Shadow Over Hellmouth Chapter 79: Family, a buffy: the vampire slayer fanfic

"Family"

Based on the Buffy the Vampire Slayer Episode "Family" Written by Joss Whedon and the Angel Episode "Guise Will Be Guise" Written by Jane Espenson

Cordelia hurried down the stairs, into the lobby. She saw Wesley gathering up papers off the floor.

"What are you doing?" Cordelia asked.

"Uh...knocking things over, driving away business - you know, the usual."

"Well, I found him, and we have to stop him before it's too late; we have to change our..." Cordelia looked down at the dress that she was holding in her right hand. "Do you have any clothes a man would wear?"

At Wolfram & Hart, Angel pushed open a grate in the floor in the basement. Angel climbed out of it, followed by Gunn. Angel saw a guy and a woman arguing a little ways down the hallway branching off to their right.

Angel looked at Gunn. "Don't make eye contact. Keep going."

The two of them walked across the hallway and stepped into the elevator. The doors were almost closed when someone stuck a briefcase between them. The doors slid back open. It was the pair from the hallway, and they were Wesley and Cordelia dressed in lawyer garb. Angel grabbed them and pulled them into the elevator.

Angel pushed a floor button. "What are you two doing in here?"

Cordelia pushed the door open button. "Um, I'm thinking risking our lives to save yours."

"How'd you get in?" Gunn asked.

Wesley looked at him. "We used the door."

"And they just let you in?" Gunn asked.

Cordelia indicated her outfit. "Hello. Lawyer!"

Angel pushed the floor button.

Cordelia pushed open. "You're not going up there."

Angel pushed the floor button. "No, no. I need to do this. I have to find her...where they have her..."

Cordelia pushed open. "Still with the Darla bullshit?"

"Did you encourage this?" Wesley asked Gunn.

"I'm just going along for the ride."

Angel pushed the floor button.

Cordelia pushed open. "Gonna be a pretty short ride. They have vampire detectors!"

"We know. It's cool. He's got a plan."

"A plan?" Wesley asked.

"Yeah." Angel pushed the floor button. "I get to the offices before they stop me."

"See?" Gunn whipped his head around to stare at Angel. "What? That's the plan? Walking really quick was the 'plan'?"

Cordelia pushed open. "Angel, this is crazy. Listen to yourself. You're all insane and angry and insane! You need help!"

Angel pushed the floor button. "I'm not insane, and I'm not angry."

Cordelia pushed open, and this time there was a security guard there, triggering the stake concealed in his nightstick. Angel grabbed a hold of it and stabbed him through the foot with it.

"Euugh!" Wesley exclaimed.

Gunn stared in disgust. "Man, that's nasty."

The guard was trying to pull out the stick, but it went all of the way through his shoe and was wedged tightly into the crack between the elevator and hallway.

Angel walked past the guard. "Maybe I'm a little angry."

The others gave the struggling guard one last look, then followed him out.

"'Maybe'?" Cordelia asked.

On the stage at Cordy's, in the Hyperion, two Japanese men were singing "I Got You Babe". Cordelia, Angel, Wesley, and Gunn were sitting at a table, watching.

Gunn saw a horned demon light a cigarette on a candle. "Okay, what I want to know is how'd I live in L.A. all my life and not notice weird-ass shit was going on?"

Cordelia looked at him. "Oh, the ass is even weirder than you think. I can help people: read their souls, sense their futures. But I can only do it when they sing karaoke."

Angel looked at Cordelia. "I just...I-I feel this...like...I have to do something...and, if I don't let it out, I'll explode, and then...when I do something...it feels, uh...I-I think, maybe...this - this is it. I..." He hung his head. "I'll sing if I have to."

The Japanese men finished and left the stage. The audience politely applauded. Angel stood up, went up on the stage, and looked through the songs. He selected one. Music started playing. Angel picked up the microphone and started singing:

"Her name was Lola.
She was a showgirl.
With yellow feathers in her hair
And a dress cut down to there..."

Cordelia pulled out a notepad and scribbled something on a page. She looked at Angel and made a slicing motion in front of her neck. Angel set down the microphone, turned off the song, and walked over to the table.

Cordelia tore the page out of the notepad and offered it to him. "Here."

Angel took the paper. "What's this?"

"An address in Ojai. You ever hear of the T'ish Magev?"

"The T'ish Magev..." Angel paused. "He's like...a swami, sort of, right? Very powerful. This is his address?"

"I'm sending you to him. You need more than I can do for you. This guy...he'll shock your chakras, fillet your soul...whatever you need. Go to him."

Cordelia and Wesley were in Angel's office, tidying up some papers.

"I figure he'll be back pretty quick. This swami guy sounds kinda magic; he'll probably just do a spell and zap this obsession out of Angel's head."

"Intriguing notion. Psychiatry through magic. Instant cures for phobias, compulsions, identity crises."

Cordelia sat down in the big chair behind Angel's desk and spun the chair in circles. "Hey, look at me. I'm Angel!"

"He doesn't generally spin that much."

"Right. Right. This is Angel." Cordelia picked up a book, opened it, and pretended to read it, leaning her head in one hand. "Oh, no. I can't do anything fun tonight. I have to count my past sins, then alphabetize them. Oh, by the way, I'm thinking of snapping on Friday."

Wesley suppressed a smile.

Cordelia gave him a big grin. "You know, I love Angel and everything, but, right now, I'm so glad he's headed the other way."

Cordelia walked into the hotel lobby and was grabbed around the neck by a guy from behind.

"Where is Angel?"

"He's not here."

"You're lying. Give me Angel."

Cordelia tugged on his arm. "I-I can't. Let go!"

He did.

Cordelia turned to face him. "It's about time you-"

He pulled out a gun and pointed it at her. "My boss needs your boss. So I cannot leave here without him. So you are gonna get him for me now, or I'm gonna blow your pretty, fucking head off."

"No! I-I...I-I can't...I-I-I don't know where he is. I swear."

He cocked his gun. "Too bad."

"Wait! Wait! Listen, I-I...Please wait."

Wesley walked towards them, wearing Angel's long, dark coat. "I'm Angel."

He almost slipped on something but caught himself before the guy spun around to confront him.

"You looking for me?"

The guy pointed his gun at Wesley's chest.

"That - That - That won't kill me."

"Fine. Let's go." The guy lowered his gun and walked towards the door. "Follow me."

"You just expect me to follow you. I don't see why I should." Wesley turned away from him and took a step towards Cordelia. "Uh, you know the gun won't kill me."

"Oh, yeah?" He pointed the gun at Cordelia. "What's it gonna do to her?"

Wesley spun around.

"Come on."

Wesley put his hand up in a placating gesture. "Yes. All right."

The guy lowered his gun.

Wesley folded his arms across his chest. "But, uh, I shan't be cooperative."

"At gunpoint?" Gunn asked.

Cordelia nodded. "Yes! The point of a gun. He just walked Wesley right out of here. And this whole 'I'm Angel' thing is a very, very bad idea. I mean, if I thought that would work, I could've been Angel, because - guess what? - pretty much a girly name."

"Where'd they go?"

"I don't know. I tried to follow them, but I lost them."

"So what's the plan?"

"The plan is...you go get Angel from the swami place; I track down Wesley. This guy that took him, pretty distinctive; maybe I can find a criminal record, known associates, uh, mugshots!"

"I better get started."

"Gunn...this thug guy is bad news. I really hate to think where Wesley may be right now."

Cordelia was looking at mugshots of criminals on her laptop; she eyed the magazine laying beside it, then finally picked it up and started to flip through it. "Celeb photos, celeb photos. Page 46."

She came across a photo of businessman Magnus Bryce and his daughter, Virginia, a beautiful young woman with long, curly red hair. The thug was standing behind them.

"It's him!" Cordelia exclaimed.

Miss Kitty Fantastico was playing with a small ball of yarn on the floor of Buffy and Tara's dorm room. Buffy and Tara were in bed, naked, snuggling.

Buffy smiled. "I can't believe the big day is almost here."

Tara frowned. "Sweetie, you promised you wouldn't make a big deal about my birthday."

"Tell me a story."

"Okay. Once upon a time, there was, um...a kitty. She was very little, and she was all alone, and nobody wanted her."

Buffy frowned. "This is a very upsetting story."

"Oh, oh, but it gets better. 'Cause one day, the kitty was running around in the street, and a man came and swooped her up..." Tara bent over, reached down, and swooped up the kitten. "And took her to the pound." Tara sat up, lifting the kitten into her lap. "And at the pound, there were lots of other kitties, and there were puppies and some ferrets-"

Buffy smiled. "Were there dolphins?"

Tara handed the kitten to Buffy. "Yes. Many dolphins at the pound."

"Or was there a camel?"

Tara thought. "There was the front of a camel. A half-camel." She smiled.

Buffy cuddled the kitten. "Did the kitty get chosen by some nice people?"

"Well, now, you ruined the ending."

"Mmm..." Buffy let go of the kitten.

Miss Kitty Fantastico ran off.

Buffy yawned. "I'm sleepy."

"Do you mind if I keep the light on? I was gonna look up some spells."

"It's fine." Buffy pouted. "I don't need to be snuggled." She smiled.

Tara smiled back. "Vixen!"

Tara took some books that were on the bed and piled them up on the floor.

"You've been researching spells night and day lately."

Tara looked at her. "Well, I just wanna be ready in case that bitch comes after you."

"She'll come. She'll come for us. We have to find out who this woman is and what she wants." Buffy frowned in thought. "Sweetie, would you object to us moving back home? I'd feel better being closer to Dawn and my mom."

Tara smiled and turned off the light. "Sure."

Tara lay down, putting her head on Buffy's shoulder, and they snuggled up together.

The next day, Buffy was stacking some boxes in the hallway outside their dorm room. Amy and Harmony were carrying a mini fridge out of the dorm room.

Dawn emerged behind them, carrying a stack of boxes that obscured her vision. "I don't need help."

"Just be careful." Buffy turned and entered the dorm room.

Tara, Sandy, and Giles were surrounded by boxes. Miss Kitty Fantastico was sitting in her carrier. Giles was reading a book.

Buffy smiled, a bit irritated. "Giles, I noticed you're doing the smallest amount of helping that can actually be called helping."

"Well, I saw myself in more of a...patriarchal sort of role. You know, lots of pointing and scowling." Giles smiled, looked to his left, pointed, and scowled. "You two, stop that!"

Amy and Harmony were circling and slapping each other.

Amy looked at Giles. "She started it."

Harmony looked at Giles. "She called me a bad name."

Tara, folding clothes, looked at them and grinned.

Harmony frowned in confusion. "I think it was bad. It might've been Latin."

Giles sighed. "Stop it, or you're going to break something."

Buffy frowned. "Or I'm going to break something."

The ladies suddenly stopped fighting.

Sandy picked up a few boxes. "Wouldn't you being at home make your family more of a target, Buffy?"

Buffy shrugged. "Maybe. You know, with Mom not being well, I'm hardly ever here." She picked up a pile of clothes to put in a box. "I'll save a little cash for this semester."

Dawn re-entered the room and breezed past Buffy. "Some of your CDs are my CDs."

"I know. Come help us fold."

Tara smiled at them. Everyone returned to packing and carrying (and, in Giles' case, reading). Sandy took a suitcase and left the room. Buffy bent over to fold a sheet and grabbed her lower back with a sigh.

"Starting to feel that fight?" Tara asked.

Buffy groaned. "Nothing like gettin' your ass kicked to...make your ass hurt."

Dawn smiled. "You'll totally take her next time."

Amy smiled. "'Cause you'll have backup. She's messin' with all of us."

Giles looked up from his book. "Yes, uh, we'll - we'll, uh, find her weaknesses, and then, uh-"

Tara grinned. "Yeah. You learn her source, and, uh, we'll introduce her to her insect reflection."

Everyone looked at her in confusion.

Tara stopped smiling. "Um...that - that was funny if you, um, studied Taglarin mythic rites...and are a complete dork." Tara took a box and exited the room.

Tara walked out into the hall, shaking her head.

Buffy walked out of the room and approached her. "Hey. You wanna start taking stuff down to the van?"

Tara nodded. "Yeah."

"Okay." Buffy paused. "I'm not sure how much room that I have in there at the moment."

"It's okay. I'll get my stuff later."

"You sure?"

"Yeah."

"Okay." Buffy went back into the dorm room.

Tara walked off with her box. "Stupid..."

Buffy looked at everyone. "Okay. Guys, now, remember, you have to be at the Bronze by eight tomorrow night."

Everyone stared at her, confused.

"October 16. Tara's birthday. And our ceremony."

"That's tomorrow already?" Dawn asked. "Damn."

"Who's coming?" Buffy asked. "Amy?"

Amy looked at her in confusion. "Of course. I'm performing the ceremony."

"No, I mean have you heard from Trina?" Buffy asked.

"Oh. Yeah, she's coming."

"Good. Harmony?" Buffy asked.

Harmony nodded. "Cordy and Faith are coming, but Anne isn't."

Buffy was a bit disappointed. "Oh. Well, I guess someone's gotta run the teen center."

Harmony smiled. "But she sends her love and well wishes."

"Cool."

"Buffy, may I bring Julie?" Sandy asked. "I mean...I know you're not exactly close-"

"It's fine." Buffy smiled. "Julie's welcome."

Sandy smiled.

"Giles?" Buffy asked.

"Jenny and I will be there."

"Cool."

"What about...your father?" Giles asked.

"Yeah, he's, um...in Spain...with his secretary. Living the cliche. I called him when Mom got sick; he hasn't even..." Buffy didn't bother finishing.

Giles looked sympathetic. "I'm sorry."

Gunn pulled his pickup truck up beside Angel's car in front of the cabin.

Gunn got out. "Yo, yo! Anybody home?"

"Morning, traveler. Do you seek enlightenment?"

"I seek Angel. He with you?"

"Well, he was until the sun came up, then..." He paused. "You see that pile of dust over there?"

Gunn stared at him in shock.

He laughed. "I'm just joking! He's inside. Come on."

Gunn walked towards the house. "Joking. Great. We got ourselves a funny Zen master."

Gunn was suddenly hit hard on the head from behind, then across the chin, knocking him unconscious.

Buffy entered the Magic Box. "So...any breakthroughs on the identity of Miss Congeniality?"

"Well, I have narrowed it down somewhat." Giles looked down at the reading table, where there was a large assortment of books spread out.

Buffy looked at the books. "Your definition of narrow is impressively wide."

"Well, you didn't give me much to go on. She - She looks human, so the mugshots aren't any use, and, uh, you can't be more specific about what she's like?"

Buffy pondered. "She was kinda like Cordelia, actually."

Giles nodded thoughtfully.

"I'm pretty sure she dyes her hair."

"Right! That one, of course. Our work is done."

"There must be something on her." Buffy sat at the table. "The answer is somewhere here." She stared at the book-covered table. "It's right in front of us, and we're too blind to see it!" She slammed her hand down on the table.

Giles started. Buffy gave him an exasperated look. Giles took a box and began climbing some stairs to the loft. Buffy started looking at books.

Cordelia quietly walked down a hall in the Bryce mansion and ran into Wesley. "There you are! I found you!"

"Cordelia. How did you get in here?"

"Well, I told them that I worked for Angel, and they sent me right in. You got everybody scared around here, I'll tell you that. It's like they don't even know you're a chimp."

Virginia walked up behind Wesley.

Cordelia held out her hand. "Oh. Hey, you're Virginia Bryce!"

"Who are you?" Virginia asked.

"This is Cordelia Chase. She works for me."

Virginia nodded at Cordelia, who nodded back.

"Virginia, I left my coat-"

"I'll get it." Virginia turned her back.

Cordelia grabbed a hold of Wesley's arm. "Good move. Now, let's scuttle our butts out of here."

"Cordelia, I'm not going with you."

"What? I'm rescuing you! Key ingredient? We leave!"

"I understand, but I have to stay. I have a job to do."

"What is wrong with you? You've got, like, delusions of Angel! You're not him. You can't do stuff on your own." Cordelia saw Bryce and two robed guards come up behind Wesley. "Oh, fuck." Once they came close enough, she reached out and shook Bryce's hand. "Oh, hey, Mr. Bryce, I've seen your picture." She saw the thug behind Bryce. "And I remember you from the armed abduction."

"I had Ms. Chase testing your defensive perimeter, and I must say..." Wesley paused. "Did you know your guards just let her in?"

"Because I told them to. I wanted my daughter to hear someone call you by your real name."

Wesley froze. "Wait."

Virginia stepped up beside Wesley. "What's going on? What real name?"

"I got a call from an anonymous friend with some information. This guy...isn't Angel."

The thug grabbed Wesley's shoulder and pulled him backwards towards a window.

"I am so Angel!" Wesley insisted.

"Yeah, yeah!" Cordelia added.

"Oh, no, no, not the sun! For I am a vampire. Oh, oh, oh! It burns! Oh." Wesley cowered away from the sun.

Cordelia made a face, and Virginia stared at him. Wesley finally gave up the pretense.

Virginia was disappointed. "You're not Angel."

"My name is Wesley Wyndham-Price."

"I talked to you. I trusted you." Virginia paused. "You lied to me." She paused again. "Come to think of it, you actually put my life in danger. I was walking around, thinking I had vampire protection." She paused again. "Here's the funny part: I finally thought I had a friend." She held out Angel's coat to him.

After a moment's hesitation, he took it and watched her turn away and walk into her room.

Cordelia walked to stand beside Wesley. "Well, you kind of fucked her over, huh?"

"You're gonna get out of my house now, loser. Take the piece with you."

One of the robed guards pushed them down the hall.

"The piece? Was that supposed to be me? Get off me!" Cordelia yelled.

Giles came back down from the loft. "Come up with anything yet?"

"I'm at a loss."

A young guy with blond hair and a beard walked over and looked at the books on the table in front of Buffy. "Uh, are all these magic books?"

"Uh, private collection. Uh, books for sale are against the walls over there." Giles gestured with his coffee cup, then walked toward the counter.

The guy continued looking through books on the table. "So all these books got spells in 'em? Turn people into frogs, things like that?"

Everyone looked dubiously at him.

Buffy gave him a sarcastic smile. "Yeah, we're building a race of frog people. It's a good time."

The guy grinned. "So, uh..." He gestured at them. "You all witches? Hey, don't do a spell on me now." He laughed.

"Was there something in particular you were looking for?" Giles asked him.

The guy continued chuckling.

The door opened, and Tara entered.

"Whatta you know?" the guy asked.

Tara saw him and stopped laughing.

"What's the matter? You don't have a hug for your big brother?"

Buffy stood up. Tara was upset and uncomfortable. Buffy looked at her. Donny gave Tara a friendly punch on the arm.

"How come you came?" Tara asked him.

"Well, duh, birthday girl. Uh, we came down in the camper, been all over the campus."

"We?"

Tara and Buffy turned as the door opened, and Mr. Maclay walked in, followed by Beth.

"Look what I found!" Donny gestured at Tara.

"Uh, Dad, hi." Tara walked forward.

Buffy watched.

"Well, here's my girl."

Tara hugged her dad awkwardly. Giles walked forward.

Tara let go of her dad. "S-Such a s-surprise."

Donny nodded. "Yes."

Tara looked at Beth. "Cousin Beth."

"Hey."

"One of your dorm-mates said I might...find you here." Steve looked around.

"Oh." Tara turned toward the others. Oh, um, you remember Buffy and Mr. Giles; um, he runs the shop."

"How do you do?" Giles asked stiffly.

"Pleasure. Well, I-I don't mean to interrupt your plans; I know we've come on you kind of suddenly, but I thought we could have dinner."

"Okay."

"Why don't I pick you up at six? And we'll..." Steve glanced at the others. "...do some catching up."

"Yes, sir."

Steve looked at the others. "Forgive me for running out. We're double-parked."

Giles gestured with his coffee cup.

Mr. Maclay, Beth, and Donny left. Tara watched. Buffy frowned. Tara walked farther into the shop, toward Buffy.

"Wanna get into research mode?" Buffy asked her.

"Sure."

They sat at the table.

In Montclair, New Jersey, a fifteen-year-old Dominican-American girl with long black hair (partially dyed blonde) named Caridad Ramirez was working her weekend job at a local convenience store. She was currently opening cases of soda that the store owner's wife had purchased at Walmart and was stocking the cooler. She had her headphones of her Sony Discman over her ears and was listening to "All Good?" by De La Soul and Chaka Khan.

When she was done with the latest case, she stopped the music, pulled her headphones down around her neck, and walked out of the cooler. Mr. Patel, the owner, was standing behind the counter.

"Can I take my break now?" Caridad asked.

"Sure. Grab a soda."

Caridad opened the cooler and took out a brown glass bottle of Royal Crown Draft Premium Cola, her favorite soda. She took it over to the counter, and Mr. Patel opened the bottle for her. Caridad slowly sipped the soda, savoring the taste.

The door opened, and a woman with short blonde hair walked into the store. Caridad noticed the woman glance at her, then walk past her. The woman got a can of regular Pepsi from the cooler.

Caridad looked at her. "Those are warm."

The woman looked at her. "I'm sorry?"

Caridad guessed, from the woman's accent, she was British. "I just stocked those." She held up her bottle. "Grab one of these. It's the nectar of the gods."

The woman put the Pepsi back and grabbed a Royal Crown Draft Premium Cola. She offered Caridad a smile. "Thanks." She took it over to the counter and looked back at her. "You work here?"

"Yeah."

"On your break?"

"Yeah."

"Can we go outside and chat for a bit?"

"Huh?"

The woman paid for her soda. Mr. Patel opened her bottle for her.

The woman walked over to Caridad and took a business card out of her purse. "My name is Jodie Tennant. I'm a modeling scout."

Caridad took the card and looked at it.

Jodie smiled. "Wanna talk about your future?"

Caridad shrugged and indicated the door with her bottle. She followed Jodie outside.

Jodie took a gulp of her soda. "Ooh, this is delicious."

"Told ya." Caridad took a gulp of her own cola.

"I think you've got the look to be in commercials - maybe even TV and movies."

"Really? You're not just fucking with me?" Caridad asked.

"No." Jodie paused. "Tell me about yourself."

"Uh, let's see. I'm fifteen. I was born in the Dominican Republic. My parents moved here when I was six months old, so my grandma raised me. I finally moved here when I was almost ten."

"What was it like...living with your grandmother?"

Caridad hesitated. "It wasn't great. We were poor." Then she smiled as she recalled fond childhood memories. "But I always knew I wanted to act. I used to reenact scenes from telenovelas to entertain my family, and I'm in my school's drama club."

Jodie smiled. "Well, I think you have potential to reach new heights. What do you say? Give me a chance?"

"Well, you'd have to talk to my parents..." Caridad grinned. "I'll have them call you."

Jodie grinned.

Buffy entered the foyer through the front door, tossing her keys onto a table. "Mom, Dawn, I'm home."

Dawn walked down the stairs, carrying a bag. "See ya later."

"Where are you going?" Buffy asked her.

"I'm going to Melinda's for dinner and to spend the night."

"Have fun...but stay safe."

Dawn nodded and walked outside. Buffy closed and locked the door.

Cordelia sat down next to Wesley on the lobby steps inside the Hyperion. "Well, that was pretty humiliating, huh?"

Angel came in, leading a dazed Gunn.

Cordelia got up. "Angel, Gunn, what happened?"

"He got hit."

"By who? The swami? Swamis don't hit. Swamis swam."

Angel saw Wesley sitting on the steps. "Why is Wesley wearing my coat?"

Gunn looked at Cordelia. "That was a whole lot of swami."

"The T'ish Magev hit him?" Wesley asked Angel.

"He was a fake. Someone must have found out that I was going up there. They hired this guy to get me out of the way. He took out the real Magev. Set up the whole thing."

"Did you find out who hired him?" Wesley asked.

"He wouldn't say."

Wesley got up and started to pace.

"That is my coat, right?" Angel asked.

"It has to be Paul Lanier. He thought that would keep Virginia unprotected. Then when his men couldn't take me out, he tipped off Bryce that I wasn't Angel. He hoped Bryce would get me out of the way."

"What's going on?" Angel paused. "Were you in Virginia?"

"That's beside the point."

Cordelia looked at Angel. "He was posing as you. Protecting a girl named Virginia. This guy Lanier is trying to kill her...or abduct her...or something."

"She's probably in danger right now. She's at the big party."

"What party?" Gunn asked Wesley.

"Her father's birthday. Big wizard event: cake, ice cream, tributes to the goddess Yeska."

"Yeska?" Angel asked. "Wait a minute, I know Yeska. She's no goddess."

"What do you mean?" Cordelia asked.

"She's a Davric demon."

"Davric?" Wesley asked. "They don't serve humans - well, unless the humans make a sacrifice."

"Sacrifice?" Gunn asked him.

"Davric demons eat live sacrifices - generally, girls. They grant huge power to the person that offers a sacrifice on their fifti-oh, dear lord, on their fiftieth birthday. Bryce is gonna sacrifice his own daughter."

"So why was Lanier trying to abduct her?" Cordelia asked, confused.

Angel looked at her. "Bryce is going to get a lot of power off that sacrifice."

"We have to go. Angel you take Gunn, go to the front of the house. Cordelia, we'll go to the back."

As Wesley was about to walk past, Angel put out a hand to stop him.

"All right. You know this sort of thing best. How should we proceed?" Wesley asked him.

Angel looked around. "Um, well, Gunn and I could...take the back?"

Wesley walked on. "Very good. Let's go."

Angel followed. "Uh, Wesley, can I get my coat back?"

Tara entered her dorm room, holding some flat cardboard boxes, and stopped when she saw her dad standing there. He had his arms folded, staring at her roomful of witchy stuff.

"The door wasn't locked. I was a little early." Steve looked around. "I suppose you...wanted me to see all these..." He picked up a large crystal and examined it. "...toys." He put the crystal down. "You don't even try to hide it anymore. I'd hoped maybe you'd gotten over the whole witchcraft thing. That, if we let you go, you'd...get it out of your system." He put his hands in his pockets. "Then they told me to look for you in...that store."

"I didn't - I-I didn't kn-know that you were coming."

"Of course, we came. Your birthday's getting closer and closer. You know what that means."

"I don't think it's..." Tara paused. "It - It won't mean that-"

"You're turning twenty." Steve walked toward her. "It's the same age your mother was when she..." He paused. "Do your friends even know?"

"Y-Yes."

"Are you lying to me?"

Tara looked down.

"Tara, you're coming home with us. You know it's the only way."

Tara looked up. "Home?"

"You can't control what's going to happen. You have evil inside of you, and it will come out. And letting yourself work all this magic is only going to make it worse. Where do you think that power comes from?"

"It...It doesn't feel evil...sir."

"Evil never does."

Tara looked down.

"I don't feel much like eating right now." Steve started to walk past her. "I'll give you some time, but we need to be gone by morning." He walked to the door. "Your family loves you, Tara, no matter what. How do you think your friends are going to feel when they see your true face?"

Wesley, Cordelia, Angel (who was wearing his coat again), and Gunn strode into the party room through the open double doors. Virginia was shackled to a stone sculpture, decorated with lit candles, with the attached chains.

Wesley stared at Bryce. "Release her or die."

"Don't I say that?" Angel asked.

"Guards!" Bryce yelled.

The partygoers scattered as Wesley got knocked down by the first charging guard. He got back up and did about as well as Angel and Gunn against the guards. Cordelia got into the fray as well, knocking one of them over the head with a Champagne bottle from behind as he was trying to strangle Gunn.

Wesley hurried towards Virginia, knocking the thug out along the way, and started to unchain her. "I'll get you out of here."

Bryce cowered beside a table. "The hour approaches, Yeska. Do not be blind to my plea. Yeska, I beseech thee."

A wind started to blow inside the room, distracting the fighters.

"Appear!" Bryce yelled.

Yeska, an ugly gray-skinned demoness with a blonde afro, appeared with a flicker of lightning in front of Virginia. She grinned. "The Sacrifice..."

Virginia stared at her, wide-eyed.

Yeska's grinned vanished. "...is impure!"

And with that, Yeska vanished herself the same way that she appeared.

"What's going on?" Gunn asked.

Wesley looked at Virginia. "Let's go."

"Why did you come back?" Virginia asked him.

"I said I'd protect you."

Virginia gave a short laugh and let him help her up.

"She's impure? She-She's not a virgin?" Bryce started towards Wesley. "You..."

"Whoa! That's what impure meant?" Gunn asked.

"She slept with him?" Cordelia asked.

"You were supposed to be Angel. This wouldn't have happened. That's why I hired him. He's a eunuch."

Cordelia looked at Wesley. "You slept with her."

"Eunuch?" Angel asked.

Wesley looked at Bryce. "Things happen. Two young people, danger..."

"What are you talking about?" Virginia asked.

"She was a virgin before you got here."

"I was not a virgin!" Virginia yelled.

"What?" Bryce asked.

Wesley breathed a sigh of relief. "Oh, thank goodness."

Gunn looked at Bryce. "I could have told you she was no virgin."

Angel looked at Bryce. "I'm not a eunuch."

"One day as Angel, one day!" Cordelia yelled. "And he's getting some."

"What? How could you? I kept you away from all men!" Bryce yelled at Virginia.

Angel shrugged. "I mean...the curse isn't even all that clear..."

"Daddy, you remember that chauffeur from when I was sixteen?" Virginia asked. "And the one at eighteen? I haven't been a virgin for a very long time. I even dated Rick."

Bryce turned to look at one of the robed guards, who hurriedly and quietly made his way from the room.

Bryce looked at Virginia. "Ginny, don't do this! Don't make me angry!"

"Right. Because then you might do something bad." Virginia paused. "You were going to kill me!" She hauled back and hit her dad with a hard left hook, knocking him to the ground. "You are not my father anymore."

Cordelia smiled at her as Virginia walked out of the room.

Angel looked down at Bryce. "I'm not a eunuch."

Sandy, wearing a low-cut blouse, walked into Willy's Bar. Various people and demons were drinking at tables. Sunday was sitting at the bar. Willy paced behind it.

"Drinking alone?" Sandy walked up next to Sunday. "It's not a good sign." She sat on the stool to Sunday's left.

"So they tell me." Sunday looked at her. "I buy you a drink, I don't have that problem anymore, now do I?" She sipped her drink.

Sandy smiled in amusement. "Vodka tonic."

Sunday looked at Willy. "Vodka tonic."

Willy put a napkin in front of Sandy and walked off. He poured Sandy's drink.

Sunday frowned. "This place is such a dive."

"No, no, it's great. You just have to close your eyes, plug up your nostrils; it's fine."

Sunday chuckled. "We...could go somewhere else. Someplace more...private."

Sandy sighed. "Ohhhh, Sunday, Sunday. It's no good. My heart belongs to another."

Willy set the glass with Sandy's drink on her napkin.

"And how are things with your human?" Sunday asked her.

"Fine."

"Then why are you here by yourself?" Sunday asked her. "You'd be drinking alone, if it wasn't for me."

Sandy narrowed her eyes in annoyance and used her straw to stab at the ice in her drink. "Julie doesn't like places like...this."

Sunday stared at her and nodded. "Huh."

Amy was sitting on the floor in her dorm room, eating brownies and watching TV. The door opened, and Harmony entered, carrying several shopping bags.

"Hi, Amy!" Harmony gleefully exclaimed.

"Hey. Have fun?" Amy asked.

"Oh, it was so exciting. You wouldn't believe it. I went to April Fool's, and absolutely everything was on sale."

"Did you need any more clothes?" Amy asked her.

Harmony started unpacking her bags, putting her purchases on her bed. "Oh, no. Still, a bargain's a bargain."

Amy frowned and shook her head. "Did you get anything for Buffy and Tara?"

Harmony frowned, upset at herself. "Oh, I forgot! You think we should do something? Like a gift basket or something?"

Tara walked across campus, carrying the last box to Buffy's van. She looked over her shoulder several times. Then she saw Beth approaching.

Beth looked surprised and pleased. "Tara."

"Beth, what are you-"

"I-I was looking for you."

"I'm sorry we didn't get to have dinner."

"I just...wanted to see if everything was okay."

Tara smiled.

"See if you needed any help with anything. Packing."

"Last box."

"Great. Let's go."

Tara stopped smiling. "Beth, I'm not - I'm n-not coming back with you."

"You're not?"

"I-I don't think so."

Beth stared at her. "You...selfish bitch!"

"What?!" Tara exclaimed, hurt.

"You don't care the slightest bitty bit about your family, do you? Your dad's been worried sick about you every day since you've been gone. There's a-a house that needs taking care of...Donny and your dad having to do for themselves while you're up here, living God knows what kind of lifestyle. I can't wait till your little friends find out the truth about you. And they will, you know. No matter how innocent you act, they'll see."

"No, they won't."

"They will. You've been lying to these people for over three years. If your father doesn't force you to come home, and I think he should, I know he's going to tell your friends the truth. If I was you, I'd tell them first. And then I'd tell them goodbye."

At the Magic Box, the gang was researching. Buffy, Tara, and Dawn were sitting at the table. Amy, Harmony, and Sandy were sitting on the counter. Giles and Jenny were bringing more books to them. They were all eating takeout from Wok Like An Egyptian.

The door opened. Steve entered, followed by Donny and Beth.

Steve stared at his daughter. "Time to go, Tara."

Donny nodded. "No need to let these folks see what you are."

"What do you mean, 'what you are'?" Buffy asked them.

Steve looked at her. "Demon. The women in our family...have demon in them. Her mother had it. That's where the magic comes from. We came to take her home before...well, before things started happening. The camper's outside."

No one moved. Buffy used a pair of chopsticks to put a pork dumpling in her mouth.

Steve sighed. "She belongs with us. We know how to control her...problem."

Buffy looked at Tara. "Tara...look at me."

Tara did.

"I-I trusted you more than anyone in my life. Was all that just a lie?" Buffy asked her.

"No!" Tara replied firmly.

"Well, do you wanna leave?" Buffy asked her.

Steve frowned. "It's not your decision, young lady."

Buffy looked at him. "I know that!" She looked at Tara. "Do you wanna leave?"

Tara shook her head.

"You're going to do what's right, Tara. Now, I'm taking you out of here before somebody gets killed. The girl belongs with her family. I hope that's clear to the rest of you."

"It is." Buffy narrowed her eyes at Tara. "You want her, Mr. Maclay? You can go ahead and take her."

Mr. Maclay nodded in satisfaction.

Buffy stood up and whirled around to face Mr. Maclay, putting her hands on her hips. "You just gotta go through me."

"What?"

"You heard me." Buffy stared him down, looking very tough. "You wanna take Tara out of here against her will? You gotta come through me."

Tara smiled.

"And me!" Dawn stood up and walked up to stand beside Buffy.

They both gave Mr. Maclay the same steely glare.

"Is this a joke?" Steve stepped down one of the stairs. "I'm not gonna be threatened by two girls."

Dawn stared at him. "You don't wanna fuck with us."

Buffy resisted the urge to crack a smile. "She's a hair-puller."

Giles walked up behind them, putting on his glasses. "And...you're not just dealing with, uh, two girls."

Tara smiled even more.

Amy hopped off the counter and joined Buffy and Dawn. "You're dealing with all of us."

Harmony hopped off the counter and joined them. "And that goes for me, too." She reconsidered her words and stared at Steve sternly. "Which I guess Amy already covered, but still...the point stands!"

Sandy hopped off the counter and joined them. Jenny joined them as well.

"This is insane. You people have no right to interfere with Tara's affairs. We...are her blood kin! Who the hell are you?" Steve asked.

Buffy stared at him. "We're family."

Tara smiled and looked at Buffy, who smiled back. Mr. Maclay looked angry.

"Daaad. You - You gonna let 'em just..." Donny stomped forward. "Tara, if you don't get in that car, I swear by God I will beat you down."

Buffy stared daggers at him. "And I swear I will kill you if you lay a hand on her."

Donny looked cowed.

Beth looked at the gang. "Well. I hope you'll all be happy hanging out with a disgusting demon."

"What kind?" Sandy asked her.

"What?" Beth asked.

"What kind of demon is she?" Sandy asked. "There's a lot of different kinds."

Jenny nodded. "Some are very, very evil. And some have been considered to be useful members of society."

"Well, I-I..." Beth paused. "What does it matter?"

Steve nodded. "Evil is evil."

"Well, let's just narrow it down. There's vampires, for instance." Sandy bared her fangs and hissed.

Steve, Donny, and Beth recoiled in fright and crossed themselves.

"All right, let's wrap this up. We've got work to do." Tara stood up and walked forward. "I told Buffy all about it early in our relationship. We got a DNA test done. I'm fully human."

"That's just a family legend, right?" Buffy asked Steve.

Mr. Maclay looked angry.

"Just a bit of bullshit to keep the ladies in line." Buffy smirked. "Oh, you're a goddamn piece of work."

Buffy and Dawn stood in identical poses, side-by-side, with their arms crossed, their heads cocked at the same angle, and the same steely glare on both of their faces.

Giles stood behind them. "Mr. Maclay, I would say your business here is finished."

"Tara."

Tara looked at her father.

"For eighteen years, your family has taken care of you and supported you. If you wanna turn your back-"

Tara walked forward. "Dad...just go."

Mr. Maclay scowled, turned, and headed for the door. Donny followed.

Beth gave Tara a very dirty look. "Are you happy now?"

A slow smile spread across Tara's face.

The following night, at the Bronze, before it opened to the public, Buffy and Tara's domestic partnership ceremony took place. In attendance, sitting at tables near the stage, were Joyce, Dawn, Cordelia, Faith, Katrina, Harmony, Sandy, Julie, Giles, and Jenny. Buffy, Tara, and Amy stood on the stage. Buffy and Tara faced each other, and Amy stood between them, to Buffy's left and Tara's right, holding a sheet of paper. Harmony had her video camera set up on her tripod and was recording the ceremony.

Amy smiled. "Welcome, one and all, to the unification of Buffy Anne Summers and Tara Maclay in the bond of domestic partnership. As far as the Goddess is concerned, it's a bond of holy marriage."

Buffy smiled as she looked at Tara. "And it will be...as soon as it's legal."

Tara smiled back at Buffy.

"As far as the state of California is concerned, the partnership was formed when you two filed the paperwork this morning. What matters here is calling down the blessings of the Lady." Amy briefly looked at the paper. "Join hands."

Buffy took hold of Tara's right hand with her left hand. Tara took hold of Buffy's right hand with her left hand.

"Buffy, do you take Tara to be your wife in everything but name? Do you promise to love, honor, cherish, and defend her as long as you both shall live?" Amy asked.

Buffy stared into Tara's eyes. "I do."

"Tara, do you take Buffy to be your wife in everything but name? Do you promise to love, honor, cherish, and defend her as long as you both shall live?" Amy asked.

Tara stared into Buffy's eyes. "I do."

Amy smiled. "I call upon Hera, Juno, and Isis - the many in the One - to bless this union. So mote it be. The brides may kiss."

Buffy put her hands on Tara's cheeks and kissed Tara on the lips. Tara put her arms around Buffy's back as the kiss continued. The audience cheered and applauded.

After the ceremony was over, the Bronze was opened for business, and people came in.

Tara sat at a table, opening her presents. Buffy leaned against a pole, watching with a smile.

Tara admired a crystal ball that she got from Giles. "Thank you, Mr. Giles."

Dawn ran up to Tara, holding a broom with a bow tied around it.

Tara took it. "Thank you, Dawn."

Katrina walked over to Buffy. "Hey."

Buffy smiled. "Hey."

Katrina smiled. "Congratulations."

"Thanks. So...how's the smartest girl at Caltech?" Buffy asked.

"I don't know. She won't let me hang out with her." Katrina thought of something. "Oh, but I'll be attending an engineering seminar next semester. I'm working on building a model monorail that runs with magnets. I think it could lead to practical, life-sized application."

"Magnetic trains?" Buffy asked her.

"Uh-huh."

Amy walked over to them. "Hey, congrats, Buffy."

Buffy smiled. "Thanks."

Amy looked at Katrina. "Trina, wanna dance?"

Katrina smiled flirtatiously. "Only if you promise me a private dance back at your dorm later."

Amy smiled. "Mmmm, definitely." She kissed Katrina on the lips.

They held hands and walked onto the dance floor. Buffy looked at the table again. Tara was talking to Cordelia.

"No, see, 'cause your insect reflection represents your insignificance..."

Cordelia nodded.

"...in terms of the karmic cycle."

Cordelia nodded to show she understood, then pondered it for a moment. "But it's still not funny."

Dawn watched the crowd. "This place is so cool." She looked at her hand. "'Cept I have to wear this stupid stamp on my hand."

Buffy laughed. "That's to keep you from boozing it up."

"So what's an eagle reflection?" Cordelia asked Tara.

Tara thought. "Umm..."

Faith walked over to Buffy. "Hey. May I kiss the bride?"

Buffy smiled. "My wife will beat you up."

Faith smiled. "I'm willing to take that risk."

"How's it going in L.A.?" Buffy asked her.

"For me?" Faith shrugged. "Five-by-five. Work's as shitty as always, but at least Mitch doesn't mind if I retaliate against the assholes. As for my other job, nothin' but standard vamps for a while. Patrol graveyards, find nests - typical shit." She paused in thought. "Teen center's doing okay."

Buffy smiled. "Ask Anne about adding a juice bar."

Faith was confused. "Huh?"

"Never mind."

"Oh, speaking of Anne, she gave me this to give to you." Faith offered Buffy an envelope with a card in it.

Buffy took it. "Thanks."

Harmony walked over to them, grinning. "Congratulations, Buffy!"

Buffy smiled. "Thanks."

"Wanna dance, Binky Bear?" Harmony asked Faith, then kissed her on the lips.

Faith felt embarrassed. "I told you not to call me that in public. But yeah." She looked at Buffy. "Congrats, B."

"Thanks."

Harmony grabbed hold of Faith's hand and dragged her onto the dance floor.

Buffy walked over to the table.

Cordelia stood up and hugged Buffy. "Congratulations, Buffy!"

Buffy hugged Cordelia. "Thanks, Cordy."

"It was a beautiful ceremony. Little on the sparse side, though."

Buffy glanced at Tara. "We agreed to keep it simple and...no dead flowers."

Cordelia was confused. "Weird."

Jenny walked over. "I get it. It was a beautiful ceremony, Buffy, and congratulations."

Buffy smiled. "Thanks, Jenny."

Giles offered his right hand to Buffy. "Congratulations, Buffy."

Buffy shook his hand. "Thanks, Giles."

Sandy and Julie walked over.

Sandy smiled. "Congratulations, Buffy."

"Thanks."

Julie smiled. "Congratulations, Buffy, and thank you for inviting me."

Buffy smiled. "Of course."

Sandy took hold of Julie's hand, and they walked onto the dance floor. Jenny and Giles joined hands and followed them.

Joyce walked up to her older daughter, smiling. "Congratulations, sweetheart."

Buffy smiled. "Thanks, Mom."

They hugged.

"I Can't Take My Eyes Off You" by Melanie Doane started playing.

Buffy looked at Tara. "Our first dance?"

Tara nodded and stood up. Buffy took Tara's hand and led her onto the floor. They began to dance. Buffy had her hands on Tara's waist; Tara's hands were on Buffy's shoulders.

Cordelia, Dawn, and Joyce sat at the table, the only ones without dates.

"Good birthday?" Buffy asked.

Tara smiled. "Best birthday."

"I think about...what you grew up with, and...then I look at what you are. It makes me proud. It makes me love you more." Buffy took a deep breath. "Even when I'm at my worst...you always make me feel special. How do you do that?"

"Magic."

They kissed on the lips, then put their heads on each other's shoulders and swayed to the music.

They slowly rose upward. They were surrounded by other couples that were also dancing, but Buffy and Tara were floating several feet above the floor.

The next morning, Cordelia walked into Angel's office, holding out a magazine article to him. "Look!"

Angel took it. "'Virginia Bryce squired by Mr. Wesley Wyndham-Price, private detective and bodyguard to the stars.' Ha. Squired. Who says squired?"

Cordelia pointed at the picture. "Look at him all over her!"

"Cordelia, you're just jealous that he's getting some attention."

"Damned skippy! He's getting famous off this! Reflected glory - that's my thing!" Cordelia yelled.

"Get a little perspective."

Cordelia stalked out.