Previously: Angelina finished in the shower and turned the taps off. She felt better now. All she had to do was get dressed and go against Lorne's orders. And possibly grab something to eat. She was starving. She smiled at that.

It was good to know she was alive.

Chapter 45

'So you're telling me that Angel isn't Angel anymore, he's Angelus, and you think he may be looking for a girl who can be turned into anything?' Lorne thought the story was mad, but went along with it. Stranger things had happened.

'Pretty much' Buffy said.

'And the girl's around the same age as this lot' I gestured at Buffy, Red and Xander.

'Huh. What do you need me for?' Lorne queried.

'Well you read people don't you?' Buffy asked.

'Yeah, but they have to sing Princess'

'Well maybe you could hang out at karaoke bars and see if you pick anything up?' Willow suggested.

Lorne finally realised what they were hinting at. 'Uh huh. I'm not doing that again'

'Do what?'

'The last time I read someone for those particular reasons, I got the information sucked out of my noggin, by an evil law firm.' He had taken a seat on the only couch remaining and was holding his hands up in refusal.

'Well how bloody else are we go- does anyone else smell strawberries?' I guessed not, but it was possible.

'Huh?' Buffy looked at me.

'Strawberries. Anyone else smell em?' I asked.

'Damn' Lorne muttered.

'Hi guys!' Angelina called as she strode out of the bedroom.

Angelina walked in wearing a grey t-shirt and black tracksuit pants. She looked fine. The only way you could tell she had fainted was the slight sway she had when she stood still. Which for her wasn't usual. She was always moving. Now she preferred to stand and sway a little. It was quite amusing for me.

'What are you wearing love?' I asked. I really wanted to know what smelt of strawberries.

'Clothes' Angelina teased.

'Very funny pet'

'Strawberry scented soap?'

'Oh so its you!'

'Yep'

'I can smell it now' Anya stated. 'Smells real. Wow that's good'

'Thanks' Angelina laughed.

Everyone else then commented on the smell while Lorne sat there and stared at her.

'Angel Cake?'

'Yes?'

'You sure you're up to dancing around?'

'I fainted and hit my head Lorne. I didn't break a leg' Angelina held a hand to her stomach. 'And I'm not sure I'm up to dancing just yet, but I can walk'

Lorne didn't say anything audible, but he began to grumble to himself.

'You guys want anything to eat?' Angelina offered to the group.

Everyone said no, so Angelina excused herself so she could get food, she hadn't eaten all day, and came back with a bowl of potato chips for everyone and a bowl of cereal for herself.

'So what did I miss?' She asked in-between mouthfuls. She hadn't found a seat, so had sat on the floor with her cereal. Dawn offered her couch, but Angelina refused.

'We were telling Lorne about a lil gem Rupert found the other night' I explained.

'Oh yeah? You wanna shorthand it for me?' Angelina asked.

'Don't think you can pet. But we'll give it a go'

And for the third time today, the story was told.

'Ok so you're guessing that this girl plays poker?' Angelina had eaten her cereal, the chips were gone, and so she had returned the dishes to the kitchen.

'That's the theory' called Xander

Angelina came back into the living room and still there were chairs available. She refused to take Dawn's after all she had done for her this morning, but she didn't want to sit on the ground again.

She concentrated and sang a few words no one could hear. Lorne shuffled over on the couch to make whatever room he could in a separate one and Angelina joined him. Only there wasn't any room, so she sat on his knee.

'I don't think the poker theory works' She said to no one in particular.

'Do you have any better ideas?' Giles questioned.

'Well maybe she doesn't play poker. Maybe she uses Tarot cards or flashcards?' Angelina suggested. 'Tarot cards can be used in threes'

'Ok so maybe they're a Tarot reading girl' Xander quipped.

'Oh! Angelina we can check the university' Willow chirped 'They have Wicca groups and other magical stuff like that'

'Ok sounds like a plan' Angelina attempted to get up but Lorne wrapped his arm around her middle and kept her firmly in place. 'Not today' was all he said.

'Ok well I can start today' Willow back-pedalled, taking the hint that Lorne wanted Angelina to rest. 'We can continue tomorrow?'

Angelina pulled a subtle face that Lorne couldn't see 'Ok. Tomorrow then'

Buffy stood and addressed us all 'Well I think it's time I got going. Have to stock some shelves with food'

'I have food. You just don't like any of it' Giles grumbled

'Ok going to stock shelves with good food' Buffy ignored the Watcher.

Everyone else took that as his or her cue to leave as well. Not sure why, Angelina seemed perfectly happy with playing hostess.

'Hey Buffy!' Angelina called. 'Before or after patrolling maybe we could all go see a movie? Heard Public Enemies is playing'

'Are you up to slaying?' Buffy cast a quick look to Lorne, who remained expressionless.

'I'm sure I'll be fine by then' Angelina assured her.

'Ok, sure.' Buffy nodded, then turned to Dawn 'Oh! Almost forgot. Dawn, Candice keeps ringing and asking if you want to sleepover now that she's not chained to her bed'

Both Angelina and Lorne quirked their eyebrows. Dawn however didn't notice that when she turned to face Angelina. 'Is it ok?'

Angelina nodded and smiled 'Sure. You can come back here another day if you want. Go. Have fun.'

Dawn ran over and hugged the slayer who had risen from Lorne's lap. Dawn did her best to crush Angelina's ribs in the tightest hug she could, but Angelina just laughed.

'Go on. Don't leave Candice hanging'

Dawn grabbed her bag of clothes and headed to the door with Buffy and the others.

I figured it was time for me to get up and move along too. I rose from the couch and joined Buffy at the door.

'Ok, so I'll see you at the shop just before dusk?' Buffy asked Angelina.

'You can count on it' Angelina nodded.

Everyone said goodbye to Lorne as well as Angelina and then we all left the building. Everyone walking along, while I ran to Red's apartment with a blanket over my head and Buffy walking Dawn to Candice's.

~**~

Buffy and Dawn walked up the little gravel path that led to Candice's house.

'You can drop me here if you want. I know you're just dying to go food shopping' Dawn teased.

'Ha ha. I want to meet her parents. Besides, it's better if I let Giles sweat for a while'

'Huh? Oh I get it. Sweat as in panic. Right' Dawn laughed at her stroke of genius just as Buffy rang the doorbell.

A red head answered the door. She was dressed in a green shirt and blue jeans and had the 'witch-y' look about her.

'Hey Bonnie!' Dawn greeted the woman like an old friend.

The woman welcomed Dawn with a hug and a laugh 'Hey there Dawn-y…' the woman looked up at Buffy.

'And this must be the infamous Buffy Summers. Welcome'

'Er, thanks' Buffy took a few steps inside.

The house was decorated in much the same way as Angelina's. Bright colours everywhere, enough cushions to support a third world country and it had a 'home-y' feel to it.

'I'm Bonnie, Candice's mother.' She extended her hand for Buffy to shake while telling Dawn that Candice and Carly were both upstairs.

Dawn thanked the woman and along with her bag, plodded up the stairs to greet her friends. Along the way She must have bumped into Candice's dad because a few seconds later he came into view and began to descend the stairs.

'And this…' Bonnie gestured to the man 'is my husband Stone' the man joined Bonnie's side and also shook Buffy's hand

'Nice to meet you'

'Right back at you' Buffy replied. They seemed like good people. Stone had the most amazing eyes. Very non-human, so Buffy couldn't help but ask.

'Are you half demon too? Candice said she got it from her dad'

Stone laughed. 'Me? Nah mate, I'm an Ancient One. And she's a witch' he hugged his wife from behind, causing her to laugh.

There was pleasant conversation for about another ten minutes, then Buffy said her goodbyes to both demon and witch and called out goodbye to Dawn. She then left the house, glad that she had dropped Dawn off. She had found out that Bonnie read Tarot cards and that both of them were 'good guys' so to speak. They would probably fight with the slayers if they needed help.

She had also told Dawn that her and her friends were welcome to watch 'Public Enemies' if they so wished. Buffy didn't think they would, but you never know. Carly could be a huge Johnny Depp fan.

Buffy headed off towards the supermarket near Giles' apartment. All she needed was some apples, peaches, pears and an assortment of biscuits. Maybe she'd buy pop tarts of some sort, just to give Giles a scare when they popped out of the toaster.