Disclaimer: Buffy, the Vampire Slayer and Angel are not mine, I'm just playing with them.

A/N: As of 12-18-09, this story is in the process of being edited. Things have been removed, and new things have been added, but the plot is generally the same. If you love this story, you might want to re-read it. All the chapters of this story, and the sequel, These Days, have been edited, and just need re-posted. If you've guessed what that means, good for you. For everyone else - YES, I'm finally going to finish the third fic, Last Sacred Blessing.

Yes, you read that right.

Everyone done having their heart attacks now?

Good, on with the fic. :)

Chapter 1: Unexpected

Los Angeles

Connor turned and looked down at his girlfriend. At nearly six feet tall, he had to pretty much look down at everyone. He returned the smile she gave him as their eyes met, but his heart wasn't in it. He'd been dating Tracy as long as he could remember. They'd known each other since they were in diapers. Grown up next door to each other and as the classic love story goes, seemed meant to be. Connor had no doubts where Tracy's feelings were concerned. She loved him, and she said so all the time. Connor was having trouble with those three little words, and he wasn't sure why. Tracy was willing to wait until he could echo the sentiment, but Connor wasn't sure he could ever say it back. He wasn't sure he could say something he didn't mean. Sure, he loved Tracy. In the I-just-wanna-be- your-friend kind of way. There was no way he could tell her that, though.

His thoughts were interrupted when Tracy reached up and brushed his hair out of his eyes. It was chin length, light brown, and she was forever nagging him to get it cut. He met her hand with his own at the curve of his neck and pulled her in for a kiss. Hoots and hollers from the passers by caused the couple to break apart blushing. Thinking fast, Connor pulled her into a nearby alley. She grinned at him, her gaze mischievous, before pulling his head down for another kiss.

"Good thinking." She said in-between kisses. "No one will interrupt us here." He kissed her back, wishing he felt more like he was kissing his girlfriend and less like he was kissing his sister.

"Oops. I'm sorry, but we're gonna have to interrupt." The couple broke apart when the foreign voice spoke up from the open end of the alley. Startled, Connor turned to see a man, maybe a little older than him, standing about five or six feet away. Instinctively, he moved in front of Tracy.

"What do you want?" Connor asked, mostly annoyed.

"Truthfully, we're a little hungry." Tracy gasped and gripped his arm as the man's face changed into something hideous, something monstrous, and something...familiar. As Connor dismissed that thought, the man moved steadily toward him. Glancing around for a way out, he didn't realize that the creature in front of him had used the word we, instead of I. He was reminded when Tracy let out a shriek and he whirled around to find her in the arms of a second monster. Connor wasn't sure what to do. The first creature made his decision for him by rushing at him. Tracy shrieked again, struggling, as Connor braced for the first monster's impact. He met the monster blow for blow, shocking the both of them. Where the hell had he learned to fight? Suddenly Connor was whirled around by the creature, and held long enough to see the second one sink his fangs into Tracy's neck.

"Connor!" She screamed out his name before going limp. The creature dropped her and she hit the ground with a thump. All Connor could do was stare at the body of his girlfriend, tears in his eyes. Fangs piercing his own throat brought him back to the situation he was in. Connor abruptly flung the creature from behind him over his shoulder and against the back wall of the alley. He landed on top of several crates, busting the top one. Both Connor and the other creature watched as it was impaled by a piece of the broken wood at the same time and then turned to dust. Connor met the second creature's gaze, and it was only a matter of seconds before it was dust too.

Unconcerned about his own wound, Connor scrambled to Tracy's body. His eyes teared as he knelt beside her. Raising a hand to her face, he shuddered. Her skin was almost cold. The feel of it startled him. Cradling her gently in his arms, Connor began calling for help.

*

*

Los Angeles

One Week Later...

Angel picked up a file from the top of his desk, flipped it open, and read it as he leaned back in his chair. Being head CEO of an evil law firm came with perks like that. He scanned the documents quickly, knowing he'd have to meet with both Wes and Gunn before meeting with this client. If it were possible to find a way to stop this one, they'd find it. Apparently he was digging up dead female bodies and...Angel snapped the file shut and shuddered. He'd read enough. He picked up his mug of blood, freshly warmed by Harmony, and debated the best way to handle the client during the meeting. Angel moved to take another sip when a loud British voice in the hallway startled him. Glancing down at the blood now staining his white dress shirt, Angel scowled. He grabbed a handkerchief from his pocket and began wiping at the mess as Spike entered his office.

"Smooth mate. Are we gonna have to get you a special mug with a lid and a straw?" Spike snarked, reveling in Angel's glare.

"This really isn't a good time, Spike. Why don't you go bother someone else?" Angel asked before pressing the intercom button on his desk. Harmony's voice was heard through the speaker.

"Yes, Boss?" She said.

"Could you bring me in another dress shirt?" Angel asked her, and then pushed the intercom off.

"Now she's your maid? You really know how to treat a gal." Spike taunted, flopping himself down on Angel's leather couch.

"Spike, shut up and get out." Angel told him. Spike sighed.

"Fine, ya big poof. I was just trying to be sociable." He said, sounding insulted. Spike swaggered out and nearly bumped into Harmony, who was carrying a new white dress shirt with a white undershirt as well.

Angel sighed, and unbuttoned his shirt. He lifted his undershirt over his head, turned and set them both on his desk. He took the clean undershirt from Harmony and put it on. He slid the dress shirt on with her help, and he buttoned it up in front, while she smoothed out the wrinkles in his shoulders. A voice from the doorway startled them.

"Am I interrupting?" Buffy asked, leaning against the door frame of his office.

"Buffy!" Angel exclaimed, clearly surprised. Harmony turned around and smiled brightly at the blond vampire slayer.

"Hi, Buffy." She said, her perky tone entirely fake. Buffy ignored the vampire, instead staring at Angel. "Well, I'll just be at the desk if you need me, boss." Harmony continued, edging carefully around the Slayer and out of the room.

"Uh, Harmony, make sure we're not disturbed. By ANYONE." He called after her. Angel put emphasis on that word, hoping that she would understand that Spike was not allowed anywhere near his office. They were still a moment before the former lovers were hugging tightly. "I was glad to hear you made it out of Sunnydale ok." Angel told her, smiling as they separated. She smiled back, one that didn't quite reach her eyes.

"We didn't all make it." Was her reply. She walked around his office, taking in the posh furnishings. "Nice." She said, running her hand over the leather fabric on the couch.

"You didn't come all this way to discuss my leather couch, did you?" He asked, trying to lighten her mood. She smiled, and this time Angel saw a change in her. She brightened at his question.

"Not exactly. I'm here because Willow said there have been some reports of a newly active Slayer here in LA. Dawn's with me." Buffy answered his question. "She's parking the rental car." She went on before he could ask where her younger sister was.

"Our teams haven't heard about a new Slayer. Things are still a little hectic, so we might have missed it. I'll have Wes get his team on a possible location for you." Angel said. She nodded, and drifted towards his windows. The LA skyline was lit up across the night sky. He moved next to her silently, both of them enjoying the moment.

*

Fred moaned in frustration, and slammed her pen down. Spike entered the room at the same time, and raised an eyebrow at her little display.

"Problems, Pet?" He asked, smirking when she jumped in surprise. Slightly embarrassed, she brushed her hair away from her face.

"I just can't get this equation to come out right." Fred answered as Spike moved over to the table where she was working. He glanced down at her hastily scrawled notes and shook his head.

"Need someone to help ease the tension?" Spike leered playfully, moving so that he stood very close to her right shoulder. She looked up at him and grinned.

"Behave." She said. He smiled back, pleased that she was bantering back. She reminded him of Red in some ways, but when it came to her work, she was truly unique. Spike sat himself down and reached for his lighter. Frowning, he realized that it wasn't there. A brief mental retracing of his steps led him to conclude that he must have dropped it on Angel's couch. He hadn't been anywhere else long enough to sit down. Sighing, he got up.

"I'll be back. Left my lighter in the Poof's office." He said, heading for the door.

Spike approached Angel's office and slowed to a stop. For a moment, he thought he smelled...nah, couldn't be. He chalked it up to wishful thinking and was about to take another step when Harmony pounced.

"Spike!" She exclaimed, getting his attention. "Do you like my new dress?" She asked him, twirling.

"It's fetching, love." He answered, moving as if to go around her. Spike had gone about two more steps when Harmony darted in front of him.

"Spike, wait." Harmony said.

"Bloody Hell, Harm!" He exclaimed. "I just want to get my lighter out of the Poofter's office."

"Angel said he wasn't to be disturbed." Harmony repeated her orders, hoping that Spike would obey them. She didn't want Angel mad at her.

"I'm not gonna disturb him." Spike sneered, moving forward again. He was nearly to the office door, when Harmony stopped him again. This time she grabbed his arm. He looked down at her, his mouth open to speak when he stopped and suddenly sniffed the air. She tugged on his arm, desperate to pull him away. He sniffed the air again, nearly unmoved by Harmony's actions. It couldn't be. He looked at Harmony, and the look on her face confirmed it. Spike ripped his arm from her grasp, causing her to fall backward. Determined, Spike walked to the remaining feet to Angel's office door. He grasped the handle and opened it so forcefully that he nearly ripped it off its hinges. His entrance startled the couple by the window. Angel turned around with a look of startled dismay, while Buffy turned around with a look of utter shock.

"Buffy." Spike choked out.