Meanwhile, in LA:
It was the end of the second day at the new investigation site. Tina had spent the last three nights in Angel's apartment, but she knew she couldn't stay there forever (even if she did make him take the bed). For one thing, Dawn and Buffy might be visiting regularly. For another, they kept very different sleeping hours – Angel might have human friends, but he still didn't get up until mid afternoon. Having said that, if she slept on the sofa, she might be able to be quiet enough … no. She forgot about vampire's hearing.
He and Buffy had gone back to wherever it was that she lived – it was only an hour's drive away at the most – for Buffy's start of school. He would probably be back in three or four days, quicker if there was an emergency. She stopped thinking as her mind registered someone calling her name.
"Tina! Tina!"
"Hmm?"
"I've been trying to get your attention for ages. Where were you, fifty million miles away or something."
"Or something. What were you saying, Cordy? Sorry."
"You know I said you could stay with me? Well … I sorta have a problem in that area. You see, I don't have much money at the moment – just waiting for my inevitable stardom of course – so my place is a bit … well, its not the nicest place to be living. I do have a sofa you can sleep on, and we'll have to re-organise some stuff, but you should be able to go home in a few weeks anyway, so I'm sure we can sort something out."
"That's fine, Cordelia. Like you said, I'll only be here for three months max, so whatever."
"Three months is a long time, lass."
"Doyle! When did you get here?"
"Long enough ago, Princess."
"Well, make more noise when you walk into a room."
"Sorry, love."
"I'm not your love."
Tina just watched them banter back and forward. They sounded like a mix between her grandparents and younger sisters; she couldn't decide if they were just bickering, or if it was just severe tension of another kind. Then Cordy turned to go out of the office, and just before she followed, Tina saw the look on Doyle's face. It was definitely not sibling love – this was an old married couple arguing over who used the last of the kitchen roll.
She had to get them together before Angel got back!
Does anyone want to be my bouncing ideas off person? Plot lines would be occasionally ruined, but I'm sure you all know what the rough idea is anyway! In fact, why are you even bothering to read? It's just a re-write … and a bad one at that.