the school and the coven of witches and warlocks that worked for the school. She was constantly surprising them as to how powerful she was. Every trial that they put her through, she successfully completed without batting an eye. They even asked her to change into a wolf which she did without even removing her clothes although she did have to take her clothes and put them back on after she changed back.

A woman was in control of the coven that was testing Kathleen. Her name was Elizabeth Dunstan. Elizabeth was a powerful witch herself and yet Kathleen outdistanced her at every challenge. What amazed Elizabeth was that Kathleen did everything with such ease. She barely had to think about doing something and it was done as requested and perfectly each time. She didn't even have to use words to complete her assigned task.

Both Wesley and Giles were sitting in the audience that was observing Kathleen's testing. The coven of witches and warlocks along with Kathleen were on a stage in a theater where when the lights were on they couldn't see who was in the audience.

They had been testing her all morning and afternoon and Kathleen was getting tired and bored. She had asked several times if they could continue tomorrow because she was tired and hungry. Each time Elizabeth had wanted to give her more tests that they had thought of. When they asked her to take the life of a mouse in a cage she stood up. "Grandpa I want to stop now. I'm tired and hungry and I want to go and get something to eat." Giles stood up and said "I think that's enough for today Elizabeth we can continue tomorrow." "Okay Rupert but I would like her grandmother, father and mother to come tomorrow also." "Okay I think that can be arranged. Turn the lights on please. Come down Kathleen and we'll go home." She went running down the stairs and joined her Grandpa and Uncle Wesley as they walked back to the house they were staying in.

As they all sat down to supper Angel asked Kathleen how the testing was going. "At first I was excited to be working with them but then it quickly went down hill after the first day. They haven't requested anything that's hard for me. Aunt Willow and Aunt Tara gave me harder stuff to do then these guys have. To tell you the truth Daddy I'm getting bored." "Did they give you anything unusual to do or say control many things at the same time?" "They asked me to do something throughout the school that would show them how far I could reach out with my power." Kathleen giggled as she put her fork down and wiped her mouth. "I put the idea in all of the boy's minds that they should send me a flower. I told all of the boys that were in the 10th grade to send me a pink rose, all of the 11th grade boys to send me a white rose and all of the 12th graders to send me a white rose." The women all cheered "Way to go Kathleen you've got it made." Cordelia hugged her daughter and they all laughed. The evidence of her success was in a large vase on a table at the entrance to the house where everyone could see it.

When supper was over Kathleen went to her room to have some quiet time and listen to her music and read. She said she needed to have time away from all of the adults just as the adults needed time away from all of the kids once in awhile. As the adults sat outside having some tea and coffee Angel brought up the question for his mother as to who she was seeing at the church.

"Mom I have a very important question to ask you." Angel said as he was leaning forward and taking a sip of his coffee. Dr. Martin looked at him and waited for his question. "Mom, why were you meeting with Lilah Morgan this afternoon?" Wesley and Giles sat up straight with all of their attention on Dr. Martin. Giles face practically turned white.

"I can't tell you Angel. All I can say is that our meetings are over for now and they were extremely private and my meetings with her are not open for discussion." "How dare you put yourself in a position that exposed you to so much danger? What is wrong with? Haven't you seen this woman do enough to Angel and his family? What does it take to get you to understand what you are exposing yourself and the rest of the family to?" Dr. Martin could tell that this was driving Rupert's blood pressure up.

"Rupert, sit down and calm down before you pass out. Your blood pressure must be sky high. No more caffeine for you while we are here my dear. Kathleen, would you do Grandma a favor and go and get my medical bag? I think it's next to the nightstand on the right side of the bed." Kathleen ran to her Grandmothers bedroom and was back in less than a minute.

"Take your jacket off Rupert so I can take your blood pressure." Wesley helped Giles to remove his jacket. Dr. Martin quickly took Rupert's blood pressure while everyone else was quiet. As she finished she was tsk, tsk, tsking him all of the time. "Rupert your blood pressure is way to high, I'm going to take it again tomorrow morning and then in the afternoon and evening. If it is still high I am going to have to give you some medication for it. Now for your question, yes I do know what I am doing and I do understand the risk I am taking." Dr. Martin stood up and looked at Angel. "Don't forget that originally I went to California to save Angel. Just as I had faith that I would be okay with Angel and the rest I have faith that God will take care of me as I try to help Lilah. Have you already forgotten what happened when Lilah tried to give Kathleen a gift after she was born? I don't want to hear anymore about this now. And don't try sending Cordelia to try and drill me either." Angel started to say something when his mother turned around again and gave him 'THE LOOK'. "Angel Liam Martin you're too big for me to take over my knee but I have other ways to punish you for doing something that I told you not to do. Now the subject of Lilah is closed. I will not say anything about our meetings until she gives me permission to tell you."

Dr. Martin picked up her medical bag and returned to her bedroom. When she came out again she had a wrap around her shoulders. "Kathleen and Cordelia I want to take a walk would you like to go with me?" "Well be right back." Cordelia said as she went running upstairs to her room. Kathleen and her mother came down at the same time with their own wraps as they joined Dr. Martin for an evening walk around the school grounds.

During the rest of their stay in England no one ever brought up the subject of Lilah again. After five weeks in England everyone returned to L.A. Gunn greeted them at the front door on crutches. Wesley and Angel congratulated him. "When did you graduate to crutches?" Wesley asked. "About two weeks ago I was playing with some of the boys in my group and they knocked me down and off of my chair but then I grabbed onto a chain that was hanging from the ceiling and pulled myself up and was able to stand with the help of the chains."

"Angel I received a call from your vet. He checked Aunt Bee out and he confirmed that she is pregnant." Gunn told him. Kathleen had been playing with Vicky when she heard the news about Aunt Bee's confirmed pregnancy she was so happy she ran upstairs and called her girlfriends Carolyn and Suzy. She was on the phone so long that Angel finally had to tell her to hang up and come to supper. During supper she was talking a mile a minute as she told Junior and the rest all that she had been doing while in England.

Angel looked at Cordelia and asked "I think we have the wrong child with us Cordelia. This child we have here looks and sounds like our daughter but she doesn't act like our daughter. Maybe someone put a talking spell on her." "Oh Daddy it's me I just have a lot to say. I missed Junior and Connor and everyone else and this was the first time that I was ever away from home so now I have a lot to tell them."

"Don't pick on her Angel she's just growing up. It won't be long before she is a teenager then we'll have to give her, her own phone line." Cordelia told Angel.

"I remember when I was living in Sunnydale and we were looking for Buffy, Giles made a remark about her being in a location where she didn't have access to a phone. Xander told him 'Giles that is a physical impossibility for a teenage girl to be without access to a phone'.

"Daddy can I have a Cell phone so I can talk to my friends?" "No, not until you're older." "Can I get my ears pierced?" "Yes." "But Daddy Carolyn said that all the girls my age already have their ears pierced." It took a moment for her Daddy's yes to register. Angel saw the look on his daughters face as it finally hit her. "You're the best Daddy in the entire world. Momma can we go and get it done tomorrow?" Kathleen asked as she let go of her Daddy after hugging him in thanks. "I think we can do that. You want to go with us Lou?" Lou looked at Connor. "Do you mind if I get my ears pierced also Connor?" "Wouldn't that be dangerous to have where someone could grab onto your ears and pull them off when your fighting?" "Buffy wears them and she said that she has never had a problem." "Well, alright but get something small like two tiny diamond ear rings." Lou gave her husband a kiss in thanks.

"Did they teach you how to do anything over there?" Junior asked as he ate the rest of his Jell-O.

"They didn't really teach me how to do anything but they taught me how I could use my mind to do more difficult things. For instance the phone I created actually worked where as before it would just be an empty casing that looked like a cell phone so they taught me how to create things without having to know the internal makeup of the phone." Everyone was looking at each other after Kathleen said this.

"Can you make something like a chocolate bar or a strawberry?" Fred asked hopefully.

Kathleen held up her hand and a bar of Hershey chocolate appeared. She handed it over to Fred. She unwrapped the bar and took a bite. "It doesn't have any flavor." Fred said as she ran it around her mouth and licked her lips in an effort to find some flavoring in the chocolate.

"That's because I can't duplicate perfectly anything created by God. I can create something that will look exactly like something He created but I can't duplicate a flavor or smell, only God can create these things." The women all looked at each other and said at the same time "RATS". They all started laughing. For a while they thought they had a Gold mine in Kathleen.

Just as everyone started to leave the table Cordelia had a vision. Ten minutes later Angel, Connor, Lou and Tom took off to save two women that were going to be attacked by a group of Vampires. They didn't return until 11 o'clock at night. Angel went directly to the bathroom to take a shower then crawled into bed. These encounters were taking a heavier toll on Angel. Each time he went out on a mission he seemed to be more tired when he came home. He new it was only a matter of time before he would have to ask Connor to take over.

Three years later that time came.

While on a trip to the mall Angel, Cordelia and Kathleen were abducted by a new group of Vampires that were trying to establish themselves as a new gang in L.A.

Any and all fights with any gangs that opposed them ended with a feast for the Vampires. Angel Investigations was a thorn in there sides and they wanted to remove that thorn. Several times Angel and his crew had broken up assaults on humans. Even though this was just a minor annoyance for the gang it was an annoyance that they wanted to end. Their chance to remove him came when Duke, the head of the gang, was approached by a well dressed man that came to the gang's headquarters. The well dressed man didn't give his name or a business card stating who he worked for all he did is offer his assistance in removing Angel.

"All you and your people have to do is kidnap Angel then we will take him off of your hands and you won't be bothered by them again." The well dressed man said. "Deal." Duke held out his hand to seal the deal with a handshake.

Two days later Duke sent 8 of his vampires to watch for Angel and Cordelia to leave the Hotel. The men assigned to monitoring the Hyperion heard Angel and Cordelia planning an outing to the local mall to pick up some new clothes for the boys. The boys were going to stay home since all Cordelia was doing was buying 1 size larger for them. Kathleen was going with them in order to buy some new clothes. She had finally been given permission to attend regular school since she could take care of herself now. Even though she was only 12 years old the school system had placed her in the 9th grade so she was going to be attending the local high school as a freshman. Her parents and Wesley had warned her that if there was any trouble she would be put in a private school. Cordelia had a long talk with her daughter about how the other kids were probably going to treat her since she was going to be so much younger then the rest. Kathleen was determined though to make a go of it.

Duke had linked into the listening devices that the Wolfram & Hart people were using. As soon as he was told about the shopping trip Duke sent his people to grab Angel, his wife, and daughter. They had used a drug to subdue all of them so they handed them over to the well dressed man without a problem.

Duke was acting like the Cock of the Walk now. He fluffed his feathers in front of the well dressed man. The man just looked at him with a slight grin then turned and left with his packages.

Duke made a fatal mistake now, a mistake that would have more than Angel Investigation going after him. Duke tried to kill all of the people at the Hyperion. He was successful in killing one. Dr. Mary Martin, otherwise know as Mom to Angel, was killed while she was getting ready for bed and was sitting at the couch watching TV while Giles was in the shower. The Vampire had come into the room through the hallway door and quietly drained her dry. Giles came out in his bathrobe just as the Vampire had finished his meal. He grabbed a sword that he kept in back of the door and quickly cut the Vampires head off while he was still in a stupor from drinking his fill.

As soon as he dispatched the Vampire he went to his wife. He knew before touching her that she was dead. He pulled a pair of pants on then went to the balcony and yelled for everyone. Wesley heard Giles yelling but he was busy with his own Vampire. Connor came running in to help him and between them they took care of him. They went running out of the room to check on the others. Lou and Tom had taken care of two more vampires that had gone after the children. Vicky had one down on the floor until Connor called her off and he quickly cut his head off. Connie and Joaquin were just coming home after going to the movies when they heard all of the commotion upstairs. They went running upstairs to check on there son first and almost ran into Gun and Cylindia as they were going up to the 5th floor. After checking on their son they then checked the other children and Grandma Sanchez. All were okay so they joined everyone else upstairs on the fifth floor.

Connor and Vicky heard Toby growling and the sound of a boy's voice that was cracking every so often. They made their way over into Peter's room where Junior was holding onto a Vampire while Toby drove a stake into it's heart. Even though he was only a year older than Kathleen he had experienced a growth spurt and now stood almost a foot taller than his father.

When they were sure that there were no more Vampires downstairs they went running up to the 5th floor and into Giles and Dr. Martin's bedroom. Connor fell to his knees and started crying when he saw Giles holding onto his wife. Everyone came around the couch and watched Giles as he held his wife's lifeless body in his arms as he rocked her back and forth. Lou went to Connor and held his head against her chest as he cried. In his grief he called out to his Grandmother. There was not one person in that room that hadn't gone to room 412 with Dr. Martin. Even the smallest child knew what the room was for.

To the adults the room was a sanctuary for their minds. The room was where Dr. Martin performed her own kind of magic and helped them to understand why the children were acting as they did. She helped the women to understand their men and the men to understand their women. It was the room where she taught them about God and his Son and the love they had for all of Gods children. For the children it was were Grandma handed out cookies and milk and had a race with them to see how many licks it took to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop. During these cookie and milk treats and contests she explained why their Mommies and Daddies punished them for doing something and that they did it because they loved them. When Grandma explained things they always understood. The boys were especially pleased when she made a rule that no one could come into the room when she put a sign on the door that said "LITTLE BOYS ONLY and GRANDMA, All others keep out."

After 30 minutes of just sitting and rocking his wife Giles got up and carried her body over to the bed and laid her down. He picked up the phone then and called Buffy and Spike. "Hello Buffy." "Daddy, what's wrong? You sound so sad." "Buffy Mary was killed tonight. We had a group of Vampires attack us. It seems that Mary was the only one that they were successful in killing. We don't know where Angel, Cordelia and Kathleen are. I know that if he were able to Angel would have been here already." "We'll be there as soon as we can Daddy." Buffy hung up. Giles laid the phone down in it's cradle. When he turned around he saw that Wesley had left the room while the others were saying their goodbyes to Mary. He saw Connor still on his knees and crying. Giles went to him and kneeled also. Connor lifted his head and threw his arms around his Grandfather and hugged him for a long time.

In the mean time Wesley had gone downstairs and was calling the Morgan's, Mike and Hunter. When he was done calling everyone he went back up stairs and pulled Connor out of Giles arms. Wesley grabbed both of his arms and shook him. "Connor, get a hold of yourself. I need you to concentrate." Connor wiped his eyes and blew his nose. He looked straight into Wesley's eyes. "Connor I want you to concentrate on finding Kathleen. Something has happened to your father, Cordelia and your sister."

Connor closed his eyes and concentrated. He called out to Kathleen and waited for her answering call.

Angel was being held in a room by himself while Cordelia and Kathleen were in another room next to him.

Kathleen heard Connor's call to her and she answered. "I think we're in Wolfram & Hart again Connor. Momma is with me and they have Daddy next door in another room." "Talk to Angel Kathleen, see if you can find out if they have done anything to him." Kathleen was quiet for a few minutes. Connor was beginning to think he had lost her.

"Connor, Daddy told me to tell you not to do anything. He said the man who knows why we were kidnapped is coming to him now. As soon as he gets his answers were leaving and we'll come home as soon as we get out." "Okay, we'll wait."

Angel was hanging from the ceiling with chains around his wrists, legs, and neck. He called out to Kathleen. "Yes Daddy." "Kathleen I am being held by chains around my neck, ankles, and wrists. Can you break them without making them fall off? I want them to think I am still chained." He heard each chain break but not separate.

As Angel hung from the ceiling he smelled the perfume of the shampoo that his mother used then he felt the gentle touch of her hand on his face. He closed his eyes and opened his mind to her.

"Angel I have left this world and I am on my way to join Christ in Paradise. Don't try to destroy Wolfram & Hart over my death Angel their time has not come yet. Don't let Kathleen do anything yet either she is not ready yet to handle the psychological ramifications. Your mother came to get me. She is very nice and looks very much like you remember her. I have to go now Angel. I'll be with you as much as I can. Take care of Giles for me." She was gone now. He could no longer smell that particular scent that was hers alone. Angel closed his eyes. He didn't let himself grieve for the loss of his adopted mother yet. He had more important things to attend to. He heard footsteps approaching his prison cell. "Wake up Angelus we're about to have some fun and I am going to need all that you can give me." He felt his arms and legs become more warm in preparation for what was to come.

The well dressed man came down the hall followed by 10 guards armed with swords and wooden spikes. He stood before the door and after taking a deep breath he signaled to the guard to open the door. He stepped into the 400 square foot cell and his guards made a circle around the room and Angel. Even chained, the guards were afraid of him.

"I am Victor Delgado and I am the person responsible for your capture." "What happened to Lilah? She's usually the one who presides over these entertaining little sessions." Angel asked.

Delgado gave a nasty little grin with his reply. "Lilah has left the business and has chosen to practice law in another location. I am, shall we say, your new account manager. I have been given new orders concerning you Angel." "Let me guess, manager in charge of boring me to death." "Oh it concerns your death all right but not of boring you to death. I have come up with some new, more productive ways to cause your death." Delgado came closer to Angel until he was inches away from his face and this is exactly the opportunity that Angel was looking for. "My orders Angel are to end your existence in this world as soon as possible. The Senior Partners are fed up with you. You have been a thorn in their side long enough and they want you to be removed." "What about the Vamps that kidnapped my wife and daughter along with me? Are they working for you?" "No of course not they were just some new Vampires that wanted the same thing we did. I made them think that we were working for them." "Thanks, that's all I needed to know."

In the next second Angel called out to Kathleen to come to him and bring her mother. He pulled his hands, legs, and neck free from the chains then reached for Delgado. He quickly and efficiently broke his neck and smiled when he heard the satisfying snap of his neck. He could hear Kathleen taking care of the guards at her door and then at his. The guards circling the room where Angel was opened fire on him. They had a hard time aiming at him since he was going around the room killing the guards and using their bodies to shield himself. He was halfway around the room when the rest of the guards started brushing at there legs and jumping up and down as though they were trying to brush off ants that were crawling all over their legs.

Angel laughed as he watched them dancing all around. He dropped the last man, whose neck he broke, and made a dash for the door just as Cordelia opened it. Kathleen ran in front of them and guided them out of the building through the front doors. Everyone that tried to stop them ended up performing the same dance as the other guards as they attempted to free themselves of the imaginary ants. Angel held on tightly to Cordelia's hand as he walked to the front and waved down a taxi. Kathleen came running to them as they got into the taxi and both Cordelia and Angel called for her. He gave instructions to the taxi driver and joined in with Kathleen and her mother as they laughed at what she had done.

"I never would have thought of something so simple to help us get out. You're Daddy and Mommy's hero." They both hugged her. "Are you okay Daddy? They didn't hurt you did they?" "Just a little but we'll talk about that when we get home. Can you tell Connor that we have escaped and we'll be home in just a few minutes?" "I already did Daddy. He is very sad Daddy." "I know sweetheart. He's sad because Grandma died last night." "I know Daddy, Grandma came to visit me before she went to heaven. Then when we were running out of the building she showed me the way out. She told me that she would be there for me whenever I needed her." Angel hugged his daughter and wife as they took a moment to cry for their Grandma.

The taxi arrived at the front of the hotel and they got out after Angel paid the taxi driver. The first ones to greet them were Nicky and Mike. They quickly told them what happened to their Grandma. Wesley and Fred came down and greeted them then they went up to see Giles. He hadn't left his wife's side since she was killed.

As Angel entered the room Giles stood up. Angel and Giles hugged each other for a long time. Giles eyes were red and swollen from crying. When they finally separated Angel went to Connor and held him for a long time also. Kathleen had gone to the bed and crawled up beside her grandmother and lay down. She put her arm around her and put her head down on her chest for awhile.

"I'll miss these times Grandma. I'll miss going shopping with you. I'll miss doing all the things with you that Momma won't let me do. I know that I'll get to see and talk with you all of the time but we won't be able to hug each other anymore so here is my last kiss Grandma and my last hug until I join you in heaven." Kathleen gave her grandmother a kiss and a big hug then she got off of the bed and went to her mother then her Daddy. Angel cried as he held his daughter. "Don't cry too much Daddy. Grandma's cancer had come back and she didn't want to go through the chemotherapy and radiation treatments again. God took her before she became to sick again." Giles stared at his Granddaughter. "How did you know her cancer had come back Kathleen?" "I could see it in her aura Grandpa. Five weeks ago it started to change and I recognized it from when she was sick before. Be happy for her Grandpa and Daddy that Jesus took her before she could suffer from it again." Kathleen left then and went to the chapel. Everyone else left also so that Angel and Giles could be alone with their wife and mother.

Hunter and Mike had arrived some time ago and they had filled out the death certificate for Mary. They notified the funeral home that would take care of Mary's body and cremate it as soon as legally possible. One hour later the Sunnydale side of the family joined them along with the Morgan's and Richard. Finally, the last one to join them was Father Barris. He had been out of town when he was called and informed of Mary's death. Cordelia immediately went to him and they hugged. She took him up to Mary and Giles bedroom. Both Giles and Angel stood up. Father Barris shook Giles hand and hugged Angel. Everyone that could fit into the room joined them while Father Barris gave Mary the last rites. They joined in together then and prayed the Chaplet of Divine Mercy then the Rosary. By the time they were done the funeral home had arrived to take her body.

At the funeral mass the church was filled to capacity. All of the people, whose lives had been touched by Mary, were in the church. Angel had notified Mother Superior and Bishop Jack O'Connel. They had arrived the day before along with John Williams and two other Sisters. Bishop O'Connel performed the mass while Father Barris did the homily and spoke about Mary.

Mary had touched so many lives during her life that not everyone could come up to speak about her or else they would all be in the church for too long. So many flowers had been sent that they literally draped the large table that held Dr. Martin's ashes. They usually used just a small table to hold a picture of the deceased along with the ashes but so many flowers were sent that they had to use a larger table to hold the small bouquet's of flowers that the children had sent.

Until the funeral Mass neither Angel nor Giles really realized how many lives Dr. Martin had touched.

When it came time for people to speak about Mary Father Barris looked at both Angel and Giles. Neither one could bring themselves to go up and speak of the woman that had such a tremendous impact on their lives. Cordelia took it upon herself to speak for all of them. She started out with telling them about the first night that they spent with her. "The first night Dr. Martin was at the Hotel she made me so mad that I slapped her so hard that I knocked her down along with Gunn and Fred as she landed on them. Later that night she had me apologizing to her after she explained what she was doing with Angel." By the time she stepped down and rejoined Angel everyone was smiling. Cordelia had not only remembered the hard times with Dr. Martin but she also reminded them of the fun times they had with her.

Since Mary was going to be buried in the Martin family cemetery in Ireland Giles carried his wife's ashes with him and placed them on the alter in the chapel until they took her to her final resting place. He spent the rest of the night in the chapel. When he couldn't keep his eyes open any longer he stretched out in the pew and used his jacket as a pillow. Cordelia came in to check on him and found him sleeping. She left to get a blanket and pillow for him and covered him as softly as she could then turn the lights off. The only light in the chapel now was the candle on the altar that sat next to Mary's ashes.

As the lights were turned off and Cordelia left a soft light appeared by Giles. If you looked carefully you could see a woman's hand removing Giles glasses and putting them on the seat next to his head. The woman put her hand on his head and gave him a gentle kiss and you could see a smile spread across Giles face. It was the first of many visits that she would pay her husband until he joined her in Paradise.

TBC……………………………………………………………………….

I am sorry that it has taken me so long to get out this last chapter. My father passed away on Dec. 19th. The last few weeks have been busy with all that takes place when a person dies. The 3 weeks before his death were also busy since we took care of him at home along with Hospice. As you can guess it has been emotionally as well as physically draining and I had nothing left for my story. I am back in the saddle again though and I am feeling the creative juices flowing again.

The next chapter will be the last one and my story will be put to rest. Thank you for all of your reviews I found them to be the light in the dark tunnel I have been traveling these last few weeks.