Yes, I know. It was too long between updates. I promise I'll try really hard not to start another story until I have the ones I'm working on complete. Anyway, here's a bit for this story. It ties up what happens previously and set things up for later. If there's something you'd really like to see in this AU, let me know – ml

Chapter 7

Angelus, the vampire now freed from his souled existence, looked upon the faces of his two most feared descendents, Spike and Drusilla. "Spike, the acid-washed look suits you," the vampire jeered, making fun of the vampire's holy water-scarred face. He knew that Spike's main feature was his vanity.

His grand-childe rewarded him by turning his face away. This was too easy. Then Angelus looked more closely at the beautiful, chaste lady who he had driven insane and then sired. She had always been his favorite. "What's wrong, Dru?" he asked, noting how frail she appeared.

"The people in Prague. They were nasty. They almost burned Miss Edith."

Angel stormed forward and brutally punched Spike. "You were supposed to protect her, what happened?"

"She wouldn't leave," Spike protested as he jumped up from the ground. "I knew the mob was gathering, but I couldn't get her to understand…She is my sire, my love," Spike said as he tenderly looked at Dru. "She must be obeyed."

"You always were a sad little mama's boy, weren't you, Spiky?"

"I seem to recall more than one occasion where this mama's boy saved your pompous arse, you arrogant prick."

"Most often to clean up messes you made, Billy." Angel taunted.

"Boys, we mustn't fight," Drusilla said in a sing-song voice. "The night is passing. We must find something nice for daddy to eat."

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Buffy and Cordelia led the walk to the school. Jenny Calendar walked behind the newly restored Tara and Xander.

Finally Buffy could take it no longer. Se turned to Xander and drew him into a silent hug. After a moment , she said, "I…I'm sorry, Xander. I know what I did to you…What I let happen Willow, is unforgivable."

"Then you don't fully appreciate the meaning of that term," Xander said. "I still possess the memories of the Cain. I know what unforgivable is."

"Cain, like the Superman guy?" Buffy asked, puzzled.

"No, child," Xander answered with a sad smile. "I have all the memories of Cain the firstborn, son of Adam, killer of Abel, my brother."

"What?...How?..."

"Oh come on Buffy," Cordelia snapped. "This isn't beginning journalism. Let's just hurry up and find Giles. The sooner everyone tells what they know," She said, staring pointedly at Miss Calendar, "the happier I'll be."

Xander led Tara to a bathroom while the others proceeded to the library. They found Giles, and surprisingly enough Buffy's mother and Jonathan, sitting around the table.

"So, what brings you here?" Jenny Calendar asked Joyce Summers.

"I was at a costume party that suddenly became entirely too interesting. I thought Mr. Giles might want to know about it," Joyce replied, intentionally ignoring the tone of the computer teacher's question.

"Were you…Uhm, affected by the spell as well," Giles asked.

"Not them," said a voice from the doorway. Giles nearly dropped his glasses at the sight of Xander Harris, walking and lucid.

"My word," Giles said.

"It seems as if the spell that was cast tonight changed me and Tara," Xander said, pointing to the young blonde beside him. "Somehow, I was possessed by a part of the spirit of Cain."

"The Superman guy?" Joyce asked.

"That must be where she gets it from," Cordelia mused. "Too bad Buffy didn't learn to moisturize from her."

"I believe Xander is referring to the Biblical Cain," Giles said, gently.

"Score one for G-man," Xander said, offering his first smile since his restoration. "Cain is still alive. God sentenced him to roam the earth forever to pay for his crime."

Giles said, "I remember the passage, 'And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand. When thou tillest the ground, it shall not yield to thee her strength, a fugitive and a vagabond shall thou be in the earth."

"You would quote, somewhat imperfectly, the King James Bible," Xander said, shaking his head. "Leave it to the English to make anything sound pompous. I much preferred the original translation." The young man spoke a brief sentence in a language none of the assembled group understood. Seeing the blank reaction, he sighed. "Oh what passes for a classical education."

"So why did Angelus run from you?" Jenny Calendar asked.

"Angelus?" Giles asked.

"Angel lost his soul," Jenny said. "We'll get to that bit." She looked at Buffy, trying to find a way to spare the girl's feelings.

Xander noted the look and answered Jenny's question. "Angelus was raised Catholic in Ireland. He knows that whatever punishment he gives Cain will be repaid upon him sevenfold by God. The last thing a vampire wants is any attention from the Almighty. Besides, he and Cain have met before, and Captain Hair Gel didn't fare well."

"But he's just human," Cordelia said. "How could he fight demons?"

"He's lived for millennia; buried wives, daughters, sons, great-great-grandchildren," recalling the emotions of Cain, Xander slipped into a first person narrative. "For generations I roamed the world in wrath. I have slain dragons, demons, and old gods. I fought alongside Achilles and Heracles. I taught archery to Attila the Hun and horsemanship to Genghis Khan. I reached the new world with Cortez. No one on earth knows more about killing."

"And you still have memories of your possession?" Joyce Summers asked.

"I think that whoever cast the spell wanted to help me for some reason," Xander said. "I still have the experiences of Cain in my mind; still feel the memories of his battles in muscles. His scars are on my arms," he said pointing to his bicep. "I still have his mark on my forehead. Somehow it helps me cope with Willow's…. When she died. It's all that's keeping me sane."

"I-I feel the same way," Tara said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Joyce walked to the shy teen and asked her softly, "Who possessed you, dear?"

"It was an Angel," Tara said, looking at Buffy's mom with unearthly calm. "Her name is Sara. She's the chief angel of healing. She helps restore the mind, body, and spirit. Whoever did this to me…They understood my need."

"Your need?" Joyce asked, grasping the young girl's hands. Buffy felt a twinge of jealousy.

"My mother…She got cancer and died. I can't talk about my father or brother. They did…something to me. I couldn't take it any longer."

"Do you have any other relatives?" Giles asked, knowing that someone needed to be told of the young girl's healing.

"I no longer have any living relatives," Tara replied without emotion.

Joyce hugged the girl. Tara's frowned. "There's a disturbance…. "She looked at Joyce's face. The girl's hands moved to Joyce's temple. "It's small. You have headaches, don't you?"

"Well, I mean everyone does," Joyce replied, uneasy.

Tara closed her eyes and Joyce felt warmth surround her head. The others saw a flash of light. "You won't. Not any longer. You're healed."

"What did you do to her?" Buffy demanded.

"She had a tumor," Tara said. "It was small, slow-growing. Now it's gone."

"You've retained Sara's abilities?" Giles asked.

"To a lesser degree," Tara said. "I don't think young Ethan's motives were entirely selfless, but I do believe he wanted me and Xander to benefit from his spell."

"You know about Ethan," Giles observed.

"It is given to me to know many things, Ripper," Tara said with a smile.

"Um, yes. Quite remarkable." Giles clearly wanted to change the subject. "Now what happened to Angel?"

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"I'm not sure what happened," Angelus admitted begrudgingly. They had fed and now Spike had led Angelus back to their lair. "Buffy was under the influence of some spell. She was brunette and weak; it was like she was some noblewoman from my childhood. Some guy in a pirate costume had grabbed her. I ran him off and she just kept saying how grateful she was for my rescue. She needed me; for the first time in decades somebody needed me. I took her back to my apartment, and I kissed her. Apparently she really was a noblewoman, they're notorious sluts."

"Don't need to tell me that," Spike added.

"Oh yeah, you were such the smooth talker before Dru took pity on you," Angelus chuckled. "Anyway, she was happy to get out of the dress, and you know I always had a thing for brunettes," he said, looking pointedly at Drusilla.

"Hey," Spike cautioned.

"She was mine first, last, and always Spiky my boy." Drusilla smiled and even in her undead state she almost managed a blush.

"So there we were, together. Suddenly my pathetic, Slayer-loving soul left my body, just as we were finishing."

"So, that took all of…what, thirty seconds?" Spike huffed.

"Another interruption and I'll take ten seconds out of my busy night and kick your ass," Angelus warned.

"Did you kill her, daddy?" Drusilla asked.

"No, no, my pet," Angelus said. "It was too easy. That Slayer led me around by the nose for over a year. She made me weak, pathetic. I'll have my revenge. On her and on that gypsy computer science teacher… But there's plenty of time. Besides, you know how I like to train my children before I turn them." He lightly caressed Drusilla's cheek. "When I'm finished she'll frighten even you." Drusilla shivered in anticipation.

"So, Spike," Angelus turned to his grand-childe, "what are you doing for my Dru?"

Spike took Angelus to a quiet room in his lair. There was one creature sitting at a desk reading an old book. Spike pointed to the silent, bespectacled vampire. "That's Dalton. He's researching the spell to bring the roses back to Dru's cheeks. And he'll find a way…If he knows what's good for him."

The bookish vampire swallowed hard and returned to his work.

Spike shook his head and walked away to find Drusilla.

Angelus stayed behind. "So, you're researching a spell?"

"Yes. It's...it's all very confusing. I think the text is in code. The book was written by du Lac. I remember reading something about crosses that was made by that family…They're supposed to translate mystical texts."

"There's a du Lac Crypt at the Moss Cove Cemetery," Angelus said.

"I'll tell Spike," Dalton said. "Perhaps he would allow me to determine if one of the crosses is hidden there."

"Don't bother Spiky," Angelus said, a little too nicely. "He has other things on his mind. I'll handle it."

"But Spike is my sire. He asked me to keep him informed. He's very impatient." Dalton sputtered.

"And I'm his grand-sire. I'm patient. Sometimes it can take me years to kill someone who disobeys me. Do you understand?"

"Yes, sir." Dalton said. At that moment, he really wished he was still an accountant.

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"And that's the story," Jenny Calendar concluded. "I was sent to keep Angel from experiencing a moment of perfect happiness. I failed. Now Angelus is restored and we are all in danger."

Xander nodded at Jenny's efforts. She had taken responsibility for everything, allowing Buffy the space to accept what had happened between her and Angel. Still, from the looks on the faces of Cordelia, Giles, and Joyce, there would be no forgiveness for the technopagan anytime soon.

"You lied to us," Cordelia said in disgust. "You kept information from us and let us just go around thinking that…"

"Yes it was my fault," Jenny said with remorse. "But you have to understand that my feelings for…for all of you," she said, looking at Giles, "they were genuine. I really do care about you." She turned to Cordelia, who backed away.

Joyce led her daughter out of the library. "So…tonight. How do you feel?"

"It was so scary. It was like my mind was in the background and I couldn't do anything. And the girl who set up shop in my head was so terrified. This guy in a pirate suit hit her, I mean me. Next thing you know Angel was there comforting her. She…I…I mean, I know I wanted him to be the one, you know. I just didn't know what would happen if we…"

Joyce held Buffy and gently rocked her as they sat on the floor in the hallway. "Are you okay, physically?"

"I think so. After we…Angel was so awful. He bit my neck and took some blood; not too much. It was like he marked me. Then he threw me in the bathroom and stacked up furniture to keep me from escaping. That girl Tara, she found me and cured me. It must be like what she did for you."

"She doesn't have any relatives," Joyce noted. "Would it be alright with you if we invited her to stay with us?"

"I think I'd like that," Buffy agreed.

They returned to the library to see the group focusing on Tara and Xander.

Giles was saying, "I'm afraid, Xander, that your parents weren't exactly supportive during your illness."

"Color me surprised," Xander deadpanned. "By the way, I'd use the yellow crayon for that. Don't worry about the folks. I'll have a word with them once I get home. I think things there will calm down quite a bit."

Cordelia didn't like the tone of his voice.

"Don't worry Cordie," Xander said as he saw her expression. "I won't have to hurt them. They are my parents. And I just wanted to say…thanks for, well, everything. I know what you did while I was out of it. It means a lot to me."

Cordelia managed a smile. "Just don't make me have to do it again."

"I'll put that at the top of my 'to do' list," Xander agreed. Number one, get a Doublemeat burger. Number two, make sure that Cordelia never has to be nice to me, ever again."

"Dork," Cordelia said, her smile growing wider. "I'm glad you're back."

"I wouldn't be here if it hadn't been for you," Xander said quietly. "I won't forget that." He turned to the restored blonde beside him. "So, how can we help Tara?"

"She can stay with us," Joyce said.

"Really?" Tara asked shyly.

"Definitely," Buffy agreed. "We talked about it. We have a spare room and everything."

"There is still the matter of her status at the medical facility,' Giles cautioned. "Am I correct, Tara, in assuming that now that you have left your vegetative state that you may face criminal charges with regards to the fate of your father and brother."

"I-I couldn't…"

"That's okay," Jenny said. "You don't need to tell us. I can go online and generate a new identity for Tara. Officially, she could just be listed as missing after last night. You could be Buffy's out of town cousin, just arrived from Oxnard."

For the first time that evening, Giles, Buffy, and Joyce smiled at Jenny Calendar.

"And we could SO do a makeover," Cordelia enthused. Buffy also came forward, leading Tara away. Tara was clearly panicking as Cordelia and Buffy talked about different hair styles they could try on her. When the teens mentioned shopping for boots, Joyce hurried off to join them.

That left Giles, Jenny Calendar, Xander, and the silent Jonathan in the library. "I can take you home, boys," Giles said wearily.

Jonathan nodded. "I live a couple blocks from Xander, thanks."

"Can we talk, Rupert?" Jenny asked.

"Not tonight," Giles sighed. "I think I need some time to understand what has happened."

Xander turned to his computer science teacher. "If it's okay with you, Miss Calendar, do you have a couch or something I could crash on? It's way too late for me to descend on the folks."

Jenny saw that he wanted to talk to her in private. After everything that happened tonight, it would be nice. She smiled and said, "Sure. My place is kind of small, but it's got a couch. I hope you don't snore."

"You'll just have to take your chances," Xander replied.

That's it for now. Hope this bit was okay - ml