Angel locks the door and turns out the lights. They head upstairs.

Bedroom

They walk in the room. Buffy looks down on the floor at the nightstand drawer.

Buffy: Now explain to me why the drawer ended up on the floor.

Angel reaches down and picks it up and points inside.

Angel: After you explain to me why there is a huge cross lying beside the condoms.

She smiles and plucks it out.

Buffy: Oops. Sorry.

He slips the drawer back in place and walks to the small fridge and gets a bottle and puts in the microwave.

Buffy: Now you can go down and do that in a pot of hot water.

Angel: Funny.

Buffy: On occasion.

He turns around to see her lying on the bed facing him. Conner is lying in the middle of the bed in front of her. He smiles at the image. Buffy smiles back as Conner latches onto her finger. He walks over and hands her the bottle. She test the temperature while he slips off his boots. He lies facing her as she brings the nipple to the baby’s waiting mouth. Angel gets a look of concentration on his face.

Buffy: What is wrong?

Angel: Nothing. I just figured if I was going to lose my soul now would be the time.

Buffy: You that happy?

Angel: Yes.

He laces his fingers with hers and leans over Conner’s head and kisses her. She drops her head down onto her pillow and smiles at him. She closes her eyes contently.

Angel: I have more than I deserve.

She opens her eyes and looks at him.

Buffy: No, you deserve much, much more. And if I was not so tired I would give it to you.

She yawns and closes her eyes. He reaches and takes the bottle from her hand before she drops it. He listens to her breathing fall into the smooth steady pattern of sleep. When Conner drifts off he lays him in his crib and turns back to the bed. He carefully removes her boots and sets them on the floor. He considers undressing her but fears he might wake her so he picks the comforter off the floor and covers her before undressing and climbing in. He shuts off the lamp but continues to watch her slumber until he drifts off himself.

Later.

Buffy rolls over and feels the hard jab in her back. She reaches back and plucks her spare stake from her waistband. She sits up and looks around the room. Slowly the events of the evening come back to her. She fell asleep while feeding Conner. Oh she is so good at the mothering. She hopes Angel is not already regretting his decision. She looks over at him. He is lying facing her. His hair smashed over in a cute most idiotic way. She has to keep from giggling at him. She wrestles in her mind with desire and letting him sleep. She glances under the blanket and then at the wall. She flashes to the morning when she woke with him deep under the covers between her thighs. The memory makes her warmer. Waking up like that was wonderful. But he is so peaceful looking. She continues to argue with her self until she slides onto her belly and under the covers.

She smiles wickedly before running her tongue over his cool flesh. It twitches in response. She draws him into her mouth and gently sucks. The cool member warms from her contact and begins growing. She cradles the base with her hand as she runs her tongues around the silky head. She reaches her other hand out and cradles his sack. She revels in the feel of his flesh against her tongue. As he reaches full arousal he slowly rolls onto his back. She smiles inwardly as she follows his movement. She draws hard on his cock and is treated to a low moan. She runs her tongue over the head and down the backside. The blanket flies off and she tilts her head and strains in the dark to see his face. He reaches out and runs his fingers into her hair. She responds by taking him deep into her mouth and sucking hard. With one hand stroking the base and one fondling his balls, she draws deeply on him.

Angel awakens to a warmth traveling through his body. He soon becomes cognizant of the source and smiles. God it feels good. He slowly rolls over and exposes to his eyes the view of her. Her soft pink lips wrapped around his cock is intoxicating. The visuals are almost as stimulating as her mouth surrounding him. He moans as she draws on him hard. She knows just what feels the best. For a fleeting moment he wonders where she learned but he shoves the question aside. She is with him and she loves only him. He reaches for her hair. He feels his orgasm nearing.

Angel: Buffy, stop before I………

She draws harder and he looses his ability to continue. He falls back on his pillow and lets her have her way. He drifts into a bliss filled paradise as she continues. He opens one eye and watches. He feels his release mounting and he digs his fingers into her scalp as he climaxes. He watches as takes him completely. She continues to lick and kiss his softening cock. He can not remember the last time a woman did this. The last time one sucked him all the way. It was before he was turned. It was a barmaid he thinks. Oh Darla and Druscilla both went down but they always ended up cutting him with their teeth and sucking on his blood and forgoing the orgasm.

He smiles as Buffy slips up beside him. He pulls her lips to his as his hand seeks out her breast. She moans as his thumb strokes her nipple through her clothes. His tongue teases across her lips until given access to her warmer recess. He works at raising her shirt and only breaks the kiss to pull it over her head. His hand stroke her back feeling for the clasp the her bra. He feels her hand slip between them and feels the fabric loosen. He pulls back from the kiss the see her breast exposed to his eyes.

Buffy: Front hook.

He smiles and immediately takes one nipple into his mouth. He gently rolls her onto her back and lays on top of her. His thigh slips between hers. As he leisurely moves his mouth from one pink bud to the other he shifts his hip and presses his thigh into her warm crotch. The smells waft toward him. He reaches for her to unhook her jeans. She stops his hand.

Angel: What’s wrong?

Buffy: Um….nothing.…

Angel: You don’t want to?

Buffy: Of course I do. Just kinda………..

Angel raises his eyebrow and smirks.

Angel: I know.

She looks shocked.

Buffy: Oh god, it turns you on. Well it makes sense, I just never…………

Angel leans into her lips and then back to her breast. His hands slowly unhook her jeans. She lifts her hips and he slides them down her thighs. He moves down as he slips them over her calves and off her feet. He looks up to see her lightly stained panties. He slides back up her body and kisses her. He wraps his arms around her and gently rolls onto his back. She sits up straddling his hips. Her moist hot core pressing against his engorged erection. He watches as she slips her bra off and onto the floor.

Angel: We can stop.

Buffy: No way.

Angel smiles and reaches up to fondle her breast.

Buffy: You once told me all I had to do was ask if I wanted to know what you were thinking.

Angel: I remember.

Buffy: So?

Angel: What am I thinking?

Buffy: Yes.

Angel: Right now I am thinking how hot and wet you are and how I want to please you.

Buffy: Oh, I like your thoughts.

Angel: Me too.

He slides his hands around her back and pulls her down to his lips. As his tongue dances about her mouth she feels his fingers shoving aside the fabric covering her. His fingers slip inside her drenched opening as his thumb presses in her clit. She grinds her hips onto his hands. As his fingers pump in and out he maneuvered her back onto her back. His mouth moves down to latch onto a hard nipple. Her hips shift allowing him to slip between her thighs. He runs his tongue over her nipples and then begins kissing his way down her belly. She takes in a deep breath. He looks up at her.

Angel: You want me to stop?

Buffy: No, I want you to hurry.

He grins broadly and yanks her panties down. He quickly buries his mouth between her legs. He runs his tongue over and around her clit as his fingers resume their ministrations. Soon she writhing on the bed as waves of ecstasy ripple through her. He feels her muscles cling and quiver around his fingers. Once the tremors ease he replaces his fingers with his tongue. Lapping at the outer and inner lips. His erection throbs as he continues to taste her. It begs for release and he soon finds himself rocking his hips against the cotton bedding.

Buffy comes out of her climax induced stupor to notice his self-satisfying activity. She reaches out and touches his head with one hand. He glances up and she points at his pelvis.

Buffy: Hips.

Never letting his mouth lose contact with her sweet flesh, he shifts his hips toward her. Her small hand wraps around his cock and begins a gentle stroking motion. But as his lips latch on to her clit, her movements become more frenzied. Her reaction spurs him to give in kind. But as he feels her nearing another orgasm, he pulls lose of her hand and shift his hips between thighs. His pelvis drives into hers, sheathing him in her wet channel. His lips rain kisses down her neck and shoulder as he scoops her knees onto his arms. She moans in pleasure as he rocks frantically into her. She digs her fingers into his back until they both quake in satisfaction. He collapses beside her.

Buffy: God.

Angel: Uh huh.

Buffy rolls over and drops her head onto his chest. He snakes out hand and stoke her cheek.

Buffy: I need…..

Angel: What?

Buffy: A shower.

Angel: I think we both do.

They continue to lay there.

Buffy: Moving now.

Angel: Waiting on you.

Buffy: Uh huh.

They continue to lay there. Angel lifts her head up and slips off the bed. Her eyes follow him to the door to the master bath. As he flips on the light she rolls over and follows.

He readies the water and they step in. The water cascades over their bodies and the dirt from their day flows away. She reaches over and grabs two puff scrubbers. She squirts the shower gel generously on them. His nose picks up the sweet fragrance of fruit. The smell he will forever associate with her, watermelon. She signals him to turn around and languidly begins washing his back. She works up to his neck and back down. He turns back around and she completes his bathing. She stops and looks into his brown eyes. He leans into her lips and kisses her softly. He reaches and takes the second puff and begins soaping her down. She sighs and leans against the wall. As he finishes her body he reaches for the shampoo. He gently lathers her scalp and as she stands in the warms spray rinsing, he lathers his own. She moves to allow him to rinse. As he closes his eyes and leans back in the spray, he feels her fingers teasing him. He smiles as her fingers encircle his soft member. He looks down into her hungry eyes.

Angel: You are insatiable.

Buffy: And your not?

He glances at his new erection clinched in her hand.

Angel: I guess no.

He pushes her against the wall and runs his fingers between her thighs. He lifts her leg, opening her up and she guides him in. He enters her slowly. She moans into his mouth. He grabs her bottom and lifts her. She wraps her legs around his waist as he presses her against the ceramic tiled wall. As their tongues dance in and out of each mouth, he hammers into her. His thumb traces circles over her clit until he feels her throbbing around him. He pulls back from her lips and emotes a deep groan as he spills deep inside. He almost slips on the wet floor when she collapses against his chest panting.

Angel: Whoa baby.

He lowers her to her wobbly legs. She looks up at him and smiles. He guides them under the warm water. The water cascades over their forms. She leans in for one more kiss before turning off the water. As she steps out, he glances over her body. The beads of water still covering her golden skin. He is mesmerized by her body and is awed by their new relationship.

She throws a towel in his face breaking him out of his reverie. They quickly dry off and enter the bedroom. She begins running a brush through her hair and turns to see him watching Conner sleep.

Buffy: We better get some sleep. We need to get up with Dawn. Want to spend as much time with her as I can.

Angel: She is okay with us leaving?

Buffy: I think so but I do want to fix her breakfast or something before school. Make her know well………

Angel: I understand.

They move toward the bed and climb back in. She curls up against his chest.

Angel: Nite.

Buffy: Nite.

They both fall asleep with smiles on their faces.

Hyperion

Wes is staring at the translations and back at the book. He keeps hoping that it will translate differently. Cordy walks in.

Cordy: Hi Wes. You been here all night?

Wes: Yes. Just want to well, I just need to…

Cordy: Is there a problem?

Wes: No. I just want to get this translated correctly.

Cordy: Right not like that other time. Uh is there coffee?

Wes: Gunn is suppose to pick some up at the store

Gunn and Fred come in the door.

Gunn: Hi all.

Cordy: Coffee?

Gunn tosses her a bag.

Gunn: Gotcha covered. By the way what is with the sudden over indulgence in the caffeine? You got something keeping you up at night? Say something of the male persuasion perhaps?

Fred: Leave her alone.

Gunn: What? She is just been a bit out of sorts lately is all I’m saying. Ever since…….

Fred: So do we have any cases?

Wes: Not at the moment.

Aubrey: Excuse me. Is this Angel Investigations?

They turn to see a woman with short, dark hair standing in the lobby.

Aubrey: I need your help.

Gunn leads her to a chair in the office. She sits down and looks around at the group.

Aubrey: Uh which one of you is Angel?

Fred: He’s not here right now. He uh..

Wes: We save him for the really hard cases. So what can we help you with.

Aubrey: Last Monday night, my son Timothy snuck out of the house. He loved to go to the pier. He loved the lights of the Ferris wheel there. So I went after him. I searched the pier, the arcade nothing. So I sat up all night and waited for him to come home.

Wes: When did he return home? Right before dawn?

Aubrey: Yeah. But his face was... There was something wrong with his face and he was so angry. He was calling me names, and pounding on the door, and screaming at me to let him in. It scared me. I was afraid of my own son. Then he just went up in flames.

Everyone is quiet for a moment.

Wes: If you'd let him in, he would have killed you.

Aubrey: At least he'd still be alive.

Gunn: No. What came to your door that wasn't your son. It looked like your son, but it wasn't him.

Aubrey: Maybe I could have found a way to turn him back.

Wes: When somebody becomes a vampire there is no turning back. No matter how much you want to believe there is some part of him you can save, all that's left is an evil thing.

Wes looks down at his hands, then back at Aubrey.

Wes: You say your son went to the pier that night? Gunn, why don't you do a little recon while it's still light out.

Gunn: I can just gear up and take care of it.

Wes: No. If there is a nest at the pier, we go as a group. Strictly reconnaissance.

Gunn: Okay. Fred and I will check it out.

Aubrey: If I could have found that thing myself, I would have killed it with my bare hands. It made me afraid of my own little boy.

I don't understand any of this. I don't know what to do.

Holts Lair

Aubrey: Wesley Wyndham-Pryce heads the staff at Angel Investigations. Doles out assignments, specializes in reference and research.

Aubrey moves from a picture of Wes to one of Fred.

Aubrey: This woman nicknamed Fred appears to be the resident science expert. It's unclear whether she is a fighter. This is Charles Gunn: big, very strong, could be a formidable opponent. Though he seems to be a bit impulsive. We may be able to use that in the future. And then we have Cordelia Chase. Was not able to see what her contribution to the group was. I can tell she is not there for her coffee making skills. Also not sure if she is a fighter.

Holtz: Good work, Aubrey.

Aubrey: Thanks, boss.

Another room

Two men with quarterstaffs fight against a chained vampire. Justine sits to one side, looking at the pictures of Cordy, Wes, Gunn, and Fred pinned up on a board.

Justine: I don't understand. How can these people work for a vampire.

Holtz: I once made a pact with a demon.

Justine: So you could get to Angelus. So you could kill a vampire.

Holtz: I'm sure they believe their reasons are good, how ever misguided. Things aren't always black and white, Justine, good and evil.

Justine: What about Angelus?

Holtz: He is evil.

Justine sees the vampire attacking the two men as the anchor of its chains come loose. While Holtz sits back and watches, Justine jumps up and engages the freed vamp. After a short fight, she manages to knock it to the floor. She turns to take a sword from a stand and rams it through the vampire's torso, pinning it to the floor.

Justine: Chains would be good now!

The men chain the vampire back up. Justine pulls the sword free, steps back, and looks at Holtz.

Holtz: I knew you were meant for this. We need to get moving. Events are happening even quicker than I could have hoped.

Sahjhan: Thank god. I was starting to get bored.

Holtz turns as Sahjhan materializes out of a shivering air behind him. Justine swings the sword around to decapitate Sahjhan, but it just goes right through him.

Sahjhan: You know, my barber has the same problem with his scissors hence the bad haircut. Love the whole chained, undead look you got going on. Really sets off your furniture.

Holtz: You can stand down, Justine. It's only Sahjhan.

Sahjhan: Only Sahjhan? See that's the trouble with you, Holtz. If you'd only done what you. Can we have a little privacy here?

Justine looks to Holtz.

Holtz: No.

Sahjhan: Fine. You owe me a dead vampire.

Holtz: Yes. Well, how shall I put this? What are you going to do about it? Nothing. That's what you'll do. That's all you can do or else you wouldn't have brought me here in the first place. You've done your part, Sahjhan. Now let me do mine.

Sahjhan: What is your part? Recruiting a bunch of paramilitary moonie freaks, who run around playing Candid Camera with Angel's buddies? That's crap. Admit it. You're a coward and I bet Caroline would agree. You remember her, don't you? Your dead wife? Mother of your dead kids? How'd they die? Who swore revenge? Any of this ringing a bell?

Holtz: Get out.

Sahjhan: Or what? You can't kill me.

Holtz: But I can trap your dimensional essence in a Resikhian Urn. Wonderful devices the urns. They last a lifetime. That is, if you live forever.

Sahjhan: This isn't over, Holtz

Sahjhan shivers back out of existence.

Hyperion

Wes is on the phone.

Wes: I know it's dangerous. I don't care. You're a wizard.

He looks down at The Father will kill The Son on his notepad.

Wes: Because it's the right thing to do. Then because I'm paying you an obscene amount of money. Just do it, and call me back.

Wes hangs up the phone.

Fred bounces in the door, smiling.

Fred: Hey. Wes?

Wes: What is it?

Fred's smile melts away.

Fred: I'm sorry. You're busy. I'll come back.

Wes: No. What can I do for you?

Fred: Nothing. Um, I just wanted to compliment you, that's all. You were really there for that woman, Aubrey, who lost her kid at the pier.

Wes: Thank you.

Fred: And working so hard, staring at all those books. And as a book starer myself I know how crazy making that can be. You should get out of here for a while. Go for a walk. You deserve it.

Wes looks away. A big grin spreads over Fred's face.

Fred: I was thinking: maybe you could call Aubrey. She is real attractive and her paperwork says she's single. She probably needs a friend.

Wes: Fred we're not here to date. We're here to do a job. Now why don't you go to the pier and do your job.

Fred looks at Wes for a moment then turns and quietly walks out of his office.

Lilah’s office

Lilah is on the phone.

Lilah: Is everything alright? Are they taking care of you? No, mom, this is Lilah. You called Lilah. Do you need anything? Do you need money? No mom, I can't come over. I'm in Los Angeles. You know that. Don't cry. Mom, please, stop it.

Lilah looks up as the air in front of her desk shivers and Sahjhan appears.

Lilah: I'm gonna have to call you back.

Lilah hangs up the phone.

Lilah: You don't have an appointment.

Sahjhan: That's it? No 'wow, how did he do that?' No screaming in terror? You twenty first century types are so jaded.

Lilah: You're Sahjhan, aren't you? I may be jaded, but I do my homework. And there's a girl downstairs, she's got records on everything that ever happened. My company rocks.

Sahjhan: Yes. I'm familiar with your firm in this and other dimensions.

Lilah: Great. Let's shorthand. You're a time shifter. You recruited Holtz in the eighteenth's century, put him on ice for a couple hundred years, so he could pop up and stake Angel when he's least expecting it. And considering that I have yet to put on my boogie shoes and dance on Angel's pile of dust, I'm imagining that Holtz isn't working fast enough for you. Which leads me to believe, you think my firm can expedite the process.

Sahjhan: More or less.

Lilah: I hate to disappoint you, but Wolfram and Hart's official policy is to let Angel live until he becomes useful.

Lilah is scribbles on her notepad on her desk.

Lilah: I'm sworn to obey that policy.

Lilah holds up the notepad so Sahjhan sees that she has count me in written on it.

Lilah: Is there some other way I can help you?

Sahjhan looks around the office and clears his throat, then leans in a little closer.

Sahjhan: I have a plan. But first you need to find him.

Lilah: I know exactly where he is. Not sure why he is there but I do know where.

Sahjhan: Pretty sure you know why but that is not my concern.

Lilah: So what’s the plan?

Sahjahn: For it to work, I require a very rare and valuable ingredient. Getting it will be difficult, if not impossible. I need the blood of Angel's son.

Lilah: Got it.

Sahjhan: Got it? What do you mean got it? How'd you get it?

Lilah: I swiped it from his doctor's office. I don't know what good it'll do you though. Boys in the lab looked it over, said it was utterly run of the mill. Completely normal.

Sahjhan: That's because they're looking for the wrong thing.

The Pier.

Fred: So I'm looking for anything suspicious. Like small dark places where somebody could get grabbed, or any blacked out cars or vans, or pale, bumpy people with sharp teeth.

Gunn: I don't think we got to worry about seeing any actual vamps, Fred. The sun's still kinda up in the sky.

Fred: Even so, as professionals shouldn't we always be aware of our surroundings?

Gunn grins: Hey, ring toss! You want me be all macho and win you a prize?

Fred: Charles...

Gunn: Alright. You can be the macho one.

Gunn takes a hold of Fred's arm and pulls her over to the booth.

Gunn: Oh! Look at that stuffed little bunny up there! Think you could win it for me?

Fred: This is so wrong.

Gunn: You're right. I don't want the bunny.

Fred: We're supposed to be working.

Gunn: No, we're supposed to be doing some bogus, half assed recon. That's different then working.

Fred: Still. It's our job.

Gunn: Actually, this was my job. Wes never said to bring you along. Probably wanted me out and about so he could chat up my girl.

Fred: Wesley wouldn't do that. I'm your girl?

Gunn smiles at her.

Fred: Wes knows about us and you knew he knew and you didn't let me know?

Gunn: Come on. You know he was interested in you. And now he knows we're seeing each other, so what?

Fred: So, he's our boss, and I don't think he likes the idea of us dating while we're working together.

Gunn: He said something to you, didn't he?

Fred just looks at him and Gunn lets out a sigh.

Gunn: Well, you got my back, right? You stood up to him and said we're two adults and what we do with our personal lives is none of his business, right?

Fred nods: You bet I, uh didn't. Charles, I like you and I wanna keep liking you.

Gunn: Then do!

Fred: Maybe when we're out like this we should we should just work.

Gunn: No. Can't do it that way. Maybe I'm greedy, but I want it all, the great girl and the great job. I don't care what Wesley says, but I'm not giving up either without a fight. How about you?

Fred shakes her head, her face breaking into a big grin.

Gunn: Good.

He kisses her.

Gunn: Now, how about we go looking for some vampires?

Fred smiles up at him. Gunn wraps an arm around her shoulders and the two of them walk off.

Later

Fred and Gunn walk through the dark and deserted pier.

Fred: We should be getting back.

Gunn: Hang on. I'm getting a tingle.

Fred: Ah I thought we were gonna try to keep that out of the workplace.

Gunn: Not that kinda tingle.

Fred, looking around: Oh. I don't see anything suspicious except for that guy trying to break into that building over there.

Gunn: Carousel closed hours ago.

Gunn and Fred enter the dark building housing the carousel. Fred spots a figure climbing the middle column of the carousel.

Fred: Is that a vampire?

Gunn pulls out a stake.

Gunn: One way to find out.

Fred: Charles, what are you doing?

Gunn: My job. I didn't spend all day walking the pier just to go home and file a report with Wesley. Let's finish this now.

Fred: We're not supposed be doing this.

The carousel begins to turn silently . A door in the middle column opens and a growling vampire steps out between the turning figures. Behind Gunn and Fred another vampire drops from the ceiling, and a third comes up from the other side. Gunn and Fred exchange a look. Justine and another man are watching it all from an opening up in one wall of the building. Justine is also recording it all on a video camera.

Gunn: When I say go, run!

Gunn engages two of the vampires, tricking the third to take down one of his own fellow vampires by ducking out from under his attack.

Gunn to Fred: Get out of here!

Fred: But...

Gunn: Go!

Fred runs out, and Gunn turns back to the fight.

Man: They're gonna kill him.

Justine: Maybe.

One of the vampires has Gunn down on the ground. Gunn hits it across the chin, then catapults it over his head. It flies into the wooden railing surrounding the carousel, breaking it. Gunn picks up his dropped stake and runs after it, plunging the stake home. But even as the first vampire turns to dust, another one throws him across the room. Gunn's stake skitters across the floor as he loses his grip on it. As the man watches, Gunn picks himself back up to resume the fight. After a few blows the vampire grabs him by the throat and lifts Gunn clear off the ground.

Man: Shouldn't we do some...

Justine: No. That's not why we're here.

Fred comes back in just as the second vampire comes up behind Gunn.

Fred: Behind you!

Fred tosses Gunn one of the broken spokes of the wooden railing while picking up another for herself. Gunn catches it and stakes the vampire coming up behind him, while Fred dusts the one holding him.

Justine: Well, what do you know?

Justine and the man leave.

Gunn: Fred why are you still here?

Fred: I got your back! Well, actually I got his back.

Fred smiles at Gunn.

Gunn: Thanks.

Gunn pulls Fred close and kisses her, then wraps her into a tight hug. They just stand there holding each other as the carousel turns silently beside them.

Outdoors

Wes is walking through some bushes looking down at an electronic compass.

Wes: Thirty four degrees twelve minutes north. One eighteen, twenty one, West.

The compass lets out a soft chime.

Wes: This (looks up from it) must be it.

Wes is standing in front of a giant hamburger face with arms and legs and an order here speaker for a nose, outside of a Double Meat Palace. Wes takes quick look around. The lights in the place go out and two guys in yellow and orange walk out.

Wes: You're supposed to be a statue. I guess you are sort of.

The two guys walk off and Wes pulls out a small leather bag.

Wes: If this doesn't work, I'm gonna kill that wizard.

Wes sprinkles the powder in the bag over the hamburger statue, then holds his hand up, palms out, in front of him.

Wes: Mange sec Loa, alegba, accept this offering and open the gates of truth.

A red light flashes and the hamburger comes to life, growing bigger in front of Wes' eyes. Its eyes begin to glow red.

Loa: How dare you call on the Loa?!

Wes: II I come in supplication, oh great one, begging for answers to questions only your power can reveal.

Loa: You have answers, human. You search now, only for the question.

Wes: Is it true? Will Angel really kill his son as it says in the prophecies?

Loa: That the vampire will devour his child is certain. The dark question you harbor is only when.

Wes: No. The dark question I harbor is how do I stop it?

Loa: It can not be stopped.

Wes: It has to be stopped! There must be a way...

Red lighting flashes from the Loa's eyes into Wesley, knocking him to the ground.

Loa: Your insolence is displeasing.

Wes picking himself back up.

Wes: You try chatting with a cranky hamburger.

Loa: You risk your life, human, calling on the Loa. Perhaps what you really seek is death. The pain in your heart begs for it.

Wes: Then do it and be done. Nothing else will stop me.

Loa: Simple mortal, your pain is just beginning. Betrayal and agony lie in wait, and time is running out, yet still you ignore the question.

Wes: Alright then, when? When will this happen?

Loa: The first portent will shake the earth. The second will burn the air. The last will turn the sky to blood.

Wes: An earthquake? That's the first portent? We live California!

Loa: Earthquake, fire, blood. Be heedful of the signs, human, and trouble the Loa no more.

With that the hamburger shrinks down in size and turns back into a lifeless statue.

Bar

Lilah sits down on a stool,

Lilah: I need a drink. Scotch, thirty-year-old, two ice cubes.

Bartender: Certainly.

A guy sits down in the chair beside her and Lilah smiles at him.

Lilah: Not on your best day. Bye.

The guy gets back up and moves further down the bar, sitting down next to another girl. The bartender hands Lilah her drink and she takes a sip. Sahjhan drops down into the chair next to Lilah.

Sahjhan: Sorry I'm late. Kind of ironic, my being a timeshifter and all.

Lilah: It's on.

Sahjhan: It's on?

Lilah: Our plan? The Angel plan? On. I outsourced the labor, buried the cost. We shouldn't have any problems with the firm. Good seeing you.

Lilah finishes her drink and gets up.

Sahjhan: Okay, but lets skip the small talk and get right down to business. I just time skipped a hundred thirty-three years for this meeting. Would a little conversation kill you?

Lilah: Right. Because we're on a date? The only reason I met you here was so we could talk freely.

Sahjhan: So, lets talk freely. Would it impress you if I told you I invented daylight savings time?

Lilah: Why do you want Angel dead? That's the only thing I couldn't find in the archives.

Sahjhan: Boy. All work and no play. I have my reasons.

Lilah: Hmm.

Sahjhan: How about you? Died in the wool company gal? Why risk it all to kill Angel?

Lilah: We have our history.

Sahjhan: Well same here.

Lilah: Are you afraid of him?

Sahjhan: Nah!

Lilah: Then what are you afraid of? You may be insubstantial but I can still smell the fear.

Sahjhan: Wow. Where does the time go? So, when does this plan go into effect?

Lilah: It's already started.

Hyperion

Wes is sitting at a desk. He looks up when someone knocks on the counter and sees Aubrey standing there.

Aubrey: Hi. Sorry to interrupt your staring. You looked really into it.

Wes gets up.

Wes: Aubrey. I didn't hear you come in. Please.

Wes indicates his office and Aubrey walks over to meet him in there. She takes his hand and shakes it.

Aubrey: I got your message that everything was taken care of. I can't tell you how grateful I am to you.

She hands him a check.

Aubrey: It might have been too late for Timothy, but at least those monsters will never get a chance to take someone else's son.

Wes walks around his desk

Wes: Monsters? I don't recall mentioning that there was more than one.

Aubrey: Well, you did say before that there could be a nest.

Wes: Oh. Well, thanks for the check. We'll mail you the receipt.

Aubrey: Look, I know it's none of my business, but are you okay? I mean, no offense, but you look a little rough around the edges.

Wes: I'm not sleeping very well.

Aubrey: Would you like to go out? Maybe get a cup of coffee or something?

Wes: You mean with you?

Aubrey: To be perfectly honest with you I could use a friend right now. Ever since my son was...It gets lonely.

Wes: You're good. I like the lonely thing.

Aubrey: Wh…what?

Angel: Yeah, lonely. That was a nice touch.

Aubrey spins around to see Angel and Buffy, with Conner, standing behind her. Her hand dives into her purse and comes out with a stake. Angel catches her upraised arm and sends her stumbling to the side, making her drop the stake, then follows her, wrapping one hand around Aubrey's throat.

Angel: Moves more like a fighter than a victim, wouldn't you say?

Wes: Yes, I would.

Angel: You set up my friends. Let them walk right into an ambush. They could have been killed.

Aubrey: But they weren't. Your friends are still alive. My little boy isn't.

Angel lets go of her and takes a step back.

Angel: I'm sorry about your son.

Wes: Is that how Holtz found you? Because of what happened to your son?

Aubrey just looks from Wes to Angel and then at Buffy.

Angel: You're right to protect him. Holtz is one of the good guys. He has every right to hate me. And if he ever comes close to one of my people ever again, or tries to touch a hair on my son's head I'll kill him and anyone who gets in the way. You might wanna mention that.

Aubrey takes one last look at Angel and runs out. Angel turns to look at Wesley. The book on Wes' desk starts to rattle as the whole hotel begins to shake from a minor earthquake. Everyone steps into the doorways until everything is stable again. Angel looks at Buffy holding Conner protectively.

Angel: Hey, you okay? ….. Buffy?…… Buffy?

Buffy: I’m fine. I just……..don’t like earthquakes. Might have to do with signaling the opening of one hellmouth.

Angel: That was just the one time.

Buffy: Actually twice.

Angel: Oh. I think you need to sit down

He takes Conner and sets him in his carrier. She sits on the settee and he sits beside her. He wraps his arms around her.

Angel: Buffy, it was just an earthquake not a big portent.

Buffy: How can you be sure?

Angel: Well to start with we are in LA and there is no Hellmouth here.

Buffy: But…

Angel: Sunnydale is 120 miles away. But we can call if you want.

Buffy: No.

She lifts her lips to his.

Cordy: Oh looky, what brings you two here.

Angel stands up.

Angel: Hello Cordy. We came to pick up my tux and also to see if we were needed.

Cordy: Tux? Going to the ballet again?

Angel: No a wedding.

Cordy: No, please do not tell me. You two can’t be serious.

Angel: Not our wedding. Dead guys can not get married.

Cordy: Then who?

Buffy: Xander and Anya.

Cordy: Oh, so they are actually going to do it. Well I hope they are happy.

Buffy: We all do. I want all our friends to be happy.

Cordy: So you drove all this way for a tux. We could have mailed it.

Fred comes down the stairs with Gunn.

Fred: Angel.

She runs and gives him a hug.

Fred: I got the stuff together for tomorrow.

Angel: Thanks.

Gunn: Glad to see you dude. You too Buffy.

Angel: So anything I need to know about?

Gunn: Not really. Fred and I are heading to dinner and the movies.

Fred: Double Feature night.

Angel: Sounds nice.

Cordy: I can watch Conner if you want to go.

Angel: No. I think we will stay home and relax.

Gunn: Well see you tomorrow, don’t want to be late.

Fred: Bye

They leave.

Cordy: So what is Fred doing tomorrow?

Angel: She is uh…she is.

Buffy: She is just running some test for us.

Cordy: Tests? What kind of test?

Angel: It’s not important.

Cordy glances at both of them.

Cordy: Well I guess I will go home too.

Angel: Cordy, it is personal.

Cordy: I get that.

She moves toward the door.

Cordy: You just use to tell me everything.

She walks out. Angel glances at Buffy and sits back down

Buffy: You could have told her.

Angel: I know. Just not ready to go around announcing I am having my sterility checked.

Holtz Lair

The video recording Justine made earlier is playing on a TV screen.

Fred: Behind you!

Holtz pauses it as Fred tosses the wooden spike to Gunn.

Holtz: This tiny girl, outsized, outmatched, outnumbered and she survived. Why? Because she was willing not to. She was prepared to die for the cause rather than abandon her comrade. We, too, must be willing to die but more so. Study this carefully. You'll be fighting these two very soon. Perhaps sooner than I expected.

Holtz, together with everyone else, turns to look at Aubrey.

Holtz: They found you out.

Aubrey: I’m sorry.

Holtz: It's not important. Of course I am rather annoyed you allowed yourself to be followed.

Wes: Don't blame her.

Aubrey and the others spin around to see Wesley standing in the doorway behind them.

Wes: I would have found you eventually.

One of Holtz followers draws a knife and stalks closer to Wes.

Follower: Maybe we should cut out his tongue and send a message to Angelus.

Wes: Maybe.

Wes hauls back and hits the man, dropping him to the ground. Holtz raises a hand to stop others from attacking Wes.

Wes: Or perhaps you could lie on the floor and gag for a while. I didn't come here to fight. I'm not your enemy. But then I've noticed you do have trouble making that distinction. You're fighting the wrong man.

Holtz: Angelus.

Wes: No. Angel. He's not Angelus anymore. He's a good man.

Holtz: He's not even a man.

Wes: Nevertheless he has a soul now.

Holtz: Yes. That he might know the pain that he has inflicted on his countless victims. A brilliant curse, I must admit. Gypsies do have a knack for creative vengeance. Where they fail, however is in the execution of justice. And that I will have.

Wes: If it's a sacrifice you require, take me. Angel's no more responsible for the crimes of Angelus than I am.

Holtz: Really?

Wes: Yes.

Holtz: And was it your hands that held down my beloved Caroline as she was violated and murdered? That wrapped themselves around my son's neck and snapped it like kindling? Were it yours hands that clutched at my daughter as she was turned into a creature damned for all eternity? Angelus is in his nature. The beast will reemerge. You've seen it. You know it. And that is why you are here. You're afraid he's going to kill the child. And you're right.

Wes: Your infiltration was more successful than I'd realized.

Holtz: I don't need prophecies to tell me what is plain. So long as the child remains with the demon, it's not safe.

Wes: Well, I must have misunderstood. Here I thought it was a simple blood vendetta, when what you really want is to protect Angel's son.

Holtz: You don't believe me.

Wes: Hmm. Not sure really. Could be the low scary voice that's giving me trouble.

Holtz' followers look from Wes to Holtz.

Holtz: It's time to make a decision, Mr. Wyndam-Pryce. My army is strong and will only increase in number. Fight against us and this war will become a bloodbath.

Wes: This isn't war. It's revenge.

Justine: What's wrong with revenge? It's all some of us have left.

Wes: Look. I can't know what it's been like for any of you.

Holtz: You might soon enough.

Wes just looks at Holtz.

Holtz: When I put my son's body into the ground, I had to open the coffin, just to know that he really was in there. You also may discover that a child's coffin, Mr. Wyndam-Pryce it weighs nothing.

Wes stands there, not saying a word.

Diner

Fred and Gunn are sitting in a booth.

Fred: You barely touched your food. You feeling okay?

Gunn: Yeah. Yeah. Look. I've been thinking a lot about yesterday. I'm not really mad at Wes.

Fred: You were right though, right? I should have stood up to him.

Gunn: But I understand his position. He's the boss and we got to respect that. His job is to keep things tight and that's a lot of pressure.

Fred: You aren't changing your mind, are you? I mean, about the wanting it all? As long as we're not smooching on the job, or, you know, being sucked underground by a plant demon. I say, why not go for it?

Gunn: What if we can't manage it all? The job, the romance. Emotions are tricky. They can cloud our judgment, you know, like at the carousel last night. What if it doesn't work?

Fred: So we're back to that? What if Wesley makes us choose?

Gunn sits back and sighs.

Gunn: I've been fighting vamps and demons since I was a kid. That sense of doing good of waking up in the morning and making the world safer better. I've always had that.

Fred looks down. A slow smile spreads across Gunn's face as he looks at her.

Gunn: But I never had a Fred before.

Fred slowly raises her head and looks at him. Gunn leans forward.

Gunn: If we have to I choose you. I came on too strong, didn't I?

Fred looks at him, starts to smile.

Fred: No. You came on just right.

Gunn steals a fry off Fred's plate.

Gunn: Look. Lets try not to worry too much. Wesley is a good man.

We see Wes walk down the upstairs hallway in the Hyperion.

Gunn voice over: He'll do the right thing. He always does.

Holts Lair

Holtz watches as Wesley leaves. He turns as he feels Aubrey’s hand on his arm.

Aubrey: I am really sorry. I never knew he was following me.

Holtz: It’s fine. They would have found us eventually.

Aubrey: There is more.

Holtz: More?

Justine walks in.

Aubrey: Another player we missed before.

Holtz: Really and who is it?

Aubrey: I am not sure. When I was talking to Wesley, Angel and this girl slipped up behind me. I turned around and she was standing beside him holding the baby.

Holtz: Name?

Aubrey: Did not have time to ask when he attacked me

Holtz: What she look like?

Aubrey. Pretty, petite, blonde. She didn’t look to be a threat.

Holtz drops into a chair in shock. He looks up at Aubrey

Holtz: You said petite blonde?

Justine: Do you know who it is?

Holtz: It sounds like Darla, but she is dead.

Justine: Darla as in his girlfriend.? The baby’s mother?

Holtz: Get your picture machine. You and I are checking this out.

Justine grabs the video camera and follows him out the door.

The Hyperion

Angel sits on the settee, with Buffy sitting straddling his lap kissing him. His hands gently caress her back. Buffy pulls back and smiles.

Buffy: You have almost made me forget the earthquake.

Angel: Almost. I better keep trying.

He pulls her back to his lips.

Outside.

Holtz and Justine crotch watching through the windows. Holtz’s gaze is focused on the two lovers. He watches her small body perched on Angel’s lap. Her short blonde hair caught in his large hand as they kiss. Justine looks at him curiously. He can not tell. He knows she is dead but he can not tell. His heart lurches at the site of them embracing.

Inside.

Buffy runs her fingers over his buttons and opens his skin for her pleasure. Her hands roam over his muscular chest not knowing they are being observed. She leans in and runs kisses over his shoulder and neck while grinding her hips into his. His nimble fingers unbutton her top and he buries his face in the valley between her breast. He quickly flick open the front closure of her bra and draws one breast into his mouth. She digs her nails into his scalp.

Lorne: Hideee…………

Buffy jerks her shirt closed as Lorne covers his eyes.

Lorne: Sorry folks.

Buffy stands up letting Angel get up and turns to face Lorne. They both quickly button their shirts.

Angel: It’s okay Lorne.

Lorne turns around.

Buffy: Sorry, we got carried away.

Lorne: Good they I did not come in any later.

Buffy: You are probably right.

Lorne: Well crumb cake, I picked up your tux from the cleaners.

He lays it on the settee.

Angel: Thanks. I appreciate it.

Lorne: No problem. So how are you and your little princess doing?

Angel glances at Buffy and she returns his gaze.

Buffy: We are perfect

Lorne: I am feeling that. And I guess congratulations are in order Mommy.

Buffy stares at him.

Buffy: You don’t miss a lot.

Lorne: Not normally. But sometimes I am wrong.

The phone rings, Angel steps over to answer it.

Outside

Holtz (w): I wish she would turn around.

Justine looks at him concerned.

Inside

Angel: You ready for some action?

Buffy: What is it?

Angel: Vampires.

He walks over to the cabinet. He hands her a handful of stakes and she shoves them into the back of her pants and one in her boot. He stoves some in his pockets and grabs an axe. She reaches in and grabs a crossbow.

Lorne: Don’t worry about the little liebsten, I got him covered.

Angel: Thanks. I knew you would.

They head out the front door.

Outside

Holtz and Justine follow them as they take off.

Justine: Is it Darla?

Holtz: I don’t know, but I will find out.

Justine: If it is?

Holtz: She dies tonight.

Warehouse.

Buffy and Angel maneuver into through the partially open doors. They observe the activity.

Angel: Okay, party is over.

The vampires look up at the two.

Vampire: And who are you two?

Buffy: Your worst nightmare.

She flips out a stake.

Vampire: Ooooo scary.

She flicks her wrist and the stake flies into a vampire approaching from the side. He goes up in a cloud of dust.

Vampire: Not bad. But you can’t take us all.

Buffy: Don’t be so sure.

The vampires surround the couple. Buffy and Angel work in tandem. No one is aware the audience of two watching and recording their every move. As the last vampire settles to the ground in dust, Buffy turns to Angel and smiles.

Angel: They always underestimate you.

Buffy: I know, why is that?

Angel smiles: Ready to go home?

Buffy steps forward and he pulls her into his arms.

Angel: I will never underestimate you, my love.

Buffy: You better not.

They turn to leave to find them facing Holtz and Justine.

Holtz: Angelus.

Angel stops in his tracks. Buffy glances from Holtz to Angel.

Buffy: Let me guess. Holtz?

Angel: Holtz.

Holtz: Well I see Angelus has told you about me.

Buffy: Only the parts about you wanting him dead.

She moves herself in front of Angel’s chest.

Holtz: Got yourself a new lover to come to your rescue?

Buffy: I’m not new.

Holtz steps closer and flings water in her face. She glares at him in shock.

Buffy: How rude!

Holtz: You’re not a vampire.

Buffy: Give the guy a gold star. Now if you are done, we have a baby to get home to.

She shoves him into Justine. As they fall onto the floor, she and Angel slip out the door.

Justine: Who is she?

Holtz: I’m not sure, but we need to find out.

Justine: Her skills are awesome.

Holtz: I know and she appears ready to protect him.

Justine: She could not possibly love him.

Holtz: I think she thinks she does.

Later

Angel’s Room

Buffy is lying on the bed watching Angel put Connor in his portable crib. There is a knock at the door.

Angel: Come on in.

Angel lays a fussy Connor down into the crib.

Angel: It's okay. Shh. I'll get you some food. You're hungry, aren't you?

Buffy: Have a nice walk?

Wes: Uh it was uh okay

Angel lights the gas stove.

Angel: Something wrong?

Wes: I've had better days.

Angel sets a bottle into a pot of water on the stove.

Angel: I know the feeling. I figured it out.

Angel goes to sit beside Buffy. Wes stares at him.

Angel: How I really knew about Aubrey. All that pain, that rage. The only way she could deal was to join Holtz, take her revenge. You know how I knew that?

Wes walks over to him.

Wes: Because you would have done the same.

Wes sits down on the edge of the bed.

Angel: It scares me. You know? If anything like that ever happened to Connor, I don't know what I'd... I love my son.

Wes: Love can be a terrible thing.

Angel: I used to think that. But look at me. I have a son and an amazing woman to love.

Wes looks at Angel. Looks down and begins to laugh quietly. Looks back up at Angel, grinning.

Angel: What's so funny?

Angel gets up and goes to check on the bottle.

Wes: Life. Life is funny. Listening to stupid people talking to hamburgers is funny. Worrying about things that will never... It's all so incredibly funny and beautiful.

Angel is drying off the bottle as a second, harder earthquake hits. Pots and pans fall out of the cupboards.

Lilah is looking around her shaking office a smile on her face.

Justine is standing in Holtz lair, legs braced against the shaking. Holtz turns and looks at her.

The lit stove in Angel's suite topples over. A huge column of flame shoots out, throwing Angel across the room. A burning beam drops from the ceiling between Wes and Angel.

Holtz tackles Justine out of the way of a shelf as it come crashing down. Justine looks up into Holtz face as he is lying on top of her.

Angel runs to Connor's crib and gathers his son up in the sky colored blanket he is lying on.

Angel: Come on, kid.

Angel, holding Connor, jumps over the burning girder and heads for the door. Buffy is right behind him.

Looking over, Buffy sees that Wes is just standing there, staring into the flames.

Buffy: Wes, let‘s go!

Buffy grabs a hold of Wes and tosses him out into the hallway before hurrying after him. Angel, bleeding from a cut on his forehead, looks back into his apartment as another chunk of ceiling crashes down where Wes had been standing. Wes, coughing, sits up against the wall. Angel gently rocks Conner.

Angel: It's okay. It's okay. It's alright.

Buffy: Honey, you’re bleeding. Let me take him.

She lifts the baby from his arms. He takes the blanket and holds it to his forehead. Wesley looks at the blood from Angel's head wound coating Connor's blanket. A light blue blanket with fluffy white clouds on it.

Wes: Earthquake. Fire. Blood.

Angel: I thought we were gonna be trapped in there, huh?

He looks at Buffy’s pensive face and then at the wet blanket.

Angel: (smiles) At least I have something to snack on.

Buffy: You are not helping.