Author: RRCC (Chrissy)

Rating: over all R unless noted otherwise

Couples: W/A L/C Amy/S F/Wes

Spoilers: Okay everyone hold on to there hats, I swear that I really am sick in the head.

Feedback: Please don't make me beg!!!!!!

Distribution: You know who you are. If you want just ask!

Disclaimer: I am not smart enough to create characters such as these. They belong to Joss (AKA God) duh

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
 

~Part: one~

“So this whole Faith on parole thing doesn’t bother you?” Willow whispered to Cordelia as they waited for the microwave popcorn to finish popping. “I mean we *know* someone on parole. Even after all we‘ve been through it seems so wrong to *know* someone who has a parole officer.”

Cordelia looked over her shoulder to the living room where Faith and Amy were sitting staring at one another, neither girl knowing what to say. “I promised Angel that I’d give her a chance.”

“Really?” Willow took a bag of popcorn out of the microwave. Looking at her friend in disbelief.

“Yes, really.” Cordelia scrunched her nose back at Willow. “The newer kinder me knows that Faith has changed and deserves a second chance.”

“So where’s that crystal vase your Grandmother sent to you?” Willow smiled at Cordelia knowingly, the redhead’s eyes sparkling with mischief.

“Okay so the kinder gentler me is still no fool.” Taking the popcorn from the redhead they joined Amy and Faith in the living room. “Who’s up for some Sandra Bullock?” Cordelia waved Miss Congeniality for the others to see.

“Anything is good.” Amy answered shyly, still not believing that she was in Cordelia Chase‘s living room. The last time Amy had been human Cordelia wasn’t the first person she’d ever have dreamt about spending time with willingly. So much had changed in just a few years. “Seeing that anything that has been made in the last three years would be new to me.”

Cordelia paused a moment and wondered for the umpteenth time what say to the witch that had just recently returned to her human form. ‘Gee bet your glad your not eating pellets anymore.’ or ‘Bet it’s great not having all that fur.’

Instead of saying anything Cordelia popped the DVD into the player, she could practically taste the awkwardness in the air. Perhaps they should have gone out to some noisy bar like she first suggested. But nooo, Angel thought that perhaps a quiet night in would be better for Faith. Who was he kidding, Angel didn’t want them going out because it would mean he would feel obligated to follow them in the shadows, making sure that the four of them stayed out of harms way. Thinking about it, Cordelia admitted that Angel was acting rather odd, ever since she had announced that Willow and Amy were making a trip to LA. Anytime the two Sunnydale-ites showed up at the hotel Angel made excuses and made a quick departure. Cordelia made a mental note to speak to her broody boss, tell him that if he didn’t stop acting so strangely around Willow, she may pick up on his abnormal behavior and have hurt feelings.

“So what’s this movie supposed to be about anyways.” Faith grabbed a handful of popcorn, most of it spilling out of her fist on to the floor before ever making it to her mouth. Cordelia raised her eyebrow at the mess the rogue slayer made.

“You should really relate. It’s about a sloppy, uncultured rough girl who is incapable of expressing herself except through force.” Faith made a face at the seer and sat back to watch the movie.

Willow took a seat between Amy and Cordelia on the couch, catching the blonde witch’s ill at ease expression giving the other witch an encouraging smile Willow settled back against the couch. They were all engrossed with watching an ugly duckling turn into a beauty on the screen. .

When the movie was over, Cordelia stood to get the DVD out of the player, not sure what they were going to do now until it was time to go to sleep. It was supposed to be a fun filled girl’s night. Movie, gossip and sleepover. But when one of the girls was an ex-con, and the other just returning to human form after being a rat for the last couple of years really put a damper on the whole ‘let’s have a bonding moment’ thing.

“That could never happen.” Faith rolled her eyes, receiving the attention from the three other girls.

“What ? The fact that a complete social deviant learned to behave like someone that could almost pass as socially acceptable? Or the fact that anyone would ever consider wearing such a cheap knockoff in a beauty pageant?” Cordelia raised a brow in question.

Faith sat back; face void of any expression as she tried to process what little Miss Perfect had said.

“All of it. Put aside the fact that someone like that would ever make it to the point that she’d be able to step foot on stage, no matter how good looking she was. But the entire get the guy in the end and see the world as a better place thing.” Sitting forward Faith rested her arms on her knees waiting for Cordelia to respond.

“It’s just a movie.” Cordelia shrugged off the urge to debate the issue with Faith. She had to keep reminding herself that she was supposed to be giving Faith a second chance, not arguing with everything the other girl said.

“But wouldn’t it be nice?” Amy’s voice sounded wistful. Faith was slightly relieved the attention was off her, and now on the blonde witch. “I mean to be able to take one moment in your life and make a drastic change that everyone around you views you differently.” Cordelia, Willow and Faith looked away a moment with slight smiles tugging on their lips. Amy realized her slip and smiled herself. “A change that doesn’t get you shoved into your very own habitat trail, you smartasses.” Amy let herself shift through her memories of that one moment that she would change if she could.

“That whole rat thing huh?” Faith gave a lop sided smile at the strange blonde.

“Huh?” Amy looked over at Faith confused.

“You’d change that day you turned yourself into a rat wouldn’t you?” Willow clarified, a little interested in what her friend would chose as the on moment to change.

“No.”

“No?” The other girls sat in shock, all thinking that had they been the blonde they would’ve chosen that moment to change. Amy smiled knowingly at the others. Sure the day that she and Willow were tied to those wooden stakes, fire at their feet ranked pretty high on her days never to repeat list. But there was another moment that Amy felt if she could change would’ve made her life turn out incredibly different.

“The moment I think I’d change is when I caved into my psycho mother and agreed to try out for cheerleading. I knew there was something off with my mother.” Amy shook her head sadly at the memory. Willow patted Amy’s shoulder, also remembering that awful experience.

“Yeah I can see that, that sucked in the big My Mother’s off her rocker kind of way.” Cordelia snorted.

“What about you princess?” Cordelia glared at the slayer. “Let me guess you’d change that day you wore the wrong shade of lip-gloss.”

“No.” Cordelia’s answer was short and to the point but dripped with sarcasm. “The moment I would change would be... the moment that I realized that I was in charge of that heard of pathetic sheep in High School.” Cordelia’s eyes looked distant as though she could envision one particular moment. “I would’ve been able to help the slayerettes more then I had. I was so concerned what ‘my friends’ might think of me hanging with the rest of you.”

“You helped.” Willow saw the disbelief in Cordelia’s eyes. “Well you did. I mean sure you may have complained a lot, but when it came down to it you were always there.”

Cordelia smiled at Willow in thanks. “What about you red? We all know what day I’d change.” Faith stopped when she saw the question in the others eyes, as though they really wanted to know but didn’t want to ask. “My first day in Sunnyhell. I was such an asshole, strutting around like I was something special. If I could’ve just been normal, not so in your face perhaps everyone would’ve liked my better.”

“Faith we never disliked you when you first came to Sunnydale. It was after that we...well...”

“Hated the every fiber of your being?” Cordelia finished for the redhead.

“No! We never hated... perhaps strong dislike...or knee shaking fear...okay so maybe for a little while there hate, but not until the end.” Willow bit her lip.

“That’s okay Red, I was a bitch. I did some really horrid things that no matter what I do now I can never take back. Now as I was saying, what moment would you change?”

Willow thought on it. “I really don’t think there’s a moment, just a few little things. Like warn Jenny that Angelus knew about her and the curse. I think she was on to a way to anchor Angel’s soul, but I guess we’ll never know. I mean think about it, Angel all souled. He and Buffy would be still happily in love now.”

“First off that’s not a moment in your life to change. There were so many things that lead up to that moment, stuff that was out of your control. Second may I say that praise be that that heart wrenching relationship is over. I know that Buffy has pulled stakes, no pun intended, and moved on.” Cordelia rolled her eyes at Willow’s extremely Willowy response. “Have you ever done anything that was selfish?”

Willow’s face turned beet red and she looked away from Cordelia. “Well once and that turned out very...very badly. In fact someone I consider a close friend now was hurt. Not just their feelings, but like metal poking through her body kind of hurt.”

“Oh Willow that’s water under the bridge, forgotten and forgiven. I think that my pride was injured more than anything. I was stuck up snot that thought she was better than everybody else. What’s sad is that’s the only time I think you’ve ever done anything selfish.”

“That is sad.” Faith smirked. “Come on Red there has to be one thing. Perhaps not a moment to change, but one thing from our pasts that you wanted but never got.”

Willow’s eyes widened. “Nope no one I wanted but never got. No sirie I’m content girl.”

“Fine keep it to yourself, it’s a long night, and there are still facials to give and alcohol to consume. We’ll know his name yet.” Cordelia’s confident smile sent shivers down Willow’s spine. She was going to need to stay on her toes, or they’d all find out about her pathetic crush.

“I could use the alcohol, but I’ll pass on the facial crap.” Faith stubbornly announced.

“No mudd, no booze. House rule.” Cordelia fluttered her lashes in mock innocence at Faith’s low growl. “Plus your hair is just screaming deep condition.”

“I’ll make the drinks.” Amy volunteered, feeling a little more at ease around Faith and Cordelia.

“I’ll help her.” Willow followed Amy to the kitchen, knowing it would buy her some time form Cordelia’s tortuous beauty techniques.

Faith saw the calculating look in Cordelia’s eyes. “Crap.”

~~~*~~~

Cordelia stood back and took a drink from the margarita Amy and Willow had whipped up, making a face at the strong taste of the tequila. “Stop touching your face.” Cordelia slapped Faith’s hand from touching the green mask the ex-cheerleader had just applied to her face.

“It itches.” Faith nearly whined.

“Cry me a river.” Cordelia rolled her eyes and turned to Willow. “Your turn.”

Willow looked over the rim of her glass and gulped down another healthy amount. “Naha, Amy first.”

Amy was slouched back on the couch, relishing in the way every muscle in her body was relaxed and that her head felt all whooshie. “Nope I was drink girl. You just watched. I win you lose.” Willow groaned.

“Stop your belly aching.” Cordelia advanced on her, and Willow braced herself for the wet goop to hit her face. Cordelia was just inches away when the sound of the phone. “Don’t you move an inch missy; you are defiantly not saved by the bell. Hello? Angel wow I thought for sure you would’ve checked in on us at least an hour ago.”

Willow leaned forward to get her drink. She felt Cordelia’s hand on her shoulder and pull her back. “Don’t mess with me Red; you aren’t going to escape so easily.” Willow pointed at her drink and Cordelia grinned sheepishly.

“Anyways Angel all is fine here. No hair pulling or bite marks.”

“I’m more worried about broken bones and concussions.” Angel answered back dryly.

“If you’re so worried why don’t you stop by?” Cordelia rubbed the green goop on Willow’s face while the witch’s attention was caught by the television. The redhead yelped as the cool mixture touched her face.

“What was that?” Angel’s voice broke through the girl’s peal of laughter.

“Calm down oh boring one, it was just Willow acting like a baby.” Cordelia took a sip of her drink, not noticing the sticky green smudges she got on her glass. “If you’re so worried why don’t you come over? We’re plying margaritas to Willow to see if she’ll spill how her secret crush is.”

Angel sighed deeply into the phone. “I thought we agreed that it wasn’t the best idea for you girls to drink.”

“No Daddy, I think it was *you* that said that it wouldn’t be the best idea if we went bar hopping. *We* never said anything about drinking.” Cordelia made a face into the phone, as she tried to even out the green mass of goo on the witch’s face.

“Just as long as you all stay put. I’m going, remember I need you in the office early tomorrow.”

“Yay, aren’t you a barrel of monkey’s tonight.”

“Cordelia...”

“Fine, bright and early, lucky me.” Cordelia hung up the phone, disgusted at the green fingerprints that her messy hand had left. “Drink up girls some of us have years to make up for.” Everyone giggled, giving a salute to Cordelia.

~~~*~~~

Cordelia could feel the headache way before she opened her eyes. Her stomach threatened to heave what ever was left from the night before. Slitting one eye open she gasped to find herself sprawled on the floor in front of the couch.

“Oh no what time is it?” Trying to stand she found that to be a big mistake. Instead she crawled into the kitchen, having to climb over Willow and Amy on her way. Taking a look at the clock she cursed. “Denis the least you could do was wake me up. Angel is going to kill me. It’s after one.” Forcing herself to her feet she staggered to the bathroom, wishing she could take a long steamy shower, but she was late as it was, and if she didn’t want to get an ear full from Wesley and Angel she had to hurry.

After she was dressed and had located her sunglasses she reentered the living room to see everyone still asleep. Sticking her tongue out at her lazy friends she felt a little better, but not much. The two and a half walk to the hotel was going to be murder, and what Cordelia really wanted was a nice hot cup of Joe. Walking past a small cafe she gave into the nee for caffeine and made a sharp turn into the shop.

If she had been looking she would have seen two people emerging from the shop, and probably wouldn’t have slammed right into them. “Oomph.”

“Jesus I just got this dry-cleaned. Do you even know how expensive it is to dry clean now a day?” A female’s voice gasped as she vainly tried to clean the coffee from her rip off designer dress suite.

“I’m so sorry-.” Cordelia’s mouth hung open as she watched Lilah lift her head. “Okay I lied, I’m not sorry at all.” Her words dripped of sarcasm.

“Excuse me do I know you?” Lilah looked over at her companion. Cordelia looked at the other person, to find the one and only Mr. Sold my Soul for a six-figure salary.

“Oh lucky me, look its Lindsey McDonald. Have you had any earth shattering attacks of a conscious, or does the four bedroom penthouse with a view helping to numb that nagging feeling?”

Lindsey scrunched up his face, and looked thoughtfully at Cordelia. “I’m sorry have we met?”

Cordelia smirked, knowing that she would’ve enjoyed this little run in if her head weren’t in such searing pain. “Uh only in the you used us to help you, then double crossed us, only to try to kill me later kind of know.”

Lilah and Lindsey shared a look that clearly said that they thought the brunette in front of them was completely out of her gourd. “Us?”

Cordelia had nagging feeling that something was going on. “You know *Angel* us.”

“OHHH, you have an Angel for a friend, yes well tell your *friend* hello for me.” Lindsey snickered and stepped past her, Lilah laughed and followed.

“What was that?” Cordelia walked into the cafe, feeling a little confused. “I really need to stop drinking.” ~~~*~~~

Ten minutes later she was standing outside the hotel, carrying a coffee for each of her co-workers. A kind of peace offering for being late. Waling up the steps she noticed how run down the place looked. Angel really needed to step up his plans for renovating the place. Reaching a well-manicured hand out to open the door she nearly lost her balance when the door refused to budge. “Ha ha you guys, real funny. Look I’m sorry that I’m late.” She waited a moment for one of the guys to let her in. After a minute she banged on the door, only to still have no one come and unlock the door.

“I swear when I get my hands on those guys they are going to beg for mercy.” Walking around back she stopped at the sight of the courtyard. This was wrong. She had just hired some guys to clean out the over grown mess. What she was staring at didn’t look as though it had seen the sharp side of a hedge clipper.

Quickly making her way to the door she find this one locked as well, and started to panic. First Lindsey and Lilah didn’t know who she was, now this. She hadn’t grown up on the Hellmouth not to *know* this wasn’t good.

Dropping the coffees as she ran back out of the courtyard she ran as fast as she could home.

~Part: two~

Cordelia ran as fast as her platform shoes would allow. Wrong, something was very, very, very wrong. That was all that she could pretty much comprehend. Weaving in and out of the crowded sidewalk she tried to concentrate on getting back to her apartment and to her friends that were still sleeping. Cordelia knew the second she zigged she should have zagged because she crashed into a hard lean body. Almost knocking whoever she ran into, and herself down onto the ground.

“Where’s the fire girl?” A humored voice asked, as muscular arms held onto her so she wouldn’t fall. Looking up to apologize for nearly flattening the unsuspecting stranger, Cordelia squealed in delight to see Gunn’s chocolate brown eyes.

“Gunn you don’t know *how* happy I am to see you. Something's wrong. First; Borne-again and Lilah have no idea who I am not to mention the crappy clothes those two are wearing. Second the hotel is all locked up, Angel never locks the doors...and you have *no* idea who I am do you?” Reading the amused expression on the young man’s familiar face. “Drat I should’ve listened to Angel and stayed away from alcohol last night. No good ever comes from drinking. Its either frat guys want to sacrifice you, or you end up giving birth to demon spawn. Oh and there’s Buffy who turned into cave woman when she drank. Trust me when I say I am *never* going to drink again.”

“Did you hit your head? Or do all white girls act this crazy? Wait a sec how in the hell do you know my name?” Gunn’s amused expression faded into mistrust.

“Come on Gunn you know me. Remember you always call me Barbie, you-you work with Angel, and Wesley and me. I’ve saved your butt, a few times damnit.” Gunn quirked his brows at her and she let out a distressful cry. “Come on Gunn think, I know you know me. I know you. You’re name is Charles Gunn you had a sister who was killed by vampires-.”

“Whoa hold up there. My sister is alive and well.” Looking in the direction at the girl Gunn pointed to, Cordelia felt her blood run cold.

“That’s impossible.” She whispered.

“I don’t know who you are, probably don’t want to, stay away from me and my own. Got it?” Cordelia nodded mutely at the angry expression on his face and watched hopelessly as Gunn and his group of friends left her standing on the sidewalk alone.

“This isn’t good.”

~~~*~~~

Cordelia reached the top of the stairs just in time to see the three girls come rushing out of her apartment. Faith was the last to immerge, and the door slammed shut behind her. “What in the Hell? I thought Dennis was supposed to be all Casper like.” Faith had a hand to her throat that was already starting to bruise. Amy lifted Faith’s hand away from the injured body part to inspect the damage.

“He is.” Willow looked at Faith’s neck and winced.

“What happened?” Cordelia took in their pajama-clothed state and Faiths bruised neck.

“Your damn ghost went all Amityville on us in there. I woke up hanging from the ceiling with a cord wrapped around my neck.” Faith glared at Cordelia as though it were her fault.

“Dennis wouldn’t do that.” Faith gave Cordelia a look that read that she believed that the ghost definitely could do that, she had the marks to prove it. “Maybe his psycho Mother but...Oh my God.” Cordelia’s eyes widened.

Amy looked down at the doormat that was in front of Cordelia's neighbor’s apartment, and looked away for half a second. Her eyes darted back and she gasped reaching down to grab the paper. “Oh no, this can’t be right.” Opening the paper and gaping at the front page Amy tried opening her mouth several times trying to create the sounds that could be remotely considered as words. Finally able to function motor skills Amy jabbed her finger at the paper, making small noises in her throat.

“What is it Lassie? Did you find Timmy, is he stuck in the well?” Faith smirked at the blonde witch. Annoyance flashed the blonde’s eyes as she shoved the paper under the slayer’s nose. “What are you getting all...HOLY FUCK!” Grabbing the paper from the witch the slayer shook her head in shock. “This can’t be right.” Dropping the newspaper to the ground Faith looked around until she spotted another paper a few feet away.

Faith hurried over to retrieve the other paper as Willow and Cordelia picked up the discarded one on the ground. Willow looked at the paper and frowned. “This isn’t right.”

“Hello it fits with what *I’ve* been through today.” Cordelia looked less shocked but just as troubled.

“Says the same damn thing in this one.” Faith crumbled up the paper. Looking over at Willow and Amy. “Please tell me that neither one of you did a spell.”

“No.” both girls shook their heads, blamelessness written in both of their expressions. Just then one of the neighbor’s doors opened and an elderly man emerged.

“Excuse me sir, this may sound like a silly question...but what year is it?” Cordelia hoped the man didn’t think they were all on drugs and call the cops. His expression looked amused.

“Sure thing young lady, it’s 1997.” The elderly man tipped his cap and walked away.

~~~*~~~

“This can’t be happening. If it is 1997, and if the paper is right and it’s October that means...” Willow was slumped against the wall, her entire body shaking.

“That we’re in a world of shit.” Faith finished for her. “I didn’t even know you all in 1997; hell I wasn’t even the slayer then, now...whatever.”

“That means that we’re back in High School again...oh Jesus we have to live through that whole Angel, Buffy crap again don‘t I? There’s a limit to what I can endure you know.” Cordelia started to pace.

“October, that means that my Mother has already been imprisoned in the trophy.” Amy leaned against the wall next to Willow.

“And the Master has been defeated.” Willow closed her eyes.

“And that whole invisible girl thing happened, freaky idiot that tried to slice and dice my face.” Cordelia stopped her pacing. “Oh my god, does this mean that I have to start dating Xander again, cause if it does I will toss myself off the nearest cliff.”

“Not to interrupt your little walk down memory lane but what are we going to do now?” Faith wanted so badly to hit something anything to test her strength. But if she no longer had her slayer powers she really didn’t want the other’s to see.

The other three girls exchanged a look, then said at once. “Giles.”

“But I’m not going back into that apartment; Dennis is acting real freaky.” Amy’s eyes were wide as Willow headed for the door of Cordelia’s apartment.

“Oh that’s not Dennis, that’s his mother. She’s a real bitch...” The girl’s looked expectantly at Cordelia. “I’m not going in there either; do I look stupid to you?”

“So where are we going to call him from? And let’s not forget about our apparel, we’re not really dressed to walk around LA at the moment.” Willow looked down at her silky green camisole and matching shorts to her bare feet and let out a moan. “This is so embarrassing.”

“Come on we’re in LA, like you all will be the biggest freaks here.” Cordelia rolled her eyes and headed for the stairs. “And what the hell are we going to say to Giles? Hey guess what your slayer has sex with Angel, who in turns becomes a whacked out killing machine again, bent on destructing us and killing the love of your life. Plus we know that you lose your job and become a bum for a year.”

“Perhaps I should talk to him.” Willow eyed Cordelia knowing that tact girl would make a bigger mess of things if she were let lose on the watcher. “I’ll think of something to say to him.”

They all followed Cordelia to the corner of her block, trying to ignore all the stares they were getting. As soon as they reached the phone Cordelia dug through her purse for change. Willow picked up the phone disgusted at how dirty it was and that she had to put the black object near the vicinity of her face. Popping coins into the slot, she dialed the number she knew by heart.

Willow let it ring five times and was ready to hang up when a female voice answered. “Hello?”

The redheaded witch froze, she knew that voice. For years her dreams had been haunted by that voice. “J-Jenny is that you?” Willow’s voice caught as she tried to swallow the tears that slid from her eyes. The other girls straightened at hearing the name of their long dead teacher.

“Willow where are you?” Jenny’s voice was filled with concern. “Buffy stopped by your house this morning so you two could walk to school, and couldn’t find you. She’s tearing the town apart looking for you. Have you seen Faith? Wesley is worried sick. He went to wake her early this morning for training and she wasn’t there...Willow what’s with all that noise in the back ground?”

“It’s umm, the TV. Can you hold on a sec?” Placing her hand over the receiver Willow blinked a few times trying to sort out what was going on.

“It’s Jenny.”

“Yes Willow we gathered that much.” Cordelia rolled her eyes and motioned with her hands for the witch to continue.

“Buffy went to my house this morning and found me missing she’s been searching for me. Plus it seems that Wesley is in town already and is stressed that Faith is AWOL as well. What should I tell her?”

Faith grabbed Willow’s arm. “Don’t tell her anything.”

“Okay, but I think she wants to know where we are. We missed school.” Willow almost felt like a High School student again, that she had been caught doing something that she shouldn’t be doing.

“Tell her that my Father took us to LA on a shopping spree at the last second, that we’ll be home tonight.” Willow looked unconvinced at Cordelia’s suggestion. “That or you can tell her that we’re from the future and stuck in LA.”

“Jenny? Sorry about that, yes I had to tell Cordelia to turn the TV down. Her father took us to LA for some shopping and we’ll be home soon, bye.” Hanging up the phone quickly Willow took a deep breath.

“Okay now what?” Amy went to lean against the phone booth until she noticed the wads of gum stuck to it. “We’re stuck in LA, in our pajamas might I add. How in the hell are we going to get back to Sunnydale?”

“Easy, if we’re back in High School that means that I’m rich again. I’ll just call home and have one of the maids get us train tickets.” Cordelia went through her purse for more change, and made the call home. “Tada, four one way tickets to hell. What more could a girl ask for?”

“Clothes!” The other three girls said in unison.

~~~*~~~

It was well past dark when the train pulled into the Sunnydale train depot, and the girls stepped off the train and onto the platform. “Home sweet hell, ain’t it grand to be home? Can almost smell the death in the air.” Faith muttered wrapping her arms around herself as she felt a chill go through her body.

“Well at least this place looks the same.” Willow looked around, trying to not get too self conscious at the stares she was getting.

“Well where to? Because to tell you the truth I’m really not in the mood to make a visit home tonight.” Cordelia gazed around amazed that this place no longer felt like home to her. LA was her home now, and Angel, Wesley and Gunn were her family.

“Let’s go back to my parent’s house, with any luck they’re out of town and we can try and figure out what in the hell we’re going to do.” Willow stared down at her bare feet and hoped they made it back to her parents house without any incidents.

“Sounds like a plan to me.” Amy took one last look around as they headed toward Willow’s childhood home.

“I just hope we don’t run into Buffy on her patrol.” Cordelia’s eyes searched the darkness for any signs of other worldly creatures of the night.

“Well geez Cordelia don’t jinx us or anything.” Faith glared at the brunette how in turn made a face back at the slayer.

“Will you two stop it? We have enough problems than having the two of you brawl it out later.” Willow growled at the two other girls.

“So the question is, do we go through the park or the cemetery to get to Willow’s?” Amy asked the group of girls.

“No I think the question is where is Buffy not patrolling right now.” Cordelia looked around at all the familiar landmarks as the continued to the redheads home.

“She’s probably in the cemetery, so that leaves the park.” Faith made a sharp right that lead the way to the park, the other three girls following.

“You know I just thought of something. We have no weapons, we’re not too sure about Faith still having her slayer powers, and we’re walking through Sunnyhell at night. And you all are in you jammies no less...we’re screwed.” Cordelia slowed her step and listened carefully to the night sounds.

“Cordelia your ability to make a bad situation worse is overwhelming.” Amy clutched onto Willow’s hand and made herself take deep calming breaths.

“What about our two resident witches here? I may not be the only power free one around here. And what about future girl?” Faith nodded toward Cordelia. “Is she going to be having those mind numbing looks into the future? I can see it now, her have an a convulsion in front of everyone and us trying to explain that . ‘Don’t worry guys, Cordelia just forgot to take her meds this morning.’ This is going to suck.”

“I think this bickering thing is really working for us, I mean so far no baddies and we’re almost home and no sign of-.”

“Willow? Is that you?” Willow stopped in mid-step and let out a silent groan.

“See I told you that you jinxed us.” Faith hissed under her breath at Cordelia.

“Bite me.” Cordelia fired back.

“Shut up!” Willow and Amy hushed the two bickering girls in time to see Buffy, Angel and Xander approach from the playground.

“Where were you today I stopped by your house and...Willow what did you do to your hair?” Buffy’s eye’s were wide open as she reached out and touched the short locks of red hair.

Willow felt her blood run cold as she tried to explain her new, and not quiet in style hair cut. Good thing Cordelia interrupted, because so far Willow was speechless. “We got our hair cut today, don’t you like? It’s all the rage in LA.” Cordelia flashed a wobbly smile at Buffy.

“If you say so. I was worried about you Willow, you could’ve at least called and told me you were going to LA with...” Buffy shot a glance in Cordelia’s direction. “Cordelia. It’s not like you.”

“Yeah little buddy, you missing school...are you possessed?” Willow felt annoyance building and tried to stomp it down. Did Buffy and Xander always treat her like a three year old?

“I missed a day of school, it’s not the national incident that you think it is.” Willow saw the tell tale signs of skepticism on Angel’s face and cursed the vampire for being way to intuitive. She let her eyes linger on the dark vampire a moment, noting that like always he had an effect on her libido.

Xander took a step closer to Faith, his eyes focused on her arm. “Is that a tattoo? It is! Wesley is going to have a Cornish game hen.”

“Haircuts? Tattoos? Willow voluntarily missed a day of school? Are you all sure that nothing you’d like to tell us?” Buffy crossed her arms over her chest, convinced that the four girls in front of her were up to something.

Willow saw the calculating looks on Faith and Cordelia’s faces and cut in before either could say a word. “Buffy it was nothing. We went, we shopped, had a hair cut and Faith got a tattoo. Really the world isn’t ending.-”

“Again.” Amy Faith and Cordelia muttered together throwing innocent looks in Willow’s direction.

“Why are you in your night clothes?” Angel finally spoke up, his eyes intently on Willow.

“Sleepover.” Amy’s lips twitched at the fact that she hadn’t really lied.

“I dared them to walk through the park in their jammies.” Cordelia raised a brow at Angel, almost daring him to call her a liar.

Angel looked into each of their eyes convinced that they were lying. There was only one way to get the truth, Willow. She was too innocent and pure to lie straight out. “Willow?”

Willow felt her heart flip at the sight of Angel’s arched brow. Perhaps if she were still a High School kid she’d be a babbling pool of gush at his feet, but not now. “Like they said we were having a sleepover, and during a game of truth and dare Cordelia dared the three of us to walk through the park at night in out PJ’s, no big.”

Angel gave a short nod, not buying her words, and slightly annoyed that the little hacker was lying. Out of the entire group, he always believed that Willow would tell the truth. Perhaps he had pegged her wrong.

“Hate to break this up, but it’s freezing out here, and the night’s still young.” Faith flashed a fake smile at the trio and grabbed Willow’s arm. Cordelia and Amy followed giving a short wave at the suspicious and unbelieving threesome.

“They’re lying.” Buffy pouted, annoyed that her best friend wouldn’t tell her the truth, but was also hanging out with Cordelia Chase.

“Like a rug. You don’t believe their story...do you?” Xander reached in his back pocket and retrieved his half melted chocolate bar. Angel looked at him in disgust.

“Why would they lie? They’re your friends.” Angel’s words were of trust, but deep inside he knew something wasn’t right.

“You think?” Buffy laced her arm through Angel’s as they walked in the opposite direction then the four friends had.

“Positive.” Buffy missed Angel’s eyes narrowing as he vowed to himself to get to the bottom of this.

~Part: three~

“What do you mean it’s empty?” Cordelia nudged Willow out of the way and peered into the darkened windows of the house they had known for years as the redhead’s home.

“Empty as in no furniture, no TV, no pictures on the walls, nadda zilch.” Willow felt a panic rising in her chest. Instead of the twenty-one year-old that she was, she all of a sudden felt like a small child again.

“Oh this is not good, in the big we are so frigging screwed way.” Amy leaned her head against the dirty window and felt like crying.

“Now what?” Faith was standing at the foot of the steps looking up at the others.

“Well you have to live somewhere in town if Buffy went to your house to pick you up this morning.” Cordelia bit her bottom lip.

“Yeah but the question is where, and how do we find it?” Willow walked away from the window and sat down on the top step.

“If we went back in time how come there’s so many differences here?” Cordelia demanded. “First we didn’t even know Faith in 97. Second Wes didn’t come until the middle of next year. Now this. Willow’s parents were never home long enough to dust let alone pack up a house and move.”

“We are so dead.” Amy sat sunk down next to Willow.

“Stop. We are each strong young women who have been through too much to let a little messed up time travel get to us.” Cordelia crossed her arms over her chest and gave the rest her no nonsense looks. “We regroup. We know that I live in the same place, since I called there this morning to have Mary get us the train tickets. We go back to my place for the night. We’ll decide what to do from there.” Having some from of a plan they left what once had been Willow’s home, the redhead looking back one last time unable to rid herself of the sadness of losing the sanctuary of her youth.

~~~*~~~

“Wow now this is what you call a house.” Faith whistled as she walked past Cordelia into the front hall.

“I’ve never been inside.” Willow whispered in awe at the wealth that the brunette had grown up in.

“Yeah take a good look around, in just a few years it’s all up for auction.” Cordelia grumbled bitterly.

“Maybe you can warn them.” Willow stared at a painting on the wall, not able to place the painter, but could tell the piece of art probably cost a small fortune.

“Oh, I can see that conversation. Hey Dad, you may not know this but the IRS knows that you haven’t paid your taxes in years. Maybe you should consider doing something about that.” Cordelia lead them to the stairs and looked over her shoulder at her friends. “They got what they deserved. They’re adults, and they made the choice not to pay.”

“So where are they?” Amy asked.

“Well if they’re anything like the people I grew up with they could be anywhere. Even when they’re home they are so busy with their dinner parties and kissing ass to be at home.” Cordelia stopped in front of a door and opened it wide for the girls to enter.

“Someone a little bitter about her golden childhood?” Faith muttered irritated that growing up she would’ve given anything for the security a warm house and food that the brunette just took for granted. For the brunette slayer her childhood home was a chain of cockroach infested motels, and a drunk for a mother that was barely sober enough to fix Ramon Noodles for dinner.

Cordelia bit back her response. As a group they all knew that Faith had to have had it hard to make her so disruptive at an early young age. Choosing to ignore the comment Cordelia walked over to her answering machine seeing the light blinking. Curious to find out who had called, she pressed the play button.

Beep. “Cordy this is Harm’s...” Willow groaned and rolled her eyes. “You missed Cheerleading practice today, where are you? We decided to have an extra practice tomorrow after school in the gym. Oh and you’ll never believe who missed school today. The redheaded freak wonder. Well if you get this message call me.” Cordelia pushed the pause button, terror in her eyes.

“Cheerleading? We so need to get back to our time. Do you even know the last time I did the splits?” Grimacing Cordelia could feel the pain a practice could bring her.

“Better you than me.” Amy shuddered.

“Oh that was funny...not” Cordelia shot back.

“Oh I have to see that.” Faith smirked.

“Okay so you may have to live through a few practices.” Willow bit back a smile. “I’m sure it won’t kill you.

Ignoring the other girl’s mirth to what was sure going to be one heinous experience Cordelia pushed the play button again. “Cordelia honey this is your Mother. Thought I’d give you a short call, our plane has been delayed. I swear how hard is it to stay on schedule? Anyways Paris was beautiful as always, and now we’re off to Rome. See you in a few weeks...kisses.”

“Cordelia are you sure that our parents aren’t related in some obscure way?” Cordelia snorted at Willows comment.

Beep. “Hey Cordy, Harm again. Where are you? Anyways you’ll never believe where we’ve been invited to this weekend... a frat party. I’ll tell you more tomorrow, bye.”

“Hello, that doesn’t sound familiar or anything.” Willow walked over to Cordelia’s bed and sat down.

“Well at least we know what to expect this week. Virgin sacrifices, yippee. What better way to say welcome back to the Hellmouth?” Cordelia followed Willow’s example and sat down next to her.

“So I take it you two have been through this before?” Faith wished she could sit down but felt too uncomfortable sitting near the two other girls.

“I think I remember you telling me about this Willow. Buffy and Cordelia went to some kegger and almost ended up being sacrificed.” Amy flopped down on the other side of the Willow.

“So we stop it before it happens.” Faith shrugged. Fighting, that was what she was used to. Not the problem solving of the messes they found themselves in. She didn’t have the restraint to sit around, analyzing all aspects of a problem.

“But that means that we have to wait around for three days.” Cordelia shook her head. “Can’t we just leave Giles a little note or something?”

“What scared of Cheerleading practice?” Willow smiled at the former May Queen.

“Hell yes. But that means that we need to go to school and try to fit in for three days.” Cordelia stood to face everyone. “What are we supposed to do for three days? Do any of you remember how obscenely early High School starts?”

“Well it’s not as though we know how to get back, or even how it is we got here. So I really don’t see why we shouldn’t stop what evil we can on our little visit.” Amy pointed out.

“Which bring up another point. Do we tell Giles what’s going on?” Faith spoke up.

Willow looked in surprise at the slayer. “Why wouldn’t we?”

“Think about it Red. Think about how tight your little group was back in High School. If one of the group were to come up and say ‘Hey guess what, I’m from the future and can’t seem to get home.’ How would you all react?”

“We’d be suspicious as hell and be working harder to prove that the person was evil and lying then trying to help.” Cordelia answered.

“Well we could just tell Giles to keep it to himself.” Willow heard the words and knew it would never work. “So what do we do?” Willow asked Faith who seemed a little stunned that someone as intelligent was asking for her advice.

“I think that we’ve been through enough that we really don’t need any help. We research, we argue, we solve the problem. Isn‘t that how you all usually got things done?” Faith gave a half smile.

“She’s right.” Amy nodded. “We can do this.”

“I know I’m going to regret this.” Cordelia sighed. “What the hell I’m in... Willow?”

The redhead chewed on her lower lip, the true sign that the redheaded witch was contemplating her plight. “Fine. But if we don’t find anything in...two weeks we tell Giles.”

“Fine.” Cordelia yawned. “I know after all that we’ve been through today I should be wired for the next week, but I’m beat. I’m going to tell Mary to make up some rooms for you guys tonight. I have a feeling that we’re going to need all the rest we can get.”

~~~*~~~

“Wow.” The four girls stood outside of the High School, staring at its intact structure. Willow’s mouth hung open, unable to form any other words. Students passed by the four girls giving them odd stares at their strange behavior.

“The last time I was here was on graduation.” Cordelia’s voice was hushed.

“I still don’t know why I’m here.” Faith grumbled. “Or why I have to wear this dress.” Pulling at the bodice of the dress.

Cordelia sighed, having already explained the reason several times already. “Things are a little different here. You may still be in school. If anything Wes will be here and at least you can find out where it is that you live.”

“Okay well if I am in school how the hell am I supposed to know what classes I’m in.” Faith arched a brow at the others.

“She’s not the only one who thought of that. To tell you the truth I barely remember the classes I did take.” Amy admitted. “And what about lockers and combinations.”

“Okay so this wasn’t very well planned.” Cordelia looked to Willow hoping that the redhead had some answers.

After a moment Willow smiled triumphantly. “I’ll use the computer in the library.”

“I knew we kept you around for something.” Amy smiled as they took one last look at the outside of the school and walked for the entrance.

~~~*~~~

“Lindsey, Lilah please have a seat.” Holland Manner’s surveyed the two talented law students that had just entered his office. He had found the two at Hastings the year before. It had really been pure luck that he had found them at all, but things couldn’t have turned out better. Both Lindsey and Lilah were at the top of their class, competing against one another for valedictorian. The way the two competed was a thrill to watch, and Holland knew that he could use their rival against them.

“I had word from Mayor Wilkins and he is thrilled with the assistance you two provided him with that little problem. I have to say that the senior partners are very interested in the two of you.” Holland offered them both a smile. “He’ll be up this way in a week, and would like to run a few things by the two of you. This is a very big deal, and you should be very proud of yourselves.”

Lindsey could barley contain the ecstatic feeling that praise from a man such as Holland gave him. Finally he had found a place in his life were he could be proud of something, were he didn’t feel like an outsider. True the clients that Wolfram and Hart took in were rather different, but hadn’t Holland shown him that even these creatures of the night needed to have council as well.

Take the Mayor for example. The poor man was responsible for a town filled with murder and mayhem. But somehow he was able to keep the town a somewhat safe place to live for the residents there. Holland Manners was not only responsible for opening his eyes to a world Lindsey had no idea existed, but for giving him a chance at a lifestyle Lindsey never dreamt possible.

Checking his watch Holland stood. “I have a meeting in a few minutes. But I’d like to invite the two of you out on my boat this weekend. There are a few very important people there that I want you to meet.” Lindsey and Lilah stood as well, shaking the hand Holland offered. With a nod of his head Holland Manners left the office, leaving behind two of the best future lawyers the firm had come across in years.

~Part: four~

“Hey Dad?” Lindsey sat back on the lumpy couch.

“Lindsey?” Frank McDonald’s happy voice answered back. “It’s great to hear from you!” Lindsey smiled at the familiar voice. His father had always been there for him, supporting whatever choice he made whether it be good or bad.

Life hadn’t been easy on Frank McDonald, having lost two of his six children more then fourteen years ago due to a doctor prescribing the wrong medication. His father had been devastated, and slipped into a serious depression. Resulting in the family losing their home. But things got better from there. His father received the help he needed and got his life back on track.

“Sorry I haven’t called in awhile; I’ve been busy with school ...and at Wolfram and Hart.” Lindsey stood and walked to the kitchen. Going to the refrigerator he pulled a beer out and opened it, taking a long swallow.

“Hope that fancy little internship isn’t taking time away from your studies.” Lindsey’s jaw tightened. “Hey you’ll never believe who I ran into the other day. Harold Parker. He asked about you, said he can’t wait until spring when you come home and join his practice.”

Lindsey gritted his teeth together, knowing where this conversation was going and fast. They had been through this several times. His father wanted him to come home after college and work in the small practice with a family friend. Perhaps in the beginning Lindsey had wanted that too, but after seeing the kind of power and money he could obtain with Wolfram and Hart he had started to get loftier goals. He no longer wanted to return home to no where Oklahoma.

“Dad do we really need to go through this again?”

“Son you made a promise to Mr. Parker. He was the one that pulled the strings to get you into Hastings. I taught you to follow through on your word.” Rolling his eyes Lindsey took another mouthful of beer.

“Can’t you be happy that a firm as successful as Wolfram and Hart wants me to work for them? Of all people I thought you’d be happy for me.”

After a long pause Frank McDonald sighed. “Lindsey I’ll always love you, and I am proud of you.” Lindsey knew the words, had heard them several times in the past. But at the same time could hear the words that weren’t spoken. His father wasn’t happy over the decision to stay in LA after graduation.

“I have to go. I have class in an hour.” Lindsey lied.

“I’ll tell your Mother hello.” Lindsey hung up the phone and finished his beer.

~~~*~~~

“Giles I’m worried about her.” Buffy paced back and forth in front of Giles, chewing on her lower lip. “After everything she has been through the last few months I think she’s finally cracked.”

Giles watched as his young charge not sure he understood what she was trying to communicate. “Yeah G-man," the Watcher glared at the young man, hating the nickname he couldn't seem to get the youth to stop using, "you should have seen her this morning. She didn’t even remember where her locker was, then when we had to show her she didn’t know the combination.” .

“Oh and then in History there was a test that she *forgot* about.” Buffy stopped pacing.

“Buffy forgetting a test doesn’t constitute for the panic your in. Willow is going through a lot of stress.” Giles pointed out.

“And she’s not the only one flaking out. In French class Faith sat around like one of the pod people, but of the denser stupider kind. Every time she was called on she’d panic until the teacher took pity on her and call on someone else.” Xander raised his brows.

“And Amy nearly burnt down Chem lab today.” Giles looked from Xander to Buffy. “*Then* at lunch they sat with Cordelia...on purpose.” Buffy’s lower lip stuck out a little remembering the slight sub she had felt.

Giles looked thoughtful. “Well did you ask them if something was wrong?”

“Giles were teenagers; there’s always something wrong. I don’t know but something just feels off.” Buffy gave the Watcher her best puppy dog look. “Ever since Willow’s parents were...killed and she chose to live on her own I’ve worried that something weird would happen. She’s too young to be on her own.”

“I hate to speak ill of the dead, but her parents were never home before they...died.” Giles took off his glass and started to clean the invisible spots off.

“Please talk to her.” Buffy looked at him from beneath her lashes. “Or maybe I could get Angel to talk to her.”

“Oh I can see that conversation. He’d stutter she’d stutter. Yup lots would get accomplished there.” Xander rolled his eyes. Both Buffy and Giles turned to shoot him a look that clearly said his input was unneeded.

“Fine. But I’m sure we’ll find that everything is fine.” Giles relented, turning his back from the slayer and the conversation.

~~~*~~~

“I really never remembered school being this...” Amy closed her locker, looking at the other three girls.

“Boring?” Faith offered.

“Long?” Cordelia ignored the odd stares she had been getting from the other students all day, sure that they were just confused by her ignorance of the social order of things. Not wanting to confront Harmony and the other girls, Cordelia had chosen to avoid any contact with them yet.

“Monotonous?” Willow gained a strange look from the three girls.

“So what time is your practice?” Faith smiled at Cordelia, not wanting to miss the brunette make a total ass of herself.

“I was thinking of not going.” Cordelia mumbled.

Willow looked up sharply. “No! We need to act like nothing is different. That means that you need to go to cheerleading. Amy and I need to meet at the library and Faith... well who knows what she does.” Willow looked indecisively at the slayer.

“Maybe she volunteers at the local hospital.” Amy smiled.

“Oh yeah I can see. -” Cordelia was cut off as someone called out Faith’s name. As a group the four girls turned to see Wesley coming toward them.

“Okay now that’s... interesting.” Willow murmured.

“Ah... is that ...an earring? Wes has an earring?” Cordelia stifled a laugh.

“Oh goody, let the fun begin.” Faith straightened, holding her breath waiting to see that familiar disappointment that was always in Wesley’s eyes. No wait, the last time she saw him there was pure hatred and distrust.

“Faith I was worried about you.” Wesley got close and did something that could only happen on the Hellmouth. Wrapping his arms tight around her have gave her a kiss on the forehead.

Faith stood dazed, a part of her wanting nothing more than to bask in the apparent affection. But after all she had done she knew she didn’t deserve this kind of treatment. No she deserved the hostile guarded looks that Wesley was casting her way just two days ago.

“Wes, you’re acting as though I was in danger or something.” Faith pushed her way out of Wesley’s arms and put some distance between them. "I went shopping, no really crisis there." Frowning Wesley straightened, and gave a short nod.

“I see... well I suppose we should get going.” Faith looked questioningly at the other three girls, wondering if it were smart to split up. “You missed yesterday's practice.” Faith smirked; there was the stuffy Watcher she knew.

“Yes have fun Faith.” Cordelia grinned at her giving a short wave. “*Behave* yourself.”

Wesley turned to leave, and Faith flipped the other girl off behind his back. Hesitantly she followed.

Cordelia, Willow and Amy watched silently until the pair disappeared down the hall. “Okay what was that?”

“One of the changes?” Willow hitched her backpack higher on her shoulder.

“Okay then...on that note I guess it’s time to do something I *never* thought I’d have to do again.” Willow and Amy looked at her uncertain what she was saying. “Stepping foot willingly into that moldy smelling gym.” Cordelia rolled her eyes. With a wave she was down the hall.

“Library?” Willow asked Amy. The blonde nodded and both girls headed down the hall.

~Part: five~

“Ready? Okay!”

Cordelia clapped her hands a second after the rest of the girls did, and grimaced at her blatant mistake. One of a hundred she had made so far in the last twenty minutes. This was hell; pure and simple... it had to be. She had literally died and was now roasting in the bowels of hell. Perhaps if she ever got back to her right time she’d ask Angel if hell had cheerleading and pom-poms.

“Put your hands up in the air!”

Moving her mouth to make it look like she remembered the words, she raised her hands in time for the others to be lowering theirs. As a group the girls stomped their feet in unison. Cordelia knew she was slaughtering the routine. The rest of the girls swung their hips to an unheard beat, kicking high in the air, Cordelia kicked late, feeling the muscle in her left leg pull.

‘I liked doing this?’ She thought as she stepped on Courtney's right foot as the small blonde stepped right in sync with the other girls and Cordelia went left. Smiling lamely at the other girl Cordelia tried to dredge up this particular routine from her memory with not much luck.

“Like you just don't seem to care!”

She could remember that there was a turn somewhere in the routine right? God please no toe touches, she knew that if she were expected to jump into the air one more time with she would need hospitalization. Peeking a look to the right she saw the girls go to the ground one by one in the splits. She knew it! HELL She knew that this was HELL.

“Cause we're the best around, and we show it!”

Two girls to go. Cordelia contemplated her options. She could just stand there and not follow the routine, claiming mental retardation. Or go for Glory.

“Yeah, yeah, you know it!”

Sliding to the ground Cordelia let out a horrific wail as she felt her muscles pull. Everyone stopped and stared at her. As quickly and painlessly as she could, Cordelia removed herself from the floor and limped for the door.

“Cordelia what is up with you?” Harmony stepped away from the rest of the girls. “First you missed yesterday’s practice; you avoided us in the halls today. Now you’re acting like a total spaz.”

Cordelia could feel her thigh muscles burning in protest as Harmony went off on her. Looking at the blonde Cordelia tried to recall why she was ever friends with her. Harmony was a bitch extraordinaire and didn‘t have the style and flare to pull it of correctly. “Harmony it’s been a bad day, well a bad couple of days. Back off or I will flatten your fat ass to the ground.” Cordelia tried to muster up any ounce of dignity she possessed and left Harmony and the other’s in a state of shock.

Harmony looked behind her. “Is my ass big?”

~~~*~~~

“Faith.” Wesley let go of the punching bag and stepped to the side. “What‘s going on?” Faith took a step away, grabbing her water bottle. She wasn’t particularly thirsty; she just needed a way to avoid looking at Wesley.

“Nothing.”

It was disturbing seeing this Wesley, there was no hate or loathing shooting from his eyes. He didn’t step five feet back anytime she got too close. This Wesley looked so much like the one she knew in LA, but there were so many differences it put her mind in hyper drive. For one thing he didn’t have that nasally whine that used to grate on her nerves, his voice was soothing and if possible in control. He did have an earring, and oddly it didn’t look queer on him. His glasses were gone, and his hair much more stylish then the little boy hairdo he once sported. Gone was the tweed, and in its place nice fitting jeans and a light blue sweater that showed off a body she had *no* idea he had.

But if she looked too long at Wesley she’d start getting flashes of the torture she had put him through. It was like having snapshots filtering in front of her eyes. Starting with the disappointed looks he used to give her, to the time she tortured him for hours on end. She’d see the blood and the pain she had caused, making it hard for her to breathe.

“This is what I’m talking about. You aren’t talking to me, you can barely look at me in the eye. Have you had second thoughts about us?”

Faith’s head snapped up, wondering if she was hearing his words correctly. *Us*? There was an us? “No, I’m just tired is all.” Wesley took a few steps closer to her and Faith had to force herself from stepping back when he got inside her personal bubble.

“Are you sure?” Reaching out his hand cautiously, he stroked her cheek. Faith felt her pulse quicken, and her breath was caught somewhere between her lungs and her throat. How could *Wesley* provoke such feelings?

Faith unconsciously stepped into his touch, closing her eyes, enjoying the contact between them. She was caught off guard when she felt his lips brush against hers, first with a feather light pressure that progressed into one of the best kisses she had ever experienced. Wesley controlled the kiss from beginning to end, stopping once to let them breathe, only to lean forward again to seize her mouth.

Faith’s head was buzzing, one moment she was floating, next she felt his tongue slip into her mouth causing electrical shocks to run through her blood stream. Hands were running down her back to her ass and she jumped when he gave a slight squeeze. Then it was all over, Wesley pulled away and turned her to the punching bag.

“Practice, you need to practice. We have time to make out later.” With a swift swat to rear he gave her a gentle push toward the hanging bag.

~~~*~~~

“Ready?” Willow took a deep breath, and Amy nodded. Both girls walked into the library looking around at the activity on the inside. Giles and Jenny were in the cage gathering weapons and putting them in a black bag. Xander was sitting at the table carving more stakes. It was unnerving to see the smile Jenny flashed their way. Even though she talked to her former mentor and friend yesterday on the phone it was so much more believable to see her in person. Buffy and Angel were sparring in the only open space the library offered.

“I’m glad you two are here.” Giles stood and Willow and Amy looked over at him. “There’s word of a new vampire nest a few buildings away from the Bronze. If we can get there before sunset we’ll have the element of surprise.”

“Sure. What do you want us to do?” Willow already in Slayerette mode dropped her bag to the ground.

“I need you to get access to the layout of the tunnels. We need to figure put a way to get Angel and Spike as close to the building as possible.” Willow took a step to the computer and froze. Turning around again she stared goggled eyes at the Watcher.

“S-Spike?!?” Willow could barely say the name. Of all the changes she was trying to anticipate Spike being there helping was just not one of them.

“Yes he just called with the location, he should be here in-...Willow dear lord are you okay?” Giles dropped what he was doing, rushing over to the redhead.

“I-I’m fine.” Willow nodded not too reassuringly. It was one thing to have Spike around with a stupid chip in his head, another knowing he was going to be here pre-initiative, chipless. Unless the initiative... Willow shook her head trying to clear it of all the possibilities. This was getting to be way too much.

Buffy stopped and the look she gave Giles was a big fat I told you so. Giles nodded in her direction, letting her know he’d handle it.

Angel watched the scene in front of him. Why would the news of his childe make Willow so shocked? Spike had passed their tests, and had proven to be a trustworthy part of the team. Angel took a step closer to Willow and scrutinized her for a moment. There was something off, besides the new hairdo and clothes that had to be borrowed. Everything looked almost the same, but something was just...

“Willow really you look ill.” Giles put out a hand to touch her, and Willow smiled warmly back.

“No, just a little... tired. That’s what I get for staying up all night at a slumber party.” Amy grabbed Willows arm and started to the computer.

“We’ll get you those maps that you need.” The blonde said over her shoulder. Everyone exchanged looks but went back to what they were doing.

Amy looked around making sure no one was paying them any attention. “Why the hell is Spike here? Correct me if I’m wrong but isn’t he supposed to be the big bad still? Causing harm and mayhem?”

“You’re asking me? I still don’t know where I live.” Willow hissed back as turned the computer on.

“While we’re searching the underground maps I guess we should find out where you moved to huh?” Amy looked around the library again, wishing they could call it a day.

Taking a calming breath Willow quickly found the maps, having memorized the site years ago. With a few clicks of the mouse she found Sunnydale’s white pages. “This doesn’t makes any sense. There’s no Ira or Shelia Rosenberg.” Amy peeked over the redhead’s shoulder.

“No but there’s a Willow Rosenberg.” Pointing Willow’s name. Grabbing a pen and paper she wrote down the address and phone number. “That address almost looks familiar.” Amy chewed on the end of the pen.

“It should. Giles lives there too, just a few apartments away.” Willow scrunched her forehead.

The library door swung open and Cordelia limped through. But before she could open her mouth her hands went to her head and her body collapsed to the ground.

~Part: six~

Cordelia squeezed her eyes shut and bit down on her lip, trying to keep herself from babbling like an idiot like she usually did when these damn visions came. Fighting to get to her knees, Cordelia reached out blindly, trying to find something to hold onto. But that all too familiar force inside, threw her back about three feet, slamming her forehead into the doorjamb. The pain was getting intolerable, to the point she couldn’t fight it anymore.

Amy and Willow exchanged a nervous glance and rushed to their friend’s side. The remainder of the library’s occupants stood in shock, watching with a mixture of gross interest and indecision. It was like watching a car accident. You see it happen, you can see that there’s someone trapped in a car needing help, but you’re not quiet able to make your body respond.

Finally Xander broke the spell, jumping up and down pointing in Cordelia’s direction. “She’s possessed! I told you, but would anyone listen to me? Noooooo.” Amy and Willow were trying to hold Cordelia down, so she wouldn’t hurt herself with her thrashing. Shooting Xander a disgusted glare, Amy wracked her brain for an explanation for Cordelia’s odd behavior.

“Shut up Xander!” Amy snapped. “She’s been getting horrible migraines. She’s not possessed.” Willow breathed a deep sigh of relief, glad that Amy was able to think quickly on her feet.

“Are you sure? Because it sure would explain a lot.” Xander looked at Cordelia unconvinced.

“If I threw a stick, would you go away?” Amy retorted, returning her attention back to Cordelia who was calming down.

Moving from Giles’s side, after finally getting over her initial shock, Jenny went to comfort the brunette. “Has she seen a doctor?”

“Why?” Willow asked thoughtlessly, her mind on what kind of vision the powers could’ve sent Cordelia.

“Her migraines?” Her face scrunched in confusion, Jenny looked from Amy back to Willow.

“Oh those.” Willow’s face reddened to a deep burgundy. This was a prime example why she should never lie. “Yeah she did.”

“And?” Giles took his tweed jacket off, kneeling by Cordelia’s side he gently lifted the brunette’s head and placed the folded garment under it.

“Umm, she didn’t say.” Amy mumbled. Everyone seemed satisfied with the answer and let the subject drop.

“I still say she’s possessed.” Xander grumbled.

Angel watched Willow intently. He knew she and Amy were lying. If their faces and actions weren’t a large enough clue, then their accelerated heartbeats was all the proof he needed. After being on this earth for over two centuries, he had several opportunities to study human behavior. It didn’t take a genius to see that there was something way off with this situation.

Watching Willow sitting on the floor next to the cheerleader, brushing the girl’s hair from her face in a soothing manner. Angel tired to pin point what it was exactly that was off with her. It was almost as though she wasn’t the same girl she had been just days before. Her jittery nervous behavior was gone. It was true that she was still nervous, just not as jumpy as before. But it wasn’t just Willow who was acting strange, it was also Amy and now Cordelia.

Sensing his childe watching from the stacks, Angel left Buffy’s side to have a word with Spike. No one noticed that he slipped away, and he kept his voice low when he greeted Spike.

“What in the bloody hell was that?” The blonde vampire hissed.

“I don’t know, but I’m not buying the migraine explanation.” Angel looked back over his shoulder as Amy and Willow helped Cordelia to her feet and into a near by chair.

“Think they’re in trouble?” Spike’s gaze now locked on Amy, concerned that the little blonde he had come to admire and love might be in danger.

“If they are they aren’t talking.” Angel took them deeper into the stacks, not wanting to be overheard. “We ran into them last night in the park while we were on patrol.”

“So.” Spike shrugged.

“They were dressed in their bedclothes.” Angel remembered how Willow had looked in the skimpy green silky camisole and matching short bottoms. She had been radiant, who knew what she was hiding under all those bulky sweaters and jumper sets.

“The chits were dressed for beddy-bye and you didn’t have the decency to give me a call?” Spike pretended to be outraged, but his eyes sparkled with mirth.

“You’re missing the point here.” Angel growled in frustration. “They were walking through the park...at night...without any sort of weapons... in their pajamas. ” Spike’s smirk vanished being replaced by a scowl.

“The gels know what kind of danger lurks at night, why were they being so bloody stupid?” Angel hushed Spike when his voice raised in anger.

“They said they were playing truth or dare.” Slapping a hand over Spike’s mouth when the blonde was about to spew out an angry retort, Angel quieted the younger vampire with his eyes. Spike nodded and Angel lifted his hand from his mouth.

“So what are we going to do?” Spike shifted to the right to look past Angel to where Amy was standing.

“I don’t know yet.” Angel answered honestly. “I think out of the three girls Willow is the most likely to tell the truth sooner or latter. Maybe we should corner her.”

“Oh, now that sounds like a plan.” Spike responded dryly. “Should we make her cry first then go for blood, or should we...” Angel cut him off with another glare.

“We aren’t going to torture her. Just ask a few questions. She’s nervous by nature. Sooner or latter she’ll mess up.” Rolling his eyes at his sire, Spike shook his head. “Do you have a better plan?”

“No.”

“Then shut up.” Angel spun around in irritation and walked away, Spike following from behind. Things sure had been easier without this damn soul.

~~~*~~~

“I’m fine,” Cordelia rolled her eyes at the group gathered around her. In truth her head felt like her brain had been puréed, and soon it was going to start slowly leaking from her ears. Her forehead had a knot the size of an Easter egg, and probably just as colorful. She had Giles, Xander, Buffy and her once dead teacher scrutinizing her as if she were some grotesque bug under a microscope. Plus she needed to get rid of everyone, so she could get Amy and Willow alone. They needed to find Faith and get to the cemetery pronto. There was an evil looking gray thing mutilating a teenage couple who thought it was a keen idea to neck at the local graveyard.

“Are you sure, you hit your head pretty hard?” Jenny applied the ice pack on the already bluish purple bump on Cordelia’s temple.

“No really I’m fine. Willow and Amy can walk me home. My...medication is there.” Willow and Amy almost smiled at one another.

“What about that nest we’re supposed to take out?” Spike asked from the library steps. “Thought our little plan had the witch in it.”

Freezing at the familiar english accent, Willow sucked in her breath and refused to look in Spike’s direction. “What the hell!” Cordelia shrieked glaring in Spike’s direction and jumping from her chair, sending the icepack crashing to the floor. “That blonde Billy Idol want to be freak better have a chip in his head.”

Willow and Amy groaned together. “What?” Spike looked at the brunette. “Is the chit possessed?”

Xander opened his mouth, “Shut up Xander.” Willow and Amy snapped in unison. Looking hurt, he closed his mouth and pouted.

“Cordelia, remember Spike helps us.” Willow sent her friend a silent message with her eyes. “She gets this way sometimes after one of her spells. She forgets things. Maybe we should take her home.” Amy nodded.

“What about the nest?” Buffy asked again.

“We can wait for Faith.” Giles cleared his throat, confused at the night’s events so far. “I think Amy and Willow are right. Cordelia needs to get home.”

“Fine, but it’s easier if we had a witch.” Buffy pouted.

Willow and Amy didn’t waste a second, dragging a bewildered Cordelia out of the library. “That went well.” Amy muttered.

“Yeah, at least they didn’t tie us to a stake.” Willow tried to joke. “What were you thinking? Hope he has a chip?” Willow felt like hitting Cordelia upside the head.

“Like I knew he was on our side.” Defending herself, Cordelia shook her head. “Why is he on our side? This is way too much... Spike helps us?”

“I don’t know.” Looking over her shoulder, Willow felt like they were being followed. “What I would do for a handbook telling us what to expect.”

“Oh, I don’t know. Even a time line right now would be nice.” Amy added.

“We need to find Faith.” Cordelia stopped the two witches before they took the ‘what we need’ thoughts too far.

“She’s with Wesley.” Quirking her brows at Willow, Cordelia waited for more information.

“That’s all I know, she’s with Wesley.”

“Oh that’s helpful.”

“Hey I just learned where I live, there’s only so much I can do.” Willow half-heartedly defended herself.

“This isn’t getting us anywhere.” Amy tried not to smile at Cordelia and Willows antics, but it was hard. They were stuck in what they had thought was the past, only to find it not quiet the past as they recalled.

“We have until a little after sunset to find her, there’s a big ugly gray thing that is going to eat Sunnydale High School’s ‘Most Romantic Couple’.”

“I don’t remember that happening.” Amy looked puzzled, hoping that Cordelia and Willow could perhaps fill in what she must have forgotten.

“It didn’t.” Willow gnawed on her lower lip. “Those two got married a year after High School and are expecting their first child.”

“Oh goodie. So now things that didn’t even happen are happening. Aren’t we so lucky?” Amy clapped her hands together, sarcasm oozing from her being.

“Let’s not freak out now. So things are a little nuttier than the last time we lived through High School. We’ll just go to the cemetery, do what we’ve got to do to get rid of Gray guy and call it another day on the Hellmouth.” Cordelia tried to sound optimistic, but knew she was failing miserably.

“Okay so what do you usually do after one of your visions?” Amy sucked in a deep breath, trying to get a hold of the situation.

“Well Angel’s usually there to take care of everything.” Cordelia answered honestly.

“Oh we are so screwed.” Amy whined, Willow and Cordelia silently agreeing with her.

~Part: seven~

This was just what the doctor ordered. There was nothing like a good slay when everything in your world was turned upside down and inside out. Faith let out a deep breath as she wiped the dust of her last opponent from her clothes. She and Wes had been informed of the nest of vampires and that their help was needed. Arriving at the warehouse just in time to help the others as the fighting began.

Faith had held back her chocking laughter when she envisioned the image of Wesley being able to lend a hand in the actual fighting. Her memories of her watcher were ones of girlish yelps and fainting spells. Sure he learned a thing or two by working with Angel, who wouldn’t. But still she couldn’t seem to summon the mental picture of Wes being all that intimidating or being that much of a help.

Boy had she been wrong. Who knew Watcher boy had such strength and speed? Faith had nearly been knocked to her butt staring wide jawed watching Wes fight off more than one opponent. That and those damn leather pants, shouldn’t he be in tweed of something?

Plus the bleach blonde, a.k.a Spike. She nearly rubbed her eyes when she saw him lending Buffy a fist when her opponent got the upper hand. What the hell was going on here?

“Xapper you can come out of your whole, all the scary little vamps are gone.” Spike lit a cigarette, and looked on in disgust as Xander crawled out from behind a stack of crates. “I don’t know why we bother bringing you.”

“Hey, there were a lot of vampires here I’ll have you know!” Xander defended himself as Spike rolled his eyes and pulled Angel to the side.

“Faith that was...what was that?” Wesley approached Faith from behind, startling her when he spoke.

“What was what?” Faith asked guardedly.

“I’ve never seen your fighting skills so...”

“Great?”

“Nooo.”

“Fast?”

“No not that.”

“Powerful?”

“Sloppy, and out of control. It was like watching two years of training going down the drain.” Wesley eyes regarded her as though she were some stranger. “I’ve been your Watcher for two years, been your lover...” His voice dropped above a whisper. “For almost a year, and just the way you moved was foreign to me.”

Faith could feel a blush creeping up her neck to her cheeks. Oh shit she had a full-blown blush going. Never in her life had she blushed. She was usually the one who caused people around her to blush by her commentary. But here she was getting... chastised was the only word she could come up with and blushing like some prude.

“I don’t know, just got into the mood of things.” Giving a shrug Faith tried to walk away from Wes before the conversation went any further and she found out more than she was ready to know. But Wes wouldn’t be ignored or blown off, grabbing her arm he held on tight and pulled her back.

“Well I suggest that you stop getting into the mood of things. You could get yourself hurt next time if you don’t stay focused. I may be your boyfriend, but I’m still your Watcher and I’m not going to stand by and watch you get hurt.” His words were spoken harshly, but his eyes gave way to the worry he was feeling. Faith felt his concern pricking her personal bubble again. She wasn’t used to real concern for her well being aimed her way.

“I’m sorry.” Faith forced the words around the lump in her throat.

“No, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be so harsh, I just couldn’t stand it if anything happened to you.” Faith nodded and stiffened as he wrapped his arms around her.

Faith stepped back quickly when Wes let go, needing the space to gather her thoughts.

“I’m telling you, it would’ve been easier with some witchy assistance.” Xander was helping Buffy to her feet.

“Yeah what I would have given to see Red make little dust piles out of these guys.” Faith chuckled, trying to get herself back into the general conversation and out of the personal one she was having with Wes.

Everyone around her stopped what he or she were doing to stare at her. “You mean Amy right?” Buffy looked suspiciously at Faith.

Faith felt like a deer caught in the headlights. What did she do now? “Yeah, what was I thinking? I meant Amy.” Angel and Spike shared a disbelieving look and continued their silent conversation.

“Where is Amy?” Faith hated the silence that feel on the room, knowing that she had slipped somehow. It couldn’t be possible that Willow here wasn’t a witch? Willow and magic went hand in hand. This place was getting creepier by the second.

“Cordy had a seizer, Amy and Willow took her home.”

Buffy slapped Xander’s arm. “She said she had migraines and needed her medication.”

“Seizer...migraine what’s the diff?” Xander walked off to examine the crate of books Giles and Jenny were shifting through already. Faith felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand as she came aware of what Xander had said.

Cordelia had a vision. That meant that something was going to happen. “How long ago was this?” Faith followed Xander questioning him.

“An hour or two ago...why?”

“She...she didn’t say anything did she? While she was having her...migraine.”

“Umm... think it went ‘oh god not again...ouch ouch ouch.’ ” Xander mimicked holding his head.

Faith wanted desperately to punch his smug face. She had witnessed Cordelia’s visions first hand and knew that the brunette had intense pain when the Powers sent her their messages. Plus a tiny part of her was outraged that Xander was treating Cordelia with such little regard. It was a new feeling for her, feeling defensive for another person.

“Shut up.” Faith snapped. “They took Cordelia home?” Xander nodded.

“I’m going to do a sweep of town and then drop by Cordelia’s house to make sure she’s all right.” Faith announced to no one in particular. Wesley, who had taken a spot next to Giles looking through the items in the crate, looked up and told her to be careful. Faith hurried from the warehouse.

~~~*~~~

Mayor Wilkins listened calmly as his informant he paid to follow the slayers and their friends reported to him. He had hired this particular individual when the second slayer had made her way to town. The ever-growing group kept the streets safe for the residents of Sunnydale, which was an a-okay thing with him. It meant that the residents stayed happy about the decline of unexplainable deaths, which allowed him to pursue his own interests. But he hadn’t gotten this far to allow a group of do-gooders to mess things up for him. So he had someone keep an eye on the group, reporting to him when something of importance came up.

“I’m telling you Mayor; these girls were talking about the future as though they know what’s going to happen. Like how this certain couple ends up getting married and having a kid.”

“Oh you know how girls are. I think it’s inbred in them to daydream about romantic relationships and their futures.” Grabbing a box of disinfectant wipes, the Mayor cleaned the already shiny surface of his desk.

“But sir, I heard one of them saying that they didn’t remember this certain couple getting killed by a demon. The redhead-.”

“Willow Anne Rosenberg... the little girl that’s been hacking into the cities computer system for over a year now.” The Mayor supplied.

“Yeah her. She told the others that the couple didn’t die, that they got married after High School and were expecting a baby.” The Mayors attention was pricked.

“Well that won’t do.” He said with a frown. “That doesn’t bode well with my plans. I mean if this *is* true somehow that means that my ascension failed miserably. And the only way *that* could happen is that our little friends at the local High School stopped me.” Drumming his fingers on the desktop the Mayor thought for a moment. “Well either way we need to get rid of them now. If it’s some fluke then there’s no real worry; it’s just a few teens.”

“And vampires sir.”

“Ahh yes, Angel and Spike. My favorite ensouled vampires. I have a business contact that has a huge interest in those two. I’ll give Holland a call, have him send someone down for a little damage control. In exchange they can have their little trophies.”

“Trophies sir?”

“Angel and Spike. With the teens gone and the vampires in the clutches of Wolfram and Hart I won’t have anything to worry about.”

~Part: eight~

“Okay that was the most disgusting thing I’ve ever had the displeasure of seeing.” Cordelia complained as she wiped at the purple ooze off of her face. The sticky substance had a repulsive stench, which threatened to make her gag.

“I’ve never seen anything explode like that before.” Willow brought a hand to her hair, grimacing when it came away covered with the goo.

“I didn’t mean for it to do that.” Amy admitted, holding back her laughter at the spectacle her two friends made. They had been battling the demon, every one of them giving it their all, when Amy had chanted up for an electrical current to aim toward the enemy. Watching as though it was some action packed movie Amy had gasped when the demon had violently exploded. Covering Willow and Cordelia, who had been standing closest, with purple slime. “It was only supposed to stun it, not blow it up.”

“Well next time how about yelling out a warning, incoming...hit the deck...anything.” Walking past the blonde witch, Cordelia paused for a moment, her anger disappearing. “But I have to admit that was kind of cool.”

“Did I miss all the fun?” Faith walked into the clearing, a smirk on her face. She couldn‘t believe her eyes. There was pieces of...something splattered over bushes, tombstones and two out of the three girls she had spent the last hour looking for. “I swear I can’t leave the three of you alone.”

“Well you know us.” Amy grinned back. “Where’ve you been?”

“I didn’t hear about Cordelia’s little medical problem until Xander said something about an hour ago. I searched all over town looking for you guys.” Faith walked up to Willow and poked at her slime-covered shoulder. “That’s gross. Anyways I stopped by the library, hoping that maybe you were there. Long story short I found your note.”

“My medical condition?”

“Your seizers. Or was it migraines?” Faith chuckled. “Though Xander swears that you’re possessed. Is it me or is Xander the same mentality now that he’ll be in four years?”

“Same.” Three voices answered.

“And the whole Spike thing?” Faith raised a brow at the others. “He nearly became a pile of dust.”

Willow erupted in a fit of giggles. “Oh you should’ve seen Cordelia. I swear she peed on herself.”

“In my defense,” Cordelia held up a purple stained hand. “It’s not like we expected to see the bleached wonder. Except perhaps on the other end of Buffy’s fist.”

“Yeah but it was when you started bellowing about his chip-.”

“She didn’t.” Faith laughed.

“Oh she did.” Amy stifled her laughter at Cordelia’s glare.

“Yeah well I got a few of my own little surprises today.” Faith tried to look blasé. “Wesley kissed me.” Willow, Amy and Cordelia stood staring at her as though she had grown a third head. “Actually he slipped me the tongue.”

“Are you saying that the biggest prude this side of the *world* shoved his tongue in your mouth?” Cordelia fought the urge to wipe a hand across her own mouth just from the memory of the shared a kiss between her and Wesley.

“It wasn’t half-bad.” Faith smiled and felt her blood start to pump from the memory. “I think we’re doing the deed.”

“Okay I think I need to sit down.” Willow muttered looking for a clean tombstone to sit on. “Any other little surprises we should know about?”

Faith thought for a moment. “Yeah. The Red here doesn’t seem to know any magic.”

Willow felt her blood run cold. “NO! Please don’t tell me that I’m the geek extraordinaire again.”

“Willow you were never a geek.” Cordelia tried to calm Willow down.

“Funny Cordy, it was you that gave me that nickname.” Willow challenged.

“Oh yeah. Well I was an unforgiving bitch in high school. Half the stuff that came out of my mouth was pure crap.”

“No Cordy, that’s the thing. Most of what you said was true, you just found the most painful way to say it. I was a geek, following Buffy around like some stupid sidekick. Having a crush on...”

“Oh come on Red don’t leave us hanging!” Faith moaned at how close Willow had been to announcing her secret.

“It was Angel. Are you all happy? I am the most pathetic person known to mankind. I Willow Anne Rosenberg have been lusting after Angel for the last six years. Even when he turned into Angelus and was trying to kill us I found him mouth watering sexy. It tore me apart that he just up and moved to LA without even a good-bye or-or thanks for giving me back my soul and getting me out of Hell. There are you all happy now? Now that you all know my dirty little secret.” Willow stopped her tirade when her friends stopped looking at her, but over her shoulder to whoever was behind her. Closing her eyes Willow prayed to the Goddess that the earth would just open up and swallow her whole.

~~~*~~~

Lindsey rubbed at his tired eyes and tried to concentrate on the book in front of him. The words were starting to blur, and weren’t making any sense. Taking a deep breath he tried again. He had a huge exam the next morning, and he needed to have this stuff down cold. Right now he was at the top of his class. But Lilah Morgan wasn’t far behind and he couldn’t afford anything but an A. Squeezing his eyes shut for a moment he tired again to read the page in front of him, only to have the phone break his focus.

With a disgusted growl, Lindsey pushed himself away from the makeshift table to answer the bothersome call. “Hello?”

“Lindsey, I’m glad I caught you.” Lindsey straightened at the sound of Holland Manners voice.

“Mr. Manners how are you?”

“I’m fine. Lindsey I have a small job for you.” Lindsey felt his blood pump at the prospect to do anything for the man that could make or break him in his law career.

“Sure, you need something researched?”

“No, actually there’s business out of town that I need you to take care of for me.” Lindsey winced at the poor timing.

“I have an Ethics exam tomorrow sir.”

“Never mind that, I’ve already talked to your professor and he agreed that you could take it via email. In fact until this certain...job, is taken care of most of your classes while be done that way.” Holland paused letting Lindsey soak in the importance. “Lilah has already agreed and is packing as we speak. I need the two of you in Sunnydale to help the Mayor with a little problem he is having.”

Lindsey rubbed the back of his neck. It wasn’t as though he really had a choice at this point. Wolfram and Hart had agreed to pay for the portion of tuition the scholarships didn’t cover, and law school wasn’t cheap. “It sounds great. When should I be ready?”

“That’s my boy. Be at the office by eight. Oh and Lindsey?”

“Yes sir?”

“The Senor Partners will be watching.” The other end went dead.

~Part: nine~

Willow took a deep breath and turned around. “Xander!” She cried out as her childhood friend fainted, hitting the ground in an ungraceful heap. Rushing over to his side Willow saw that he had hit his head pretty bad, and there was blood already seeping from the cut.

“Is he okay?” Amy asked as she joined Willow. “You should’ve seen his face when you said you’ve been lusting after Angel. He made that guppy face, you know the one he made in the sixth grade when everyone found out that he wore Batman Underoos.” Her smile faded when Willow gave her a hard look.

“This isn’t funny.” Willow exclaimed as the three other girls tried to hide the perma-grins that were stuck on their lips. “Well maybe a little.” The edges of Willow’s mouth started to turn up.

“Well we lasted one day without anyone finding out. We should’ve taken a pool.” Faith jested. “At least it was tweedle-duh that found out.”

“He’s not that bad.” Willow defended Xander. Looking down at his face she smiled softly. Just days ago she was talking to an older looking Xander. After seeing her friend day after day she hadn’t realized how much he had changed from their High School days. “But we do need to get him out of here. Come on give me a hand.”

Each girl took a limb and struggled to pick Xander off the ground.

~~~*~~~

“Where should we put him?” Amy was ready to drop the leg she was holding, not like Xander hadn’t been dropped a few times on the way back to Cordelia’s house.

“How about in the living room?” Willow moaned. They were standing in the entryway of Cordelia’s childhood home. The walk from the cemetery to here had been long and tiresome. The four girls navigated Xander’s snack laden body to the over stuffed beige couch and dropped him in relief.

“You do realize he’s gonna freak when he wakes up.” Cordelia stared down at her ex and let out a long sigh. “Well at least for Willow’s sake it wasn’t Angel that was standing there when she decided to share her dirty laundry.”

Blushing, Willow sunk down on the couch next to Xander and put her head in her hands. This was bad, really bad. How could she be some dumb? She just had to go and open her mouth. Not only did she share her feelings for Angel, which was embarrassing enough. But she had to spill enough information that even Xander could pick up on.

“Maybe we can bride him with food.” Amy grinned.

“Yeah all the Twinkies and Ho-Ho’s he can consume.” Cordelia sat down next to Willow and placed a hand on the redhead’s shoulder. “How are you holding up?”

“Oh just great. Couldn’t be better.” Willow answered, he voice quivered as she tried to be optimistic.

“Yeah you sound great.” Faith crossed her hands across her chest. “So Fang huh?”

“Ohhh, I’m so embarrassed.” Willow groaned.

“I had no clue Willow. How long?” Willow peeked up at Cordelia long enough to give a look of pain. “That long. Well why didn’t you say anything to him? Oh wait I forgot the tragic love that he clings onto worse than a security blanket.”

Xander decided at that moment to let out a loud groan as his eyes cracked open. The four girls watched as he placed a hand to his head. No one said a word as Xander came to, his eyes popping open, as he looked frantically from each girl. “You!! And you!” Jumping up on the couch he was standing on, he started pointing to each girl. “You’re all demons aren’t you. You’ve taken over my best friend’s bodies.”

“Xander insane much?” Cordelia glared at him as he circled his way from the couch trying to get distance between himself and his obvious threat. “I’ll have you know that I’m trained in the martial arts. Stay back unless you want a taste of my wrath.” Putting his hands up in some weird looking attack mode, all four girls bust out laughing.

“Xander you’re such a dork.” Amy shook her head almost feeling sorry for him for his newest act of humiliation. “We’re not demons.”

“Riiiiight. That’s what all the demons say, right before they try to suck your brains out of your head.”

“Xander listen to me.” Willow stood, twisting her hands as she tried to think of what she needed to say to stabilize the situation. “We’re not demons, we’re not evil, and trust me we have no interest in your brain.”

“It’s my body you want isn’t it? I knew this would happen sooner later some demon breed was going to want to use me as their stud.” Shaking his head at his tragic fate, Xander put his hands up in the air. “I give up. Just please be gentle.”

“Eww, and might I just add another EWW for the image.” Taking a step back, Cordelia made a face. “Trust me, if we were demons we’d have more interest in your brain than any other body parts.”

“Xander we’re us, no demons.” Willow bit her lower lip to keep herself from laughing.

“But I heard you!” Pointing in Willow’s direction. “That you’re lusting after Angel. *My* Willow would *never* lust after that walking corpse.”

“You and Red are dating?” Faith stood up straighter, a smirk caked onto her face.

“No!” Xander made a grossed out face and Willow let out a long sigh of relief. “But you should already know that.” Xander’s expression changed to suspicion. “And what was that about Angelus coming back? And Willow re-cursing him, and getting him out from the great dark below?”

“Xander I think you should sit down.” Amy took a step toward a hyperventilating Xander, who took a step back. “How about a snack? We’ve got Twinkies.”

~~~*~~~

“Bloody figures that the village idiot would get to them before we did.” Disgusted Spike took another drag of his cigarette. “If you’d have been able to pry the slayer off you sooner...” He left the remark hang in the air.

Angel watched from the shadows as the four girls and Xander sat around Cordelia’s kitchen table talking. Spike was right, in his annoying way. Buffy had thrown a fit when Angel had tried to duck out early. The second he mentioned leaving she started whining, and latched onto his arm.

“Will you look at the way they’re feeding that bloke? It’s almost like they’re trying to fatten him up for market.” Spike snorted.

“Is it me or do Cordelia, Faith and Willow look a little...purple?” Angel’s brow crinkled a little thrown off.

“What do you think is up with that?” Spike chuckled. “So now what? We can’t really get any info out of the gels with chubs in there.”

Angel sighed. He had really hoped to get Willow alone to see what it was they were hiding. But with Xander already there it didn’t look like they were getting any answers that night. “I should’ve let you snap his neck like you wanted to before you were cursed.” Spike laughed at Angel’s annoyed expression.

~~~*~~~

“So tell me, in the future am I like this huge chic magnet?” Xander asked, his mouth filled with Twinkies.

Each of the girls looked at one another for a moment. “Oh yeah.” Cordelia’s acting ability shined through, as she gave Xander a huge toothy grin.

“I knew it.” Xander nodded, with a cheesy grin on his face. “Hey do I date any of you?”

Silence greeted his question. “No.”

“Nope.”

“No Kisses here.”

“I was a rat.”

“Ah. Now let me get this straight. Angel and Buffy do the posturepidic polka and he got a big happy, which made him lose his soul.”

Willow nodded slowly. “Yeah, something like that.”

“And he stalked us, killed your fish, and tired to end the world...oh with a wheelchair bound Spike to boot. Did I leave anything out?” Grabbing for another sugar gorged Twinkie he was too busy shoving the treat into his mouth to notice the uncomfortable looks that were being shared. They had silently decided to leave Jenny’s death out of their explanation. Xander had been hard enough to calm down that they decided that a fluffy rundown of what had been would be better suited.

“Yeah.”

“It’s a damn good thing that he can’t lose his soul.” Grabbing the Twinkie from Xander’s hand Faith leaned across the table, her eyes ready to pop out of her head.

“Did you say he can’t lose his soul?”

Staring at the Twinkie instead of the agitated Slayer, Xander nodded absently. “Yeah, Jenny anchored it. Well after she did a test try on Spike.”

“That explains the no chip thing.” Willow said out loud.

“Oh do you have chips?” Rolling her eyes, Cordelia stood and went to fetch a bag. So far Amy’s food theory had worked wonders.

“So his soul can’t go on hiatus, that’s a good thing right?” Amy questioned.

“No, not good here. With no threat of losing his soul he’ll never leave Buffy, which means that he wont go to LA, which means-.”

“You won’t have a job.” Willow answered.

“So Spike has a soul too?” Amy was trying to sort through all the differences without giving herself a migraine.

“Yeah...” Xander stopped chewing and looked sadly over at Willow. “Dru who well you all know, was a little off her rocker to begin with, went off the scales when Spike got a soul of his very own. She went on a killing spree...starting with Willow’s parents.”

Willow felt the world spin for a moment before everything went black.

~Part: ten~

Everyone around the table watched as Willow fell off her chair and fell to an ungraceful lump on the floor.

"Was it something I said?" Xander stared down at Willow, a half-eaten Twinkie in one hand.

"Jesus Xander do you think?" Faith sprung up from her chair and hurried around the table.

"What do you mean that Dru killed her parents?" Cordelia felt her blood run cold, as the situation started to sink in. This was way off the time line they had lived. They hadn't gone into the past, they were trapped in the Twilight Zone. All they needed now was the world to go into black and white and a fat old white guy with a triple chin.

"She killed them. How else do you want me to say it? Willow was the one that found them." Standing from his chair, Xander dropped the treat from his hand and started to wipe his hands off on his jeans. "How was I to know that it hadn't already happened? I thought you guys were from the future."

Biting down hard on her lip, Amy groaned and brought her hands to her face. "This isn't right! Willow's parents aren't supposed to be dead."

"Okay we need to calm down. This is just another wrench in the past that never was. Once we get back to our time everything will be normal again right?"

"Sure it will." Faith rolled her eyes as she lifted Willow's head and put it on her lap. "She looks a little pale."

"What's going on here?" Angel's voice cut through the kitchen, stopping it's inhabitants dead in their tracks. Spike was standing slightly behind him.

As soon as Cordelia found her voice, she crossed her arms under her chest and tilted her head to the side. "How'd you get in here?"

"The back door was open." Angel said off handedly as he went to Willow's side and brushed Faith aside.

"No I mean without an invite?" Following Angel, Cordelia didn't give up.

"Cordy he's been here before...remember?" Xander cleared his throat, giving Cordelia a look that told her to shut up. "Same with Spike." He added when he saw the suspicious way she was eying the blonde vampire. "Remember just last week we were all over here."

Amy and Faith stood staring at one another, both clearly clueless in how to handle this turn of events. "What the hell are you covered in?" Spike sniffed the air as he took a step closer to Cordelia, poking at the purple clump of goo that was stuck in her hair.

"Some demon we were fighti-- umph." Cordelia sucked in a deep breath and glared over at Faith. "Oh um it was, well you see there was this...." Looking over at Amy, Cordelia widened her eyes for the blonde witch to jump in at any time.

"Well there was this gray demon, and well we were walking through the cemetery." Amy fidgeted under Spike's intense stare.

"I thought you chits brought the cheerleader back here after her little fit." Raising a scarred brow, Spike shifted his eyes to look over to his sire.

"Oh they did, but then *after* I got my medication we decided to go back to the school in case you all came back and needed any help." Flashing a huge grin over at Angel, the one that used to have him eating out of her hand, Cordelia was a little perturbed to find that it no longer worked. Apparently this Angel wasn't as gullible as the one she'd been working with for the last couple of years.

"So the three of you decided to take on a demon by yourselves?" Angel picked Willow up and started to carry her to the door. "You all know better than that. Someone could've gotten hurt."

"Uh hello Tarzan where do you think you're taking her?" Cordelia maneuvered around the kitchen table to beat Angel to the door, bracing her hands against the doorjamb.

"I'm taking her home." Angel brow lowered over his brow as he readjusted Willow in his arms. "Move."

"No." Cordelia shook her head. The connection that she had just days ago with Angel was now null and void. Gone was the warm look of friendship that Angel used to look at her with. Now he was distant and well...irritating. "She's just fine here Angel."

"Uh Cordelia perhaps you should just let Angel take Willow home. It's been a long day." Amy sidestepped Spike and went to stand a few feet from Cordelia. The two girls had a silent war, spoken with only their eyes, before Cordelia let her arms drop to her side.

"Fine." Her chocolate brown eyes pinned Angel in place. "You better take care of her or I will hurt you in ways that only Angelus could contemplate." Narrowing her eyes, and letting her eyes do the rest of her talking, Cordelia waited until Angel made some sign that he actually heard her. "Do we understand one another?"

Angel's head snapped up as he stared Cordelia in the eye. He was slightly taken a back by the furious set of her features. "Yes." With a nod of his head Angel waited for her to move from the door. She did so after a few seconds, clearly hating to let him take her from the house.

"Come on I'll walk you home." Spike looked over at Amy who shied away sending Cordelia a pleading glance. Turning his head to the side slightly, he scrutinized her. "What is it? Why are you acting like this?"

Opening her mouth only to snap it shut again, Amy's heart constricted at the hurtful way the blonde vampire stared at her. "N-nothing. It's just been a long night is all. Let me grab my stuff." Slipping from the room, feeling Spike's eyes on her back the entire time, she hoped that she was doing the right thing. That Spike wouldn't get hungry on their way home and decide to have her for a snack.

Returning a few minutes later, Amy gave Cordelia and Faith a reassuring smile as Spike put his hand on the small of her back and led her out the door.

"Did that just really happen?" Her mind blown away, Cordelia turned to Faith. "We just let Amy leave with that homicidal maniac like it was no biggie."

"Who Spike?" Xander shrugged. "Amy's safe with him. Everyone knows how much he loves her."

"Yeah but did she know that?" Faith hit Xander's shoulder, clearly disgusted that he hadn't said something sooner.

"I hope so since they're dating...oh this is bad huh?" Rubbing the spot that Faith had hit, Xander's face fell.

"Gee you think Einstein? She's been a rat for almost four years. Choirboys make her blush and start to stammer. What do you think she's going to do when old blondie tries to lock lips with her?" Throwing her hands in the air Cordelia marched away with a big humph.

"So are you staying here or do you want me to show you where you and Wes man live?" Grabbing his jacket off the back of the kitchen chair, Xander watched as Faith looked a little taken a back.

"Yeah I guess." Hating that she was being such a wimp, Faith shrugged her shoulders like it was no big deal. "Hey Cordy." Yelling down the hallway the brunette had just vanished she waited for her reply. "I'm taking off. See ya at school tomorrow?"

"Yeah, call me in the morning." Cordelia yelled from somewhere in the house.

Wit that Faith followed Xander out into the night.

next

back