Timeline

Chapter 11

Tension between Angel and Buffy was evident.Dawn watched as they both went into the hotels kitchen.Must have been something Liam had said or done. Nah , he's Angel , what could he have said that would annoy them like that, she thought to herself. Looking around , she noted that everyone was busy and taking no notice of her.She walked over to the basement door , nervously reach out and gripped the handle.Still nobody taking any notice, she pushed the door open and stood at the top of the stairs. She could hear Liam singing to himself .Slowly she shut the door and descended into the basement.
"And who may ye be young one .You don't smell like a slayer"
"I .. I.. I'm not " She stuttered .Her nerves were showing and she could feel them humming " I'm Dawn , Buffys sister"
"Ahhh , and such a sweet thing. So I beg the question , whats a sweet thing like yourself doing in the basement with a creature such as myself ?Do I not scare ye child?"
"N.. No . I mean ,you have your soul like Angel and Spike did , so I guess not. "
"And you think that having my soul stops me from doing what my nature dictates do ye?"
"Doesn't it ?"
Liam laughed at the girl. "Sit with me a while , I would appreciate the company"
Dawn pulled the chair up and sat down , crossing her arms over her chest and crossing her long legs at her ankles.
"What pretty ankles you have. Back home the women don't dress like they do here.A glimpse of the ankle and breast is all ye would see.Have to say , I think I will like it here in this day"
Dawn cringed at him. "Whats it like , back home , where you come from?"
"Ah.... it is a beautiful place , Galway. Near the sea ..... surrounded by the most lush and green countryside. My Father had alot of land their and we had a successful business ."
"So your rich then "
"Ey child , that I am. I took it for granted though, spent it on women and beer and gamling."He laughed "Not that I minded, I had a good time"
"Why did you let Darla turn you, if you were so happy"
"You are blunt and to the point aren't ye. I had a tyrant of a Pa , he ruled his house with a rod of iron.He hated my ways.In some way I think he was jealous.He drove me out last night.I was lost and lonely , tired of the whores. I saw her there , in the square .She was the most beautiful sight.She promised me things , take me places I had never seen or ever likely to .How could I resist?"He looked at Dawn with sadness in his eyes.
"Do you miss it... being alive and your family"
"I didn't think that I would , but yes , yes I do " He paused " I miss my heartbeat "
Dawn sat still , what could she say after that ? She looked down at her ankles and smiled ."I dont think it's that bad , I mean look at how you turn out in the future " Then Dawn realised that his future was 200 years away.
"You seem like a smart child, how long do you think they can keep me here? I don't belong, not sure I belong anywhere now . My heart no longer beats , so I don't belong with the living.I am not the same beast as the one that borne me this new life , I have my soul. " Sadness evident , Liam looked at Dawn.
"I don't know what to say"
"Nothing to say is there. I will help any way I can. you can let your sister know that.Dawn would you do me a small favour?"
"If I can " She said nervously
"Visit with me often.I could do with some companionship , and I find you pleasant, you don't judge me. I promise to be on my best behaviour." He bowed at her courteously which made Dawn laugh.
"O.K. I will , not sure my sister will like it though."
"Don't tell , I wont" a wicked grin came to his face.
Liam came to the front of the cage and held the empty mug."Here you can take this , and possibly bring me more" He gave her a smile that would have melted ice.
"I'll see what I can do". She reach out to take the mug , Liam caught her hand and pulled her to the cage.
Fear shot through Dawn .Liam smiled as he bought her hand up to his lips . He kiss it with the slightest touch and let her hand go.Dawns heart was almost thumping it's way through her chest.She backed away from the cage , holding her hand behind her back .
"I best go before they miss me".With that she turned and ran up the stairs.

In the kitchen Buffy and Angel were discussing Liam.

"Look Buff , I don't trust him .He's had one night to adjust , and I don't think he is ready "
"I'm not talking about letting him go.I'm talking about not caging him up like an animal.He's you Angel,don't you remember how hard adjusting was.We can support him and hopefully he'll ........"
"He'll not be as viscious as I was ?"
"No! I mean yes .... maybe . I dont know what to think.It's hard .Maybe we shouldn't have bought him back."
"What" His tone was even .It didn't have the softness that it had before."Do you find 'him' more exciting and.... attractive?"
"I'm sorry. But you have to trust that it is you I love , your personality , your touch and your heart. He may have your face and body but thats all.He's not you Angel"
Angel turned and smiled " You always did have a way of getting around me" He pulled her to him and kissed her passionately.
Thats when Dawn came into the kitchen .She placed the mug on the side and hopped up onto the counter.After a few seconds she coughed to get their attention.
"Erm ... Guys "
Angel let Buffy go and they turned to her.
"Please say you didn't go down their to Liam alone"
"Whats the bad , he's caged and I think he needs the company"
"Dawn" the two of them said at once . Buffy continued " He's not Angel and we don't know if he can be trusted yet.Your not to go alone!"
"I think he's quite charming "
Angel had to admit to himself that he had been the charmer in his day, thinking about that he suddenly went wide eyed.
"Dawn Buffy's right . I know he's a charmer but trust me , I ... He is bad news.He will take advantage of you if you let your guard down."
" Hmmp " she grunted " He wants more blood " with that said , she hopped back off the counter and headed into the foyer.
"Buffy , you better keep a close eye on her .If he has bonded with her ...."
"Enough said .I still remember what you were like with me " A smile crept onto both their lips.
"Liam may start obssessing. We don't know how it will change fate"
"Fate.... there to be tempted.Are you as sick of fate as I am yet ?"
"Getting there" they both laughed.

Faith had slept for a few hours .She got up and showered.She put her ipod on and started to dance around . "I so need to burn off this energy" she said to the empty room.She took the earphones out and left the room .She went across the hall to Robin's room. She knocked gently.
"C'min"
"Hey, How ya doin' ."
"K .... A little sore still but , hey , alive"
"With you there "
"Whats going on downstairs" Robin asked
"Hive of activity.B and Angel bought his ensouled alter ego back from the middle ages .He's in the cage in the basement"
"Angel has a cage in the basement?"
"Ya , long story "
"Tell me." He laid back on his bed and Faith told him about the weeks she had been here to capture Angelus"
"So Buffy is in love with Angel , Liam is the ensouled version from the 1700's, now in the cage. Angel's human now.So Angelus is the vampire version without the soul.? I feel like I need therapy just going over that lot."
Faith laughed. "Ya I thought I was screwed up"
"So what about Buffy and Spike"?
"B tends to go for the vamps with souls eh.But now he's outta the picture since he died closing the hellmouth. Hows it feel to be wrong about him then" She said digging him in the ribs playfully.
Robin grunted as she dug him in the ribs and smiled up at her " I admit , he was a major part in us being victorious "
"I feel a but"
"But he killed my mother , not something I'll forgive" His face dropped to the cover he was laying on.
"It's o.k. I get where your coming from"
Faith laid back on the bed and Robin propped his head up on his hand.
"So when ya gonna surprise me"
"Can a guy heal first " he said half laughing
He leaned down and kissed her.


Fred and Gunn were busy researching and trying to decipher the prophecy in the huge compendium. Wesley walked into the office and picked up the printouts Fred had done that morning. Giles followed a few moments later.
"How have things changed" He asked
"Well , so far , the Watchers diarys note that there was a vampire called Liam ,and there is no sign of Angelus. The diary also states that the vampire would follow slayers and help them if an apocolypse loomed.It has correlations in the margins regarding a William and a Druscilla. The prophecy about the child being born to the vampire with a soul hasn't changed much.It's still not clear which vampire and when. All it says is that it will be a formidable force against the darkness." Fred sat down , taking a deep breath.
"Good work. May I " Giles asked and picked up the delicate scroll sat on the desk.
"Sure " Fred answered.
Giles sat in the leather bucket chair the other side of the desk, Totally engrossed in the text on the scroll. Wesley sat next to Giles in the matching chair running over the printouts.
"This can't be right" He flicked back and forth to double check something on two sheets. everyone looked up and were fixed on Wesley.
"It says here that in 1845 , Angel or rather Liam is found in Valencia .He aparently has a battle with a demon who was trying to open a hellmouth. It says that Liam was trapped in the hellmouth by the then slayer."
"Does it say how or when he escaped?" Fred asked.
"Hmmmm . Aparently , he doesn't escape .Although it does say that another watcher in 1887 has a slayer in Sunnydale and the hellmouth there lets forth a demon with a soul.Whether it's Angel and whether he escapes or it released him , we have no clue."
"If the text has changed , is it possible Angels memory has. If memory serves me, didn't the hellmouth release him after Buffy killed him ?"Wesley asked Giles.
"It is possible, I shall ask him".
Giles left to go and get Angel.
"I didn't want to mention anything in front of Giles, but it appears there more changes than what we originally discussed" Wesley didn't even look up at Gunn or Fred. " This text states very clearly, Angel has a son.Judging his proximity to the slayer , it is possible that it's Buffy that bares him this child."
"So why not tell Giles , don't you think he has a right to know , she is his slayer." Fred replied.
" So when's this s'posed to go down" Gunn asked
"It doesn't give a specific time or date , all that is mentioned is the Rites of Calenoock.Could you reference check that for me.Maybe we can pinpoint the occurance from that"
It was at that point Angel and Giles made an entrance into the office.Angel stood leaning on the bookcase whilst Giles sat back in the bucket chair.
"Have you found anything from the scroll" Angel asked
"We have some new information , so yes. We have also noticed that the information has changed since you bought a cursed Liam through the portal .We are intrigued to say the least.Have any of your memories changed?"
Angel paused and rubbed his brow." As a matter of fact they have"
"Significantly?"
"You could say that". He paced the room and huffed loudly ."As you know , I opened the hell portal when I woke the demon Acathla, and Buffy killed me to close the portal again.That memory is vague at best now " He stopped pacing briefly. "I also have the memory of being sent to another hell hole"
"So as we suspected , your memories are being altered .Do you recall any other changes?"
"Erm , it's hazy , but yeah , I remember another slayer.She was younger than Buffy when she was called from what I can remember.Thats about it" Angel slumped against the bookshelf again.
"Can I just ask why ... why it is you felt you had to bring him back with you?"
"I thought it would save everyone I killed ,that I could prevent Spike and Dru from ever being sired. I'm begining to regret it now"
Giles stood up and removed his glasses and rubbed the bridge of his nose and forehead. " It may have been a rash choice , but you have made it now.I cannot begin to fathom the extent of change you have made to everyones lives and what the implications may be . May I also stress the dangers of having Liam downstairs." He replaced his glasses " I will see how far Willow has got with the spells and check back with you all later." He left and the room remained silent for a few minutes.
"Someone best switch the guy to decaf" Gunn said , just to break the ice that had descended on the room
"He only drinks tea" Angel replied with a smirk on his face
"Good to see human Angel has finally got a sense of humour" Gunn quipped
"Hey!" Angel stood up and made his way to the door. " I best go and deal with Liam I guess.Someone has to tell him the good , the bads and the uglies, who knows them better than me huh " He sighed as he walked to the basement door.