For disclaimer, see Part 1.
Mail:>a href="mailto:lunarmyth@yahoo.com">LunarMyth@yahoo.com



"Hello doll."

Kiara opened her eyes and smiled. "Hey stranger . Long time no see." She noticed that she was no longer in Angel's bedroom, but was in a white room with no widows or doors. There was only one chair in the room and at the moment she was straddling the back of it. She propped her elbows up on the corners of the chair back and rested her chin in her upturned palms. "Don't you have any more imagination? I mean, pristine white and..." she voice trailed off as she noticed the long, *flowing* white dress she had on. "Oh man, this just keeps getting better..."

"You know it's not me that puts you in these, excuse the pun, godforsaken rooms. It's *your* dream, therefore it's *your* imagination."

"Uh huh...and I think I'd rather be doing this in Cancun with a nice tanned cabana boy and a Corona with lime."

"Maybe if you really believed that we'd be partying right now instead of basking in the truly *heavenly* aura that you seem to berate yourself with constantly."

"Shut up Whistly."

Whistler growled. "I thought I told you never to call me that again."

She grinned. "I thought I told you I wasn't your doll."

He moaned. "Why is it that you always end up being the annoying one in these dreams? I mean, at least Buffy was honestly ready to have a go at me in order to make me leave her alone."

"I don't get many visitors. Besides, you're way overdue. I don't like me having to take orders from you. I much rather you serving under me."

"Oh believe me, I'd much rather be serving *under* you also."

"You're so bad," she laughed. "Anyway, what's the story? I was told you'd know. Though I don't know why the big news didn't come straight to me like it usually does."

"Getting all high and mighty on me, are you? Fine, I don't have to tell you, you know."

"Actually, you do."

"Yeah, I know. I was just hoping you'd give in and be nice for once." Whistler smiled at her. They'd worked together so often she was much like a little sister to him.

"Awww. Don't make me cry. So tell me. What's this big thing I have to do in order to get Angel his soul back? For good."

Whistler grimaced. He liked Angel, he really did. He even liked Buffy. But Kiara was dear to him. He knew he shouldn't have gotten attached to her, but she was an undeniable force of nature. You couldn't help but love her. "You don't really have to do much, but be sure that this is what you want - more than anything."

Kiara's silver eyes softened as she looked up at her close friend. She'd known him for centuries now. She'd been the one to direct him to Angel. It had hurt her so much to see him suffering. And she knew it was for the greater good that Angel work for their side. "It is," she whispered. "More than anything I just want him to be happy. I want things to be as they should."

Whistler nodded softly. "Then they shall."

Kiara watched him questioningly. "But..?"

"Blood." he told her.

A flood of emotions overcame her, but she remained calm. "And if he refuses?"

Whistler could feel the sadness grip him as he looked down at the little beauty and sighed. She'd done more for their side than any demon he'd ever known. And rightly so, for she was demon no longer. He didn't know how Angelus had never been able to tell. "Then your time is up, and you will be called to your rightful place regardless."

Kiara nodded.


She woke up slowly. She opened her eyes not to the blinding white of her dream, but to the dark shadows of Angel's bedroom. She could hear Buffy breathing softly in the next room. It was obvious Angel....Angelus...hadn't returned yet, or Buffy wouldn't be sleeping so peacefully on his makeshift bed.

Kiara stood up and moved silently to her bags across the room. She slid on a pair of black leather pants and a cropped, ribbed black long-sleeved shirt. As she put her boots on she thought about the girl in the next room. Kiara didn't want her to hurt, but it was going to be unavoidable. She knew the pain Buffy would go through at seeing Angelus again. But Kiara hoped it would be a dull memory when faced with the prospect of having Angel back for the rest of time. Or at least, for as long as Buffy herself was around. Sighing softly she pulled her dark hair back into a ponytail and slipped out into the fading shadows.



* * *




Spike was coming around. The blasted pain in his head told him that. Who knew drinking could be so very, very mean to a vamp? The last time he'd gotten so plastered was back in Sunnyhell. Agh but he was going to have a time of *unliving* through this hangover.

So it was with much surprise that he realized that he couldn't move his arms. Or his legs. He opened his eyes groggily and was even more stupefied when he saw Xander tied to a chair right across from him. He started to snicker until the fact that he must be tied down also began to sink in. And there was only one person who could have done it. Spike had yet to figure out Angel's reasoning when the object of his thoughts came waltzing through the door. One look at him and Spike knew something was different.

"I see you're awake now. Have a nice nap?" Angelus asked smugly.

"Angel," Spike growled, "If you don't untie me right now, I'll -"

"You'll what?" Angelus cut him off. "You'll spit on me? Oh no, I've got it. You can make googly eyes at me. Yes, that would be quite horrid."

"I was thinking more along the lines of tying you up and spilling your insides as an open invitation to every vampire and dog within a hundred meter radius."

"Somehow I don't think that will be happening. Here's the deal...."

Spike glared at him malevolently, but waited to hear what Angel would say.

"I'll untie you - and let you go - if you don't tell anyone who I've got here," he patted Xander's head, "or under what conditions he's being held."

Spike weighed his options for a split second before agreeing.

Angelus nodded. "Now that we have that settled I was hoping you and I could talk."

"About what?" Spike spat.

"I thought maybe you and I could come to an arrangement. I miss the old days, don't you? Just you and me. We made a pretty good team. Albeit Dru was an asset. But that can be overlooked - for now."

Spike watched Angel warily. "Is this some kind of test? The Slayer put you up to this, didn't she? If I say yes, she'll hop out and stake me."

Angelus shook his head. "Not at all. At this moment that bitch is sleeping peacefully for the last time. She'll never know what hit her," he told Spike, his voice rich and smooth and dark.

Spike narrowed his eyes. "What'd you do? Shag her again?"

Angelus laughed. "No. Let's just say that I had a much more inspiring reason to shove off that hindrance of a soul this time."

Spike shook his head. "So let me see if I've got this right. You want me to believe you're Angelus?"

"In the flesh."

Spike laughed. "And I'm the Queen of England, dearie."

Angelus hissed and ruthlessly buried his fingers in Spike's bleached hair, pulling his head up to his own eye level, disregarding the bondages that held the rest of Spike's body to the chair. "Don't mock me, *dearie*. You wouldn't want to make me angry, now would you?"

Spike could smell the remnants of blood on Angel's breath. His eyes widened as his gaze wandered to the still open door to see the body of an unconscious girl lying in the doorway. Angelus nodded imperceptibly and dropped Spike, ripping through the bindings easily.

"Now pick her up and tie her next to the brat," Angelus ordered him.

Spike grumbled as he moved to the door. He hid his surprise as he began to drag the girl in. As her hair moved he saw that it was Cordelia. And she had two bloody holes in her neck. It seemed to Spike that Angel was taking out the Scooby Gang one by one. He had no doubt that he'd let them live for the time being however. He had the feeling there was a greater plan at stake. One that undoubtedly included the ruination of the Slayer. Angelus licked his lips. "Didn't know the boy had such a sweet tooth,"

he said, smiling down at Cordy. With a shrug he turned to Spike. "Stay here. I have to go take car of something else. I'll be back before dawn," he told him. With a flourish he was out the door, the hem of his black trench billowing out behind him in the cool night breeze.

"How fortunate we are," Spike growled.



* * *




She was near. He could feel her. The burn started slowly but was ever increasing with small explosions. A sardonic smile graced his cold features as visions of her drifted through his mind. She would, of course, have to be punished for the way she behaved with Spike. She had to know she was his and his only. No one else would ever touch her.

Angelus was so preoccupied with thoughts of Kiara that he never heard the intruder sneak up behind him. It was only once he'd been tackled to the ground that he became aware of Oz. With a snarl he threw the boy off of his back. Oz landed a few feet away, but quickly scrambled to his feet.

"I trusted you, dammit!" he yelled at Angel.

Angelus smiled cruelly at the young boy. He could hear the anguish in Oz's voice, hoarse with unshed tears. As he stood up he ran his fingers through his hair. "My dear boy. What is it that you accuse me of?"

Oz took one look at his remorseless face and jumped at him again. His hands wrapped around Angelus' neck in a vain attempt to drain life that was not there. Angelus laughed and picked him up, hauling him over his shoulder. However, Oz kicked out and tangled their legs together, causing them both to fall backwards in the grass. Oz withdrew a stake from his jacket, but Angelus was too quick. He rolled away from the boy and Oz was only able to plunge the wood deep into Angelus' bicep. With a soft growl Angelus jumped up and smiled down at the boy. Oz snarled and once more launched himself at the vampire. He used all of his wolf's instincts and utilized Angelus' carelessness to land at his jugular, tearing and scratching for all he was worth. Angelus roared and slammed Oz up against the trunk of a tree. Oz shook his head, slightly stunned. He was even more surprised when he was instantly dropped to the ground.

Oz looked up to see a small, dark haired girl deliver a staggering spin kick to Angelus' abdomen, followed by a right hook and a roundhouse. She hooked her right leg behind his left and pulled him down. As she straddled him she mercilessly pulled the stake from his arm and held it over his heart. He saw her hesitate.

"Don't make me do this, my Angel," she whispered softly.

"Don't make you do what?" he smiled up at her. "I like it when you're on top."

She growled and threw the stake out of anyone's reach. "Don't make me hurt you."

With that she hopped up and walked over to Oz. He noticed that Angel remained lying in the grass, humming softly. He saw red and was just about to make another attempt at killing the vampire when he felt himself lifted off of the ground and pinned against the tree.

"I suggest you just walk away. I don't know what started this, but I'm ending it." Kiara sighed as she saw the boy stare at her. It was worse than looking into the eyes of a demon. Oz's eyes were dead and she could tell he was centered on one thing only. She'd just have to change that. She squinted and concentrated on receiving some clue as to what caused the scene she'd stumbled upon. She loosened her grip as pictures took form in her mind. With a sad look at him she put him down. "Oz?"

His vision was only on Angelus. He was consumed by a hatred so intense that he could not think of anything else. Until she slapped him and his head snapped back. He was almost ready to attack her, until she spoke.

"Go to her. She needs you. You need her. It's where you belong."

Oz's shoulders sagged as he thought about Willow lying in the hospital, deathly pale. "We don't know" they'd told him, "if she'll make it through. There is swelling in her brain and we won't know if there's any terminal damage until it goes down. If it goes down." His eyes filled with tears once more as he recalled the words. He didn't even notice when Kiara drew him into her soft embrace.

Kiara drew back and wiped his tears away. She could feel the heat of Angelus' glare at her back, but she disregarded him as a mother would disregard a sulking child. "Go now. Everything will turn out for the best. I promise you that."

Oz looked at her uncomprehendingly but nodded. He shook his head in a daze and headed off in the direction in which he'd come. Back to the hospital. Back to his Willow.

Kiara rolled her eyes heavenward and prayed for patience before she turned back to Angelus. As she walked she unconsciously swayed her hips, and he was once again hypnotized by her agile grace. She looked down at him in dismay. "Care to tell me what that was about?"

Angelus shrugged with a quick grin. "How should I know? I've always seemed to bring the worst out in that bunch. To tell you the truth," he said conspiratorially, "I think they're rather prejudiced to our kind."

She hurled him up by the lapels of his trench. "I don't know why he attacked you but I think you'd better get yourself home. Daylight's coming fast and I don't think you carry around anything with SPF 1000."

"Better take your own advice, luv," he said, swooping down to plant a hard kiss on her soft lips. "I've missed that," he murmured softly.

Unable to help herself, Kiara leaned into him. "Go," she said warningly, reminding herself to be strong.

He laughed darkly. "I will. But I'll be back when night falls. Don't miss me too much till then." He gave her a mocking salute and strode off.

Kiara wrapped her arms around herself. To the early joggers she merely looked like a young woman warding off the chill of the damp morning. She sighed and buried her hands in the back pockets of her pants. As she walked away she kicked the stake down a random drain. No use risking a little kid finding that.



* * *




Buffy woke up to an empty apartment. She squinted, trying to tell the time on the clock over the mantle. It was after 10. The two vamps should have been in way before. Buffy felt a shiver of fear run up her spine at the thought of Angel being caught in the sunlight, but she fought it down with a deep breath. She knew Angel would have been aware of the time and he was probably just somewhere else, waiting until the sun went down. She knocked the blanket off of her and stood up, straightening her tank top and sweat pants. She padded into the kitchen and open the fridge. *Figures* she thought. *Blood...blood...or blood. What shall I have for breakfast?*

That question was answered as Kiara strolled into the apartment. Her gaze was drawn immediately to where Buffy stood in the kitchen and a guilty flush rose to her cheeks. She covered it and held out the bag with her right hand as she closed the door behind herself.

"I noticed Angel wasn't exactly equipped with supplies, so I got this for you." She set the bag on the table.

Buffy stared at Kiara as if she'd grown two heads. She stumbled over to the table as the other woman walked out of the room nonchalantly - as if nothing was out of the ordinary. *Bagels...cream cheese...doughnuts - ooooh, jelly filled....huh.* Buffy peeped around the wall to Angel's room where Kiara had just gone to rest. *You'd almost think she was human.* Buffy sat down at the kitchen table and unloaded the bag. There were apples, bananas, a loaf of wheat bread, peanut butter, jelly and a carton of milk. Acknowledging the fact that she was the only one who needed it, she opened the milk and drank straight from the carton. With a shrug she dove into the food, feeling suddenly starved. She started with a jelly doughnut while she fixed a bagel. *Mmmm....Could definitely get used to this....*

It was a while before Buffy returned her thoughts to the Land of the Not-So-Living. Something was out of place with that woman. And not just the fact that she was a vampire walking around in pure daylight, either. It was something Buffy couldn't put her finger on. In actuality, besides that fact the she was a "rival" for Angel's attention, Buffy didn't get a bad vibe off of her. She'd been stunned momentarily to see the girl with Spike. Of course, in her opinion it was about time Spike got over that two-faced ho, Dru. He could call it whatever he wanted, but that was definitely one dysfunctional relationship. And Buffy was someone who knew *all* about those.

She picked up her trash and dumped into the trashcan on her way to the courtyard. The sky was a brilliant blue and she once again wondered where Angel was. It was so hard being around him. She couldn't look at him without wanting to touch him, to kiss him, to love him. She could tell he still loved her. She could see the pain in his eyes every time she turned around. But Willow was right. There was no future for the two of them. He was immortal. She was living on borrowed time. He was a vampire. She was a vampire Slayer. His soul was transient. Hers was firmly in place. It'd be smart of her to get to the bottom of this Angelus thing and just go home with Aidan - living as much of a normal life as possible. But was that what she really wanted? She knew the answer in her heart. She loved Angel more than she loved anything else in her crazy life. The problem was, he loved her too much to let him "ruin" her life. Couldn't he see that not being with him was what tore her apart? At least when she was near him she knew that there would always be someone to understand her, guide her, love her. Buffy began pacing around the broken cobblestones, her thoughts warring with each other.

*It's not like he's the only one who'd be taking a risk in having a relationship.*

*But he is the one whose soul is at stake* her voice of reason reminded her.

*What about me? What about my needs? Namely...HIM.*

*What about his need to redeem himself? And what if he loses his soul again?*

*I didn't think it was something that could just be misplaced.*

*Oh you know what I mean* the voice whispered silkily. *Do you really think that if the two of you were together you could keep him from being happy?*

*Do you really think he'll ever be able to be happy knowing what will happen if he is?* her heart shot back.

Her mind laughed. *Exactly. So if you won't bring him happiness, why be with him at all?*

*BECAUSE HE MAKES ME HAPPY!* her heart shouted.

*So all of this is for your selfish gratification?*

*Yes dammit! And because I _do_ make him happy!*

*Well then we're back at the beginning, aren't we? How can you be with him if he's happy all of the time? That's a big No-No with the whole curse thing.*

*He deserves to be happy -*

*But does _he_ think he deserves it?* the voice shot back at her. Before her heart could come up with an answer, it continued. *He doesn't think he deserves you, he doesn't think he deserves happiness - nevermind that to him it's all the same. You _are_ his happiness. Is it really fair to ask him to risk everything for you?*

*I'd risk everything to be with him* her heart whispered faintly.

Buffy slumped down to the ground as her mind went blank and the thought reverberated in her mind. Was it true? Would she risk everything - everyone - in her life, just to be with Angel? Was she that selfish? Did she not remember how things had turned out before? Did she dare think she could handle it if Angelus were to return?

She looked up, startled, as a shadow came over her. "Wha-what are you doing here?!?!"

Kiara peered down at her, then joined her on the ground. The look in Buffy's eyes was so comical that Kiara had to concentrate on not laughing. "Oh I just thought it looked like a nice day. Not too warm, not too cold. Sun's out. Sky's blue. Really pretty."

"B-but. You're...you're...huh." Buffy sat there, bemused. This wasn't making any sense to her at all. But since her thoughts were too ravaged from Angel, she was willing to take it with a grain of salt and chalk it up to Hellmouth activity. Even though they weren't exactly on the Hellmouth.

Kiara smiled. "I told you you couldn't imagine what I could do."

"That you did. So what else do you do? Can you twist balloons into quirky little animals? I always wanted to be able to do that."

"Ahhh. The mysteries of 'civilized' times. Nope, that's one skill I have yet to conquer."

Buffy nodded. "So I guess this solves Angel's mystery on how you're able to leave before anyone notices."

"Basically."

"Why are you here?"

"I told you that already."

"Because you want Angel's soul to be permanent," Buffy said matter-of-factly. "But why? What do you have to gain from this? Why are you here?"

Kiara laid back amongst the flowers and looked at the teenager. "Let me tell you something, Buffy. The longer you live, the more you realize life isn't about *you*. I should think that you've already gotten a slight taste of that, being the Slayer and all. Let's take you, for instance. You live to save the world. It's your purpose in life - beat up the bad guys. And maybe no one ever knows what good you've done for them. But their lives are in your hands and your life means practically nothing to anyone else. If you die, another Slayer is called. And it seems heartless, but that's what life is about. It's about the selfless acts. But you, Buffy, continue to hold onto the *humane* aspect of what you are. You want to be recognized and thanked and appreciated, and yet - deep down, it's okay to you that you're not. And I know, some nights you go out there because you *have* to, not because you *want* to. But you know what, you're closer than any of them. Closer to the Power. Every other Slayer is focused on doing their duty, on saving the world. They don't care if no one ever knows that these things that go bump in the night exist. They're terminators - machines. They don't do it because they have an empathy for those around them - they do it because they have to. But you care. You care if even one person dies. And to everyone else, it seems a weakness, doesn't it? But it's not. Buffy, it's your strength. Don't let go of your heart, no matter what you do. It's being an emotionless killing machine that makes you weak."

She took a deep breath. "Anyway - aside from my ramblings, I was saying that it isn't about *us*. The longer you live, the more you realize that your life means nothing if you don't use it the right way. I can do this, Buffy. I don't gain anything if Angel loses his soul; I don't gain anything if he keeps it forever. But I know that the freedom that a permanent soul would give him is priceless. What I want is for him to be happy. And I know that his soul - and consequently you - are the most important things in his unlife."

Kiara stood up and brushed the back of her pants off. She smiled gently down at Buffy. "You don't like me. You don't trust me. But I do know you, whether you believe it or not. You remind me of myself. The future isn't gonna be easy, Buffy. You may think you know what lies ahead, but believe me, there's always some surprise in store for you. Don't set your life according to the rules - or according to what may seem painfully obvious to everyone else. More often than not, it'll just waste time."

Buffy watched her turn around to walk inside. "But...I still don't understand....you....here...now....sun. Forgive me if I feel like I got jipped a few corners on the 5000 piece jigsaw."

Kiara paused and moved back to Buffy. She looked up at the sky, letting the sun warm her face. "I don't know, Buffy. I think it's inside us all, all the time. We just have to find it and give in." She grinned at the tiny blonde. "That, plus I had a little help from a friend. You know, appearances aren't always what they seem and stuff. It's cliché, but truer words may never have been spoken." With a glib wave she strolled back inside.

Buffy sat outside until she noticed that the sun was beginning to set and her stomach was growling. She ran inside to fix a PB and J before taking a shower. She was sure Angel would show at the bar tonight, and she didn't want to miss him. She had major news to tell him and the sooner, the better.





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