Things pick up where they left off at the end of "Peace Out", with Angel stunned to see Lilah emerge from the back office of the hotel.

Angel stands and says Lilah's name. She repeats his in response and asks if he thinks he's the only one who got to come back from hell. She asks if someone could bring her some "ice water."

Angel asks what she's doing there.

Wes stares at Lilah and quietly says it isn't her, it can't be.

Lilah reminds him of the signed dollar bill in his wallet that says otherwise ("Slouching Toward Bethlehem").

Wes turns away from her saying "It's a lie."

She quips, "It's Li-lah." The others just look at her. Lilah sighs and asks Angel to use his "preternatural senses" to confirm she is who she claims to be.

Angel tells Wes it's true, it's Lilah.

Fred wonders how that could be possible considering she was dead.

Angel looks at a smiling Lilah and tells the others she still is.

Gunn asks if she's a vampire.

Lilah is repulsed by the suggestion. She offers, "Angelus did drink from me, that's true, but like with most men, it was a one-way street. I was dead already."

Angel crosses his arms and leans against the wall.

Lilah reminds the others Wes made sure she'd be spared, "just in case" as she pulls down her collar revealing the scar from her decapitation ("Salvage").


Wes looks away.

Lilah assures him it's okay, "I never felt a thing."

Wes is sure that's true.

Gunn is confused, if Lilah isn't a vampire and she isn't alive, what is she?

Lilah answers she's just the messenger, once she's finished she'll be sent "straight back to hell."

Gunn wonders who'll be doing the sending.

Angel answers, "Wolfram and Hart." He realizes Lilah's contract with them extends beyond death (referencing his conversation with Holland Manners in "Reprise").

Lilah confirms that, the "standard perpetuity clause." She advises a reading of the fine print is always a good idea.

Angel wants to know what the game is.

Lilah sits down on the couch, smiles, and answers there is no game. The game is over, they win. She's been given the authority to make them an offer.

Fred can't believe Lilah would think they'd want anything she could possibly offer.

Lilah figures they won't want it, but they'll take it because it's the offer of a lifetime, "Just not, you know, mine."

---

Lilah sits on the couch amidst an uncomfortably long silence as the others ponder the offer she's made. Each of the gang starts to say something, thinks better of it, then looks at the others.

Gunn finally breaks the silence, asking if Lilah would "run that by us one more time."

Lilah wonders what part of the offer wasn't clear.

Fred answers, the part where she offered them W&H.

Lilah clarifies, it's just the LA branch.

Lorne repeats Lilah's clarification, then exasperated, asks what the hell she means by that.

Lilah tells them they've won. The Senior Partners are moving out, they're giving that territory to Angel and the gang. They're willing to give them controlling interest in the LA. office to prove it. They get "the building, assets, personnel, letterhead, paperclips, all of it" and they can use it any way they choose.

Fred reminds her the LA. office of W&H doesn't exist, it was destroyed by the Beast ("Habeas Corpses").

Lilah tells her it's back, "restaffed and zombie free." She adds it's bigger and better than ever and they want to give it to Angel and company.

Gunn still can't quite grasp they want to give them their "evil law firm", pointing out they aren't lawyers.

Fred adds they aren't evil either, at least not currently.

Lilah stands and tells them she's offering a "a turnkey, state-of-the-art, multitasking operation." What they choose to do with it is completely up to them.

Angel asks why the offer is being made.

Lilah reckons it was obvious, they've earned it. It's a reward, a thank you for ending world peace.

Fred protests that characterization.

Lilah doesn't see how it's wrong.

Wes points out Jasmine was creating a "slave state."

Lilah muses, "Right, where the slaves are full of giggly joy and love. Ugh, what a nightmare."

Angel reminds her Jasmine was eating people.

Lilah figures they knew what they were getting into.

Lorne isn't so sure of that, asking, "Her stomach?!?"

Lilah says there's a price for peace, Jasmine understood that. She turns to Angel and asks how many people Jasmine ate per day, "a couple dozen souls"? She reckons that price for ending the suffering of millions was worthwhile but, she notes with a broad smile, they "fixed that."

Fred protests, then agrees they did stop it but it's not like Lilah is making it sound.

Lilah sarcastically offers her comment wasn't intended to be a criticism. She notes she's running late and starts to leave. She tells the others a limo will be waiting outside the hotel just before dawn if anyone wants to take the "grand tour."

Before leaving she turns to face them, offers two thumbs up and a "Hey, good job!"

---

Mayhem reigns in the city as people roam the streets looting and vandalizing in the aftermath of being released from Jasmine's spell.

Connor walks down the sidewalk, seemingly oblivious to the chaos around him. He pauses a moment, looks up and sees a man standing at the edge of the roof of a nearby building.

Connor approaches the man on the rooftop as the man paces and mutters to himself at the roof's edge. The man is a uniformed police officer. He's clutching his gun to his chest with both hands.

Connor asks him if he's okay.

The cop says he lost something, something he needs. He shouts he can't find it.

Connor sits on a cement barrier and tells the guy he understands, it'll be okay.

The cop reckons Connor can help him search for what he's lost.

Connor doesn't think he can help with that. He says it's gone.

The cop stops pacing, looks at the gun in his hands, then points it at himself and raises it toward his face.

Connor gets up and grabs his wrist, stopping him. He tells the guy he doesn't want to do that. He suggests he put the gun away. Connor guides the cop's hand in putting the gun back into his holster. He tells him he's going to go home and not do anything stupid.

The cop asks, "Home?"

Connor asks if he has one.

The cop suddenly remembers as he pulls his wallet out of his pocket and shows Connor a photo of his wife and daughter. He says that's his family.

Connor's compassion gives way to anger, upset the cop was willing to leave his family like that. He asks how they'd feel if he hadn't come back. The cop has no answer for that which makes Connor angrier. He tells him he has to know that as he shoves him.

The guy apologizes, saying he wasn't thinking.

Connor starts to walk away, stops, then turns and punches the guy, knocking him down. He asks how he feels now.

He continues to brutally beat on the cop as he punctuates each blow with, "Think about this!"

---

In the back office at the hotel, Wes sits at the desk, making marks on a map. He notes the location of Angel's fight with Jasmine, saying she was heading east. He figures she was probably moving toward Cordelia. He reckons if they find Connor, they'll find Cordelia too.

Gunn takes a seat on the opposite side of the desk, noting Connor needs a leash.

Wes looks at the map, suggesting they work outward, "in an ever expanding perimeter."

Gunn figures that's going to take a very long time.

Wes is open to a better idea if Gunn has one to offer.

Gunn thinks they could use some extra help, a few more employees, "or a turnkey, state-of-the-art, multitasking operation."

Wes is skeptical Gunn would even consider that an option.

Gunn says he knows it's an option, he was there when Lilah made the offer. He wonders how long Wes can be satisfied with "sticking pins in maps and blowing dust off your books."

Wes doesn't say anything.

Gunn apologizes for putting it that way.

Wes says it's okay, conceding his books are a little dusty.

Gunn notes that wasn't what he meant. He knows it must have been difficult for Wes seeing Lilah like that.

Wes agrees it was a little awkward, "You decapitate a loved one, you don't expect them to come visiting."

Gunn notices the "loved one" reference.

Wes dismisses it, saying it's just a "figure of speech", but doesn't sound particularly convincing.

Lorne enters the lobby. Angel asks him if he came up with anything.

Lorne answers he didn't get any information on Cordelia and Connor. He says things are a mess outside and considering everything that's happened this year, that's saying something.

Wes and Gunn enter the lobby from the back office. Angel asks what they've found.

Wes admits they haven't come up with much more than Angel already gave them. He doesn't figure they'll find Connor if he doesn't want to be found.

Angel is determined to find him. He says they'll do whatever they must to find Connor and Cordy.

Gunn starts to suggest they consider --

Angel, knowing what he's going to say, glares at him and curtly cuts him off asking what they should consider.

Gunn backs off and offers they consider Wesley's earlier suggestion in the office, "working outward in an ever expanding perimeter."

Angel tells Gunn it's up to him if he wants to get into the limo when it arrives. He says he can't make the decision for any of them but they should know that before they even enter the building, they'll be corrupted. He grabs his coat and heads for the door.

Wes asks where he's going.

Angel answers he's going to find Connor, see if he can get lucky and pick up his trail. He leaves.

Fred starts to say she can't believe Angel thought Gunn meant --

Gunn heads upstairs to bed.

Fred looks at Wes who checks his watch and says he should be getting home, it's late. He glances toward Lorne who's standing behind the desk with a drink, then looks back at Fred. He bids them good night and leaves.

Fred watches him go.

---

Fred exits her room at the Hyperion, carrying her shoes in her hand. She sneaks down the staircase and exits the building. She puts her shoes on as she keeps walking toward the W&H limo parked at the curb.

She stops. Wes comes up behind her and tells her he doesn't know how long the car has been there, it arrived before he did.

Fred thought she'd be the only one.

Wes reckoned he wouldn't be but he's surprised Fred decided to check out the offer.

Fred offers an explanation, she figured if W&H were up to something --

Gunn joins them and finishes Fred's thought, saying they should know what it is.

Wes notes it's the three of them then and wonders what the odds were the humans would be the most corruptible.

Fred walks toward the limo, leading the others, as she wonders if they shouldn't go back inside the hotel. She wonders what happens if Angel is right in his warning.

Gunn offers the possibility Angel is wrong, besides they're just taking a tour.

Wes reckons if they go into it with their eyes open and keep their wits, "there shouldn't be any --"

From off to the side, just outside the gate, Angel offers, "Surprises?"

The others are surprised to see him there.

Angel crosses the sidewalk to the curb with a casual "What the hell" as he opens the limo door.

The car's stereo is blaring, Lorne is in the back seat, enjoying the bar, complaining he understands it's an "evil limo" but "Does that mean you don't restock the cherries?" He greets the others with a sheepish, "Hi!"

---

The elevator doors slide open. Angel, Gunn, Wes, Fred and Lorne exit and enter the spacious lobby of W&H. The place is bustling with employees, each cheerfully greeting "Mr. Angel" as they walk past.

Angel figures there's no way this is going to go well.

Lilah approaches, leading a group of W&H employees. She greets Angel and company, not surprised to see them there. She suggests they get started, they have a lot to see. She offers to introduce them to their "guides" as she looks toward the foursome accompanying her.

Angel notes the plural, one for each of them.

She confirms that, saying there are five of them, each with their own interests and areas of expertise. She reckoned this was the most efficient way of dealing with it, "prioritize and personalize."

Angel figures her strategy is more on the lines of "divide and conquer."

Lilah notes his cynicism, figuring he'll fit right in.

Angel tells her they won't split up, they arrived together, they'll take the tour together. He looks to the gang for support on that.

Gunn is captivated by the attractive, statuesque woman among the "guides" and asks if he gets her.

Lilah signals to someone who rolls up a cart filled with weapons of various types. She points out they could have blown up the limousine if they'd wanted to harm them. She offers they can arm themselves from the weapons selection if it would make them feel more secure during their visit. "Just because we've tried to kill or corrupt every one of you at one time or another doesn't mean we can't be trusted."

Angel's expression shows him trying to work the logic of that statement.

Wes looks at Lilah and says she's right, they're "honorable" in their own way. He doesn't think they're in any danger.

Lorne points out Lilah told the truth about the limo.

Gunn, still staring at the attractive woman among the guides, asks again if he gets her.

Fred picks up an assault rifle from the weapons cart. She's ready for the tour.

Lilah introduces Lorne to a mousy guy, Preston, who will show him around the entertainment division. Preston shakes Lorne's hand, telling him he's a big fan. He's made up a list of things for Lorne's eyes only, a rundown of some of the talent represented by W&H.

Lorne says he already knows what's represented there, evil.

Preston flips open the notebook he's holding and shows Lorne the contents.

Lorne gushes that it's everyone he's ever wanted to meet. They walk off together.

Lilah introduces Wes to Rutherford Sirk. She figures they'll find they have a lot in common. The two shake hands. Rutherford directs Wes to follow him and walks off.

Wes pauses a moment to exchange a look with Lilah then follows after his guide.

Lilah introduces Gunn to the attractive woman he's been eyeing, Lacey Shepherd. As they stare into each other's eyes, Lilah notes they'll likely find they have nothing in common.

Gunn smiles and asks if she's going to try to corrupt him.

Lacey says she "wouldn't dream of it."

Gunn reckons they'll have to work on that. They depart.

Lilah introduces Fred to Knox. Fred chuckles while she awkwardly shifts the assault rifle to a less offensive position before shaking Knox's hand. Lilah tells her he's part of their science division.

Fred is giddy as she continues to awkwardly shift the gun out of the way. Knox and Fred depart.

Angel isn't surprised that leaves him with Lilah.

She admits it's "Just you and me, boss." She smiles as she purrs, "Come on, Charlie. Let me show you around the chocolate factory."

---

As Gunn and Lacey walk down a hallway, he notes it was a smart move. Lacey wonders what he's talking about.

Gunn thinks the plan was to separate them so they could isolate Angel.

Lacey smiles, asking if he thinks that's what they're doing.

Gunn reckons it would be a coup for anyone who could get Angel to the dark side.

Lacey wonders why Gunn thinks Angel is their priority.

He asks if she's trying to convince him Angel isn't.

She concedes he's one of them, but adds they all have "gifts" they think would be useful.

Gunn understands what they see in the others; Fred's intellect, Wesley's training, Lorne's mind reading ability, but doesn't see what he has to offer.

Gunn stops, notices the door to the security office and dejectedly notes he thinks he's figured it out.

Lacey tells him they have bigger plans for him.

Gunn is impressed with that.

She invites him to "go upstairs" as she leads him on down the hallway.

---

Knox accompanies Fred down the hall toward the science lab. Fred observes he doesn't look like a lawyer.

Knox laughs, saying he isn't, he's just "R&D, although occasionally some D&D."

Fred gives him a puzzled look.

Knox explains the D&D is "Dungeons and --." He adds they have a dungeon and offers to show it to her later. He notes her lack of enthusiasm for that idea and changes the subject, telling her he manages the science division.

Fred thinks he seems a bit young to be the head of the entire science division.

He corrects her, saying he isn't, he just manages it for the department head which would be her.

Fred reacts with surprise to that as Knox opens the door to the lab.

Fred marvels at the state-of-the-art laboratory. She picks up a small device from a nearby table.

Knox proudly tells her that was one of his inventions as he takes it from her.

Fred suggests he needs to get out more, noting personal organizers have been in existence for quite some time. She adds that it's a nice personal organizer though.

Knox checks the device and tells her he's sure her friend, "Matt Partney at 6200 Crestwood Blvd. in Lubbock, Texas would agree."

Fred asks how he knew that.

Knox explains that the organizer can hack into any electronic device within 100 yards. He cracked her cell phone's address book.

Fred is impressed, noting Knox is like "the MacGyver of Wolfram and Hart."

He says she's not wrong, he can "make just about anything out of a --" He looks around and adds "multi-million dollar lab."

---

Rutherford Sirk leads Wes into a library, describing it as the "ancient prophecies wing."

Wes is unimpressed, looking at the small row of books on the table in the center of the room.

Sirk notes appearances can be deceptive, saying it's the most comprehensive collection of prophecy archives known to exist. He tells Wes to choose something to read, something rare.

Wes answers with "The Devandire Sibylline Codex."

Sirk asks if he'd prefer the Sanskrit or translated version.

Wes answers, "Surprise me."

Sirk is sure he will as he pulls a book from the end of the row. He raises the book to his face, says "Devandire Codex, Sanskrit" and hands the book to Wes.

Wes opens the book and sees the pages are blank, briefly. Suddenly the pages fill with text.

Sirk explains Wes is holding a template that allows access to anything stored in the firm's "locked archives" relating to omens, prophecies, revelations, etc.

Wes is now impressed. He asks if the Watcher's Council knows they stole the only known copy of the codex.

Sirk answers there is no longer a Council.

Wes knows that and asks if that's why Sirk decided to cross the line and play for the other side.

Rutherford notes times are complicated, the lines are blurred these days. He wonders how Wes knew --

Wes answers, "Something about Watchers and --" then punches Sirk, knocking him out. He finishes what he was saying before the punch as he looks around and takes note of the ceiling, "libraries." He ejects a grappling hook type device mounted on his forearm under his shirt sleeve, hooks it to the ceiling and ascends.

---

Lilah leads Angel down the hall toward an office. She lists the perks, "money, clothes, women", then asks if she mentioned they have a juice bar.

Angel wonders if this is the reason she came back from the dead, "to play Let's Make an Evil Deal?"

Lilah opens the doors to a spacious office. She and Angel enter. She says it isn't much, but "the Taj Mahal was a bit of a commute."

Angel wonders if he's supposed to be impressed, noting it's just an office.

Lilah points out the private elevator and asks if he'd like to try it out.

Angel dryly asks if it will drop him into a "vat of holy water."

Lilah smiles, saying she pushed for that but "they went with the motor pool" figuring he'd like to stay mobile considering all the rushing around to save the world he does.

Angel tells her he already has a car.

Lilah informs him he now has twelve.

Angel asks what he's supposed to do with twelve cars.

Lilah answers, "Anything you want. That's the point or haven't you been listening?"

Angel assures her he was listening but he's done now. He's not interested.

Lilah calls to him to wait, saying she's yet to show him the best part. She figures he's going to love it. She hits a button on a remote control that opens the drapes.

Sunlight streams into the office and engulfs Angel. He reflexively throws his hands up in an attempt to protect himself, then realizes he's not burning. He wonders why he's not on fire.

Lilah taps her knuckle on the window and informs Angel it's "necro-tinted glass", all of the glass in the building is coated with it "helps keep those uplifting, wholesome rays from charbroilin' the boss, and they're 30% more energy efficient."

Angel stands in the bright wash of light and closes his eyes a moment, savoring the feel of the sun on his skin.

Lilah notes it feels even better naked and offers to turn her back.

Angel opens his eyes and tells her to close the drapes.

Lilah adds she won't peek, then admits maybe just a little look.

Angel tells her again to close the drapes.

Lilah picks up the remote and hits the switch that closes the drapes with the comment, "Good-bye Mr. Sunshine. Hello Gloomy Avenger."

Angel tells her it's good-bye, he's not accepting the job. He starts toward the door.

Lilah suggests he consider it an opportunity.

Angel wonders what it's an opportunity for, to be part of the problem?

Lilah answers it's that if that's his choice.

Angel informs her it isn't.

Lilah notes, again, it's his choice. She urges him to consider what he could do with W&H's resources at his disposal, the difference it could make. She tells him, "Nothing in this world is the way it ought to be. It's harsh and it's cruel but that's why there's you, Angel. You live as if the world were as it should be. With all this, you can make it that way." She points out people don't need an "unyielding champion", they need someone who "knows the value of compromise and how to beat the system from inside the belly of the beast."

Angel ponders the "belly of the beast" reference a moment, then asks if that doesn't generally mean one has been eaten.

Lilah concedes it could mean that, but in the time Angel has wasted discussing it, six people have died. She retrieves a file folder from the desk and suggests he not worry about that, "There's always six thousand more around the corner, or just up the coast." She hands the file to Angel.

Angel opens the folder and reads the notation, "Sunnydale".

Lilah points out the amulet in the envelope comes with the file saying, "Apparently it's crucial for some kind of final battle."

Angel examines the amulet.

Lilah notes the amulet seems to be in short supply in Sunnydale, "A bit gauche for my taste but, hey, not a Slayer."

Angel puts the amulet back into the file folder and confidently assures Lilah, "Buffy can handle herself."

Lilah responds, "But isn't it more fun when you handle her?"

Angel tells Lilah to keep the information as he tosses it onto a table, he's not interested. He starts to leave.

Lilah calls after him, asking if he's not interested in this case, how about "Open homicide? Missing persons?"

Angel stops in his tracks.

Lilah is satisfied with herself, saying she knew there was a reason he took the tour. She notes she's "dead, not stupid."

Angel asks what she knows.

Lilah admits she doesn't know anything but he could find out in seconds with a phone call. She picks up the phone and hands it to him.

Angel reluctantly takes the phone from her, considers it a moment, then hangs it up. He tells her he's truly sorry for what happened to her, but he and his friends will be leaving now.

The phone rings, Lilah answers it. She hears what the other party has to say then hangs up. She tells Angel the Senior Partners would like him to test "all the amenities" before making a decision.

She picks up the remote and pushes a button. A panel on the wall slides upward, revealing a large screen television beneath it.

Angel is impressed with the TV, asking if it's high definition as he moves closer to it.

There is a newscast on the screen, reporting a hostage taking situation at a local mall. The reporter shows pictures taken in the store by the security camera and notes the police are trying to identify the suspect from the images.

Angel sees Connor on the television screen. As he stares at the screen in stunned silence, Lilah notes Connor really does have his father's eyes.

---

Angel has Lilah by the throat against the wall. She suggests he be careful, her head comes off easily.

An angry Angel accuses her of setting up what's going on.

She reminds him she's been busy with being dead.

Angel demands that she, the Senior Partners, whoever is responsible, stop what's happening. He tells her to make a phone call.

Lilah denies they had anything to do with it.

Angel figures she knows who did.

Lilah tells him she's looking at him, "You're the one who raised him, or didn't."

Angel releases her.

Lilah clears her throat and mutters, "Can't imagine how the kid turned out postal."

Angel gets in her face and angrily tells her she doesn't know anything about his son, he wants to keep it that way. He turns toward the door.

Lilah tells him the offer is a one time only. If he walks out, the deal is off. If he stays, he gets it all.

Angel tells her people like her, W&H, that's what's wrong with the world and he'll never be a part of that.

He considers a moment, looks at the security camera image of Connor on the television screen, then tells her, "Not the way you're hoping." He gets back in Lilah's face and says he'll tell her what the deal is going to be.

---

Gunn and Lacey are taking an elevator ride. Gunn looks at her and smiles, noting it's a long ride. He asks just how big the building is.

Lacey checks her watch and tells him, "It's time."

Gunn asks what it's time for.

Lacey looks at the elevator's numerical panel.

Gunn follows her gaze and sees the button to the "white room" appear at the top of the panel.

As Lacey reaches out and pushes the button, Gunn hopes they aren't going where he thinks they're going.

Lacey tells him, "The answers you seek lie within the room."

Gunn says the only thing he's seeking is the lobby. He pushes the lobby button repeatedly, noting he'd "already rubbed elbows with Little Miss Muffet once, don't need a repeat with her replacement." He says he thought he was getting seduced, then adds, "I'm getting screwed all right --"

The elevator dissolves in a bright white light.

Gunn finds himself standing alone in the white room. He shouts they have the wrong guy, "This room is for the big --"

He's interrupted by the sound of growling. He mutters, "Cats."

A black panther appears in the white room and walks toward him.

Gunn's thinking, at this point, he preferred the little girl.

The cat stops in front of Gunn and stares up at him. Gunn locks eyes with it, his reflection mirrored in the panther's green eyes. The green of the cat's eyes reflected in Gunn's own. They continue to stare at each other.

The panther roars.

---

The mall sporting goods store is surrounded by police cars.

Connor has the hostages in the store wired with explosives. A little girl cries. Her father whispers to her to shut up.

Connor hears that and grabs the guy, reminding him he told him to "be nice."

The man apologizes.

Connor notes the guy isn't holding his daughter right, he asks why.

The man says he thinks Connor broke his arm.

Connor coldly tells him to "Do it right."

The guy embraces his sobbing daughter and tells her it will be okay.

Connor, satisfied with that, walks away.

He moves over to a collection of vehicle batteries he's gathered on the floor and continues wiring them.

He senses Angel's arrival as Angel appears on the balcony behind him, on the other side of the store. Connor expected Angel would show up.

Angel leaps over the balcony, to the store floor below.

---

Wes drops through the ceiling of the W&H file room. He punches the employee he finds inside and knocks him out. He looks out over the sea of file cabinets spread out before him then starts checking the labels on them, one by one. He finds what he's looking for and opens the drawer in one of the cabinets.

Lilah enters, noting she expected he'd end up there, she wondered how long it would take.

Wes asks how he did.

Lilah says he was slower than she would have thought, "But then you always did like to take your time." She notes he made it, got past the exterior of W&H to where the details of every scheme, every secret, every evil "great and small" is recorded. She says to imagine what he could accomplish with that information.

Wes realizes Lilah wanted him to see the files, she knew he'd get there.

She asks who knows him better than she does.

Wes reckons she doesn't know him as well as she thinks.

He thumbs through the files in the open drawer as Lilah asks what he's doing. He pulls a file out and notes, "Standard perpetuity clause." He slams the drawer shut and holds the file up to Lilah.

She realizes he broke into the file room to get her contract.

Wes pulls a lighter out of his pocket and lights it. He says he's there to release her from the contract.

Lilah reaches for the contract. Wes pulls it away from her, telling her she's suffered enough. He turns his back, setting fire to the papers. He tells her he wants her to find some peace as he drops the flaming papers to the floor.

Lilah notes his gallantry, assuring him she knew the deal when she signed up.

Wes looks at the ashes that were the contract and says, "It's done."

She tells him to look in the drawer.

Wes opens the file cabinet drawer and finds a fresh copy of Lilah's contract has replaced the one he burned. As he looks sadly at the copy, Lilah quietly says, "Flames wouldn't be eternal if they actually consumed anything."

He looks at her. She smiles and tells him, "It means something that you tried."

---

As Connor straps explosives to himself, Angel slowly approaches him from behind. He calls his name. Connor doesn't answer.

Angel continues walking toward him. A small explosion goes off, startling Angel.

Connor suggests he might not want to move, he's rigged the people too. He tells Angel he can't save all of them, he can't tell who will go first. He says it could be any of them as he gets to his feet and faces his father. He notes it could be himself, or "her" as he steps aside revealing Cordelia, still unconscious, lying on the floor strapped with explosives like everyone else.

Angel tries to get Connor to listen, telling him it's about Jasmine.

Connor says she's gone.

Angel tells him he understands, they all felt the "perfect love" and how it felt having to give it up.

Connor violently shoves some items off of a display and shouts that he didn't feel anything. He can't feel anything. He realizes he really is Angel's son after all, "cause I'm dead too."

Angel tells him he's not dead, his life is just starting.

Connor shouts no, Angel just wasn't there before.

Angel chokes back the emotion as he tells Connor quietly, "I know. I'm so --"

Connor cuts him off, shouting at him not to apologize, it won't fix anything.

Angel tells him he loves him.

Connor reckons it's just another lie.

Angel assures him it's not.

Connor thinks it's always a lie, not even his dead mother could love him.

Angel tells him he's wrong, Darla did love him.

Connor believes she knew she couldn't.

Angel tells him she sacrificed herself for him, because she loved him.

Connor concedes Angel tried to love him, at least he thinks he did.

Angel says he still loves him.

Connor answers that with, "But not enough to hang on, dad. You let him take me. You let him get me." He quietly repeats, "You let him get me."

An emotional Angel works hard to keep it together.

Connor looks down at Cordelia, remembering she told him she loved him. He asks where she is now. Tears slide down his face.

Angel tells him he has to believe there are people who do love him.

Connor reminds him Jasmine believed Angel when he told her he loved her and it was a lie.

Angel counters she was the lie.

Connor angrily denies that, saying she knew if they found out who she really was, they'd turn against her and she was right. He looks at Angel, then at the hostages, and says none of them deserved what Jasmine could give them. She wanted to give them everything.

Angel understands how that feels because he wants to give Connor everything, take back the mistakes, help him start over.

Connor knows that isn't possible.

Angel believes it is, telling his son they can change things.

Connor quietly notes that death is the only thing that ever changes anything, "Everything else is just a lie. You can't be saved by a lie. You can't be saved at all." He reaches for the detonator.

Angel punches him and rips the wires out of the explosives strapped to Connor's waist. Connor punches Angel then grabs a hand weight from a display case and hits him with it. He picks up a baseball bat and takes a swing at Angel who avoids getting hit with it. Connor tries again with the bat.

Angel picks up a bowling ball and smashes Connor in the face with it. He grabs Connor and tosses him into the counter.

As Connor is momentarily stunned, Angel frees the hostages and directs them to get out. They flee the store.

As he starts to disconnect the wires from Cordelia, Connor jumps him from behind. Angel punches him. Connor takes another swing and misses as Angel ducks out of the way. Connor backflips into the air, lands on his feet and kicks Angel in the head. Angel gets back to his feet. They continue to exchange blows. Connor tosses Angel across the store then heads for Cordelia.

Angel breaks a glass display case filled with hunting knives and retrieves one. He tosses it at Connor, sinking the blade into his leg. Connor falls to the floor.

Angel moves over to him and pulls the knife out of Connor's leg. He pulls him up and flips him over onto his back. He grabs Connor by the front of his shirt and pulls him up to a halfway sitting position as he holds the knife poised over him.

Angel tells Connor he really does love him.

Connor asks what he's going to do about it.

Angel answers, "Prove it", then brings the knife down in a violent slashing motion toward his son.

---

Lorne is in the lobby of W&H, cheerfully singing. Fred joins him. He welcomes her and pulls her into a dance. He gushes about the firm and the "secrets of the universe" he's learned like, "Siegfried evil. Roy, not so much." He notes he's also learned that balance is really important.

As they continue their dance, Lorne tosses Fred into a spin, sending her bumping into Wesley who has returned to the lobby. She notes they're all making their way back, some more slowly than others.

Wes says there's a lot to consider.

Gunn steps off of the elevator. He strides confidently toward the others. Fred notes the change in his demeanor and asks if they made him taller?

He tells the others he's accepting the offer. He hopes he's not the only one but if he is, that's okay too.

Wes hates to admit it but he knows that they could accomplish a lot with the resources of W&H.

Fred asks Wes if he's saying they should accept the deal.

Angel arrives and says he already took it.

Fred is stunned to hear that.

Wes looks for confirmation of what Angel just said, asking if he took the deal.

Angel mutters, "Executive decision."

Wes didn't think Angel would --

Lilah arrives and offers an ending for Wesley's observation, "Know a silver platter when he's handed one?" She looks at the others and notes she's impressed, they've all grown up.

Angel asks Lilah if everything is taken care of.

She tells him Cordelia is being cared for, "probably getting a manicure and a blow dry as we speak."

A surprised Fred asks if she found Cordelia.

Lilah answers she's still comatose but that doesn't mean she can't look good. She assures the others Cordy will receive the best care available, if there's a way to get her back, they'll find it.

Angel tells her there's one more matter, he wants to see him.

Lilah reminds him that wasn't part of the deal.

Angel reminds her of her "value of compromise" comment earlier in the office and says he needs to see him.

Lilah concedes Angel is the boss. She hands him the Sunnydale file, along with the amulet, and notes a limo will be waiting outside to take him to see Connor.

Angel looks at her and offers a genuine thank you. Lilah leaves.

As Angel walks past the others on his way to the limo, Fred watches him go then asks, "Who's Connor?"

---

The limo travels a long, winding mountain road in daylight. When it's dark, the car pulls to a stop. Angel exits and walks slowly up to a house, nestled in the trees.

He tentatively peers through the window and sees Connor sitting at the table with his new family; father, mother, aunt and younger sister. They're seated around the table laughing and enjoying dinner. They discuss his college options.

The father proudly notes Connor has the choice of any school he wants.

Connor says it isn't important.

The mother thinks otherwise, pointing out his excellent SAT scores.

The aunt asks if he and "Tracy" are going to try to go to the same school.

The father offers good-naturedly that's not a great idea.

Connor says they haven't discussed it.

The father says he loves her, but he still doesn't think it's the best way to go.

The sister teases Connor about his girlfriend.

Connor asks about going to college overseas, maybe Russia. He wonders if there's any place further away than that.

The mother chides him for even joking about that.

The father raises his glass and offers a toast to Connor's SAT scores.

Connor gets up, laughs and stops him, saying it's his special day, he gets to make the toast. He picks up a glass and offers a toast, "To family."

They join in the toast then continue laughing and teasing each other.

Angel watches, his expression bittersweet. He turns and slowly walks away as laughter from the house fills the night air.

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