This fic takes place after 'Not Fading Away'. I was reading the transcripts for that episode and I figured that signing anything involving one's destiny would cause major conflicts. This is what I think might happen. All characters belong to Josh Whedon, WB, and UPN. I am not making any money from this. Charmed characters belong to Aaron Spellman and WB.

Rating: PG

Summary: Set after 'A Different Type of Shanshu', Angel adapts to his new life as a puppet.

Warning: None yet.

It's a Puppet's Life

Part One

By Marie Nomad

The sun rose as the alarm rang. Angel yawned as he slammed his hand on the off button and hopped out of bed. He made his bed and got dressed for the new day. It had been a long time since he was actually eager to greet the day. Before, he loathed the thought of dealing with demons that he should kill on a regular basis, meeting with demons he want to kill on a regular basis, and the mountains of paperwork he had to sign in blood. He even had Harmony as a secretary who was such a ditz that she couldn't figure out how to be evil. Now, he was part of something good. He was going to do some actual good supporting future generations of heroes and slayers and making sure the world was safe.

It had been a month since he had arrived at the Academy for Gifted Girls at the new Hellmouth in Cleveland, Ohio. It wasn't much of a typical academy since some of the classes were 'demonology', 'surviving in alternate dimensions', and his favorite 'vampire history'. Everyone had called it 'Slaywarts'. It was a girl's academy where Slayers go to get their training. The training schedule was different for every girl. Some girls didn't go to school so they get to go there all year around and get credit. They were the ones who can travel to different places if they are needed and be bodyguards. Others had normal lives that they wanted to keep so Watchers train them with them coming to the academy during the summer. There are even Internet courses for those who don't want to leave home and try to tell their parents they are superheroes.

Angel picked up his backpack and walked out of the door for his breakfast. He would have been content if it weren't for one small thing.

"Hey, Puppetboy!" Xander greeted as he walked passed Angel.

"Hey, Xander." Angel said as he nodded back.

"The new students are coming today. Ready?" Xander dared as he hunched down to his eyelevel. Angel glared at him. The only thing that bothered him was his puppet status. Every time he meets someone, their reaction had been 'He's so cute', a few just stared in shock, one actually asked how much he cost, that guy really got beaten up. Add his puppetness to the fact that he had to teach groups of super strong slightly confused teenage girls and he had an interesting situation on his cloth hands.

"I'll be fine." Angel insisted. "Besides, I thought you are going to Paris."

"Nah, that's last week. I'm going to Arizona to help out a new Slayer." Xander said as he shrugged. Angel was amazed that Xander was now a Watcher. He could still remember back when Xander was just this annoying guy who hated him with a passion. Now, their relationship is somewhat better, since Angel was no longer a vampire threat, Xander somewhat accepted him. He shouldn't be surprised at Xander's changes; Wes and Cordy had both changed and showed it in the end.

"Good luck. Don't give the Slayer too easy of a time." Angel said as he saluted and went to the cafeteria.

He picked up a tray and got his food. He loaded it with donuts, cookies, cupcakes, and pancakes and walked over to the table where Gunn was sitting eating his breakfast while looking over his paperwork.

"Hey, Gunn." Angel said as he put the tray up and reached into his backpack getting out his special seat and put it down.

"Hey." Gunn said as he paused and looked at the tray. "You're going to eat all of that? Your stomach is bigger than your head, literally."

Angel shrugged as he sat down and started eating. He could eat anything he wants but he found it easier to eat sweets rather than vegetables. According to Dr. Pincho, the Academy's healer and expert in demonic physiology, he doesn't need to worry about gaining weight and he can eat sugar better than any other food. "I need to eat. Anyway, are you catching up on your paperwork again?"

"Yeah. Who would think that firm could give us something that the Slaywarts could use?" Gunn said as he ate his apple with one hand and writing notes in the other. It turned out that the Council and Slaywarts needed someone with his talents. They needed someone to deal with all of the complexities of human and demon law for lawsuits, changes, and other things. He also had to figure out how to get things through customs whenever something was found in the ruins when Willow can't teleport them through. He also trained every day before dawn and sneak out to dust a vampire or two. He had been a very busy lawyer.

"Yeah." Angel started eating. As always, a few onlookers watched in interest at the puppet. He ignored them as he always did. No matter how much his co-workers and students had been through, they tend to just stare at him. "Have you seen Buffy today?"

"Yeah, she's on another expedition trip."

"Oh. Where is she going?" Buffy had a unique role in the school. Officially, she was the counselor for the academy, but she was also a trainer, role model, and gatherer of Slayers. As a result, she had been very busy.

"Somewhere in the East Coast, I think. She'll be fine. She's the oldest Slayer."

"She's not that old!" Angel snapped as he started to eat again.

"Well, older compared to the other slayers. She's what, 24?"

If he could move his eyelids, he would've blinked. "Oh."

Gunn smirked as he put the paper away. "You still have something for her, don't you?"

"I… I don't know what you're talking about." Angel looked away.

"You know, for a guy who had been evil for a hundred years, you're a lousy liar." Gunn pointed out. It was no secret that Angel and Buffy had shared something years ago. It was a favorite gossip about the vampires and the slayer, a form of forbidden romance that just tugged at the heartstrings. He wasn't one of those types but he knew what kind of romantic history the puppet had.

"Oooh! I gotta go." Angel said as he looked at his watch and ran off.

Gunn shook his head again. "His life is like a bad TV soap opera."

XXX

Her name was Jennifer Van Denstra. She used to be a normal sixteen year old with light brown hair and green eyes. It was five months ago that she felt strange. She started to get weird cramps, she had dreams about vampires attacking her, she needed less sleep, and she could benchpress over a hundred pounds. Then, vampires started to attack her out of the blue and she actually survived being bitten by them. It was then that a blond named Buffy visited her and told her about her power, her destiny as a vampire slayer. After talking with her parents, she agreed to go to school at the Academy for Gifted Girls.

Now, she and several other girls were waiting in the class room for their first class with a Mr. Angel. Everyone knew about Angel and his past especially about the romance between Angel and Buffy and Buffy and Spike and there were rumors of Angel and Spike.

Jennifer looked around at her classmates. They were like her, normal, anxious, and yet different. The only thing they had in common was the fact that they are destined to save others from the undead. The bell rang and a man's voice called out, "Class! Please sit down."

The group looked behind them and then looked down to see a three foot tall puppet dressed in a gray jumpsuit. "A puppet?" Megan said as her jaw dropped.

"Yes, I'm a puppet and your teacher. The first girl to call me 'cute' will get a thousand pushups." Angel said as he walked forward in a straight manner. "Now, first, let me tell you that I won't be easy. What you will be doing is life threatening even with your powers. I am not soft." He paused and added, "Mentally. I'm not soft mentally. Line up and we will start on your breathing exercises. Now, watch me." He saw that everyone was still gawking at him. He shook and yelled, "NOW!"

At once, the girls jumped and started. First, Angel told them how to breathe correctly. Granted, he haven't breathed in over two hundred years but he read the books. "In and out…"

The class continued for an hour they got through the basics quickly. Angel nodded as he watched them. Part of the Slayer's power was their ability to learn martial arts and other fighting styles fast.

"Not bad. Okay, now we can practice sparing." Angel went into fighting position. "Show me what you have. Who's brave enough to fight the 'wee puppet man'?"

Susan, a tall blond with green eyes stepped forward. "I'll go."

"Good."

Susan was thinking what everyone else was thinking. She couldn't help but think how easy the puppet will be. The slayer ran up and tried to grab him only to get air. The puppet flipped backwards and landed on her back. He bit her with his felt mouth and Susan's jaw dropped.

"Congratulations, you're dead." Angel said as he released his grip and fell to the ground.

"What?" Susan said as she felt her neck there was no mark or anything like that. In fact, it just tickled.

The puppet let out a quick breath and said, "You're going to be trained to fight vampires. Vampires bite and drink the blood. They crave blood all the time. Slayers blood is… well, let's just say that human blood is coffee and slayer blood is cappuccino. Vampires love to drink slayer blood so when you face vampires, they think 'lunchtime'. They may also try to turn you into a vampire which is much worse, believe me. So, you must learn to watch your necks, in every manner of the word." Angel explained in a confident tone of voice. He felt right in this role.

"How do you know that?" Jennifer asked as she raised her hand.

Angel turned away with his hands behind his back and replied, "Personal experience. But, enough about me, we got work to do. Next." He turned around waiting for next victim err… student.

XXX

"Ow…" Angel limped as he walked down the hall after the self defense class. He wasn't hurt since he was built to be hit a lot but a few stitches in his leg snapped and it made it hard to walk. The new students were inexperienced but very tough. With the right training, they might be able to live long lives.

After a while, he finally reached the home economics room where Ms. Kendall was teaching. Ms. Kendal was a middle aged woman who was saved by Buffy in Sunnydale. The slightly older woman glanced up to see Angel. "Mr. Angel!" She said as she came up and looked at him. "Are you okay?"

"Oh, just popped a few stitches training." Angel said as the woman closed the door. "My leg mostly."

"Okay. Let me stitch that up for you." Ms. Kendal picked up the puppet and took him to her sewing room. Ms. Kendal was a master clothesmaker and became Angel's 'doctor' so to speak. He tried to patch himself up but with his clumsy fingers, he could barely hold the needle.

Angel calmly removed his pants as Ms. Kendal got out her needle and thread. "You know, you really should not teach Self Defense. Those girls are very strong."

"I taught the beginner's class and I am careful. Besides, I taught the art class too." Angel argued as Ms. Kendal kept on sewing.

"True, but there's only so much I can patch up. None of us know the full extent of your… puppet power yet."

"I know, but, I want to be a good help to Buffy and the others." Angel confessed as he looked down. "I can't fight like this, I know that but I want to do what I can."

"I know." Ms. Kendra finished her sewing. "There are other ways to help other than fighting or training to fight. Just be careful."

"Okay." Angel got off of the table and walked to his office. He have some time until the next class. Maybe, he can make a phone call.

XXX

Buffy stared at the map and then at the signs. As a 'recruiter', she was used to traveling to vast and exotic lands but she still didn't like it. She passed an alley and then a pair of hands grabbed her. In a blink of an eye, Buffy twisted away and kicked her assailant in the chest. He flew back and several more thugs joined in. The woman went into position and studied them. By the sunlight on them, she could tell that they were just human. "You're lucky I'm in a good mood today." Buffy said as she ran up and punched the second one.

At that moment, her cell phone rang. Buffy took a breath and answered it, "Hello?"

"Hey, Buffy."

Buffy smiled as she felt her arm being wrapped by a chain, she jerked the chain and the man forward. "Hey, Angel." Another thug came up and slashed at her. She dodged down and knocked the knife out of his hand.

"Am I interrupting anything?"

Buffy shook her head as she leapt high onto the fire escape and scared the thugs away. "No, I was just finishing up dealing with some locals."

"Oh. Human?"

"Yeah. So, why are you calling?" Buffy asked as she walked out of the alley leaving behind a group of moaning men.

"Oh, I was just checking on you. I mean, making sure you were okay. And all."

"Uh huh." Buffy nodded. Every time she goes off on a trip, Angel tends to call her at least once a day just to make sure she was all right. Not that she didn't need help, most of the worse demons are gone and any vampire she could handle. "So, how's the class?"

"Fine, fine. I was just done. They were giggling at first until I fought them one on one. They're strong but I handled them."

"Did you get the stuffing knocked out of you?" Buffy asked as she leaned against the wall and smiled.

"Well, not this time. I had to refluff myself a little and maybe get a couple of stitches but that's it. It keeps me busy. I kinda… I miss you."

"Well, maybe you can come with me next time."

"I… I can't. You know that." His voice sounded pained. His new puppet form prevented him from going out on his own. After all, what kind of puppet moves around on it's own?

"We'll see." Buffy said as she glanced around. "I have to go now. Don't to be too soft on them."

"Bye. I… take care." Angel hung up.

Buffy took a deep breath and closed her cell phone. "You too."

XXX

Angel hung up the phone and sat back in his chair. Even without his vampire hearing, he could hear Buffy fighting off a gang. He wasn't worried; after all, she dealt with vampires, demons, and even a werewolf or two. The only ones who should worry was the gang. He chuckled to himself. Buffy was never a damsel in distress, which was what he loved about her.

He checked himself for any loose stitches, put on his smock and barrette and walked down to the art room. "Hi, Angel." Fred said as she came up to him. "Awww… I mean, getting ready for art class?"

"Yup. Where's Illyria?" Angel asked as he walked beside her form. Despite the fact that Fred can go out without her 'body', she tends to hang out with Illyria.

"Oh, she and Spike are sparring in the dark room again." Fred winced as she held her head. "Wow, she will feel that tomorrow."

"Are you okay?" The puppet asked concerned.

"Oh yeah. Yeah. I can sense what is going on with her but I don't feel her pain. It's just… kinda freaky like something out of the Twilight Zone watching me fight Spike and winning again." Fred said as she waved her hand. "How long did it take you to get used to being dead?"

Angel pondered. "I don't know. I was a soulless evil monster so being dead didn't bother me."

"Oh right." Fred smiled again and then stared out. "Ria's done with her sparring session. I have to go now. See you for lunch." She waved and vanished in a flash of light.

Angel stared at the spot and tilted his head. "I will never get used to that." He sighed as he walked to the art room where his other students were. Unlike his first class, these students were there for a few days and weren't as shocked to have a puppet for a teacher.

"Ummm… Mr. Angel, can I have a smock to protect my costume?" Ester said as she came up. She was dressed in a modified nun's uniform. Except for the fact that her skirt was knee high and her outfit was light blue. Along her arms were wooden crosses, and a bible at her side. Several of the slayerettes started wearing costumes to make themselves stand out and to hide their identities. He didn't mind that but he had to question some of the costumes the girls had decided to wear.

"How many times, have I told you to change before art class?" Angel said as he handed the girl a smock. Then, he looked to see a few other girls were also wearing costumes and looking embarrassed. "Go and get your smocks too."

He got up onto a stepladder and said, "Today, we're going to be doing self portraits, get a mirror and paint yourself."

Angel watched as his students started their assignment and then he got out his mirror. He never did feel comfortable about seeing his puppet image in the mirror. The last time he saw himself in the mirror was his last day at Wolfram and Hart. The evil lawfirm had special necro reflective mirrors that can cast his reflection. Although, he found it hard look himself in the mirror with him running something evil. Now, he has his own reflection but it was a cute puppet reflection. He shook the brooding out of his head. He can't brood, brooding is bad. After he shanshued (sort of) he promised to cut back on the brooding.

"Self esteem is for everyone…" He sang softly to himself as he started to paint. He glanced up to see the students looking at him. "Go to work." He ordered as he turned back to his painting.

XXX

After changing into his blue shirt and black pants, Angel walked down the stairs into the deeper parts of the academy. It was restricted for personnel for good reason. Here, there are spells, weapons, and even cleaning supplies stashed away. He went up to a door and punched in the password.

The door opened and he asked, "May I come in?"

"Yeah."

Angel peeked in to see a teenage girl with scars down her face and her long brown hair matted down her back. The room was bright yellow with pictures and stuffed animals all around. Everything about it was made just for this one slayer. "Hello, Dana. How are you feeling?"

"Fine." Dana said as she sat on her bean bag chair. "The meds have been controlling the urges and the power. Been watching TV. I… I don't know why you're even doing this."

"Because I want to help." Angel said as he sat down beside her. Ever since he came to the academy, he had been visiting Dana at least once a day. He felt responsible for her after putting so much into capturing her when he was with Wolfram and Hart. He also felt empathy for her, she didn't ask to be tortured and get confusing slayer powers. She was just a victim turned murderer.

"I'm beyond help."

"No one is beyond help. You just have to pull yourself together and get going into a bright future." Angel spouted off. The puppet shook his head. He was going into optimistic puppet mode again. Before, he had two modes, Angel awkward mode, and Angel vicious vampire mode. After he lost his vampire power, he had gained a new 'TV cartoon Angel mode' and he had to wonder if he will end up being permanently a puppet in his mind.

"You're very nice for a hallucination." Dana said as she smiled slightly.

Angel sighed as he nodded. The poor girl still couldn't distinguish fantasy from reality and she knew it. He had been down that road, after spending three months at the bottom of the sea with nothing to drink and no communication with anyone. He had doubted he was rescued until he had some blood in his system. "I'm real."

Dana picked him up and hugged him. With any other person, except for Buffy, he would have pushed her away. She sobbed as Angel patted her shoulders. "There there, let it all out."

XXX

Angel sighed in relief as he started eating his lunch. All this moving around was making him hungry again. He loaded up his tray with cookies, candy, soda, and a salad just for extra. He came up to the table where Illyria, Fred, and Spike were eating. Well, Illyria was eating, Fred was read, and Spike was drinking blood. 'The Three Undead' as the students had started to call them. Fred was the sweet sensitive but ghostly one. Spike was the brash yapping vampire. Illyria was the one who acts superior.

Spike smirked as he looked down at Angel. "Well, lookie here, it's the Puppet Poof."

Angel scowled at him and sat in front of Fred. "Nice to see you too, Spike." He said as he started to eat.

He looked at Illyria who was eating tacos. It was one of the few things she actually ate; now that her power had changed she needed food. Of course, she would never admit it. "How's the tacos, Illyria?"

"It is… good." Illyria replied as she paused in her eating. "This eating is enjoyable, especially tacos."

"I know." Fred closed her eyes. "They taste so good. Oh, how are the new students? I heard that you were giving them a hard time."

"Just the usual. I had to get their attention so they won't see me as soft. It's the way I teach." Angel replied as he started on some candy.

"Oh yeah. The Poof is a real good teacher. Angelus had taught us everything about being evil. He trained us, killed our first victims with us, and even gave us pop quizzes on torture methods and likely victims." Spike recalled as he sipped on his blood.

"Pop quizzes?" Fred repeated, "I didn't know that there were pop quizzes back then."

"All right, now that was evil." A young woman said as she sat down next to Angel who was fidgeting. She had dark brown hair with equally brown eyes. She was dressed in a red business suit. "Mind if I sit here?"

"No, go ahead." Angel said as he gestured. "Who are you?"

"Oh. I'm Paige Mathews, I'm the Headmistress of the Magic School. I'm a little new at this sort of thing so I thought I could visit this place. Get some pointers. 'Slaywarts' eh?" Paige said as she quirked an eyebrow.

"Well, it's a nickname." Angel said and then Paige looked at Angel, Illryia and Spike and then at Spike's blood.

She rubbed her neck and said, "I'm guessing that you guys aren't really human."

"No, not really." Fred said as she smiled at her. "I'm Fred, a ghost sort of, this is Illyria, she was a god, that man drinking blood is Spike, he's a vampire."

"Oh, I would never have guessed." Paige said as she held up a cross, "Just keep your fangs away from me, blondie. I've been turned into a vampire once in my life and I don't want to go through that again."

"Don't worry, I'm on a diet." Spike held up his hands. "Pork/otter blood for me." He paused. "You was a vampire?"

"Yeah, I was. Thankfully, the vampire that sired me was vanquished before I had my first 'meal'." Paige recalled as she thought of the time she was close to becoming a vampire. Then, she looked at Angel. "You don't look like any demon I had ever met."

"My name is Angel and I'm not a demon, not any more. It's complicated." Angel waved his hand and looked away.

"Peaches screwed up his shanshu and became a puppet." Spike spouted off.

"Or not and I did not screw up my shanshu!" Angel glared at the vampire. It seems like that every chance he got, Spike made fun at him for messing up his chance for humanity and had to be content with his… puppetity. At least, he had his shanshu, sort of.

"What's a shanshu?" Paige asked as she became interested in the conversation.

Angel sighed. "It's… a stupid prophesy. I stopped believing in that sort of thing a long time ago."

Paige looked at him and asked, "What kind of prophesy is it?"

"It's… complicated. Let's just say that I am better off as this than my other choice." Angel waved off. He was not interested in trying to explain the complicated aspects of his life to a stranger, even if she was willing to help him with his condtion.

"Not much." Spike chuckled.

Paige couldn't help but feel sorry for the puppet. She always had a softness for puppets. "Well, maybe I can find a way to help you straighten out this shanshu thing. Me and my sisters are superwitches and we can get you on the road to being human."

Angel's face lit up as he jumped on Paige's lap and hugged her. "Thank you so much!"

"You're… welcome." The witch patted the puppet on the head while smiling uncomfortably.

The puppet pulled himself away and sat back onto his chair. "Ehh… sorry. Puppet hormones."

Paige looked at Fred and asked, "Do puppets even have hormones?"

"We're still working on that question."

"Oh." All of a sudden, a cell phone rang. Angel, Illyria, Spike, and Paige looked at their cell phones and the witch held up hers. "Mine." She answered it. "Yeah? What? Another demon?! Okay, sure. I'll be there as soon as I can." She hung up and sighed, "Demon attack again. You better call us so we can help you. I hope you don't mind." Paige reached into her purse and handed him a business card.

"Not at all. This can wait. Demons attacking can't. Do you need help?" Angel said as he accepted the business card.

"Nah, we got it. I better go." Paige glowed and vanished in a swirl of blue lights leaving the group speechless.

XXX

Buffy sat at the table drinking some cappuccino with some genuine New York food in the form of some kind of ultra deluxe pretzel. Just as she bit in, the phone rang. The girl answered and said, "Hello?"

"Hey, Buffy, it's me. Am I interrupting any muggings?"

"Not right now. I'm just having a snack." Buffy said as she smirked. "New York is not that dangerous."

"Yeah, well, anyway, I just wanted to call to tell you that I found someone who can help me. She's this super powerful witch named Paige. She would've helped me right now but she had to deal with a demon attack."

"That's great! I'm glad that you could find some help with your… problem." Buffy said as she leaned back. She didn't want to admit that while she loved Puppet Angel, she missed her tall dark and handsome Angel. "How strong is she?"

"Well, she teleported in some bluish whitish light without chanting and with ease so she must be strong." Angel replied.

"Yeah. When are you going to see her?"

"Kinda depends on the schedule. I think she's pretty busy with this Magic School and demon vanquishing. I don't want her to interrupt anything important just for me."

Buffy rolled her eyes. If there's one thing she can't stand it's Angel being too humble. "This is important! Look, Angel, you are a puppet. You can't go on forever being a puppet! You need to go back to being… unpuppety!"

"Unpuppety?"

"You know what I mean! I l- I care about you very much so please see her as soon as you can."

She heard Angel sigh. "Okay, you're right. I just hope this isn't a dead end like the others."

"It won't be."

"Good. I have to go now."

"Okay, just feel free to call me when you have more news." Buffy said as she cradled the phone in her hand.

"I will." Angel hung up and the slayer stared at the phone.

XXX

Angel walked down the hallway in deep thought about what Buffy said. He wanted to be a normal man again but he was nervous about what was going to happen. Willow and her coven figured that they could turn him back to being a vampire again and he didn't want that. He loved eating solid food, walking in the sunlight, and not worry about turning evil. There were a bunch of slayers and Spike to help being the champions so he wasn't needed as much on the front lines.

"Look, you can't go around dressed like that! Slayers don't dress up in idiotic costumes and slay. It makes them look ridiculous." Faith's voice echoed thoughout the hall.

Angel peeked around the corner to see Faith talking to a group of Slayers who were dressed up in Japanese sailor school uniforms although he was sure that skirts don't go up that high in Japan.

"We just wanted to stand out." One of the slayers said as she came up. "The others are doing it."

"Yes, but their costumes actually cover more. You are going to be doing kicks, spins, and whatever and whoever is there will see your underwear." Faith harped, "When I was your age, I don't wear costumes. I just put on my normal clothes and dust vampires. Get out of those uniforms."

"Yes, Ma'am." The girls said as she walked off.

"Ma'am, I'm feeling too old." Faith said as she leaned against the wall.

"You're not that old. Of course, coming from a 270 year old puppet, that's not saying much." Angel said as he came up. "Great job with the uniform thing."

"Oh, they'll be wearing them again. Some of these girls read too many comic books." Faith said as she looked down at him. Faith was the other counselor of the school. She had seen as much as Buffy, and had done things she regretted. She had stopped shaking around him and tried to at least not look that scared. Angel didn't mind that. In fact, he was comforted by the fact that Faith treats him with great respect, at least as much respect as Faith often give.

"Yeah, but our lives aren't all that different from comic books. We have people that aren't human, people who died at least once, travel to other dimensions, supernatural villains…." Angel said as he counted on his fingers. He looked at his hand and then tapped on another finger in his other hand. "And convoluted love triangles."

Faith pondered and hit her head on the wall. "Damn, you're right. But, this is real life. The costume thing is stupid."

"It's a fad. I'm sure that in a year or two, they will forget the whole costume thing." Angel said as he tilted his head.

"I never thought of it!" Andrew said excitedly as he and another student dressed up in an explorer's outfit with stakes walked down the hall. "This costume idea is the best thing that could ever happen!" He glanced up to see Faith and Angel glaring at him. "What?"

XXX

Angel finished the last defense class without injury. The school 'day' schedule was different than any other school. Here, the night was when the slayer must be ready so they sleep and wake up at sunset for their nightly rounds, training, and poetry session. That was Spike's time not his.

The puppet went back to his room wearily and sat down at his desk and chair. It was adjustable for his height or lack of it. He stared at the phone in front of him. He should call this witch and find out what was going on. Still, he was nervous. What if it was a trap? What if they accidentally turned him into a vampire again? Could he handle being a demonic corpse for the rest of his unlife? "No, this will work." Angel said as he picked up the phone and dialed the number.

"Haliwell residence." A female voice said.

"Ummm… I'm looking for a Paige Mathews? She said that I can call her to schedule a meeting. This is Angel." Angel said as he fingered the cord.

"Oh… wait a second. Paige! It's a guy named Angel! Does Agent Brody know about him?" She called out in a distance.

"It's not like that! He's an innocent that needs our help!" Paige's voice said and then she spoke into the phone. "Angel?"

"Hi, I guess you were done with the demon vanquishing thingy." Angel said as he leaned back.

"Oh yeah, just your basic demon vanquish with power of three thing. So, when can you come to get decursed?"

Angel looked at his scheduler. "Well, I'm not really cursed. I'll explain it when I see you. Hmmm… I have classes all day tomorrow. Let's see… you're three hours behind us right?"

"Yeah. Oooh… I have deal with the patrons about Harry Potter and Lord of the Ring books. They are so against it. Piper had some work at night at the club. Phoebes works at the day…. Does six o'clock tomorrow night your time work for you?"

"I think so. I will need a lift to your house. It's a long way from Cleveland."

"Heh, no problem. I'll take care of the transportation. You just work on getting ready to get some regular guy clothes."

"Yeah, oh, Paige! Can you help out another friend of mine? It's Fred and Illyria, the ones who you met. Maybe, you can help them out too."

"Oh sure, sure. Helping innocents is what we do best. We could try."

Angel smiled at the phone. "Thanks, I really appreciate it. I'll tell them tonight."

"Okay! I'll see you."

"Bye."

Angel hung up and let his body relax again. He had scheduled an appointment to see if he can go back to being a real man again. Maybe, he was grasping at straws or that he was just being obsessed but he wanted to try. Besides, Illyria and Fred will come along.

All of a sudden, there was a knock at the door. "Come in!" Angel called out as the door opened.

Buffy walked in looking tired. Angel's face lit up at the sight of her. "Hi, I was in the neighborhood and I thought I might drop by."

"How's New York?" Angel asked as he pulled up a chair.

"Oh, polluted, hostile, but the stores were great. The new slayer was found and she and her parents agreed to come here for a while." Buffy replied as she sat down. "How was that lead?"

"Oh… they are going to look at me. I also thought that Illyria and Fred would like to come with me. Maybe the witches can help them." Angel said as he looked down.

"Good. I miss you as the tall dark and somewhat brooding man." Buffy said as she gazed at him.

"Well… you know that I don't want to go back to being vampire again." The puppet said as he looked away. It would have been easier for Willow to get him back to being a vampire but he wouldn't allow it.

"I know. I like the cute but slightly moody puppet too." Buffy said as she looked at him. "Where do these witches live?"

"San Francisco. Paige is going to come here and take us there." Angel replied.

Buffy frowned and said, "Is it me, or does all the weird stuff happen in California? Oh well. When do we leave?"

Angel turned his head towards her. "What do you mean 'we'?"

"I'm coming with you. There are no more slayer sightings right now. I can stay here tomorrow, catch up on my counseling, and then I can go with you to meet these witches. Knowing you, you haven't told them that you were a vampire or that you had once been the CEO of Wolfram and Hart." Buffy spouted off.

"Well, she never asked. I'm going to tell them… eventually."

"And since Illyria and Fred are going too, someone has to come along to make sure those two don't cause trouble." Buffy interrupted.

"Those two aren't that troublesome." Angel said and then Buffy glared down at him. "Okay, so Illyria was a powerful ex-god who wanted to rule the world but she's getting better…" Buffy kept on glaring at him. "She's coming by tomorrow at six o'clock."

The blond smiled as she came up and kissed him on the top of the head. "Good. See you tonight. I'm going to take a bath." She walked out of the room and Angel sighed.

"How does she do that?"

To Be Continued…