Author: Crystal

Email: susanharman70@hotmail.com

Spoilers: Night World, Buffy the vampire slayer, Angel.

Disclaimers: The only character I own is Jyira, please ask if you wish to use her. Willow, Angel and everyone from Buffy belong to Joss Whedon, The Night World and characters belong to LJ Smith.

Rating: 15

Warning: sexual context implied, f/f relationship between Willow, Tara. Later on fairly heavy themes.

Summary: done in response to challenge of Willow the shy hacker from Buffy discovering she’s from the Night World. And Angel meets a female vampire with a human soul. Guess what happens when they get together? Disaster. Read on to find more. WARNING TO BUFFY FANS: ANTI BUFFY AND RILEY.

Author’s note: feedback always appreciated.

Is this right? thought Willow, looking up at the huge gigantic mansion. Palm trees lined the drive and in the windows of the huge white house were strange designs of black roses. Possibly a crest of some things. She was supposed to be spending the summer before her second year of college with her distant cousin Jez Redfern. But she had been told she was spending the summer with her friends in a Las Vegas mansion, and had been told she was welcome there too. There was plenty of room for her. And they weren’t kidding! she thought as she stood on the doorstep, nervously twisting a lock of short red hair round her finger as she waited for someone to answer the door. She wished she hadn’t decided to be brave and adventurous and come alone to find the house. She wished desperately that either Buffy or Xander were with her. At least she’d have someone she knew.

She didn’t know Jez at all, only knew that her parents wanted her out the house for the summer, not hanging around doing nothing. The door opened, and a tall, elegantly lanky boy was standing there, a lazy, almost predatory smile on his handsome face. He had ash blond hair and eyes that seemed to shift colour from moment to moment. It was fascinating. "Hi," he said, "I’m Ash. Can I be of service?"

"Uh - I don’t know," Willow stammered, hating herself for suddenly being shy again. She’d thought she’d overcome her shyness. She wished Tara was there. "I’m supposed to be meeting Jez Redfern here, but I’m not sure I've got the right address." She looked down at the piece of paper she held in her hand.

"Does that matter?" Ash said, the predatory smile changing to a sly grin.

"For God’s sake Ash, do you flirt with every girl you meet?" another voice said, sounding disgusted. A girl’s voice. "Mary-Lynette’s going to kill you." The girl was fairly tall with long yellow hair that fell past her shoulders and gentle brown eyes. She smiled a friendly smile.

"I’m Thea, a friend of Jez’s," she said. "You must be Willow. Jez isn’t actually here yet, she’ll be here later."

Willow nodded, still cursing herself mentally for feeling like an idiot because she couldn’t think of something to say.

"Why don’t you come in?" Thea said. "Ash take her suitcases."

"Yes ma’am," Ash said, giving her a salute. He picked up Willow’s two suitcases as Willow followed Thea into the huge house.

Inside was gleaming white and marble. There were unusual abstract paintings on the walls. A huge marble staircase with red carpet led upstairs. Thea led Willow up the stairs and showed her to one of the huge rooms. "Get yourself settled, then come downstairs and I’ll introduce you to everyone."

Willow, feeling a little overwhelmed and very small compared to this huge place, was beginning to feel as if she’d stepped into something way over her head. She didn’t usually have visions, but got the odd premonition feeling, a result of her new found witch powers.

She had no idea how right she was.

* * *

"So who is this new girl, anyway?" Ash asked as he and Thea joined a few others sitting around in one of the living rooms. "She’s kind of shy, isn’t she?"

"Give her a break, she’s probably just nervous about going into a new place full of strange people," Thea said.

Rashel snorted. "If she knew how weird, she’d pack her bags and go home right now."

"Maybe not," Quinn said. "She comes from Sunnydale, right? From what I’ve heard, that town’s supposed to be right on the Hellmouth so she might have seen some pretty weird things so we’d be no different to her."

"Do we tell her about us?" Poppy asked.

Most of Circle Daybreak were staying here with Thierry and Hannah for the summer, before college. They didn’t really have any plans, just hanging out with their friends and their soulmates. Since winning the millennium battle, Circle Daybreak had enquired a new member, Jyira Veraneti.

Jyira was a different species of made vampire to general Night World vampires. Instead of her eyes and teeth changing, her entire face shifted into a more monstrous, demon with sharper teeth and her eyes went yellow. Standard vampire rules, only heard of in legend applied to her. She wore a talisman of lapis lazuli to allow her access to sunlight. About a century or so Jyira and a few vampire friends of hers had made a bad mistake, killing a gypsy girl. Unfortunately for them, the girl’s clan had taken vengeance on Jyira and a friend of hers, cursing them both with a human soul, doomed to remember forever all the people they’d hurt over the years. The other member of their little coven had escaped, and Jyira said she had no idea what had happened to her, or to him either. She hadn’t seen either of them in years. Jyira was tall, with long gold hair and midnight blue eyes. She was very quiet and quite solitary. Thierry had known her for a while, and had suggested she would fit into Circle Daybreak, who could give her somewhere to belong to, and be with other people who would understand what she'd been through.

Circle Daybreak themselves had won the millennium battle, gathering four wild powers and successfully gathering enough strength to banish the reining evil. They all knew that not every Night Worlders had been killed, there were still some out there, and they had to be hunted down and stopped.

"I don’t think we should," Hannah said finally. "We should wait until we know a little bit about her first. I’m sure she's a perfectly trustworthy person, but you never can tell."

"Appearances can be deceiving," Sarah muttered, something which had taught her a harsh lesson.

"Tell me about it," Jyira muttered, a vision of a handsome face, and endlessly deep dark eyes filling her vision for a moment. Looking into those eyes and allowing him to seduce her had been the biggest mistake of her life. Of course, she'd eventually forgiven Angel for changing her against her will, after he’d taught her the joys of being a vampire, but then again, that had cost them both too. She felt as if she just couldn’t win. She always vaguely wondered how he was coping. She admitted to herself she would like to see him again.

"So what *do* we tell Willow?" Maggie asked.

"That we’re just a group of friends all hanging out and enjoying ourselves before college starts again," Thea said. "That’s all we really can say. I’ll say a few people are friends of mine and Jez’s and Ash is our cousin, and there are some of his friends, and their boyfriends/girlfriends or whatever. That’s believable."

"What if someone does something stupid and she finds out?" Poppy said.

"Who’d be stupid enough to let the secret slip?" Rashel said with another snort.

There were notably several glances at Ash, who looked back at them, aggrieved. "You guys don’t think much of me, really, do you?"

"We never think of you at all," Quinn said with a dry smile.

Ash folded his arms and slumped down lower in his chair. "It’s always nice to know you’re appreciated."

"If she does discover something she shouldn’t, we’ll have no choice but to tell," Hannah said.

Poppy shivered suddenly. Which was strange because it was warm and there were no windows open, or air-conditioning on.

"Poppy? What’s wrong?" Maggie asked, her little face concerned.

Poppy frowned, an uncharacteristic expression for her. "I don’t know. I just had this weird feeling. A feeling that someone’s coming and something’s going to go horribly, horribly wrong."

* * *

Willow sighed heavily, shutting her bedroom door. She’d spent the afternoon with her cousin’s friends. Something about them was off, weird. She wondered if she couldn’t be a bit jealous because they were all so good looking, while she herself felt small and dull. She wanted to be back at home with her own friends where she fit in and could at least find something interesting to talk about. And Ash's insistent flirting was making her nervous. She’d already mentioned politely that she was taken, (she didn’t mention who by) but that didn’t seem to both him, Ash said he already had a girlfriend, she’d be arriving sometime soon, and maybe they could swap. She doubted Mary-Lynette would be impressed with that idea.

Thea had said just to ignore him. At least she was nice, Willow had the feeling they could be friends. She wasn’t so sure about Thea’s cousin Blaise, a striking girl with cold grey eyes that seemed unnerving. The way she seemed obsessed with herself reminded Willow a little of Cordelia. She smiled a little, thinking it would be funny if they were both in the same room together. Poppy seemed like fun, and so did Maggie, but she felt nervous around their boyfriends. James was kind of quiet, but he was nice when he smiled. She had the feeling that he didn’t talk a lot, only to Poppy. Around them she felt like an intruder. And Delos, and his yellow eyes, were scary. Those golden eyes reminded her of vampire eyes, just before they killed you. Rashel and Quinn, the other couple, seemed cool and kind of distant, in their own world. Hannah was okay too, a little like Thea, nice and friendly, as her boyfriend Thierry (which Willow secretly thought was a ridiculous name.) Jez hadn’t shown up yet, and was expected sometime this evening or tomorrow. And Jyira…she barely said a word. She reminded Willow a little of Angel. She had the same lost look in her eyes.

But of course, she'd only just met them, and for all she knew, they could be completely different. At least the house was cool, there were plenty of rooms to explore and the weirdest things. What she didn’t understand when she was in that room, why her witch senses had been on the alert. She could sense power in these people. Something telling her a number of them weren't human. Well, she thought, after all the things I’ve seen, what difference does one more impossibility make? Bored, she opened her lap top computer and logged onto one of the Internet chat rooms she used. Of course, she was always a little wary of people she met on line, since once she had met a robot, and didn’t particularly want to repeat the experience.

Someone who called themselves darkknight was trying to keep a conversation with her, inviting her to a private room, asking her about herself, what she liked to do. Well, she thought, talk about myself? I live on a weird town directly over the Hellmouth run by vampires. My best friend is a vampire Slayer and I’m dating another girl, also, I’m learning how to be a full fledged witch, and a gigantic demon tried to eat us all on Graduation Day, and we fought a huge war, but we won in the end. And how weird was our first year of college? Should I really say that? She could just imagine the look on his face. She told him she was from a small town in Southern California, she had just finished her first year of college and was spending the summer with her cousin and her friends in Las Vegas.

Darkknight said he was in Las Vegas too. It’d be cool if they could meet sometime. Willow said she wasn’t so sure about that. She’d have to think about it. The door slammed open. Obviously Blaise never bothered to knock. "I’m hungry and there’s *nothing* to eat around here. Me, Crystal and Scarlet are going downtown. Want to come?"

"Down town Las Vegas?" Willow didn’t know. Part of her longed to see Las Vegas, but part of her wasn't sure about going with Blaise and her friends. She had a sneaking suspicion Blaise was up to something.

"Hmm. We’re trying to convince Jyira to come too, she never leaves the mansion. She needs to get out more," Blaise said. Then she noticed the computer and the chat room. "Who’re you talking to?"

"Some guy called darkknight, but he sounds a little weird. We’ve barely been talking for fifteen minutes and he wants to meet. He says he’s in Vegas too."

Blaise’s eyebrow raised. "Tell him yes and to bring some friends along."

Willow frowned. "That could be dangerous. He could be anyone. He could be a - " She bit her lip, suddenly breaking off. She had been about to say, he could be a vampire looking for victims. She didn’t want Blaise to think she was crazy.

"Go find Hannah and tell her we’re going out, we don’t want her getting paranoid and sending the Calvary after us," Blaise said. And Willow went to find Hannah.

Blaise sat at the desk, looking at the computer, asking darkknight his real name. His real name was Jeslan Redfern. A Redfern. A vampire using Internet chat rooms to pick up his victims. How modern.

She grinned and told him who she really was, one of the last of the female Harmans. She told him to meet her at a Night World club in town. See if Willow had some backbone. Who knows, maybe she’d like to be a Night Person.

Night World clubs like the Black Iris chain had supposedly been shut down after the millennium, but Blaise knew of a few that were still in business for the remaining Night People who liked to break the rules.

Darkknight said he was looking forward to meeting his meal.

Now, she and her friends were going to have to come up with an alibi, just in case something did happen to Willow. How they were going to explain it to Jez.

* * *

Part 4

Willow was more nervous than she could remember being in a long time as she followed Jyira, Blaise and her friends down town. They’d decided to walk, as parking would be a nightmare. And none of them had a car. Jyira walked quietly beside Willow. She was dressed in black from head to toe and looked like a shadow, blending into the darkness surrounding her. Willow’s witch senses were screaming *vampire* at her. But if Jyira was a vampire, why wasn’t she killing them all? She had all vampire traits, and Willow had noticed, when they passed a mirror in the mansion’s entryway, Jyira had no reflection. Now, that was a little odd. Everyone else had seen too and nobody had said a word. Maybe they all knew she didn’t care.

Blaise and her friends were all stunning. Heads turned as they passed, car horns beeped, guys whistled and waved. Blaise and her friends waved back. Jyira snorted and rolled her eyes, muttering something about men being the most absurd species on earth, and how male vampires were worse than male humans. Secretly, Willow had to agree. She couldn’t help wondering if Jyira preferred women to men. As if reading her thought, Jyira said, "Not really. I had a boyfriend once. Only, it ended badly. Something happened and we were separated." A look of pain crossed her face. "I never saw him again." She sighed. "I miss him."

"You’re afraid of being hurt again?" Willow guessed. She could understand.

Jyira sighed and nodded. "He gave me this." She held out her hand, showing the small gold ring set with a blue stone on her finger.

"What was he like?" Willow asked.

Jyira’s expression turned dreamy. "Tall, dark, drop dead gorgeous with the most intense dark eyes. They seemed to look right inside you. His name was Angel." She snorted. "Which is completely inapt for him, since he was more like the devil in flesh."

Willow’s eyebrows were in her hair. Coincidence, she told herself. But then again, how many tall dark handsome Angels were there? And it sounded as if Jyira had been involved with Angelus, Angel’s demon.

She wondered if Jyira knew what had happened to him. Should she tell? She wasn’t sure. Angel had been around for a long time, and was bound to have a load of ex girlfriends dotted about the globe. She could ask Buffy. Maybe Angel had mentioned Jyira to her. Maybe she could see about trying to get them together again…

Of course, this was all speculation, and maybe it really was just a really weird coincidence. She seriously doubted it, but it wasn't any of her business and she’d better just keep her nose out. She noticed Jyira had gone all quiet again, a sad, pensive expression on her face.

"You know, that’s the first time someone’s been able to get more than a sentence out of her," Blaise said, glancing back at them. "What happened to separate you?"

Jyira’s expression darkened. "I don’t want to talk about it."

"He probably dumped her," one of Blaise’s friends muttered.

"He did not!" Jyira said defensively. "We just killed the wrong person is all. And her clan didn’t like it and decided to make us pay. And it was Darla’s fault. Getting the damn gypsy girl was her idea, and she got away with it." Jyira’s voice trailed off into a mutter.

All Willow’s suspicions had been confirmed. But it was surprising. Jyira was a souled vampire too? What had happened to separate her and Angel, then? And how come he’d never mentioned her before? Unless back then she’d been going by a different name. It made sense. Angel had done the same.

But Jyira seemed so unhappy. She’d have to see about reuniting them. She wondered what Jyira had been life before it happened. She remembered how bad Angel had been when his demon had been set loose, was Jyira just as bad? Getting them back together could be disastrous.

She decided to keep her nose out of it.

Blaise was leading them all into a world of glitz and bright lights and colour. People were everywhere. The hotels were all strange, there was one with a flaming pyramid outside, another with an Eiffel Tower outside, and one with a small Statue of Liberty and a roller coaster on the outside. She hoped Blaise would talk them into going on that roller coaster. Right on the edge of the hotel, high up, and generally scary. The one opposite had a large lion out front with flashing green eyes. Willow had heard all about this place, seen it on TV and in movies. But it was more fun to actually be there, just walking around and looking at the strange wondrous sights without needing to be inside with the gambling.

But the area Blaise was leading them into now was darker, away from the glamour of the Strip area. She knocked on a door with a spray painted black iris. It opened an inch and a skinny kid with beady eyes looked out. "Who are you?"

"I am Blaise of the Harman clan and these are my friends. We’re expected." Blaise had her hands on her hips, tapping one heeled door impatiently while the skinny kid opened the door and let them in.

"Stupid werewolf," the girl with long dark red hair said. Willow thought her name was Scarlet.

She opened her mouth indignantly to tell them werewolves weren’t stupid, she had dated one and he happened to be very smart. But then something struck her. Werewolf? That girl had *known* that boy was a werewolf. And they obviously knew Jyira was a vampire. So what were they? Vampires? Something else all together? Maybe they were witches. And why were the Harman clan so important?

Something inside Willow was telling her to be afraid, be very, very afraid. The place inside was strange, hardly any light shone, and dark figures moved around to strange music. It had a dark, twisting Gothic atmosphere to it, a perfect place for vampires, in other words.

She was beginning to panic. She didn’t feel right here. She wanted to leave. But they’d only just gotten here, and she suddenly decided she didn’t want to see Blaise in a bad mood. Blaise was talking to a guy with a shock of blue spiky hair, dressed in black leather. The other girl who had come with them, Crystal, a dark haired girl, had drifted off to the bar. Surely, they weren't old enough to drink, but nobody was ordering them out. Willow felt like telling the manager or something; anything to get out of here.

Blaise and the blue haired guy were walking over to her. Willow backed away, looking for some way out, and almost ran into some girl with pink hair. The girl glared at her, raising a fist with a ring on every finger. She closed her eyes, bracing herself for the blow.

"Hey, leave it, Kyra," a male voice was saying. "She didn’t do it on purpose."

Willow opened her eyes to see the pink haired girl delivering a withering glare at her. She turned around to see who’d saved her. It was Blaise and the blue haired boy.

"You must be Willow," he said, grinning, with a row of big whit teeth.

Willow was confused. "Do I know you?" She knew for sure she didn’t. But how did he know her?

"We met on the Net a few hours ago," he said.

Willow frowned. "darkknight," she said, remembering the handler name.

He grinned again. He grinned a lot. Blaise smiled. "Well, I’ll leave you two alone to get aquatinted."

Willow glared helplessly at her. There was nothing she could do. She looked around for someone to escape to, but couldn’t see Jyira anywhere.

Darkknight or whatever his real name was, was staring at her in a very strange way. His eyes were going very dilated, shining like an animal’s. She could sense he was trying to do something to her mind, control her, take over or something, but she was fighting him without knowing how she was able to.

Eventually he gave up. "Oh the hell with it," he said. He suddenly grabbed her shoulders, his grip like steel. She couldn’t break free. His canine teeth were lengthening. His face didn’t shift, however, like the vampires she'd seen. This was a new species.

Frightened, Willow slammed a knee into his groin, forcing him to let go of her. And then something happened. She wasn't sure what. Something inside her seemed to wake up suddenly, telling her to teach this guy a lesson. Willow kicked him again. He stumbled backwards, crashing into a table. Willow smiled, not a very nice smile, and lifted a chair, smashing it over his back. He cried out in pain, blood covering his face. The smell of that blood was enticing. Willow grabbed his head, yanked him up, and sank her own fangs into his neck. The hot blood gushed into her, filling her with a power that was more intense than any witchcraft she'd ever done. Someone seemed to be coming to stop her, she could sense them from behind. She raised a hand, and a flash of orange energy sizzled out, striking them.

She was annoyed when someone grabbed her shoulders and pulled her off the blue haired guy, who was almost dead by now. Willow looked up to see Jyira staring at her in surprise.

Jyira’s face had changed. She was wearing the monstrous face of the vampire spices Willow knew. But then, what species was *she?* She remembered Anya, the demon who’d created an alternate universe, the result of a wish Cordelia had made. In that reality she and Xander had been vampires. In her own reality she was now a vampire. What the hell was going on here? Had that universe somehow come back and merged with hers? Or was there something going on in her own world even she and her friends had had no idea about? New species of demons gathered together, passing themselves off as people?

Jyira’s yellow vampire eyes were glowing. She began dragging Willow out the club.

"What the hell was that?" she said, still in full vamp face.

Willow shrugged, catching a glimpse of her own reflection in a store window. Her eyes were a bright and shining silvery-green, her canine teeth as long as a wild cat’s, curving into delicate points, dripping with blood. "You tell me," she answered Jyira. "I have no idea. I’ve been studying witchcraft. And I seem to have a knack for it."

"Half witch, half vampire," Jyira said softly. "That’s new."

"And maybe you can tell me who you really are," Willow said.

Jyira frowned. "As you can obviously see, I’m a vampire. But you were right before. I have a human soul, which is real pain in the ass."

Willow nodded, understanding. "So what happens now?"

Jyira shrugged. "Don’t ask me, I don’t know. I guess what we can do is go look up your family tree, and see what skeletons are hidden in your closet."

* * *

Part 5

Willow and Jyira walked back to Thierry’s mansion. Jyira’s features had shifted back to her regular features, so had Willow’s. Her teeth had gone back to normal and so had her silvery green eyes. They looked like a person’s eyes now.

The mansion was quiet when they arrived. It was late so they figured everyone else was either out or had gone to bed for the evening. Willow led Jyira up to her room, where she logged back onto the Internet and searched for her family name Rosenberg. Most of the references that came up were completely useless, but the more Willow searched, eventually she came up with things that were meaningful to her.

Willow pointed at the screen. "These two names seem to appear a lot," she said to Jyira. "Harman and Redfern. Do they mean anything to you?"

Jyira’s eyebrows were in her hair. "Redferns and Harmans are the most important Night World families in the world. The Redferns are the vampires, and the Harmans are the witches." Jyira frowned and looked at the screen. "From what it looks like you’re descended from the Night World, you have Redfern genes on your mother’s side. Your mother’s sister’s father was a Redfern, and he had a son who and he married a human woman, and they had Jez. And you have Harman blood on your father’s side. The Harman line is run through the women, rather than the men. You must be a new breed. Half witch, half vampire."

"I guess my parents really had no idea about the Night World then, or they would have told me, and about all these stupid rules they have to follow," Willow said. She shook her head in confusion. "But if I have vampire blood inside me, why have I never felt the need to feed it?"

Jyira shrugged. "Don’t ask me. I don’t know. Maybe it’s cause you never really believed that vampires existed or something."

"But I know about vampires and I have for the last four years or so." Willow frowned. "It was in my junior year of high school, coming onto senior year that I started discovering witchcraft."

"Maybe the more you believe the more your powers work," Jyira suggested.

"But that still doesn’t explain about the vampire part," Willow argued. "I’ve known about your species, like I already said. My best friend Buffy is the Slayer."

Jyira’s eyebrows raised. "I seem to have had a few problems with the last few Slayers. We’re not exactly each other’s favourite people." She was smiling a little. The first time Willow had seen her smile. There was a sense of humour there, very subtle, but it was there. Willow told her about the last few years of her life, about the dark world Buffy had brought them all. It hadn’t been her fault, she’d never wanted any of it. Jyira didn’t give her any funny looks, or move away from her when she told about her new relationship with Tara, Buffy and Xander had been looking at her slightly weird ever since they’d told them. And finally, Willow decided she had no choice but to tell her about Angel too.

Jyira just listened, without saying a word. Her eyes clouded over whenever she mentioned him, and whatever traces there had been of a smile on her face, had faded completely. She now looked as blank and remote as she had when they’d first met.

Willow looked at her. "You still miss him, huh?"

Jyira sighed and nodded. "For almost two centuries he was all I knew. He taught me how to survive." She paused. "Of course, it all ended in disaster. I think I must have passed out or something, but when I woke up I was alone in a clearing and Angel was gone. I never saw him again."

Willow frowned. She’d decided to keep her nose out of Jyira and Angel’s relationship; it wasn’t any of her business. But she thought of how depressed Angel had been before he left for L.A., and the two times he’d come back. He always looked as if he were missing something important. She had thought it was because of Buffy. Now she thought it maybe it was because he missed Jyira.

"Do you still love him?" Willow asked gently. She knew the pain of losing someone you loved. Ever since Oz had left her, she felt there would always be some part of her that would never be the same again. He had been her first real love, something no one could replace. She knew that deep down inside he would always be special to her.

Jyira sighed and walked to the window. She stood there, looking out into the dark night, lit by the bright lights around the mansion. She seemed to be thinking, about her past, Willow guessed. Jyira stood there, still and silent for along time. Willow felt awkward sitting there, staring at her, waiting for her to say something. She didn’t want to cause Jyira anymore pain, and telling her Angel had been in love with someone else recently probably hadn’t done poor Jyira much good. She seemed so unhappy, so lonely.

Finally, Jyira sighed again. "Yeah," she said softly. "Yeah, I do still love him. I always will. He might have been a monster when I knew him, but he was *my* monster. He was always kind to me. I’d like to see him sometime." She turned and walked out of the room.

Willow felt like kicking herself for bringing all these memories up. And there was only one thing she could do to make Jyira feel better. She picked up her phone.

* * *

Part 6

Willow tapped her fingers impatiently while she waited for Buffy to answer. It was late, but she was probably up, if she wasn’t out patrolling. As far as she knew Buffy should be at home for the summer.

"What?" an annoyed, sleepy voice snapped.

"Buffy this is Willow. I need Angel’s L.A. number."

There were sounds of shuffling sheets and a light being switched on. Buffy groaned. "Willow, do you know what time it is?"

"Yes, I know what time it is," Willow snapped. "But this is important. I need his number tonight."

"Why? Since when were you chummy with Angel?"

"Well, I’m not really, but I’ve met someone up here who is. Well, used to be. She’s a vampire with a soul, just like him. They were involved in the past and she’s so miserable and she wants to see him again."

"Why? Tell her to just forget him and move on."

Willow was a little surprised at the unusual bitterness in Buffy’s voice. "Are you *jealous?*"

"No, I just - "

"I don’t understand. You have a boyfriend. Okay, he’s an idiot and I have no idea what you see in him, but if you have him, why should you care about another souled vampire meeting Angel? He dumped you."

Willow could almost hear Buffy scrambling for words. She was surprised at herself, she wasn’t usually so blunt about her opinions on people. She kept her thoughts to herself.

Finally, Buffy sighed and gave her the number. Willow thanked her and hung up, and then dialled the number.

Another annoyed sleepy voice answered. "Angel this is Willow," she said quickly. She was getting excited now, and starting to feel really good about herself. They were both going to be so grateful to her.

"Willow? Do you know what time it is?"

"Yes," Willow said impatiently. "I’m sick of people asking me that. But this is important. I need you to come to Vegas."

"Vegas? Why are you in Vegas? You’re not old enough to gamble."

"I’m not there to gamble. I’m staying with a few distant cousins and their friends for the summer. But there’s someone here who you’d really like to meet."

"I would? Why?"

"Just come. It’s a surprise."

"I don’t like surprises. And why do you sound so happy and perky?"

"You’ll like this one. Trust me."

Angel sighed heavily. "Why do I have the feeling I’m going to regret this? All right, all right. Who is it?"

"You’ll see when you get here." After Willow told him where to come, she hung up, feeling bright and happy, and very pleased with herself. She couldn’t wait to see the look on their faces, long lost lovers finally reunited. Like her own romance movie.

* * *

Part 7

Jyira groaned. The annoying person who was banging on the door wouldn’t go away. She pulled the covers over her head. The banging stopped. Thank God for that, Jyira thought. Go away and let me sleep.

"Come on Jyira! You really are lazy! It’s after dark," Willow’s bright perky voice said as she yanked back the bed covers.

"What’d you expect? I'm a vampire. I sleep during the day," Jyira grumbled, yanking the pillow over her head. Willow took it out of her hands and hit her with it several times. Jyira sat up, her gold hair tumbling around her in yard of sun coloured curls. She stared at Willow in disbelief. "What’s gotten into you? Why are you so happy?"

"Get up," Willow ordered. "There’s someone coming I want you to meet."

Jyira yawned, and Willow tried not to shudder at her sharp teeth. "Who?"

Willow shook her head, grinning that annoying grin. What was the matter with her today? "Get up and come and see." And then she left.

Jyira was confused. She didn’t feel like meeting new people now. Not after the painful memories of last night. Good and bad times with Angel, particularly the good, the romantic. Of course, sometimes vampire ideas of romance could be a little…different…to human ideas of it. She smiled to herself, remembering how sometimes he’d bring her the heart of his victims.

But she had to admit, she was a little curious about what Willow was up to. Something like a premonition was buzzing around inside her. Which was strange, since she’d never had premonitions usually. She thought that had been a witch thing. But it was there, telling her something was going to happen. Something…

And then it was gone. Just like that. She felt confused and almost frightened. What had it been trying to tell her? There must have been some reason it was here now. She suddenly decided she didn’t want to meet this person Willow said was coming.

What if it ended in disaster? It could be awful, complete destruction, pain and death. More misery for her.

Or, then again, it could be something wonderful. Someone who could take away all her pin and misery, make her happy again. Of course, there was only one person who could ever do that for her, she thought dryly, and the chances of it being him were slim to none.

Finally, she got out of bed and dressed. Remember what curiosity did to the cat, she thought heading downstairs to meet Willow.

She would never know if it were coincidence or if it had been planned. As she was walking across the mansion’s main entryway, the doorbell rang. She looked around for one of the staff, but no one was there.

She sighed with impatience and went to open it.

And nearly had a heart attack of surprise and shock.

Standing there in the gathering dark, truly his element, was one of the most handsome men she had ever met. Tall, dark and drop dead gorgeous, dressed in black from head to toe. The looks had changed a bit since she’d last seen him, but there was no mistaking those big dark eyes.

"*Angel?*" she breathed, barely afraid to whisper his name in case the illusion should shatter.

He was looking at her as if he’d seen a ghost. He was as shocked and surprised as she was. They just stood there, staring at each other for a few minutes. Then he pulled her to him and kissed her, long and deep. Fire ran down her nerves as she pressed herself against him, and he pulled her closer. So close so they could never be apart again. The pain of the previous century disappeared and as he held her to him, she felt as if she were whole again. She belonged with no one else but him. The feel of his face pressed against her hair was a bliss she felt she had never really appreciated. He pulled her back for a moment, studying her, his pale fingers brushing over her features as if to verify she were real.

"Jyira?" he breathed. "I…I don’t understand. I thought you were dead."

She just hugged him tightly. "I’m not dead. I’m here, I’m here and I’m not going anywhere."

His arms tightened around her. "I’m not going to let you," he whispered in her ear. She almost moaned in pleasure at the sensational feel of his lips brushing against her skin when he spoke.

They started to move into the mansion when something seemed to stop them. They both looked around for the obstruction. She felt ready to kill anything that tried to separate them again.

Then Angel snorted.

"What?" Jyira asked him.

"I have to be invited in," he reminded her, looking a little annoyed.

"Oh. I forgot." She smiled a little. "Come in."

They headed into the mansion entryway to find Willow waiting for them, sitting on the stairs, a very big smile on her face. They both looked at her. She grinned back at them. "I guess you guys remember each other, huh?"

"How did you…?" Angel trailed off and shook his head in bewilderment.

"Well, listening to Jyira talk, putting two and two together with what I already knew…it doesn’t take a genius to figure it out."

Jyira sighed. "I should have figured this out the other night."

Willow stood up. "I guess I’ll leave you guys alone to get reacquainted. I’m hungry." And she headed off into the next room.

"Oh God," Jyira muttered, shaking her head.

Angel looked at her. "What?"

Jyira sighed and looked at him. "Don’t ask."

* * *

Part 8

Jyira shut the door to her room, and sat next to Angel on the bed. He looked around. "Nice place," he said. "Who’s is it?"

"Thierry Descouedres’s."

Angel’s eyebrow raised. "The little wimp Maya was after?"

"He may be a wimp, but he’s a wimp with a large wallet," Jyira said. "When I woke up in the clearing I was alone and afraid and I guess I stumbled around in a daze. I didn’t know what was happening to me, and why I felt so bad." She shook her head, shuddering. His arm tightened around her shoulder, pulling her closer. Comfort she’d never really felt before. It meant more to her than anything in the world. Just to be sitting here with him. "A few other vampires asked me what was wrong, what happened to you and Darla. I said I didn’t know." Then she looked up at him. "By the way, what did happen to Darla?"

"She’s dead," Angel said unemotionally. "I staked her. Long story. Don’t ask."

Jyira’s eyebrow raised. "Oh. I thought you liked her."

"Never as much as you," he said, looking into her eyes. Jyira gazed back. There seemed to be something in the air between them…she wasn’t sure what. Some kind of shimmery light that was trying to link them together, bind them heart to heart as they were surely meant to be.

"Anyway, one or two of them must have been Circle Daybreak, so they took me back to their hide out and I stayed there ever since, I guess." She studied him for a while, wondering how he’d dealt with the blow of the curse. It had been a walking nightmare for her. *Everything* she’d done, haunting her, day and night. "So what about you?"

He looked away from her. He told her basic details, his detective agency in L.A., how helping others with problems made him feel slightly better about himself. He gave brief details about life in Sunnydale, and she could sense he was leaving something out. He didn’t want to hurt her.

"I always felt as if I were missing something," he finished, turning back to her, brushing a loose gold curl behind her ear. The touch against her skin sent shivers of pleasure through her. Surely there was something a little out of the ordinary here. Should a simple touch thrill her so much? "Now I know what is." He was even smiling a little. Apparently a rare treat from this side of him. He seemed so much quieter; the change in him was amazing. It was hard to believe this was the same demon she’d known all those years ago. She had the feeling he was as surprised at the change in her. She hadn’t exactly been Miss Good and Innocent. She had been loud and bad and a vicious killer as he had.

"And what’s that?"

The cute little smile again. "You, of course. I miss you. I thought about you a lot, you know."

"You did?"

He nodded. A flicker, something in his eyes for a moment, showed pain. She pulled him close, ready to *destroy* anyone that upset him. He had changed so much. He didn’t deserve to be so unhappy.

"Was there…" She paused delicately, not sure she wanted an answer to the question. "Has there…ever been…anyone else?"

She knew he could hear the pain in her voice from the way he turned away from her, his head hanging almost in shame. "There…there was someone," he admitted. "It’s over now, anyway." Studying Jyira now for the first time in over a century he noticed there was a definite resemblance to Buffy. They looked almost the same. Jyira’s eyes were darker, while Buffy’s had been sky blue; Jyira's were midnight blue. He vaguely wondered if they were related somehow. If he hadn’t changed Jyira, would she have been one of the unfortunate Slayer line? He looked at Jyira. He just couldn’t picture it. But it would have been interesting. How would their relationship have been then? Would they have even met?

"What about you?" He turned back to her. "Has there been anyone for you?"

Jyira met his eyes directly. He couldn’t quite interpret the look on her face. Misery and longing and desperation and dispair all mixed together. "No," she said softly. "No one." She sighed. "Angel you’re the only one for me."

He stared at her longingly, those wonderful blue eyes, that soft, sensuous mouth practically begging to be kissed, the gorgeous hair, cascading around her like molten gold, the porcelain skin, yearning for his fingers to caress… "So what have you been doing with yourself then?" he asked abruptly, tearing his eyes away from the dazzling beauty only inches away from him. And he knew she wanted him just as much. Jyira was a little surprised at the sudden change of subject. Why was he fighting this? There was something around them, trying to draw them together, something that said they belonged together. Did he even feel it? If he did, why was he blocking it? Did he want that other girl with the stupid name rather than her? She couldn’t bare it if he did. She would stake herself if that were true. Give herself up to the sun. The thought of life without him now she knew he was alive and all right was unbearable. She sighed, and told him about the Night World. Technically, she realised she wasn’t breaking any laws. The law said do not tell humans about the Night World. But Angel wasn't anymore human than she was. He probably knew the basic details anyway. She had seen him with Maya a few times. She told him about Circle Daybreak and the millennium prophecies. How they’d successfully averted the end of the world. His eyebrows raised at that, and he looked very impressed. He seemed as surprised at the change in her as she was in him. She also told him about Willow’s sudden discovery of her hidden…talents.

His eyebrows were almost in his hair. "Willow’s a *vampire*?" He stared at her in disbelief. "You’re kidding right?"

Jyira snorted. "I know. It seems to unbelievable. But I was there. I saw he with pointy teeth and shiny eyes. She was kicking the shit out of a guy twice her size. I dragged her out before anything could happen and we checked her family tree and she’s both Harman and Redfern blood in her."

"Which means?"

"She’s half witch, half vamp."

He was still shaking his head in disbelief. "I still can’t picture Willow as a vampire."

But there was something she had to know. He said he missed her, he thought about her. But that wasn’t enough. There was one more thing she wanted to know. And if he didn’t give her the answer she wanted… She took a deep breath. He was turning away from her again. She caught his arm. She couldn’t help herself. She just had to, *had* to know. "Angel wait," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. But she knew he could hear her. He turned back to look at her, those dark eyes almost burning with a hidden fire, rarely saw, in their depths. "Do you…you said you missed me and thought about me…but…do…do you still…still…do you love me or not?" There. It was out.

Angel stared at her. The sudden bluntness of the question surprised him. But the look in her eyes, the pleading desperation almost tore him apart. She had awakened feelings inside him that had been sleeping for so long. But if he gave into them, took her with the passion burning between them, the longing and lust they had for each other…

"I…" He trailed off. "Do you still love *me?*"

She blinked, confused. "I asked you first."

"I asked you."

"Yeah, but I asked first."

"I…" He shook his head. "This is ridiculous. I…" He stared at her for along time, her blue eyes burning with pain and brimming with tears, silently begging him to tell her yes, even if he didn’t mean it. If he said no, it would kill her. She would kill herself then and there. And he couldn’t bare the thought of living with the guilt of her death on his conscience. If she died, he would die with her too. But why should this have to happen? He loved her more than life itself. He would die for her in a second if necessary. And he knew without question she would do the same for him.

"Yes," he said finally. "Yes, I love you Jyira, I always have and always will. No one will ever replace you, not Buffy, not anyone."

She grabbed the front of his black coat and pulled him to her, kissing him hard, giving up to the heat and shimmering silver cord between them. He fell on top of her. They lay on the bed together, fingers running over every spare inch of the other’s flesh, she moaned at the feeling of his hands sliding up her top, removing her bra, caressing her breasts.

"Jyira?" he murmured in her ear. "You never answered me."

She looked at him. "What do you think Angel?"

"I know the answer," he breathed. "I just want to hear you say it."

She smiled. A real smile first time in over a century. "Of course I love you. I’ve always loved you and always will."

He kissed her.

* * *

Part 9

Jyira woke later, a feeling of misery and pain stirring inside her. Angel lay on top of her, so close she could feel his heart beating against hers. Which was strange because vampires didn’t have pulses, and yet they still had heart beats. The room was dark, moon light was streaming in the window. She had forgotten to close the curtains and there was a strange white glow over the room. Yet the strange beauty of it surpassed her completely. What was wrong with her?

She slipped out of the bed and dressed quickly, pulling on jeans and Angel’s shirt. She couldn’t find her own and was too miserable and sick to bother looking for it. Leaving him asleep she left the room.

She stumbled around for a while, the pain getting worse and worse. What *was* this? Why was this happening to her? She’d never felt anything like this before. She staggered into the kitchen. Maybe this was some weird attack of hunger.

She groaned aloud. She could hear footsteps squeaking on the marble floor. Maggie was standing at the fridge. She looked up.

"Jyira? Are you okay? You look terrible."

Jyira didn’t hear her. Her eyes were focused on the blue veins flickering beneath the skin of her throat. The smell of the blood inside her was starting to wake the demon inside her she’d kept buried for long.

She opened her mouth, instead of words, groans of agony came out.

"God, you’re really sick. Should I get Thierry to call a healing woman or something?"

Before she could say anything else, Jyira vamped out, reached for her, her hands ice cold, her grip steel strong.

Her fangs sank into the other girl’s neck, life giving, warming, blood filling her, dowsing the pain. The blood made her feel warm and tingly all over. Jyira dropped the body, a smile on her monster’s mouth, her yellow vampire eyes glowing, her white fangs dripping with blood.

"Nothing’s wrong," she said, answering the dead girl’s question. "I feel great."

And she walked out the kitchen, in a hunting mood.

* * *

Part 10

The next morning Jyira strolled back into the mansion. She usually walked soft as a shadow, blending into the darkness, not wanting to be noticed. This morning, her heels clicked on the marble floor, her hips swayed, and an aura of power and darkness that had never been there before surrounded her. Thea saw the darkness instantly.

"Jyira? What happened to you?" Thea asked. "Are you all right?"

Jyira turned to her. Her face had changed. Her features, normally soft and gentle…were the same, yet there was something different about her. She wore dark lipstick, outlining her full mouth, giving her a sensual look. Her midnight blue eyes were glittering, her gold hair shining. She was dressed in a revealing tight black top and black leather trousers. High black boots with heels that made the nose. Her fingernails were long and black and talon like. Thea shuddered. She looked, in a word…evil.

Like the monstrous species of vampire that she was.

"I’m fine," Jyira said bluntly. "I don’t see what business of yours it is as to what’s happened to me."

Thea was surprised. She hadn’t even expected an answer. Jyira never said a word to anyone. She was so quiet, usually making an effort not to be noticed by anyone.

Jyira was still staring at her with that unearthly aura hanging about her. She was obviously waiting for an answer to her implied question. Thea was shocked. She floundered for something to say. Jyira crossed her arms. "I would like an answer sometime today you know," she said, her tone was pleasant, but there was a definite hint of malice there. For the first time since they’d met, Thea felt afraid of her. This wasn’t Jyira. This was someone else. Jyira’s lip had curled slightly. She had sensed the fear and was enjoying it. Jyira laughed abruptly. The sound was so chilling it send ice shivering up Thea’s spine. She'd never heard Jyira laugh before, and was now so glad she hadn’t. "So the dumb witch can’t even back up her points," Jyira said. "What a surprise. Witches are a waste of space anyway."

"If anyone’s a waste of space it’s you blood suckers," Blaise said, coming up behind her. She seemed as shocked as Blaise was at the change in Jyira.

Jyira snorted. "Did someone say something? I guess Miss No one Matter’s But Me thinks she’s All That, when she’s really all crap."

Blaise was silently fuming. She just stared at Jyira, unsure what to say. Since when did Jyira snap and insult people like this?

Jyira smiled her mean smile. "What’s the matter?" she said to Blaise. "Can’t handle a little competition?" With that she tossed back her gold curls and walked into the next room.

"Someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning," Poppy said. She’d heard the conversation, but didn’t dare get involved. She didn’t want to bring Jyira’s sudden wrath down on her.

"What’s gotten into her?" Quinn asked, peering around the door Poppy had just come through. "I thought she was nice."

"So did we," Thea said.

* * *

Jyira wandered around the mansion. She was hungry again. Which was really surprising, since she’d been out killing people all night. Any idiot foolish enough to cross her path had met an unfortunate end. She had never felt so good. The blood had give her a high better than any drug could have. The little wimpy girl with the short white-blond hair and her soulmate, Jyira couldn’t remember their names, were coming down the hall. With a fast motion, too fast for them to follow, she reached for him, draining him. The little wimpy girl shrieked. Annoyed now, Jyira reached for her, finishing her off, just to make her shut up.

"What the hell are you doing?" a voice said, startling her. "I thought you didn’t feed on humans anymore."

Jyira looked up from her victim into Angel’s dark smiling eyes. Something about him had changed. He now seemed so much more familiar to her. She wasn’t exactly sure how it had happened, but she knew instinctively this was the demon she had fallen in love with. He was looking at her, arms crossed, a little smile playing about his lips.

"Fuck that, I’m hungry," she said, answering his question.

He grinned. "Looks like I’m not the only one with a dark side."

The girl in Jyira’s arms groaned. She was still alive.

But not for long.

* * *

Part 11

Later in the morning, Rashel was wandering around the mansion. It had become an almost daily routine for her, walking the grounds, checking things out, making sure there was no trouble. She knew Thierry had staff and guards to do this, but she felt a lot better doing her own check as well.

Everyone else was sitting in the lounge and the alcove, with the new vampires, Jyira and Angel. For some reason, Rashel didn’t like Angel at all. Something about him was…frightening. Especially the possessive way he seemed to almost hang over Jyira. And Jyira…she had changed dramatically. The quiet, solitary, almost lonely girl had been replaced by someone cruel, snappy and…a complete bitch. And she somehow had the feeling that Angel was responsible. How, she didn’t know. But something was definitely going on between them.

And then she stopped, breath suddenly gone.

She had walked into the kitchen, and lying there on the floor, with large teeth marks in their necks, were Gillian and David, dead eyes were staring up at her in shock and terror. Rashel knelt down to feel for a pulse, just in case, but there was none to be found. She noticed Gillian had two sets of teeth marks in either side of her neck. She sat back on her heels.

She’d never seen vampire bites like that before, and some instinct deep inside her told her that their new vampires were not to be trusted.

Something had to be done about them.

And fast before anyone else suffered at their hands.

* * *

Willow sat in a room with the Circle Daybreak members, and Jyira and Angel. Something about them was…different. They were all over each other, snuggled together in a dark corner, the blinds in the room had been drawn, as direct sunlight was deadly to Angel.

Hannah was trying to talk to him, explaining who the Circle Daybreak members were and what they were doing. She seemed convinced that this was the place for him and Jyira.

"Well, we saved the world, and we think that was pretty impressive," Hannah was saying.

"It’s more fun to try to destroy the world than save it," Angel said, not taking his eyes from Jyira's mouth.

"Yeah, but you fucked it up when you tried," Jyira pointed out.

"How did you know?"

"Willow told me."

Angel turned one of his best glares on Willow, who just looked back at him, expression rather blank. He didn’t scare her anymore. Angel shrugged, and turned his attention back to Jyira. They were making out again.

"God, do you guys ever come up for air?" Poppy snorted.

"We don’t need air," Jyira replied. And they stared all over again.

The Daybreakers exchanged glances. What was wrong with these two? Okay, every soulmate couple in the room was as much in love as Jyira and Angel were, but if they wanted private time together to be sloppy and mushy they didn’t make everyone else watch.

"I thought you were with the good guys, Angel," Thea said, almost cringing, not wanting another barrage of insults from either him or Jyira.

"Where’s the fun in being good? Been there, done that, no more, thanks." His fingers were running over Jyira’s face and chest, caressing her so gently. She sighed, and gazed up at him with a dreamy smile.

"That’s more like the Angel I know," she said, smiling. More smoochies.

"I think I’m going to be sick," Blaise murmured. She stood up and walked out of the room. There was an uncomfortable silence.

"And I think the Night World have the right idea," Angel said. He stood up, pulling Jyira to her feet as well. He glanced around the room, an expression of disgust on his face. "You people are idiots. You really think your God’s gift to the human race? How completely pathetic. You really think you can banish every single demon, vampire and who the hell knows what out there? There are things out in the big bad world that you people have never even heard of and could never deal with."

Jyira wrapped her arms around his waist. "He has a point, you know," she said, leaning against him as his arms wrapped around her shoulders. "You guys have no idea what our race is like for starters."

"You’re all idealistic idiots," Angel snorted. "Personally, I agree with Night World. We should be ruling you shitheads. Most of you aren’t even fit to live. Come on Jyira, let’s go find some people worth killing."

And with that he led her out the room.

The group sat there in silence for several minutes.

"Who is that guy?" Mary-Lynette asked. She'd arrived that morning, as had Jez. The two of them had been informed on Circle Daybreak’s new member, Jyira, of course, and that her long lost lover had come to visit.

Rashel burst into the room then. "We’ve got problems," she said.

"We know, they just left," Ash said dryly.

"I mean major problems. Gillian and David are dead. So is Maggie."

"*What*?" Delos shot up from his seat, his yellow eyes blazing in shock and fury.

"I just found them in the kitchen. And I think our new friends have something to do with it," Rashel said.

"I’ll that bastard!" Delos’s eyes were going even more golden and his fangs were showing. He started to run out the room, but before he could get to the door, Quinn and Morgead had jumped up after him and were physically restraining him.

"No," Thierry was saying. "We can’t kill either of them. We don’t even know it’s them."

"Who else would it be?" Delos raged.

"Just because someone’s dead it doesn’t mean Angel did it," Willow piped up.

"It could have been Jyira," Thea said.

"Thierry’s right," Hannah said. "We don’t know enough about them, they’re different from the vampires we know how to fight, they could be ten times stronger, or have powers we’ve never even heard of."

"Are you going to behave now? Can we let you go?" Morgead asked Delos.

Delos seemed to be having some inner battle with himself. Finally, the golden fire in his eyes died down and his teeth retracted. "Fine," he hissed, and yanked free. He turned his back on them and walked over to the window, gripping the sill, his shoulders heaving.

Eric looked over at Willow. "And you say Mr. Tall Dark and Creepy is one of the *good* guys?"

Willow frowned. "I thought he was," she said, puzzled. "He’s usually nice. Okay, he can be a bit moody and sullen sometimes, but he always helps out when he’s asked for help. The only time he’s been nasty like this before is when…" She paused, suddenly realising what had happened. "Ooh. Oh. Shit. We’ve got a huge problem."

"You think?" said Jez. "It’s just as well our gang isn’t in effect any more. Morgead would hate the competition Angel’d give him."

"Oh shut up," Morgead muttered, annoyed. "And who the hell thought of calling him "Angel"? He’s not angelic in the least."

Most people looked at Willow, who shrugged defensively. "Don’t ask me, I’m not the expert."

"You were saying this has happened before?" Thierry reminded.

"Huh?" Willow looked blank for a moment, then her brain caught up. "Oh yeah. Well to cut a long story short they both killed someone they shouldn’t have, a gypsy girl whose clan took vengeance on them, cursing them both with human souls, doomed to remember all the people they’d hurt throughout their time as vampires. And if they achieve a moment of happiness, then it all goes to hell. Demons come out again."

"And how do you get the moment of happiness?" Hannah asked.

Willow stared at her. Was she really that blind or stupid? "You didn’t see the way they were all over each other?"

"So you mean they…?" Hannah trailed off.

"Had sex last night?" Willow supplied bluntly. "Probably. You should have seen them when they first saw each other again. They’re crazy about each other."

"Are they soulmates?" Poppy asked.

"Huh?" Willow was confused. "What’s that?"

"Never mind," Rashel cut in. "You said this had happened before. How do we stop them before they do something everyone’ll regret? They’ve killed three people already that we know of. Probably more."

"Well, I had to curse Angel again after the first time it happened, and it took him several months to recover," Willow said. "But I don’t have the spell with me now."

"If we found it, could you do it?" Hannah asked.

Willow shrugged again. "I guess. But do we really have to? This side of Angel is much more fun."

"What about Jyira?" Thierry asked. "Has the same thing happened to her?"

"Looks like it," Willow said.

"Can we curse her too?" Rashel asked.

"I suppose. But why do we have to make them suffer again? Is there another solution?"

"Well for now the best thing to do would be to leave them alone until we know more about their kind and how to deal with them besides killing them, maybe we can find a way to make them human again or something," Thierry said.

"That’s insane," Rashel said, appalled. "If we let them loose the world could end. You heard him before."

"We’ll cross that bridge if we come to it," Thierry said calmly. "Any suggestions Willow?"

"Don’t piss them off," Willow said, smiling a little. "I can bet that anyone who does will be very, very sorry."

* * *

Part 12

Willow sighed. The good feelings she’d had about brining Angel and Jyira back together again had dwindled rapidly as the body count was increasing. Mainly Thierry’s dumb staff, at least not any of the major important people. Of course, they weren’t *all* Jyira and Angel’s fault, there were the few when she’d gotten a little hungry…

Of course, no one seemed to expect her the killer type. She smiled an innocent sweet smile. Being small and cute certainly had its advantages sometimes.

She thought of the alternate universe Anya had created last year, and her vampire doppelganger. She had been a real bitch. If *I* went home like that…She snickered to herself, thinking of everyone’s reaction.

"What’s so funny?" a deep voice behind her said. Close behind her. Willow spun round to find Angel standing close…too close to her neck. She hadn’t head him.

Willow stood her ground, refusing to give him the satisfaction of backing up. "You…startled me," she said, hating the little tremor to her voice.

He chuckled a little. He’d scared her and he knew it. And he was enjoying her fright. "I did?"

She didn’t answer. She’d told herself before he didn’t frighten her anymore. Now, he was standing close, she was starting to think again. "Where’s Jyira?" she asked, noticing he was alone.

He nodded to the stairs. "Sleeping. She sleeps during the day, like a good vampire."

"Why? So she’s fresh for killing people in the evening?" Willow snorted.

Angel’s lip curled into a real smile. "You got it." He glanced at his watch. "She’ll be up in a about half an hour." He folded his arms. "She also told me you have vampire genes. And there are a few bodies around here that neither Jyira or me are responsible for."

"I got a little hungry," Willow said defensively. "So sue me."

"Not such a little wimp after all, are you?"

Willow was insulted. "You’re not the only one round here with a darker half, you know."

He tilted his head, studying her. "And do we get to see your darker half?"

Willow backed away, not liking where this conversation was going.

"I thought you weren’t afraid of me." She could hear the hidden snicker in Angel’s tone. Morgead was right. Who the hell ever thought of calling *him* Angel? She agreed with Jyira’s statement that he was more like the devil in flesh.

She stopped backing up. "I’m not afraid," she said.

"Have you fed yet?" he asked, changing the subject…or was he? Willow couldn’t tell.

"No, why?"

He held out a hand to her. "Why don’t you come with me then? Let me show you the joys of being a vampire."

Like he showed Jyira and ended up getting her cursed, Willow thought.

Angel’s face darkened suddenly, anger burning in his dark eyes. "That wasn’t my fault. It was Darla’s. Anyway, she paid for it."

Willow shuddered, hating the idea that he could read her thoughts. But mind reading or mind control was a trick of her species, Jez had taught her how to do that, except when she stared into Angel’s eyes and tried to get into his mind, she seemed to come up against black obsidian walls. He smiled a little. "Nice try," he said. "But sensible vampires learn to shield their thoughts. Come on, enjoy yourself for once. Live a little."

Willow found herself unable to take her eyes from that handsome face, the encouraging, inviting smile, smile, those intense eyes…

"What about Jyira?"

"What about her?"

"She won’t be…mad?" Willow had seen Angel’s demon in action before. She dreaded to think what Jyira was like. If she was anything like he was…

Angel waved a dismissive hand. "She won’t care. She’ll be out in a while herself. She’ll probably come and find us."

Willow hesitated a moment longer, then took the hand he offered her. "What the hell," she said, leading him out the door. "Let’s go have some fun."

* * *

Part 13

Poppy, Jez and Thea walked down the crowed streets of the Strip, enjoying the glitz and glamour and the party atmosphere, and the people. They’d felt a desperate need to get out of the house, and away from the dead bodies piling up. Personally, Jez thought Thierry’s idea of leaving Jyira and Angel alone and letting them do what they wanted was ridiculous. As Rashel had said, it could be disastrous.

"Where’s your cousin?" Poppy asked. "How come she didn’t come out with us?"

Jez shrugged. "I knocked on her door, but she wasn’t there. Or maybe she’s already out or something. I couldn’t find her."

"You think she’s all right?" Thea asked, as they walked into a Circle Daybreak club. Ever since the Night World clubs had been banned, Circle Daybreak had opened their own chain for Daybreak members to go relax and have fun, where there were no twisting shadows and evil vampires dragging humans down there for the fun of killing them.

For the few Daybreakers who liked a little bit of darkness, there were one or two Gothic themed ones, like the one they were passing. There were sounds of a fight and people screaming coming from inside.

The three exchanged glances.

"I think we should check that out," Jez said. As a vampire hunter, with her Wild Power blue fire, she was pretty sure anyone who recognised her wouldn’t be stupid enough to challenge her. And there was Poppy’s vampire speed and strength, and Thea’s magic. And they could always get reinforcements if that became necessary.

Jez shoved her way through the door, and the crowd of weird looking people. And there, on one of the dance podiums, a ferocious expression on her face, was Willow, happily kicking the crap out of some other girl.

She wasn’t the only one causing problems. Angel seemed to be in the middle of a fight he was clearly winning. There were bouncers pulling at Willow, but she just laughed and threw two at once over the high edge of the podium she was standing on. Willow grinned, her eyes glinting in the dark lightning.

The interior of this club had been changed and redecorated, not obeying Thierry’s rules. The darkness was supposed to be kept to a minimum, someone had taken over and changed, And now they were back to the old Black Iris atmosphere, flashing strobe lightning, making it hard to see, even for vampires, and there were so many people.

And now Willow was actually jumping down from the high podium, landing neatly like a cat on two feet, and smashing her way through the crowd towards Angel, happily beating up half a dozen people. And he was laughing. *Laughing.* And so was Willow. They were *enjoying* this. And now Willow was kissing Angel.

"If Jyira finds out about this she’s going to be pissed," Poppy muttered. "I’d hate to see her in a bad mood." She and Jez elbowed their way through the crowd, trying to get to Willow and Angel, but the people crowding in front of them made it impossible.

"Shit," Jez muttered angrily, running into someone else and smashing her fist into the facer of a guy who tried to grab her. "Where the fuck are they?"

There was a flash of orange coloured energy, and suddenly there was a space cleared. "They’re not here. They’ve gone."

People were lying around on the floor, dazed and shaking their heads is confusion after Thea’s energy blast to clear a little space.

"Damn," Jyira’s voice said from behind Jez. She appeared as silently as a shadow. And she looked rather annoyed. "Looks like I missed all the fun."

"Yeah, you missed your boyfriend making out with Willow," Poppy added.

Jyira’s eyebrow raised. "Angel and Willow? That doesn’t make any sense. He’s twice her size. He could crush her with a single blow."

"She was beating up guys as big as Angel," Thea said. "And she was having no problems. What’s wrong with her, and with him?"

Jyira snorted. "Ignore them. Angel’s just doing what he does best – kill people. And it looks like he's teaching Willow the joys of life as a vampire." There was a smile playing on her lips. She didn’t sound as if she disapproved.

"And you’re not mad?" Poppy said.

Jyira shrugged. "Willow brought Angel back to me. I’m okay with giving her a little leeway with him. Anybody else tries to kiss him – like your cousin Blaise," Jyira directed a glare at Thea. "She was flirting with him this afternoon. Don’t think I didn’t notice that. I’ll kill her. And you won’t stop me." Her face had darkened, her lighthearted mood had gone completely and she was deadly serious.

"Why can’t you tell them to like – behave or something?" Poppy asked.

Jyira shook her golden head. "It won’t work. Anyway, Angel’s had to behave for what, almost a century now? Give him a few days, he’ll calm down." Jyira turned and walked out of the club into the night. Poppy, Thea and Jez exchanged glances. They didn’t believe her.

* * *

Part 14

Willow leaned over the metal railing that led between the MGM Grand Hotel and the New York New York Hotel. She watched the roller coaster going round, heard the screams from the terrified tourists. A slight smile curved her lips. The lights twinkling were attractive and almost other worldly. She had to admit, she was having a really good time with Angel. He was leaning next to her, arm draped casually around her shoulder.

"What you want to do now?" he asked.

Willow shrugged. "I’m not sure. I’m kind of full right now. I think I sort of killed one too many people."

"You can never kill too many people."

Willow sighed and leaned against him, in a complative mood. She was wondering what her friends had home would think if they could see her and Angel now.

"You okay?" Angel asked, pulling her closer.

She nodded. "I’m just debating whether or not I should tell Buffy I’m a vampire. Well, she is still my best friend, but should she know."

Angel’s head tilted. "It’s been too long since I last saw her. Maybe we should go say hi."

Willow was a little suspicious at the smile curving his lips. He was up to something. That sly, calculating look told her more than words could have.

"And then there’s Tara," she continued, pretending she had no idea what he was thinking. "I was never really sure how she felt about vamps. Buffy shouldn’t have too much of problem with it. She didn’t have one with you."

Angel snorted in disgust.

Willow elbowed him. "You know what I mean."

Angel sighed. "I know. What the hell was I thinking? Who’s Tara, by the way?"

Willow paused, then shrugged. "My girlfriend," she said.

Angel’s eyebrows were almost in his hair. Willow laughed at the look on his face. Then he smiled. "Why not? We can bring her over and have a threesome." He was snickering.

Men, Willow thought, shaking her head. But the idea was a little tempting. "Maybe," she said. "I’ll think about it."

"Maybe we should bring Jyira too, then we can really have fun."

Willow stared at him. "You’re twisted."

Angel looked at her. "What’s your point?"

* * *

The drive back to Sunnydale in Angel’s car took a little over an hour. He had the top of the little black convertible down, the night sky and the stars whizzing by, the feel of wind on Willow’s face, felt wonderful. But something was puzzling her. Where the hell did a two hundred and forty-eight year old vampire who’d never taken Driver’s Ed learn how to drive a car?

"You just tend to adapt as you go along," he said, answering her question. Willow was annoyed at him reading her mind again, but shrugged, and sat back, relaxing and enjoying the ride.

About half an hour later, the familiar sights of Sunnydale were coming before Willow’s eyes. She kept her mouth shut, not saying anything as they headed past the university, the ruins of the blown-up high school. Angel hadn’t made any comments yet. He was staring straight ahead, his eyes on the road. He seemed unusually subdued, and almost serious. Willow wondered what he was thinking about.

He was heading away from the main town, turning onto familiar, suburban streets that Willow knew like the back of her hand. It wasn’t long before they were turning onto Buffy’s driveway. The lights were all off, the bedroom window by the tree at the side of the house was open.

"It doesn’t look like anyone’s in," Willow said. She was a little disappointed.

Angel shook his head. "She's in there."

"How do you know?"

"I just know."

He parked and slid out of the car. Willow hesitated for a moment, then followed him to the front door. She could see light from inside, and hear music too. Mrs. Summer’s car wasn't on the driveway. She mustn’t be home. A stroke of luck for them. She dreaded to think of having to come up with an explanation for this midnight visit.

Without bothering to knock Angel shoved the front door open, breaking the lock. Willow followed him inside.

The music was coming from the downstairs living room. She darted in front of Angel and pushed open the door open. Buffy and her idiot boyfriend Riley were sitting entwined on the couch, locked in a makeout session.

For a brief moment, Buffy’s eyes suddenly flew open and her mouth dropped at the sight of Willow and Angel standing in the doorway. Willow had to try not to snicker at the look on their faces. "We’re not interrupting are we?" she asked innocently.

Buffy blinked rapidly, looking from her to Angel, her eyes remaining on Angel, who looked completely revolted. "What are you *doing* here?"

"I think you guys had better leave," Riley added, disengaging himself and starting to get to his feet.

Angel leaned against the doorframe, blocking the exit way as Willow stepped farther into the room. "Why? We only just got here." Then he glanced over at Buffy. "And what the hell are you thinking? I always thought you had at least *some* brains." He threw another sickened glance at Riley.

"So did I," Willow agreed. "Come on Buffy, you can do better than this." She tilted her head and folded her arms, smiling at the look of confusion and disbelief.

Buffy just stared at her. "Willow? What’s wrong? Are you drunk or high or something?"

Even Angel laughed at that. "Willow? High? Your fucking kidding right?" He seemed to find the idea of Willow getting high very funny. So did Willow for that matter. Okay, she’d done some strange things in this past year, but would never sink to *that*. Buffy should know better.

Buffy was staring at him. "Angel? What happened to you?"

"Use the little brains you have and figure it out."

She looked over at Willow. Willow looked back. "Not me," she said. "I didn’t set him loose. Jyira did."

"Who the hell is Jyira?"

"The female vampire with a soul I was telling you about?" Willow considered for a moment. "Well, I guess she doesn’t have a soul anymore either. But hey, I don’t mind. I like this side of them better." She leaned against Angel, wrapping her arms around his waste, smiling at him as his arm went around her shoulders.

"Willow? What the hell happened to you? Since when were you two a couple?"

"Willow’s finally getting some sense knocked into her," Angel said, smiling at Willow. Willow couldn’t help kissing him. He was a very good kisser.

"I just figured maybe I should try guys of my own species," Willow said.

Buffy was confused. "A, I thought you didn’t even like guys anymore. And B, what the hell are you talking about, your own species?"

"Did I not tell you?" Willow said innocently. "I guess I’ll have to show you instead." And then her eyes went silvery green, her canine teeth grew to long, delicate points, with a shimmer like pearls. Willow smiled faintly at the sudden fear in her best friend’s eyes.

"What…what *are* you?" she whispered.

"A vampire?" Willow ventured. It must seem pretty obvious. What else had pointy teeth and shiny eyes and drank blood for a living?

"You can’t be a vampire!"

"Sure she can," Angel put in. "She’s just a new species is all."

"Old species, actually, we date back to caveman times," Willow corrected.

"Yeah I know," Angel said. "I slept with Maya a few times, she’s the one who started everything. And she’s not bad, either."

Without warning, Willow suddenly shoved Angel out the way, and knocked the steak out of a surprised Riley’s hand. He stood there like an idiot, too shocked to fight or even try to run as she grabbed him, sinking her new fangs into his neck and quickly draining him. She was really developing quite a talent for this. She tossed the body to the floor.

Buffy looked like a stricken kitten as she stood there, completely bewildered and looking as if she was way out of her league. She looked over at Angel. "Did you do this?" she whispered.

"Change Willow? Nah. It’s in her family genes. She's the only one of her family with the brains and talent to wake it up and know how to live with it." He seemed quite proud and impressed.

Willow looked over at Buffy. "You’re not even angry that I just killed your stupid boyfriend?"

"I – " Buffy looked at Willow. There *was* anger there – anger and hurt and surprise and confusion. She really didn’t have a clue what was happening. And why.

"You’re not even going to *try* to fight me?" Willow pouted, disappointed. She was tingling with new blood and ready for some action.

"Willow, vampire or not, you should know I couldn’t kill you." Buffy was actually *shaking.*

Willow was trying not to laugh. And she could tell Angel was too. All the while they’d been talking, he had slipped silently behind Buffy, there was no escape for her now.

"Come on Buff, three years? Four at this game? You would have thought you’d learned something by now," Angel said into her ear, grabbing her hair and yanking back her head painfully. "Did I ever really thank you for sending me to hell? Pretending to fool Faith doesn’t count. Well maybe someday I’ll see you there." And with those words he ripped her still beating heart from her chest.

* * *

Jyira tossed the body aside and sighed. She was bored. Killing people was starting to lose its appeal without Angel there. He had his ways of making it fun. Speaking of Angel, she had absolutely no idea where the hell he’d gotten himself too. It would be dawn soon. He didn’t have a sunlight amulet like she did. "Uh…Jyira?"

Jyira looked up to see Thierry approaching her. She studied him, wondering how he’d managed to stand immortality for so long. And he can’t have been happy, what with all the misery Maya had caused him. She’d had no idea what Angel had seen in her, and hadn’t been happy about sharing him with her. Willow, she could make an exception. Willow had obviously gone to some trouble to bring him back to her. And it was nice to know she cared enough to do that. Jyira wondered vaguely if Willow had known something like this would happen, but had been willing to take the risk. She smiled slightly. She couldn’t recall anybody that bothered about making her happy than Angel. So, she was willing to overlook Willow kissing him a few times. But sleeping with him…that was another subject. Maybe she wouldn’t object – if she were there too. Her lip curled slightly, she’d done that before. She’d had to share Angel with Darla for a while. "What?" she said as Thierry came closer to her.

"Look, Jyira, I realise you and Angel aren’t exactly yourselves at the moment, but the rest of us here would – "

"Yeah, I know, stop killing everyone," Jyira said with a faint smile. "We aren’t the only ones, Willow does it too." Her lip curled again. "I shudder to think what Angel’s been teaching her."

"No one has any idea where Angel and Willow actually are right now," Thierry told her.

"Oh God," Jyira snorted. She waved dismissively. "Ignore him. He’ll calm down in a few days." Then she looked him directly in the eye. "How do you do it?"

"Do what?" Thierry asked, confused.

"Immortality. How did you manage for so long when you were so unhappy?"

Thierry turned away from her a little, his dark eyes going pensive again. "I always had Hannah to look for. I had to try to save her before Maya got there, or get to her before Maya got her needle working." He shook his head. "I think somewhere deep down I always felt that she’d beat me. But I had to try." Then he smiled. "But we won in the end."

"Yes, I heard about that." She paused. "I wonder if Angel even knows about that. Maya seemed to have a thing for him for a while."

"You really love him, don’t you?"

Jyira smiled a real smile herself. Then her expression became soft and dreamy, and she looked more like the old Jyira he knew better, the quiet, nice girl. "I don’t know if I’d cope if I lost him now. All that time without him…and now I have him and I know he loves me…" She trailed off and sighed. Thierry could understand. There was nothing like the wonderful feelings of rediscovering a long lost lover. To know that you meant more to them than anything and they’d die for you. Evil or not, the pair were obviously crazy about each other. Soulmates? He wondered. It seemed like it. Jyira certainly sounded as if she'd been hit by the connection, knowing she’d never be the same without him. "Why?" she asked suddenly suspicious.

"It’s just…" He trailed off and sighed himself, then decided he’d probably be better off being honest with her. "There were talks of what to do with the two of you, your demons were causing a lot of bother."

"You mean they want to curse us again," Jyira said. She wasn't stupid. She knew what they were planning. "You can’t do that to us!" she cried. "Separate us like that! We love each other but we can’t be together! You people are supposed to be the good guys! You can’t be that cruel!"

Thierry shook his head. "I wouldn’t let that happen to you, Jyira. I can see, I think anyone can see what the two of you mean to each other. But there are a few exceptions – "

"Like Rashel?" Jyira interrupted.

Thierry sighed. "Yes, like Rashel, who can’t seem to see past the fact that you’ve killed three of our members." He looked at her. Jyira returned his gaze steadily. "I don’t want to have to force you to leave," Thierry continued. "But if we can’t come up with something else, then we’ll have no choice but to curse you both again."

And he turned and walked away. Jyira sat in silence, unsure what to do. She was so wrapped un in her own thoughts she didn’t notice anyone else come in the room until Angel was behind her, his arms round her waist, his lips on her throat. She smiled. "Where have you two been?"

"We went to see some old friends," Angel answered. "I brought you something back."

"What?" Jyira asked, almost dreading to think what it could be.

Willow’s eyebrows were in her hair. "Oh Angel you didn’t…"

"Didn’t what?" Angel said. He smiled at Jyira, holding a hand behind his back, and presenting her with a human heart.

Jyira smiled. "Oh Angel," she cooed.

He kissed her. "I thought you’d like it."

"Who’s is it?"

"Current Slayer’s," he said. "’Bout time I got her off my back."

Jyira looked over at Willow. "I thought she was your friend. And you don’t mind Angel ripping her heart out?"

Willow shrugged. "*Was* my best friend," she corrected. "Vampires don’t have Slayers for friends."

Angel smiled at Jyira. "She’s learning real fast, isn’t she?"

Jyira kissed him. "She learns from the master like I did." More smoochies. "It’s been a while since you brought me a heart. That’s so romantic."

Willow shook her head in disgust. "I can’t believe you think a human heart is romantic. I have my limits. It’s gross!"

Jyira stroked Angel’s cheek with a long, pail finger and talon like black nails. "It’s cute," she said, looking at Angel, who was smiling at her. Willow snorted. "You guys are making me sick." And she walked away, leaving them engrossed and entrance with each other. As she walked away, she found herself missing Tara. It had been a difficult decision for her, but she’d eventually decided she would tell her the truth, and then bring her over and they could be together forever. And as it turned out, most couples who did that ended up together in the end after all. Look at Hannah and Thierry. Jyira and Angel. Seeing how much in love they were had made her feel good and happy about bringing them back together. Her doubts about being responsible for bringing back two demons had been squashed. It wasn’t her fault they’d ended up in bed together.

The rest of Circle Daybreak would just have to learn to deal with them.

* * *

Part 15

Thierry sighed, looking over the group of Daybreakers gathered in the lounge, as well as the three new editions there, Cordelia Chase, who worked with Angel, Xander Harris, a friend of Willow’s and Willow’s girlfriend Tara. They sat in a small group, a little to one side of the Daybreakers. None of them looked happy. Willow had been keeping secrets.

"Uh, this may sound like a stupid question," Xander was saying. "But why the hell are we actually here?"

"Who’s Angel pissed off now?" Cordelia added.

"A lot of people," Rashel answered. "Willow said this has happened to him before. But now Angel has some company."

"Company?" Cordelia asked. "You mean – another souled vampire?"

"Her name is Jyira. They were involved for a long time in the past, Willow reunited them," Thierry explained.

"Let me guess – they ended up in bed together and now the world’s in danger," Cordelia said dryly.

"I know I sound like a broken record here, but what’s this got to do with us?" Xander whined. The last thing he wanted was to be forced into helping someone who’d guts he hated. Angel and his new girlfriend were the Daybreakers’ problems. Not his.

"What does this have to do with Willow?" Tara piped up.

"She didn’t say anything to you?" Hannah asked.

"Well since we don’t have a clue what you’re talking about she obviously didn’t," Cordelia snapped.

Thierry sighed. This girl was beginning to get on his nerves. And glancing around he saw he wasn't the only one. Rashel looked ready to throttle her. And she’d barely been here for an hour.

"Willow has discovered she has vampire genes in her family tree," Thierry said.

Dead silence. Not one of Willow’s friends could think of something to say. They all looked as if they’d been slapped.

"But Willow *can’t* be a vampire!" Xander protested. "I’ve known her since we were kids! Explain that!"

"There are more than one species of vampire," Thierry said calmly. "Our species – the species I come from – "

"You’re a vampire too?" Tara looked completely bewildered.

Hannah sighed and explained the basic details of Night World and what Circle Daybreak were doing. They didn’t seem all that surprised. Obviously they’d all encountered vampires before. And the dangerous ones too. Not that the Night World vampires were all nice and sweet. Not by a long shot.

"So there’s a whole underground society of vampires, witches and shapeshifters. And now you think Willow’s sort of become one of these other species of vampire," Xander said slowly. "Is anyone else completely confused?"

"If Willow’s a vampire how come she's never needed to feed before?" Cordelia asked. It was a good question that no one particularly knew the answer to.

"Maybe it was something to do with her life being in danger when she decided to start or something," Thea suggested.

"Willow’s life has been in danger before and she’s never grown pointy teeth," Xander said.

"We’re not sure why she’s suddenly adapted to this life style," Thierry said.

"Probably something to do with her teachers," Rashel said dryly.

"Teachers?" Tara said doubtfully. "You guys teach people how to be vampires?"

"We don’t," Quinn said. "But I bet your friend Angel has had a heavy say in Willow’s tutoring."

"We have to do something," Cordelia said, looking unhappy. "I don’t like the idea of working with a vicious psychopath. He’s a lot nicer when he has a soul. Maybe he can get a little moody sometimes, but you learn to live with it."

"I liked Jyira a lot better when she had a soul too," Poppy said. "She wasn't so much of a complete bitch. She was actually nice."

"She barely said a word, and never mentioned this psycho boyfriend of hers," Ash said.

"If I didn’t know better, I’d say you looked a little jealous, Ash," Blaise said sweetly.

"He’d better not be," Mary-Lynette said, kicking Ash, who looked at her eyes rolling, muttering, "Not again."

Tara had been sitting there quietly, looking shocked and unhappy. Now she stood up. "It’s not true," she said, her voice shaking, on the verge of tears. "Not true." And she ran out the room.

"What’s her problem?" Cordelia muttered.

"Don’t ask," Xander said. "And who’s Jyira again?"

"Jyira was an old girlfriend of Angel in the past. He made her about thirty, forty years after he was made, and they’ve been obsessed with each other ever since," Thierry explained.

"I thought Angel was obsessed with Darla back then," Cordelia said.

"He liked them both. But I’ve seen him and Jyira together; I think she was always the one he preferred. They were both involved with the death of that gypsy girl and both got themselves cursed. I don’t know what happened to him, but some of our vampires found Jyira very distressed and confused, and we brought her into Circle Daybreak, and she's been with us ever since. She was a big help in our Millennium battle. We won in the end."

"So we curse her again," Xander suggested. "If you guys have witches among you, you can surely find the right spell."

"I say kill them all," Rashel said.

"Kill Angel, curse Jyira and do something else about Willow," Xander said. "You can’t kill Willow."

"I still can’t picture Willow as a vampire," Cordelia said. "Can we curse that kind too?"

"I don’t think cursing any of them is a good idea. It’s wrong to make them suffer so much, and to separate them when they obviously love each other. Okay, maybe they’re a little twisted, but anyone can see they’re crazy about each other," Thierry said.

"I thought Angel was still hung up on Buffy," Cordelia put in.

Thierry frowned. "I doubt it. From the sound of it, Jyira’s always been Angel’s true love. She apparently looks very similar to this other girl. I think the other girl was just the rebound."

"And she’d be very very sorry if she ever crossed Jyira’s path right now," Rashel muttered.

Suddenly Thea squealed with excitement. "I’ve got it!" she said, she was grinning.

"Got what?" Quinn asked. Everyone was now looking at Thea, still grinning from ear to ear. She had a collection of old spell books around her, anything she could find on magic relating to vampires. She waved an old piece of paper in front of them.

"The curse?" Cordelia said doubtfully.

"No, this is even better," Thea said. "It’s a spell to make vampires into humans again. If we did the spell for all three of them they’d all be completely human again."

"The last time Angel wound up human for a bit he decided he wanted to be a vampire again," Cordelia added. "If he’s human, I wonder if his detective agency will still be in business if he’s not super strong to fight other demons."

"I don’t see why not," Hannah said. "And if he can have this woman he loves so much with him, he might even be happier, if he has someone to protect and care for."

Cordelia’s eyebrow raised. It was a good point. When he’d been with that actress briefly he’d been a little bit happier than usual. And if he was human, there were no more risks of him going demonic and killing everyone.

"That’s all well and good for Angel and his girl, but what about Willow?" Xander said.

"I don’t see why the spell shouldn’t work for her," Thea said. "It doesn’t have a specific species listed here."

"What if they don’t agree to it?" Cordelia asked.

"Then we’ll have no choice but to curse them," Thierry said with an unhappy sigh.

* * *

Part 16

Willow was sitting in her room, her computer open, flirting with someone on one of her chartrooms when the bedroom door bust open. Willow looked up, annoyed. People should really learn to knock around here.

But she got a surprise to see Tara standing there. Her blonde hair was dishevelled, and her eyes were red rimmed, her cheeks were streaked with tears.

"My God, what happened to you?" Willow asked, standing up and moving closer.

Tara held a hand up. "Don’t touch me. Stay where you are."

Willow stopped, hurt. "What’s wrong? Why are you so upset?"

"Is it true?" Tara blurted out.

Willow blinked, confused. "Is what true?"

"That you’re a goddamn vampire!" Tara almost screamed.

"Oh. Yeah, so what?" Willow folded her arms. "It’s not like it’s my fault. I didn’t ask to be one. It’s in my family."

"Why didn’t you tell me?" Tara demanded, advancing a step, the tears suddenly turning to hurt anger. Tara looked mad enough to actually hit her.

Willow frowned. "Because I didn’t find out myself until recently. I was attacked by a vampire and when I started to fight him, I suddenly felt this overwhelming need for blood, so I bit him, and it just sort of went on from there." Willow smiled. "It’s not so bad. I’m not like the vampires we’ve faced before. I’m a different species. I can walk around in sunlight, have families, eat normal food – even though it does nothing for me – I’m stronger, I can read minds, do all sorts of really cool stuff, and I still have all my witch powers, combined with all my new vamp powers – I’m twice as strong and powerful. It’s fun. You’d like it."

Tara backed up again, the red-hot anger in her cheeks fading. Her face lost all colour, and her eyes were dilating in fear. Fear. Tara was afraid. Afraid of Willow. It was a curious feeling to know someone was scared of you – and *so* scared. Old, experienced vampires like Angel and Jyira seemed to find fear funny. But there was nothing funny about seeing someone you loved so scared of you.

"What – what are you talking about?" Tara said in a small voice.

Willow sighed. She was as bad as Hannah, refusing to see what was really going on, wanting to live in a happy, idealistic world where everyone got along and lived happily ever after. Come on. How often did happily ever after happen? "You, being a vampire. That way we can be together forever. You’d like my friends Jyira and Angel. They know how to have fun. Jyira’s a bit of a bitch, and Angel’s drop dead gorgeous, and a really good kisser. We could have loads of fun." Willow was smiling. Then she paused. "Oh God, I’m starting to sound just like him. I’m going to end up as twisted as he is."

Tara was still standing there, hands at her sides, clenching and unclenching her fists. She seemed to be having breathing problems. Her eyes were still wide with shock and fear. She shook her head. "No."

"Why not?" Willow said. "You’ve never tried it before. Give it a chance and you’ll get to like it."

Tara shook her head again. "No," she whispered. A tremor had taken over her body. She couldn’t stop shaking. She raised her head and met Willow’s eyes directly. "No," she said for a third time. "No, I’d never want to be like that. Vampires are evil. They’re killers. I’m not a killer, I could never be like that." She stared at Willow, who was beginning to get very angry. She didn’t want to be on her own for the rest of eternity.

"You’re evil too," Tara whispered. "You’re not the same Willow I fell in love with. You’re someone else. Someone I want nothing to do with." She turned around to leave.

Before she could leave, in a movement too fast for the human eye to see, Willow darted forward and slammed the door shut. She grabbed Tara by the hair as she turned to run, feeling her teeth lengthening. If she couldn’t have Tara, then no one else could either. And she sank her teeth into the other girl’s throat. The hot, warm blood gushed into her. Tara screamed and screaming, loud, piercing shrieks as Willow’s grip tightened, her nails digging into Tara’s flesh as one hand gripped her neck, the other yanked at her hair. Tara’s struggles weakened, and she went limp. The pounding of her heart stopped. Willow stood up, panting, breathing heavily and tossed the body onto the floor. Blood dripped from her teeth onto her hands.

She stared at the blood on her hands, a beautiful crimson.

She blinked, focusing on that drop of blood. She was trembling herself, feeling hot tears filling her eyes, streaming down her cheeks. She fell to her knees on the floor, sobbing. She reached for Tara’s body, already going cold, and hugged it tightly, as if that would bring her back to life. But Tara was never coming back. It was possible to raise the dead. She’d seen spells for it. But it was a complex ritual, and things could always go wrong.

There was a knock at the door. At least someone had manners. The door opened a crack. "Willow?" It was Jyira. "Are you okay? We heard screaming." Jyira saw the body in Willow’s arms, Willow’s cheeks streaked with tears. "Oh Willow," she whispered, dropping to her knees besides Willow, and hugging her. Willow dropped Tara’s body aside and clung to Jyira sobbing against her shoulder.

"This isn’t fair," Willow sobbed. "I hate myself. I didn’t mean to. I just lost my temper." She sniffed, wiping her nose on Jyira’s shoulder. "I want to be human again," she cried. "If I was human and I lost my temper then I wouldn’t have to worry about killing someone."

Jyira sighed. She knew the feeling. "Sometimes I’d like to be human again too," she said softly. "I found a spell for it once."

"Did it work?" Willow sniffled.

Jyira smiled dryly. "It did."

"But how come you’re a vampire then?" Willow asked clinging harder, desperate for someone to hold onto to comfort her.

"Angel was royally pissed off at me and changed me again and destroyed the spell."

"And you’re still with him, why?" Willow asked, looking up at her. "If someone did that to be I’d be furious. Now that’s someone I *would* kill."

Jyira sighed. "I love angel very much. I was mad at him, but of course, I forgave him in about a week." She shook her head and snorted. "I was hopelessly dependant on him back then, and I needed him. I had to forgive him."

Willow sighed herself. "I wish I had someone who loved me as much as Angel loves you." She looked away. "I’m a monster. I'm a murderer. I killed my best friend, I killed Tara…I loved her. Now there’s no one who understands me like she did. There’s no one out there for me…" She started to sob again.

Jyira hugged her, then placed her fingers under Willow’s chin and tilted her head to meet her eyes. "Now that’s not true," she said. "You’re a wonderful person, you’ll find someone."

Willow stared at her for several seconds, Jyira stared back. Something seemed to be passing between them, but Willow wasn't sure what. Jyira’s fingers had moved from her chin and were gently stroking her cheek.

Willow couldn’t help herself. She kissed Jyira. Jyira kissed her back.

* * *

Heading to the room he shared with Jyira, Angel could hear sounds inside. Moaning and smoochy sounds. What the hell was wrong with Jyira. She should be satisfied with him. And if there was another guy in the bed with her…

He slammed the door open, a scowl darkening his handsome face.

And the scowl quickly changed to an expression of complete surprise.

Because it wasn’t another guy in Jyira's bed with her. It was Willow.

"Okay, now you two are the last people I’d expect to find butt naked in the same bed," he said, his head tilted to one side.

Willow pulled Jyira closer to her. "I can see why you like her so much," she said, smiling.

Jyira grinned, obviously flattered by the compliment. She and Willow were making out again. Angel stepped into the room, and pushed the door closed. He stood for a moment, watching Willow and Jyira. Jyira looked up at him. "Want to play?" she asked. She and Willow both smiled at him. "You did this with me and Darla all the time," Jyira added.

Angel walked over to the bed. "Yeah, okay."

* * *

Willow felt a lot better the next morning as she went downstairs, with Jyira’s arm around her shoulders. She felt happier again, and safe and protected. Jyira and Angel were much more fun than Oz and Tara. Jyira was a little pensive, she seemed to have gone back to being quiet again, but this time, Willow knew it wasn't from sadness of missing Angel so much it hurt. She could see the content, happy look in Jyira’s eyes.

They walked into the living room, and got a surprise. The soulmate couples of Circle Daybreak were waiting there for them – and they’d been joined by Xander and Cordelia. Willow’s eyebrows rose in surprise. Now those two were the least likely soulmate couple. "I thought you guys broke up," she said. "Did you get back together or something?"

Cordelia snorted in disgust. "Please. I am never sinking *that* low again. It destroyed my reputation. Do you know how hard I had to work to build it up again?"

Someone hadn’t changed at all.

"And I have a new girlfriend," Xander pointed. "Anya, remember?"

"Looks like you’re not the only one with a new girlfriend," Ash said with a snicker noticing the closeness of Willow and Jyira. "You work fast Will."

"So do you," Poppy said. "You flirted with me the first minute we met, and Thea said you flirted with Willow the minute she rang the doorbell."

Delos walked in just then, and stopped dead at the sight of Jyira. His golden eyes blazed suddenly, and his teeth lengthened and sharpened as he ran at her. Jyira pushed Willow out the way, but she didn’t move back from the attack, and when Delos lunged at her, she simply laughed, grabbed the front of his shirt and threw him across the room. Delos was up in an instant and running at her again. Jyira just looked at him, her head tilted, a smile curving her lips, before she could start to move forwards, Rashel and Quinn jumped in, trying to hold her back. "Just leave it Jyira," Rashel said. "Leave him alone. You’ve caused enough trouble."

"I like causing trouble," Jyira said.

"Come on you two, cut it out," Thierry ordered unaccustomed sharpness in his voice.

Delos turned his back on Jyira and stormed out. There was an uncomfortable silence. Several people glared at Jyira, who looked innocently back. "What?" she asked.

"What’s that about?" Cordelia asked.

No one answered.

"Uh, is there something you guys want to say to us?" Willow said. "Because when we walked in here you looked like you had something to say."

"We’ve found some more spells we think might be of interest to you," Thierry said slowly. "They’re spells to make vampires into humans."

Jyira and Willow exchanged glances. They didn’t say anything.

"We decided to leave the choice up to you," Hannah put in. "The spells will work for Willow, as well as you Jyira. But Willow, if we do this for you, then the only draw back is you’ll lose all your witch powers as well."

Jyira frowned. "What about Angel?" she asked.

"If he wants to, we’ll do the spell for him too," Hannah answered. "It’s up to you guys to decide." And in one mass movement, the group of Daybreakers left the room. Willow and Jyira dropped down on one of the couches.

"I thought you said Angel destroyed the spell," Willow said.

"I thought he did," Jyira said quietly. "There must be more than one spell, or another copy of the original.

Willow tilted her head to one side. "Are you going to do it?"

Jyira looked unhappy. "I don’t know. I’d like to, but…"

"Angel’ll be pissed," Willow finished for her.

"To put it bluntly, yes," Jyira said with a sigh. "I just can’t see him agreeing to this. What about you?"

Willow folded her legs under her. "I don’t know," she said in a small voice. "I’d like to be human again, I just don’t think I’m cut out to be a vampire. I had fun with you and Angel, but I don’t think I could live my life like that, especially with a temper like I had…I don’t want to kill everyone close to me, and I’m afraid if I stay this way, then I’ll lose everyone I have. The only thing is, I don’t want to lose my witch powers."

"You can always take up studying witchcraft like a beginner again," Jyira suggested. "Just because you lose your natural powered doesn’t man you can’t still study it."

"I guess." Willow looked at her. "What are you going to tell Angel?"

Jyira tapped her long fingers. "I suppose I’ll go talk to him now."

She stood up and headed back up the stairs to their room, where Angel was still asleep. She pushed the door closed and sat on the bed, watching him for a while, a smile on her lips. Finally, she shook his shoulder. He grunted and pulled the covers back over his head.

"Go away," he grumbled.

She shook him again, harder. "Get up Angel."

"I don’t feel like getting up. Leave me alone. Go annoy someone else." He yanked the pillow up and tucked it around his ears.

Jyira stared at him, starting to lose her temper. She grabbed the pillow and hit him with it. He turned to look at her, his eyebrows raised in disbelief. Then he saw the look on her face. "What’s wrong?" he asked.

Jyira looked away from him. "The Daybreakers have found a spell for us."

"What spell?" He sounded suspicious, and she really couldn’t blame him. "They’d better not be trying to curse us again. They’re going to be sorry if they are." She could hear the carefully controlled anger there, and tried not to shudder.

"No, it’s nothing like that," she said. "It’s a spell that will make us human again."

Angel made a snort of disgust. "Please. What a waste of time. I hope you told them to shove it up their stupid idealistic asses."

Jyira didn’t answer. She looked down at her hands folded on her lap instead. Angel wasn’t stupid, he knew her very well, and could instantly see what she was thinking.

"You didn’t, did you?" he demanded. "Did you? Jyira, what did you say to them?"

He had grabbed her arm, and the grip was starting to hurt. She looked at it, then at him. "I didn’t tell them anything, they said it was up to us to decide."

"You’re thinking of doing it, aren’t you?" When she didn’t answer he tightened his grip on her arm.

Finally, Jyira sighed. "You want to know the truth Angel?" she said. "Yeah. I am considering it."

He looked appalled. "You can’t. I won’t let you."

"You don’t own me!" she snapped and yanked her arm free. For a second she thought he was going to grab her again, but he didn’t. He just looked back at her, anger flaring in his dark eyes.

"Fine," he said. "Go ahead. But I don’t see why you’d want to waste your time. Cause you know when you wake up, I’ll just take you away and change you again. I’ve done it before and I’ll do it again."

Jyira stared at him, feeling tears rising in her eyes. She hated showing any weakness in front of him, but now he was really starting to get to her. "That’s not fair, Angel," she whispered.

"Life’s a bitch, isn’t it?" he snarled.

"If you love me at all, then you should support me in what I decide," she snapped.

"I do love you," he said, "you know I’ll support you, but this…? Becoming *human*?" There was something he wasn't saying. She knew him well enough to recognise the strain behind the malice and harsh words. There was something…something he was afraid of. Angel? Afraid? Of what?

She just looked back at him, her blue eyes earnest, full of tears threatening to spill. "What is it?" she said gently. "Why are you so afraid of this?"

"I’m not afraid!" he almost shouted. "It’s just…." He trailed off, then shrugged. His voice lowered. "I just…if you’re human then…all right, all right." He was getting annoyed. "I’m afraid you won’t love me cause I’ll be a monster and you won’t be. There I said it. Happy now?"

She wasn’t any happier. But it was nice to know he cared so much. She smiled at him and took his hand in hers, playing with his fingers. The shimmery link that had been there when they'd first been reunited was back. She could see it, wrapping around their fingers, joining them together. She looked up at him. "Angel I’ll always love you, monster or not." She paused, then asked, "Did you ever want to be a vampire in the first place? Really?"

He didn’t answer. He turned away from her. Jyira sighed and stood up. "It’s up to you Angel," she said finally. "I’ll stand by whatever you decide." She reached out, turned his face towards her and kissed him softly. "You know what I want," she whispered. "I’ll do whatever you tell me to." She kissed him one last time, then walked out the room, closing the door behind her. The closing sound it made was oddly final.

* * *

Jyira headed back in the lounge to find Willows friends had joined her. Willow introduced her briefly.

"So what’s Angel doing?" Cordelia asked.

Jyira sighed miserably. "I don’t know. He wasn’t happy when I told him."

Willow took her hand. "Uh Jyira?" she aid softly. "I’ve decided I’m going to do the spell. What about you?"

Jyira shook her head. "I’ve told Angel it’s up to him, and I’ll stand by whatever decision he makes," she answered.

"You do know that if he doesn’t decide then the Daybreakers are gonna curse him again," Xander put in.

Jyira’s head shot up, her eyes blazing with sudden anger and heat. "What? Why? I thought I told Thierry it’s wrong to make him suffer again,"

"If we leave him lose, then why should we allow him to make our people suffer?" Xander countered.

Jyira’s head tilted. "I’m kinda starting to get the impression that you don’t like Angel very much."

"You think?" Xander snorted. "I hate the guy. I don’t know what Buffy saw in him, or what you could see in him. I bet you’re a perfectly nice person without his demon to influence you."

Jyira was annoyed. "I love Angel," she said defensively. "I’ll stick by whatever decision he makes."

"Make your own decisions," Xander said. "You sound like he owns you."

Jyira sighed, the anger fading from her eyes. "You’re probably right. It’s just that after Angel made me, he was all I knew. I had no one else to turn to, so I guess I got a little dependant on him."

"Okay, okay, you win," a voice from the door said. They all turned to see Angel standing there, his eyes on Jyira. She stood up and walked over to him. "Win what?" she asked, smiling a little.

Angel sighed. "Let’s do the spell."

Jyira smiled fully then and hugged him. He hugged he back. "What made you change your mind?"

"I guess because I love you and I want you to be happy," he murmured in her ear. "And if this is what it takes to make you happy, then so be it."

She kissed him.

* * *

Jyira frowned as she stood in the centre of the pentagram with Angel and Willow, while the witches of Circle Daybreak stood around, chanting over a steaming cauldron. This was different from the spell she remembered. Was it going to work? She didn’t recognise any of the chants either. She just stood there, holding Angel’s hand on one side, Willow on the other. Angel’s face was blank, as if what was happening was just passing him by. But Jyira knew it wasn't, and that he was deeply affected by this. She wasn’t sure how this was going to turn out. Willow was shaking a little on Jyira’s other side; she was openly nervous and afraid.

Finally, Thea, who was leading the spell, poured some of the liquid from the cauldron into a pewter chalice and brought the cup to Jyira. She said something a strange language and held the cup out to her. Jyira hesitated a moment, guessing she was supposed to drink whatever was in the chalice. She took a tiny sip. The liquid tasted vile, but at Thea’s expression, she shrugged, and gulped a lot of it down.

Suddenly there was a blinding pain inside her, something seemed to be moving, as if it wanted to get out. She cried out in pain, and fell to her knees, barely noticing Willow and Angel looking at her in alarm. Angel bent down to her, but a sharp word in the strange language from Thea stopped him.

Then everything went black.

* * *

Jyira woke up in her bedroom, with Angel on one side, Willow on the other. They were both awake and looking at her. Jyira groaned and blinked. "What the hell was that?" she demanded. "And why do I feel so awful? And why can’t I see a thing?" Why was she whining? She should be happy.

"You have a person’s vision now," Willow said, smiling.

"You mean it worked?" Jyira asked, sitting up. She reached over to take hold of Angel’s arms for support.

"It must. I’m starving," he said. "This happened to the last time I was human."

Jyira looked at him. "But it’s for permanent this time?"

He smiled at her. "Yes." Then he kissed her. She kissed him back.

"You guys are leaving me out," Willow said, pretending to be hurt. Jyira And Angel turned to look at her. Jyira grinned, and kissed her too,

* * *

Later in the evening Willow spotted Angel standing alone by the stairs. He was dressed quite elegantly, in black trousers and a black turtle neck. "Where are you going?" she asked.

"I’m taking Jyira out for dinner," he said. "But of course, it’s taking her twice as long to get ready. She never did have the idea of speed in her mind." He looked a little annoyed.

Willow smiled. "Romantic dinners are supposed to be leisurely."

"I know. That’s when you get there, not before."

"Are you still evil?" Cordelia was poking her head around the lounge doorway, a suspicious expression on her face.

Angel glanced at her. "Not anymore."

Cordelia’s huge breath of relief was surprising. "Thank God. The last thing I need is to be working with a maniac."

"It could have its perks," Jyira’s voice said from the top of the stairs. All three heads turned. Jyira was coming down the stairs in a long strapless glittery gold dress, her hair a shimmering mass of blonde curls down her back. She looked really gorgeous. Standing next to Angel, Willow thought they made a stunning couple, his dark and her light. His arm slipped around her and he smiled at her. She smiled back and kissed him. Cordelia made a gagging gesture and went back into the lounge. Willow followed and Jyira and Angel left.

He took her to one of the fancy Italian restaurants at Caesar’s Place. The room was dim, lit by candle light, and not over crowded with tourists. Gentle music was playing in the background, creating a perfect, dreamy atmosphere. Jyira sighed with contentment.

"You okay?" Angel asked her, moving his chair closer to hers after the meal had been cleared.

She nodded and snuggled closer. "I’ve never been better."

His arm tightened around her shoulders, and he looked a little nervous. She studied him out the corner of her eye, wondering what was wrong with him, and what the thing in his pocket was that he was playing with. He noticed her watching.

"What?" he asked.

"I want to see what you’ve been holding onto all evening as if it might run away," she said. "Come on, show me."

"Okay." He took the thing out. A ring box. With a diamond ring inside.

"It’s about damn time too," Jyira said, smiling as he slipped the ring on the forth finger of her left hand.

"So I take it if I asked you to marry me…" he whispered in her ear.

"Then the answer is yes," she whispered back, kissing him.

* * *

The next morning the Daybreakers were gathered at the door of Thierry’s mansion. Willow was going back to Sunnydale with Xander, and Cordelia was going back to L.A. with Angel and Jyira, who were still all over each other.

"What’s happening with you and Jyira then?" Ash asked Willow. "I thought you guys had something going." He looked a little interest, and yelped as Mary-Lynnette kicked him again. A frequent habit with her. Kicking him seemed to be one of her favourite things.

Willow smiled. "I think we all know who Jyira's meant to be with," she said.

"They’re soulmates," Hannah said, smiling too.

"What’s soulmates?" asked Cordelia.

"The soulmate connection is the principle that there’s one and only one true love for everyone on earth, and when you meet that person you know that you were meant to be with them forever," Thea said.

Cordelia snorted. "Soppy nonsense," she muttered.

Angel and Jyira exchanged glances. Jyira knew he was thinking maybe it wasn’t. The silver link that had been around them all the other times was back in full force, linking them, wrapping around them. It also seemed to reach out from Jyira to touch Willow as well, surrounding her with a sort of silver halo. Something to say they would always be connected.

"If you must know, Ash," Jyira said, "Willow and I are going to keep in touch."

"I guess vampire life wasn’t for me," said Willow.

"Thank God for that," Xander said, grinning at her in approval.

Willow grinned back, then glanced back at Ash. "I want to finish college, but Jyira’s still going to come visit me."

"If she can keep her tongue out of Angel’s mouth for a minute," Cordelia muttered.

Everyone said goodbye. Xander and Willow got in Xander’s car, heading back to Sunnydale.

"You guys can come back any time," Hannah said. "If you need us just give us a call."

Jyira and Angel nodded at them, and got in his car with Cordelia, heading back for L.A.

"You know Angel," she said. "It’s nice to see you happy for once, without having to worry about you going psycho."

Jyira grinned. "I don’t know," she said. "I think I’m going to miss our psycho halves."

Cordelia snorted. "I won’t. Good riddance, I say."

"It’s going to take a while to get used to being human again," Angel said. "There were certain advantages to being undead, but I won’t miss it."

Jyira snuggled closer to him. "We’ve got our whole lives to get used to it."

Angel kissed her. The car started to swerve, and Angel quickly redirected his attention. Cordelia snorted again. "You guys are making me sick," she whined.

Angel glanced at her in the rear-view mirror. "Get used to it," he said, grinning. "We’re gonna be doing it a lot."

Jyira grinned back. "Be more specific on "do it"," she said.

Angel opened his mouth. "Don’t you dare!" Cordelia cut in before he could speak. "You guys can be gross on your own time."

Jyira smiled, and snuggled closer to Angel as his arm slipped around her shoulder. They had all changed so much recently it was hard to believe from what they were to what they'd become…

She smiled, happy, really happy content for probably the first time in her life. Looking over at Angel, she could tell he was thinking the same things. Of course, there were lots of things that were going to change now. Angel was right, it was going to take a while for them to get used to being human. But they could discover that together, and there would always be new things to learn.

She had always thought that the soulmate principle was nonsense as well, but now, with her own soulmate sitting next to her, his arm around her shoulder, she knew she had been wrong. And now she was happier than anyone had a right to be.