Angel felt the cold, familiar hand of apprehension grip his unbeating heart as the small jet touched down. It was always like this when he returned
home. The nervousness. In this one small country he had been born into the life of a killer and committed his most atrocious acts. It was unsettling.
And so he tried to avoid coming home. If it hadn't been for Willow wanting to visit he would have avoided the place like the plague.

But here he was. Home. He forced himself not to think of his family. The ones he had brutally killed after being turned. He tried hard not to
remember the look on his baby sister's face when he had ripped her throat out. Tried and failed. He pressed his forehead to the cool glass of the
small plane window, a single tear sliding down his cheek.

Cordelia gently squeezed the vampire's hand, silently comforting him. He had admitted to her the night before, in a rare talkative streak, his
apprehensions over returning to Ireland. He had spoken quietly, dancing around the subject of his family, speaking only of 'innocent lives lost'. But
she knew from her time as a Slayerette what Angelus had done to his family. She knew and still tried to comfort him. Everyone has their demons to
face, Angel's just happened to be literal and a part of him.

The dark haired vampire turned to look at her, his eyes shining and wet. He wiped at his face, glancing to make sure Spike hadn't seen him. It just
wouldn't do for his childe to see him cry. Wouldn't do at all. Giving Cordelia a small smile he returned the pressure of her hand, determined to not let
the memories of his past ruin this part of their vacation.

* * *

Willow looked around the delightful little house Angel had managed to rent for them for the week. It would take a little work to sun-proof it, but
that was okay, the quaint simplicity of it appealed to her. The boys had gone out to get various provisions - groceries, some liquor, blood. Willow
stifled a giggle at how easily she had come to accept that the two most important men in her life were creatures of the night.

This of course led her thoughts to Angel. She could tell something was wrong with him. He had been quiet ever since they gotten on the plane
hours earlier. She could only guess it was because they were visiting his home...Galway. She felt a sudden rush of guilt. If it weren't for her saying
she wanted to come here he wouldn't be brooding again. The fact that he might have some pretty awful memories regarding the city had totally
slipped her mind. She would have to apologize and have a talk with him. He needed to let the bad memories go and focus on the good times he had
had here.

{If all else fails we make some *new* good memories.} Willow thought with a grin. She had a sneaky suspicion that Cordelia could definitely help
Angel in that department. But the two of them appeared to be taking their relationship slow. Willow snorted. Slow somehow didn't seem adequate
when describing the pace of that relationship! They were doing things the exact opposite of her and Spike.

She almost envied them the slowness they had chosen. Almost, anyway. She was perfectly happy with how things were progressing with her
bleached boyfriend. He was so passionate with her yet so tender at the same time. So unlike the vampire who had once threatened to shove a
bottle in her face. She cared about him, and he her. The only problem was that she had fallen in love with him before they left London. She didn't
know if he felt the same, didn't know if he could bring himself to love a simple human girl.

There was only one way to find out. She'd tell him how she felt. Her stomach lurched with nervousness at the thought of laying her emotions bare
to him. She tried to be logical, knowing that he did a thousand little things each day that proved his affection to her. Logic was all fine and good,
but the shy little girl she had always been couldn't help but be scared.

Willow took a deep breath, trying to calm her nerves. She would tell him tonight before they went to bed.

* * *

Dreams transcend all boundaries of time and space. Nightmares make them hell. And so Angel once again found himself in his own private hell. He
saw himself stumble out of a bar, so arrogant and cocky, and approach a noble-looking blonde woman in the alley. "NO!" He cried out, trying to
keep his dream self from completing the act that would seal his fate. But this dream was not to be altered. With a sinking heart he watched as
Darla fed from him and then he from her, damnation coming quickly.

Suddenly he was in his house, watching his mother and father ready themselves for bed, his sisters and brother sitting up late to tell stories next to
the fire. "NO! No! no!...." Angel raged. He did not want to see this. Did not want to relive this. He heard a knock on the door and prayed for his
middle sister not to answer it. To just ignore the man knocking so late at night. But it wasn't to be.

"Brother dear." He heard his sister sigh. "Drunk again are ya? Come in and let me put you to bed."

Angel watched in horror as his dream self entered the home, an all too familiar look in his eyes. Hunger. Unthinking, he couldn't pull his eyes from
the gruesome scene that was about to happen. Following his sister into the house, the dream Angelus slipped an arm around her throat, draining
her quietly before anyone noticed. One by one he lured the children away from the fire, taking their lives.

Angel was numb by the time his dream self made his way to the fire, where his youngest sister waited. He saw her smile up at him, unknowing that
a monster now wore her brother's face. With a sickness in his stomach he watched as his dream self gathered her small frame in his arms, giving her
one of his normal brotherly hugs. She shut her small eyes in happiness, her mouth forming the words, 'I love you..' before he tore into her throat.

"NO!" Angel screamed. He couldn't move. Could only watch as one of the brightest lights of his moral existence was extinguised. "No."

He came slowly back to himself, realizing vaguely that he was lying in a bed, an overhead fan circulating cool air across his bare chest. The covers
had been pushed away, laying in a tangles mass at the end of the bed. He sighed. It was just a nightmare. Not the first he had had, and certainly
not the last. He rolled onto his side, clutching his pillow to his chest. Slowly shutting his eyes and reopening them he let a sigh run through him.

For a moment he had seen his baby sister, staring at him in the dark.

* * *

"I love you." Willow said, looking at her hands, then the bedspread, the the wall, anywhere but the face of the man she loved. "I don't know if you
feel the same way. But I needed to tell you how I feel." Her words were rushed as she babbled senselessly. She didn't want to give him a chance to
speak. A chance to break her heart.

"Red." Spike said slowly. She continued to ramble on and he could see tears in her eyes, her words taking on a more desperate tone. Why couldn't
she see that he felt the same way. "Willow." She stopped at the sound of her given name, watching him with wide fearful eyes. "Remember that
night in LA. At the club?" She nodded. "I asked you to be mine forever." He waited for her to nod again. "Forever is a long time, pet. Do you really
think I'd ask if I didn't care for you, love you in my own way?"

Willow smiled. It was too much to hope for. He hadn't laughed at her or scorned her. He had told her in his own roundabout way that he loved her
too! She blushed with happiness. Though she'd really have to ask him what he meant by 'forever'. She leaned over to kiss him.

It could wait.

** ** **

Willow cuddled deeper into Spike's arms, resting her head lightly against his chest. The pair had been up for a couple of hours, cuddling, talking,
waiting for Angel and Cordelia to get up. Willow hoped they would get their lazy selves out of bed soon - she was supposed to meet one of her
friends from the internet at a local pub and didn't want to be late.

"FINALLY!" Willow cried as the brunette pair emerged from the back of the house. "I was starting to think we were going to have to leave without
you!" Alert green eyes swept over the dark haired vampire's face. "Angel. Are you ok?" She looked with worry at the dark circles under his eyes, the
tired way he was looking around the room. Something was wrong with this picture.

"I'm fine, Willow," Angel managed a small smile for the girl. He had barely slept all day. The nightmares had returned everytime he shut his eyes and
he could have sworn a few times that his siblings had still been with him when he awoke.

Spike watched his sire with a sense of worry - there was something he wasn't saying. Something he didn't want them to know. The blonde shook
his head slightly. If the poof wanted to keep secrets from them all that was his choice. He glanced at the older vampire again and couldnt help but
worry. He looked even more tortured than usual.

"Are we going or not?" Cordelia snapped slightly. Angel had been less than friendly since he woke her up. She had tried to get him to talk with her
before finally giving up and making her way out to the living room with him. He wouldn't tell her what was wrong and she could almost feel him
distancing himself from her.

"I dunno, hate to scare Deena away with Angel looking like Lord of the Brood." Willow lamented. Maybe they should have just left without their
friends.

"I'm sorry, Willow." Angel sighed. Briefly he told the group about the nightmares that had plagues him for most of the night, even mentioning the
fact that he could still see them when he woke. He finished like he'd started, with a sigh. "I feel better getting that off of my chest. Can we go
now? I promise to act..less broody." His voice was almost pleading as he contemplated the group in front of him.

"Fine." Willow said finally. "But you, me, Cordelia, and even Spike are going to have a long talk about letting go of guilt when we get back."

Angel groaned softly. He couldnt wait.

* * *

The pub was small and crowded with a thin layer of sweet smoke in the air. Spike loved it. He lit up a cigarette and watched as his girl looked
around for her friend. He hoped that this wouldn't take too long, the smell and feel of all these humans at such close range was driving his senses
crazy. The demon within him missed the taste of fresh blood, missed the thrill of the hunt, missed the ecstasy of sinking fangs into some chit's
warm, soft...

"Willow!" A pretty brown haired girl was suddenly there, hugging the red head. Her face was flushed with a slight rosy glow as she pulled away to
stare at the person she had only seen in pictures before that moment.

"Deena!" Willow's green eyes lit up with happiness as she contemplated her friend. She looked exactly like her pictures, right down to the small
scattering of tiny freckles across her nose.

"Come on, I have a table for us all." The girl led the way to the back of the pub to a wooden table large enough for the group. She grinned at
Willow when the handsome blonde put his arm around her shoulders. "So are you gonna introduce me to your friends?"

Willow smiled, the lilting Irish accent of her friend alerting her to her manners. "Deena. This is Angel. Cordelia. And Spike." She nodded to each one
in turn, giving the blonde with his arm around her a kiss.

"Its a pleasure to meet you, Deena." Angel smiled softly, kissing the back of the girl's hand in a moment of chivalry. Her simple beauty and soft
accent reminded him of girls he had known during he mortal years.

"Willow." Deena switched to Gaelic, regarding her friend with a smile. "You never told me your friends were so...handsome." Her eyes sparkled with
merriment.

"I try to keep it a secret," Willow replied mischieviously, in perfect Gaelic. She saw Angel's eyes sparkling with a mixture of amusement and surprise.
Of course he knew what they were saying. The others appeared quite lost, hwoever. "Aren't you going to thank her for the compliment, Angel?"

Deena's face grew bright red as she realized the man sitting next to her knew exactly what she had said about him. "A compliment from such a
lovely lady is truly an honor." Angel grinned, his speech slipping into the familiar language of his childhood.

"Excuse me?" Cordelia was blinking in confusion. "Can we switch back to English, please?"

"Yeah I'll second the chit on that one." Spike was slightly irritated. He felt left out.

"Sorry, dear." Willow switched back to English. She squeezed the blonde's knee affectionately. She felt a small sense of relief when he gave her one
of his patented smirks. Good. He wasn't mad.

"Willow?" Angel's voice was still amused as he regarded the girl across from him. "You never told me you knew Gaelic."

Willow raised her eyebrows with a smirk of her own."You never asked" Angel snickered. The girl was full of surprises. As was his childe. And Cordelia
even. And for the first time in a couple hundred years, he found he was excited at the prospect of getting to know someone, in detail.

** ** **

Something was watching Willow. She was sure of it. But everytime she turned around, there was nothing there. She shivered, pulling her green silk
robe tighter around her body, hoping Spike and Angel would hurry back to the house. How long did it take them to get blood and milk anyway?

There was that feeling again. Like a hot breath across her neck. Then it was gone. She turned slowly to look at the empty room. Nothing there.
Trembling slightly she kneeled to look under the bed. Nothing there either. Every sense in her body was screaming that something was not right.

Rising up slowly she scanned the room with her eyes one more time. A sparkle of light glinting off of a floor length mirror in the corner caught her
attention, drawing her eyes to the sight contained therein. She watched with horror as the events after Angel's turning were played out like a
movie. Every image done in perfect color and detail, as though there were actually people in the mirror playing it out for her. Then, like a dream, the
scenes were gone and the mirror was back to normal.

Except for the little girl, her neck torn and bloodied. Standing in front of the mirror, her eyes gleaming with light that was wholly unnatural. The girl
smiled sadly before disappearing, her image breaking apart like so many particles of light.

Only then did Willow run screaming and sobbing from the room.

* * * *

"It was awful Delia." Willow cried. Her hands were shaking as she tried to wipe the tears from her face.

"Shouldn't we go wait outside or something?" The brunette asked, glancing over her shoulder contantly. Every little noise the house made was
making her jump. Upstairs something fell, causing both of the women to scream.

"You're right. Lets go outside and wait." They made their way slowly to the door, surprised when nothing stopped them from leaving. The red head
collapsed to the steps outside the door, her body still wracked with sobs. Her mind couldn't let go of the image of Angel - sweet, caring, Angel -
tearing the throats out of his brothers and sisters. She knew it wasn't his fault. Knew that the demon had been in control. But that didn't make it
any easier to watch or remember. She felt Cordelia hug her and held onto her for dear life. "Oh, Delia. If what I saw really is what he did then I can
understand why he can't move past it." She felt herself gag slightly, the constant crying was making her sick and her head hurt.

"Move past what?"

* * * *

Angel and Spike were surprised to see the girls sitting on the steps when they returned from their outing. They could hear the witch sniffling as she
told Cordelia about something. Her words floated through the dark streets to their ears and they hastened to get to them. "Move past what?" Angel
asked, dropping to one knee in front of the petite girl he was proud to call his friend. She jumped back at his touch, her eyes filled with fear.
"Willow?" He let the hand he was reaching out to her fall back to his side.

"Red?" Spike was concerned. The girl had almost jumped out of her skin when she had noticed his sire. "Baby, whats wrong?" He perched on the
step next to her, hesitantly taking her into his arms. When she didn't try to move away he wrapped his arms tighter around her, feeling the pathetic
shaking of her body as she cried. "What happened?" The question was directed at Cordelia.

"I was in my room. Then I heard her screaming and suddenly she runs in the room crying and dragging me to the living room." Cordelia's voice was
little more than a hoarse whisper as she recalled the events of the past hour. "When she calmed down enough to talk she said she had seen things
in the mirror in her room..." The brunette gave Angel a strange look, unsure of how he would take the news that Willow had seen him at his literal
worst.

"What kind of *things*?" The dark haired vampire could tell that Cordelia was holding back. He knew by the conversation he had overheard that
they had been speaking of him. If his heart had been beating it surely would have stopped with Cordelia's next words.

"She saw you being turned. She saw you...Angelus I mean...kill your family..." Cordelia was crying now. Willow had described what she had seen to
the girl. She couldnt believe that her Angel was responsible for those acts. She saw his face fall and knew he was beating himself up all over again.
For things he couldnt change. Her voice was trembling when she spoke next. "I know that it wasn't your fault Angel." Then, more firmly. "No matter
what you did. We are all still your friends. But we need to figure out what is going on."

Willow had finally stopped crying. Standing on wobbly legs with Spike's help she pulled the darker haired vampire into a hug. "We'll figure this out
Angel. I promise." She gave him a small smile, returning to Spike's embrace. "We just need to figure out why this thing has singled you out for this
torment."

"Lets go find a hotel." Angel said slowly. He needed to get them away from this. No one should have to be subjected to *his* memories! When they
were safe then he could come back and try to figure all this out.

Alone.

** ** **

"He left?" Cordelia was stunned. "You let him go back to that house alone?!?" She glared at the blonde standing across from her.

Spike glared at the brunette. "A little lesson about vampire culture, pet. One doesn't *let* their sire do *anything*. They tend to do what they
want, when they want to." He hadn't been exactly thrilled when the darker haired vampire had made it clear that he intended to go back to the
house. In fact, he had tried, unsuccessfully, to reason with him.

"Well, go after him!" Cordelia whined, pushing the vampire towards the door. The thought that Angel had gone back to the house where that
-thing- was worried her. She couldnt bear the thought of losing Angel.

"No can do, sweets." Spike said softly, trying to be reassuring. "He said to stay here and keep you two safe."

"But..but..." Cordelia stammered, a few tears leaking from her eyes. Collapsing on the couch she let her tears flow more freely. Willow moved to
take her in her arms, rubbing soothing circles on the brunette's back. Her mind had been working on overdrive since they had left the house. What
was going on? She didn't think it was a ghost - a ghost wouldn't have been able to play out so many different angles of what happened that night.
A ghost wouldn't have known about Angel's turning. It almost seemed as though whatever was doing this had access to Angel's own memories of
the evening.

"I need to research." Willow murmured, squeezing Cordelia's hand once before standing. She walked in a daze to her laptop, her mind spinning
furiously as she tried to figure out what could possible be causing this much grief.

* * *

Angel looked out over the bay, watching the moonlight reflect off of the water. There were a few boats on the horizon, their shapes black against
the midnight blue of the night sky. A cloud passed over the moon, making everything darker. Almost as dark as his thoughts.

The vampire turned away from the water with a sigh, allowing his feet to lead him without thought into the quiet streets of the town. He knew he
should go on to the house and see what he could find out about whatever was tormenting both himself...and now his friends, but he couldnt bring
himself to face it yet. Couldnt bring himself to willingly walk into the arms of something that seemed intent on making him miserable.

He actually wouldn't have minded if the thing hadn't brought Willow into it. He would have dealt with it in his own quiet style for the remainder of
their stay in Ireland. After all, he had decades of practice in dealing with guilt and remorse. But no. As usual the bad things in the night had to bring
his friends into it.

"Angel..." A soft whisper floated through the air. He turned quickly, but couldnt see anyone. Shutting his eyes he listened to the sounds of the
night, straining to hear anything out of the ordinary. Nothing. Only the sounds one would expect at night. He slowly opened his eyes, glancing
around again.

"Angelus....over here..." The haunting female voice drifted quietly from a side street. With another look around he walked towards the sound, his
senses on the alert for any sign of what was calling to him. His instincts screamed that walking towards a strange noise wasn't a smart idea,
especially when said strange noise was calling your name. But, he continued on, stepping into an alley of sorts.

{This looks familiar.} Angel thought, his eyes widening with shock and disbelief. {It can't be...}

* * *

"Spike! Delia! Come look at this!" The red head waited patiently for her friends to join her around the computer. "In the past few months the suicide
rate in the city has nearly quadrupled." She pointed to the statistics she had found online in a newspaper article. "And..." She switched to a
different window. "One girl who tried to commit suicide survived. She's in a mental hospital now. Kept raving about some sort of monster." Again she
switched screens, to a newspaper article that had a hand drawn picture of the 'monster' next to it. "Its a misery demon." Willow beamed up at her
friends. She had never encountered a misery demon before and it was sort of thrilling.

"Pet, try to contain your joy." Spike smirked.

"And what exactly does this have to do with my Angel?" Cordelia snapped. The events of the night were taking their toll on the brunette.

Willow rolled her eyes. Sometimes Cordelia could be so dense! "A misery demon can read the minds of its victims." She waited to see if a light would
dawn in the brunette's eyes. No such luck. "It reads their memories, chosing the worst ones and making the victim relive them. It feeds on their
guilt." Willow's voice dropped. "Until finally the victim can't take it anymore. They give up and kill themselves."

"OH!" Cordelia brightened. "So this is whats making Angel miserable?" Her eyes took on a confused look. "So why did it show you his memories, Will?"

"I can only guess its because it knew that would also hurt Angel." Willow felt sad. She had played right into the demon's hands with her reactions to
the vampire after seeing his memories. Shaking her feelings of self pity she slipped into teaching mode. "From what I can figure out this thing
probably sensed Angel's torment from the time we stepped into the city limits. It sought him out and proceeded to do anything it could to make him
miserable. Getting Angel to give up and die would be like the ultimate happy for the demon."

"Right." Spike drawled. It figured it would be a demon trying to spoil their vacation. "So how do we kill it?"

"Thats actually pretty easy." Willow turned back to her laptop, bringing up another screen and reading from it. "There is an eye in the middle of its
forehead when it is in its natural form. If the person it is currently fiaxted on drives a silver dagger through that it dies."

"Thats simple enough." Cordelia sighed. "So lets go get a dagger, find Angel and get this done with."

"The actual method of killing the demon is easy, Delia," Willow said slowly."I can do a spell to conjure it forth into this plane so that Angel can find it
easily. But it will start playing mind games with him when it realizes its trapped." The red head chewed nervously on her bottom lip. "He may find
himself looking into the face of someone he knows when it comes time to destroy it."

Cordelia nodded, finally understanding. She knew it would be hard for Angel if the demon took on her face, or that of anyone he loved. She could
only hope he would be able to see past the illusion and do what needed to be done. Her eyes strayed to the clock. Two hours to sunrise. "Shouldnt
he be home by now?"

Willow looked at the time. This wasn't good. "We should go look for him..."

"No." Spike said quickly. The girls looked at him in shock. How could he tell them they couldn't go looking for their friend? "You two stay here, I'll go
find the poof." He kissed Willow lightly on the cheek and grabbed his duster. Only two hours until sunrise. He hoped he could find him in time.

* * *

Angel looked around the dark alley, every part of him screaming in recognition. His soul knew this as the place it had first met death. And his
demon... Well the demon in him knew it as the place it had been born. It all looked so much the same. Even after two hundred years. he shuddered
with the memories of that night. He had been so stupid. So young and full of himself. Ready to go out and conquer the world - or the next girl who
happened by.

If only he had not been out drinking that night. If only he had not felt the need to approach the beautiful blonde he had seen. A million 'if onlys' ran
through the vampire's mind as he contemplated the murky depths of the alley. Regret welled up in him in a rush. If only he had not been turned
none of his atrocities would ever have happened.

And there it was. The simple truth. One night in this very alley was the cause of countless horrors he committed against men, women, and children.
His face was wet with tears as the memories came pouring back to him.

"So sad..." The voice was accompanied by the rustle of skirts. He turned quickly, surprise clear on his features as he saw the speaker. He looked
into the sparkling eyes of his sire. "No hug for your mum, Angelus?" She laughed softly, a distinctly husky sound.

His eyes roamed the figure in front of him. She looked like Darla - dressed in the same dress she had been wearing the night he was turned.
Sounded like Darla. Even had the same mannerisms as his sire. But it couldnt be. He had killed Darla years ago.

"So full of guilt..." The creature bearing Darla's face moved forward, trailing an icy hand along Angel's cheek. He reached up to remove her hand,
startled when his hand met with empty air.

"You regret being turned..." The voice said from behind him. It wasn't a question, more of a statement and Angel found himself nodding. "Tell me,
childe of mine, what do you regret more? The fact that you did all those heinous things?" She paused, her lips quirking into a smile. "Or the fact
that you enjoyed them?" She moved around him, whispering in his ear. "It really doesnt matter... You were worthless - a wretched human and
things didn't change too much when you died." Her voice was mocking. Angel shut his eyes against the tears the creature's words were bringing.

"So much guilt for doing what comes naturally to a damned creature like yourself." The creature stopped to stare him in his eyes, her next words
harsh. "Let me tell you what you *should* feel guilt for." Again a small smile graced her lips, a perfect imitation of the woman he had known as his
sire. "You *should* feel sorry for not ending your own miserable existence two hundred years ago. If ever anyone deserved to die, its you Angelus."

* * *

Spike wasn't sure what had possessed him to wander down the dark side street not too far from the house they had rented. He only knew that
something inside him was telling him this is where to find his sire. With only an hour left until sunrise, he hoped that feeling was right. Ahead he
could hear someone talking, a woman. The voice seemed oddly familiar to the blonde vampire. He quickened his pace, rounding the corner in almost
a run.

{Darla.} Spike watched the scene before him. That couldn't be his grandsire - she had been dust for years from what he had heard from his sire. He
listened as the creature taunted Angel, enticing tears from the dark haired vampire. {The misery demon.} Spike thought grimly.

"If anyone deserves to die...its you Angelus." The creature sneered.

"Thats enough of that." Spike said clearly, making his presence known. He stepped further into the alley, coming closer to his sire. He could almost
feel the guilt radiating from the older vampire's body and wanted nothing more than to try to ease some of that guilt. The days they had spent
together on the vacation had brought a new friendship to sire and childe and had reawakened the love and loyalty the blonde had once thought
dead.

"Spike." The fake Darla purred, drawing the name from Angel's own memories. He had to give it to the demon, it did a damn good impersonation of
the female vampire. "You're another source of this one's guilt." She turned her attention back to Angel. "You feel guilty for turning him, dont you?
Guilty for abandoning him after you became ensouled?" The dark haired vampire just watched her, the words rolling over him. With every comment
she made he realized yet another thing he felt guilt for.

Spike watched the agonized acceptance of guilt on his sire's face. Stepping between the demon and his sire he pushed her, hard. "As I said. That is
enough." His human facade fell away as he regarded the creature in front of him. He growled slightly, stalking towards it.

"This isn't over." The demon warned, the beautiful features of Darla melting away to the more grotesque ones of the demon's true face as it slowly
faded from sight. "See you soon, Angel."

** ** **

The first rays of dawn were peeking over the horizon when Spike and Angel finally dashed into the safety of the hotel, making their way in silence
up to their hotel room. Spike had mentioned after the demon had left them that he knew what was going on, but Angel had insisted they wait to
get back to the girls before they discuss it. He needed to know they were safe. That whatever was out to get him wasn't hurting them any further.

"ANGEL!" Cordelia cried when the door opened, throwing herself into her boyfriend's arms. She had sat nervously by one of the windows, watching
the sky begin to lighten through a crack in the curtains, from the moment Spike had left. There were tears of relief on her face as she kissed the
dark haired vampire on his lips.

Willow moved to wrap Spike in her arms, resting her head against the vampire's chest as she watched her two friends. Angel turned to look at
them, allowing himself a smile for the first time all night. Willow could see the sadness hiding behind his eyes and sighed. "Lets sit down and I'll tell
you what I found out, Angel."

When it was clear that everyone was comfortable, the red head opened her mouth and began to explain everything to Angel, pausing every once in
a while to answer the questions he threw at her. When she was finished they waited in silence for the brooding vampire to say something.

Angel sighed, looking around at their faces. "Fine. Theres a demon making me relive all this. The demon wants me dead - great. But it doesnt
change the fact that I did all those things." His dark eyes were haunted. "And the demon was certainly right when it said I deserve to die. I *do*."

"Stop that!" Cordelia finally snapped. Her eyes were flashing as she regarded the vampire next to her. "I am sick of your self pity! You did lots of
bad things a LONG time ago. Get over it! I dont expect you to forget about it. But you need to forgive yourself! It was the demon. Not *you*." She
was crying again. "You need to move past this. I love you and plan on being with you for a long time and I do *NOT* want to deal with this for the
rest of my life!"

All eyes in the room stared at the former cheerleader in shock. Trust her to speak her mind. Angel opened and closed his mouth, surprise taking
away his ability to speak. Amazingly, he smiled finally, taking the brunette into his arms. "You love me?" He whispered. "You want to be with me for
the rest of your life?" He couldnt believe he had heard her right. It was too much for his poor heart to hope for.

"Well...yeah." Cordelia smirked, wiping away her tears. "I mean, after I found out you have limitless credit cards *and* your own plane you think I
am going to let you go?" Her tone was joking but the smile she gave him was genuine.

"I love you too, Delia." He smiled, brushing his lips across hers in a gentle kiss.

"Awwww.." Willow and Spike sighed in unison, grinning at their friends. Willow laughed as Cordelia flipped her middle finger up at them, the kiss never
breaking. The red head hoped that now the two of them would see fit to speed things up in their relationship - the sexual tension between the
brunette couple was thick enough to feel.

Angel reluctantly pulled back from the girl in his arms, his smile never leaving his lips. "So..." He turned to the other occupants of the room. "Lets
get some sleep. Tomorrow night we deal with that demon and then..." He shook his head ruefully. "I say we leave for France a little early."

* * *

Willow was surprised when the next day passed with no visits from the demon or its taunting dreams. She rose before sunset, venturing into the
streets of the city to gather the necessary supplies for the night's work. The others were already awake when she finally made her way back into
the hotel room.

"Are you ready for this?" Willow asked Angel as they moved enough of the furniture around to create an empty space for the binding circle.

"No." Angel said simply. He gave her a small sad smile. "But it needs to be done. It will be a while before I can forgive myself for what I did, but it
will happen. Cordelia won't let me brood on this forever."

"Damn straight." Cordelia muttered from her seat in one corner of the room. She flashed the vampire a smile. Spike snorted in amusement. His sire
was whipped.

Willow grinned at her friends and lover. "Ok Angel. I'm going to summon the demon to the room, into the binding circle," She motioned to the circle
she had just outlined on the floor in chalk. "All you need to do is kill it once I bring it forth. Dagger in the third eye, remember?" Willow waited for
him to nod his assent. "Good. Its not physically strong, but it will play with your mind. No matter what remember that whatever shape it takes is
not real and everything it says is meant to hurt you." She knew that all of that was easier said than done and could only hope that he understood
what she meant: it wasn't his fault - he didn't deserve death.

Angel nodded, pulling Willow into his arms for a brief hug. "Thank you, little one - for everything."

Willow smiled, squeezing his hand and going to sit on the outside edge of the circle. She lit a candle, whispering a few words to seal the circle. She
cleared her mind, letting the sweet smell of the incense next to her overwhelm her senses. Closing her eyes, she began to chant, reaching out with
her own energy to call the misery demon to her circle. In her mind's eye she saw the demon, black and pulsating. She latched onto it, drawing it
through space and matter to the room and the circle she had prepared. Her head began to pound as the distance between her and her target grew
shorter and shorter. With a cry of pain she pulled it into the room with an audible *pop*. Spike's strong arms wrapped around her, holding her up
and she opened her eyes to stare at the events unfolding in front of her.

It was all up to Angel now.

* * *

The dark haired vampire was thrown off guard when the demon landed in the circle, appearing out of nowhere. That hesitation was all the demon
needed to re-orient itself. Three blue eyes fixed on the vampire, reaching into his mind to pull on painful memories. Then the moment was over and
Angel was stalking towards the demon, knife in hand.

"Liam, dont do this." The demon pleaded as it shifted to the form of his youngest sister. The voice wavered as tears spilled down porcelain cheeks.
"I love you. Dont do this to me. Havent you done enough?"

Angel's heart broke at the softly spoken words, stopping in mid step. He stared at the crying form in front of him, his mind screaming that it couldnt
be his sister, but all his senses saying it was. He growled. "You defile her memory by even taking her form, demon."

With inhuman speed Angel grabbed the demon. He stared down into the rich brown eyes of its current form, placing the tip of the dagger on its
forehead, right about where the third eye would be in its natural state.

"Angel..." The demon's form wavered, solidifying into that of Cordelia. "I thought you loved me." The demon was crying with Cordelia's voice. "Now
you're going to kill me like you did your family?"

"I do love *Cordelia*. I would never hurt *her*" Angel sneered. He plunged the dagger home, watching as the demon shifted back to its natural
form before disppearing in a shower of light.

It was over.

* * *

"You really don't mind leaving Ireland early?" Angel asked Willow as their luggage was loaded onto his jet.

"Its fine Angel." Willow smiled at him. After killing the demon the night before the group had gone on a quick sightseeing tour of the city. It had
been enough for Willow. "Too much excitement for one quiet city." Willow laughed. "Besides, Spike said he'd bring be back one day if I really wanted
to come." She smiled at the blonde vampire who was making his way towards them, a candy bar for her in one hand.

"You've got that boy whipped." Angel grinned as the blonde neared, causing Cordelia to laugh. "He'd do anything for you."

Willow smiled at Cordelia, the two girls exchaning knowing looks. They knew their boyfriends would do whatever they wanted, though neither
vampire would ever admit to being whipped, and the girls wouldn't have it any other way."As it should be, Angel."

"*Exactly* as it should be." Cordelia echoed.
 

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