~*The Sunnydale Revamped Series*~

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

The sun woke Ellie up in the afternoon, fortunately without the unpleasant feeling of not knowing where she was. The room was a lot nicer looking in the daytime. The corners weren’t so dark and scary as they’d seemed the night before, and there was an old fashioned elegance to the decor.

She sat up in bed and wiped the sleep from her eyes. With a loud yawn she stretched her arms high above her head. A hot shower seemed like a blessing right about now. Throwing aside her covers, Ellie shuffled towards the bathroom.

After, possibly the longest shower in history, Ellie dug through her bag for something suitable to wear. She didn’t have much on her but she had a fresh change of underwear, flare jeans and a simple black tee. Enough for her for right now. Ellie considered burning her traveling clothes but then reconsidered and put them aside for washing. Surely in a hotel this size, there was a laundry facility.



Ellie pulled her makeup bag out, that contained her modest amount of make up, and walked to the large vanity. She brushed her long damp red hair and then pulled it up in a messy bun, too tired to attempt more. As she applied a little make up she hoped Izzie or Lyla were up already so that she wouldn’t have to face the awkwardness of coming face to face with the people who lived here.

When she got downstairs, Izzie and Lyla were already sitting at the large round couch in the middle of the lobby. Ellie noticed that Lyla was wearing long sleeves that came down over her hands to hide the bruising, whereas Izzie was used to bruises and didn’t care about concealing them. Izzie had also enjoyed a long shower and was casually dressed in jeans and a cream v-neck shirt that fit rather snugly. Her black hair was pulled into a simple ponytail high on her head.

Lyla adjusted her sleeves when she caught Ellie looking, and wished she had some gloves or something to cover them with. “We were just saying that we’d hit some store for some clothes,” Izzie told her.

The mention of a shopping spree brought a smile to Ellie’s face before she remembered her financial status. Big Fat Zero. Lyla, sensing her thoughts, held up her credit card like it was some kind of symbol to be worshipped. “It’s on me,” Lyla insisted.

Izzie smiled. “It’s a once in a lifetime offer Ellie, Lyla isn’t prone to spontaneous acts of generosity.”

“The fact the I am still on a high from the thought of shopping will save you from that one Riggs,” Lyla said, but true to her words she was smiling. “I say we max the sucker out.”

Ellie smiled. “Ok. You’re on.”

Lyla was satisfied. She wouldn’t be able to stand it if she had to wear her slightly wrinkled skirt and blouse a second longer. Lyla didn’t mind blowing the money on Izzie and Ellie it wasn’t hers anyway. She knew she owed Izzie her life and both of them were her only friends now.... as depressing as that was to her, so it was the best she could do really. Everyone else (however many that was) was sleep, so Izzie left a note and the three girls entered the sunny streets of LA.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

Many blissful hours later, the three girls were sitting outside a coffee shop sipping iced coffees and snacking on cheesecake. The many shopping bags around their feet proved that Lyla’s credit card did in fact work. She couldn’t imagine how it could, but it didn’t matter.

“Thanks a lot for the clothes,” Izzie said again. Lyla shrugged. “Shopping isn’t that much fun alone.”

“I’ve never bought so many clothes before in my life. “Ellie said. “And I’ve never bought the kind of clothes I did. Time to change I think. No more meek little shy girl. Time for a change.”

Izzie held up her iced coffee. “Here, here!” She laughed as she tapped glasses with Ellie. “I’m gonna get so spoiled,” she laughed, talking about the clothes.

Lyla held up her glass and joined them. “Welcome to my world.”

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

The girls entered the hotel with shopping bags, and were in the middle of a laughing fit over something Lyla had said and high on too much caffeine for any human to consume in that small amount of time The laughing stopped, however, when five pairs of eyes were fixed on them. And they did NOT look happy.


“What’s wrong?” Izzie asked as she tried to suppress her giggles.

“Where were you?” Angel asked.

“Shopping,” Izzie said, holding up her pile of bags. Wasn’t it obvious?

“You do realize we have important information to talk about don’t you?” Izzie looked past Angel to the speaker. An English man.

“Wow, it’s Giles Jr.” Lyla remarked, which almost got the girls laughing again. “A much better looking Giles.” Lyla added, though the crowd proved to be a little tense.

The man shifted uncomfortably; clearly he was trying very hard to remain serious.

“It’s daylight,” Izzie informed everyone. “In my experience the bad guys come out at night.”

“Lucky for you malls aren’t open at night,” Lyla added. Izzie shot her a warning look that officially marked an end to the girl’s good moods.

“You guys are in real danger. “Angel told them.

“We know that,” Izzie said, clearly he hadn’t been listening to himself last night when he’d assured her they weren’t baby-sitting her. Cause right now she felt like she was a young kid who broke curfew. “But we also ran away from home with the clothes on our backs and left everything behind, so please don’t treat us like we’re babies. We needed some things. Want to check?” Izzie added the last part as a dig. Would serve him right to find the numerous amount of panties and bras all the girls had bought.

Everyone was silent. Fred was looking very uncomfortable at the bickering that was going on. It was nice to finally have other women around, let alone three, and she felt like all they were doing was alienating them, instead of trying to befriend them.

“Now excuse me, “Izzie finally said, “We’re going to put our things away and then we’ll talk.”

She didn’t wait for any answers. Gathering up her bags she walked towards her room with Lyla and Ellie right behind her.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

Later when things had cooled down, the three girls met with the others downstairs. They were introduced properly and then Angel began.

“We found out about you through the powers that be. They said you were The Three and that there will be a day in the future when you’re time will come. What you’ll do, when and why is still a mystery. We know that by keeping the slayer alive there would be no other slayers to deal with. We don’t know if this has anything to do with the three but it’s what we know. We brought you hear to keep you safe, the other questions we can figure out along the way.”

There was a long pause. Ellie cleared her throat loudly. “I don’t understand what I am useful for. Unless of course I can figure out something mathematical to defeat the bad guys,” she said sarcastically.

Before she could get an answer, Lyla butted in. “I come from a line of gypsies supposedly. Does that mean I can do magic and stuff?” she asked anxiously.



Ellie frowned. Lyla had stolen the attention again. “All we know is it will be revealed in time,” Wesley said. Lyla frowned. It wasn’t exactly the answer she wanted. She was no better off than before with all this stupid cryptic talk. What was that about? “In time, in time.... you’ll know in time...” why was it never the right time now?! She wondered silently to herself.

Izzie wasn’t satisfied. They knew as much as she did and that wasn’t anything. “So until this mystery date arrives, which could be a long time from now.... what do we do until then?”

Angel smiled. “Earn your keep.”

~*~ ~*~ ~*~


“ I am so not doing dishes or cleaning, “ Lyla said firmly as she followed Ellie and Izzie upstairs after the meeting.

“He means fighting demons,” Ellie said. “This is an agency that protects people Ly.”

Lyla paused in the hallway. “I’ll do dishes and clean,” she said cheerfully. “Really, it’s totally fine.” There was no way she was fighting vamps or anything else they had here.

“You’ll be fine Lyla, “ Izzie said, “I’ll teach you some defense moves. Nothing bad will happen to you.”


“That’s what they always say!” Lyla cried. “I’ve seen the movies. It’s always the blonde, spoiled, inexperienced girl that dies first!”

“ You’re not that inexperienced, “Izzie said, attempting to comfort her. Though that fact she didn’t argue the other points made the comment halfhearted and just plain rude. Lyla glared at her for the weak attempt at sarcasm and comfort.

Ellie decided to change the topic. “Hey, did you know Connor was Angel’s son?” Until dinner they had all assumed that Connor’s father was still a mystery.

Lyla and Izzie looked at her in surprise, their argument forgotten. “What?!?!” They both said at once, rather comically.

“Yeah, I talked to that Wesley guy after dinner. He’s really nice.”

“Get back to the son part,” Izzie said impatiently.

Lyla and Izzie sat down on Lyla’s bed and listened to Ellie explain the very confusing story of Connor and Angel’s weird history. Afterwards Lyla and Izzie were silent as they digested the info. Lyla had, had enough. “Just when I think I have a grasp on how the world works some other twist comes along. This has been the longest day ever.”

Izzie had to agree. She was so tired of all the explanations and questions and lack of fun. She thought life was a burden before, but this was just hell.

“I’m going to get a drink,” Izzie said finally.

“I’ll go with you,”Lyla said. Ellie decided to get an early night and went to her own room.

As the two crossed the lobby they noticed two people standing in the office. Suddenly Lyla screamed and ducked behind Izzie. The two people in the office jumped, obviously startled. One of them was a demon.

“No need to scream,” he said, coming towards them. Lyla gripped Izzie’s arm tightly. “What are you waiting for?” Lyla whispered. “Kill it.”

Izzie walked forward. “Hi, I’m Izzie,” she said shaking the demon’s hand.

“Lorne,” he replied.

“Izzie!” Lyla cried. “Have you gone insane?”

Izzie rolled her eyes. “Don’t you think if he was a evil demon Gunn would have killed him already?”

Gunn watched on. Lyla considered this. Well if Angel was a good vampire, maybe there were good demons. Yet another twist. “Yeah I guess. I’m Lyla,” she said, staying exactly where she was.

“Charmed,” Lorne said, sarcastically.

Anyone would have been embarrassed being in Lyla’s position, but she could care less. It was bad enough trying to adjust to a *good* vampire (which, by the way, had totally taken the shine off him) now she had to deal with a good demon. Even in this world things weren’t black or white, she was stuck in the middle of the gray zone.

Excusing herself, Lyla continued to the kitchen. Izzie stayed behind strangely comforted by this Lorne guy. He seemed very nice and called her pet names, which normally would have felt patronizing, but from him it was sweet. She liked him already.

“Seems like I’ve found someone here who isn’t constantly telling me what to do,” Izzie said.

Lorne smiled, putting his arm around her shoulders. It comforted her and she followed him. “How would you like to sing?” he asked.

Izzie’s reply. “Huh?”

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

Later Lyla met with Izzie and Ellie downstairs in the basement of the hotel to train. Angel had told Izzie that he’d set up some training equipment and that she should feel free to use it. Lyla wasn’t too crazy about interrupting her day of sitting, but if she was going to fight she was least gong to know something. That didn’t mean she didn’t secretly hope that those nifty powers would kick in some day.

The training ran pretty long and when Angel came down, the girls were lying on one of the training mats. “This looks like you guys are giving it your all. Is our slayer not quite up to par?” he said, baiting her.

Izzie sat up. “Excuse me? Maybe I was waiting for a dummy to practice on.”

Angel smiled, “Am I that dummy then?”

Izzie shrugged. “Among other things.”

From both Lyla and Ellie came an “OOooooooooo.”

Izzie jumped to her feet, adjusting her tank top. Lyla and Ellie sat up, interested in the event that was about to happen. “This should be good,” Ellie whispered to Lyla.

“All we need is some popcorn and we’d be set,” she giggled back.

Angel shrugged out of his duster jacket and put it aside. He began to roll up his sleeves. “You ready?”

Izzie smiled. “Always.”

Ellie leaned over towards Lyla. “Is it just me or is there something more than just fighting going on here?”

“They totally want each other, “Lyla observed her eyes glued to Izzie and Angel.

“Ok,” Izzie said, facing the girls. “Now when one nasty evil vampire such as this one comes at you,” she made a gesture towards Angel. “This is something you can do.”

Angel wasn’t looking too impressed with her last comment and stood still. Izzie smiled. “Well it’s not like they’re going to be attacked by nice vampires with souls. Now come on, attack me.”

Angel ran at her but Izzie sidestepped him, brought her arm down across his shoulder blades and knocked him the floor. He hit the ground hard but was already rolled onto his back, and he swiped her legs out from under her causing her to collapse onto the floor.

“Ouch! That looked like it hurt.” Lyla said, strangely with a smile on her face.

Izzie rolled over and jumped to her feet. “And that’s how it’s done.”

Lyla and Ellie just stared. “But you fell,” Lyla pointed out. “Hard.” she added for emphasis

“Yeah, but he still attacked me and I’m still alive. “Izzie pointed out lamely. Angel grabbed Izzie from behind by surprise. Izzie grabbed his arms and flipped him over her shoulder. Angel landed hard, missing the mat and thudded onto the hard floor. The three girls winced at the horrible sound he made.

Angel’s eyes blinked rapidly and he focused on Izzie who was looking rather guilty. “You ok?”

He was still a minute. “Yep, I’m good.”

Izzie offered him her hand. Lorne poked his head in just then. “We have lunch up here for any hungry people down there.”

Ellie and Lyla jumped up. “Hey,” Izzie said,” where are you two going?”

“Well, ummm...”Ellie stammered. Izzie had been happy to teach them some tricks of the trade that normally she’d be happy to learn, but she was starving. Lyla was hungry too, and because she didn’t particularly care what Izzie thought she spoke up. “We’re hungry. See ya!” Before Izzie could say anything Lyla had grabbed Ellie’s arm and raced up the stairs.

“You’re not bad,” Angel said, interrupting her mental rant. “But I see some weak points.”

Izzie turned. “Hey, gimme a stake any day and I’m just fine.”

“Sometimes you won’t have a stake. You have to learn to use what is at your disposal. Anything to help you win.”

“Was that before or after you crashed onto the floor?”

Angel smiled and then shrugged as he began to slowly walk around her. “You caught me off guard that time, but I’m not sure you have the stamina to keep up with me or another vampire.”

Izzie raised an eyebrow. “I’ve killed my share of vampires,” she said defensively.

“Ah yes,” Angel said, remembering,” In Sunnydale.... the Sunnydale that doesn’t exist right? You were kept safe there, they didn’t want you dead because then another slayer would be born, and the three wouldn’t exist. Therefore you’ve only fought to their deaths, not your own.”

Izzie’s face proved his point. She had already thought of this before and it had worried her when she’d let it, but she wasn’t about to let Angel think he’d got one over on her. “You wanna test me?” she asked, raising her head in false confidence.

“Alright, just be careful not to kill me,” he said.

Izzie’s smile was tight, and didn’t reach her eyes. “I’m not promising anything..”

They faced off. Both walked around the other one, sizing each other up, looking for weak points. Then Angel lunged forward, lunging his fist at her. Izzie dodged it, grabbed his arm and twisted it back behind his back. Angel flipped her over his back and she hit the floor, but she was already in a roll, and rolled out easily jumping back to her feet. She did a cartwheel towards him, kicking him hard in the face. Angel grabbed her foot and threw her off balance. As she went down, Izzie gripped his collar and took him down for a double somersault. Angel and Izzie jumped to their feet and began again.

Each punch was well landed and they were pretty much matching point for point. But Angel was holding back and she knew that. Angel got the upper hand however when Izzie misplaced a punch and Angel was able to pin her against the wall. Izzie was breathing hard as she struggled with him.

“And now you’re dead,” he said simply, but seriously. “You would win if you weren’t afraid to let go.”

Izzie made a face as she stopped struggling and stared up at him. “How would you possibly get out of this one?” he asked.

“Like you said, by using anything I had to throw off my attacker and win the fight,” she said huskily between breaths. Izzie brought her arms up fast between his, knocking his hands down as she grabbed his wrists, reversing their positions; and held them firmly against the wall above him. This position brought their bodies in close contact, as she had to rise up to hold him there. Her mouth was a few centimeters from his, close enough for him to feel the warmth of her breath on his mouth.

“How would I get out of this one?” she whispered, her lips almost against his. Just then she brought her knee up hard and got him between the legs, which doubled him over on the floor.

Izzie stood with her hands on her hips as she stared down at him. “Like that.” She turned and headed upstairs.


~*~ ~*~ ~*~

As Izzie was in her room cleaning up her bruises, Lyla was pacing in her room. She’d been here two days and already she felt like she was going stir crazy. She’d rather be in school actually.... wait. No. She wasn’t quite that desperate yet.

Although she liked the room, with it’s decor of greens and creams, she missed her home and her friends. Even if they didn’t exist they were better than these people. Izzie and Ellie clearly didn’t like her that much, not that she could blame them. Angel was cute, but a freakin’ vampire. Then there was Lorne, the demon who scared the hell out of her. Wesley was ok, but seemed to look at her like she was stupid. Fred was nice, but entirely too cheerful. Gunn was...well she didn’t know about that one, he didn’t talk much and when he did it was full of street slang which confused her.

Suddenly it felt like she couldn’t breathe. The hotel was massive and yet she felt like she was confined in the smallest room in the world. She touched the necklace around her neck. It was Alythe's, and somehow she felt closer to her and something better when she wore it. She’d had magical powers when she’d had it and that had made her feel indescribable and now she felt empty. The magic had scared her, but thrilled her at the same time. It was something only she had, something that was completely and utterly hers.

Her hands began to sweat and her head felt cold to the touch. She had to get out of here! Go anywhere. Grabbing her coat, she wrapped it tightly around her and left the room.

Thankfully no one was in the lobby, so she walked from the hotel without worry.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

It was dark outside; she hadn’t realized it was night already. The minutes seemed to blur together now. Izzie wouldn’t like it if she knew that Lyla was out. Lyla considered turning back, but the thought of going back inside made her want to scream. Turning away from the gate she hugged the coat closer and began to walk down the street.

“Hello.” a voice said from behind her.

Lyla turned, chills running down her back. “Where is such a beautiful girl going this time of night?”

His compliment only made her feel sick. Whether or not he was a vampire, she didn’t know, but he wasn’t good news. Just then another man joined him and both of their faces changed revealing they were, in fact, vampires. Lyla’s heart began to pound in her chest. “Listen you guys better go, I am meeting someone and he’ll so.... kick your ass!” She yelled trying to put some force behind her voice.

The vampires snickered, knowing that she wasn’t meeting anyone. Suddenly she wished she had taken better notes on Izzie’s lessons. The two vampires began to walk towards her, and Lyla kept backing up with each step they took forward. Every instinct told her to run, but she knew that as soon as she went to turn they would have her. Finally she couldn’t stand it, and turned. She screamed at the top of her lungs for help, and then began to run as fast as her legs could carry her. The vampires were right on her tail. No one was around and so now one was going to help her. Her heart was in her throat, as she feared that she was about to die.

One of the vampires reached out and grabbed her by the hair. Lyla cried out in pain and the vampire yanked her to a halt. He backhanded her across the face, which knocked her to the ground. She hit the pavement hard and she lay there stunned as the vamps circled around her. Lyla struggled to get up, but her head was throbbing and the movement caused her to lie back down. Maybe being semi-unconscious when they took her was better. God knows what vampires did for kicks. Then it seemed as though the voices were farther away, and they were fighting. Fighting over me? Probably who gets to bite me first, she thought bitterly. She was going to die on the dirty streets and no one would find her because no one cared. Unless they turned her into a vampire and then she’d kick her so called friends assess. Ewwwww, vampire, all pasty with no hopes of tanning ever...why was she thinking these thoughts? Maybe the fall had given her brain damage. Did it happen that quickly? And then she blacked out.

When she opened her eyes again the vampires were gone and someone else was bending over her. Blinking rapidly her vision cleared and she realized that it was Connor. “You ok?” he asked.

“Oh my god,” she whispered. “Am I a vampire?”

Connor laughed. The sound was strange to her. “No, I got here in time. Shouldn’t you be back at the hotel?”


“NO..... I mean yes. I mean that I can’t go back there.”

Connor nodded. That he understood. “I know what you mean.”

He helped her sit up and when she was ready he lifted her to her feet. Connor took on her weight as he led her in the opposite direction of the hotel.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~


A couple of agonizing moments later Connor led her to a large abandoned building. Lyla didn’t comment on the state of if, she was just happy to stop walking. Once upstairs, Connor sat her down on a large mattress, messily covered with a couple blankets. “Do you stay here?” she asked, as she shifted to find a comfortable position.

Connor was standing by a rusty looking fridge that appeared to be working from the bottles of water he was pulling out. “Sometimes when I need to get away.”

The room in which they were in was large like a loft/studio. There were floor to ceiling windows, some broken but all of them dirty. Some of the beams on the ceiling had fallen down and lay across the floor. Right behind her head there was a beam from the floor, diagonally to the ceiling. There were some broken chairs that littered the wood floors. Clearly Connor had just the fridge and this mattress at his disposal.

Connor handed her a bottle of water, which she drank gratefully. The water was cool against her parched throat. Connor was sitting on the floor across from her, obviously uncomfortable at the idea of sitting next to her. Lyla frowned. “Great, you don’t want to be around me either.” She knew she sounded childish, but she really didn’t care. It’s how she felt. The only ones who seemed to want to be around her were the creepy vampires.... and that was as a meal...or worse...their bitch. Ick.

Her voice was barely above a whisper, but he got the message. He stood up and joined her on the bed. Lyla smiled at him. “So you’re Angel’s son?” she asked between sips. Something she already knew, but it was a conversation starter.

Connor didn’t look too thrilled at the mention of Angel; obviously it was a mute point. He simply nodded his head. “So why aren’t you up at the hotel?” he asked.

Lyla looked down at the ground. “I felt trapped and I thought I was being lead somewhere,” she looked down at the necklace sadly. “But I wasn’t I was just hoping, I guess.”

“You had powers right? All that magic stuff?” Connor asked.

It was obvious that Lyla was surprised that he knew anything like that about her. Connor shrugged. “I’ve heard the stories.”

“Ahhh...yes, I did feel like I was being lead somewhere and all the magical stuff.”

“Do you like having the powers?” he asked.

“Yeah.” She smiled, picking at the lint from the blankets. “It felt like I belonged to something you know?”

He nodded, smiling at his other memories of another world. “I understand that.”

“You do?”

He nodded, and found that he was actually telling her things from his past. Lyla just looked at him in surprise. They hadn’t said more than two sentences, if that, to each other since she’d been here. She didn’t comment on that though and just sat back and listened to Connor share his past with her. Then he smiled at her.

“You don’t do that enough,” Lyla said when he was done.

His smile immediately disappeared, uncomfortable at her personal observation. “Why do you feel that you don’t belong?” Connor asked, changing the subject, yet again.

“Because I was never part of Izzie’s group. I didn’t care to be, but again and again I was thrown into the group and I felt kinda cool to have this secret. And now I am supposedly part of the Three and in this hotel where everybody sees me the way all people do”

“And how’s that?” he asked.

“A snob. A bitch. Cow, arrogant...take your pick.”

“I don’t think you are, “he said sincerely.

“Well, some would say that was because you didn’t know me that well,” she smiled sadly at that. When had she reverted to making fun of herself...her mean remarks would reserved for other people, damnit! Is this what she had reverted too? She smiled at Connor then and added. “That’s because I can talk to you,” she said honestly. “Maybe things won’t be so bad. “She yawned, too tired to cover her mouth. “Sorry,” she grinned.

“You should sleep,” Connor said. Lyla agreed, and lay back against the pillows. Connor got up to leave, but Lyla reached out and grabbed onto his shirt. “Could you just lay with me please?” she asked softly.

Connor tensed, but nodded anyway. He lay back against the pillows right beside her. Lyla lifted her head for him to put his arm underneath. Lyla smiled, wrapping her arm around his middle as she settled her head just under his chin. Connor found this position a little different than what he was used to and had to tell himself to relax. He’d never held a girl before, and yet holding her wasn’t entirely unpleasant.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~