The Forget Me Not Series

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Author: Strange Bint1. The Forget Me Not Series Chapter One2.
Forget Me Not Ch 2 Who made who?3. Forget me Not 3 Who the Hell
are you?4. Forget me Not Ch 4 Ballroom Blitz5. Forget Me Not Five
Childhood Tragedy6. Forget Me Not 6 No Myth7. Forget Me Not 7 What
I really am8. Forget Me Not 8 Working Week9. Forget Me not 9
Harder to Breathe10. Forget Me Not 10 Hunter11. Forget Me Not
Chapter 11 Liar12. Forget Me Not 12Your Eyes13. What Kind of Power
We Got?14. Chapter 14 Hide n' Seek15. Santa Monica16. Firefly17.
Forget Me Not Chapter 17 – “You Can't Ge...

R - English - Action/Adventure/Romance - Reviews: 13 - Published:
01-14-04 - Updated: 06-27-04 id:1686502


Forget-Me-Not Part One

Rating: R

Story Notes: Starts off after "Chosen" and "Home". Sunnydale rose up from the
ground with Spike. He has stayed in Sunnydale along with Faith to gaurd the
closed Hellmouth. Buffy has jumped this demension in order to keep the First
from being able to rise. In part one we find Spike showing up at to see the
Angel gang at Wollfram & Hart. What Ever for?....

Forget Me Not Part- I

The Emperor's new clothes

"I will live by my own policies. I will sleep with a clear conscience. I will
sleep in peace." ~ Sinead O'Connor

"Better reality than a dream: if something is real, then it's real and you're
not to blame"~ Umberto Eco

The Emperor's new clothes

________________________________________________________________________________________________

"Mr. Angel, I'm sorry to interrupt your...meeting." Joe, the security guard
paused as he saw Wesley, Lorne, and Angel playing darts. Fred was at the
computer.

"But, security has found that there is another vampire in the building...We've
been trying to terminate it, but- uh- we can't seem to. It's fast and mean.
There have been no casualties yet, but---"

"Angel, you didn't tell security that another vampire was INVITED into the
building?" Fred gasped.

"Uh-oh." Angel grimaced as he looked on the security screen. He saw his childe
smile as he pushed a bunch of security guards down the stairs, and catch a stake
that someone threw. Angel turned up the volume on camera 7.

"Is this yours? It landed on my picnic." He said throwing the stake back to the
guy.

"Is this all the big boy's got? Because I am so not impressed...I wanted a
welcoming present...a gift basket...from Pottery Barn." He sighed. One of the
more brave- or moronic-security guards jumped on him from the top of the
stairwell.

"All right. Pier one would have been fine" The vampire said as he threw the
guard off.

"Obnoxious little bugger. Wonder what he wants. Want me to go take care of it?"
Wesley offered.

"No. I know what he wants" Angel sighed.

"What is it? More peroxide? I swear after the 'Matrix' came out with that
rebirth of Glam...All the kids with the black coats and the dyed hair...It's
tacky...Hey, he looks familiar...Eow! That's gotta hurt. The security guards
have dental, right?" Lorne winced as he looked at the camera.

"Angel!" Fred prodded.

"Call off all the men immediately, Joe" Angel said coolly. Joe obeyed taking
into his CB.

"Good idea...Because this is already gonna cost us a fortune in comp. Poor guys.
I'm depressed. Oh, I need another drink." Lorne sighed and went to the bar.

"Gunn" Angel called into his intercom.

"Angel, you have to push the button first" Fred reminded.

"I know! I did. Didn't I? I didn't. I hate these things!" Angel snapped.

"Gunn" Angel called into the intercom, pushing the button this time.

"Yo" Gunn called back.

"Spike is here, and he's not gonna be the friendly guest we thought...I-
uh-forgot to inform security he was coming" Angel informed him.

"Man!" Gunn's cackle filled the room. "I'm on it."

"I said I would handle it" Wes whined. "Wait...Did you say Spike?...William the
Bloody? You invited-Are you daft?...Gunn, you're going to need back-up!" Wes
called into his cell phone. He checked his sleeve to make his his stake
contraption was working properly.

"It's cool, Wes...I'm on it." Gunn called back.

"He'll be on you, I'm afraid...Picture a shorter sharper tongued
Angelus...Smart, but his weakness is that he's easily distracted by his
emotions...Say something about Drusilla, she was his sire. Angel and he had
quite a rivalry going for her. Maybe that's why he's here" Wes informed. "Wait
doesn't he have schipchip in his head now? Are you honestly letting Gunn down
there alone? That chip must be faulty."

"His chips or chip or whatever is gone...at least I think it is, It doesn't
matter if he has chip things or not anymore...What do you mean 'sharper
tongued'? I have a sharp tongue" Angel demanded.

"Buffy...I mean...He had the chip taken out over a year ago" Fred stammered as
Angel frowned at Buffy's name.

"Oh, I really hope he does have chips and he comes up here...minus the
ass-whipping part of him...I could use some chips...Faulty ones will do, if it
saves me a trip to the grocery store...What the hell are you all talking about?"
Lorne demanded.

"Wes, when was the last time you stopped talking to the Council?" Angel asked.

"Well, them getting blown to bits put a damper on our phone calls, but even
before that they were about as friendly as any ex-employer...Why?"

"Whoo! Look at Gunn!" Lorne called as he looked at the screen. Gunn was the
first one to successfully hit Spike, and it looked like he did it nice and hard.


"Charles! What is he doing?" Fred groaned.

"Finally, a worthy adversary. Tell the big boy he needs to dump more of the
budget into security...You're part of the most evil corporation in the world,
and it's like I broke into Chucky Cheese to meet the mouse." Spike grumbled as
he hit Gunn.

"We ain't evil, Bro...We're the good guys. If it's evil you're looking for go to
the East coast branch." Gunn said as he tackled Spike and pushed a sword up
against his throat.

"Oh, yeah. You're the nice branch of the rotting dead tree that's gonna fall on
grandma's house." Spike grunted as he flipped Gunn off of him.

"But our money isn't too rotten fou" ou" Gunn pointed out as he got up.

"I...am an independent contractor... I am not affiliated with W&H or any of
their nasties they got goin' on ...I'm here to set something right... or at
least make it better ...Hey, you know why I'm here?" Spike stopped fighting as
he asked.

"U-huh...and, I'm here for the same reason you are, I wanna make things right.
And, I finally get my own office to do that in." Gunn smiled as he twirled his
sword.

"No. You are a corp. affiliate...You sold you're soul to the dealer... I'm just
taking his money." Spike smirked. Gunn charged him.

"I sold nothing! I had nothing left to sell!" Gunn roared as he hit Spike hard
with his own fists now.

"Been there...but you must of had something... How could a human make me bleed
so easily?..." Spike touched his bloody lip right before Gunn hit him again.
Spike turned into vampire face.

"No human can do that without some magics...They could get lucky and have a
kill, and I'm guessing you have..." Spike told Gunn.

"But, not a good rumble... Not with me. But, I'm not complaining...Been a while
since I had a good one...My slayer, the one that I train, she could give me a
good trashing...But, she wouldn't, not if I begged her." Spike had thrown Gunn
into the concrete wall.

"Sounds like a personal problem to me." Gunn retorted.

"You're all right...Don't worry, I won't kill you...Don't do much of that
anymore." Spike laughed in human face as Gunn slid down the wall.

"Oh, I am not worried." Gunn smiled angrily as he flipped to get up.

"Heh...My, my.... You're making this more like breaking into Disney World
C
Chucky Cheese...Really, Mate...I just need to talk to the mouse." Spike said as
he ducked.

"Gunn...Quit it. Bring him up." Angel's voice came on Gunn's cell phone.

"It's the mouse! He's all ordering people from his big chair...Can't believe he
learned how to work a cell phone...You should have seen him when the plain 'ol
phone came out...He'd talk into the wrong end. It was bloody hysterical...Like
giving a monkey a soda bottle." Spike chuckled with Gunn who seemed more amused
than Spike.

"Shut-up, Spike!" Angel growled into the intercom.

"Oh, and mousy has big ears...Does mousy have big eyes?...Can you see this,
Mickey." Spike said giving the camera the bird.

"Why is he giving us the peace symbol?" Fred asked.

"That's the bird, Fred...It's the British finger" Wesley sighed.

"Oh" She said in realization, and then, "Oh! This changes everything in those
'Red Dwarf' episodes I've seen."

"Mr. Angel, HE is !...!...I think Mr. Gunn hit him or something" Talia, Angel's
secretary said into the intercom.

"Thanks, Talia...Send them in" Angel said.

"Angel-Cakes, the button" Lorne reminded. Angel grumbled.

"Talia, send Gunn and Spike in here" He said. There was no response.

"I swear, that girl is an evil spy sent to destroy you will her incompetence"
Wesley said.

"No, her office skills are as good as Cordy's" Angel said.

"Fire her" Wes snorted.

"No..she-she's okay... without her this whole Spike thing wouldn't be going as
smooth. Not that it...I like her she's...I can't fire someone; it's
horrible!...Okay, if they try to kill me or hurt Connor I can...but not if they
are just..." Angel stammered.

"Connor? Why does that sound familiar...Like Spike seems familiar." Lorne
stroked his chin.

"Talia!" Angel yelled into the intercom.

"Coming." Talia said sweetly.

"...to finally meet the lady that was charming enough to persuade me to come
Mi
Micky's lair...Can't believe someone as smart and as...hot as you would work
here." Spike smiled to down at a short curvy girl with blue hair.

"Aw, well it beats waitressing!" She blushed. "So, yeah, like I was saying...She
wrote a whole thesis...on you...and then she died." Talia was saying walking
backwards to face Spike. Spike's lip was bloody. Gunn walked in limping, but he
looked pleased.

"My life shocked her to death? I can understand that...it bloody killed me"
Spike grinned.

"No..no, no!" Talia laughed and touched his chest. "She died when the Council
blew-up... It's been about a year now, but still... it really sucks, you know...
I never really liked the Council ... but I never thought anything would EVER
happen to them. They were just so: 'Oh, look at us were the Council...We are so
much better than everyone else.'... I took some classes there, but then I
dropped out... It was how I met Lydia. I really wish she was alive so I could
call her now."

"Talia, we have an actual business meeting to get to" Angel said gently.

"You sod off! The girl's talking about her dead friend, and you are blowing her
off so you can play CEO with me...Well, I'm not impressed. What was with your
welcoming committee, anyway?" Spike grumbled.

"I forgot to tell security you were coming. They are supposed to kill any
vampire that gets in here. Sorry" Angel said dully.

"Oh, Security hurt you! Your lip's all bloody!" Talia gasped.

"Yeah, and from him that is like a teary eyed apology. How do you work for this
Wanker?" Spike rolled his eyes at Talia.

"I'm fine too, Thanks." Gunn rolled his eyes

"Angel. He's cool...He lets me wear what I want...and I didn't have to take
these out, though I can tell he wishes I would" Talia rolled her eyes pointing
to her nose and tongue piercing.

"Very nice...They say if you like girls the tongue one is more towards the tip,
and if you like boys it's more toward the back...Where's yours?" Spike asked
with his eyebrow-raised. Talia stuck out her tongue to reveal a further back
piercing.

"Very nice" Spike smirked.

"Whew! I'm an extra in a teen movie all of a sudden." Lorne said.

"Okay, really didn't wanna know!" Gunn scoffed as he threw up his hands.

"Angel, why exactly is he here. Should I kill him" Wesley whispered.

"Not yet...That will be all Talia." Angel grumbled.

"No, that won't be all Talia" Spike said sharply. "I'll tell you one secret
about me, since you can't seem to jimmy your way into files and records 'round
here."

"You tried to break into files and rds!rds!" Angel snapped at Talia.

"It was before you were here...When I worked for the evil W&H as a temp. It was
only to find out about Spike for Lydia's thesis...And maybe I wanted to know
what was up with Kurt Cobain" Talia insisted then turned to Spike. "What's the
secret?"

"Maybe you can rest a little easier about your friend...The guy who blew up the
Council...He won't kill anymore girls... I offed him" Spike winked.

"Really? What sort of demon was it? I have my theories...Did you do all your
torture stuff?"

"Not as much as I would like...My slayer burnt out his eye...And I twisted his
head full around..." Spike smiled as he held Talia's chin and jerked it a little
bit. "He was the worst kind of demon, he was a man that decided to go to pure
evil. " s eye!" Angel's eye widened.

"No! Buffy would never dot! St! She was already gone. We made sure it was
over..for her." Spike seemed insulted. "It was Faith...But I killed him." Spike
smiled now.

"You killed a human...with Faith. I should have known you'd be the same even if
you did have a soul" Angel said lowly.

"Bloody hell!..HE has a soul...Here we go again! Slayers should not be involved
with vampires! And this time it will be even direr. I bet he and Faith will make
Buffy and you look like Ozzy and Harriet." Wes grumbled.

"Thanks, Wes" Angel grumbled.

"Well, it's true. You and Buffy didn't exactly bring out the best in each
other...And he- he is just the sort that will drag Faith down into the mire, and
his mire is probably far more dirtier than yours...They've already killed once!
The last thing she needs is to let out her dark side now that the Hellmouth is
closed...God this is awful! Why didn't I check up on her?"

"Who the hell are you, Cowboy? You know Faith? You keep you're dirty lawyer
hands off her or you'll lose them!" Spike walked up into Wes's face.

"I am not a lawyer. I am d hun hunter. I was with the Council and I-" Wesley
stood firm glaring at Spike as he interrupted.

"The sodding Council! That's even worse! Those archaic autocrats! Figures you'd
be working here. So, some of you survived...and what a surprise the survivors
are too bloody righteous to kiss my ass for ending the man that spoiled their
little club!" Spike smirked.

"Do you want to see the 'Deftones' with me?" Talia asked Spike nervously as she
stepped between him and Wesley.

"You're treading a fine line, Spike." Angel grumbled rising from the desk now.

"Yeah, sure...Love the 'Deftones'...I have a friend who loves them too...Are the
tickets still on sale?" Spike asked smirking as he ignored Angel.

"Well, we have limitless tickets, Don't we Lorne?" Talia asked with a sigh.

"Sure do" Lorne answered.

"Oh, balls! The 'Deftones' sold-out...Went all corporate." Spike whined.

"Not really. They have their cute little indie label, but they are playing in a
place we are part owner in. There's no escaping us, Kid...I can't believe I just
said that. I WAS kidding" Lorne gulped.

"So, you can bring as many people as you want...But, I was hoping we could be
alone." Talia frowned.

"Look, I'm coming out of something really really huge...I had this girl, and
it's like she died, but she didn't die, but I can't-"

"Oh, is that the slayer that had to jump dimensions so the world wouldn't fall
into the hands of evil?" Talia asked.

"Yeah." Spike looked teary.

"Oh you poor thing...A vre ire in love with a slayer...and then she has to
leave...It's like star-crossed" She cooed.

"He was with Buffy too?" Fred asked.

"Good Lord!" Wes grumbled.

"This is a business! Not some group therapy single's bar! Talia, get out! Spike
sit down and listen before I throw you out!" Angel roared.

"No! You shut your trap, Mr. Burns! See what happens when you wear the emperor's
clothes? Not only are you wearing nothing but, you become the sodding emperor.
You need me, I don't need you!" Spike yelled back staring Angel down.

"Wow... That was hella deep. And no one ever talks to Angel like that eve even
them." Talia said as she pointed to the rest of the room. "Miss Chase would tell
Angel off, but she left. She was all: 'I can't work HERE. I don't even know who
you are anymore. Maybe I forgot who you REALLY were in that coma'"

"I don't live in the King's kingdom, Love...Angel holds nothing over me, and
apparently the same goes for Cordelia...Knew I liked that bird." Spike smiled.

"Don't I hold SOMETHING over you, Spike?" Angel asked. "I know I do in the other
dimension at least...But, even here she loved me. She always loved me...But, you
seem to be over her already, Using your story to pick up chicks, replacing her
with Faith."

Spike was instantly over the desk on Angel in vampire face. Angel threw Spike
off and Wesley went to grab him.

"No!...None of you touch him...This is my fight!" Angel said in vamp face. Spike
ran at Angel again.

"I don't know why he said that. I warned him about all the things that would set
him off." Fred winced as the vampires wrestled.

"Ohmigod! Ohmigod! This is all because of me." Talia shrieked.

"I knew this was a baaaad...I don't get why boss needs him." Gunn shook his head
as the vampires fought wrestling and growling. They hit the walls and plaster
fell.

"Wait, I'm confused now. Well, I was confused before, but-- Are fighting over
Cordelia?" Lorne questioned yelling over the computer crashing to the ground as
Angel and Spike fought on the desk.

"No, it's that Buffy girl slayer...I think. Angel mentioned the other dimension
where he and Buffy are a couple" Fred said.

"Well, it sounds like you know a lot more than I do... Spike really loved Buffy
too? God, what was with that girl." Wes remarked yelling over the growling.

"mmm-K...I don't really care if I'm in the know...I just want to be in the
clear...of getting hit with flying debris, like a two hundred pound desk...So,
we're walking and we're walking...Let's go people." Lorne said as he was leading
Talia and Fred out by the shoulders. A stapler hit the wall and shattered with
staples flying out landing at Lorne's feet.

"And we're ducking behind the couches until this is over." Lorne sang nervously
as he skittered back to the couch.

"Angel you should end this, or at least let me get a crack at him...He has
speed, but when you do get him nail him...Like that, yes" Wes said, not that
Angel or Spike seemed to hear him.

"Oh my God! Will Mr. Angel try to kill Spike?" Talia was screaming.

"No, Angel will just kick his ass." Gunn told her.

"Will Spike try to kill Mr. Angel?" She asked.

"Dunno but, Angel will just kick his ass." Gunn said.

"You sure about that?" Lorne asked as Angel got thrown into the bar mirror.

"According to Angel, he can kick Sps ass ass." Gunn said calmly.

"Oh, I hope this ends like Rocky" Lorne gasped.

"Which Rocky?" Gun asked as Angel punched Spike and he fell.

"I don't know! The one where James Brown comes and signs...That isn't the one
where Rocky kills a guy is it?" Lorne fretted.

"I'd assume that this will end like all there other fights when you factor in
the souls...They'll both break some bones and things. Spike might get a few more
broken. Then they will stop" Fred said.

"You never loved her! You left her, left her to die! She learned what love was
through me!" Spike growled as he kicked Angel in the face.

"You...shut... your fake-accented mouth! You know nothing about Buffy and me! I
didn't use her to hit on receptionists a year later." Angel yelled as he
pummeled Spike.

"I'm a secretary" Talia snipped

"Yeah." Spike giggled now. "But you left. You left and you fucked sodding
Darla...'Bout a year later, or was it two years?..." Angel got off of him and
turned around.

"Does two years make it okay to shag your old Sire bitch that didn't have one
decent bone in her body?" Spike asked Angel's back as he got up and brushed off
broken glass.

"It's probably not over yet...if this is like their other fights." Fred
whispered as she stopped Wesley from getting up.

"Tell me you were thinkin' a' Buffy when you screwed that dead whore and I'll
kill you...You wanted your Lady Macbeth back... and now some boy is out there
desperately trying to shut you out! And I have to make sure he can...Paying off
Peter, so Paul will forget how you robbed him of EVERYTHING! " Spike growled.
Angel grabbed Spike by the throat and lifted him up.

"Oh! That's harsh." Gunn winced.

"Yep..not over." Fred stated.

"What is he talking about?" Wesley asked.

"Don't talk about what you don't understand!...Everything I did was for Buffy.
Then, everything I did was for my son...I loved Buffy. I loved her enough to
allow her to not have pain from me; I did the same for my son. They are the
reason I am in this office. Why are you here Spike?" Angel demanded. Spike
kicked Angel and they both fell.

"I have my reasons too. Reasons you'd never bloody have. Love doesn't end when
the girl isn't yours anymore...It doesn't end if she is gone...It doesn't end if
she can never be yours...It doesn't even sodding end with her." Spike roared on
the ground.

"I don't f*cking care what your reasons are--- You'll get nothing from me. Buffy
made the mistake of letting you in. I won't! Get out!" Angel demeaned as he got
up holding his arm. Spike laughed as Angel threw his shoulder into the wall to
get it back into joint.

"Angel...Isn't there a reason you wanted him for this? He is a capable person,
that- Connor- Brian won't remember." Fred said.

"I can't even believe I let him in here, let alone almost trusted him with this!
In all your research, you failed to pick up the fact that he was still evil,
Fred." Angel grumbled.

"Well, granted there is always more than one way to look at data, but as far as
what I found he wasn't evil and he has work experience with teens helping them
and stuff ...not killing them...not now anyway...Except for that whole trigger
of evil thing ...I didn't get the file on him and Faith killing a guy...They
probably only did it a short while ago...It takes a while to archive these
things...Sorry." Fred explained.

"Don't bloody apologize to him... Sounds like you're the one doing all the
work...Never knew I had such a big fan club that archived my every piss...if I
did piss." Spike said to Fred.

"Files and records." Angel grumbled into the phone as he snapped it back
together. "Get me EVERYTHING on Spike and the slayer and what they've done
together...No, not that slayer! The only one that's here now-Faith!" Angel
groaned "No, I do not want it E-mailed to me...My computer is down." Angel
kicked the cracked monitor of his now broken computer. "No, I don't want you to
call tech. support! Just give it to me on the exotic stuff known as paper!"

"You keep your Sodding Evil CEO paws away from Faith! The last time she dealt
with your little company and you it didn't end so well." Spike's eyes narrowed
one was swollen almost shut.

"It WASN'T my company then...It's different now!" Angel spat.

"Oh my God! Did you know your eye is swelling shut?" Talia asked Spike in a
moment of silence.

"Talia." Angel grumbled lowly. "If you like working here you will go and get
that file-NOW!" With that, Talia ran off.

"Oh no, you're not a bloody fascist!" Spike scoffed. "I always wondered how
those Enron or Pepsi people live with themselves...'Oh, it's not ME owning parts
of every other company so I can insidiously own the world.. It's not me
destroying the rain forests...It was the old company. It's the other branch that
does that.'"

"I could have sworn I said: GET OUT!...And We don't own stock in every other
company...You are listening to too much NPR" Angel grumbled.

"Actually, Angel..." Fred began.

"We do?...C'mon, how can we own stock in every company?" Angel haplessly
insisted.

"Well, all the major ones...But, it's not like he said...We make them better"
Fred said.

"Oh really? So you're a sweet fascist monopoly?" Spike smirked.

"I thought Angel made it clear that you were to---" Before Wesley could finish
someone's cell phone rang. Everyone looked down at their phones.

"It ain't mine. Mine plays the baseline of 'Superstition.'" Gunn sighed.

"That's cool. I should get mine to do that?" Fred asked. Angel kept trying to
answer his phone, but couldn't.

"Get your own Song, woman!" Gunn chided.

"Hello...Hello...God I hate this thing!" He grumbled.

"It's not yours, Boss." Gunn called to Angel. Spike was kicking through broken
glass on the floor until he found the phone.

"That you, Nib?" He said into the phone wearily. "I'm all right."

"Do you think that's Faith? I can't imagine the vileness they would bring out in
each other." Wesley whispered to Angel.

"You are a sodding piece of work! I can't believe you called me about
this...Well, I can't take care of it. I'm about four hours away...I thought
Faith would tell you...I'm only gonna be gone one more day...Well, prolly two
more days now...or maybe zero more days... Why yes, I can vague it up for
you...I'm some where...I may or may not be partaking in something...Maybe the
right thing to do...Maybe not...depending on what your philosophy of truth
is...Is truth beauty- Is beauty truth? Ponder that one... That'll get you ready
for college...Dawn, you can go anywhere you want! Just pick the college you
want...We'll get the money...I'll get the money...Don't worry about it...Do the
things kids do...I dunno make-out in cars with HUMAN boys...Go to prom...Do
spells with Red." He coughed and sat down on the couch.

"That's not Faith...He said 'Dawn'...You think it's Buffy's sister?" Wesley
asked.

"Wow, Wes...You may not be detecting much anymore, but you still have those mad
skills." Gunn rolled his eyes.

"Ah, bloody hell." Spike winced in pain taking out a cigarette and flopping on
one of the couches.

"No, I'm fine. Just needed a cigarette...and a drink...Can you get me Scotch,
Love?...The black label stuff...Haven't had that stuff since I'd kill for it."
Spike said softly to Talia, who had returned with a thick folder.

"Ah, a man after my own heart...except in the murderous rage department" Lonre
said as he pulled the stapler out of the wall. Fred and Gunn started to clean
the various parts of the trashed office. Wes and Angel just remained standing
staring at Spike as if they were waiting for demons to rise out of his phone.

"Thanks, Love." Spike said to Talia as she handed him the Scotch and looked at
him sadly. "...No, not you, Dawn...Yes, Dawn I have a secret girlfriend four
hours away...We met in an ensouled vamp chat room...Look, Nib, it's already
dead. It can't hurt you. Just get it out of the house." Spike said.

"Oh, this vase! I loved this vase... I have to look into it, but I think there
is a curse if you break it. You know how long it's been since this office has
looked like this?" Lorne tisked as picked up the remains of a vase.

"Umm...Two weeks ago when that Bulega assassin demon got in?" Gunn asked as he
threw some glass in a trash can.

"Oh, yeah I forgot about that." Fred said.

"That wasn't quite as bad as this...I was thinking it was more like last year"
Lorne said.

"What the old zombies?" Talia asked.

"No, Angel got back from Sunnydale from when that Buffy girl had to jump
dimensions in order for the biggest of big bads to go away...Totally trashed the
place...Not that he still thought he had a chance...I think it was just a kick
in the teeth finding out that he is human in a dimension with Buffy somewhere...
Buffy-She really does sound like the girl you bring home to Mom." Lorne laughed.


"Hey Lorne...do you think you could NOT tell the employees my most painful and
personal issues?" Angel snapped as Talia handed him the file.

"Oh Pull-ease! Assistants find out everything-whether you like it or not....Mine
knows more about my personal life than I do...That is the only way they make
good assistants" Lorne insisted.

"I read the file and I think that Spike is perfect for this... He's really
helped the slayer, and your son and the slayer have a lot in common...Not the
slayer you and Spike both- The current vampire slayer... Spike and her are
pretty tight friends, and she has a lot in common with your son and his life
with you-both were street kids, and they liked beating the snot out of people,
but they really wanted someone to love...It's sad...I should call my Mom" Talia
told Angel.

"See, she's good and seems to know a whole hell of a lot...I rest my case" Lorne
said "What's the deal with this son?"

Talia walked to the mini-fridge and brought out two packets of blood. She put
one on Spike's eye, and punched a straw through the other and handed it to him.
"Thanks, Love...Aren't you sweet?"

"Everyone will know everything in due time...Did you just give him my blood?"
Angel demanded from Talia, who didn't answer, but just gazed at Spike.

"Talia, could you leave us now, please" Angel said tensely.

"Look what you did to him? I bet everything Lydia said in her thesis about you
was true...If she were alive...She'd be really pissed" Talia said almost
tearfully.

"Talia...I promise you'll get to see him later, Okay?" Angel said softly. Talia
left slowly.

"Nib...Just be a man and pick it up...No, you can't wait for me...It will stink
up the sodding place before I get back...I dunno...Three days...Okay, just
listen to me..." Spike was still on the phone. He rolled his eyes.

"He has the girl handling dead things. You're not still hiring him for... What
was it you were hiring him for?" Wesley whispered. He winced as Spike slurped
with the straw as he smirked up at him.

"Isn't Buffy's sister about the same age as Connor? Spike seems like he gets
along with her...He's helping her with the dead thing. Keep in mind we need a
strong Super human, Non-evil person to do this" Fred said gently.

"Someone 'Non-Evil.' That's all it takes to get trusted around here? What is the
world coming to?" Wes asked.

"I dunno, Man. You think he'd screw the kid just to spite you?" Gunn asked.

"No, Spike was always a man of his word in business...Especially if he needs the
money. He wants to have a reputation as a bad-ass, but a bad-ass that won't
screw you...It's how he makes his money...He always kept Drusilla in dresses and
dolls. He killed for some of it, but you can't kill for all of it...Not without
putting your women in danger...If he didn't need anything for Dru he'd rip your
heart before you hit the ground...and then he wouldn't stop killing until he got
something else in his head." Angel said this will a far away look in his eye.

"And this is the person you want to handle your son?" Gunn asked.

"What Son?" Wes and Lorne said in unison. Angel opened the file as Wes and Gunn
looked over his shoulder. They all took parts of the file including Fred.

"Hey!" Gunn smiled. "Is it me or does Faith have a damn fine boyfriend?...Okay,
I didn't mean that like it sounded...He looks like me...That's why I said it."

"Knowing Faith, this boyfriend doesn't mean she's not involved with Spike"
Wesley muttered.

"So, Faith's a playa!" Gunn nodded happily.

"I really don't think this guy looks anything like you, Charles" Fred said.

"Well, he's black, bald, and fine... Again- only saying he's fine because he
looks like me. We're the same type."

"What?" Fred scoffed "You think you just all look the same to us girls? I'm
insulted. I find you much cuter"

"Really?" Gunn smiled.

"Yes, you have a cute innocent face and he has more of a serious sexy one...I
prefer cute" Fred said.

"Oh God!" Angel gasped.

"I second that -now I'm insulted." Gunn pouted.

"No...look" Angel said handing Gunn some paper.

"Walk over there..." Spike was still on the phone "Are you standing over it?
Right...Now look at it...It's dead. There's nothing there...It's at peace...Now,
touch it...C'mon...with one finger..." He held the phone away from his ear and
winced.

"Christ! Don't scream...At least don't scream into the phone...I'm hung...and
this sun light isn't helping...Oh, I'm in a place with special windows that
keeps out all the UV rays but lets in the sodding light...All the rich vamps
have 'em...No, I bloody hate it...The sun hurts my eyes...I don't know how you
people stair at it all day...It only looks good when it's coming up or going
down. Don't worry about where I am...."

"How did he know about the glass?" Angel asked.

"Dracula...but, that's only speculation" Fred told Angel.

"This guy is a trip and a half" Lorne laughed as he looked at the file. "And
takes on things I'd rather not know about." He threw the file down, and went
over to the bar near Spike.

"Getting another call...It's Faith! She'll come save you, Okay..." Spike rolled
his eyes.

"Oh bloody hell! Here we go...God, I hope she stayed under control...If he has
any influence on her what so ever, we are in a world of trouble, my friend."
Wesley said lowly. He made sure his lips didn't move.

"I just wanna know what he left Dawn with." Angel said with still lips.

"SLAY-a!" Spike laughed.

"Say 'Hey' for me" Gunn said. Spike just glowered at him.

"What are you doin'?" Spike was smiling again, but then looked shocked. "Wha!?
Oh my bloody God! That's horrible!"

"What? What's wrong?" Wesley demanded.

"Her boyfriend is taking her to a country music concert" Spike actually answered
Wesley.

"So, Yay...on this Caleb guy being dead. I would have turned him inside
out...Seems like they went easy on him and only turned him the wrong way around"
Gunn sighed.

"Oh Charles!" Fred scoffed in disgust.

"Have you read about this guy yet?"

"No, I'm reading about the time they got thrown out of that restaurant from a
whipped cream fight... Willow was there. How bad can Spike be if Willow was
there?" Fred looked at Angel who was only paying attention to Spike on the phone
now.

"Here" Gunn gave her some papers titled "Winters, Faith, The Bloody, William,
Johnson, Caleb: June 30, 2003"

"I can't believe that the most recent information we have on them is a year old.
I really have to do something about..." Fred's voice got stuck as she read
something. "...this...backlog." Her eyes widened.

"Are we sure they really killed this guy? Like he's really dead forever? Not
like Lilah dead?...Because if he's not really dead we should get on that whole
inside-out thing" Fred swallowed.

"Here's a picture of the body, Babe...It's really waterlogged, but you can see
where Faith burned out the eye...She is so cool" Gunn smiled.

"Oh, that's not country, Fi...That's Grassroots...I knew Wood couldn't be that
daft... See, I'm so bloody classy. I'm sticking up for your man, even though he
hates me... Told you-You have to ask him that...He should be the one to tell
you. I'm sure he will when he tires of us being mates." Spike sighed and took a
drag on his cigarette. The room was actually quiet for a moment l Spl Spike
spoke again. "Grassroots is completely different than country, Fi...It's like
country mixed with blues until it's good...You'll like it, okay?...I as your
watcher say you should go...I know, I'm way too cool to be your watcher...I'm
your punching bag complete with files and records that can break necks. But
that's a really long title...Wanna call me Master?..." He paused then laughed an
honest laugh and then said "Bite me, bitch."

"What? What did he just say?" Wes demanded still not moving his lips.

"I said: 'Bite me, bitch'...And I have the vampire hearing too...I don't need to
read lips!" Spike spat at Wesley and then turned back to his phone. "Christ, I'm
with morons, Fi...I'm getting money...For Dawn, and you if you'll take it...You
need to have money if your gonna go to school, or open a store, or become a
rock-star, or whatever you wanna do." He smiled than his eyes narrowed into
anger.

"You'll take the money, if I have to stuff it up your ass, Slayer!...Yeah, well
let me tell you somethin' if I wanna do something for my friend...I'll sodding
do it!" He yelled and went to stand up, but whined in pain and then softly said
"Hey, before I forget do you wanna go to a 'Deftones' show in L.A.?"

"HELL YEAH!" Everyone heard Faith scream in the phone.

"Could you not do that... I'm hung...Sod you! I mean I'm hung over...You are
such a dirty bird." Spike laughed.

"Is there anything here on the nature of their relation-" Wes began.

"No, I'm not shagging the slayer!... Angel, I think your boy has a slayer
obsession...Better watch him." Spike growled.

"Balls." Spike groaned into the phone. "Yes...I'm in Angel's little cooperate
kingdom whoring myself for cash...and there is this annoying Sod that got all
buggery when I mentioned I knew you...Yeah, he is a Brit...Really?" Spike mouth
opened a bit. He stood-up and stared as Wesley for a while who stared back.

"Well, no wonder you went all dark... He's a buggering pounce ...You were a
precious 'Bit and I wouldn't trust him with a pet rock!" Spike laughed. It was
Angel who held Wesley back from running at Spike as he stretched on the couch.
"Oh c'mon just a little! You're spoiling my fun. ...All right, I'll leave him
alone." Spike grumbled as he looked at Wesley.

"Can you say 'Hey' for me NOW?" Gunn asked.

"The black bloke that kicks ass says 'Hey' by the way." Spike sighed.

"She says 'Hey Gunn.' She wants to see you when we go see the 'Deftones'
now...Look what I bloody started...You sure you wanna hang with the oppressors,
Fi, even if they do kick ass?" Spike grimaced.

"Oppressor! 'Cuse me? Didn't you just call me 'the Black bloke'" Gunn exclaimed
without any real anger.

"I'm here for money!...Yes, I still think it's evil...I think Peaches and all
his mouseketeers are all in a spot of trouble and will go dark any day...And,
maybe it will be us that will have to take them down" Spike said joyfully.
"Well, you think Starbucks is evil and you work there, but you aren't a big
Starbuck...I'm just a little mouse taking one turn on the wheel ...It's just a
one time thing...A family matter."

"Why? Why am I doing this?" Angel groaned and put his head in his hands.

"Peaches? He still seems like Peaches...But, now he's a twenty-first century
boy: He's a twenty-first century digital boy...Don't know how to live, but he's
got a lot a' toys." Spike sang. Lorne looked at him deeply. Then poured him more
Scotch.

"Thanks, Mate" Spike said.

"Don't mention it, Hun." He sighed.

"What? What did you see?" Angel whispered as he pulled Lorne aside and they
whispered. Wes looked angrily back and forth between Angel and Lorne and Spike.

"How is it in the killing fields? Good. Good...Ah, Brilliant." Spike smiled with
his eyes closed.

"Why do you wanna talk to him?" Spike demanded with his eyes open wide now.

"He is not. He is a sodding horrid friend...He hit me in the face a bunch of
times, so I had to hit back...Bloody Hell! I didn't do anything...He did
it...Yeah, it was." Spike laughed suddenly.

"No! Wood hating me has nothing to do with Buffy...There are about three whole
things in my life that don't now." Spike began counting on his hand.

"Your boyfriend hating me...You... What do you mean? You have nothing to do with
Buffy! You couldn't be more different...So what if she asked me to help you. If
you were a tight-assed bitch I'd help you like anyone would help a lady slay
things, but I wouldn't be taking you to a sodding 'Deftones' show, would
I?...Balls, you are a pain-- Oh, the third thing is that there is this bird that
asked me to the Deftones show and she seems like a real hell-cat...But, I can't
- I miss Buffy- I could never be with-

"Spike! Get off the phone!" Angel grumbled suddenly.

"Well, maybe I COULD go to the show with her and possibly do the
one-night-shag...You know how long it's been since I've done that?... I dunno.
Hang on."

"Cutie." Spike looked over at Fred. "Pull up the file on the last time I had a
one-nighter."

This made Lorne burst out laughing. Wesley and Angel both glowered.

"They- uh- Don't have stuff like that do they?" Gunn demanded.

"No, they only have significant things...I mean if the one night stand turned
out to be significant ..like someone got Herpes or conceived an evil demon baby
they'd go back and find it." Fred sighed.

"If we really wanted to be a good guy company we'd find a way to tell someone
about the herpes before hand...I'm just saying...It would be nice to help
people...in...any way." Angel stammered as everyone stared at him

"You don't really want to talk to Peaches...He has children in sweat shops
somewhere, but he pays other people to know about it...He's paying me to make
people forget about a child." Spike sighed.

"Spike!" Angel roared.

"See, it's so easy to brass him off...Okay, talk to, Mr. Peaches CEO, on MY
minutes...It's not the bloody point I have unlimited minutes!" Spike grumbled.
Then his face softened in surprise.

"Don't worry...It's not dangerous. You just asked if I could get killed...You
didn't even ask if I'D kill somebody, I suppose that's okay with you." Spike
laughed and beamed as Wesley's mouth became a straight line.

"Yes, as long as I'm all right-screw the sweat shop children" Spike said still
laughing. Wesley bit his lip.

"We don't have any sweat shop children, do we?" Angel asked Fred. She shook her
head.

"No killing...It's rather boring really...But, lessee I need to heal now, so
that'll take a day... I n I need to go to Sacramento...Yep, Sodding Sacramento,
where all the shinny happy families live, apparently...That will take a sodding
day...Then I'll be back the next night...The 'Deftone' show...Peach, when is the
'Deftone' show?" Spike asked. Angel just looked at Lorne.

"The third...Tell that little Pistol I said 'Hello'" Lorne smiled.

"The Pylea demon said 'hi'...The green guy...She said 'Hey.' She said she
actually likes some disco now, because of you. She wants to know if you're
coming to the 'Deftones' show." Spike said to Lorne.

"Tell you what...Punk really isn't my scene, but I'll go, if you tell me how the
hell you knew where I was from." Lorne said with his mouth open.

"He's coming...He is cool...So different from the other Pylea people that
crossed over...No, you don't understand, Love. All of Peach's people seem very
cool, cooler than him. That was always one of Peach's talents he knows how to
suck in the best blokes and bints so he can make himself look better than he
is...But, I think all of these people will slide down the slippery slope unless
they get away from this sodding place...I can feel thil hil here, Fi." He said
more seriously.

"Why don't you tell us how you really feel?" Fred asked with an eye-roll.

"You're people are the ones hovering over my conversation, Cutie." Spike said to
Fred.

"SPIKE GET OFF THE PHONE!gel gel yelled in vampire face.

"I'll say! The two of you talk longer than me and Miss Joan -the diva- Rivers,
and you're almost as bitchy" Lorne sighed.

"You sure you want to him to talk to him?...Oh, Do me a favor. Go to Buffy's and
throw away a dead rat...Dawnie is suddenly too girlie. She'll slay a demon, but
never touch a dead little mouse...K...Here's Mickey." Spike handed the phone tongelngel.

"Faith" Angel said lowly.

"I'm fine. No. We're fine. Don't listen to him...No, you couldn't have done this
for me...Sadly, Spike is the best person to do it...No, I won't take care of
him! He can take care of himself...hopefully...and he's your boy now?" Angel
grumbled.

"No, I am not Citizen Caning! I AM happy...No of course not perfectly happy!"
Angel grumbled.

"I not being a Dick...I would like to see you...We all would" Angel said softly
now.

"Tell her to take advantage of her employee stock options at Starbucks." Wesley
called.

"Did you hear Wes?...Well, if you ever need to borrow money, Faith...Okakay,kay,
okay...I didn't mean to insult you...Okay, good. See you later, bye" Angel
closed the phone as Spike glared at him.

"I thought all vampires weren't phone people...but it's just Angel" Fred said
absent mindedly.

"You'll give Faith this place's bloody money over my dead body" Spike growled at
Angel.

"You want it laundered through your dead body first--- fine...Are we gonna deal
here or what?"

Angel demanded.

"Hit me." Spike smiled.

"From the look of your face...I already did that enough" Angel smiled. "Fred?"

Fred set-up a PowerPoint and dimmed the lights and gave Spike a folder.

"Oh lovely. Slides of the family vacatioSpikSpike rolled his eyes.

"This is Brian. Brian Fox." Fred said as she showed a picture of a smiling
Eighteen-ish boy outside.

"Skinny little runt...must have gotten that from Mum" Spike smiled.

"Don't test me Spike...if you do ANYTHING wrong to him I'll make December 8th
1886 feel like a cake walk" Angel grumbled.

"All right, all right. No need to channel your better half" Spike said
defensively. "I've got nothin' against the boy. I'm givin' him a life without
you, aren't I?"

"This is his mother Charlene, a music teacher. This is his father Lawrence, he's
a brain surgeon" Fred continued.

"Wanted to get as opposite as you as possible, eh?" Spike laughed.

"These are his sisters Quinn, 22 in graduate school for..for..Oh no! I forget! I
think Art or Art therapy." Fred stammered.

"All right...Big Sis prolonging school on Daddy's money 'cause it beats
working...Next." Spike grumbled.

"This is his other sister Jolene, Joey, whose 15 in high school-"

"Hey! You didn't say anything 'bout dosing a little girl! I am not gonna dose a
little girl!" Spike rose furiously.

"William, just listen... You won't be hurting her." Fred said softly.

"Yeah! Just having her live a sodding lie! People like you-"

"Are just like the people that made Dawn... Are you living a lie with Dawn?
Would you rather have her on the streets of LA?" Angel demanded. Spike sat down
his arms crossed.

"It's Jolene and Brain that have started having the dreams" Fred explained.

"'Yet it is in our idleness, in our dreams, that the submerged truth sometimes
comes to the top.'" Spike muttered.

"Virginia Woolfe...He can be taught something" Wesley muttered.

"Knock it off, Spike" Angel grumbled.

"He doesn't like when I quote the smart people. Metaphysics make your boss all
dizzy" Spike whispered. Wesley glanced at Angel bemused and concerned as Fred
continued

"They are having dreams that Brain was never really part of the Fox family until
last year. Jolene has dreamt what the Fox's life would have been without Brian.
They have become more and more vivid to her...She started to believe that they
are real. She remembers Brain suddenly being there last year, for real, and
everyone just thought he had always been there. But, Jolene swears that isn't
the way it was..." Fred was showing pictures of the girl. In every picture she
looked more and more tired.

"'But does it matter whether it was a dream or reality, if the dream made known
to me the truth?'...Eh, Peach?'" Spike winked at Angel, who just ignored him
now.

"Tolstoy" Wesley stated.

"Dostoevsky" Spike snorted. "Shoulda spend more on the Lit department in the
Council."

"She has insisted that every event in the families life has happened
differently...She can remember her past reality with Brian, when she was under
fourteen, less and less everyday. Her delusion is becoming her reality and vice
versa. Psychologists are saying that she must have a deep resentment towards her
brother, and now she had a psychotic break. Jolene has gotten more and more
depressed... She thinks she is going crazy. Her grades are slipping. She doesn't
do any of the things she used to enjoy doing." Fred continued.

"Can we not play this game, Cutie?" Spike asked Fred "The kid's getting smart.
She's not delusional. She's bloody sane!...You're the ones driving her
crazy...You're the ones playing CIA and putting lies in her noggin'...Peaches
got a play thing and he fucked it up as much as he possibly could, and then he
got bored and made it somebody else's problem. That's what he does. You wanna
know who hasn't changed---"

"Would you shut the hell up and just listen to me? I worked hard on this and I
worked hard on rebuilding my own memories just so I could understand all this
for your stupid ass, so you wouldn't ruin the mission... I know all about you
and I'm not some little intern that is going to fawn all over you like your-
like your- some sexy serial killer guy! And I don't care that you have a soul
and like kids now! I just think your very rude and annoying very very annoying"
Fred shouted.

"Cutie's got a bit of fire" Spike smiled. "If you know all about me and my
rude, yo, you'd know I don't like to swim in denial as much as the prince of
lies here does. So, let's call it like it is. This here is Angel's boy he made
with my favorite evil Grand-bitch Darla."

"Angel made what with the Grad who now?" Lorne gasped.

"Angel what the-" Wes began.

"It's true. I had Wolfram and Heart build memories for him and this family... so
he could be happy. That's why I accepted the Wolfram and Heart deal-- for
Connor--Brian" Angel sighed and got up to face the window.

"Yeah and he had the Big Bad lawyers erased all your memories of the kid
too...What a buddy your boss is, huh? Kid must 'a been a real pain in the ass
just like---" Spike was interrupted by Angel hitting him in the face at full
force. Spike laughed and spit out a bloody tooth at him. Then blew him an
obnoxious kiss.

"Ew!" Fred crinkled up her nose.

"Don't worry. They grow back by morning, Cutie" Spike explained.

"I don't give a rat's ass that was just disgusting" Fred scoffed. It seemed like
Spike's feelings may have been hurt for a second.

"Why do this Angel? and Why is HE here?" Wesley asked

"Oh-oh! I'll field this one, Dad." Spike raised his hand and smiled.

"You see EX-watcher, you're all endowed corp. here wasn't as big as houghought.
It did a fine job screwing with the mind's of the distant people in the boy's
so-called-life: friends of the family, the dentist, the mailman, they remember
his awkward years with skinned knees and braces just fine, or at least they
think they do. But...for lab rats closer to the boy, turns out corporations are
better at destroying than creating-Imagine that. The saps that were supposed to
forget about him all together like you an' me forgot just fine. But all the
king's horses and all the king's men couldn't put the phony memories in straight
for the family. The little bit and the boy are starting to see the
truth...'Mummy, the emperor has no clothes.' or in this case...'Mummy, I am not
really yours; I belong to the naked emperor.' Children are always the first to
smell a rat...But, Cutie here figured the rest of the family will soon follow...
So, Sire is sending in his other insurrectionist child- ME- to dose the family
with some acid or something that with keep them under the thrall he wants."

"The family is going to start losing the memories-or-a-regaining them one by one
in age order, but they'll be miserable and they won't be sure what's real- like
Jolene...We know that Brian has started having the dreams to because he told
Jolene. We don't know to what extent Brian's memories have returned he may be
downplaying how much he does remember or even lying and saying he's had dreams
to make Jolene feel better...We don't know. He only told Jolene. They actually
don't resent each other at all...In fact they are very close..." Fred explained.
She started showing pictures of Brian and Jolene together at different ages.
They always were laughing. Everyone was silent staring up at the screen accept
Angel.

"Here's the last one we have...right before the dreams started" Fred said lowly.
It was Jolene with cotton candy all over her face and hands trying her best to
rub it all over Brian.

"Hey, that's Great Adventure!" Lorne exclaimed. "I've been there. It was easy to
go because people just thought I was part of some show...as always."

"Brat seems just like Dawn at that age. Food went everywhere except her mouth.
What a bloody spaz she was" Spike snickered. He looked behind him to see Angel
still looking out the window. Spike rolled his eyes and took a drag of his
cigarette.

"But, Angel why do this? Did you feel that life with us- with you- was too
dangerous?" Wesley asked.

"Are you Kidding? Talia told me the boy was big and bad. Some sort of
h
hybrid with none of the draw backs of the face, and the sunlight, and the blood
crave...if you call those draw backs...Hey, maybe I should spawn a rug-rat! They
could mow the lawn, get milk, beat down things for me during the day...Did you
have them strip all of that away from him, Peach?" Spike asked snidely.

"Well, something awful hav have happened for Angel to do this. He was a hybrid?
Was he evil? Did he have no soul?" Wesley demanded. Angel was silent.

"On the contrary, maybe if he had no soul he could have tolerated Angel for a
few more years...When you have no soul all that hate seems normal." Spike
grinned at a frowning Wesley.

"The boy having a soul and a bit of sensted ted Peach's so bloody much he
couldn't see straight-literally. Like some of Peach's other dollies the boy went
mad...So Peach did what he does best-he leaves-but he sets the brat up to be
someone else's burden...And everything is better because these people actually
aren't dead inside. They can love the boy"

"You don't know anything about Angel and why he did this!" Fred snapped.

"Oh,Cutie...I am sure you're brilliant. With the exception of his Baby-Mama,
Peach does have such good taste in women. But, what they never realize is that I
know EVERYTHING about him and why he does what he does to them- and now to the
boy... Why do you think I'm here aot oot one of his ass kissing cronies? Why do
you think your Angel hasn't tried to toss me out?"

While Spike lit another cigarette, everyone else looked at Angel waiting for a
response. Angel was just facing the window-looking down in the light.

"This is all so 'Stella Dallis' meets 'East of Eden.'" Lorne sighed.

"Or 'Dallas' meets 'Star Wars.'" Gunn said.

"Just...Quit calling me 'Cutie'! I swear I don't why Willow hangs out with you!"
Fred was flustered.

"You an' Red had a thing... I can see that. Red and I don't really 'hang out.'
We just always find ourselves loving the same people, and we have a mutual
respect... She is a cutie with a bit of fire too. We should really talk more, I
suppose" Spike smiled.

"Call me Cutie again and I'll swell up your other eye" Fred grumbled.

"Oh...you a witch too?...This place will make you go dark. Red will have to come
save you, I suspect. I call you 'Cutie' 'cause I don't know your name...No one
properly introduced themselves. Now whose rude?" Spike asked.

"Oh...Well...I'm Fred" Fred stammered.

"Fred, that makes sense you being of the...witch persuasion" Spike smiled.

"This is Lorne"

"Lornoesnoesn't sound Pylean. That your show biz name?" Spike asked.

"Please, my brain is overflowing because Angel has had a son the whole time I've
known him. I don't need to be reminded of the whole shock of you knowing where
I'm from." Lorne sighed.

"Actually, Lorne...Angel just had Connor for about two years...He was kidnapped
and taken to another dimension where time moves differently and he came back as
eighteen years old" Fred explained.

"Oh...of course" Lorne said as he poured himself another drink.

"That's Charles...Gunn- Cha Gun Gunn" Fred told him as Gunn nodded.

"Peaches lucked out with you. I imagine you were a fighter before he came along.
I just wish I could say that you lucked out with him " Spike said.

"I'm not one to bitch about my boss...I'll leave that to you" Gunn said plainly.


"You shag my slayer?" Spike asked Gunn.

"What?"

"You-shag-my-slay-a?...Did you and Faith bump uglies?" He repeated.

"I really don't think that's any of your damn business!" Gunn replied.

"Aw, ya didn't... Too bad, man... And now she's doing the whole boyfriend bit
with Wood. You woulda been so much better for her...I think" Spike sighed.

"Listen, I-" Gunn began angrily and then softened. "Thanks."

"Ummm and this is Wesley"

"I really don't understand why you are here and I really do not like you in the
slightest" Wesley commented.

"Mmm" Spike shook his head "Angel isn't the only failed Daddy in the room. I
only know bits 'a your story with my slayer, but don't worry she's got a way
better replacement too, and I'm sure she's forgotten you with out the magics"

"He'll be out of here real soon, Wes." Angel said before Wes could respond.

"Right, well, until he is-I am- all right?" Wesley said firmly. Angel nodded and
Wesley began to leave.

"So, if I land in the big house or the hospital please don't visit me unless you
need me to save your ass!" Spike called after Wesley. Gunn started laughing.

"Charles!" Fred gasped.

"No, see it's funny because Faith was in the hospital and then jail and Wes
never visited her until....Sorry" Gunn halted his laughing as Fred looked upset.
"Hey man, lay off with the poignant insults!" Gunn tried to say to Spike firmly.


"Here are the pills. We created them down at the lab. I've given you all of
them. There are some extra...just in case. If I find ANY of them sold on the
black market, there will be consequences" Fred said dully and gave Spike a
bottle.

"One pill makes you larger and one pill makes you small, and the ones that
Father gives you don't do anything at all" Spike sang as he held what looked
like a black bean between his fingers.

"Honey, you make my head hurt" Lorne sighed.

"Sorry. Just something about all this cheery sunshine makes me go all Julie
Andrews, Right Peach?" Spike snickered as he looked at Angel who was still
looking out the window as still as a statue.

"Ya know, speaking of consequences, Cu-Freddy... If this is black magic-It's
gonna have a price...For you...For the boy. I know you're not in my fan club,
but just trust me" Spike sighed.

"It's not magic. It's pharmacological" Fred said.

"Farma-wha?" Lorne asked.

"It's synthetic...a drug. It's only affect is to make people believe in the
reality they are supposed to, if they are actually trapped between two realities
whether the realities were created by magic or different dimensions or whatever
creates a schism" Fred explained.

"What do you mean 'makes them believe in the reality they are SUPPOSED to?' How
does a pill decide which reality is right? I mean, what if I thought I was
SUPPOSED to be Wesley Snipes, I'd take that pill and believe it? " Gunn asked.

"No, Charles. It will put the person in line with the rest of the universe's
reality, it won't make you a delusional idiot just to be happy. Even if that's
what you wanted" Fred sighed.

"Kind of like Prozac" Lorne said. "Say...Ang, I understand this whole floating
baby boy down the river, but you'd tell me if he and I double dated the Judd
sisters or something?"

"That's a pretty good question" Gunn stated.

"Gunn, you know already...The memories that were taken have no affect on your
life. Everything has happened as you know it, accept I had a son...and that is
the real reason I am here at Wolfram and Heart" Angel explained

"So, no horrible consequences from the pill-just dry mouth and diarrhea...But,
what about all the magics you did to get the world this way? When is that going
to come all crashing down around you?" Spike asked.

"THAT'S a pretty good question" Gunn stated again.

"That isn't any of your concern" Angel said dully.

"Fine by me. Don't say I didn't warn you...So, am I your angel, Charlie?" Spike
asked with a grin as he walked over to Angel.

"I want to see you again right after with a full report on all these specifics"
Angel sighed handing spike a paper which he stuffed in his pocket.

"Hang on, Charlie! Got a few previsions. First things first... I am not running
past my house twice for you. I'll call you and tell you how the Spengoli went...
If you need to see my pretty face so bad, I'm sure my slayer is gonna wanna see
you when we're here for the show, and I'm not leavin' her with you for a
minute... This cooperate life is slowly Angelus-ing you from the inside out, and
I dunno what happened between her and your better half last time she saved your
ass, but it's not happening again" Spike growled.

"Fine you can wait for your money then too" Angel grumbled.

"Speaking of the money...My fee just doubled...I charge extra for dosing minors"
Spike smiled.

"Fine" Angel growled.

"Boss, you do remember how much money we're talkin' about?" Gunn asked. Angel
didn't answer.

"Eow! Eow! How much? How much?" Lorne asked giddily. Gunn whispered in his ear.

"Oh! Baby, you're a rich man!" Lorne exclaimed.

"I'm guessing you've never sent two girls to college, and set one up in a
business." Spike stated.

"What kind of business?" Lorne asked.

"Motorcycles, selling and fixing" Spike stated as he put his hands behind his
back and paced.

"Nope. But, I set a girl up in the music business and we marketed her as this
hip-hop punky biker chick...That did cost a pretty penny" Lorne said.

"Oh her...Well, on behalf of the white demographic ages 17- 140 from the male
and female biker, punk, gay, and average sods focus groups...We are really
bloody sick of her" Spike said.

"Really? She is really such a nice kid...How 'bout the Hip-hop young Urban
demographic?" Lorne asked.

"Why you lookin' at me?" Gunn raised his eyebrow.

"I know a 'Bit you can call. A friend of Fi's" Spike said.

"Spike!" Angel barked "Quit annoying my people and get to work!"

"THEY started talking to me...I'm not finished yet." He said slyly as he
breathed on the glass

that allowed him in sunlight.

"Look, Lorne, Gunn, Do you guys---" Angel began.

"Have actual work we could be doing, so we don't encourage your out of control
ADD childe?" Lorne asked.

"Have a very cool job waiting of training Ninja Kats, now that it's all out in
the open that you 'Matrixed' our memories? Sure."

"..And the king dismissed his men, and kept his lady to show strength in front
of the emissary" Spike sang.

"She's not his lady" Gunn smirked.

"Of course not... Just the Lady of the court...Just like you're not minions.
You're Lords" Spike smiled.

"I can live with that" Gunn nodded and left.

"So, 'Deftones' with the slayer on the third...Bring whoever...I'm sure anyone
that you would know would totally have the right look for that club..." Lorne
waved at Spike.

"Oh...Will you lose respect for me when you see the motley crew I'm brining to
town" Spike smirked

"Well, with just you and that blue-headed bombshell, and the Spitfire slayer the
place will look goooood" Lorne said as he stood in the door way.

"Lorne" Angel groaned.

"I'm sorry...I guess we are supposed to hate him? I just can't...Not with the
signing and the seeing of the bittersweet and the devotion and passion and the
kismet...Lots of kismet." Lorne said excitedly. "See you and the pistol later
and then later and then...then.. " He sighed or took a breath "later...but don't
worry. It's all good." And with that he left Spike with a raised eyebrow. Then
Spike put held his hands together behind his back and leaned into the window.

"You have cars with this kinda glass, Sire?" He asked drawing something in his
not-needed breath's fog. It was the anarchy symbol.

"No way, Spike!" Angel snarled.

"Oh, I don't believe you! I think you have a fleet of them" Spike mock whined.

"No, Spike! Now take it or forget it all!"

"I want a car I can sunbathe in, and if you think I'm steppin' out like this
you're lesser vain of the two us... I want to wait until I'm all healed and
pretty again. I wanna be set up at a hotel for the night... all expenses paid
with room service and an honor bar...You can afford a seven dollar snickers
bar..." Spike winked at Fred and spoke again before she could object.

"And I want your word, as an honest businessman you won't involve Fi or Red-
Faith or Willow- in ANY of your business dealings. I don't want those birds to
set foot in this place. I'm not one to miss out on a bit of harmless fun with
some swell peeps, like the ones that you have managed to glom on to this
century...I'll play with your friendly pets, that were good to my slayer, but I
want her away from the ones that bit her. When we come to see the 'Deftones' I
want that buggering ponce to stay away from Faith" Spike smirked.

"Do you really think I need you for this? Do you realize that there are a
thousand people I could get besides you and all of them have been looking a
thousand times better since you walked in here" Angel snapped.

"Yes, I think you really do need me for this. Even though I can be a bit slow I
knew you weren't calling ME out of the goodness of your heart after you took
everything I ever cared about from me...You would have never called me over my
slayer, but she must have had some contact with the boy... Maybe she was the
best time in his life, and seeing her would make him remember it, and of course
seeing you would remind him of the worst. But, when he sees my lovely mug he
gets nothing, because I'm guessing you never showed him any old family photos."

"Angel, we CAN just use send our people over there to hire some people to put it
in the food like Knox suggested" Fred said gently as she walked over and touched
Angel's arm.

"I think Boss is afraid that Junior is remembering more than he is letting on to
little Sis...And he may be afraid the boy does have some of that vamp power left
and he needs my muscle if the boy should start swingin'. And, if fortunate son
does remember Dad the boy isn't gonna want someone to sugar coat Daddy for him.
He's gonna want someone with my virtue who sees Daddy as plain as day as he
does. My girl, Buffy, she could never see it... and how convenient it was that
HER memory of you and Big D's love child was erased before she took off...You
Buggering Mother F-"

"Buffy knew! She loved Connor when she knew...I mean- she loved that I had a
son" Angel grumbled.

"Nope Buffy couldn't see it..." Spike continued calmly. "Dru DID see it, but she
was so mad she loved it...My slayer now, I think she sees it, but she doesn't
have the heart to admit it... We all have ave ave our delusions or society would
collapse in two weeks, right? But who is really the one who has the virtue and
the wisdom when the smoke clears? "

"And what is it that you are so smart and vitreous to see?" Fred scowled.

"Emperor's clothes, Freddy...Soul or not Daddy is an egotistical tyrant and all
his benevolence is self-serving" Spike smiled.

"Oh, shut your fat mouth, at least Angel has benevolence! You are just here to
torture him and get paid to do it "Fred snapped.

"Well, I had a good teacher, unlike my slayer...Knowing that Fi's dead beat Dad
is on your team gets my teeth out." Spike grumbled.

"I think you're teeth were out way before Wesley. In fact I KNOW they were."
Fred commented.

"Nonetheless, I don't want him near my slayer. HE is the bad influence"

"Quit calling Faith that-You can't own people Spike! Faith and Wesley made peace
before you even met her" Angel snapped.

"I can't own people 'cause you own them all already. Stock in every company.
You're little prick in every---" Spike int interrupted by getting punched again.
He slid across the floor until he hit the wall.

"Get the fuck out or I swear I will beat you to death." Angel said lowly. There
was a dull ringing. Spike got his phone out of his back pocket.

"You got good timing Nib....Oh it's you." He grumbled his eyes narrowing.

"Yes, I am...Did you call m fin find that out for your newsletter on me. I'm
sure they have one they put out here you could just copy.....Sod off!...Oh,
there's more in the basement in that cabinet in the back...No! In the back!
Well, I know you only got the one eye, but LOOK." Spike sneered and rolled his
eyes. Wesley came bounding into the office and stepped on Spike.

"Do you mind?" Spike blustered. Wesley glowered down at him.

"I just got the full report on your son...I am sorry Angel, about everything"
Wesley sighed.

"It's in the past, Wes" Angel said.

"Yes, but it was in a past I couldn't remember, and I would have liked to have
remembered it even if the memories were less than pleasant...For the longest
time I didn't understand why I split off about something so petty as my feelings
for Fred...Not that my feelings for Fred were...Why did you erase our memories?"
Wesley asked.

"I didn't have a choice it was all or nothing" Angel murmured.

"I understand...But, couldn't you have told us before now, it would have made my
motivations for some of my actions a lot more clear" Wesley said.

"Every one's memories are exactly the same they just don't have Connor in them"
Angel told them.

"How can that be true though? I mean one person can change everything in your
life. If I didn't know you I would still be in Pylea" Fred said to Angel.

"I thought you were the one that understood how this all worked...If you had to
forget me, you'd still be here working at Wolfram and Heart with everyone. You
would just remr mer meeting Gunn in the cave and Wesley would have always been
the boss or something...Nothing would really be changed" Angel insisted gently.

"I understand how it works. I just think that would change everything" Fred
replied.

"Well, I had no choice" Angel insisted.

"You have a choice now" Wesley said.

"I can't do that to him. I can't bring him back here after he thought he had the
life he always wanted" Angel said miserably.

"No!" Wesley exclaimed "Not that. Get William the Bloody out of here. Get
someone else or do it yourself. I don't trust him! Not in the least! And I'll
make sure my department keeps an eye on him in Sunnydale with Faith." Everyone
looked over at Spike.

"I must be speaking Chinese...Oh, no! It's that you're a moron...I've told you
EXACTLY where it was five times...Wha? Faith is there! Well, why in God's name
am I talking to you?...I swear I hate you more each day! Oh wait...Do you wanna
go see the 'Deftones' in LA with Fi an' me?... Well, Angel's secretary wants to
shag me, and she asked me.... I'm bringing you because I sodding want to!...I
can't. No, you Sod, it's not because she's Angel's secretary! Why do you
think?...Well, thanks but I don't need the opinion of a moron...Sod off! Oh,
tell Fi to ask Kennedy and Red...Well, tell Red she can see her cute little
friend Fred and then she'll come...I dunno, we'll crash Peach's place...Don't
worry he's pouting over his latest fuck-up so we won't see him...We can bring
Dawnie. She can see her bastard father who hasn't given us a dime. Hey, Dawn has
to learn to drive already and I can teach her now...No! The Desoto is dead,
anyway" Spike scoffed. All of Angel's people stared at him waiting for him to
say something-anything. He didn't.

"Oh!" Spike gasped suddenly, "Did Fi ever tell you that her old watcher has
taken up with Angel?...Yeah! No!...She can be so closed lipped. It's 'cause she
knew I'd come down here and beat the-Really?" Spike was laughed hard now.

"Who the hell is he talking to?" Wes demanded.

"Some one-eyed demon" Fred said.

"Ow! Oh bugger, I think I have a broken rib...Lemme talk to Fi" He sighed still
laughing.

"Fi," Spike gulped. "The idiot can't find the rat poison...It's in that place
where I left that thing that time....Oh. I wanna tell you something, Fi. But,
you have to promise not to bitch"

"So...now that's Faith. Why does he call her that 'Fi'...It's not in the file"
Wes grumbled as he looked in the file.

"It's sort for 'Firecracker'...Look in the file to find out why I call you a
buggering ponce" Spike called to Wesley.

"Nothing. Nobody. I AM nice. I am not the evil CEO. I'm the bloody worker on the
floor-literally." Spike said "Okay, now listen...In that place where I left that
ax...No, THAT ax...The hero's ax. I dunno, Fi which one is the hero's ax?" Spike
asked rhetorically.

"That's my girl...Well, that's what it's called. Okay, underneath it is a key on
a chain. No, it's to a deposit box in Bank of America...Yes, I'm bloody
serious...I don't know why that is so funny...If something should happen to
me...." He sighed and held the phone away from his ear.

"IF SOMETHING SHOULD HAPPEN TO ME...WHICH IT WON'T...like if I have to jump
dimensions, or if I go into a coma, or if I should be taken in as the son of
Daddy Warbuck's as his own son and all our memories are Matrixed...Take that
key...You listening ... take that key to B of A on Main and you an' Nib get the
prize inside..Not telling...Not arguing...Hanging up. Call you later! No, no,
hanging up." Spike insisted and hung up. His phone instantly started ringing
again.

"Incorrigible little vixen" Spike grinned as he got up. He opened the phone
saying. "You won't deny a man his dying wish...Well, his un-dead dying
wish...It's only 4k for each of you...Are you daft? That's nothing. You are
naive when it comes to money...You are! It's 'cause you knicked everything
before...Don't you give it all to her...It's for both of you. Hey! You're
breaking-up-losing signal...I'm in the sewer...Believe me I'm in the sewer!
Bye...Can't hear you! Bye"

"Like I said, incorrigible." He grinned "A lesser man might give up and get an
office job."

"Did Faith tell you anything of what happened between us? Of what she did to
your beloved Buffy, to Angel, to me? Did she tell you we forgave her for it all?
Did she tell you I saved her from the council the day after she tortured me?"

"You were part of the bloody council!" Spike snapped.

"And you were part of the fanged four! The most depraved bloody thirsty family
of vampires that killed thousands! You killed two slayers yourself." Wesley
demanded.

"Who the bloody hell is the fanged four?...It doesn't matter. I know this is
where I'm supposed to say: 'Oh boo-bloody-hoo! You are so right and good and I
am so bad and wrong. Please forgive me' I was a bloody vampire! That was what I
was supposed to do! I was evil! I had no little angel on my shoulder! I was a
sodding lion. They were the zebra. I fed" Spike growled at him.

"You took pleasure in killing young girls" Wesley snarled.

"I did, but than again that was in the job description. The slayer knew I was
gonna try to hurt her. They all knew where they stood with me. I was going to
kill them, or die at their hand. What they didn't know was that was what you
were gonna do that from the inside. I didn't say: 'Daddy's here' and stick the
knife in her back, and that was what the council was all about" Spike yelled.

"That's not-I left the council and I saved Faith!" Wesley insisted.

"Oh, I've heard this song before with Rupert! I know how it ends. You can take
the watcher out of the council, but you can't take the council out of the good
little watcher boy!"

"What the bloody hell does that mean?"

"It means that you were no vampire, but you used a little girl to feel like a
big man. You were lucky. You got one of the best...I knew them all. One of the
top three. But she was flawed, and you resented that so much, didn't you?
Because you were such a sodding failure yourself you wanted a flawless little
doll to parade around. Her only flaw was she had been used so many times. All
she needed was a little care and she'd be fine...Or she just needed that one
good rogering to push her over the edge, and you were there for her, Watcher
boy." Spike was then hit in the face by Wesley.

"Impressive... You've been workin' on that?" Spike smirked as he readjusted he
jaw.

"Faith would never say these things about me! You're full of shit!"

"Faith would never say these things about you because she doesn't say anything
about you at all. That's how I know I'm not full of shit at all" Spike laughed.

"Wes, don't listen to him" Angel groaned. "He's the same as he was one hundred
years ago...You can take the evil out of the boy, just not the piss-ant"

"All you know about me from a hundred years ago and now is prob all all you know
about your boy...That I'm rightfully brassed off" Spike scoffed.

"See...he's like a little yapping pit-bull. He pisses around what he thinks is
his and when he feels threatened he sinks his teeth in...Trying to get his
little jaws open hurts more than if you just let him get bored and let go."
Angel said softly to Wesley.

"Bloody threatened! By him! The only real men you have here are the kick ass kid
and the lounge lizard, who is probably gay, but real nonetheless-until you
corrupt them with all this glitter" Spike insisted.

"Yeah, I see what you mean, Angel. Arf, arf! No wonder Faith never talks about
you, Wesley...Who'd wanna hear this?" Fred glared at Spike.

"I- you- he...Shut-up!" Spike stammered.

"Bye" Fred said cheerfully as she handed him the folder and the pills.

"You can't be-" Wesley began.

"So we're clear, Sigh...Double or nothing...Sunshine Car...Expenses,
hotel...Deadbeat is to be scarce when -Fi- Faith is here...None of my girls are
to be your angels...I'm the only blond 'Ho." Spike grinned again.

"Faith and Willow aren't your girls! You don't have ANY girls! If they or anyone
I know is interested in working for me or seeing Wes they are welcome to" Angel
scoffed.

"Fine! She won't wanna see him anyway!" Spike nostrils flared. "You have a job
for her? I'll make her realize what this place is and what you are. If she wants
to go she'll have to beat on me...And she won't- She can't bare to hurt me"
Spike said as he and Wesley glared at each other.

"Don't be jealous, Spikey. I don't have any jobs planned for anyone but you. I
am just not going to forbid anyone to do anything...I'm not a fascist, or a
whiny manipulative child...Now, out, wait, sit, stay and I'll get you your
little toys you worked so hard for with the tantrum" Angel said mockingly sweet.


"There is one more thing" Spike said lowly.

"What?" Angel grumbled.

"Files and records. I want access to them." Spike's voice glided.

"Absolutely not" Angel said firmly.

"What are you afraid of? That I'll suck your little world into hell?" Spike
chuckled.

"I thought you knew everything, Spike. What do you wanna know so bad?"

"Like I would tell you!"

"I only have scant reports from other dimensions... All I know is that Buffy and
I are doing well. She graduated college last year, and our son just turned one"
Angel said.

"What business do you have breeding all these children? One of you has done
enough sodding damage!" Spike roared.

"I seem to be doing fine there" Angel smirked.

"What did you do there? Convince her to stop with the ruff and tumble? Had Faith
take over? Try to get her to be Donna Reed? She needs to fight like she needs to
shag-not that you would really know about that. You won't last!" Spike spat
fiercely.

"Faith is dead there. She killed herself."

"You Sodding-" Spike gulped in some air, as if he had to. "Too busy with Buffy
to get up off your ass and lend a hand."

"She killed herself, Spike...I'm sure Buffy and I-"

"I am sure BUFFY, your barley-legal bride, tried to do what she could...But, She
and Faith were both children...They needed someone older and strong, and you ARE
TOO SODDING WEAK for either of them...You reduced yourself to a mere human over
there, so you could have a few years shagging Buffy! But you will get yours you
selfish Nancy asshole!" Spike seethed as he pushed Angel up against the glass.

"She will get bored of you. She needs someone who can fight by her side, who can
handle their bloody power without turning intooddiodding bastard!" He continued
in vampire face.

"Someone like you, little man? I don't know where you are there, but I am sure
Buffy either killed you, or you are in Drusilla's lap" Angel said emphatically.
Spike slammed Angel against the window. Fred squealed when it sounded like the
glass cracked. Angel punched Spike, which made him let go.

"Angel, the glass!" Fred exclaimed.

"It'll hold" He said calmly.

"Angel, get him out of herer Gor God's sake!" Wesley exclaimed.

"Where is Dru?...In this dimension?" Spike asked suddenly as he shook his
vampire face off.

"Drusilla was last seen in LA with Doc."

"Doc from England?" Spike asked surprised.

"Yees" Angel sighed impatiently.

"Are you bloody serious?" Spike gasped in an amused way.

"No, I'm lying" Angel said sarcastically

"Well,...no one is getting at her then."

"I wouldn't think so...Unless you and Faith..." Angel's voice trailed off.

"We don't have any plans in taking over your turf here... Are you gonna...I
mean, I'm sure yre. re. You are still convincing yourself you Mr. 'Do the right
Thing' and now that you know where she is..."

"We don't have any plans." Angel said plainly.

"Well, right then...Thanks Freddy...See you on the third?" Spike said sighed to
Fred emphatically.

"Is that when you're coming back with the report?" Fred asked after a bit of a
pause. "Yee"Yees" He sighed as if she were naive. "And that's when I will bring Red-
Willow- the slayer, and Dawn to town"

"W-Willow? I thought you didn't want her here." Fred stammered.

"Here! No bloody way! But, were going to the 'Deftones' show" Spike rolled his
eyes.

"You- are- You are taking Willow to that thing with Talia?" Fred seemed dazed.

"I thought I would...I mean, I know her girlfriend will want to go, and it would
be a chance for her to see you"

"Willow has a girlfriend?" Fred asked meekly.

"Oh Balls." Spike grumbled "You didn't know...Look, I'm sorry. I don't have to
bring her, if you had a bad break-up with her. I just figure with birds it's
different. Everything is out in the open and everyone is all friendly...God! I
couldn't stand it! So, I understand where you're coming from...Well, now she'll
want to go because her girlfriend and her boy are going."

"Her boy?" Fred squeaked.

"Yeah, why you don't like him either? Don't blame you, but he's like the
background music...He just is always gonna be there when they are doing anything
important...So, you are not coming now?"

"Uh- no...I mean yes...I mean, I'm not...I'm coming...I'll come..It's okay..I
mean I should go, right?" Fred stammered and looked at Angel.

"That's up to you" Angel shrugged.

"Right see you with a 'Bit, two love birds, a slayer, and a wanna be
pirate...after I'm done sin' in' the mickey to my uncle's family then?"

"I -um-Uuuuhhh...You realized I just yelled at you before, right?" Fred said
nervously.

"Sure. It's a right of passage for every bird I know...Bye" Spike winked and he
left already looking more healed.

"He kept calling me a bird? Is a bird some kind of lesbian? Not that..I'm um-"
Fred asked.

"He means girl... And are you both insane!" Wesley grumbled.

"Talia, could you come in here please" Angel called.

"Did you guys know he's like bringing his ex-girlfriend's little sister on our
date now? I don't know whether that is cute or really sad. I never thought he
would be like this, I mean---"

"Talia" Angel sighed. "Call Gwen at the Hyperion and tell her to give Spike
suite 3-A for the night. Tell her to go and get some of my blood at my place,
and tell her that he is going to be a total pain in the ass and want cereal or
something that they don't have on the menu. So, she should be ready. She has
full permission to kick his ass, but warn her he'll probably just enjoy it. Then
go to lot 7B and get the Mazda for Spike. It's his to keep."

"He'd like the Mustang better"

"Get the Mazda"

"You are...You're all insane... Maybe HE is right and this place is making you
evil. You've sent a maniac that was trying to throw you out the window to help
your son... You are leaving Faith in the hands of that maniac!" Wesley griped.

"Wesley, I know it all looks kinda tweaked... Okay, maybe it IS a little
tweaked, but have you been in my life lately?" Angel asked rhetorically.

"I don't know. Have much of my memory has been altered?" Wesley grumbled.
"Listen, I am concerned for your son,...and, I am NOW concerned for the other
guests at the hotel... and mostly concerned for Faith, who I don't have to
remind you is the only vampire slayer now."

"Believe me my son will be fine. You don't think I have people watching him?
Faith can make her own decisions, and he wasn't trying to throw me out the
window. He KNEW he could never...Anyway, Talia..." Angel sighed and continued as
Wesley stood with his gapping mouth.

"Tell Gwen to keep an eye in him. Tell her to call me if he drinks anymore than
a fifth of Scotch. Tell her to call me if he drinks any Jack at all. Tell him if
he throws any furniture out the window I'm taking the car back...And if he needs
aing ing at all that you can get him- give it to him" Angel said plainly.

"Um, Angel..." Fred stammered

"What?" Angel grumbled lightly. "This is what I'm doing, okay? It's complicated,
yes, but they are my-Connor is my son and I'll handle it the way I see fit."

"No" Fred sighed and whispered something in his ear.

"Talia" Angel said suddenly. "I wasn't suggesting that you...I mean I don't want
you to think...I mean what two people-"

"He wasn't saying that you should sleep with Spike in any way, shape, or form as
part of your job here. You're to have a professional relationship with...the
independent contractor" Fred said.

"Oh, you guys...Look if you didn't want me to date him, you should have said
so...Now we are going to this show...Is THAT why he asked like 20 other girls to
the show? Because YOU told him he couldn't-Do you know how hard it is to be
single and in LA and find some guy that isn't a total psycho?"

"Talia! Do whatever you want!" Angel snapped.

"If you could just make something up in writing saying that we did not encourage
you to fraternize with...him..Maybe?" Fred asked softly.

"Form 56-12 B. Why didn't you just say so?" Talia scoffed.

END of Part one

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FavoritesAdd Author to Author Alert 1. The Forget Me Not Series Chapter
One2. Forget Me Not Ch 2 Who made who?3. Forget me Not 3 Who the Hell
are you?4. Forget me Not Ch 4 Ballroom Blitz5. Forget Me Not Five
Childhood Tragedy6. Forget Me Not 6 No Myth7. Forget Me Not 7 What I
really am8. Forget Me Not 8 Working Week9. Forget Me not 9 Harder to
Breathe10. Forget Me Not 10 Hunter11. Forget Me Not Chapter 11 Liar12.
Forget Me Not 12Your Eyes13. What Kind of Power We Got?14. Chapter 14
Hide n' Seek15. Santa Monica16. Firefly17. Forget Me Not Chapter 17 –
“You Can't Ge...