Part 1

                Angel sighed as he looked around the sparsely populated airport. His flight   had been very long and exhausting. He had spent
                most of it curled up in his   seat thinking about…. Willow. Her name rubbed even further into the wound her   death had made. A
                wound that was emotional and mental, that hurt so badly it   might as well have been a physical death wound.

                The vampire spotted his friends familiar form. Javier Vachon turned around,   sensing Angel's gaze on him, and smiled warmly.
                Angel tried to smile but   apparently failed miserably from Javier's quick frown. Javier shook his head   and walked toward Angel.

                "What is wrong my friend?" Javier asked as the two old friends walked out of   the airport. Angel was carrying all that he needed
                in a traveling bag slung   over his shoulder he absently shifted his bag as he looked of into the   distance.

                "I'll tell you later Javier." Angel shook his head, not even trying to hide   the his clenching jaw and the tightening of his shoulders
                as he walked beside   Javier to two Harley's. "Thank you for-"

                "It's no problem, Angel. " Javier gently cut off his friend. "We should get   going, the sun will be up soon." Angel just looked at him
                quietly for several   moments then nodded. The two vampire quickly hopped onto their bikes and   roared off.

                Javier was worried about Angel. They hadn't seen each other for over three   decades, but had kept in touch through long
                letters. Then last night, Angel   had called the number Javier had recently given him if Angel ever needed to   contact him. Angel
                had sounded quite horrible, his voice had been hoarse,   even more husky than usual. The last time Javier heard Angelus sound
                even   close to this was when his father and brother were killed in a hunting   accident over five hundred years ago.

                <What had Angelus been up too.> The Daishin vampire wondered. He pulled into   the back behind the abandoned church which
                he lived in. Angel parked his bike   beside Javier's, he looked at his friend briefly when they heard someone move   around in the
                building, human from the heartbeat.

                Javier entered first, immediately recognizing Tracy's scent. Angel also   recognized the scent vaguely. He looked down at the
                ground as he tried   placing the scent. "Come in Angel, it's a friend." Javier said. <Strange>   Angel thought

                "Vachon?" A female voice asked.

                Angel looked at the woman who had just spoken, something about her nagged   him, she was familiar somehow. He stayed back
                in the shadows as Javier   stepped forward. "Hello Tracy. What might the occasion be?" Javier asked   charmingly, moving closer
                to Tracy Vetter, who smiled at him.

                "Hi Vachon, I was wondering if you knew where Natalie is." Tracy said. She   had blonde hair cut short, with brown eyes. The look
                she projected was   confidence and competence combined.

                "Tracy." Angel stepped forward in shock. He could recognize her now. The last   time he had seen little Tracy was when she was
                nine. Two years after her   mother's death. She stepped back in shock as the candlelight illuminated his   face.

                "Angel?" Tracy replied in a shaky voice.

                Part 2

                "Angel." Tracy repeated reaching out a hesitant hand.   "How can you be alive,   I saw you die!" She touched his face and finally
                understood. "You're a   vampire!"

                "I'm sorry Tracy." Angel said in a strained voice turning away. He couldn't   believe that he had forgotten that Tracy Vetter lived
                in Toronto. <It's been   nearly ten years.>

                Tracy ran her eyes quickly over Angel's form, touching his back. The flesh   wasn't cold, but it was room temperature. <Just like a
                vampire.> Angels moved   further into the shadows making her hand drop to her side. <How do they know   each other?> Tracy
                wondered. Pressing matters made her turn back to Javier   Vachon, "Do you know where Natalie is?" she repeated.

                Angel looked back at Tracy before turning to Javier. "Natalie is at the   warehouse. Practicing." Javier elaborated. It was only
                through his long   friendship with Angel that he was able to decipher the look on his face.

                Tracy nodded satisfied the looked at Angel. "Can we talk later Angel?" She   asked in a hesitant voice. <He looks bad. Like he
                went though hell in the   past few days.> He nodded and turned back to look at her.

                "Of course Tracy." Angel said, he looked at Javier questioningly. Javier   nodded up stairs. "It's good to see you again Trace."
                Angel disappeared up   the stairs. There was a brief silence as Tracy and Javier looked into each   other's eyes.

                "How do you know Angel Tracy?" Javier asked, he would be asking his friend   later but not so soon.

                "I could ask you the same, but considering the fact that you are both   vampires, maybe I don't want to know." Tracy paused,
                sitting down on one of   the chairs. "I first met Angel two years after my mom died, when I was 14."   Tracy said in a soft voice
                as she remembered. "I would go often to that   library, and the night after my mom died I went there to think. I remember   that
                it was especially beautiful that evening."

                "It is a beautiful library." Javier agreed sitting down near her. Suddenly   Tracy's beeper went off. Tracy cursed silently and
                looked down. The number's   on the display were for a homicide.

                "I have to go Vachon, I'll stop by the Raven if I can." Javier watched Tracy   leave and went upstairs to join his friend. <You
                would think that he was a   Daishin from the way he likes going to roofs and other places to think.> He   thought as he spotted
                Angel sitting on the ledge of the balcony.

                "What happened?" Javier gently asked, settling down next to Angelus.

                ~*~*~*~

                Tracy hurried to her car, pulling out her cell. As she drove to the crime   scene she pushed the memory and called a very familiar
                number. After the   first ring, the call was picked up, a voice asked, "Hello?"

                "Hi, it's Tracy. Angel's in town." She quickly said. There was silence on the   other end, Tracy hoped that she hadn't done
                anything wrong. If she did…. <Boy   would I be in big trouble.>

                "Thank you Trace." When she sighed in relief, Tracy could hear soft laughter   on the line. She smiled suddenly, knowing that she
                had done the right thing.

                "No problem. Glad I could help. Anything else?" The detective questioned as   she pulled up into the scene. She could see a small
                crowd of officers milling   about, Nick's familiar car was parked across the street. Her partner, stood   next to Natalie off to the
                side.

                "Just tell me anything you think I should know." Tracy sighed again at the   reply. <It's going to be a long night.>

                Part 3

                "When I went to Sunnydale to wait for the Slayer I came across a beautiful   girl. There was such an innocence, a naiveté
                about her… it was intoxicating.   She drew the more darker aspects of the Sunnydale to her." Angel looked up at   the moon,
                remembering that night. Javier watched him carefully observing the   emotions that flitted across his face.

                "I stayed in the shadows, killing the Mydroch who attempted to feed on her. I   think that she knew somehow. It lasted for just
                over five months, then the   Slayer arrived." Angel paused looking at his claddagh rind. "Buffy was like   lightning, a force while
                powerful would not last long." He lapsed into   silence again.
                      "Slayers never do my friend." Javier softly said.

                " I knew that, and despite that fact, despite the fact that vampires and   Slayers are enemies, I was drawn to her." he admitted.
                "I thought that she   would be my best chance at redemption."

                "Please don't tell me you fell in love with her, Angelus." Javier shook his   head in disbelief.

                "No I didn't fall in love with Buffy. I never did, oh I had to admit I cared   for her, but love? No my love, belongs to Willow." Angel
                clarified. <And it   always will.> He thought.

                "Willow?" Understanding dawned on Javier as he realized that Angel speaking   of the girl he met.

                Angel nodded, "The Slayer's best friend."

                ****

                "Hi Tracy." Natalie called, smiling at her friend and Watcher.   Tracy   thought. <The second that he felt that she was a
                pre-immie, he made sure that   I knew, and that I would become her Watcher when she died the first time.>   She looked down
                at her wrist where the tattoo that was the symbol of the   Watcher organization was placed. She entered the club beside
                Natalie, Nick   going in first.

                Natalie spotted her lover instantly. "Lucien." She said in a warm tone, the   master vampire, and oldest in the community of
                Toronto walked toward them.

                "Ma petite." LaCroix smiled at Natalie and kissed her deeply. "Nicholas,   Tracy. The body is in the back." LaCroix said quietly. The
                group headed for   the back where sets of rooms were set up for multiple purposes. At the end of   a long hallway a female figure
                waited.

                "Michelle." Nick nodded toward the Enforcer who smiled tightly at the group.

                "The body was found in the back alley by one of the other Enforcers."   Michelle said in a cool voice despite the concern that was
                apparent. "It was   drained of blood."

                "So why haven't you all taken care of it?" Tracy asked inquisitively. <This   sounds like something that the Enforcers take care of
                all the time.>

                "There is something unusual about the body." Michelle shook her head, "And   the look on the his face is…. Come see." They
                entered the room, a body was   laid out on a table. On his chest was a palm size symbol of two intersecting   lines curling up at
                the ends with exactly three triangles laid against each   line. <The Shiklar'kgh> Tracy smiled in recognition. On his neck were a
                pair   of fang marks.

                "You know what it means." Natalie exclaimed seeing the smile.

                "This is the mark for justice." Tracy explained,   "This bastard kidnapped and   raped the Lady's brother, her bloody well deserved
                to die." She snarled. "I   just wish that I had been able to help kill him." Everyone was surprised at   the vehemence she
                displayed, the hatred in her voice.

                Natalie shivered beside Lucien, asking "The Lady?"

                "Damn." Tracy murmurs as she backed away from the table. She shook her head   wearily "I can't believe I lost control like that. I
                would be in so much   trouble if they saw me like this."

                "I guess I better explain, huh?" Tracy asked looking at the confused group   around her. Natalie was clearly bewildered while the
                vampires in the room   were just a touch too still. Which for them constituted as shock. She sat   down abruptly and leaned
                back. "I'm apart of a group of people, comprised of   vampire of all types, witches, shape shifters and others."

                "Your apart of the Clan Falleen?" Nick's disbelief was obvious as he drew out   the question.

                "Wait a second. I've never heard of this Clan." Natalie looked at LaCroix for   help.

                "Rumors of a group of supernatural creatures coming together reached Toronto   over three years ago. That is how long it has
                been together. They are said to   be enigmatic and powerful. Though if they exist…" LaCroix looked at Tracy   thoughtfully.

                "They aren't rumors, I've met one of them a year ago. A Kindred of the   Gangrel Clan, he's in town. In the club at the moment
                actually." Michelle   said in a low tone as she headed for the door.

                Part 4

                "Ye gods." Tracy said under her breath. "Okay first off guys, I won't say
                anymore until Javier and Angel are here. I don't want to go over this again."
                She explains, <In for a penny, in for a pound.> Tracy thought. <At least I
                won't have to lie anymore, at least as much.>

                "Who is Angel?" Natalie asked looking at Tracy. She thought to herself.

                "Angel is a vampire. Different breed from LaCroix, Nick, and the rest." Tracy
                chuckled a bit. "I didn't know that he was a vampire until he came back in
                town. He's with Vachon at the church." She said the last part to Urs who took
                the hint and quickly left.

                ****

                Javier and Angel were startled when they heard the whoosh of a vampire flying
                toward them. A blonde vampire landed gently on the balcony behind them. "Urs,
                what are you doing here?" Javier asked, jumping to his feet. Angel slowly got
                up, assessing the new vampire. <So this is Urs. Javier's childe.> He thought
                as he looked her over. Javier had told him of Urs over a century ago, but
                this was Angel's first meeting with her.

                "Are you Angel?" Urs asked tilting her head slightly as she looked at him.
                <Sure is handsome.> She thought. Angel nodded, she smiled in satisfaction and
                said to them, "Tracy wants both of you to come to the Raven. Something
                happened and she wants the you there so that she can explain everything."

                Angel and Javier exchanged a quick look. Angel stepped back and changed into
                a hawk. He thought as he flew. Angel saw Javier and Urs waiting on the roof.
                He changed back as he landed, going into the club after them. He could feel
                the strength of the Daishin around him, while they were of a different race
                from he they were still all vampires. <Although my kind prefer the term
                Kindred.>

                They went through a door where several people were seated. Tracy was near the
                door, she turned around to smile weakly at Vachon and Angel. "I thought I
                would talk to you later Angel but I had to just get this out." As the two
                friends heard people approaching the room, they moved into it. Michelle
                entered first when she moved aside, a tall young man was revealed. He had
                dark green eyes which were framed by a shock of black hair with dark green
                streaks going through it. His pale skin was highlighted by the black shirt
                he wore over black jeans and boots. On his arm he wore an armband made of
                silver, fingerless gloved hands ran through his hair. He smiled rakishly at
                Tracy.

                "Kevin!" She shouted, launching herself into the air gracefully and landing
                with her arms wrapped around the Kindred. "I thought that you were the one
                who carried it out. Nicely done." Tracy complimented. "If you had told me
                though…"

                "No, he was about to leave town and head underground. It was my only chance."
                Kevin answered smoothly as he hugged Tracy. Stepping back he looked her over.
                "Looking good Trace. Now I believe that you were telling your companions
                about the Clan?"

                Tracy's mouth twitched as she nodded, looking back at her friends. "So, I
                guess introductions are in order?" She released her arms from around Kevin,
                standing beside him to face the others. "May I introduce to you all Kevin
                Tomas, a master vampire of the Gangrel Clan. I was apart of the Clan for two
                years when he became a member."

                "It is good to finally meet you Angelus Boyle." Kevin greeted, bowing his
                head to the legendary Kindred vampire. <Tracy knows something about him.> He
                thought as he glanced at his friend. <Oh well, she's higher ranked than I
                am…. Can't change that. And if I tried….>

                "Who told you about me?" Angel asked in a cautious tone. His stance changed
                slightly, going on the offensive as he shifted away from everyone.

                "Julian Luna, Prince of San Francisco. He told me that you stayed with them
                for some years a couple of decades ago." Kevin replied easily. Angel nodded
                slowly as he considered the Kindred's answer. "Leila is in town with me.
                She's back in the-"

                "Tracy, girl! It's good see you again." A young woman shouted entering the
                room and crossing it to hug Tracy. Her shoulder length black hair was braided
                back, touching the neck of her black bomber jacket. Dark eyes sparkled as she
                grinned at Kevin over Tracy's shoulder.

                "It's good to see you again Leila, I haven't seen you since Shaeen took you
                with her to Europe." Tracy responded. she thought impishly, smiling a bit in
                anticipation.

                <What is Tracy smiling about?> Angel, Natalie, and Nick all thought at once.
                They never expected what happened next.

                When Leila turned to face the other people in the room she saw the man who
                was her idol. "Oh my god! Your Angelus!!" She shouted, staring shocked at the
                other Kindred. "I think I'm going to-"

                "Leila you will not faint!" Tracy ordered her friend. "I mean I know that
                he's your idol, that you have paintings of him that you copied from Julian's,
                that you've been waiting for over a century since you first saw his painting
                at Daedalus' home but that-"

                <Ok, that is a serious case of hero worship going on here.> Angel thought, he
                would have blushed if he could. <This is a Toreador though. My Clan. Tracy
                mentioned Julian and Daedalus.> He realized, about to question her when the
                Gangrel interrupted

                "Tracy." Kevin said amusedly, gesturing toward the others. Tracy blushed when
                she realized what had happened. Leila was slowly calming down as the
                reassuring presence of her fellow Clan members. Tracy grinned and pinched
                Leila on the arm.

                "Hey what was that for?" Leila asked, rubbing her offended arm. As she glared
                at Tracy she noticed a body laid out on the table. Three vampires surrounded
                it, she was too distracted to see what kind they were however as she peered
                closer, moving forward.

                "That was to let you know that your not dreaming." Tracy laughed, watching
                Leila. When she looked back at Tracy with a silent question on her face, she
                nodded. Leila grinned savagely as she ran a fingertip across the wound on the
                bodies chest before pressing on the fang marks.

                Angel and Javier noticed the body as Leila walked toward it. Moving toward it
                gracefully, Angel knelt to get a better look. A strange mark decorated the
                mans chest. "Who was this?"

                "That was someone who hurt someone very dear and loved in the Clan. Someone
                who is higher ranked than even Tracy. No offense girl." Leila said in a low
                tone as she stood up. "Nice job Kevin, are we bringing the body home?"

                "No, the Lady order's were to burn it." The three Clan members grinned at
                each other.

                <What is Tracy apart of?> Angel thought as he glanced at the other people
                around them. They all had some look of shock on their faces. He looked more
                closely at Javier. <Damn. He's in love with her.>

                Part 5

                "I'm sorry about that guys. I haven't seen any of the others in quite   sometime. So first it's introductions then full explanations.
                Or at least   I'll tell you as much as I can." Tracy sat down slowly across from Natalie   and LaCroix. Everyone settled around the
                room trying to get comfortable.   Tracy tapped the female Kindred balanced on the couches back, and introduced   her. "This is
                Leila Varzideh. The Lady let me meet her at one of our parties.   The Lady is one of two leaders of the Falleen."

                "Let me guess the other is called the Lord?" Michelle asked, the three   Falleen nodded.

                Tracy took a deep breath, nodded and began. "The Lady is one of the leaders   of the Falleen. The other is the Lord. We also
                them call the Liege or   Liegena, together they are called the Dikatan. We don't use their real names   of course if we're in mixed
                company." She paused and smiled, "Sorry if I'm   babbling. This is the first time I've told anyone about the Clan. If it   weren't for
                the fact that the Dikatan said that it was alright if I said   anything about this then I never would have."

                Angel sat back and looked over the girl- no woman that he had once known.

                "My name, my full name is Tracy Falleen Vetter. I'm apart of the Clan or Pack   Falleen. There aren't that many of us. There are
                many types of people in the   Clan. Everyone has their own special ability, none of us are normal humans.   Some might have
                been and some never were."

                "Your not… human?" Angel asked, speaking for everyone else.

                "No. I'm not. I'm a nova, the next step in human evolution. Nova's are people   with the ability to control-manipulate quantum
                energy on the molecular level.   We have the potential to do…. Anything…." Tracy trailed off.

                "What exactly can you do?" Natalie asked, her scientific mind thoroughly   intrigued by what Tracy was saying. "I mean show us if
                you can."

                Tracy laughed and stood up. "Come on Leila, Kevin they want a demonstration."   The two Kindred grinned at each other and
                smoothly stood up. Leila unknotted   the scarf around her throat and place it around Tracy's eyes.

                "Can you see?" Leila asked, Tracy shook her head. She stood back and moved in   front of Tracy while Kevin moved behind her.
                Tracy inhaled deeply and   concentrated. Slowly she took the shield she had placed on her powers. Her   sense of taste and
                touch were incredibly enhanced now. She flicked out her   tongue, very much like a snake, and felt the vibrations in the air.
                Tracy   ducked as she felt a the on rush of air. She held out her hands and leaned   back.

                "How the?" Javier murmured watching amazed as Tracy avoided several lightning   quick moves from two vampires. With a smile
                she stopped and took off the   blindfold.

                "How did you do that?" Angel asked.

                "My sense of taste and touch are enhanced to levels that are even beyond what   vampires have. If you compare human hearing
                to vampire hearing, that's the   difference for me. I can taste and feel every nuance that I want. It's   amazing. At least once I
                got my senses under control." Tracy shuddered as she   remembered her out of control powers. "I have other abilities, my other
                main   ones are my stun attack and my mind shields. Under the tutelage of my mentors   I well was able to use my powers
                effectively, and learn how to tone it down   so that I wouldn't be bombarded with things."

                "How did you find out about you….Powers?" Angel asked, < This is so strange.   Tracy having these abilities… >

                "Now as for my powers I was at the beach when my powers awakened, the Lady   felt me and helped me out. She became my
                sponsor in the Falleen."

                "What that means is that, Tracy here is one of the highest ranked members,   bar the Lady's brother and his mate." Leila grinned.

                "His mate?" Natalie echoed.

                "His boyfriend I mean. They aren't officially mated even by Falleen   standards." Leila explained.

                "Well there's someone else who is as highly ranked as I am now, the newest   member."

                "Yeah but she's an Immortal. Totally different from a nova."

                "Remember that Immortal we met in Paris. The one who was such a good thief,   what was her name." Javier mused.

                "Amanda." Angel absently replied as he watched the two females argue. < Now   they're arguing about who's higher ranked.   This
                is too strange. And just who   is this new member that they're talking about. >

                "Wait a sec who are you talking about?" Kevin interrupts gently, he had no   idea who they were talking about. Tracy, Kevin and
                Leila all straightened   to   attention when a familiar mental voice told // Tell them. Do not say where   she is yet.//

                "Ah bugger it. She's telling us to do it." Tracy muttered.

                "What's going on?" Angel asked, everyone notice their sudden change in   bearing.

                "The Liegena just instructed us to tell you all who the newest member is. Not   that said girl knows that she's been sponsored
                yet." Tracy sighed when Kevin   and Leila's eyes settled on her. She silently shook her head then finally   assented. In a clear
                voice Tracy said. "Her name is Willow Rosenberg."

                Part 6

                "Willow is an Immortal?" Angel shouted as he fluidly stood up. He towered
                over the Falleen seated on the couch as he strode toward them. Angel stared
                into Tracy's eyes looking for the truth, he saw total sincerity in her gaze.

                "Yes she is. The Liegena was in town at the time of Willow's death and
                managed to get her out of town before Willow revived." Tracy explained.
                Everyone around her except for Javier looked confused about what they were
                talking about. "Willow was someone Angel knew in Sunnydale."

                "I love her." Angel said firmly but softly. < I can't believe it! She's
                alive! Willow's an Immortal! > he thought his still heart almost beating from
                the joy that spread though out his body. "Where is she?"

                Beside Tracy, Kevin and Leila were involved in a telepathic conversation with
                the Liegena. "The Liegena and Liege are teaching Willow the way of Immortals
                in San Francisco."

                "Please stop with the Liege and Liegena stuff, your giving me a headache."
                Natalie asked exasperated.

                "The only way we would top using the titles is if-" Tracy was cut off as a
                smooth voice spoke into her mind. //They're invited.// A small stack of
                envelopes suddenly appeared on her lap. "You were invited to one of the
                Pack's fete. Which these are the invitations to, this fete starts in four
                days."

                Leila took the envelopes and handed them out as Kevin explained more. "You
                do not have to come, it is your own choice of course."

                "I highly recommend coming. The Clan-fetes are always fun." Leila interjected
                as she finished handing out the invites. "I mean I remember that time with
                the hajim-" Tracy cut her off with a look of warning, the color started to
                raise in her cheeks as she glared at Leila.

                "What does hajim mean?" Natalie asked.

                "Hajim is the masculine form of harem." Lucien said softly into her ear.
                Javier raised his eyebrow inquiringly at Tracy who just shook her head and
                mouthed 'later'.

                "The rules are as follows. You may not feed on, eat, or trouble any of the
                other people at the fete if it is unwelcome. If you do you will answer to the
                Dikatan." Tracy said in a light tone. "If you somehow harm in any way, any of
                the Falleen you will answer to the Dikatan." They looked at each other and
                decided that they were done finished with the rules. Leila and Kevin went
                outside to wait for Tracy while she quickly said goodbye to the group still
                sitting in the room.

                "I'll see you guys later. If you have any questions call me." Tracy said at
                large. She smiled at Javier and ran a soothing hand over Angel's back. Tracy
                leaned in to whisper, "I'm sorry I wasn't able to tell you earlier."

                Tracy ran her hand over the body laying on the table and it turned to ash.
                She silently gathered it up and placed it into a dark container and left. < I
                hope you know what your doing Kai. > she thought as she started her car up
                and drove Kevin and Leila to her home.

                Angel raised his hands to his face, staring at the claddagh ring he wore. He
                managed to keep his voice steady as he stood up and said. "Let's go Javier."

                Javier looked at Angel concerned as they left for the church.

                Part 7

                Tracy sighed as she looked at the up at the figures that departed from the   roof. "Go on guys, I'll be home soon. I have to
                explain stuff to Angel." <   There was something off about his reaction.   >

                Leila and Kevin nodded understandingly, the Gangrel placed his hand on   Tracy's shoulder and turned her to face him. "Tell us
                later?" Tracy smiled   gently in   agreement as she ran the back of her hand across his cheek.   "Course Kevin. See you later."
                She started her car and headed off for   Vachon's church. Tracy entered the church, looking around curiously, not even
                attempting to hide her presence.

                "Tracy what are you here for?" Angel asked in low voice, not even turning   around. His voice was calm despite the anger he felt.
                Angel could feel his   Beast surging within him.

                "I'm here to explain more about what's going on." Tracy said regretfully. "I   truly am sorry for how this all turned out."

                "You don't need to ask your Dikatan for permission?" Angel sarcastically said   turning around to look at Tracy. His face was
                incredibly still but Tracy   could almost feel the rage that burned in his eyes.

                "Do not question my loyalty to them Angel. I am theirs. I am their liegeman,   and I know that at your age you have some idea
                what it means. I would   willingly die for them and I would kill for them." Tracy said fiercely her   face contorting into a grimace as
                she heard disgust and contempt in Angel's   voice. "You have no right to judge them when you have never even met them."

                They stared at each other, locked into a state of rage and intense   concentration.   "Guys! Chill!!" Vachon shouted appearing
                between the two   suddenly. "This isn't the time to bring this all up. Just wait for a while   before you jump to any conclusions
                Angel." He cautioned the Kindred.

                Angel's demon slid out to the forefront, his eyes turned golden and prominent   ridges on his forehead appeared. "I have plenty of
                reason to be pissed off   Tracy. Your fucking Dikatan has taken away my Willow. The one woman I love   with all my heart, who
                accepts everything that I am… that I can be and you   expect me to be fucking calm!? They could have taken her head already
                for all   I know! And you hid what you knew from me." He roared into her face. Tracy   stood her ground however, becoming mad
                despite the control that had been   instilled into her by her teachers.

                "You really don't want to fuck around with the Falleen Angel, we can make you   look in your worst days as the Scourge of
                Europe look like an angel." Tracy   hissed, her mark appearing on her forehead. It was her symbol of her status   within the Pack
                combined with her name. "I'll not repeat it again! Do not   disrespect the Dikatan, to do so can mean your life Angelus, and with
                the   power at the Packs command you will not suffer lightly."

                Vachon was amazed at the fire Tracy displayed and the utter loyalty with   which she stood up to Angel. A Kindred that Vachon
                knew was not one to mess   with. He shook his head and tried again to break off what was rapidly   escalating situation.

                An image appeared in a brilliant flash of light beside the threesome. ~Tracy!   Stop it!~ A male musical voice growled. Tracy
                started to blush at the words   that was said and for who said it. "I'm sorry, you know how I can get."

                ~We all get like that when the Dikatan is threatened petite.~ Tracy grinned   and shook her head, comforted instantly by the
                voice.

                "That's not fare man… You used your powers to calm me down!" She accused,   chuckling at the bewildered look that crossed
                Javier's face.

                ~Ignore Tracy please? I'm sorry about interfering like this-~ "Yeah right!"   Tracy coughed into her hand. ~But the Dikatan would
                get pissed off if   something happened to Angel. I'm not even mentioning what the newest member   of the Clan would think. Look
                sweets I have to go. My love is calling for me.~

                "Have fun!" Tracy called as Tenshi disappeared. She knew that Angel and   Javier would recognize her friends voice when they
                later meet Tenshi. < The   looks on their faces will be fun. >

                Angel silently disappeared into the shadows. < Everything that's been   happening. It's all so confusing. Tracy lied to me. Well
                actually she just   never mentioned it. How the hell did her people even know about me being in   Toronto anyway? Has Tracy
                been spying on me…?   There are just too many   questions that she has to answer for me. Just how is Willow being treated,
                what is she learning? How to fight? How to kill? > Angel grimaced at that   last thought, he couldn't imagine his Willow actually
                killing someone.   Non-demon that is. < God Willow, how I wish I could be there to help you out.   Immortality… >

                Part 8

                "Tracy tell me the truth." Angel asked the blonde cop. She looked at him   seriously as she nodded. They were seated on the
                many boxes scattered across   the church, cushions softening their seats. Angel's eyes were dark and looked   into Tracy's eyes,
                holding her gaze steadfast. "What will Willow be learning   while she's with your friends?"

                Tracy was silent for several moments, contemplating in her mind what she   would say. "From what I've seen of their training
                methods, Willow will learn   how to fight. Using her body and mind. Whether it's martial arts and sword   work, or by magic. The
                Dikatan are both highly skilled in both areas. Willow   will learn the style of fighting that is best for her. Considering she's   female
                and on the petite side from what they tell me, she'll learn styles   that work to her advantage, combining quickness, dexterity,
                and leverage. In   magic again it'll be tailored to fit her. Though she'll probably start out in   illusions, which are the easiest and
                effective. I really can't say though. I   mean that's all a guess from what *I've* seen."

                "And what have you seen? I mean what kind of people are among the Falleen?"   Javier asked, curiosity mounted from Tracy's
                wording. Angel nodded in   agreement, his mind still analyzing what Tracy said. He finally concluded   that Willow *might* be in
                good hands. He wouldn't know until he met her   mentors, this… Dikatan, that Tracy spoke of with such fervor.

                "Eh uhmm…. Yeah. I guess I can tell you some of it. Well what species do you   want to talk about? Nova? Mage? Kindred?
                Shapeshifter? Immortal? Other? There   are some that even fit more than one type of class of being. Me personally… I   go
                under the nova heading. My best friend in the Clan, that wonderful woman   you were talking about earlier… Amanda? She's an
                Immortal, and one hell of   good thief. The first Falleen I met after the Dikatan was a shapeshifter.   He's an awesome guy, he
                can only shift into feline forms. Probably the   weirdest Falleen currently would be Shaeen, who is a demon. One of the good
                ones though, she resembles a black gargoyle with a snake like bottom body and   pure sky blue hair… She's in Scotland at the
                moment, I thought Leila would be   with her but apparently she had other ideas." Tracy grinned. "Now of course   there are also
                the…"

                For several hours, Tracy told Angel and Javier of the different Falleen   members. Never going into who the Dikatan were exactly
                but the two vampires   were able to tell what kind of people they were by the way the other Falleen   members would react to
                them in Tracy's stories. It was a bit hard to   understand how so many types of supernatural beings could be so together…
                like a family for all purposes. < Which is what it is like. > Angel thought   in sudden understanding, finally knowing at least one
                reason why Tracy   defended and was loyal to her people. They were family.

                Tracy yawned mightily, back arching as she threw her hands above her head.   Sleepy blue eyes looked at Angel and Javier. "Go
                on home Trace. You need your   sleep. It's about an hour 'til sunrise." Javier commented, watching Tracy's   neck with pleasure.
                He wasn't sure whether of not to be pissed that Tracy had   already known about vampires by the time she had met him or
                relieved because   it meant that there would be less misunderstandings between them. More trust   in a relationship which Javier
                determined that he would pursue even more now   that he knew about Tracy. < Well at least as much as I can considering the
                current situation. >

                Tracy waved good-bye, smiling as she kissed Javier briefly on the cheek.   Leaving a bemused Vachon staring at the door she had
                went through. Angel   grinned in amusement and shook his friend's shoulder. "Come on Vachon. Time   for us vampires to get
                some sleep."

                Vachon grinned sheepishly, standing up and clapping Angel on the shoulder as   he headed for his bed set in a room just off the
                right side of the church.   Angel settled into the loft set just above the entrance, it was accessed by a   step-like ladder. He
               drew around himself the curtains which sheltered him   from the light, smiling a bit in anticipation of what was to come. He was
                going to see his red-headed love again.

                Angel opened his eyes abruptly, his mental clock telling him that the sun was   halfway across Toronto's sky. < What to do…? >
                He decided to have a quick   breakfast and then look up a bit on the Falleen, using his contacts in the   community. A couple of
                hours later and it was already sunset. Javier was also   up and staring at his friend in amazement after having fed.

                After Angel's last round across the long side of the wall and Vachon was   nearly itching to fly over to the other man and yank on
                him to hold the   pacing Kindred still. "Angelus! What is wrong?"

                "Nothing except for the fact I can't find anymore information on the Falleen   than what the others back at the Raven gave us.
                Not including Tracy. No one   know anything about the Falleen. Or if they are they aren't willing to say   anything."

                "Angelus consider this… Tracy herself has told us how secretive and careful   her people are in concealing their exact selves to
                the public." Javier   reminded, running his hand through his hair.

                "Yes I know that. I thought that I would be able to get *something* though!"   Angel growled in frustration, standing stiffly as he
                crossed his arms across   his chest, glowering at Vachon.

                "If I didn't know you any better Angelus I would say that you were sulking."   Vachon teased, knowing just what to say to break
                Angel's mood.

                "Damn right I'm sulking!" Angel shouted. < UGH! You manage to fuck this all   up yet again Angel. > He thought mentally smacking
                his head. "Nevermind!"   Angel stormed out of the church just as the sun set.

                < I wonder if Angel realizes that he can go back out into the sun again? >   Javier mused, slinging on his leather jacket and
                following Angel out.

Part 9

All that Angel had brought with him to Toronto was a duffel back with his
journal, a sketching pad, his drawing utensils, some clothes, and weapons.
Including one item which he cherished against all others, a sheaf of sketches,
all of Willow. Willow as she walked her way home after a long night of
research, the look of suprise and embarassment on her face when he first
asked her for help, the expression just in her eyes when she thanked him for
saving her life. Various sketches in a variety of situations that had occured
over the years as he saw Willow mature from the coltish shy red-head, to the
Willow that he knew now.

Angel looked at the last sketch he had been working on, it was an image of
Willow on the swings in an unguarded funfilled moment after heading home
from the library. Maybe he would be able to finish this sketch. Oh no, he
would *make* sure to finish this. He wasn't through with Willow Rosenberg
just yet. She would need his help, his love now that she was Immortal, there
really wasn't an impediment between the two of them.

He carefully placed the sketches into a leather folder and put it away in his
bag. When he was finished packing away the few things that he had taken out
of his bag, Angel looked down at his watch and found that he still had time
before Tracy would arrive at the church and explain what the arrangements
would be to get them all to San Francisco.

The topic of San Francisco brought something else to his mind. Now that he
was once again a full Kindred and his soul fully in place, the restrictions
that
had been laid across him when Darla sired him where gone. He was able to
use his full powers as a Toreador Elder, no longer tainted by the extremely
lessened usage of the powers that made Kindred what they were. When he
had been infected with that demon so long ago... his soul lost along with his
powers, he could not help what he did. It had been rare to this day to find a
Kindred who had been sired or embraced twice, once a Kindred and then
the second time by the tainted ones. The tainted were the only race of
vampires that had no name for themselves, using the terms that were used
most by humanity.

The sound of a car pulling up in front of the church diverted his
introspection
on vampires, he extended his senses to see who it was and heard the familiar
heartbeat of Tracy beat back. He hitched the bag's strap over his shoulder
and went down the stairs, sitting down on one of the few armchairs in the
main seating area in front of the altar. There Javier was sprawled comfortable
against a large throw pillow leaning against the boxes that dotted the room.

Tracy Vetter walked into the church, looking straight at the group of vampires
seated. She sat herself down between Angel and Vachon, crossing her legs,
and settling herself into the seat. With a serious look in her eyes, Tracy
looked at first Angel then Vachon in eyes. "I spoke to the Dikatan last night.
They sent transportation here, and it is already prepared. We will be
traveling
by a private jet that the Pack owns, the rooms which all vampires that will be
coming down to San Francisco, are sun proof. Now normally anyone of the
Pack would travel via the gates that are set up across the world-"

"Gates...?" Vachon asked curiously, wondering at the term that Tracy used.

"I-ah mean.... The Pack has developed technology beyond what even the
most advanced military has at the moment. One of them are the gates...
actually the term we more often use is Portals. They allow use to transport
ourselves across large distances." She finished in a tone that said she
wouldn't
speak anymore of the subject.

Angel looked the blonde detective over, his eyes veiled as he observed her. <
Tracy looks like she's allowed to give the information she just did. However,
the fact that she's been able to lie for so long and for so convincingly
should
change how I view her, and it has... yet at the same time it hasn't. She was
really just keeping a side of herself hidden from others. But the problem is
that this side of her is truly what she is. Every move she makes, and every
times she speaks, I can see it. >

"So we're leaving at around ten o'clock, nightime of course. It shouldn't take
too long to drive to the private hangar where the Pack's plane is. Are both of
you ready?" She questioned, smiling slightly when Vachon looked startled at
the sudden question.

"Yes, we both are. We don't have much to bring of course..." Javier replied
after a questioningly at Angel, who nodded in agreement. "So, what exactly
are the arrangements?"

"Uhmm..." Tracy's eyes glazed slightly as she communicated with Tenshi and
Demon. "Well it's being advised that it would be better if I tell everyone
all the
arrangements all at once. It'll be easier that way. I can tell you however
that
everyone will be staying together unless you make you own arrangements."

"And Willow? When will I be able to see Willow?" Angel couldn't help but
demand, he tried to keep it as a request but it came out the other way. He
waited, growing impatient as Tracy finally turned to look at him after several
long moments.

"Willow will be at the Dikatan's residences." Tracy said in reply, she
shrugged
looking at him apolegetically when he let his breath explode from him. She
was about to offer his comfort, her hand reaching out to touch his shoulder
when he jerked back. Angel's eyes slitted, flashing gold, before he relaxed,
resettling himself. Tracy let her hand fall to her lap, looking down to study
her
palms. She blinked back tears, wondering inanely why it would hurt so much
for her friend, well maybe not her friend anymore, to have refused her
comfort.

Vachon looked at Tracy, his gaze full of warm sympathy. < These two can be
so infuriating, I'd tell them to kiss and make up but they'd both just snarl
at
me, and tell me to shut up. > "Ok then. Why don't we get our things now and
leave for the airport?" Vachon addressed Angel, who nodded slowly in
agreement. As Angel disappeared upstairs, Vachon leaned over to  Tracy
and said in a soft voice, "You just have to wait a while, before he can
forgive
you Trace, he needs to see Willow. See that she's all right."

Tracy turned her head to look at Vachon and nodded. She bit her lip as she
looked up to the loft where Angel's room was. <Damn it, why does it hurt so
much. I haven't seen him in several years, I expect him to actually be nice to
me, after the group of people that I'm apart of, ahem... 'kidnapped' the
woman that he is in love with. I've got to be the most sorry ass that ever
came
across the Ki'Mera.> She thought plaintively, smiling as she thought. Tracy
stood up and stretched barely noticed the look of interest in Javier's eyes as
he watched her.

< Tracy's changed. No, it's not that she hasn't changed so much as she's
finally showing who she is to us all. The side of her that she had to hide
day in
and day out. What more has she yet to reveal? There's an amazing puzzle
hidden underneath that seemingly perpetually cheerful and naive exterior she
still puts up.
> Vachon thought as he watched Tracy smiled to herself. He watched
appreciatively as she stood up to stretch, watched the way her blue eyes
flashed in the light, how her body moved. His eyes narrowed into the flush of
her body in the warm light of the candles that surrounded them. Vachon rose
to his feet in one movement and leaned in close to Tracy as she turned to
look at him. "Tell me querida, do you have any more secrets hidden up your
sleeves?"

"Aren't you waiting to find out?" With a little grin on her face, Tracy swept
out
of the room with a swift, economical walk that would make her mentors
proud. <After all, a girl has to keep some secrets, and trying to sweet talk
me
into telling them is only part of the fun of finding out.> She thought as she
registered the Spanish endearment he had used. < Besides there's one part of
my life that Vachon will be *quite* suprised to see when we arrive at the
Keep. > A flash of a blond woman with dark blue eyes that matched hers
went through her mind quickly.

Angel leapt out of the loft and landed next to a bemused Javier Vachon who
was staring at the disappearing figure of Tracy as she went outside. "I really
don't have anything against Tracy, I just wish that so many secrets weren't
being kept. I will say that she's truly grown up into a fine young woman and
she deserves anything that you can give her." He clapped his hand on
Vachon's shoulder. The two Kindred shared a look of camaderie. Vachon
gripped Angel's hand and nodded in agreement.

"That she has Angel my friend. That she has." Vachon grabbed his bag and
pulled the strap onto his shoulder. He and Angel went around the room
pinching all of the candles so that they were no more. After one last look
around his home Vachon followed Angel and Tracy out the church.

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

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