TITLE: The Meaning of Heroes (Book One: 3/25)
AUTHORS: Jess (Watcher Giles) and Lara
WEBSITE: http://heroes.darling-moon.com
DISCLAIMER: We only wish we were as successful as Joss Whedon. He and Mutant Enemy own this.

Her hair clean, Fred stepped out the shower, now certain that every last bit of blood and dirt had been washed away down the drain. After toweling off and squeezing her hair to dry it, she got dressed. Once she was ready, she gathered up her discarded clothing and walked out into the main room, where Wesley was nibbling on a bowl of grapes.

"Oh, whatever Giles is making, it smells really good," she said, setting the bundle down next to her bag and figuring she could deal with it later after dinner, find out where Wesley stashed his washer and dryer and run them through it. Then she saw Giles walking out with everything on a serving tray, and the sight of the chicken soup made her stomach rumble. "Oh, that looks really good too."

"It's just soup and grilled cheese sandwiches – something simple." Giles shrugged. "Oh, and garlic potatoes for His Majesty over there." He set the tray down. "We want to eat here or over on the couch?" he asked, looking at Wes. He nodded when the other man pointed to the dining table.

Moving to stand in front of him, he held his hand out. When Wes took it, he pulled him to his feet, draping Wesley's arm around his shoulders. It was slow moving, but Giles managed to get him seated, letting Fred take the chair next to Wes. He placed the plate of sandwiches in the middle of the table, and bowls of soup in front of the three spots with silverware.

"I used garlic butter on the grilled cheese too. Just to add a little flavor. I'll take care of the dishes after we eat," he said, finally sitting down in his own chair.

"I'll help. And before you protest, you've already done so much for us already – this, coming down. You shouldn't be doing it all by yourself. And if that doesn't convince you, just ask Wesley how stubborn I can be." She gave him an I-won't-take-no-for-an-answer smile as she took one of the sandwiches from the plate in the middle and then took a bite. "Oh, this is good. I've never had one with garlic butter before."

"I'm not doing it all myself." Giles looked over at her with a sly grin. "I'm leaving the emotional support to you. I'm just here to thrash him if he gives you any trouble," he added, pointedly, turning his attention on Wes. "You're going to be a good boy for the beautiful lady, aren't you?"

Giles smiled to himself, realizing that Fred was an interesting woman. She could find such enjoyment sitting with company, doing nothing. Watching her face when she tasted the grilled cheese was also an experience. Fred, in a manner, found that food could be a sensual experience. Sparing a glance back at Wesley, he wondered if he should try and teach him to cook.

"Of course, he will, especially if you're here to whomp him if he gets out of line." Looking over at Wesley, she reached over and gave his arm a gentle squeeze before taking a sip of the soup. Giles had let it cool down a bit like he had to tea, which was good because she didn't have to blow on it before she had some.

She watched the two men she was eating dinner with and realized that it had been a long time since she had been able to just sit down to a meal like this. A quiet, home-cooked meal with friends that didn't involve worrying whether something would interrupt them. There was no apprehension and pressure in the air, and she was grateful for that as much as she was that Wesley was still alive and Giles had come down to help. For the first time in a long time, she felt comfortable and really at home.

"I'd appreciate the help with the dishes. We can figure out where everything is together. If you want, we'll also make a pot of tea while we're in there," he offered, finishing off the last of his soup.

He looked up at Wesley, who had already finished the soup and was nearly done with the potatoes. It made him happy to see him eating so well, but he also knew in a matter of minutes, it would be time to move. He finished his sandwich, noticing Wes' eyelids getting heavy. He was out of his chair and caught the younger man's shoulders as he started to lean.

"All right, Wes, time for bed," he told him, hauling him up to his feet. He chuckled when Wesley shook his head. "Yes, I know, you're not tired. That's why you keep yawning and nearly fell out of your chair twice already."

Leading his friend into the bedroom, Giles gently laid him on his back on one side of the bed and leaned over to remove his boots. Fred watched, tempted to follow them, but then decided that it would probably be better if she let him take care of it without her interference. The three of them had pretty much finished their soup, and the sandwiches were polished off, so she collected the plates onto the serving tray, which she then carried into the kitchen. After setting it down on the counter, she started running the water to heat it up before she placed the stopper in the sink.

Leaning against the edge of the sink, she stared out the window. Wesley's apartment was on the opposite side from the park. She couldn't imagine having to look at it every time she looked out the window, so she was glad that he didn't have to either.

In the bedroom, Giles finished getting his friend settled on the bed. "Go to sleep, Wes. We'll still be here when you wake up. I promise," he whispered, brushing the hair off of his brow.

Giles stood there patiently, waiting for his breathing to even out before heading back out to Fred. He saw that the table had been cleared, so he went into the kitchen.

"Well, that sleeping pill hit him faster than I thought it would," he remarked.

Picking up the tea set from the counter, he moved to the sink, quickly washing out the pot and the three cups they had used earlier. He grabbed the dishtowel that was hanging on the oven handle and started to dry them, noticing for the first time that Fred seemed lost in her own thoughts.

"Hey..." He reached out and touched her arm. "Penny?"

"What? Oh...sorry...was just looking out there. Kind of glad that the park's on the other side of the building. Not the greatest view in the world, I would think – seeing the place where you got attacked out your own window." She shook her head and started to put the dishes they had used into the water, now that Giles had finished washing the teapot and cups. "Wait a minute...did you just say sleeping pill? I didn't see him take one."

Giles nodded, agreeing with her sentiment. Seeing the place where you nearly died, day after day, would not make recovery any easier. He turned, putting the kettle on the stove to boil, letting a smile cross his lips when she finally caught on about the sleeping pill.

"It's all right; he didn't know he took one." Giles grinned. "I know Wesley. And right now, a big part of him still thinks this," he waved his hand between the two of them, "is a dream, and that if he goes to sleep, he'll wake up alone with his friends hating him. So he'll fight it – sleeping – as much as he can. That's why I sprinkled the sleeping pill in his potatoes and added garlic to mask the taste of the drug."

Turning, she stared at him in disbelief – and a fair bit amount of awe – for a few moments. "You drugged his food."

Thing was, he was right. Wesley wouldn't have slept otherwise had he not done it. She had seen him refuse to sleep for days to try to work something out, especially when it was important. That was why she should have realized something was wrong when they had found him asleep at his desk a few weeks before.

"Don't think I would have thought of that." Dunking the dish she still had in her hand in the water, she then turned on the tap and pushed it over to run into the other half of the sink so she could rinse it before putting it on the drainer. "I probably would have just tried to guilt him into taking it and probably wouldn't have gotten far."

"I did," he chuckled at the look on her face. "It's not that we've been friends for a long time because in the scheme of things, nearly four years isn't all that long. We have similar backgrounds, things we went through as children and Watcher training. It gives me an insight into him that his other friends might not have. The same can be said about me. Xander, Willow...I've known them both for over five years, and Wesley sees things in me they never would have caught." His face darkened momentarily as a memory flitted across his brain. "Not to mention I know his father and have had the extreme misfortune to train under him. I can only imagine what Wesley went through as his son." He sighed, tamping down on his anger. "It still amazes me how he can have such a good heart with such a pillock as a father."

At his slight growl, she paused for a moment before nodding. "I never knew about his father – he never really talked about his home, even when I asked about England. He talked about the places there, all the things you can find in those tour books and history books and picture books, but he never talked about where he came from. Now I understand why." Sighing, she placed a bowl on the drainer. "I hope I never have to meet him."

"His mother is a kind woman, but she's never been a match for Roger Wyndam-Pryce. The man is a bully plain and simple and, as far as I'm concerned, one of the biggest fools I've ever met. His son has one of the most brilliant minds in the history of the Council, and through Wesley's entire life, he's always made him feel as if he were a failure. In a way, I think Wes is still looking for some sort of approval from his father. In his heart, he knows he'll never get it, but it doesn't stop him from trying." He looked sadly at the kitchen door, toward the bedroom. "I'm not sure if you ever will meet him. He probably won't show his face unless he thinks Wesley is trying to get out from under his thumb. But I know he does call on occasion. I hope I'm here if that wanker does try to call. I have a few things I'd like to say to him."

So much about Wesley was making sense now. Things she had never been able to figure out before, certain things he had said and the way he had acted towards her after Billy. He always seemed worried about getting things right, and now she knew why. He had been looking for something he'd probably never get. It had no doubt driven his actions with Connor – to save a child from a dark fate at the hands of his father when all other avenues seemed closed off. And it had cost Wesley almost everything. Giles was right. Funny how the others could make a mistake that was selfish in nature and be forgiven, but Wesley was considered a pariah for trying to save another.

"I don't–considering what I did to Justine, I have a feeling I wouldn't be able to hold back with his father either," she told him. "'Specially if he said something while I was there."

"Justine – she's the redhead Wesley told me about? The one that worked with Holtz?"

"Yeah, that's Justine. I'm not sure exactly how she managed to get close to Wesley, haven't had a chance to ask him...probably never will, but she was the one that kidnapped Connor and..." Closing her eyes, Fred plunged her hands into the water, remembering how her knuckles had throbbed after she had punched Justine. "I don't know what I would have done if she had actually managed to kill him. I don't want to think what I would have done."

"I wouldn't recommend it," Giles scowled. He had never physically harmed a woman in his life, but he was sure if he encountered Justine while he was here, Ripper would be fighting him tooth and nail for a piece of her. "Wesley is already carrying enough guilt over what happened to Connor. When he's healed up, I'll call in a few favors at the Council and see what I can dig up. If you know which dimension he was taken to, it should help narrow the search. We can hit all the occult shops here, see if we can't track down a way to retrieve the boy. I have a feeling our help in this task might be the only thing that can allow him to live with that guilt."

Fred wracked her brain, trying to remember what Angel had said when they had crossed paths in all the chaos in trying to find Wesley and Connor and after Holtz had run into the rift that Sahjahn had created called–"Quor'toth." The word seemed to stick on her tongue, sounding as ugly as it had been described. "Angel said the place was the darkest of the dark worlds or something like that. And Holtz practically ran in there voluntarily."

"I'll call the Council once we're done here, at least set the wheels in motion. It'll take them a week, maybe two, to even figure out if we have anything on Quor'Toth. I'll also have Tara and Willow go through the books at The Magic Box as well then hit my flat." Giles shook his head. "All the damage that was done in one night is going to take a hell of a lot longer to undo. But for both Wesley and Connor, we have to try," he said, starting to dry and put away the dishes.

"We do. And whatever you need me to do, I'll do it." For Wesley. For Connor. She didn't care about the others at the moment, but Connor was innocent, and Wesley had been trying to help. Part of her wanted them to take Connor if they did get him back and take him away from here. She couldn't explain why – it was just a feeling she had.

Once they had finished putting the dishes away, she turned and looked at the tea kettle on the stove. "So, are you gonna teach me how to make tea the proper way?"

"Sure." Giles smiled, pulling the tin of tea out of Wesley's cupboard. "Okay, you take into consideration what each tea set serves. This one serves five. You can see it right here."

He tipped the pot upside down and showed her the five stamped on the bottom. Fred stood slightly to his side, watching over his shoulder. She had always wondered what that number on the bottom was for but had never had a chance to ask Wesley about it, especially since he hadn't ever made tea with the set while at the hotel. For convenience's sake, he had always ended up using bagged tea; otherwise, he probably never would have gotten a cup ever with all the stuff that had happened to them.

"You put one teaspoon of loose tea in the pot for every person. So five," He spooned out the necessary tea. "Some pots have a filter that you can just lift it out once the leaves have steeped. This one, the filter is in the neck." He pointed to the spout before grabbing the boiling kettle and pouring the water into the pot. "You leave the pot to sit, to taste. I usually leave it about five minutes before I pour the first cup. It's different for each person – how strong or weak you want the taste."

"Didn't know these had filters since you always hear about tea leaves and such in the bottom of cups in movies and on shows," she told him.

"Well, some of the sediment is bound to slip through. It does with the tea bags too. Most 'serious' tea drinkers don't mind, one way or another." Giles smiled, looking down at the cups while they were waiting. "I'm...I'm glad you and Wesley had a chance to talk," he managed, his tone gentle. "If–I'm just here to help take care of him. Shield you both from the others as much as I can." He took a breath, trying to gather his thoughts. "Just say the word if you need me to make myself scarce for a few hours. The two of you, you deserve some time to yourselves."

"You're not just here for anything," she told him, putting her hand on his arm. "You're obviously very important to Wesley, and I can definitely understand why. I appreciate the offer...it's unbelievably sweet, but I wouldn't ever..." She found herself stumbling over her words. "Wesley and I will have plenty of time together. And I'm glad you're here to talk to. It's...nice having another person around who has the same sort of interests."

"Fred, this is obviously an important relationship to Wesley and to you as well. I won't stop being your friend if you ask me to bugger off for a bit. I just..." He sighed before he admitted, "I don't want to step on anyone's toes here. He needs you, probably more than he realizes." He paused and smiled, memories flitting across his brain. "I remember when you arrived. You were all he could talk about. Every stride you made in reclaiming your life, I heard about. It was cute. You could hear the pride in his voice." He smiled down at her and touched her hand gently. "Just, please, take him seriously. I don't want to see him hurt again. He's been hurt enough."

"I–I know he has." Her voice was soft, her mind a whirl with everything she had learned in the last 36 hours. It seemed like she had learned enough to last two or three lifetimes, and the revelations still seemed to be coming. "I promise I'll do everything I can for him. Call it another step in reclaiming my life, but I understand now what I've really wanted, and that's Wesley, so I'm here...as long as he wants me. And I'm hoping that's a very, very long time."

He nodded, content with the sincerity in her eyes and the strength of conviction in her tone. He knew she had to be reeling from everything that had happened even since he had arrived, but she would make it; she would do whatever it took to stand by Wesley this time. And to Giles, that was all the comfort he needed.

Jutting her chin out, she indicated the tea pot that was still sitting there with the tea steeping. "We're going to have pretty strong tea there. Hope it's decaf or we might be awake all night."

"Decaf?" Chuckling, he arched an eyebrow in amusement. "It defeats the entire purpose of tea," he joked, pouring out two cups. "Since I'm here to shield both of you, is there anything I should know? Threats from locations other than the Hyperion?"

"Wolfram and Hart," she said without hesitation as she took the tea cup from Giles. They headed out into the living room to sit down comfortably on the couch, Fred tucking her legs underneath herself as she settled herself into the corner. "They're this law firm for demons, do whatever they can mystically and legally to get their clients off or to help them out. They love to do whatever they can to cause problems for us." She shuddered at the memory of what they had done to Cordy to get Angel to free Billy for them, knowing that what she had said was actually an understatement.

"Yes, the Council is familiar with the Firm. They've been popping up offices all round the world, making right nuisances of themselves. The only office we seem particularly concerned about, however, is Rome. Not only because they seem to be rounding up potential Slayers for their own cause but also because with them being so close to the Vatican, the possibility for corruption there is endless. Most of our best men and women are sent to the Rome Council office to try and head off the trouble. It's a constant battle. I didn't realize the L.A. office was so interested in making things difficult for all of you. I suppose, however, it makes sense with Angel towing such a fine line between good and evil. One false step on his part, they would have a very deadly ally in Angelus."

"Lilah Morgan's the one you really have to worry about. She was always trying to find a way to cause trouble, and I'm pretty sure that she was involved in what happened with Connor and that demon that opened the portal to Quor'Toth. If you ever meet her, don't trust a word she says."

Giles' brow furrowed as he considered what she had just said. "Lilah Morgan. She was the one who took the Niazian scroll Wesley needed to be sure about the prophecy?" he asked.

Fred tried to remember everything that had happened regarding the scrolls. "Yeah, she was. I know it drove Wesley crazy, trying to figure out what it said without it."

"I can imagine. Scrolls aren't like a lot of the ancient texts, especially something as rare as the Niazian scrolls. There are only bits and pieces in existence. Without them, you're looking at least a dozen different roads you have to traverse to reach the same conclusion, and nothing is really able to be confirmed without that bit of parchment. I can understand why Wesley was going mad."

She sighed and looked over toward the bedroom door. "She took it while we were dealing with Darla when she was carrying Connor. With everything she's pulled, you think she'd be running the L.A. office by now."

Suddenly, Giles looked up at the front door when he heard a knock. He immediately tucked a stake from Wesley's arsenal in the back of his jeans before moving to the door. Looking out the peep hole, he scowled.

"There's a woman out there, dressed to the nines...like a lawyer. You don't think..." he trailed off. Opening the door, he pasted on his best Ripper smirk. "Why, Miss Morgan, we were just discussing you. Were your ears burning?"

"Always knew she was at least part bitch," Fred muttered under her breath as she got up off the couch, somehow not surprised that Lilah chose that moment to turn up. She always did just when you didn't want her to. What was surprising, however, was that she was at Wesley's apartment.

Although given everything that had happened, maybe not.

Lilah, meanwhile, stood in the doorway, her perfectly shaped eyebrow cocked at the sight of the man standing in the doorway. Then she saw that little twig of a girl from the Good N Plenties standing in the living room. "Well, when I decided to come here, I didn't expect there to be a welcoming party. Especially not after what happened. I heard our favorite vampire tried to kill Wesley and then tossed him out on his ear. Does he know his little Texan lap dog's consorting with the enemy?"

Fred was about to retort when she saw Giles give her a concealed wave.

"And who might you be?" she asked, turning her attention back to Giles. "Wesley doesn't have any siblings that I know of. If you are, I'm going to have a talk with whoever's slacking off in record keeping."

Giles just smiled knowingly. He figured that with an outfit like Wolfram and Hart, they would know who he was. Hell, he probably had a file as thick as his arm, but apparently, they were too busy throwing a monkey wrench in Angel's life to bother attaching a picture. He had scowled when she insulted Fred; however, it turned into a sneer quickly. This could work to their advantage.

"Yes, you really should. Let me properly introduce myself," In the blink of an eye, his hand shot out to wrap around her slender neck. He jerked her in through the door and kicked it closed, slamming her against it with a loud thud. "Name is Rupert Giles, pet. But you can call me Ripper," he said, darkly, chuckling when her eyes widened in surprise. "And by the look on your face, you really should update my file."

Lilah's eyes practically bugged out of her skull – more from hearing his name than from the fact that his hand was currently wrapped around her neck. She'd been threatened so often that she'd lost count by now. But the fact that this man was Rupert Giles, the tweed-wearing Watcher to the currently dead Slayer of Sunnydale, was probably the biggest surprise she'd had all year because she never would expected him to voluntarily come to Los Angeles, turf of the souled vampire who had tortured him and all.

"I think you're right," she managed to croak out. "Some things obviously got left out. The Partners don't like incomplete records."

Fred stared in amazement at Giles. She knew how protective he could be after what he had done to Angel and Gunn to protect her and Wesley. But to see Lilah up against the wall like that...she almost wanted to kiss him for the way he was handling her.

"Miss Morgan...Lilah," his voice softened deceptively. "We can do this civilly or the hard way. I have an old friend who would much prefer the hard way." Smirking, he could feel Ripper jerking on his leash, just waiting for the go to attack. "You have something that belongs to Wesley, and I want it back now." He reached in her jacket pocket, and withdrew her cell phone. "You will call your office and have the Niazian scroll brought here." He gave her a feral grin at the defiance in her eyes. "I won't bother you with idle threats because I promise you, any threats made by me are never idle. There is probably one pertinent fact that stands out in my file – how far I will go to protect what is mine. Keep your vampire, play all the games you want with his life, I could care less. Wesley and Fred, however, they're mine."

He leaned closer to her ear.

"Do not mistake me for Angel. I'm certain you have former Watchers on your payroll, so you know we will do whatever we have to do to serve our purposes. I do indeed have a soul, but I will not hesitate to snuff out your existence for Wesley's peace of mind. Now...the scroll. Make the call."

Shuddering at the feel of his lips brushing her ear, Lilah looked from the phone to the dark green eyes inches from her own. She must have been assaulted one two many times because she couldn't believe that she was starting to get off on things like this. He was actually claiming the twig and the brain. And he was willing to kill her for Wesley. She didn't think even Angel would have done that.

"What makes you think I still have the scroll? I'm not in charge of–." The hand around her tightened, and she felt her heart begin pounding in her chest. Damn, this guy was good. Just the kind of Watcher the Firm would love to lure over to them. "Any harder, and you'll owe me dinner."

Without answering, he just held up the phone higher, indicating that he wasn't going to take anymore from her. Call or he'd go through with his threat. She could feel the anger and power in him. He wouldn't hesitate.

Better get away from this and find a way to get both of them. Two for the price of one was worth a little embarrassment any day. "Give me the phone," she said, holding up her hand.

Giles pressed the phone into her hand, keeping his foot braced against the door in case she decided to try and leave. He then grabbed her by the lapels of her suit jacket and pulled, moving her toward the couch. "Sit. You're staying until it gets here," he ordered, waiting until her back was turned, before winking at Fred with a small smile. He quickly schooled his features back into a threatening glare before Lilah noticed.

Fred had to keep herself from gaping openly and laughing in delight at the sight of Lilah Morgan – Bitch Queen Lawyer of the Universe – sitting on the couch and following Giles' orders. It was an amazing sight, and she was just sorry that Wesley was asleep and missing it. He probably never would have believed it because not even Angel had been able to get her to follow orders, and she couldn't wait to tell him now.

Giles listened to Lilah yell at someone on the other line, knowing he would strike fast if she tried to warn anyone at her work. A smirk crossed his face when she also ordered the same person to have his file pulled and taken to her office. Part of him was mildly curious what that file covered, but for the most part, he didn't care.

"Fred, why don't you go into the kitchen and get us some tea. I still have a few things to discuss with our 'guest'," he suggested gently.

"Of course," she replied brightly, not really wanting to leave but understanding why he wanted her too. "Black for you and hemlock for the witch, right?" She stifled a giggle at the glare Lilah shot her way before she hurried into the kitchen.

Giles bit back a laugh at Fred's parting shot. He sat down on the couch, facing Lilah, his muscles still coiled to deal with this viper that had been the bane of his friend's existence for the last few years. When she completed the call, he reached out, closing a strong hand over the phone and taking it away from her.

"I'll just hang on to this until you leave. If you behave, you may have it back," he said as if he were talking to a five-year-old. "Now...you want to tell me what you were planning on accomplishing by darkening Wesley's door? Come to try and convince him how alone he is? Get him to join Wolfram and Hart as a trophy in your petty war against Angel? Something that once belonged to the pillock is now yours? I have news for you, Lilah. Good men like Wesley are never alone, so you might want to try that tactic on someone else."

Lilah stared at Giles, trying not to tip her hand when he managed to get her reason for being there in one. An important member of Angel Investigations banished and alone? It was too good an opportunity to pass up. "Don't you think that's up to Wesley to decide? After all, he is a big boy now, isn't he? 'Course, you know, if you're so fascinated by what we're up to and why we're so interested in Wesley, you could also come on over and check things out. Who knows, you might even find it to your liking. We'd never take you for granted, unlike some other associations."

"No, it's not up to Wesley," Giles growled. "He is mine." His green eyes flared dangerously. "So is Fred." He knew he was being immensely unfair to both of them, talking of them like this. But they couldn't afford to play games with the likes of Wolfram and Hart.

"Well, aren't you the greedy one? Both of them?" When on earth did he have the time? Although she did have to say that he was rather good-looking. She could understand why they would be taken with him. In fact, she was finding herself rather turned on by him, and she – as a rule – never let that happen.

Giles maneuvered himself on the couch so that he was leaning in her personal space even more. He grinned when she called him greedy, his lips nearly upon her neck. He knew under different circumstances he could claim this woman easily. Beautiful, dangerous...she was just what Ripper liked. "Yes, well, mother always said I never played well with others." His breath washed across her throat before he slipped his tongue out for a taste of warm skin. "I don't believe in sharing," he added, nipping the spot before working his way toward her ear.

"And if I catch you so much as sniffing around them...well, I'll tell you what I told the vampire and his associate. I will assume you are here to do your worst, and I will take action accordingly. You're a bright girl; I assume you know what this means?" He turned his sleeve up and bared his tattoo to her before leaning closer. "I can tell you what it means to me. I won't hesitate to use darkness to serve my purposes. And my two biggest purposes since the death of my Slayer are in this flat." Trailing a finger down the side of her throat, he was amused to see her barely prevent the shiver that wanted to crawl up her spine.

When she saw the tattoo, knowing what it meant, knowing the darkness that he could tap, she couldn't help finding that the most incredibly sexy thing she had seen in a long time. Darkness attracted her, always had, and she would give anything to play with the darkness she was witnessing here. Revel in it, relish in it. It took every ounce of will power she had just to keep from moaning when he touched her.

"A fancy organization such as Wolfram and Hart, I'm certain binds employees through magic," he continued. "Their contracts don't end when they die. Death is only the beginning. Tell me, Lilah, what do you think would happen to your soul if I bound you to me before I snapped your neck? It would be so easy with you here. A little blood...then my magic and the Firm's magic pulling at your soul until it shatters, condemning you to purgatory. I'm sure Wesley and Fred would find that immensely amusing considering the hell you've put them through."

Suddenly, Lilah felt very, very cold.

"You can't protect them forever," she whispered, her throat raw, the words weak. Both of them knew. But she had to say something. "You can't watch them all the time. And if I'm not there, someone else will just take my place. My bosses can be very insistent when they want something."

He chuckled darkly when she decided to push him even more, but there was nothing happy about the sound. "Try me," he said, before drawing her lobe between his teeth and biting hard enough to draw blood. "You want a war with me? Your bosses can anticipate a high body count."

Lilah let out a full body shudder at his growl, knowing that had this been under other circumstances, she would have been pushing this man to the floor. She had never had foreplay this good, and it was being wasted. No wonder both Wesley and Fred were his.

"What are your terms?" she finally managed to make herself ask. "I give you this, and you have to give me something to take back to my bosses."

"Simple," Giles replied "You get the vampire, his seer and his so-called muscle with no interference from me and mine in Sunnydale or in L.A. The Watchers Council doesn't give a whit about Angel or his sodding soul. And anyone who allies themselves with him is fare game. He turned on someone important to me. I now, officially, feel the same," he explained. "You want Angel? Take him, kill him, drive him insane – I don't care. But Wesley and Fred are off limits to you and yours."

The twig and the brain in exchange for the rest of the Good N Plenties? Not exactly what she would have wanted, but she supposed it would have to do because she knew there was no way in hell she'd be getting out of here alive if she didn't agree. And given her contract, she knew which was currently preferable.

"All right. They're off limits. I'll make sure the others know." She hated saying it, but she had no choice. "Too bad. You and Wesley could have had great careers with Wolfram and Hart. You ever change your–."

The look he shot her kept her from completing her sentence. There would be no changed minds. Looked like she'd have to find a different way to get to Angel now. The kid was still missing – she could probably still turn that to her advantage.

The doorbell rang a moment later, and Lilah never thought she'd be so glad to hear a sound like that in her life. "That would be the courier."

"I'll just get that," he smiled, the warmth on his face deceptive to the power coiled underneath.

He answered the door, aware of Lilah's location at all times. She was not the type of woman that one blindly turned their backs on and lived to tell the tale.

"Thank you." He snatched the case from the courier before he had a chance to object and slammed the door in his face. Turning back toward the woman on the couch, he opened the contents, his green eyes darkening. "You used a highlighter on the Niazian scrolls? I should kill you for such desecration. There isn't a mystical court in any dimension that would hold me accountable." He sighed, tucking the parchments back into the case. "But, you delivered, and as I don't plan on seeing you again, I'll overlook it."

His eyes narrowed on the woman in front of him. She was already plotting.

"Lilah...the boy is mine too. You said I was greedy; I might as well live up to it." He smirked. "Wesley and I will find him. He no longer belongs to Angel as he hasn't allied himself by choice. Taunt him with the fact that he's lost his son all you like, but we will find Connor, and he will stay with us. He's an innocent; you, however, are not. I don't give a damn what you tell the Senior Partners. Tell them he was never found...probably would be safer for you if you did."

"You wou–," she started to say before she stopped herself, realizing that he would. And he had just made her their damn accomplice in all this. If the Partners knew she knew what Giles was planning, she was dead. If Giles knew she had tattled, she was worse than dead. "Damn you're good."

Giles laughed, this time the sound genuine. It had taken some maneuvering, but in the end, he not only had enough to keep Lilah Morgan off of their asses but also made it so it was in her best interest to cover them as well as herself. Not bad for a day's work.

Pushing herself off the couch, she walked over to him. "You know, it really is too bad we had to end up like this. We could have been something...hot, together." She held out her hand. "I believe you have something of mine?"

"Maybe another lifetime, pet. My tastes tend to stay toward the lighter side of things these days." He smirked, passing her phone back to her. "Wish I could say it has been a pleasure, but we both know I'd be lying."

He opened the door, waiting for her to step out. Once she did, he could tell she was about to say something else, but he cut her off when he slammed it shut, immediately turning the lock. He looked toward the kitchen with a broad smile.

"You can come out now, Fred. The big, bad witch is gone," he teased, genuinely pleased how things worked out.

Fred had been listening in the door of the kitchen, trying not to laugh out loud at the sound of Lilah trying to go toe to toe with Giles and finding herself woefully outclassed. It was wonderful to witness the great Lilah Morgan going down in flames, even if she didn't actually see it. Hearing it was enough.

When he called to her, she was out into the living room like a shot, a huge grin on her fact. "I've never seen anyone take Lilah on that way and actually win. That was amazing." She wanted to ask him about what he had said – about his claiming Wesley and her as his, but she knew that had just been for Lilah's benefit, to make her leave them alone. Hadn't it? So instead, she asked about the other question she had on her mind, "Did you mean what you said? We're going to get Connor back...and not return him to Angel?"

"I meant everything I said to her. Wesley's instincts were good on this. I'm sure of it. Now that we have the scrolls back, he can confirm it to his own satisfaction. I don't want him to have to live the rest of his life never knowing. "

Fred's eyes opened wide. He thought that the scrolls were right. That Wesley had been right despite what that Sahjahn had claimed? That meant that... Suddenly, she was across the living room and throwing her arms around Giles. "He was right?"

Giles smiled warmly, his free arm wrapped around Fred. "I think he was. Wesley has developed good instincts. I don't think he would have made a move like he did without some inkling of what he believed to be the truth. If I had to hazard a guess, I'd say this Sahjahn had his own plans for Connor, and Holtz's vendetta against Angel interfered with that. Wesley just got caught up in the middle. Opening the rift was the only thing Sahjahn could do to salvage the situation and still accomplish his goals."

"Oh, God, when he finds that out... We never would have known for sure if you hadn't come up here and gotten that back from her."

He stroked a hand down her hair. "You called me because you thought Wesley needed me. And I promised you I would look out for both of you. That includes emotional stability as well as physical. This is how I take care of my friends," he explained.

He was puzzled that she acted like it something out of the norm for him. But in all fairness, she didn't really know him.

"We will get Connor back, and if that boy is in danger from Angel, as most people around him are, I have no intention of returning him. I'll contact the Council to have them organize papers showing you as Connor's mother and Wesley as his father. You've been in Pylea for five years, and Wesley is a good-looking man who keeps to himself. There's no way they can disprove the documents." Giles tossed the sack he was still holding down on the table so he could wrap his other arm around her. "It's now in Lilah's best interest to cover our asses on this, even if it is only to cover her own with her bosses. We just have to find the boy first. The first step in that will be to get Wesley to stop doubting himself."

She considered what he had said about her becoming Connor's mother. "Do you–do you think we can really pull that off? What if the others find out? They're going to know that I'm not–that Wesley and I aren't–they're gonna know."

"Whether they know it or not is one thing. It will be the word of a man who doesn't exist, a girl in her twenties who has lost contact with not only her friends but also her family and an orphaned street thug with a police record against you, me and Wesley backed by the weight of the Watchers Council. They won't be able to prove a thing."

She nodded, closing her eyes, imagining what it would be like to have Connor back and to be a mother to him. After helping to take care of him for so long, she had come to love and care for the little boy as much as she would have a child of her own. Taking that last step with Wesley's and Giles' help wouldn't be hard. She was willing to do whatever it took to protect him. No one would hurt him, not even Angel. No one would hurt him or Wesley. She and Giles would make sure of that.

"I said I'd do whatever it takes for Wesley. When we get Connor back, I'm willing to do this for both of them."

"Good girl, that's just what I wanted to hear." Giles smiled, resting his chin on the head of the woman his friend loved. "Wesley needs us to be strong for him right now. This mistake is going to take him awhile to get over, so all we can do is love him and give him time. He'll get stronger more quickly under those circumstances. He just needs hope. We can give him that."

"Well, that's good because love and time I have in abundance." Sighing softly, she shook her head slightly. "It's amazing how so much can change in so little time. Never thought I would have been standing here just a few days ago, but now I'm here and I can't imagine being anywhere else. Doesn't seem right somehow that I possibly couldn't be here." She pulled away slightly and looked up at Giles. "Where will we start with all this? I wanted to tell Wesley what you did...do you think that's a good idea?"

He laughed, stepping back. He could see her excitement. She was practically vibrating with it. She reminded him so much of Willow when she was younger. "You deserve this, and so much more. With Wesley, you have a chance at it." He smiled, giving her a nod. "And by all means, tell him. It might do him some good to know that the scroll is here and what we plan to do with it." He glanced down at his watch. "He should be up again within the hour. I'll make the call to the Council and see what texts they can find on Quor'Toth. I'll have them sent here. Until then, we can work with Wesley's books and the few I brought with me."

"Sounds good. And I actually started the kettle again while I was in there, so we can have fresh tea as well. Don't worry, though, I didn't actually put any hemlock in any of the cups. Wesley seems to be fresh out of it." She wrinkled her nose for a moment. "Maybe we should pick some up if we have to do a supply run. Just in case."

"Ahh, I shouldn't worry about Lilah. By herself, she's a little amusing, but I've dealt with far more dangerous creatures than her. And by claiming Connor as well as the two of you, I've tied her hands, guaranteeing she cannot use her precious firm against us. In this case, it will actually be in her best interest to help us. I know someone very much like Lilah Morgan. They'll push you until you think you might break, but when it boils down to it, self preservation is all they care about," Giles told her, thinking of Ethan. Maybe he would make it up to the lawyer and send his old friend her way. "Now, why don't you get that tea? I'll bite the bullet and be your first guinea pig. I'll make the call before you get back."

Fred nodded with a smile, knowing that if he said that Lilah Morgan would never darken their doorstep again, then he was probably right. Turning, she grabbed the two abandoned cups of tea they had never finished due to the lawyer's earlier arrival and hurried back into the kitchen, where she set about making a fresh pot after rinsing out what was left from before. As she worked, her mind wandered. The idea of becoming a mother – especially to the son of vampires, and one vampire in particular – was a bit daunting, but she knew that they could do it. Part of her wanted to tell the others that they had been wrong and Wesley had been right to clear his name with them, but after what had happened at the Hyperion, she knew that it probably wouldn't do any good whatsoever. They would believe what they wanted to believe.

So it would be her and Wesley and Giles, and they would make sure that Connor was taken care of and loved, and she would also make sure that Wesley was taken care of as well with Giles' help. After scooping five teaspoons into the pot, she poured the water in from the kettle on the stove and let it steep while she rinsed out the cups. She loved Wesley and knew Giles did too. He would see that they were going to be there for him no matter what.

"Collins."

"Mark, it's Rupert. I'm calling in that favor we talked about. Tell Burke I'm calling his in too. I need you both to do this quietly but quickly. Go to the Library. I need all information you can dig up on Quor'Toth. It's another dimension. Everything I've heard leads me to believe it's a hell dimension. So start there with your search. I don't care how small the reference, I want it all sent here to Los Angeles," he instructed, hearing his friend writing things down.

"You're in L.A.? Does Quentin know?" the man asked.

"Probably not, but when have I given a flying fart about what Quentin knows or thinks. I'm at Wesley Wyndam-Pryce's flat in L.A. You can send what you find here. I need it all. We have a spot of trouble here that needs a resolution as fast as possible."

"All right, Rupert, you'll have to give us at least a day to track it down. We can magick it over if it's that important," Collins offered.

"It is. And you do this for me, both of you are squared," Giles told him.

"Well then, I best get to work then. Until later then."

He heard the call disconnect and replaced the receiver.

"Did you get in touch with them?" she asked.

"Hmmmm?" he replied absentmindedly, his thoughts going a mile a minute as he was already plotting out a course of action and the steps that needed to be made to carry it out. He suddenly realized what she had asked and turned to face her. "Yes, actually. Two of my associates will be searching the Council Library. I didn't go into detail but stressed the importance of those materials. It might take a few days, but they'll magick everything they find here." He sat on the couch and poured two cups of tea, remembering how Fred had prepared hers the first time. He passed her the cup. "The groundwork has been laid, but the trick is going to be tracking down the exact spell or ritual to allow us to get to this Quor'Toth. Between the three of us, it shouldn't be a problem, though."

She nodded. "I guess now would be a good time to mention that I took the best research and magic books we had from the office when I was packing things up. They're in the bottom of the box." Setting the tea cup down for a moment, she hurried over and pulled the books out. "I wasn't sure if all of them were Wesley's or the group's, but I...I kind of figured that we'd have better use for them than they would. And I think I was being a bit spiteful."

Walking back over to the couch and sitting down, she passed a couple of the books over to Giles. "I know that Wesley and I always used these when we were trying to find out information."

"Brogin's Rituals. The Black Chronicles. Davidoff's Demon Anthology. These are all very thorough books. Wesley has taught you well." Giles smiled proudly. "Later, I'll call Tara as well. Have her send The Pergamum Codex." He was amused by her curious look. "The most likely candidate to have gone to a place like Quor'Toth would be a past Slayer. The Pergamum Codex is the Slayer's codex, which documents past feats as well as future prophecies. We may find a lead in it. The book was missing for several generations, thought to be lost. So when Angel brought it to me in Sunnydale that first year, I tied the book to me directly, so I would always know where it was. I can call it here myself, but with Lilah, and Angel and the others – I'd rather conserve my energy."

She nodded at that. No doubt that Wolfram and Hart would be on the look out for anything pointing to a book like that if it was so important, and using a binding spell to call it would most certainly attract their attention faster that anything.

"You said that the rest of the stuff should be here from the Council in two days. How long do you think it might take to figure this out once we get it? If this world is as bad as Angel made it sounded, it's possible–I mean, I don't want to think that it could, but–what if...?" She couldn't make herself finish the sentence. In fact, she found that she didn't want to finish the sentence. She wanted to believe that it wouldn't be too late by the time they got everything figured out and that Holtz would keep Connor alive until they could go in and save him.

"I wouldn't worry about Connor," he told her, sensing the direction of her thoughts. "Darla was over three hundred years old while Angelus one of the most bloodthirsty creatures that ever existed, and Daniel Holtz kept them on the run for nearly half a century. That should be testament enough to his effectiveness. Killing Connor wouldn't be in his best interest. We have no way of knowing how time progresses there, so he may need the boy as he grows, to protect himself when he becomes too old to fight. Besides, his revenge on Angel is more potent if he raises the boy to hate his father than by just slaughtering him outright. I think if it comes down to it, he'll protect Connor with his life."

Nodding her head, she glanced over at the door to Wesley's bedroom instead. "Should we wake him up or get started on this and let him sleep for now?"

He was about to suggest they allow him to sleep but was cut off by the knocking on the door jam. He looked up and smiled at a slightly groggy looking Wesley, leaning against the wall near his bedroom doorway. "No need. Sleeping beauty arises on his own."

"Hey," Fred said, jumping up from the couch and crossing over to wrap her arms around Wes, helping him back over to sit down. She wanted to immediately spill what was going on and tell him what had happened with Lilah but figured that it would be better to at least get him settled before overwhelming him with all the information. "How are you feeling?"

Giles had to tamp down on the urge to go help his friend to the couch. He reminded himself that that place was Fred's, first and foremost. Oddly enough, though, he didn't begrudge her for it despite his own feelings regarding the younger man. She loved Wesley – anyone with eyes could see that. And he adored seeing the smile her mere presence put on his friend's face. He angled himself on the couch to allow Wes more room, waiting for him to get settled, but his gaze was on Fred. He smiled. She was excited.

"Fred, just tell him before you bounce out of here with excitement," he teased, passing Wes one of his pads and a pen.

Feel fine. Rested, Wes wrote. He looked between his friend and his love, wondering what they were up to. Tell me what?

"We had a guest while you were asleep – Lilah Morgan," Fred said after sticking her tongue out at Giles and then winking. Childish, she knew, but she couldn't help it. Besides, she only ever stuck out her tongue at people she liked. "She wanted to try to get to you, but Giles told her to stay the hell away from us and then got her to bring us the piece of the Niazian Scroll she stole, so we have it back now, and Giles thinks that you were right about the prophecy, no matter what Sahjahn said–you were right! And he thinks we can get Connor back too."

Wesley looked at Fred, eyes wide, the shock of what she had said, consuming him to the point that he didn't even hear Giles' soft laugh. The fact that Lilah had surfaced to get to him didn't even matter either. Rupert had retrieved the scrolls from her. The pieces of parchment that could have saved him and Fred both a mountain load of grief and pain – they were in his possession once again. He was almost afraid to look at them. Looking up when he felt the hand on his shoulder, his eyes filled with tears seeing the gentle smile on his friend's face. Wesley's breathing began to pick up as the emotions rocked him to the core. The pain, the anguish... For the first time in months, there was a chance to know if it was all worth it. If he was right, Holtz's interference had only delayed the prophecy. He could still do this right. His shoulders began to shake with the weight of the guilt starting to uncoil, and the tears flowed freely. Giles didn't hesitate this time, wrapping his arms around the thin shoulders and pulling him against his chest. He held him tightly, allowing him to ride things out, as he whispered soothing noises into the younger man's ear.

The smile dropping off her face, Fred leaned into Wesley as Giles held him against his chest, wrapping her arms around him from the other side and holding on to him tightly, her arms resting over Giles'. She hadn't meant it to come out as fast as it had, but it had. And they had a second chance now. A chance to prove he was right.

"Just let it out," Giles encouraged him, knowing full well, this release went much further back than the debacle with Connor. This extended years back, perhaps into his childhood. And now, for the first time, Wesley had the means to vindicate his decision...even if it was only to himself. He suspected Wesley might react this way, but he was certain he needed it. The only thing Giles regretted was not having the forethought to warn Fred. He looked down at the dark head on his shoulder, tamping down on the protest his ribs wanted to make in protest of Wesley's desperate grip.

After several minutes, the worst of it seemed over. He lifted Wes' gaze to meet his, his heart skipping a beat at the soulful look in those tear-filled blue eyes. There was no shame, no fear, and no sense of loss that had been present the night before. There was determination, gratefulness, and something more Giles just couldn't put his finger on.

"I called in a few favors. Texts are on the way. We'll confirm your translation, then we're going to go to Quor'Toth to collect Connor," Giles promised him, pressing his lips to Wesley's forehead. "No more guilt, Wesley. That wanker you call your father, he's not here. You were caught in a very ugly situation that Fred and I are going to help you make right."

Fred kept her hand on Wesley's back as Giles told him what they had planned. "What happened wasn't your fault – you were right and did the only thing you could, Wesley," she told him when Giles finished speaking, her hand moving up to the back of his head, running through his hair. She looked over into Giles' eyes as she said this, seeing the assurance there, knowing that both of them together would make sure that Wesley succeeded in this. "I took all the books that we always used for research from Angel Investigations – didn't know if they were yours particularly but figured that didn't matter. We can use them to get started until the rest of what Giles has asked for arrived."

Reaching around him, she clasped her hand over his and Giles' to show that they were in this together, all the way, however long it took and even beyond that. "I believe in you, Wesley. I know we can do this together."

Giles smiled as Fred's hand close over theirs, feeling himself indebted to this small woman. Without her, he would have only been able to help Wesley so much. Her devotion to the younger man was even stronger than his. Now, not only did they have a chance to get him past this one incident, but also, Wesley could be happy. He just lay still when Wesley put his hand in the middle of his chest, using him as leverage to sit up. But what surprised him was when the hand was left there. He could feel the small circles being rubbed on his chest in a silent thank you.

Wesley looked between them sheepishly. He was a little embarrassed about the loss of his composure, but neither of them looked down on him for it. Quite the opposite. He felt Giles' hand close over his, holding it to his chest as he focused on Fred. Reaching his free hand up, he slid it along her jaw, curling around the back of her neck. Slowly, he pulled her toward him, leaning in and giving her a deep kiss. Lost in the sensations of her mouth, her taste, he didn't hear the older man's breathing catch.

Giles looked down at his traitorous body. Wesley had been practically lying on top of him as he cried, and his body's desires had made its presence felt acutely. Shifting when Wesley leaned toward Fred, he winced when his zipper rubbed over his very hard flesh. He needed to calm himself before he continued.

"Fred, give him the satchel with the scrolls." He turned his attention toward Wes. "You can start on those. Nothing too taxing. I'll be right back." He shifted off the couch and disappeared into the bathroom.

She glanced over at him when Wesley broke their kiss, it taking a moment for what he was telling her to process. Then she understood and nodded. Watching him as he got up and headed into the bathroom, she felt her eyes widen when she noticed Giles'...state. Those jeans had been way too tight.

Looking back over at Wesley, she wondered if he had noticed. Both men quite obviously were attracted to each other, and Wes was attracted to her, the way her lips still tingled from the kiss he had given her more than ample evidence of that. Reaching over, she ran her hand along Wesley's cheek, her mind a whirl from all this, wondering where it would all lead – how they would deal with all the electricity being created in this flat. They still hadn't told them about their plan regarding Connor once they retrieved him. Would he agree with that – it would tie the two of them together absolutely. Would he want that? Would he allow it?

Wesley was still reeling in shock a bit. He and Rupert Giles had started out as foes who had happened to be fighting on the same side. He wasn't a total fool; he knew he had been insufferable, pompous and beyond arrogant. He was thankful for their friendship now. Vaguely, he wondered what he had said to Lilah, considering the viper he knew would never concede so easily.

But then Wesley realized what part of this entire mess surprised him most – Rupert Giles was fixing his life, and instead of feeling babied, like he would have even four years ago, he felt loved and cared for. Being alone as a child, that hadn't been his choice. But now, he realized he didn't have to be. He had two very wonderful people willing to do anything for him. The feeling was warming.

Leaning over, Fred kissed him again then went over and got the satchel from the desktop and brought it back over. Sitting back down beside him, she pulled them out to give to him. "Giles said something about Lilah having highlighted the scroll she stole. Surprised she actually got out of here alive after having done that."

His blue eyes narrowed in anger at that. Pulling it out, he opened it, emitting a groan at the damage then wincing at the pain that flared across his throat.

"Hey, don't let what that witch did cause you to hurt your throat anymore," she told him, seeing the expression on his face. Reaching over for the empty cup sitting on the tray on the coffee table, she poured him a cup of tea and made it up for him. "Here. I made this a little bit ago, so it should be cool enough for you to drink now. Neither of us want you back in the hospital because some lawyer doesn't know how to properly handle ancient texts. She's not worth that."

Wesley looked around the flat for a moment, spotting his pills on the counter. He didn't want to depend on them so soon after waking up. He decided he would tough it out as long as he could without them. Grabbing his pad from the table, He quickly wrote down his thoughts.

Still not right. She's basically made these scrolls worthless to anyone besides me, he wrote before a slow smile crossed his face. So Rupert really put her in her place? Makes me sorry I missed it considering what she did to these. Careless bint.

"Oh, he definitely put her in her place. Basically did what Angel was never able to do, and in about two minutes flat. I don't think I even thought I would live to see it, but he did it. He's definitely something special." Looking over his shoulder, she looked at the scrolls and saw the yellow highlights across the aged paper, amazed that she didn't destroy the writing on there by doing it. Most old-fashioned inks would have disappeared or smeared upon reacting with the chemicals in modern highlighters. It made her wonder if the ink had been enchanted to make sure it didn't fade because it didn't look like it had weathered anywhere nearly as badly as the paper.

Wesley nodded, agreeing with her sentiment about Rupert. He had believed so for some time. Intelligent blue eyes immediately scanned the document, finding where his translation had left off instantly. He was still mentally cursing Lilah Morgan. Her theft of the document had stalled his translations and caused undue heartache for all of them. But it was nice to know his old friend had got one over on her. So lost was he in his own thoughts, he never heard the man in question approach.

"I shouldn't worry about Lilah Morgan, Wesley. I made myself clear – the two of you are off limits. As far as she is concerned, you are mine. So is the boy. She has no choice but to cover our asses once we retrieve Connor or her bosses will know she lied to them, and somehow, I don't see them as particularly forgiving," Giles explained, looking over his shoulder from behind the couch. He nodded when Wesley turned to face him, the question in his eyes. "I suspect you were right. And Connor is still in danger from Angel. Once we retrieve him, he'll stay with us with you and Fred listed as his biological parents. All of this will, of course, be backed by 'official' documents supplied by the Council."

While Giles allowed him to process what he had just said, Wesley considered what he was proposing. Part of him felt guilty. Angel had been his friend. And here they were talking about keeping his son away from him as casually as they would discuss the weather. But Giles was right. If the vampire was still a danger to the child, it was their duty to protect him. He knew that the part of the vampire that was his friend would have wanted that. Looking between Giles and Fred, he nodded. He was in for whatever plan they came up with.

Fred let out a little sigh of relief when Wesley agreed to their plan to keep Connor as their own son. Knowing that he understood took a lot of the worry out of this – or at least an important part. Yes, they had to worry about getting him back and there was always the chance that Angel might find out what they had done and come after them, but at least they were in this together. It would give Connor a chance to grow up in a more normal environment too, away from the demons and lawyers and people who wanted to harm simply because he was Angel's son.

Picking up her own cup of tea, she took a few sips – it hadn't turned out bad for her first try, actually. She just hoped the other two thought so although it was quite likely neither of them would say anything just to be nice. She tried to translate the scroll Wesley was reading herself but was only able to pick up a few phrases here and there. Although one of them she did know, having poured over Wesley's notes after discovering he was gone.

"Isn't that the word for father?" she asked, pointing it out but not touching the scroll. "I thought I saw that in your notes."

Wesley looked down at the scroll, his eyes following the passage Fred was indicating. His brain was already switching over to the necessary dialects that would translate the passage to English. Grabbing his pad, he began writing.

"The Father, once consumed by light, will lose everything. Darkness will prevail..." He paused, his eyes widening as he read the next passage. "The Son, and all surrounding him, will die," he added, slumping back on the couch. He was numb. After everything he had been through these past months, he was right, and he didn't know how to wrap his mind around that. Darkness will prevail... Did that mean the return of Angelus? Or would it be a repeat of the time he fired them? He looked up at Giles. Darkness will prevail? Angelus? he wrote, tilting the pad where the other man could read it before showing it to Fred.

"I don't know, Wesley," Giles replied cautiously as Fred read what he had written. "I think for Connor's sake, we have to assume the worst. If Angelus will indeed return, I think we should consider returning to Sunnydale once we've retrieved the boy. Here in L.A., we'd be sitting ducks for him. At least on the Hellmouth, we have the others to help protect him. I'll call Anya tonight and tell her to locate an orb of Thessulah. Willow will be in danger as well. Angelus knows she's the only one who can put his soul back."

Fred felt her heart catch in her chest when she saw the translation. It was one thing to think that the prophecy was true and that Wesley had been right – to see it written down made it all the more real. Angel was a danger to Connor.

She looked over at Giles at he spoke about them moving to Sunnydale to be safer. He was probably right. This was Angel's territory. And Wolfram and Hart's. Between them, if it was ever discovered what they had done, they wouldn't have a chance. Especially if they decided to work together – which she was sure Angelus would do in a heartbeat, given everything that had been said about him, about what he had done previously to Giles and those he loved.

"What's the Orb of Thessulah?" she asked, having never heard of that before. She couldn't recall ever having run across a mention of it in any of the research she and Wesley had ever done.

Wesley looked up at Giles, figuring it would be easier for him to explain than trying to write it out.

"An Orb of Thessulah is used to pull souls from the ether. It's also the main component in Angel's curse. Draw the soul into the orb, and the words of the spell put it back in Angelus," Giles explained. "Jenny managed to translate the spell from the ancient tongue to at least something we could use before...before she was killed. Willow used my orb to re-ensoul him the last time he was loose. They're somewhat hard to come by, but that's where the advantage of employing a former demon comes into play. She has quite an impressive list of contacts."

Fred shook her head in amazement. "I didn't realize it was that complicated. I always thought they were just able to pull his soul from wherever it was and put it back in his body based on what the others said."

"No." Giles gave her a half-smile. "Jenny was a member of the Romany tribe that cursed him, and only they knew the clause in his curse, so there had been no need for it for over a century. The dialects had evolved, so it was a matter of translating the original texts. She had to track it down among her own people." He shrugged. "I suppose we know a little more about it because of her and having to deal with Angelus the last time he was loose."

She wondered if any of them would be prepared if–when Angel lost his soul again. It was coming, after all – the Darkness. That was what the prophecy said. "So are we planning to try to re-ensoul him when this does happen? Give him another chance?"

He looked down at Wes at this. He could see the turmoil in his friend's eyes and sighed, remembering that neither of them had dealt firsthand with the bloodthirsty side of the vampire before. "I know if you ask my people, Xander, Spike and Anya would say dust him right off. Xander especially still bears some hard feelings about the last time. However, out of respect for Buffy and the friendship the both of you shared with him in the past, I say try re-ensouling first. But I caution you both. Angelus is tricky. Plans may change, and to protect all of you, as well as Connor, I will kill him if neccessary."

She believed him – it was in his eyes, in his actions toward Angel, Cordy, Charles and Lilah earlier. He wouldn't hesitate, and he wouldn't grieve if he had to do it because to him, there were more important people to save. It still seemed a little weird to be talking about Angel this way, to be talking about the man who had helped saved her from Pylea and had given her a place to stay and a job and had shown her how to live her life again with the help of the others. But she knew that given what they were planning, what they had found out, they didn't have a choice.

"I understand," she said softly, her eyes locking with Wesley as she said this. "Maybe I should make something for us to eat while you guys get started? I have a feeling we're going to be at this for a while."

"There's some leftover potatoes in the fridge. Maybe we could have those with eggs?" Giles suggested, knowing Wes could handle the soft texture of the eggs. "You can choose, though." He smiled – she understood his desire to not make Wes feel any more self conscious about his soft food diet than he already was. "Skin and Bones here can point out the texts he has, and we'll get started on this end."

Wesley smirked when Giles called him too skinny. He saw a knowing look in Fred's eyes, seeing that she agreed with him. It wasn't that he tried to starve himself. He would just get caught up in his work and would forget to eat until someone shoved something under his nose. He nodded, part of him warmed by the fact that these two wonderful people kept on him so much.

Fred grinned when she saw Wesley's reaction to Giles' jibe. Maybe finally he would take some notice of his awful eating habits and the fact that he had been letting himself waste away recently. "Eggs it is, then," she said, pushing herself up off the couch. She picked up the tray as well. "I'll also refresh the tea. Knowing Wesley's research methods, we're going to be needing a lot of refills."

Heading into the kitchen, she left the two men alone to get started on searching through the books.

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