PART 9

It was almost half an hour later that a sheepish Emma and Willow made their way downstairs to where everyone was still waiting for them. "Sorry... it was my fault" Emma said.

"No, it was mine" Willow said.

Leo sighed, "It doesn't matter. Let's just get started." He had the nasty feeling that his daughter had been pumping his charge for information on that vampire and wanted to get Emma's mind away from him as quickly as possible. "I've talked with the powers and they insist that we know as much as we need to know... however some of the other white lighters have heard some rumours about what is to take place. They said that the demon that killed Buffy and attacked Emma will be leading the charge and something called the scourge... is involved too."

"What's the scourge?" Willow asked confused, she'd never heard of it.

"They're a demon army that want to purge the Earth of all human life and half-breed demons," Cordy answered before Wes could. "Even vampires... they don't consider them real demons." Everyone sat there and stared at Cordy in shock. "What? Did you all think I was some sort of brainless bimbo, who answered phones and got visions?" Cordy asked.

Everyone was silent for a moment and then Wesley spoke, "Of course not dear."

"Don't lie" Anya suddenly said, "Xander said she's a brain-dead bitca."

"Xander's the one who's brain-dead" Wesley replied.

Before a fight could break out, Angel turned the topic back to the battle. "We've fought the scourge before... they won't be easy to get rid of."

"No demon is ever easy to get rid of," Prue said.

Cole chose that moment to enter the manor, "Hi everyone. Sorry I'm late."

"See what I mean," Prue added wryly.

After much debate and a fist fight between Anya and Wesley, the scooby gang and Angel, Cordy and Wes headed back to their hotel, promising to return the next night. When they'd gone all of them looked at Emma curiously. "What did I do now?" she asked.

"Nothing" Phoebe said, "I'm just trying to picture you being friends with them."

"She was a different person then" Andy argued. He'd been silent all since they'd come downstairs and seen Emma and Angel's little chat.

"I don't quite know what to make of all this" Prue said. "They're here to help and that's all that matters to me. Come on Andy, I'll drop you home" Prue added seeing that he was spoiling for a fight, not that she blamed him, who would want to find out that your girlfriend's soulmate was a vampire and not you.

As Prue and Andy left, Cole who had sat there utterly confused since he'd walked in asked, "Who were those people?"

They all looked at each other and broke out into laughter, which bewildered Cole even more. Phoebe, Cole and Trisha left and Piper, Leo and Emma went to bed. Each hoping that tomorrow they'd find something new to help them in this battle, which was sure to be the worst thing that any of them had ever lived through.

***

A couple hours later Emma was still awake, no matter how hard she tried to fall asleep she just couldn't. Her mind was still reeling over everything and she decided that a quick patrol might help tire her out so she could finally get some sleep. She left the manor and had only taken a few steps when she bumped into someone. "Sorry" she mumbled trying to move past, but they grabbed her arm.

She was about to attack when the person said, "It's okay... it's just me."

"Angel?"

"Yeah" he answered nervously, "Why are you out so late?"

Emma smiled at him, "I couldn't sleep. What about you?"

"I... uh... didn't want to leave you," he mumbled softly. He was freaked to be near her, but even more freaked to be without her... she was after all his destiny. They just needed some time to get to know each other again.

Emma heard what he said and suddenly, without knowing what came over her, she was in his arms kissing him. A little voice in her head started screaming ‘you don't know him anymore, twenty years can change a person', but that voice was nearly drowned out by the one from her heart that kept telling her ‘this is right, you belong here'.

Angel could hardly believe that he was holding her in his arms again; it had just been so long. "Oh Buffy" he murmured.

Emma tried not to laugh, but couldn't hold it in. Angel broke away from her and looked at her like she was nuts. "Sorry" she told him, "It's just... well... that's not my name."

"What?" Angel asked feeling confused and deprived.

"You called me, Buffy. That's not my name."

"What is your name?" Angel asked her somewhat embarrassed. He'd practically attacked the girl and he hadn't even asked her name... he hadn't done that since before he was a vampire.

"Emma" she told him, she thought his embarrassment was cute.

"Emma... I like it" he told her still embarrassed.

"I like you" Emma teased. She regretted it the moment it popped out of her mouth, she was afraid that it would give him the wrong idea about their relationship... if they had one.

"Just like?" Angel asked. He really wanted to know the answer... he knew that he was still in love with her, the Buffy part and he liked what he saw of the new parts, but what did she feel for him?

Emma's smile faded and she swallowed nervously. "Angel... I don't know. I mean I have all these feelings and I don't know if they are mine, hers... or ours..." she told him unable to meet his eyes.

Angel looked at her and gently lifted her face up to meet his, "I understand."

Emma kissed him on the cheek and said, "I'd better get back in... I'll see you later."

"Night" Angel told her. He watched her go inside and waited until her light went out, then he slowly walked away, already anticipating their next meeting.

***

When Emma came downstairs the next morning she was in a fantastic mood, she was smiling and dancing around singing some old song. Leo saw this and was suddenly suspicious as to why she was in that great of a mood. "Good morning. Why are you so cheerful?"

"I'm young, healthy, having a great hair day... and in serious like" Emma replied, "Isn't that reason enough?"

Leo took a deep breath, it seemed that his baby liked that vampire. Suspiciously he asked, "How much in like?"

Emma stopped bouncing around and the smile fell from her face when she realised what her father was asking. "Don't you trust me? I told you we couldn't do anything because of the clause... Anyway we so do not know each other well enough to do that."

"Well you did go out last night?"

"I went patrolling" Emma said.

Leo looked at her, "What did you slay?"

"Nothing, Angel was outside. We talked and then I came right back in" Emma defended herself. She knew that her father was worried about her, but history just seemed to be repeating itself. Last time around she'd had to defend herself to the scoobies over her seeing Angel and now this time it was her dad. "Daddy... I'm not promising that I'll never see him, but I promise nothing is going to happen."

"I know and I'm sorry baby," Leo said hugging her. "It's just you're my little girl and the thought of anyone doing anything with you... well it makes me crazy."

"It's okay daddy," Emma said. She did understand she was his only daughter and child... he didn't want to lose her. "I'm going to go get Trisha and then we're going jogging in the park, okay?"

"Okay" Leo replied. He watched her leave and let out a deep breath, he'd almost driven her away with his suspicions about Angel and he realised that his little girl was growing up. Unfortunately he didn't want her too, but he'd eventually learn to deal with it and he also knew one day, sooner than he even probably realised, he'd have to let her go.

***

Later on that afternoon, the scoobies and A.I gang were holding a meeting to discuss the night before in Angel's room. "She's so young!" Xander exclaimed, "Can you believe how young she is? We were never that young."

"We were even younger" Willow reminded him.

"I didn't know Buffy" Tara said, "But this girl seems nice."

"I don't even know what to say to her" Giles added, "I know she was our Buffy, but..."

"You didn't ask her name" Anya interrupted them.

"Excuse me" Giles said, "What are you talking about?"

"You didn't ask her name. I seriously doubt her new parents were stupid enough to call her Buffy" Anya said.

"Anya's right" Willow agreed. She suddenly felt guilty; she'd had a long talk with the girl and not even asked her name.

"Buffy isn't a stupid name" Joyce muttered under her breath, "And Hank named her not me."

Angel suddenly spoke up from his brooding corner, "Her name is Emma."

Cordy looked at her friend and asked him, "Did the host tell you that?"

"Uh... no."

"Ooh, she told you while we were looking at their Book of Shadows" Willow suggested.

"Not exactly."

"Well then?" Wesley asked him.

"I... kind of went back there," Angel said quietly.

They all stared at him in shock, and then Xander began yelling. "What were you thinking? What about the clause? You'd endanger us all, so you could get there first?"

"Shut up Xander, you stupid moron" Cordy told her ex. "You have no idea what you're talking about. Angel's soul is bound... it was a reward from the PTB for... service." Since everyone seemed to buy that, she didn't have to tell everyone that he'd received it for not to giving into any sort of happiness when he slept with Darla.

Suddenly Dawn flew across the room and into Angel's arms. Hugging him she said, "That's so great." She meant it too, unlike her mother she'd always believed that Buffy and Angel had meant to be. Now with Buffy reborn as Emma and Angel's soul being bound... they could finally be happy together.

"Congratulations Angel" Willow told him, her thoughts mirroring Dawn's.

"Well... it's good to know that we're not going to die" Xander said.

"At least by my hands" Angel told him, thinking about the upcoming battle with the scourge

PART 10

That night when the gang arrived at the manor, they found the witches in a foul mood. "What's going on here?" Giles asked. He was confused as to what was going on, they all seemed fine yesterday and now...

"When we checked the Book of Shadows this morning, we found a new part to the prophecy" Piper said. "It gives a time frame for the battle."

"Show us" Giles simply said. Leo led Giles up to the attic, where he read:

The battle will occur one and seven
After the memories regain
The killer of her former self
Shall try to bring hell to Earth
Only the joining of the warriors
And the greatest sacrifice
Can defeat this

"Emma? Angel?" Giles asked Leo.

"Yeah" Leo responded. "Emma thinks it means something will happen to Angel."

"It's possible" Giles conceded. "Of course Angel will jump to the conclusion that it has to do with Emma. Maybe it has to do with us. With them losing a friend or family member."

Leo didn't want either of Giles' suggestions to come true, he wanted everyone to survive... even Angel. "We should get back downstairs, Piper's libel to convince them all that they face impending doom," Leo told Giles.

"Why would she do that?" Giles asked confused, Piper seemed like such a sensible woman.

"Phoebe had a vision this morning, it was Emma leaning over someone's body" Leo said, "And Phoebe won't say whose body it was."

"And Piper is convinced it's one of us?"

"Why else would Emma lean over the body" was all Leo said as he headed out of the attic, leaving Giles to follow.

***

When they came downstairs they saw everyone standing around uncomfortably, it seemed that no one had moved from their places since their arrival. Giles moved over to his group and began to fill them in on the rest of the prophecy, after many startled gasps and major cases of denial Angel spoke. "It has to do with Emma... something's going to happen to her."

Giles sighed, "Well she's convinced it's you who will sacrifice something."

"That's rid..." Angel started to say something and then he remembered thanksgiving, when he sacrificed his humanity to save her.

Giles continued, this time addressing all of them. "I actually believe this refers to the death or deaths of some of us... a sacrifice on our part." He noticed Piper give Phoebe a dirty look as he was saying this and the actual look on Phoebe's face seemed to confirm his theory. Emma looked pale and withdrawn, he felt sorry for her... it seemed as though she couldn't win with this, it was either her or Angel that would most likely die or one of her friends or family. He went over to her and said, "Maybe you should call your watcher and fill them in on this."

"I can't... She's at the watcher's retreat in London" Emma replied her voice devoid of emotion, "I don't know how to get in touch with her."

"Then call your white lighter" Leo told his daughter. He was concerned why she hadn't turned up already; she always seemed to be there the second she found out anything.

"I don't think that's a good idea, dad" Emma replied. She really didn't need to deal with this... when they saw who her white lighter was...

"Call her" Leo insisted, "She should be here."

"Okay" Emma said, "But you're responsible for any trouble this causes." Emma took a deep breath, as the others looked at her curiously, "JENNY!!!!!"

PART 11

Suddenly a bright blue, shimmery light appeared in front of Emma and when it dissipated there stood Jenny Calender. A startled gasp ran through the scooby gang and Angel went about four shades paler than usual, suddenly Giles stepped away from the group and towards her. "Jenny?" he asked softly not daring to believe his eyes.

She had, had her back to all of them, facing her charge, but when she heard Giles' voice she took a deep breath and turned around. "Hello Rupert" she replied cautiously. Jenny may have appeared calm on the surface, but inside she was reeling... she really hadn't expected to see any of them again... especially not here. The only logical explanation for their appearance was that they'd somehow found out about Emma.

Giles took another step towards her. "It's you, but you're... you're dead" Giles said totally confused.

Jenny looked at him and replied, "Yes, I am Rupert." She felt acute sadness at the look on his face; he looked as though his heart had been shattered into a million pieces after being handed a shot at a dream.

"But... how is this even possible?" Willow asked. She knew that Jenny was Emma's white lighter... did that mean white lighters were dead people? And if so that meant Leo was dead too... she was really confused and decided it was better to not understand it.

"I'm a white lighter" was all Jenny could say. They were forbidden from discussing anything to do with how they become white lighters with mortals, demons and witches.

Xander walked slowly around the room and over to near Jenny and when he was in position, he reached over and poked her with his finger hard.

"Hey" Jenny yelled rubbing her arm. "Xander Harris, why did you feel the need to poke me?"

"I was... umm... checking if you were real" Xander mumbled embarrassed. He actually couldn't believe he'd done that; he'd poked his ex-teacher to see if he could stick his hand through her or something, what was he thinking.

Restraining the overwhelming urge to hit Xander across the head, Jenny turned back to Emma and asked, "So what is going on? They won't tell me anything... something about it being your decision if I am to know."

"Well don't look at me... I'm totally clueless about this. In fact I didn't want to call you, dad made me" Emma said grumpily, she could already see the affect of Jenny's presence on the others.

"Why not? I am your white lighter... you're supposed to come to me for help" Jenny objected.

Emma pointed at the scoobies, "Look at them... they are all freaked out. Especially Angel."

Jenny looked at the scoobies, she hadn't even noticed they were there; she saw that they all looked shocked, except for Angel who was practically catatonic. "I see your point... but it's my duty to be here" Jenny replied feeling guilty over the trouble she seemed to be causing. "So what's going on?"

Leo pulled Jenny aside and tried to explain what he knew about the upcoming battle and their part in it, including the fact that Emma now remembered her life as Buffy, the prophecy, the scoobies part in it and how he knew Willow and Tara.




Over the next few hours the scooby gang recovered enough to help in a battle strategy session (including Angel who could now mutter some words and not just stare at Jenny with glazed eyes), everyone was decidedly uncomfortable... except for Giles and Jenny. They were staring at each other with puppy dog eyes and grossing everyone out, finally Joyce spoke up, "For God's sake, get a room and get it out of your systems. We're trying to save the world here."

Before anyone could respond there was a knock at the front door. After a few moments Emma got up and said in her most sarcastic voice, "No... don't anyone rush... I'll get it." She walked to the door, leaving the stunned group behind her and she slowly opened it. "Andy? What are you doing here?" she asked all of the sarcasm draining from her voice.

"Em... I think we should talk" Andy said trying to restrain his anger and frustration. He'd gone over and over the night before's events in his head and he realised that Emma had been pretty well cosy with that vampire. It had taken him months to get that close to her and he walks in off the street and she falls at his feet, even if she had known him before it just wasn't right... especially since he'd been in the room with them and had seen it. He'd decided that he was entitled to some answers and he wanted them now.

"Sure" Emma replied nervously. She knew that she'd have to explain this sooner or later to Andy... she'd hoped for later when she'd worked out her feelings for them both, but Andy hadn't given her that time.

They sat on the front steps of the manor in silence, both knowing they had to talk but neither knowing exactly how to begin. Andy finally broke the silence, "That vampire... do you love him?"

Emma noticed the pain in Andy's voice, but answered truthfully. "I don't know" Emma said, "I don't know what I'm feeling anymore... for either of you."

Andy looked at her, the woman he loved, "Then there's still a chance for me?"

"I guess" Emma replied. "There are some things you should know about Angel..."

"Okay... tell me," Andy said, trying to come off as the better man.

Emma said, "I just thought I should set your mind at ease... he can't... do anything..."

Andy stared at her in disbelief and relief, "He's impotent?"

"No!" Emma yelled. "He has a clause in the curse on his soul... he can't do... without going evil."

Andy finally understood what she was saying; she was telling him that nothing of that sort would be going on between her and the vampire. "And there shall be no evil vampires here" Andy said.

"Yeah."

"So do you need some help in there?" Andy asked hoping she'd say yes so he could keep an eye on them together.

"The more people there are, the easier the research" she replied as they went inside.




"Well as interesting as this is... not. I have to patrol" Emma said a couple of hours later. She was going nuts, Angel and Andy were sniping at each other, and Giles and Jenny were playing footsie and her dad kept looking at her as if she'd grown a second head and she had no idea why.

"Need some help?" Angel asked. His goal was to spend more time with Emma, get to know her and he couldn't do that with her family or that pipsqueak hanging around. Patrolling on the other hand sounded ideal; he could get in his demon pounding for the day and spend time alone with her.

"Sure" Emma replied. This was good she'd finally get some time alone with Angel... to see if he'd changed, talk and basically just stare at his gorgeousness.

"Me too" Andy piped up. There was no way in hell that he was letting that guy be anywhere alone with his girlfriend, especially patrolling where it's all dark and sexy with that whole danger factor.

"You want to patrol?" Emma asked carefully, "Remember last time you tried that and you almost got us killed?"

"I said I was sorry... Please Em" Andy begged putting on his pouty face. He was hoping that it would work with her just like it worked on his parents and every other girl around... unfortunately Emma was not an ordinary girl.

Emma sighed, "Okay, but at the first sign of real danger, you're gone."

"Fine" Andy said happy to get his way and over the expression on the vampires face.

"Sorry" she whispered to Angel as they left the manor.

"I understand" Angel replied. The truth is he did, Andy was a part of her life and she had to give him a fair chance... luckily Cordy had said that both parts of the prophecy had said that he and Emma had to join, so he had no doubt that he would be the victor... well little doubt.






They'd been hanging out in the graveyard for twenty minutes and no vampires or demons had shown, of course why would they when Angel and Andy's constant bickering was loud enough to wake the dead. "Would you two shut up? No demon is going to come anywhere near here with you two yelling at each other" Emma said for the fiftieth time.

"He started it" Andy hissed at her. He wished Angel would go back to the manor, everytime he turned around they were comparing stakes or joking about some old memory.

"No, you did" Emma replied. She was starting to wonder what the hell was wrong with him; she and Angel weren't doing anything so why was he acting like a stupid jerk. She felt Angel stiffen beside her, "What?"

"Vamp... it's coming" Angel whispered.

"WHAT?" Andy yelled.

"On second thoughts it's not coming" Angel said, "You're little boy here scared it off." Angel was so mad, that moron had ruined everything, first his chance to have Emma to himself and now his chance to take out his built up rage on a vampire.

"Calm down, he didn't mean too" Emma said holding Angel back from tearing Andy apart, even though she wanted to do the exact same thing. She wanted a good slay as much as he did, but she wasn't about to kill someone because of it.

"No..." Angel was being stubborn.

"Hey, maybe if you weren't into killing your own kind, we wouldn't have to worry" Andy said.

Emma simply walked away from them; she didn't want to have to deal with their bickering as well as her own problems. She left them there in the cemetery to fend for themselves, long past the part where she cared if something attacked them.




Into the early hours of the morning the meeting dragged on and after the emotionally charged patrol, she'd turned in. She was woken a little while later by the door to her room opening and she sat up, "Hello?"

"Hi" Dawn said coming fully into the room. She hadn't meant to startle Emma, she was just still so curious about the person her one time sister had become.

"It's okay" Emma replied, grateful that it had been Dawn and not Angel or Andy. She'd had enough of those two to last her a lifetime. "Did you want something?"

"Not really, they're taking a break and..." Dawn wasn't sure what to say.

"You were curious" Emma finished. It was totally understandable, at one time this girl had been her sister and she wanted to know about her. "Wanna sit down?"

Dawn sat on the edge of her bed and stared at her. "I kind of expected you to look like her... or at least blonde. I wanted so much to see something of her in you physically, but you're so different." Dawn sighed, "I miss her... you."

"I miss you too, Dawnie. You know this time around I don't have a sister... just Trisha and she's my cousin. It's not the same thing" Emma replied. "At least now you're the eldest... you always wanted to be."

"Yeah, but I kind of could of done without the death bit to get it" Dawn said. "So you and Angel... What's going on?" Dawn asked hoping Emma was nuts about him, they deserved another chance.

"I don't know... when he's around things get confusing" Emma told her. "When Andy's around it's comfortable... Angel equals much confusion and butterflies in the tummy. I'm not sure what that's all about."

"It means you like him more than you like Andy" Dawn told her. "Just like Gunn and me."

"Gunn?" Emma asked, she didn't know who he was.

"He works for Angel... in fact he's minding the agency while we do this" Dawn said. They fell into silence for a few minutes and then Dawn asked, "Where did you meet that Andy-guy anyway? He's dopey."

"He's not... much. Anyway his dad is a family friend, so I kind of grew up with him" Emma answered.

Before Dawn could say anything a voice yelled, "Dawn... it's starting again." Dawn smiled at her and said, "I'd better go. Good night."

As Dawn was about to leave the room Emma said, "Dawn?"

"Yeah."

"If you want an honorary, slightly freaky younger sister..."

"I'd like that. See you later" Dawn said leaving the room and closing the door.

Emma laid back and decided that this time Dawn didn't seem like such a spoiled brat... maybe it was life with Joyce, or maybe she'd just grown up. That was something Emma hoped she'd get to do and not die again anytime soon... especially not in some great sacrifice.




PART 12


When Emma came downstairs the next morning she found the whole house in darkness and realised that the scoobies must all still be here. She walked into the kitchen and through bleary eyes noticed two figures at the table. "Morning" she mumbled to them, sitting down next to them and laying her head down on the table to go back to sleep.

One of the people got up and left the table, leaving Emma alone with the other. "Good morning... uh... Emma" Giles said unsure about how to talk to this young girl.

Emma looked up and squinted at him, "Hey Giles... Sorry, I'm still kind of tired."

"From leaving Angel and that boy in the graveyard last night?" Giles asked her. He was confused as to why she would do that, she seemed like such a responsible young girl and when he'd asked Jenny she'd just laughed at him.

"They totally deserved it... they were fighting and scaring away all the bad guys" Emma defended her decision. "Besides I bet they didn't even notice I was gone until they wanted some comment refereed."

Giles was shocked to realise that this girl had hardly any resemblance to Buffy and yet seemed to contain some of the more vocal aspects of her personality, her parents had said she was once a shy girl who could barely speak in public and now since the return of the memories, they couldn't shut her up. "Most likely, however..."

"It was shirking my sacred duty... blah, blah, blah" she mocked what he was about to say. She didn't want to hurt Giles' feelings, but she wasn't stupid she knew that leaving them alone like that was a bad choice she hadn't seen any other option though.

"Yes, well... I think they need me back in there" Giles said standing up and quickly leaving.

"Giles?" she said, but it was too late he'd already gone.




Emma was still sitting there when her Uncle Cole walked in a few minutes later. "Hey kid... what did you do to the old British guy? He's more anally retentive than before."

"I mocked his watcherness" Emma answered depressed, "Nothing new... I've pretty much always done that." Emma felt guilty; she knew Giles hadn't deserved to take the brunt of her hurt pride. "So what's going on in there?" she asked changing the subject.

"Nothing... every plan we come up with..." Cole trailed off. "Phoebe had another vision, this one was about the battle and not anyone of us dead... that's a good thing...right?"

"Yeah" Emma said trying to reassure her uncle. Cole had just as much to fear from the scourge as Angel had, his half demon status would make him a target immediately and she had a bad feeling that Phoebe knew about it and had chosen to keep quiet. "I'm sure we'll all be okay," Emma added.

Cole noted her uncertainty, "Kid... you know you're my favourite niece..."

"I'm your only niece."

"Love ya Emma" Cole told her giving her a hug.

"I love you too, Uncle Cole" Emma replied hugging him back. As she watched him go she realised how serious he thought this was... he'd called her Emma and not kid, with that she realised that he didn't expect to survive the battle.




Emma joined the group a little while later and smiled at Willow and Dawn who'd saved a chair for her between them. She listened to battle strategies and assorted other plans and realised that they were grossly unprepared for what lay ahead... in fact with things the way they were, the chances of actually surviving this were dwindling. "So, the battle begins tomorrow night and all we've got is ‘fight ‘til we die'" Emma said.

"Pretty much" Xander replied. He looked at the girl sitting across from him and it suddenly struck him, how much at this moment she reminded him of Buffy. She was looking over their plan and would go along with what they said and at the last second do something so harebrained that it would work and save them all... at least he hoped that was what she was doing.

"So... that's it," Emma asked incredulously, "Just fight and hope we live. You've got to be kidding me." She couldn't believe that this was their master plan; the one they'd been working on all night. She turned to Angel and Cordy, "How did you defeat this army last time?"

Angel looked uncomfortable and Cordy started to cry. Finally Angel managed, "Doyle... he stopped them from using their machine."

"Who's Doyle?" Prue asked. She'd felt left out of the conversation for days and now they were talking about some guy she'd never heard of.

"He was Angel's best friend and my bo... mine too," Cordy said tearfully. "He was also part Bracken demon... he gave up his life to save everyone else."

Prue knew she shouldn't say it, it would upset a whole bunch of people, but she couldn't help herself. "So this time it's Cole's turn to save everyone's lives."

Phoebe ran from the room and Cole said to his sister-in-law, "Don't count on you being one of them", before following her out.

Everyone else fell silent and Prue looked embarrassed. Finally Xander said, "Cole's a demon... whoa!"




That night everyone was spending time with his or her loved ones. Willow and Tara had gone back to the hotel, as had Cordy and Wes, Xander and Anya went out on the town, Giles and Jenny had disappeared, Phoebe, Cole and Trisha stayed at the manor along with Leo, Piper, Emma and Prue and Angel, Dawn and Joyce went back to the hotel... Joyce and Dawn to bond and Angel to brood.

The charmed ones were spending some quality family time when the doorbell rang. Emma in a generous mood said, "I'll get it." She bounced to the door and was shocked when she saw who was standing there.

"Fluffy... you've changed" Spike declared, "Aren't ya gonna invite me in?"

Emma managed to find her voice, "Spike?"




PART 13


"Emma... who's there?" Prue asked coming into the hallway. She saw a peroxide blonde guy talking to her niece and was curious as to who he was... after all he was kind of cute.

"Emma... that's not as bad as Fluffy" Spike commented. "Hello beautiful" he said to Prue, "Wanna invite me in?"

Before Prue could do it, Emma replied, "I am so not inviting you in... we don't need another vampire on our team."

"And after we were engaged" Spike put on a hurt puppy dogface. "I hope you treat Peaches better than this... although if I remember correctly, he likes being whipped."

"Eww" Emma said. Seeing that he wasn't going to go away she asked, "Why are you even here?"

"The battle... I figured that Peaches could use some help" as he spoke, Spike leered at Emma, "With everything."

Emma wished that she could stake Spike, but she also had a feeling that this time they might actually need his help. "Okay... come in, but no funny stuff" Emma told him.

Spike strolled past Emma with a smile on his face and said, "Jeez, were you this big of a bitch when we were engaged?"

Emma slapped Spike across the back of the head and told him, "One that was Buffy... not me and two it was totally only because of Willow's stupid spell. If you even think for one minute that I ever found you attractive, you're as nuts as Dru."

"Testy aren't we?" Spike muttered strolling into the manor's living room.

Prue came up to her niece and asked, "Engaged to him?"

"Hey... it was totally Willow's fault" Emma told her aunt. Then she added, "I can't believe that he showed up... eww."

"Actually, he's kind of cute" Prue said, "... for an evil bloodsucking vampire."

Emma watched her aunt head off in Spike's direction and made a quick decision. "I'm going to patrol" she yelled and left the manor before anyone could object. She just didn't want to spend the whole night listening to Spike tell the ‘I was once engaged to Fluffy' story.




Angel was lying on the bed in his hotel room thinking about Emma, wondering what she was doing and also if she was thinking about him. She was consuming his thoughts, he hadn't felt this out of control since Buffy, which mad sense because in a way she was actually part Buffy... all he really knew was that somehow he was in love with her. He felt guilty about that, not only was he sort of betraying Buffy's memory, but also because if Emma chose a life with him she'd get none of the things she deserved... sunlight, children and a man who would grow old with her. Maybe it would be better if she picked that whiny, snot-nosed punk Andy after all... he could give her all those things and he even knew about the whole slaying-witch-white lighter-thing she had going. He could just settle for being her friend... Who was he actually trying to kid, if she picked Andy, he was going to rip the boy to shreds and then make her see sense, that he was the only one for her. He rolled over and reached for the phone debating whether or not he should call her. He was just about to dial when there was a knock on his door, figuring that it was just Dawn or one of the other scoobies he called, "Come in."




Emma didn't know how she'd actually gotten there, before she even realised it she was standing in front of Angel's hotel room door. She knew that she should turn around, visiting him here... with the clause and all... was just asking for trouble. Next thing she knew she was knocking and a voice said, "Come in." Taking up the invitation, she walked inside. She saw Angel lying on his bed, telephone in hand staring at her in shock. "Hi" she whispered nervously.

"Hi" he said back. He put the phone down and explained, "I was just going to call you."

"You should've... you could've talked to Spike. He showed up about an hour ago" Emma told him.

"Spike?" Angel said, "Is he still telling those bogus engagement stories about Buffy and him?"

"Uh, Angel... umm... they're not exactly fake" Emma replied.

"WHAT?"

"Willow cast a spell to have her will done after Oz left. Well she thought it hadn't worked and then suddenly Buff... I was engaged to Spike, Giles was blind and every demon in Sunnydale was after Xander" Emma told him, "So technically the stories aren't fake."

Angel shook his head, "I can't believe that no one told me that."

"Well, it's not like your so forth coming at telling people stuff" Emma said.

"Like what?" Angel asked her.

Emma took a seat on Angel's bed, "Thanksgiving."

he thought, . "What about it?" he asked trying to keep a neutral face.

Emma looked him straight in the eye, "I remember."

Angel started to panic. "Remember what?" he asked playing dumb.

"Morah demon, Santa Monica pier, the kitchen table and you making another Buffy-life-altering decision" Emma told him.

Angel was shocked, he couldn't for the life of him figure out how she knew. "How?" he asked her cautiously.

"They gave me back all of Buffy's memories, Angel. Not a brief overview, all of them... even the ones she didn't remember" Emma explained.

"Why aren't you trying to stake me then?"

"Because you've already had twenty years punishment. You've had to live with the memories of that day all by yourself, not able to share them with anyone, because that day never happened for them" she told him.

"At least hit me or something... this just doesn't feel normal" Angel told her.

"Angel... we're not normal," she whispered back.

While they had been talking they had moved from opposite ends of the bed to the middle, right next to each other. Angel looked into her eyes and then kissed her. She was perfect and with this kiss she seemed to be saying she was his, but he had to be sure. Angel broke the kiss and said, "We can't..."

"The clause. I almost forgot" Emma said starting to get up.

Angel grabbed her arm, "The clause is gone. I was talking about Andy and you..."

"Since I picked you, I really don't see..."

Emma never got to finish; Angel pulled her down to him and kissed her again. "You really picked me... I don't think I believe it," he said finally.

"Well, it felt like you believed it" Emma replied breathless.

Angel looked at the woman in his lap, "Are you sure you want me?"

"I'm into brooders," she said kissing him again.

Angel continued kissing her and as his hand began to creep underneath her top, he stopped. "Em... are you sure?" he asked not wanting to pressure her into anything.

"I've never been surer," she told him.

"More sure" he corrected her.

Emma laughed. "Whatever" she said pulling him to her for another kiss.

For the next few hours the only talking that occurred was a faint whisper between the lovers and they became one once again.





PART 14


Emma was disorientated when she awoke a little while later, she didn't know where she was just that it wasn't her own bedroom and it was when she rolled over and bumped into a solid mass that the nights events came back to her. She looked up and found Angel was already awake and staring at her, "Hi."

"Hi yourself" he replied, "How are you feeling?" He was paranoid that he'd hurt her or something earlier.

"Terrific" she told him. Emma stretched her tired muscles and asked, "What time is it?"

"Four" Angel answered, "Why?"

"Because if I don't come home my dad will come looking for me" Emma said trying to get up.

"And how will he know where you are?" Angel asked pulling her back into the bed. He didn't want her to go, it was probably the last chance they'd have together before the battle.

"I guess I could call and say I'm crashing at Chris'" Emma told him.

"Good idea" Angel said kissing her. A moment later he stopped and asked, "Who's Chris?"

"You can stop panicking, Chris is short for Christine" Emma replied giggling. She thought it was cute how Angel got all jealous and protective.

"I wasn't panicked" Angel denied. He couldn't believe how easily he'd fallen back into the whole ‘stay away from my girl' thing.

"Sure you wer..." Emma began, but Angel silenced her with a kiss and silenced reigned once more.




Meanwhile at the manor everyone else had arrived and Leo was having a panic attack over Emma's whereabouts. "I knew we shouldn't have let her patrol last night" Leo kept telling Piper, as he paced the living room.

Piper who had her own suspicions about her daughter's whereabouts, kept quiet. However Spike who wanted to cause some trouble said, "Anyone check with Peaches? She's probably shagging the great poof right now."

Leo stilled at Spike's suggestion... hadn't the powers told him the exact same thing, that the warriors would most probably consummate their relationship before the battle. He hoped that was true compared to the alternative... that his baby girl was lying dead in a graveyard somewhere, possibly killed by that demon again. If he had to choose between his daughter with Angel and his daughter dead, he was going to pick the vampire. "Don't be ridiculous... she's probably with one of her friends" Leo told the meddling vampire. He'd had the urge to stake Spike since he'd arrived and then when he began telling those disgusting engagement stories...

"Hey maybe she's shagging some random guy she picked up in a bar?" Spike suggested. He really hated Leo; he was a bigger poof than Peaches.

Prue looked at Spike, "You are an evil little man." After she'd spent the entire evening with him last night, she was wondering why she'd ever thought he was attractive, he had a big mouth and never shut it.

"Actually I'm an evil vampire... I have a chip, not a poofy soul."

Cole on the other hand liked Spike, he reminded him of the old days when he was evil. "He does have a point... if Em thinks she's going to die... maybe she did something crazy" Cole suggested.

"Like shag Peaches" Spike added.

Willow had, had it with Spike. "Your just jealous because you're in love with her and she wants Angel still" Willow told him.

Andy walked in at that moment, "Who is he and why is in love with my girlfriend? It's bad enough I have to compete with that Angel-thing."

"Since she's missing" Spike added, "I think that means she chose the poof." He was desperate to get the conversation away from his feelings for Buffy/Emma and this boy was the perfect opportunity. He also vowed never again to get drunk in front of the redheaded witch again; she was a giant blabbermouth.

A better one walked through the door a minute later, "Hey guys."

"Emma Victoria Wyatt... where have you been?" Leo demanded.





PART 15


"On patrol... there were a heap of bad guys out there last night" she tried to convince them. She knew it was hopeless that sooner or later (most probably sooner) they were going to know about her and Angel resuming their relationship.

Spike, ever the stirrer said, "Do I smell Peaches?"

Emma glared at the vampire and then turned her attention back to her parents. After seeing the look in her father's eyes, she decided that honesty was probably the best way to go here. "I may have... seen Angel," she added softly.

"I do smell Peaches" Spike muttered loud enough for the scoobies to hear him. Willow, who was offended by Spike's little comments, whacked him across the back of the head.

"Emma?" her dad questioned. In his heart Leo already knew the answer and he knew that it wasn't really any of his business she was an adult and had the right to make her own decisions, but it bothered him. He guessed that it always would... after all she was daddy's little princess.

"I was with Angel," she admitted finally and reluctantly.

"I told you" Spike said, "I smelled Peaches."

Willow whacked him again. "Will you just shut up? No one wants to hear your opinion... if we'd wanted it, we would've brought you and not left you in Sunnydale" Willow told him.




Andy sat there on the couch in shock, he'd just heard his girlfriend admit to spending the night with another guy... the exact same guy that she swore nothing would or could go on with. When he'd recovered he stood up and walked over to her, "How could you?"

"Andy..." she began. She never got to finish as he walked out of the manor. Emma felt so guilty, she hadn't meant to hurt Andy but she knew now that it had been inevitable... although she had been confused she'd finally realised the truth, she belonged with Angel.

To break the tension Jenny (the ever faithful white lighter) turned the conversation back to the up coming battle, while Emma almost sank to the floor. Her aunt Prue grabbed her and walked her out of the room, none of the other's paid it any attention.




Prue sat Emma down at the kitchen table and sat across from her. "Want to talk about it?" Prue asked sympathetically.

"About what?" Emma asked, "The fact I'm a necrophiliac or that I just threw away the best friend I've had?"

"Well, your not a necrophiliac, Angel is as alive to you as he is to the rest of us... none of us see him as a dead guy and you may have lost Andy but you still have all of us" Prue reminded her.

"When did you get so smart?" she joked. She couldn't believe how much better she felt talking about it, she and Prue had never been close... she'd always run to Phoebe when she'd wanted an aunts opinion and she suddenly realised what she may have been missing all these years.

"I've been through a few bad relationships," Prue said like it was some big secret. "You ready to go back in?"

"Nope. I don't think I can deal with the whole Spike-thing. I have to listen to him say anything about peaches or poofs... I'll freak out" Emma replied.

"He is pretty disgusting... he keeps talking about someone named Dru and another named Harmony. There are some pretty out there things that he and they apparently did together" Prue added.

"Eww" Emma said. After a moments thought about how he might start talking about what Angelus used to do, Emma told her aunt, "I think we should go back in."

Prue and Emma headed back into the battle discussion and role assignments, each thinking of someone different. Emma of Angel and Prue of the Andy, she had loved... that had died so many years before.




Meanwhile back at the hotel, Angel was going stir crazy waiting for darkness to fall. All he could think about was that he had to hurry to the manor; not only because of the battle but also to see with his own eyes that Emma was all right. Ever since she'd left there that morning he'd had a feeling that something was going to happen to her... something bad. He knew that he was probably being paranoid, but he wasn't willing to take a chance on Emma's life... he'd rather lose his own (again) than for her to lose hers. He sat down on the bed and tried to think it through logically... Emma was not only a slayer, but also a witch she could do that whole orbing thing, that may even save her life this time. He lay back down and inhaled, he could still smell her unique scent on the sheets and he vowed to himself that this time, redemption waiting for him or not... if she died, he was going too.

Go to Part 16