Xander's POV

It wasn't funny.

Okay, well, it shouldn't be funny. I had a hard time not laughing though. Despite the seriousness of the entire situation and the raw pain in Willow's eyes before she'd teleported away, seeing Angel all bloody and bruised from a fight with the tiny Willow Rosenberg was kind of hilarious.

She'd beat him black and blue. He was clutching his ribs and hunched over slightly, not to mention the bruises forming all over his face and neck, including an especially viscious one on his temple. His clothes were rumpled and ripped in places, and he had a bit of blood running down from his hairline and streaming into his eye. He kept wiping it away, but it just kept coming.

"Uh..." this was from Gunn, who seemed slightly amused too, but also worried. "Did Button just beat your ass, dawg?"

Angel exhaled a loud breath and nodded, causing Spike to let out a bark of laughter. "You refused to hit her back, you bloody poof!" Spike accused.

"Sorry I don't hit women." Deadboy snapped back.

"Unless they're demonic." the green demon put in.

"Or Buffy." Cordelia chimed in.

"That was Angelus." Spike ground out, his eyes narrowed and his voice scathing.

"And didn't you even try to defend yourself?" I asked, getting back to the discussion of the fight that had just taken place. "I mean, you didn't fight her...good. But I saw her nose bleeding a little. You-"

"I hit her once." he interrupted. "Then I was just trying to hold her off."

"How is she so bloody strong anyway?" Fangless wanted to know.

"Momma bear asked the moon and sun for strength." Drusilla sing-songed. "The stars don't sing to her...but they all help like her." I directed an exasperated look to Angel and he nodded in understanding.

"She probably means magic."

Danny's POV

I was surprised. That was the main emotion. I mean sure, I was scared and excited, but mostly surprised. Ma always seemed so scared and adamant about never moving back to America. But after that vampiress took Micah and Jesse, leading to everyone of Ma's friends finding out about them, she wasn't so sure.

So, the family meeting was held.

"You want to go back there?" I asked, just to be sure.

She shrugged. "I love Ireland." she exclaimed, sincerely. "I love the country air and the rolling hills. But I miss the warmth in Sunnydale. I miss Xander and Dawn and Giles. Hell, I even miss Cordelia." She threw her hands up suddenly, as if I was bombarding her with questions. "Don't get me wrong! We're NOT moving to Sunnydale. That would be too dangerous. But there's danger everywhere." She sighed loudly, putting her head in her hands. "I don't know, Danny. I mean...it's really up to you. Do you want to finish senior year in America? Do you want to go to America?"

I thought about this for a minute, trying to think. Since I'd lived with Ma, for the last two years, I'd been homeschooled. I'd been kicked out of my home and too dangerous to go to school until she'd brought me into her coven and her home to help me control my magic. I wouldn't be leaving any friends and I'd always wanted to go to America.

I also wanted to meet all these people my Ma mentioned. Letting out a deep breath, I shrugged too. "I just wish I knew more about it before decidin'. What if I 'ate it there? What if I 'ate the people?"

"You won't!" Jesse replied vehemently, almost jumping onto his chair in excitement. "Uncle Xander's real funny! And our Da and brotha are real nice!"

That just made my indecisiveness worse. These people weren't really my family. Not my da or my uncle. A hand closing over mine on the table stopped my turmoil and I glanced up to my Ma. Her eyes told me she knew exactly what I was thinking. "Angel may not be your father and Connor may not be your brother, but Jesse and Micah are. And I am your mother. Not even you could change that now. Xander will feel the same way. And Giles. Buffy...hell, she doesn't even like me anymore, but...you know what? I'll let you see for yourself."

Xander's POV

The wierd blue-girl was the one that answered the door. She was wearing a skin tight leather bodysuit and looking at me with this bland face that said she didn't care what I wanted or who I was. Answering the door was just something you did.

She turned away after a brief moment of contemplation, and then turned her back to go back inside of the mansion, leaving the door open for me. I frowned, but followed behind dutifully.

"Harris." Deadboy's exasperated voice had me bristling in indignation. Here I was, doing a favor, and he treated me like the scum under his shoe. I paused a moment to study his face, wishing once more that the bruises and cuts hadn't healed. As it was, just the rememberance brought a smile to my face. "What?" he demanded at my silence.

I shook my head, pushing my amusement away to deliver my message. "Where's Deadboy Jr? Or...wait...what would I even call Connor? Son of Deadboy?"

"Just Connor." the boy in question snapped, entering the large livingroom area with a sneer. Jeez, unpleasantness just breeds in this family.

"Don't know how Micah and Jesse are so sweet." I muttered.

"Excuse me?"

I quickly dismissed Deadboy's question with a wave of my hand and looked right to his son. Maybe I should actually give this kid a chance. He seemed to have a little hostility to dear ole dad himself. "You." I pointed. "Can we talk?"

"Huh?" he asked. At the same exact time, Angel cut in with a firm, "No."

"Fine." I sighed. "I'll just deliver my message and be done with it. Willow wanted me to tell you that...if you want...you can come over today."

"Today?" Connor asked.

"How?" Deadboy wanted to know.

"Can I finish?" I snapped out. At the silence, I continued. "She's coming over to get me and Anya in an hour. Since she hasn't really met Anya besides the Fluke thing...Anyway, she told me that I should invite you. She's popping over soon, so if you've ever wanted to visit Ireland, then now's the time."

Connor looked stunned for a moment, before turning to his dad for permission. Deadboy, of course, looked pissed. I let that fester for a moment before..."She said you could come too, Deadboy. I guess she feels bad about that beating yesterday and she changed her mind about the whole 'staying in Ireland' thing. She said Micah and Jesse wanna move here, but she's going with whatever Danny decides. She wants him to meet everyone first."

"So...now I have to impress some kid to get her to come?"

I sighed loudly, coming to the end of my rope with Angel. "Look, just because Danny isn't yours doesn't mean he isn't hers. So if you want on Wills' good side, I'd suck it up and treat her son with the same respect she's shown yours." With that, I turned back toward the door. "And if you're not there when she comes, I'm assuming you aren't coming. There will be no waiting."

I had almost made it out the door before Connor yelled after. "I'll be there!"