Part 2<\/b><\/p>\n
FRIDAY MORNING<\/em><\/p>\n Angel slowly made his way down the stairs of the Summers\u2019 home. Working though a mild hangover, Angel buttoned up his navy blue shirt and tried to focus on not tripping downstairs.<\/p>\n \u201cLooks like someone decided to join the land of the living,\u201d Buffy greeted.<\/p>\n \u201cNeat trick considering he\u2019s dead,\u201d Xander quipped.<\/p>\n As Angel moved into the living room, he noticed the entire gang was gathered around. Lovely. As if waking up from a bourbon and whiskey hangover wasn\u2019t bad enough, seeing Xander Harris this early only made it worse. Angel vocalized that thought.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, and I love you, too,\u201d Xander replied. \u201cSo, how are things with you? Still dead?\u201d<\/p>\n Angel ignored him and took a seat next to Dawn on the couch. The room was silent as Angel followed along with the magazine Dawn was reading. \u201cIt\u2019s nice to see Justin\u2019s moved on after his breakup with Britney,\u201d he mused.<\/p>\n Dawn looked at him strangely for a moment before turning back to her issue of Seventeen. Buffy reappeared from the kitchen and handed cups of coffee to Xander and Giles. \u201cCan I get you anything?\u201d she asked.<\/p>\n Angel flicked a finger in Giles direction. \u201cCan I have a cup?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSure. Do you take it black?\u201d Angel nodded that he did. Buffy retreated back into the kitchen to retrieve another cup. Angel then leaned back against the couch and closed his eyes. He heard a soft clank from Giles\u2019 direction.<\/p>\n The Watcher had put his cup down. He was making slight noises to clear his throat.<\/p>\n \u201cGo ahead and ask.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPardon me?\u201d Giles responded. Buffy came back in and handed the cup to Angel. The vampire took a sip and said his thanks.<\/p>\n \u201cYou want to ask me something. Go ahead. Just some fair warning: There\u2019s no guarantee I\u2019ll give a straight answer.\u201d<\/p>\n Upon Giles\u2019 hesitation, Willow spoke up from behind her psychology book. \u201cHe wants to know why you\u2019re in Sunnydale.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThank you, Willow,\u201d Giles said dryly. \u201cBut would you care to answer that, Angel?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNot really.\u201d<\/p>\n The Scoobies paused as they considered this new attitude that Angel presented. \u201cSo how is everyone in LA?\u201d Buffy asked.<\/p>\n \u201cWesley\u2019s fine. He betrayed me. Joined the enemy. Did the whole \u2018minion of hell\u2019 thing for a bit before rejoining the fold to battle an ancient demon who wanted to destroy the world. Gunn is still Gunn, which means he\u2019s still whooping ass with the best of them. Dated Fred for a little while. That fell apart. Fred\u2019s still really smart. Oh, and Lorne\u2019s still green.\u201d<\/p>\n Angel began to drink his coffee as if the conversation was over.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd Cordelia?\u201d Giles asked.<\/p>\n The look that Angel turned on him chilled Giles. \u201cCordelia\u2019s fine,\u201d was all that he said. It was obvious that no further information was coming. With a sigh, Buffy grabbed her purse from the table and spoke to Dawn.<\/p>\n \u201cYou ready to go to school?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTough luck. Get your backpack. Xander, can you give us a ride?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSure thing.\u201d<\/p>\n Dawn grunted in frustration and tossed the magazine aside. Angel picked it up as the girl retrieved her backpack. \u201cWill you be okay by yourself?\u201d Buffy asked him. \u201cWe all have to go to work now.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI think I\u2019ll survive being alone,\u201d Angel answered dryly. \u201cI\u2019ve got tons of practice at it.\u201d He looked up from the magazine at her and curiously asked, \u201cWhere do you work?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m a councilor at the high school,\u201d Buffy said proudly. \u201cWillow substitutes there sometimes. That\u2019s where she\u2019ll be at today.\u201d<\/p>\n Angel stared at her blankly. \u201cYou work at the high school?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe irony isn\u2019t lost on any of us,\u201d Xander assured him. \u201cYou girls ready to ride in the Xander-mobile?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat anything like a clown car?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShut up, Tall, Dark, and Dead.\u201d<\/p>\n Angel smirked at the fact that he was getting under the boy\u2019s skin. \u201cWhy don\u2019t you just take my car? I\u2019m not going anywhere at this time of day.\u201d<\/p>\n A wide grin came across all three girls\u2019 faces. \u201cYou mean the convertible?\u201d Willow asked. \u201cIn full daylight with the top down and everything?\u201d Angel smiled at the enthusiasm. \u201cKick ass. Where are the keys? I get to drive. Can I please drive?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI wanna drive it,\u201d Buffy pouted.<\/p>\n \u201cYou drove it last night,\u201d Willow countered.<\/p>\n \u201cKeys should be in my coat pocket,\u201d Angel tried to interrupt<\/p>\n \u201cBut that was at night,\u201d Buffy argued. Willow wasn\u2019t going to back down. \u201cPaper, rock, scissors on three. One, two, three! Damn!\u201d Willow\u2019s rock beat her scissors. \u201cHow do you always beat me?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBecause you\u2019re predictable,\u201d Willow said as she retrieved the keys from Angel\u2019s coat. \u201cYou have a fetish for sharp things.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFine. But I get shotgun.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI want shotgun!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cRace you to it!\u201d<\/p>\n In a flash the girls were rushing out to the car. Angel chuckled at their squeals of excitement and flipped through the magazine. \u201cSo where are you two heading?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m consulting for the Natural History Museum. Xander is off to some construction site or another.\u201d<\/p>\n Angel\u2019s brows raised in shock. \u201cI don\u2019t know which is more surprising. The fact that Xander\u2019s job doesn\u2019t involve grilling meat products, or that someone actually trusts him with heavy machinery.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHere, here,\u201d Giles agreed softly as he grabbed his briefcase. Xander watched as Giles headed to the car, swearing that the Englishman had made some crack against him. He finally turned a dirty look at Angel.<\/p>\n \u201cI hate you,\u201d Xander stated.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd I don\u2019t care. Ta ta.\u201d Xander huffed in anger before leaving. With the house now silent, Angel could read in peace.<\/p>\n \u201cHoly shit! Destiny\u2019s Child is breaking up? This is a sad day.\u201d<\/p>\n ***<\/p>\n Lilah barely looked up when the body of one of her \u2018security\u2019 guards came crashing through the office doors. The burly man fell in a heap just short of one of the guest chairs. Lilah continued to sign her name to various documents.<\/p>\n \u201cHello, lover,\u201d she called. \u201cBeen a while. You here to pump me for information, or are you just here to pump me?\u201d<\/p>\n Wesley stepped over the unconscious body of Lilah\u2019s Chief of Security and took a seat. He propped his feet on the desk and glanced at his former lover with a strange little smile. He was pleased when he finally unnerved her enough with his staring for her to finally look up.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat do you want?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWant? Lilah, I am shocked and appalled that you would presume to think that the only reason I would visit you is if I wanted something.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSo why are you here?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh, I want something.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOf course you do.\u201d Lilah tossed her pen aside and leaned back in her plush leather chair. \u201cBut first, let us dispense with the pleasantries. So, how are you? Have you been doing alright since that little apocalypse we had?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI wouldn\u2019t take that tone with me, Lilah. After all, I did save your life during that little apocalypse. And if I am not mistaken, Angel saved your sorry ass several times as well.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAh, Angel. How is the vampire with the perpetually sloping forehead?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI was hoping you could tell me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWesley, I am shocked and appalled that you would presume to think I would know how he is.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cKnock off the charade, Lilah. Angel\u2019s been gone for a couple weeks now. He left after defeating the Beast.\u201d<\/p>\n Lilah gave that evil little grin that always seemed to make him hard. \u201cWhich, if I\u2019m not mistaken, would be around the same time that everyone\u2019s favorite link to the Powers gave birth. Whatsa matter, soul-boy couldn\u2019t handle the fact that his little bitch was carrying a child that wasn\u2019t his? And I thought he had values.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd I thought you had intelligence. You ever call Cordelia a bitch again and I will rip your heart out of that Grand Canyon you call a cunt. Do you understand me?\u201d<\/p>\n Lilah was surprised when she felt an inkling of fear run through her body. \u201cSo what do you want from me?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, Lilah, if you had been following the conversation, you might have been able to deduce that I want to know where Angel is.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd what makes you think I would know?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBecause you\u2019re obsessed with Angel.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh, pfft! I am not obsessed with Angel!\u201d<\/p>\n Wesley smiled slightly. His expression clearly bore his disbelief. \u201cWe both know that I was thinking of another woman when we were together. And we both know you were thinking of another man when we together.\u201d Lilah tried to object.<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t lie to me, Lilah. Angel turns you on. The mere thought that he could rip your throat out without blinking is nearly enough to make you come. So as you said, Lilah, let us dispense with the bullshit. Where is your fantasy man?\u201d<\/p>\n Lilah was silent for several moments as Wesley continued to smirk at her in that self-assured manner of his. \u201cI don\u2019t know. I honestly don\u2019t. I\u2019ve sent out feelers to see if anyone has noticed him, but so far, nothing. Wherever Angel is, he apparently doesn\u2019t want to be found.\u201d<\/p>\n Wesley smiled and nodded. He figured Lilah was telling the truth. There was a slight quiver to her voice whenever Angel\u2019s name was mentioned. \u201cYou do realize,\u201d he said perfunctorily, \u201cthat if I discover that you are lying to me, I will snap your neck. And if that thought turns you on, you are far more disturbed than I imagined.\u201d<\/p>\n Wesley stood up with a flourish and bowed slightly. \u201cGood day, Lilah.\u201d<\/p>\n Lilah waited until Wesley had disappeared before losing her temper. Jerking a lamp off her desk, she threw it across the room. Noticing the unconscious body on her floor, she shouted out into the hall. \u201cWill somebody remove this asshole?\u201d Dejected, she buried her face in her hands.<\/p>\n \u201cI hate Watchers and I hate fucking vampires.\u201d<\/p>\n