"There can be only one," Angela McDowell muttered as she schlepped down the
street from her latest beheading, her new blouse torn and muddy. She grabbed her
long, brown hair and twisted it up into a bun, her brown eyes trained on the
sidewalk in front of her. "Why only one? Why not two? Or three? Or a dozen? Who
decided this anyway, Cuz I'd really like to get my hands on him. And shove the
tip of my sword right up his lily white ass."
She looked up when she arrived at the motel she was staying in while her car
was being fixed, the drab, peeling, brownish paint reminding her of the time
she'd spent in Mexico City thirty years ago. With a sigh, she unlocked door
number eight and stepped inside the beige room, with its loud, clanging air
conditioner, lumpy mattress and suspicious stains on the thin carpet.
Angela stripped off her ruined blouse, unhooked the sword sheath from her
back, and threw them both on the bed. Not bothering to redress, she grabbed the
phone book from the night stand drawer and started to flip through it. "Alright,
Sunnydale, show me what you got."
Twenty minutes later, the 243-year-old Immortal was re-dressed in tight
jeans, a long sleeved red poet's shirt with white embroidered flowers, her
favorite calf high moccasins she'd handmade herself when she'd first came to
America and a short, brown light weight jacket, sword hidden away beneath it.
Tucked under her blouse was a long, silver chain with two things hanging from
it. The first was a Gemini symbol, each twin encrusted with the scripted letter
'A'. The second was a silver ring. She had never removed the necklace and never
would. Opening her door to the Sunnydale motel, Angela started down the street
to the only dance club-like hangout in the small Californian town- The
Bronze.
"Hello to you, too, pet," Spike replied sarcastically.
"Just answer the question so I can stake you," she said, a stake appearing in
her hand.
"Now, now, Slayer," he said. "I don't think your lovey-dovey would be too
happy if you did that."
"Angel? Why would he care?" Buffy asked confused.
"He's the one who invited me back," Spike replied, smugly. The look she gave
him was one of wide-eyed astonishment, causing him to chuckle. "Surprised?"
Buffy's eyes narrowed. "How do I know you're telling the truth?"
"You don't," he grinned. "At least, not until you talk to loverboy."
"His name is Angel," she ground out, referring to her once again boyfriend.
Willow had found a way to anchor Angel's soul so he would never lose it again,
and after a lot of talking and healing, they had gotten back together and
couldn't be happier.
"But Poof has such a nice ring to it," Spike commented in a wistful tone.
"Keep it up, and that's the sound you're going to be making as I ram this
stake in your chest."
"Temper, temper, pet," he said. Buffy growled at him, then spun and stalked
off into the night, intent on finding Angel.
Spike chuckled as he watched her go, then blended back into the shadows to
wait for his next meal. Spike had begun to change his feeding patterns shortly
after returning to Brazil to find Drusilla gone, with only a note saying she
hated him for working with the Slayer again.
Dejected, he had sat in their home for two weeks, not moving from his spot,
with only one lone human to feed from. After he'd finally snapped out of his
depression, he let the girl go. Needing some sort of challenge to keep his mind
off of his Black Queen, he'd taken to using the 'renewable resource' concept
that very few vampires used anymore. Drinking only small amounts from several
humans. The real challenge was to do it without them knowing, making them think
it was an erotic kiss instead of a life threatening situation.
Then, he'd gotten a message from Angel stating the need for his help. Spike
debated whether to return to Sunnydale or not, but his curiosity got the better
of him. And here he was, back in the town that had become the bane of his
existence.
"Spike's in town. And do you want to know why? Because, according to him, you
asked him to come," Buffy spat, stomping into the mansion.
*Yup, she's pissed, * Angel thought. "I didn't know if he would show."
"Angel, why is he here?" she asked, glaring at him.
"We need someone we can sort of trust to help divert a new prophecy I found,"
Angel replied, moving to the bedroom to retrieve a book. Buffy followed him.
"This is the Book of Chalia, thought lost over a thousand years ago. I found it
at a flea market on my way back from Los Angeles last month."
"You? At a flea market?" Buffy snickered. "What were you looking for? Glow in
the dark salt and pepper shakers?"
Angel gave her a look and went on. "According to this, on the night of the
Black Moon which occurs in the last year of the millenium, life will cease to
exist."
"And I take it, we need Spike for some odd reason to stop this exciting
prophecy?" Buffy asked.
He nodded. "I haven't figured out the particulars of who else we need, but
I'd planned on conferring tomorrow night with Giles in the library."
"Count me in on the guest list," she told him, then looked at her watch.
"Oops, gotta go. I'm supposed to meet Willow, Oz and Xander at the Bronze in
five. Wanna come?"
Angel smiled at her. "Maybe later. I want to find Spike first."
"Ok," she walked over to him and gave him a lingering kiss on the mouth. "See
you then."
"Love you," he said as she headed out the door.
"I love you, too!" Buffy shouted back as she sprinted up the stone stairs in
the garden.
Angel shook his head and smiled. He'd never thought they would get back
together again after all he'd done when his demon was free. But Willow had put
on her resolve face and decided she wanted her best friend to be happy for the
rest of her undoubtedly short life, and since the vampire made her the happiest,
she anchored his soul.
Sliding on his shoes, he made his way from the mansion into the warm June
night.
Angela looked around the club and sighed. "This place is even more exciting
than East Beach," she said to herself as she watched couples dancing and
chatting with their friends. Not one to miss a good time, she threw herself into
the sea of people, swaying to the music from the live band. "Oomph," Angela
gasped as a nearby dancer caught her across the stomach with his arm.
"Oh, sorry," Xander Harris said, blushing profusely. "My arms have a mind of
their own."
Angela smiled at the teen. "I guess their IQ is a bit on the low end, huh?"
Xander let out a laugh. "These arms are attached to Xander, by the way," he
said, shaking the limbs in front of him.
"Angela," she replied.
"Well, hi, Angela," he said. "I was just going to get a drink. Care to join
me?"
"Sure, why not," Angela said, and followed him to a table with two girls
sitting at it. "Wills, Buff, this is Angela," Xander introduced. "Angela, these
are my two bestest buds, Willow and Buffy."
"Hi," Willow greeted brightly. "I love your shirt."
"Thanks," Angela said, sitting on an empty stool. "I got it in Florence."
"Italy?" Buffy asked.
"Where else is there?" she replied.
"I'm doing a drink run. Anyone game?" Xander asked, looking at the three
ladies.
"Me," Buffy said. "And get one for Angel, too."
"I don't think they serve his favorite flavor," he quipped before moving off.
"Who's Angel?" Angela asked.
"My boyfriend," Buffy said with a large, dreamy smile on her face.
"Note by the look on Buffy's face the hottie-ness of Angel," Willow whispered
conspiratorially.
"I heard that, Will," Buffy said. "Can I help it if he's tall, dark and
soulful?"
Angela smiled. She hadn't thought about anyone in the manner that Buffy
obviously did for her boyfriend for a very long time. A very, VERY long time.
"Here ya go!" Xander said, depositing drinks on the table before plopping
down on another stool. He took a long sip, then turned to the Immortal. "So,
Angela, what brings you to our one-Starbucks town?"
"Car trouble," Angela confessed with a sigh. "I was on my way north to see a
friend when my car up and went splat outside of town. It won't be fixed until
the end of the week."
"You didn't walk here, did you?" Buffy asked, a tinge of worry in her
voice.
"Yeah. It's not that far from the flea-bag motel I'm staying at," Angela
said. "Let me tell you, I do not want to know what some of those stains are in
the carpet. Yuck."
Buffy opened her mouth to say something else when a familiar figure caught
her eye. "Hey, Angel, you got here fast," she said, looking past Angela's
shoulder.
"And here I was hoping you wouldn't show at all," Xander added.
"Can it, stick boy," Angel said, approaching the table.
Angela had the strangest sense of deja vu when Buffy's boyfriend spoke from
behind her, making her tense and grip her cup so tightly it broke, sending soda
cascading on the table towards her lap. She jumped up off the stool with a
squeak, and backed right into him.
Angel captured the stranger's arms to steady her, her back pressed against
his chest, her height making her head rest just below his chin. He heard Buffy
gasp, followed by Willow and Xander, and they all stared at him, mouths open.
"Do you see what I see?" Buffy asked in an awed voice.
"If you see two Angel's, only one of them with breasts, then I see what you
see," Xander said, closing his eyes tightly, then reopening them.
"They look like twins!" Willow said, her voice breathless. Angel gave them a
confused glance, then turned his attention to the stranger. "Are you ok?"
"Yeah, I'm fine. It's just your voice reminded me of my bro-" Angela said,
stepping away and turning around. Her eyes widened as she got a look at Buffy's
boyfriend. "-ther."
Angel looked down into the face that was so similar, yet different to his
own. A face he had seen every day of his life as he grew up, his twin sister.
"Angela?"
"Angelus?" Angela gasped out, then promptly fainted in her twin's arms.
----------------------------------------------------------------
Galway, Ireland 1756
Angela was reading by the fire, anxiously waiting for some news. Her twin
brother Angelus had been gone all the previous night and day, and she knew
something bad had happened, but didn't know what it could be. Her head lifted up
when she heard knocking at the door.
Her mother hurried to answer it, wanting news of her son, as well. "Angelus!
Thank God!" she exclaimed when she saw her son on the doorstep. "Where have you
been? We've been so worried! Oh, come in here and let me make sure you're
ok."
Angela's sisters and father came in to the room when they heard her happy
voice to see Angelus entering the house. Suddenly, Angelus' face changed into a
grotesque form. He grabbed each person and snapped their necks without a word
until only Angela was left.
She was trembling with fear when Angelus grabbed her by the neck. "Why
Angela, you're shaking. Don't tell me you're afraid of your own twin brother."
He grinned evilly at her, then moved his hands and sank his fangs into her neck.
Blackness overtook her rapidly.
Angela woke with a start. She sat up and looked around in horror, realizing
that she hadn't dreamt her brother killing her family. But then why was she
alive? "How in the world-" She stopped mid-thought when she heard someone
banging on the front door. Angela got up swiftly and fled, never looking back
once.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Angela came around to find herself sitting on a stool, leaning against
Xander. "Welcome back," the teen said, allowing her to stay up under her own
power.
"Where's Angelus?" Angela asked.
"He freaked, said he'd meet us at the library, then took off," Buffy replied.
"Now, who are you?"
"That monster killed us," the Immortal suddenly hissed. "His own family."
"That was pre-soul," Buffy started to explain, then her eyes widened. "You're
his sister?" Angela nodded. "But how can that be?"
"Never you mind," Angela said. "Take me to this library so I can give my
brother a piece of my sword."
"But he's good now," Willow said, laying her hand on Angela's arm. "I
re-cursed him with a permanent soul."
"Which means, much to my utter dismay," Xander added. "You can't kill him.
Besides, Buffy wouldn't like it, and if the Buffster's mad, watch out!"
"At least hear him out," Willow continued. "He feels so guilty for killing
you...well, since you're not dead that'll make some difference, but not much."
"Very well," Angela sighed. "I won't kill him right away."
The group traveled quickly to the library where Angel and Giles were deep in
conversation. When Giles saw Angela, he did a double take, removing his glasses
to stare at her, then at Angel, then back at her. "My word," he gasped. "Twins."
Angel looked at Angela with trepidation and a haunting sadness in his eyes. "How
can this be?"
"Perhaps I've come back as punishment for you murdering us!" Angela hissed.
Her demeanor immediately changed when she saw her brother flinch and bow his
head, but not before she saw the tears start running down his face.
"Angelus?"
"I'm so sorry," he whispered. Angela watched as Buffy ran over to him and
took him in her arms, glaring at Angela.
"Is this soul thing true?" Angela asked, incredulous.
" Indeed," Giles answered her. "We have met the monster, Angelus, and let me
assure you that Angel is-is nothing like... it."
Angela's mind was racing. Her brother, her twin, her best friend growing up
was still alive! And standing in front of her bawling his eyes out. She moved
her fingers to her neck and pulled out the silver chain, holding the Gemini
charm up, the dual letter 'A' interlocking on the figures. Boldly, she walked
over to him and waited for him to raise his head. When he did, she held up the
charm.
"You still have it," Angel said in wonder, reaching out to touch it. He
pulled on a chain that hung around his neck as well. On it was a matching charm.
He had been lucky he'd put it away for safe keeping after his ordeal with
Drusilla and Spike, and hadn't put it back on until he'd found it after he'd
returned from hell.
"'Lus?" Angela said, a half grin on her face.
"'La?" Angel replied, a slow smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. He
started to laugh and scooped her up in his arms, holding her close. "I'm so
sorry, baby sister."
"I'll forgive you just this one time, baby brother," Angela said as he set
her down.
"Um...now that the happy family reunion is over," Buffy interrupted. "Can you
tell us why you're still alive?"
"I'm an Immortal," Angela said simply. "Can't die unless you chop off my
head." She tucked the chain back under her blouse.
"An Immortal?" Angel said, looking over at Giles.
"Stroke of luck," Giles said with a shrug. "Or fate, whichever you decide."
"Time out here, G-man," Xander said. "What are you talking about?"
"A new prophecy, Xander," Angel answered for the Watcher. "As soon as Spike
gets here, I'll explain it in detail."
"Spike is coming here?" Willow said, her eyes widening. "And we want him to
come?" Angel nodded. "Oh, boy."
"Well, before peroxide fangs gets here," Xander said, evil grin on his face.
"I think we should all take this time to grill Angela on what Deadboy was like
as a kid."
Angel shot a 'please don't' look to his sister, who smiled sweetly in return.
"I think that can be arranged," Angela said. "Why don't I tell you about the
time when we were 14 and baby brother here thought he could fly..."
She was cut off by Angel's hand covering her mouth. "Not another word, baby
sister," Angel warned. "Or I'll tell them about that time in the barn..."
This time it was him who trailed of as the doors to the library opened.
"Hello, people," Spike greeted, walking into the room like he owned the place.
Angela paled and she broke out of her brother's grasp. She took three steps
towards the blond vampire, then stopped. "Will-William?"
Spike's mouth dropped open as he stared at the woman in front of him.
"Angela?"
For the second time that night, Angela's eyes rolled up into her head and she
fainted.
As Angela woke up slowly, she noticed that she was sitting in one of the
chairs in the library. A face floated in front of her view. "William? What the-"
Buffy handed Spike a glass of water which he held to Angela's lips. The Immortal
took a few sips and her head began to clear. Angela smiled as she focused on
Spike. In a light voice she said, "Someone pinch me." Angel Pinched his sister's
arm. She yelped. "Don't do that again, baby brother, or you WILL meet the
business end of my sword."
Spike helped Angela up. "Hello again, Angie."
"So, Angela, how do you know Spike?" Willow asked.
At first, Angela looked confused, but then realized that Willow meant
William.
Spike smiled. "I'll take that one. Angela was a tavern girl in London. I met
her one night when I stopped in for a drink."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
London, England 1820
William was walking home after spending the day at his uncle's farm. As he
passed a local tavern called the Fox and Hound. He went up to the bar and saw a
young, beautiful girl behind the counter. She eyed him and asked, "What's your
pleasure, sir?"
"After a decent whiskey, you my fair maiden."
"What's your name?"
"William Addington."
"Ah. You're very notable. Though I have heard you have faults."
"Yes, but who doesn't?"
"Come by after closing, and maybe I'll find out where those faults lie."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
"For three years, we dated," Spike said, continuing the story. "Then, the
night I asked Angela to marry me, a pack of bloody lowlifes killed her." Angela,
who was sitting on Spike's lap, gave her lover a brief smile and Gave him a kiss
on the cheek. Spike took a moment and went on. "I was at the Fox and Hound,
drinking. Then Angelus came in. Offered me a chance to be immortal. I was so
drunk and in grief, I agreed. He made me a vampire."
Oz, who had been quiet for a while, finally spoke up. "Look, I can tell that
this is a reunion moment, but I'm kind of liking the world. I don't think I'd be
too keen on it ending."
Giles nodded in agreement. "Quite right. Now as to the particulars of the
ritual to prevent the prophecy from occurring. The ritual requires a magic
practitioner, a demon that's different, a true demon, an Immortal, two
supernatural humans, a normal human, and a young person of pure heart. Also an
eagle and a dog."
Angela was taking careful mental note of what Giles was saying. She did a few
mental calculations, and took a brief glance around the room when something
began tickling her nose. "Okay. Who's a dabbler?" Willow meekly raised her hand.
Angela continued. "'A demon that's different', I figure is Angel. You know, the
soul thing. 'Two supernatural humans' is reference to Buffy and Oz."
Buffy asked, "How do you figure?"
"You're a Slayer, and Oz is a werewolf." Buffy's eyes hardened slightly.
"Hey! Relax! I've met a Slayer or two in my time. And as for Oz, I, uh, I'm sort
of allergic to dogs. 'A normal human'; Giles. And a pure hearted person has to
be Xander." After Giles filled everyone on what else was needed, they began
planning.
While Angela was with Buffy on patrol, the Slayer was grilling the Immortal
for information. "So, what were you saying before about Angel?"
"Oh, yeah. He tried to fly by jumping off the big hay bale in our barn. He
jumped and landed on our milk cow which threw him so he landed in the pig pen. I
never laughed so hard. He was just covered in mud. Of course he slugged me for
laughing at him."
"There's something about Spike I always wanted to know."
"Shoot."
"How did he get that scar on his left eyebrow?"
"Oh, boy. I did that. We had sex and I accidentally raked my nails across his
face."
"So when was that? When you first met?"
"Yes, but you never heard it from me." Suddenly, Angela froze as a tingling
ran down her neck. "Buffy, get out of here." The Slayer went off a ways and
watched as a tall, handsome man came out from the shadows.
"Hello. Miles Standish."
Angela pulled out her sword and gave a smile that only dead Immortals saw.
"Angela McDowell." Buffy watched as the two Immortals fought. Angela swiftly and
skillfully cut the other Immortal's head off and a light mist began to be
absorbed by Angela. Then streaks of lightning zapped her.
When it was over, Buffy ran over. "What was THAT?!"
Angela looked at Buffy. "That, was a Quickening."
"Tonight?" Willow was talking to Angel. The ensouled vampire nodded. "The
astral cycle is primed. It's going to happen tonight."
"Well, we'll stop it. Won't we?" Angel tried to look as optimistic as the
young hacker did. "I hope so. Get everyone together. I'll come by with Spike to
help set up at sunset." Willow let herself out as Angel sat on his couch.
"Nice place," a voice behind him said, making him jump. He let out a long
sigh. "Angela."
"Yeah. So what may I ask is this place costing you?"
"I- um- well- nothing. I broke in a few years ago. Well, with Spike and
Drusilla."
"You were an evil SOB, weren't you?"
"I've heard you've raised some Hell yourself, 'La."
Angela smiled as Angel called her be her nickname. 'Lus was Angel's and 'La
was Angela's, as was their constant argument of who was the 'baby' of the two.
Angel asked the question that had been nagging him since the previous evening.
"So, why did Spike call you 'Angie'?"
"It was his nickname for me. So this thing is going down tonight?" Angela
thought then asked, "What time tonight? Can you be more specific?"
"Midnight."
"Okay. Second question; where are we going to do this ritual thingie?"
"At the library. We'll get the place set up at sunset."
"And my role in this funky shindig?"
Angel looked away. "Willow has to kill you."
Angela frowned. "Ah, damn! I was hoping not to die while I was here. Oh, fun.
How?"
"Knife in the heart."
At this, Angela shrugged. "Well, it's not like I haven't done that before.
I'm not happy that I have to die, but it could be worse. And I always come back.
Like that Chumbawamba song. 'I get knocked down, but I get up again.'
Angel joined her. 'Ain't ever going to keep me down.' They broke into
laughter.
Angela smiled. "Baby brother, you still make me laugh."
That night Angela was lying on the floor. Willow recited an incantation as
Giles drew a pentagram around the Immortal. Angela asked, "So when do you-"
Willow pulled out a knife. "Now." She kneeled beside Angela and said, "As
this immortal daughter of Zeus, sacrifice your life for the good of the world."
Willow raised the knife and stabbed Angela. "I relinquish the evil from the
Black Moon."
Willow looked at the eagle and dog, which were tied to the rail on the second
level of the library. "In the presence of Zeus and Ares, I vanquish the evil
which threatens us."
Angel, Buffy, Oz, Spike, and Xander each pierced the palms of their right
hands and placed their bleeding hands on the corners of the pentagram drawn
around Angela's body. Suddenly, Angela snapped back to life. "As I rise,
vanquish the evil of the Black Moon. Zeus, Ares, I beseech you," Angela chanted.
As the pentagram began to glow, Angel, Oz, and Xander began to chant in
Latin. Buffy and Spike started reciting a different incantation.
As the glow faded, Willow looked at Giles. "Is that it?" Giles nodded.
"Yes. Let's clean up and get some sleep." Angel stood up and helped Buffy and
Angela up. Oz, Willow, and Xander cleaned up as Angel, Buffy, Spike, Angela, and
Giles left the library.
The clean up was fairly easy until the blood. Oz looked at Willow and Xander
and asked, "I haven't been in this deal as long as you guys. What's best for
blood stains?"
"So, where are you going?" Angel asked Angela as she sat on the hood of her
newly fixed car a few days later.
"North," Angela replied. "I'm late in meeting a few friends in Seacouver and
Mac hates it when I'm late."
"Do you think, if you get the time that is, you'd come back for a visit?"
Angela smiled at the hopeful tone in her brother's voice. "Of course, baby
brother. I still have lots of stories to tell your girlfriend..."
"Watch it, baby sister," Angel growled.
"Who are you growling at, peaches?" Spike said as he joined the two. He put
his arm around Angela. "It better not be my woman."
"Hey, who said I was your woman?" Angela asked, as she slid off the hood.
"Now, pet, don't get your knickers in a twist..." Spike began.
Angel let out a chuckle, then turned and disappeared, the sounds of the two
bickering immortals following him into the night.
End
