Disclaimer: I do not own or profit from Buffy the Vampire Slayer, the imaginative Joss Whedon does.

The Truth About Angels

Previously on Buffy and the new Blood.

Jessica glances at all of them suspiciously, as she took in all of their guilt ridden looks. "Or is there something else entirely going on here?"

Buffy steps closer to a bewildered Jessica and glares at her. "Like your father dating my mother."

Giles nearly spits out his tea, and Xander, Willow and Jessica look shell shocked as they all scream. "WHAT?"

Buffy stands challengingly in Jessica confused face. "What right does your dad have dating my mother? My mother is off limits."

Jessica began to sputter not knowing whether to be angry with her father for not telling her this bit of news or defend him before Buffy. "I'm sure it was just a onetime thing Buffy, I'm sure my dad has no real interest in your mother," Jessica said in defiance but quickly shrank back at Buffy's indignant glare.

"And why wouldn't your father be interested in my mother she happens to be quite the catch. Besides they have gone out four times, so he seems quite interested in her," Buffy crossed her arms.

Giles laughs to himself as Jessica effectively but unknowingly played the reverse psychology card on Buffy. However, his smile quickly fades, as he has to catch Jessica as she faints in his arms, obviously not prepared for what Buffy tells her concerning her father's dating activities.

As he holds her, Principle Flutie walks in looking for the one in his arms. He looks at the scene before him and frowns at the bunch. "Mr. Giles I don't believe I approve of the way you fraternize with the students," He says as he gives Giles a pointed look.

Giles quickly tries to explain the situation. "Well, Miss Cine has had another one of her fainting spells and I was just trying to save her from any more brain damage than she already seems to have," he explains as he gently puts Jessica in a chair and takes his glasses off and cleans them furiously.

The Principal grunts as he walks up to Jessica and taps her on the shoulder. "I'm watching," Jessica says in an unconscious stupor.

Giles raises an eyebrow wondering just what Jessica is watching. Was this was a clue to him about the little riddle all of them had heard, or was this just a coincidence. Giles decides to pay a lot more attention to Miss Jessica Cine.

Principal Flutie taps Jessica on the shoulder again and she jumps up startling everyone. She looks around sheepishly and grimaces. "Oh boy, did I pass out again," She notices Flutie out of the corner of her eye.

"Hey PF, How's my favorite Principal," She smiles as he goes into a full-fledged blush.

"Miss Cine, I would like to see you in my office immediately," Jessica smile quickly fades as the Principal turns and marches out of the library expecting her to follow him.

She looks at her friends and frowns thinking she may be in trouble. "Did I do something wrong?"

~%~

Jessica hesitates as she enters the Principal's office. She was a nervous wreck trying to figure out what she had done wrong to warrant a call to the principal's office. However, all her fears ease somewhat as she spots the grin upon his face.

"Come in, Come in Jessica. I have some very important and exciting news for you," Flutie was nearly jumping up and down from excitement.

"What is it Mr. Flutie?" Jessica smiles at her over enthusiastic Principal.

"As you know Miss Cine, my endeavor to have a live pig as a mascot totally backfired, but I haven't given up hope on finding a mascot that will not only boost school spirit but also put a fire under our great football team," Flutie beams at her.

Jessica slowly starts to get nervous once again, wondering just what her principal has in mind. "School spirit is a good thing to build up Mr. Flutie, but what has that to do with me?"

"I'm glad you ask Miss Cine, I hear and see good things about you. I am aware of how you are able to rally the football team to do a task. And I hear rumors of how you are quite the dancer," For some reason his smile was a little bit scary at that point.

Flutie suddenly bent down under his desk and came up with the plush fake head of a razorback. He grins from ear to ear and Jessica looks as if she will be sick as she can now see where this is going.

"Jessica Trish Cine, you are our new mascot. You will be working closely with the Sunnydale high cheerleaders and one Miss Cordelia Chase," Flutie starts clapping for joy.

"Oh joy, that sounds exciting Mr. Flutie but…" Jessica stops mid sentence as she notices the dejected look upon Flutie's face and she relents, she can never say no to a pouty man. "Okay I'll do it, but don't tell anyone it's me."

"You have a deal, and I look forward to seeing you at work it will be entertaining," Flutie said.

Jessica smiles weakly as she heads for the door. "I shall endeavor to please," she starts to live and bumps into one of the weaseliest looking men ever.

"Watch where you're going girl, I swear kids these days just have no respect," Jessica stood there with her mouth agape as the little weasel pushed past her and into the Principal's office.

"Oh Miss Cine, before you go I would like you to meet our new assistant Principal Snyder. I feel it necessary that I get a little help in keeping things under control every since those delinquents attacked me, so the school board hired an assistant for me," said Flutie.

Jessica came over to shake Snyders hand and he looks at her offered hand in disgust. "Don't you have a class to be in Miss Cine?"

"Uhm, Yes I do. I guess I should get to it huh?" she smiles and then takes it back as Snyder rolls his eyes at her.

Jessica heads to her classes a little distraught that the school would hire such a smelly weasel, did he even like kids? Then she nearly laughs aloud as she has this strange notion that the new assistant Principal favors Quark from Deep Space Nine, Quark being much cuter and much nicer though. She snorts and settles in her seat and prepares for her teacher to start.

~%~

Jessica walks home with Willow and Xander, but her mind is on other things. Why didn't she know that her father was dating? She has yet to meet Buffy's mom, and Jessica determines to remedy that soon. When she came out of her thoughts, she heard Willow and Xander are arguing about Buffy letting Angel spend the night in her bedroom.

"Wait, Angel was in Buffy's room?" she smiles as several thoughts ran through her mind. "Way to go Buffy, I'd never be brave enough to sneak a boy into my room."

"When you gain the courage to do so, please let me be the first to know," Xander said mischievously as both girls roll their eyes at him.

"Well it was a matter of life and death, some bad men chased them home and Buffy did not want Angel to go knowing that they might still be out there," Willow said as she spun an explanation that will not have Jessica running for the hills, or so she thought.

"Wow I'm beginning to think that maybe Sunnydale is not a good place for me and my dad to settle in," Jessica said.

Xander gives her his most brilliant joker like smile. "Well Jessica, my dear girl, if you hadn't you would never have met the greatest friend of your life now would you?"

Jessica rolls her eyes at the two of them and then smiles knowing they are right. She has started to care deeply for the lot of them, Buffy and Giles included. Even though they are the strangest people ever and they keep many secrets. This group has her heart to the very core.

She put her arms around Willow and Xander and the beginnings of an evil grin formed on her lips. "You two are my best friend you know that right?"

"Yeah," Willow and Xander said with a hint of nervousness at the mischief in her voice.

"Well my best friends I want to plan a family dinner between the Summers and the Cine's later on this week, you game," Jessica asked as she clasps her hands together and rubs them back and forth.

Willow worries how that particular situation will play out considering Buffy's known temper. However, Xander's smile reaches platinum proportions as he considers the chaos that will ensue and that it just might get a certain slayers mind of a certain Angel.

"Where do we sign up?" Xander said as Willow's frown deepens.

~%~

The next night Jessica watches her dad work in his den, wondering how to approach him and if she should tell him, she knows about his extracurricular activities. She crosses her arms, stumps over to him, and stares him down.

Joseph Cine never glances up from his work, as he knew his daughter has been standing there for several minutes glaring at him. "Why are you feet having a temper tantrum Jessica?"

"Is there anything you would like to discuss with me dad," She asked him as if she were his mother.

Mr. Cine scratches his head and is bewildered at his daughter's attitude at the moment. "No, is there a reason why you're taking that tone with me young lady."

Jessica calms down considerably so she didn't get into trouble, but she would not back down. "Uhm, sorry, I just want to know if have something important to tell me?"

"Not at the moment Jess," He looks into his daughter's hurt eyes. "What is this about Jessica?"

Jessica starts to get very angry. "Nothing, just forget about it," she stumps out of the den.

Joseph Cine was at a loss as to why his daughter was mad at him, until something came rushing to his mind and he starts to rub his temples to relieve the tension. "No, she couldn't be talking about that, she doesn't even know, does she.

Jessica left the house and heads to Buffy's house; she was going to meet this woman even if her father did not want her to. Walking nervously up to the front door she knocks. As she waits for someone to answer, she notices a blonde staring at her with a catholic schoolgirl outfit on.

"That's new," Jessica said to herself as she shook of the eerie feeling the women gave her.

The woman starts to walk up to her and Jessica thought she saw her face distort into something horrible. She closes her eyes tight and opens them again and the girl was gone. Jessica looks around frantically for the girl and that's when Joyce Summers opens the door and greets her.

"Hello," Joyce finally says to her, as she did not seem to notice that she opened the door.

Jessica jumps ten feet in the air at Joyce's greeting, then she turns around sheepishly and looks at a women that she thought had a quiet beauty, she actually was perfect for her dad. She smiles and offers Joyce her hand to shake. "Hi, I'm one of Buffy's friends at school; I was just coming to pick up some books for Buffy and Willow's study session.

"Oh come in," Joyce steps aside to let Jessica into the house. "I believe I've met Willow and Xander, but I don't think I've had the pleasure of meeting you. What is your name?"

"Oh, how rude of me," Jessica smiles. "I'm Jessica Cine, Buffy must have told you about me." Jessica notices the shock and realization on Joyce's face.

"Yes I do believe you've come up in conversation," Joyce smiles thinking that that particular conversation did not come from Buffy.

"Well Buffy room is upstairs, down the hall and to the right. Do you know what you're looking for?" Joyce asked.

"Yes Mrs. Summer I do. I'll just run up, get it, and be out of your hair in a moment.

Jessica ran upstairs, into what she thought was Joyce's room, and she notices a rose and a card on her dresser. She picks up the card but she did not read it, the only thing she noticed about it was that it was in her father's handwriting. She put it back on the dresser and then she heard Joyce let out a scream. She ran down stairs and did not see her and then she heard someone talking in the kitchen.

She ran to the kitchen door and saw the most horrifying thing of her life. Mrs. Summers was unconscious and bleeding at the neck. She lay in the arms of the girl Jessica had seen outside and Angel confronts her, she caught bits and pieces of their conversation and became quite terrified.

"Aren't you hungry for something worm after all this time?" Darla said to Angel as she pushes Joyce unconscious form unto him. Jessica watches, as Angel seems to struggle with himself and then his face changes. Jessica almost screams, but so did not want to give her position away. She racked her brain for a way to rescue Mrs. Summers. Then all decisions are taken out of her hands as Darla began to speak.

"I'll take care of the one with the sweet smell to her," She turns her full on vamp face to Jessica and Jessica has no qualms about screaming this time. "You are full of power little girl I think my Master will enjoy having you, but I want a little taste first."

Darla rushes her and Jessica like prey-cornered moves into action. She drops down low as Darla attacks her and uses her momentum and strength against her, flips Darla over her and into the wall hard. Darla quickly rights herself, grabs a hold of Jessica before she can escape and holds her by the neck, and takes a bite. Darla groans as she takes in the girl's blood. Her blood was like a fire burning her from the inside out. It was rich, tasting of something so pure and sweet and Darla can't stop, and she continues to feed upon her. She begins to have visions of things to come and things that are supposed to happen but never came to pass. When the visions end, Darla realizes this was the little bitch her Master sought, the power that has so thoroughly undermined all of his plans. Darla smiles as she knows how this will please the Master and that torture will be oh so sweet on this night.

Before Darla can fully gloat about her good fortune Buffy knocks her for a loop as she came in and found that Angel and a female vamp are attacking her mother and her friend. As Joyce and Jessica lay unconscious on the floor Buffy and Darla go at it as Angel watches conflicted as to what to do. Darla gets the upper hand on Buffy and goes in for the kill, but before she can finish the job, she gets a stake through her back that goes in deep and straight through her heart.

She turns to her killer with saddened eyes and speaks with a distraught voice she speaks her killers name. "Angel." Darla falls to the ground and turns to dust.

Willow and Xander came in to catch the last end of the fight having followed Buffy home to make sure she got home allright. They saw Joyce and Jessica unconscious on the floor and rushed to check on them as Buffy tearfully called 911.

Xanders anger arose quickly and he gets up, punches Angel, and yells. "What the hell did you do, you bastard?" Buffy pulls Xander away and explains that Angel saved their lives and they all seem to stare one another down for a moment unsure of what to do or say.

~%~

Jessica's dad rushes to the hospital wondering why the hell he moved to this God forsaken place. His daughter had been in this damn hospital twice now and for some very serious injuries. He walks into her room and stopped short as he notices everyone standing in the room.

The Doctors had already told him that they put Joyce and Jessica in the room so that was not a surprise for him. What he really wanted to find out was why his daughter had gone over to the Summer's home in the first and why the two women in his life now were lying in hospital beds.

"What happened?" He asked the group looking as if he will not tolerate any lies or the run around.

Joyce was the first one to speak, because the others in the room didn't know where to begin to explain. "Well the doctor said it looks like we fell on a barbeque fork.

"The both of you fell on a barbeque fork at the same time?" Joseph Cine's anger escalated and he literally had to breathe in and out to calm himself. He looked at the group to see if they believed this trumped up story and from the looks on their faces, he knew that they knew more about the situation than they were admitting.

However, before he can give them the third degree the doctor comes in to give a report on Jessica and Joyce's condition. He explains to Buffy that her mother was fine, just a little blood loss but she could go home soon, But Jessica on the other hand lost way to much blood and they had to give her a blood transfusion.

Mr. Cine plops down in a chair between Joyce and Jessica quite distraught. He made a promise at that moment that he will never let Jessica out of his sight again, no matter how much she complains about him smothering her. There was something wrong with this town and it seem to have it in for his daughter and he will be damned if he let it take her away from him.

Willow came over to comfort Mr. Cine and he politely smiles at her kindness. That's when Rupert Giles rushes in to the room.

"Who are you?" Joyce asks in confusion then Buffy introduces him to her.

"The librarian from your school," Joyce smiles feeling a little loopy and sedated. "What's he doing here?"

Giles came forward to explain his presence. "I just came to pay my respects, and to wish you a speedy recovery," he says as he smiles down at her.

"Why the teachers really do care in this town," said a happy Joyce Summers.

Mr. Cine snorts at that comment. "Or maybe just the librarian, Mr. Giles seems to be the one for hospital visits to his students. I wonder why that is?"

"Well I have become quite attached to them I suppose," Giles said.

"Yes, I shall have to speak with you on how, attached, you are to them. Mr. Cine said as he raises his eyebrow at Giles and the librarian starts to clean his glasses furiously.

"Dad please leave Mr. Giles alone. Don't you see your making him nervous?" Jessica says in a weak and frustrated voice.

"Jess, honey you're awake thank goodness." Her dad kisses her on the cheek in relief.

"Yeah and once again, I'm surrounded by my friends and loved ones, in the damn hospital," Jessica tries to yell but all that her voice accomplishes is a cracked splendor.

"Jessica Trish Cine you watch your language young lady," Her dad scolds her.

Jessica felt tired and a little indignant; she was in the mood to do a little scolding herself. Maybe it was the loss of blood that kind of shut down her brain and things that she would never under any circumstances say to her father came flowing out of her mouth.

"Maybe You Joseph Cine should be more honest to your daughter about dating her friend's mother, so she won't have to sneak out the house to go meet said mother and nearly get herself killed."

The room became deathly silent and all the occupants in the room. Heads shot from father to daughter and back again. Joyce went beet red, Buffy fidgeted, Willow mouth was catching flies, Xander had this nervous laughter going on and Giles was wearing his poor lenses thin.

Joseph Cine gave his daughter a look that scared her more than anything she has seen this night, and she had seen some scary shit. She swallows and smiles nervously at her father ready to take back everything she has just said, but it is too late for that. To put the icing on the cake her new boyfriend Jonathan she had yet to tell her dad about comes and kisses her on the cheek.

"Will talk about all this later Jessica," Mr. Cine crosses his arms menacingly and calmly gives a smile to his daughter and Jessica cringes.

~%~

In the depths of the Hellmouth, a lair lay in shambles. Furniture torn apart, several things thrown across the room, minions dusted and a throne overturned. It's as if another major earthquake has hit the place, and in the midst of it all, a lonely master vampire mourns the loss of his favorite and deadly childe Darla. He does something that vamps rarely do, he weeps for all that he has suffered at the hands of his enemies. He falls asleep and dreams of her, he dreams of the power that challenges him at every turn. The Master dreams and knows that things will change now and not in her favor. He shall have her blood.