Disclaimer: For legal purposes, Joss Whedon, David Greenwalt and the rest of their posse own the characters from the show Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel the Series. BUT IN ALL OTHER WAYS THAT ARE MUCH MORE IMPORTANT- Buffy owns Angel and Angel owns Buffy. Always and forever.
Feedback: Hey, if not for me- then for all the terrific S/D and B/A fanfiction writers out there. You guys are all super talented and make our lives easier during these sad times of post Buffy and Angel breakup.
Dedication: To Jess, thanks for letting me have back my idea and to all the B/A and S/D shippers, I love you guys! Don't worry- good things come to those who wait... I'm taking back the episode not just for me- but for all the Buffy and Angel shippers out there! We'll get our day!
Distribution: Wow? You actually want this? Well email me and I'll give it you on a silver platter.
Background: This is a re-write of the horrible Buffy Season Five episode known as WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE. And I've changed the timeline a little bit. Only the Season Five episode HUSH has happened, so Buffy and Riley haven't really worked out their problems yet. In the Angel timeline, everything has happened up until ETERNITY.

Part I- ORIGINS OF THE FIRE

Buffy couldn't quite get into the same jovial spirit as the fraternity boys around her. There were too many conflicting feelings and questions running through her mind. Partying and getting drunk no matter what the superficial allure, wasn't really ever a valid solution. So Buffy decided not to start that up now. The game was over- Riley found out her secret and she discovered what activity really occupied his nights. They mutually promised not to say anything about their extra-curricular activities and to maybe start a relationship.

So here she was. At a party in his fraternity house, trying to sort out her feelings for the secret government commando. Originally, Riley had planned for the two of them to go out together alone. Yet Buffy wasn't ready for such closeness and asked that Tara, Willow, Xander and Anya come with them. The solider reluctantly agreed to the buffers and they were here as well. As a precaution Riley got the lab closed for the night, due to a lot of people being at the party above. He also didn't want Buffy stumbling into the secret quarters accidentally. She looked across the room at Riley speaking with Graham, wondering what they were talking about.

"I think tonight is the night I'm making the move," Riley said to his friend.

Graham shook his head, "I don't know, man. Yeah- she's fly and all that. But the more I think about it.. I just don't know. There's just something about her-"

Riley worried at that remark but tried not to show it, "Buffy's not like any other girl out there, that's for sure. And I'm thinking- maybe I'm the guy for her."

His friend held his hands up in defense, "I just don't think it's as simple as you make it out to be, that's all. Tell me- do you really think you know her?"

Riley ignored the comment and turned back to smile at Buffy. She put her best nothing-face and gave a small smile back. Making sure not to encourage Riley with any extra eye contact the Slayer looked away as soon as she had the chance. Buffy turned instead to her friends, who were in the living room of the house. Xander and Anya were enjoying themselves sitting next to a smiling Willow and Tara. They were all sitting down on a spot at the floor, since all the seats were taken. The foursome were having a ball, laughing at the various jokes Xander made. For a moment she thought about going over to the group, but she stopped herself feeling that she'd just be intruding.

The crowd seemed too loud and drunk for any conversation either. And truth be told, Buffy suddenly felt like being alone. Especially when she saw Riley move across to the room for her. She acted quickly and disappeared into the thicket, leaving him behind in the chaos. With the stealth only a Slayer could muster, she quietly climbed up the back staircase to the second floor.

The upper floor was somber and still, a stark contrast to the rumble below. The girl stopped for a second and wondered if any of the pledges brought their female conquests up here to seal the deal. Although Buffy remembered that one of the drunken men had tried to drag her to the spare rooms in the back of the house rather than up here. No one seemed to be here and Buffy felt confident she wouldn't be disturbed.

"Well if it's one thing I can count on- it's the Lowell house boys not wanting to make out unless they have easy access to the beer," she said to herself.

Buffy found one of the bedroom doors slightly ajar and tentatively stepped in. To her relief the room was clean and empty, void of anything except the bed with white sheets. She figured it must have been one of the extra rooms the fraternity offered to alumni when they were in town. Thankfully she locked the door behind her and crawled into the soft bed. She kicked off her shoes and lay down on the mattress.

"Why am I here?" she asked herself out loud.

She knew the answer to that question. He wasn't here with her. She needed him. Needed him beside her to support her- to love her. Buffy turned to lay on her side and let out an audible sigh as she closed her eyes.

"Angel," she whispered. "Where are you?"

***

After Angel emerged from the old elevator, he slipped out of his leather coat and tossed it on a couch near the television. Another day, another demon. As he slid out of his black boots and pants he looked out the window. It was still dark out, but the last fight he had with a few other aggressive vampires wore him out. He unbuttoned and pulled off his black silk shirt, clad in only now in his boxers.

Sometimes he wished it would all just end. With the recent debacle involving that Rebecca actress, he realized that more than ever he was just a ticking time bomb. And he found himself longing for oblivion- an end. But then a book across the room caught his eye, and he walked over to pick it up. Inside its yellowed pages lay a picture of the sole reason why he fought the darkness from taking over his entire being.

"Buffy," he breathed as he touched the edges of the black and white photo.

True, he had Cordelia and Wesley as his family. Yet after a certain point, even they left him tied up to his bed. They couldn't give him what he needed now. Only one person could move him- touch the depths of his soul to make him feel. Total Bliss.

He dropped the book and walked back over to the bed, clutching the picture both as gently and as tightly as he could. Angel pulled down the covers, stopping to smell them. The day never happened- she was never here. But why did the covers waft of her scent? The perfume, her sweat and her essence. All combining for that heavenly aroma that was uniquely her own.

He stared down at the picture in his hands, "What are you doing now?"

Probably living the fabulous life you wanted her to have you dummy, he thought. Still he hoped. That maybe one day, he could be worthy of her. That's what kept him grounded during the storms of darkness, and what ultimately kept him sane. He thought about putting the picture beside him on the left side of the bed, just like she had been that day in November. Angel shook his head at the whimsical idea. Not wanting to mar the photo in any way, he put the picture on the bedside table next to him. He turned on his side to stare at the smiling face of his love. His wife.

"I guess that doesn't really count anymore," he sighed to himself.

As he as closed his eyes, dreaming that possibly one day it would. Maybe he could tell her- and be the husband, friend, and lover she deserved out of a man.

***

The sun shone all around them as they walked through the spacious green field. Buffy looked at her side and found Angel smiling back at her. He looked simply amazing, wearing a flattering long black tuxedo and cream silk colored tie. They held hands tightly and made their way through the field to a destination over the horizon. She gave him a sweet open-mouthed kiss on his cheek, and he took in the sight of her in an elegant strapless full flowing white wedding gown.

"Scared?" he found himself asking her.

She shook her head, "No. Anxious really. We have a lot of time to make up for."

Angel gave her one of his famous sexy half smiles and said, "We certainly do."

"You still need to make up for Thanksgiving," she whispered seductively.

Instead of anger or dread Angel laughed at that. Their day together brought joy to them here as they remembered their joining and not their parting. Thoughts not of how hot the newly human flesh that melded together was. But more at the wonderful freedom in the expression of love that they spent the majority of the day doing. Here, the lovers stood a chance of expressing their feelings in a language meant for only each other. Words, caresses and signals that all demonstrated the passion and love that ran deeper than anything else in their lives.

Buffy kissed his hand and the sliver cladaugh that rested on his ring finger. The ring along with his hand felt cool- devoid of human heat. And Buffy smiled at that, it felt wonderfully refreshing against her lips.

"Does it bother you?" he wondered as they continued walking.

"No," she replied honestly. "I love you either way. You're a dish served best hot or cold, you know. You feel good, no matter what."

"Just like you," he huskily moaned, suddenly impatient to reach their destination.

Buffy sighed as she felt his stimulating cool breath on her neck, "How much farther, until we're there?"

Just as soon as she got the words out of her mouth, they found their destination in the private meadow. The large mahogany four poster bed had comfortable white silk sheets flapping in the soft breeze. Buffy giggled at the size of it.

"You could fit ten tall people on that bed and still have tons of space," she laughed as he stood behind her.

He wrapped his arms around her tiny waist and placed kisses on her neck, "I don't want to share you."

"Mmmm," she cooed as her hands snaked around to hold him. "Who said I wanted to be shared? Or to share you, huh? There will definitely be no Angel-sharing. Got it? You're mine, buddy."

"Yours," he agreed as he turned her around to face him. "Forever."

"And I'm yours," she smiled as he lifted her white veil to kiss her. "Always."

"Mine," he mused as she began to kiss his neck. "I love you so much."

"I love you too Angel," she said as he eagerly kissed her open and waiting mouth.

Angel had already felt himself aroused at just her presence and to his surprise he didn't worry about anything going wrong. He could sense only her lips, and her hot little hands roaming over his clothing. The cladaugh ring she wore on her left hand added more texture to the touching. They groaned inside their kissing mouths, feeling their tongues slide and vibrate at the sound. They both knew not just of his arousal but of hers too, her wet body crying out to him. Angel's hands moved from Buffy's cheek to her hair, stroking the blonde tresses and removing the wedding veil. The white headpiece fell to the ground, along with Angel's long tuxedo waistcoat.

Their kisses came a little faster and harder, both wanting to be inside of the other immediately. It was one of the beautiful parts of their relationship, they knew the other so well to speed or slow down at their whim. And whatever the action, it was always for their pleasure that extended beyond the terms of "turns". Angel needed to touch and be touched just as his beautiful lover did. It didn't matter who did what, all of the connection was exhilarating.

Buffy had stripped him of everything except his black silk boxers, eager to be rid of the garment to grasp his body beneath. He wouldn't let her at that minute and she didn't mind. Her attention turned to him, playfully noting the interest Angel took in her body. He smiled and looked back at the white lace up corset with the fine silk garter belts that graced her body.

"Do you think you can handle getting it off," she asked grinding herself into him.

He groaned again and brought his mouth to her tiny ear, "I think so. I was pretty nimble, even when I was human."

"Ummm," she moaned as he kissed the lobe. "I'll believe that when I see it."

"Look," Angel prodded as he turned her around to kiss while she looked at herself.

Shocked, Buffy found she was only in her white silk stalkings. She laughed as he turned her around again to see her corset and slightly ripped panties on top of the rest of Angel's wedding clothes. She stared into his warm chocolate eyes as he laid her down on the soft covers. As he did this, Angel slid off the high heeled shoes, and exposed her feet. He kissed each foot and moved his strong thumbs in small circles at their fleshy bottom.

"Ohhhhhh Aaaaannnggeeel," she quietly cried out at how erotic he made the simple action, causing her to move forward.

Angel said her name again as he rolled the stockings down each smooth leg. He felt the energy at the actions of their time together, the need to be united and to never stop. Every kiss and touch felt like a surge of electricity thrumming through their bodies and into the cool air. Buffy sat up on the bed, to move her hands downward to rub his neck and tangle in his thick hair. He kissed his way up her toned leg, sticking his tongue in swirls around her calf and knee until he reached the inside of her thin thigh...

Part Two- THE FIRE BURNS BRIGHTLY

"Has anyone seen Buffy?" Riley asked the laughing group, who stopped at his approach.

"What?" Willow asked still giggling from Xander's previous joke.

"Buffy," Riley repeated, slightly agitated.

Xander contained his laughter momentarily, "Oh I think I saw the Buffster. She was right here at the beginning of the party."

"But where is she now?" Riley pressed again.

Tara stood up and seriously considered the question, "I-I-I-I know. You're r-r-r-r-right. Guys, w-w-w-where is Buf-f-f-f-y?"

"Well she sorta pulled a Houdini," Xander said, turning more reflective as he stood up as well. "One minute she's there- the next-"

"Poof," Anya laughed. "All gone."

"No but you're right," Willow said, more urgently as Tara pulled her up on her feet. "Where is she?"

All of the gang had stopped their strange laughter, except for Anya who laughed so hard her sides hurt. She tried to stand up, but chuckled so loud that she fell down again. When her whole body lay on the floor she laughed even harder. Riley studied the girl's strange behavior as she roared with boisterous laughter.

"Has she had a lot to drink?" Riley asked Xander.

He shook his head, "No- we were going to get some munchies and then we sat down. Wait a second, it's almost 3 am! We've just-"

"Been here laughing since the party started," Willow finished. "Almost seven hours."

"It's j-j-just the f-f-f-f-loor," Tara stuttered. "We sat do-o-o-wn and just started laughing."

"Anya- honey," Xander said bending down to pick her up. "Come on, An."

"Okie, dokie," she giggled as he pulled her up.

"Anya?" Willow asked as the girl stood upright.

The ex-demon turned to her calmly and said, "Hello. Why are you looking at me like that? Xander, do I have some piece of food or other bodily discharge on my face?"

Riley studied her for a moment and was surprised when she didn't laugh back. Riley looked back down at the vacant spot on the floor. Nothing seemed unusual about it, so he started to sit back down on the area.

Willow tried to stop him, "Riley, maybe you-"

But he sat down on the ground and remained oddly quiet. Xander and Willow quickly helped him back up, wondering why he didn't laugh as soon as he sat down. They looked at the blonde boy, his face expressionless.

Xander asked, "You feeling okay there, Riley?"

"I'm not good enough," he said quietly, walking out of Willow's arms.

"What?" the red head asked again, as he walked to the drawer.

"I'm not good enough," Riley said louder, taking out the bible that was inside.

Anya turned evenly at him, "Hey! Xander was talking to you, you need to listen to Xander!"

Riley suddenly started hitting himself with the bible as he chanted, "I'm not good enough! I'm not good enough!"

Xander was about to walk over to the boy, but Graham stepped in front him. Graham's lean body blocked Xander, threatening him with a large cane. The cane was made of wood and had a carved cross on its tip. Xander slowly backed away from Graham, as he took Riley upstairs.

"Hey! Where are you taking him?" Xander asked as the two boys went upstairs.

"To be purified," he answered, as the group quickly followed.

They all tried to follow him, but Xander and Tara were pulled down the steps by another one of the party goers. The two looked up at a girl with a large pair of scissors in her right hand. In her other hand, she held a fistful of what appeared to be her own hair cut off.

"I'm bad," she screamed, dropping her hair at their feet. "I'm bad. I'm bad, I'm bad!"

"Whoa! You're not Michael Jackson," he said, trying to steer them away from her. "So I'll tell you once again- you're NOT BAD!"

"I'm bad," she screamed, pulling at Tara's hair and cutting it off.

The duo moved away from the possessed girl, as she chased them through the house. She twirled the scissors upright into her hands, holding it like a knife. Abruptly she began stabbing people at random, loudly screaming her mantra. The other guests fled the house in fear, and the two saw their break as the deranged girl began stabbing herself. Xander and Tara quickly moved up the stairs to the second floor, hoping to help the rest of the gang stop Graham.

***

"Hey," Anya tried to reason but the young man knocked her out of the bathroom into the hallway.

Willow tugged at Graham's arm as he pulled away the bath curtain, "Something's going on- I don't know what but you have to-"

Before she could finish he dunked her head and Riley's head under the water. Willow kicked around and tried to break free, but his grasp was too strong. Before she knew it a hand pulled her out of the water, and Willow choked for air. She found Riley and Graham drowned inside the tub, both were dead. Willow turned to the door to see Anya rushing into the room.

"Who was here," she coughed, looking around for an answer.

Anya's eyes stopped dead at something behind the red head, "Him."

Willow turned around to see a translucent figure. The cane that Graham had was grasped in the small ghostly hands of a young boy. He offered the wooden rod to Willow and with chilling eyes began to speak.

"Save us," he cried.

The young witch reached out to the boy but touched only air. Suddenly the cane flew at her, nearly impaling her. Anya quickly caught it, and together the two ran out of the bathroom. The girls sprinted straight into the hallway. Ghostly faces greeted them, and in their rush to leave they eerily passed right through them. They ran down the hall until they found Xander and Tara.

"Buffy," Xander loudly called out, banging soundly at the door.

"B-b-buffy," Tara screamed out, trying to turn the locked knob.

Willow looked at the closed door, "What's wrong? Is Buffy in there?"

"Well, since I don't think anyone else at the party would be screaming out- `Oh Angel, please touch me there! Oh God, yes! Angel!' I'm thinking that's probably her," he snickered.

Anya shook her head, "Angel? The large and glowerly one? Isn't he in LA?"

"He's supposed to be. At least, oh- bad. Bad, bad, bad- if he's in there with her and she's screaming that," Willow worried.

"A-a-a-a-gne-e-e-l," Buffy's muffled voice moaned from inside.

"I think she's in t-t-there a-a-a-lone," Tara said, turning to face Willow. "Xander and I could only hear h-h-her, m-m-moaning."

"Tara," Willow gasped. "Your hair."

"Belive me," she reassured. "It could have been a-a-a- lot w-w-orse."

"I can't get in," Xander said, kicking the door. "Willow, Anya- What happened to Riley and Graham?"

"Ghost boy. Drowning in a tub. He saved me and then he asked me to save him. But, being a ghost already, well, I was way too late," Willow explained.

"Riley and Graham didn't make it," Anya continued. "The ghost gave us this cane thing that Graham was holding."

"We've got to get to Giles," Xander said with resolution.

The group ran down the hall and found the place all but empty. Everyone had run out, scared out of their wits. Spike stood in the center of the wreckage, calmly drinking a mug of beer. He had a smug look on his face as the gang descended on him.

"Bloody hell, didn't invite me," he said snidely.

Willow eyed him irately, "You mean that you drove everybody crazy so you could be invited in? You pig!"

Spike laughed at that, "Please. You're littl' parties I wouldn't go to if you paid me. Just saw all the chaos and figured I ought to be a part of it. Great fun too, got meself some free beer out of the deal."

Tara looked at the vampire in shock, "Then that means all of the fraternity boys a-a-r-r-"

"Are dead," Anya finished for her.

"Again I vote to go see Giles," Xander said again as the foursome ran out into the foyer.

Willow nodded, "Right. Spike- you're coming with us!"

"And why the hell should I," Spike asked as they got to the foyer.

"There's free booze all over the place. Not to mention some dead carcasses I might be able to eat. And I intend have meself a bloody good-"

But before the blonde vampire could finish his sentence a strong invisible force knocked the entire group out of the building. Spike's face smashed on top the steps, while the rest of the gang fell on their backs.

"Right then," he said, quickly standing up and backing away. "I'm off then."

The vampire ran back to his lair, while the four got up from the ground. They turned back to house, and it was suddenly shaking. They saw the windows break and heard furniture move around as the brick house rumbled in the air.

"Houses don't normally do that," Anya said quietly.

"M-m-aybe we can try to get b-b-b-ack inside," Tara suggested.

Xander resolutely climbed the steps and opened the door. He boldly took a step inside the front door and was suddenly forced out again. The boy fell on his back, his head knocking the hard pavement.

"Ok. Ouch," he said, rubbing his head and trying to stand up again. "We need weapons."

"What good are weapons against disembodied spirits, Xander? They have no ass to kick," Anya said, helping her boyfriend up.

"S-she's r-r-ight," Tara said, turning to Willow. "We have to go, go to the cafe. Giles was going to the Espresso Pump."

"Yeah," Willow agreed. "But he, he told us not to come."

"Well, this won't be the first time we didn't do what Giles told us," Xander quipped rejoining the rest of them.

Willow looked back at the house as they walked away, "Hang on Buffy."

As they walked to Xander's car none of the group noticed the tiny branch sticking out from the door. They drove away as the branch grew and twirled into a long green stem. Other vines and greenery trailed to meet it, extending in a tangled mass of impenetrable thorns that covered the house.

***

Buffy tried to pull her legs further apart to allow more of Angel inside of her, and he groaned at the change in position. He backed her to one of the posts on the bed as they rocked their bodies together. His hands gently massaged her and held her tights apart, as he thrusted homeward.

"Ahhh- Buffy mmmm, oh- uhhhh. my love.Buffy," Angel moaned out, thoroughly ravishing her body.

"Mmmmmm.. Oooooooh. Ah! Angel- did you hear someone? Xander? Or Willow- ooooooh, Good! Angel, ooooh," she cooed.

"No," he mumbled moving his hands back to her breasts. "It. ahhh. Doesn't matter."

Buffy giggled into his mouth, "Nooo, it- ooooh. Doesn't. More, oh- Angel! I love you! More! Oh God! Oh God..."

Part Three- THE FIRE BURNS FOR THE WORLD TO SEE

"Oh Buffy," Angel moaned out, thrusting into an imaginary body. "God! Ahhh! Sweetheart, you can't do that- I'll just co- Oh God! Buffy! You feel so good!"

"Is there any way we can make him stop," Cordelia yelled from the back of Angel's car. "As if he wasn't grossing me out when he- well you know. And over and over and over and over-"

"Yes Cordelia," Wesley shuttered as they neared the Watcher's house.

"You need to make sure he doesn't do anything rash. Angel has to come to Giles's with us in one piece and you must watch him while I drive."

Cordelia scoffed, "Oh Angel's come all right. And I don't really think I can stand anymore of watching him do this! God- are you sure this just isn't a side effect of the mojo thing we did before?"

Wesley shook his head as he turned the car, "Absolutely not! The spell was meant only to permanently fix his soul into his body. Nothing more and nothing less."

Cordelia edged farther away from Angel's ambitious thrusts, "Yeah well, something must have set him off. And let me just say in advance, I think your spell worked. He seems pretty dog gone happy right now."

The British man felt honestly sorry for the brunette, but someone needed to watch their friend as they drove to get help. Angel had been like this for the past eight hours, in a strange. state of mind. They found the vampire after they had completed a spell guaranteed to end the threat of Angelus from ever reappearing. Both Wesley and Cordelia realized that if something as easy to obtain as drugs could cause the change even for a short while, then it was simply too dangerous. The duo at once set to work on finding a spell or some way to make sure that would never happen again. And on a hunch, they found a reliable source and performed the ritual.

Once the ritual had ended, they went downstairs to see Angel. Only to find him, rolling in his bed screaming Buffy's name. They waited for hours hoping he'd snap out of it- but he never did. Grabbing a robe to cover him and making as little physical contact as possible- they dragged Angel to his car. Cordelia sat in the back and Wesley drove as fast as they could. Through out the ride, Angel still spoke out his ex-girlfriend's name and undulated to somehow please her invisible body.

"We're here," Wesley said, as they parked in the driveway of the Watcher's condo.

Cordelia's breath rushed out in relief, "Thank God! Quick, help me get him out without him molesting me."

"With all due respect," the young man said as they began walking up to the front door. "You don't honestly believe he'd do this to you intentionally, do you? Clearly he's not well. And even in his state, it's not you that. well- he's doing it to."

Angel stuck his hands out to hold the thin air, "Oh yeaaaah! Ahhh! Buffy!"

"But something is still wrong, Wesley. And I don't know if anyone- even Giles or Buffy, can help," Cordelia worried, knocking on the door.

Inside the Watcher's apartment Willow, Xander and Tara were reading some of the older volumes in the living room. After finding Giles at the café, the group came back to the condo for research. When they heard the commotion all three stood up to get the door.

Xander's surprise was not seeing Angel shouting in ecstasy in front of him. The young man had NO DOUBT those shouts were heard by everyone in the TRISTATE AREA. What came to be the true shock was seeing Cordelia and Wesley propping up the vampire like he was a life size rag doll. Angel moved and rocked in his dream state, but the pair managed to keep a good hold on him.

"Angel," Willow croaked, as they carried him over the threshold.

"Let's see. There are a number of insults at my disposal," Xander began as he shut the door behind them. "The question is- which route do I take to ensuing hilarity?"

Cordelia zinged back, "How about the route where you stop being a major loser and start helping us, `kay?"

"Did I mention how much I missed you," Xander said sarcastically as Giles and Anya came in from the back study.

"Good Lord," Giles cried as they heard Angel moan and rock wildly again.

Anya watched Angel move, "It looks like he's going for the mythical `toabath' sexual position. Wow. I'm impressed. He must love Buffy a lot. And he must be very flexible."

Wesley shook off Anya's blunt comment, "He's been like this since earlier this evening. Wait a moment- why are all you here at such an hour? Where is Buffy?"

Willow answered still looking as Angel revolved around, "Uh- I think whatever's happening to Angel is happening to Buffy too. They're probably, uh.um. happening together."

Cordelia pouted as they laid Angel on the couch, "God- they don't even need to be in the same city and they get pelvic. Go figure."

Xander's expression darkened, "Pelvic. Oh god! Good God woman! Quick! Help me CHAIN HIM UP! He could go evil any minute!"

Wesley shook his head, "No, there's no need for that Xander. Before he began acting. um, unusually- Cordelia and I performed a ritual that ensures he will not lose control of the demon."

"You mean to say that you've successfully anchored Angel's soul," Giles asked the two in amazement.

Cordelia shrugged sitting down, "Well we did the thing and all but- it wasn't like we could put it to the test. Although Angel seems to be testing it out a lot right now, eww. But as for all this groiny stuff, definitely not because of our spell."

Anya looked at the ex-Watcher, "So you're here. Weren't you horribly fired?"

"Currently I am working with Angel," Wesley said a little annoyed at the question. "Cordelia and I have been with him for some time now. And I agree with Willow- whatever the cause of this is, both Angel and Buffy are under it's influence."

"I could have told you that," Anya scoffed slightly. "And look at him- He's all sweaty. And surprisingly going for the makoth mating love knot! Besides, Buffy was screaming out for him in the dorm room."

"So again- why is she not here," Cordelia asked. "The fraternity house. It's kind of haunted," Tara offered, finally speaking.

"Oh. Okay- um- person I don't know. So anyway- we're here to help with whatever's going on so Angel can stop dream humping Buffy," Cordelia said, standing up looking for something to do.

Despite her choice of words Willow saw Cordelia's sincerity, "Her name is Tara. And we're trying. Ever since we got back from Giles's concert-"

Xander shuddered, "Some of us want to forget here, Will. Not only all this Buffy and Angel sex but also Giles singing. No wait. I think I could live with the singing- if I meant I could forget about the rest of Buffy and Angel's vocal performance."

Even in the crisis Giles couldn't help some resentment at the comment, "I'll have you know I get a lot of positive feedback!"

"That's right," Anya defended as she patted the older man on the shoulder. "If I wasn't having sex with Xander, I'd gladly be your groupie and have sex with you. As long as you brought your guitar."

"You don't really need a reason to stop sleeping with Xander," Cordelia shot out. "You can just stop right now if you want."

"I believe some focus is in order," Wesley said, trying to stop anymore jarring remarks. "None it is helping out Buffy or Angel."

"Wesley's right," Willow agreed. "Very unconstructive! Now all right- this could be powerful magiks and/or a lot of unfriendly ghosts. We're not really sure yet. I've been looking up the history of the house. And one of the ghosts gave us this cane. Well. It sort of lunged at as really, but we caught it."

The younger British man inspected the cane, "It's made out of oak. If it is a magic scepter of some sort- then it's made with the right material. This does not look good at all. It is imperative we stop whatever is causing this before it is too late."

"My thoughts precisely," Giles concurred as he handed Wesley one of the books he had in hand. "Now I thought-"

Suddenly Angel screamed out from the couch, "Tobrix onlige orarta! Ahhhh! Es imepoma! Alre gi zealer ni soasta, Buffy!"

At the demonic words both Watcher's dropped their books and their mouths collectively gasped open in shock. Anya merely shook her head and cocked her head back in the vampire's direction.

"That was a little crude," Anya remarked. "But hey- it just means he loves her."

Angel smiled and laughed in oblivion as he started planting small kisses on the couch's arm, "I'm sorry, sweetheart.. That wasn't very poetic, was it? But I do love you and that IS how you make me feel."

"And we know it's not something we DON'T want translated if Anya deems it inappropriate," Xander said pointedly to the Britishmen, then turning back to his girlfriend. "Please An. DON'T!"

His girlfriend shrugged, "I don't think there's a word for he wanted to do anyway. I'd have to show you what he meant."

"Anyway," Giles said trying to compose himself. "Oak is a very good conductor of magical power. Though why the Wiccan practitioner would fashion it in a shape of a Christian cross confuses me."

"Someone might have picked it s-s-symbolically," Tara added. "Scepters that are made with p-p-powerful magiks are m-m-made like that to be effective f-for their goal."

Then Xander remembered, "Oh wait a sec. Here."

The young man walked back over the table he and Willow were sitting at and picked up one of the smaller books. He flipped open to a bookmarked page and showed it to the Englishmen.

"I found it- look, this lady here in every group photo for this Christian based orphanage. The LOWELL HOUSE ORHANAGE. They kept shop from the 1940's up until the 70's when the college came in.. And look- she's got the cane in her left hand in every photo. This lady- Genevieve Holt," Xander said handing them the book.

"You know in a weird way that makes sense," Cordelia mused. "The whole orphaned Peter Pan Lost Boys-college guy routine."

"But Xander," Wesley said as he read on. "It says there that lady is the director of that orphanage. A devout Christian woman herself. It doesn't make sense, what would she be doing with black magic?"

"When did she die?" Willow asked.

"She didn't," Cordelia spoke up remembering. "That Genevieve Holt. Ms. Holt- she was my grandmother's roommate in that big retirement village out at the edge of town. Well they were roommates. Before she left us all."

Willow frowned slightly, "Your grandmother died?"

"No. She skipped town once the IRS boys started the witch hunt for everyone who's last name was Chase. Left us all high and dry. And the last I heard she was living it up in Miami," Cordelia huffed.

Tara turned to the brunette, "What do you remember about her?"

She answered, "That her name was on the door of the room. She mostly kept to herself. And it's not like I was super attentive during the visits. I only went so I could get Daddy to buy me things. Oh- and the nameplate was a tacky kind of Formica."

"Perhaps we should start there then," Giles said, ready to explore the lead. "So Cordelia, Wesley and I will attempt to see if she is the same Genevieve Holt. Though someone needs to stay here- to watch over Angel and the cane."

"Oh no," Xander quickly objected. "Make room in there for four. Dead Boy's pillow talk is another thing I DON'T want to hear."

"I'll stay," Anya brightly volunteered, trying to be helpful. "Should he shout anything else vulgar I can be here to NOT translate."

"W-w-e'll stay too," Tara offered. "So Angel d-d-d-oesn't h-h-h-urt himself."

"Yeah and we can do more research on the cane," Willow said. "See if we can find more info about it."

"Good," Giles said as the four of them walked out the door. "We'll try to get back as soon as possible."

The witches and the ex-demon looked on as the foursome left, then turned their attention back to a quivering Angel. In the midst of their research conversation he had changed positions several times and save for the one outburst, remained relatively quiet. Now he lay at the opposite end of the couch, nuzzling its cushions as if it were his lover's face. Well, to him they probably were.

"C'mon we gotta get researching," Willow persuaded, as she and Tara sat back down.

As the two women sat at the table, Anya pulled out a chair next to the couch, "Hmm. It makes you wonder doesn't it?"

"What he and Buffy are doing," Tara said.

"Well its obvious what they're doing," Anya slightly scoffed. "I'm wondering what they had planned for next."

Go to Part 4