Buffy felt groggy as she woke up. She felt like somebody had pushed Mount Everest through her. She tried to open her eyes, but they were too heavy. It didn't take long for her to find out that she was being carried somewhere, by someone that was cold. The first thing that hit her mind was Angel. She managed to open her eyelids just enough for her to look into his eyes.

- ...Angel.., she stuttered. It was hard to speak.

- Shh, it'll be all right.

His voice was almost impossible for her to hear, as everything blacked out again. When she woke up again, her eyelids weren't quite that hard to open and she wasn't being carried anymore. She was lying in a bed. Some doctor was taking some tests, a nurse walked in and out a little now and then. Then the doctor left and she was all alone, but not for long. The door opened again and Angel walked in.

- Angel, am I in a hospital?

- Yeah, I though it was best that I took you here, as you looked like you've been through hell.

- What happened?

- I don't know, don't you remember anything?

- I'm wondering how I got to LA, when the last thing I remember was being in Sunnydale.

- What do you remember?

- Patrolling, like always, then something grabbed me, then... I don't know.

- Buffy, you've been missing for six months...

Buffy stared into the mirror. The question never left her head. What had happened? Where had she been? It had been seven years, and she still didn't remember. It was like a big black hole. She didn't know where she had been or what had hurt her so badly. She didn't understand anything. She had been hurt, but her wounds healed after a while. What really hurt was the not knowing on what had happened or what it was that had grabbed her seven and-a-half years ago and that had made her forget. Would she ever remember? And if so, what was it she had forgotten?

The answer to that last question was lying asleep in a cave not to far from LA. It was a little girl. She was seven years old. She had light blond hair, natural curls. She had no name, because there was nobody to give her one. The only thing that surrounded her was demons. She had been there her whole life. There were no contact between her and the demons, though. The only thing she got what some food now and then, but then she was left all alone. She knew that she didn't belong there. There had always been something that wasn't right. She didn't look like them, she didn't act like them. She wasn't anything like them.

There had always been something to hold her back, every time she tried to leave. But she never gave up on trying. And for each time there was like it got easier. And finally one day she managed to get out. She was just a little girl, so she could easily hide between rocks and other things. Every time she heard someone coming, she hid. She got out of the opening and into the night. The moon was shining bright giving her a clearer overview over what was around her. She didn't want them to find out where she was. She didn't really know why, but it was a feeling she had inside of her.

It got light, and she saw day for the first time. She was amazed. The sun warmed her up and gave her more energy than she had before. She continued walking, the land around her was dry. It was an open land, with nothing for her to hide behind. She walked along the rocks and then she came to a road, where she saw a trailer parked, but she didn't know what a trailer was. She only saw something she could climb into and hide. She found bread there. It was a bakery trailer, which had only stopped because it needed to fix the tire. Nobody saw her get in. Inside she started eating, but as soon as the last piece of bread went down her throat she fell asleep. She didn't notice the trailer moving.

She woke up, hearing a lot of noise. It was all strange to her. She had never heard anything like that. Suddenly the door opened and she hid quickly. Some men climbed in and took each a cart with bread out. And they disappeared out the door. She walked towards it slowly and carefully looked out it.

- Hey!

She practically jumped, at the sound. She looked around and saw a man standing there not to far away from her. She was still holding the bread in her hands.

- Damn street kids, he shouted. - Get out!

She didn't understand anything of what he said, as she had never been taught to speak or understand the human language. The only thing she understood was the tone of his voice, which told her to run. And she did. She ran as fast as she could away. She didn't stop before she was sure she was alone. Then she looked around. The things she saw, she'd never seen before in her whole life. She walked a little around, keeping away from the street. The cars scared her. After a while she got hungry again, and she had dropped the bread, when she ran away from the man. So when she saw the food in the window at the shops, she went in. She grabbed the first apple that she saw and took a bite.

- Hey!

She recognized the word and tone, which once again told her to run, but this time she didn't drop the food. She held on to it as she ran down a few blocks. Everything was scaring her even more. She didn't understand anything. She wished she knew what they said to her, when they yelled.

Eventually it got darker again and soon it was night again. She was still walking, not knowing where to go or what to do. She walked into an alley, looking for somewhere to rest. Then she saw the demon. One of those that had kept her in the cave. She started running ,but her little feet weren't taking her long, at the demon got her, but before she knew it, she was lying on the ground. And the demon was fighting something else. She didn't know what to do and just sat there and watched. The other thing had an upper hand and eventually he smashed the jewel in the demons forehead. She sat just completely still.

Angel looked at the little girl he just saved. It felt like he'd seen those eyes before. It was like he saw Buffy looking at him, but it wasn't her. It was a little girl, about seven years old. 'She must be scared' he thought.

- It's all right, he said, walking towards her. - Where are your parents. They shouldn't let you go around her at this time. It's dangerous out here.

The little girl just stared at him. She didn't say anything. He walked towards her and kneeled in front of her. She didn't move.

- Hey, what's your name?

She recognized the word and tried to run away. Angel was surprised by her reaction and ran after her. And somehow he managed to take her back to the office. He wondered why she didn't say anything. He tried to talk to her, but she didn't react. Cordelia was sitting at the desk, putting some new information on the computer, when he walked into the office with the little girl.

- Hi, Angel. Who's that?

- I don't know, she won't say.

- She refuses to tell you her name?

- I saved her from a Mohra demon. She didn't seem to frightened, but when I asked her what her name was, she tried to run. It was like she didn't want to tell me.

- Are you sure she even speaks English?

- No.., why didn't I think of that?

Angel tried to speak to the girl over and over again, but there was no reaction. She didn't respond to English, French or Spanish. Angel even tried Gaelic, but he already knew that she wouldn't understand.

The girl was frightened. She didn't understand anything, not even that he tried to make contact with her, so she was really scared. She saw him walking into his office together with Cordelia and saw her chance to run. And before Angel managed to get after her, she was gone.

She was back out in the street. And she wandered off. After a while she reached an other alley. She walked around and heard a noise.

Dean thought he heard a noise and went to check it, since he was the one on guard. He expected a vampire, but was surprised to find out that it was a little girl.

- Whoa, little girl. You shouldn't be here at a time like this. Go back to where you belong. This isn't a place for a little girl like you to hang out. Go home.

The girl didn't react, she just stared at him.

- Go on, go home, he repeated.

She was still not reacting and now he heard an other noise. So he hurried to grab her, but somehow she threw him off. He was surprised, but he wasn't stupid. He hurried up and he grabbed her and ran. And he managed to get them both safe in the warehouse.

Gunn saw that Dean wasn't alone when he came inside.

- Dean, are you nuts. You can't bring a little kid in here.

- It was either that or leaving her in an alley full of vampires.

- You're serious?

- Yeah. I was on guard and heard a noise, which turned out to be her, then I heard an other noise and had no other choice than to bring a guest. But I tell you it wasn't easy.

- Oh, no they followed you here?

- No, don't worry I shook them off. The problem was that she threw me. She's strong, stronger than one can ever imagine. I don't understand how.

- Maybe we should ask her.

They both looked at the little girl. She stood in the middle of the floor, looking skeptically at each and everyone. Gunn walked towards her.

- What's your name?

She was silent. They all looked at her. She didn't say anything.

- What's your name, Gunn repeated.

Still no answer.

- Maybe she's deaf, Dean suggested.

A guy behind her snapped his fingers, and she jumped around

- I don't think that qualifies as deaf.

- Then what?

- You tell me, you're the one who found her.

- Maybe she doesn't speak English.

- Yeah, that might be it. Do you know any other language?

- Nope.

- Hmm, that sounds hard... hey I got it. We can try body-language, maybe teach her English.

- How?

- I'll show you. You see first she needs to learn our names.

- Ok, again, I say how?

- Watch.

They looked at her. Gunn bent down so that he was on the same height as her. He looked at her, then he pointed at himself and said:

- Gunn...

She just looked at him. He pointed one more time.

- Gunn...

She had market that word. She looked at him, still very silent. He tried one more time.

- Gunn...

- Gunn, she answered, pointing at him.

Buffy was dreaming. She was in a cave, all alone. Demons surrounded her, demons she'd only seen once before.

Then there was a flash back in time, to thanksgiving. She felt him inside her, making love to her, but it was different. He was warm. His heart was beating, he was human.

And suddenly she was standing in front of him, crying, I'll never forget, over and over again.

Then she was back in the cave again. The demons were coming towards her, she was screaming. Screaming, NO!

Buffy woke up in a cold sweat, shaking. What did she dream? She couldn't remember. She knew that it had to be bad. What had happened? Why couldn't she remember? Why did she have to dream something over and over again, just to forget it the minute she woke up? And why was she dreaming again? She hadn't been dreaming for almost seven years. She'd dreamt for a few months, but then it had all stopped.

After a while she got up, again. Strong Buffy, she always got up, but to what? She had no guy, her friends had what they wanted, but she didn't. She couldn't even get to remember what had happened those six months, she was away. Was it demons, vampires, humans, that had taken her away, and if so, why did they let her go? It didn't make sense.

Riley had come back, saying that he loved her, but she didn't love him, well she loved him, but more like a friend. In the other ways, she wouldn't even consider her. A few weeks after Angel had found her, they both went back to their lives, because she wanted it. She knew that they couldn't have what they had, because they had tried that before and it didn't work. If she had one wish right now, she would have wished for the unleaded version of the curse.

- Damn gypsies, she cursed, for the first time out loud for seven years.

If she had two wishes, the second one would be to remember. Her thought was interrupted by the phone. She walked over to it.

- Hello, she answered.

Cordelia couldn't believe what Angel was saying.

- You have to call her, she repeated.

- No, I can't involve her in this.

- Oh, you're so stupid. You faced a Mohra demon again. And they has told you that there would be more of them coming and it would end the world.

- They said, she would die, and I can't let that happen.

- If you were still human, she would. Aren't you thinking at least on saving peoples lives? The demon was attacking a little girl, which was so scared that she ran from her savior.

- I know, and I don't understand, why they attacked her.

- I'd take evil for five-hundred Bob.

- What?

- Don't tell me you've never watched Jeopardy. Let me put it in a language you understand. They are evil demons, hence them attacking the little girl.

- They don't kill randomly, they wanted something from that girl.

- They go find her.

- It's not like I haven't tried.

- Again, I suggest you call.

- I can handle things on my own, you know.

- Yeah, and so can she, but when it's the apocalypse we're dealing with, I suggest that you work together.

- All right I'll call.

Buffy had packed quite a few stuff and she was now standing outside Angel's investigations, again. After standing there for a while she finally walked inside. She saw him, he hadn't changed at all. 'Of course he hasn't changed you idiot! He's a vampire, they don't grow older' she thought. But on the other hand, neither had she for some reason. She didn't look like she was 26, like she was, no she looked like the nineteen-year-old, Angel found seven years ago. He looked just as good as she remembered. They had talked on the phone a few times, but they haven't gone seeing each other. He had helped her every time she had been frustrated of the not remembering-thing.

- Hey, she said, looking at him.

- Hey yourself, he said.

'Oh, god, how beautiful, she still is. She hasn't changed a bit.' he thought, looking at her.

- So, what's the case?

- A demon, Mohra demon, the kind that attacked us thanksgiving eight years ago.

- Ok, you called me because of one demon?

- It's not just a demon. It's a strong one, they want to bring foreward an apocalypse.

- Oh, so when did it attack you?

- It didn't attack me.

- Then what did it do?

- It attacked a little girl.

- A little girl, why?

- Again I take evil for five hundred, Bob, Cordelia said.

- I don't know, the demon could easily have killed her before I reached it, but it wanted to take her with it.

- So, where's the girl?

- She's gone...

- Gunn, she said pointing at him.

- Good, Gunn said and he then pointed at Dean.

- Dean, she said.

She had been making progress. She knew everybody's name and a few words, but she still didn't have one of her own.

- What should we call her, Dean asked Gunn

- What she says is her name.

- She hasn't said anything, for two weeks. She hasn't got a name, so I say we give her one.

- Alana, Gunn said.

- After your sister? Can't you give her one of her own? She's not your sister.

- I know, but she hasn't got anybody, so I can at least try to be a brother for her.

- All right, it's your choice, but I'd give her a name of her own...

Their lips met in a tender kiss. That was one of the things she'd missed so much. To have his arms around her and his tongue in her mouth. It aroused her, and she knew that it did the same to him. It was so perfect that she couldn't stand it. They had been working together for a year now, trying to find the demon and the girl, but they hadn't had much luck.

He found out quickly after Buffy came, that she didn't have a job, so he'd employed her. He had also offered her that she could live at his place, but she'd refused, because she knew it would drive them more apart. So she lived together with Cordelia. Cordelia didn't mind, she loved having Buffy as a roommate. And it made Dennis less jealous, when she brought back a boyfriend.

Buffy looked into his eyes, knowing that she had to break the kiss off, but God how she didn't want to. It felt so good. But luckily (not in her mind), Angel did. They stared into each other eyes.

- We can't, he whispered.

- I know.

They just turned around and continued working. Cordelia saw it and she couldn't stand it. Buffy had always been alone that year. Guys had come over whenever she was at a party, but she'd only reject them. She didn't even try. She concentrated on the work and kept a little for her self. When she had been in Sunnydale and Angel in LA, Cordelia had only seen Angel suffering and thought that Buffy was living her life in Sunnydale, but here, she saw that it wasn't true. Buffy was suffering.

She knew she had to do something about it. She hurried out and went towards the post office, but only stopped at a pawnshop on the way, to get a gift. She got the ingredients and said the incantation. The portal opened and she went in.

- Why do you come before us, lower being?

- I come to demand you to let them be happy.

- They?

- Don't act dumb. You know that I'm talking about Buffy and Angel. They are suffering, and I want you to help them.

- It's not in our power, or mind to do anything about it.

- Make his soul permanent.

- How dare you demand us?

- He has worked for the powers a long time and even gave up his humanity, to continue working for you. You owe him.

- We don't owe him anything, she's alive isn't she?

- Yeah, but she might as well be dead. She has nothing to live for, give her a reason to continue fighting.

- What have you brought for us?

- A tigers eye, the stone has healing powers, now heal their wounds.

- You speak of great courage, but…

- Oh, spare me for that nonsense, Angel may have gone for it, but I won't. They are both my friends. And if you don't do it, then I'll…

Cordelia thought very hard. What could be such a threat, that they would do it, then she remembered what Angelus had said to her, when that bitch had drugged him.

- Then I'll make you sit through my next play, it's about two hours long. And I mean sit, no candy allowed, just sit and watch me…

- You have your wish granted, but don't come back…

- When will it happen?

- That is to happen when they've proved their worthiness. You are to keep quiet about this conversation.

- Why? Why can't I tell them?

- Because, if you tell them, they can't think clearly, to make a right decision. And without that decision being made, we have nothing to award them for...

And with that, Cordelia found herself outside the portal.

- But why..?

Alana sat and watched them planning yet an other attack on the vampire gang. She had now been living there a year. They had taught her how to speak English, and she was speaking with flow. Gunn had like he had decided a year age, been like a brother to her, but she couldn't help but wonder, where her real family had to be. Where had the demons gotten her from and why did her family let them? These were big questions for an eight-year-old to be thinking about. After she'd started to understand, they would ask her questions of her background. Where she was from, who her family was and things like that, but all she could say was that she didn't know. First she had asked what a family was, and after a long explanation, she understood.

Suddenly they all heard a bang, and a demon burst in. Alana recognized it at once and screamed. The gang were caught by surprise and didn't have the big weapons ready. Gunn saw that the demon went straight for Alana.

- Alana, run!

And she did. As far as her feet would take her. She ran through the smallest passages, she could find. She ran out of the building, trying to find out where it had been that man had saved her before. She didn't want to go back to the cave. She didn't even get tired, she just ran…

Cordelia collapsed to the floor, with a splitting migraine. She saw the little girl, Mohra demons. The girl was so scared. Cordy could feel it. While Cordelia lied like that on the floor, Buffy and Angel got the painkillers and the glass of water ready. After a while they helped her up. Buffy gave her the painkillers and the glass of water and waited until Cordelia had taken them.

- What did you see, Angel asked.

- The girl, the little girl you saw being attacked by a demon a year ago. You were right, she wasn't just a random hit, she's being chased by one. She's terrified, I could feel it.

- Where is she?

Then a little girl came running into the office. They all looked stunned at her.

- Great, a killing migraine and the victim comes running into the office, Cordy said, sitting down, trying to rest.

Buffy and Angel stared at the little girl and to their big surprise, she now spoke.

- Please, you have to help me...

This was even a bigger surprise for Angel.

- You speak English... why didn't you talk to me a year ago?

- I couldn't...

- Why?

- I didn't know how...

- Where's your family?

- I don't know, I don't think I have one...

- What do you mean? Where do you live?

- At a factory, but it's not a factory anymore.

- You live alone at a factory?

- No, I live with a group. There's Gunn, Dean, Jamie...

- Gunn..? That sounds familiar...

- It's the street kid with that gang that fought, Cordelia started, but remembered the little kid standing in front of her. - um... the other street gang...

- You have to help me, Alana said. - They are all still there...

- Where? What happened, Angel asked.

- We were at home, then the creatures attacked. Gunn told me to run, and I did.

- Vampires, Cordelia whispered.

- Why did you come here, Angel asked, trying to gather information.

- Because you saved me from that creature a year ago, she answered.

- Mohra demon, he mumbled. - I knew it wasn't a random attack. They are looking for her, but why..?

He saw the frightened face. He bent over her.

- What's your name?

- Alana.

- It's a beautiful name.

- Gunn gave it to me.., she answered him, smiling.

- And what was your name before that?

- I don't know...

The demon had taken out both Dean and Jamie. Gunn had injured the demon pretty well, but he knew he didn't stand a chance if it came down to him facing the demon. Buffy and Angel chose the right moment walking in. Angel held Alana away, trying to keep her eyes away from the two dead on the floor. It wasn't anything for an eight-year-old to see. In the meantime, Buffy ran towards the demon, that was pretty injured.

- Smash the jewel in the forehead, Angel yelled.

And Buffy did it. The demon was dead, but so were two humans. Alana managed to look around the room and saw the two dead. She screamed loud. It was a scream of grief and terror. She seeked comfort in Angels embrace.

They stood like that for almost an hour, before Angel picked up Alana and he, Buffy and Gunn walked to the investigation. Alana had cried herself to sleep in Angels arms and the first thing they did was to put her in bed. Cordelia volunteered to watch her while the others talked. Gunn told them everything he knew, about how confused she was, when they found her, about how they taught her English, how she didn't know much about herself.

- We have to contact the police, to find out, where she might be from, Buffy said, when they were done.

- I can call Kate. She have access to the whole computer system, and she might be able to tell us if she's missing.

- Of course she's missing. What else can it be?

- Maybe her family was killed by demons, and she doesn't have anything? It can be lots of things.

- Well, we'll contact the police.

It had now been three months. Alana had been living in Angels apartment, Buffy moved in there, to help him, after a few weeks, since there wasn't any missing description that could match her. All the children that were missing were either a boy, or someone too old or too young to be her.

Alana had brought some joy into their lives. Angel felt like a father for her. He loved her like she was his own, and sometimes he fooled himself to think that she really was his and Buffys, but they both knew very well that she wasn't. Every day, they heard again and again, that nobody had come to find her. And after a while they got used to it.

Buffy were the one that was most at peace. It had been many months since she'd last thought of the six months that she couldn't remember. She was too busy looking after Alana. One evening after Alana had gone to sleep, Buffy confronted Angel with her thoughts.

- Angel, what do you think will happen to her?

- What do you mean?

- She has had nobody coming in looking for her, and I don't think anyone will. So what I'm wondering is what now?

- I don't know, maybe she'll be adopted...

- Um... do you think... we could be them?

- What do you mean?

- I mean, she needs a home, like the one she has, and I think she'll get a wonderful life here and it would be a dream come true...

- Buffy, what are you saying?

- I wanna adopt her...

- Adopt her..?

- with you, that is...

- But, do you think that's a good idea? I mean, this isn't like for a few months, Buffy. It's for the rest of our lives. You know that we can't ever...

- Angel, we've been living together for two months and avoided that... We've managed to get back what we had before you left. We don't do anything, we just feel. I know that we can't have a perfectly normal life. You told me that one day I'd want children, and you weren't wrong. I want it all, but only with you. If I can't have it with you, then I don't want it. We might not have it completely, but we can try. We have an opportunity to get it and why give it up. I've seen you with her, anyone who saw you would think that she's truly yours. You are already like a father for her.

- I feel like a father, too, but I have to warn you, that this won't be easy. There are a lot of things that we have to go through to adopt her.

- I think it'll be worth the effort, don't you? I mean, look at her...

- I am. I hope that she'll want it. We have to talk to her about it.

They did talk to her. The next day, they talked for a long time, explaining what adoption meant, and what would happen. The next few months went by to investigations, talking to a judge and it took them a great deal of work, before they were officially parents of Alana. Then the little family were the happiest family in the whole world.

Alana always was up together with them in the office. She was now an official mascot for the business. She was a smart little girl to only have been with humans for a-year-and-a-half. She knew about the business and about demons and what "daddy" was. They figured she was quite open-minded, and it was best to lay it all straight for her.

They were as usual in the office. It had been pretty slow, something that was both a good thing and bad. The good thing was that this meant they could be with Alana. The bad thing was that they needed clients for their business to survive. Angel was reading to Alana from an old story book, he'd bought when he and Buffy adopted her. Buffy were searching the fridge, pretending not to listen, but she did. She always loved listening to him reading. She wanted to snuggle up in his lap, but she and Angel had both agreed to try keeping apart for the sake of Alana. They knew that closeness could destroy everything, but the only thing they did, was longing for the other.

Alana was sometimes confused the relationship between her new parents. They both lived together, but they tried not to be too much together. If they kissed one moment, they turned around and pretended it didn't happen.

Cordelia then fell to the floor, as usual with a big migraine. Even Alana was used to this by now. She ran to get a glass of water, while Buffy got the painkillers. Angel held Cordelia. After a minute, Cordelia rose with the help from Angel. She grabbed the painkillers and lied down at the couch. They let her have a few minutes.

- What did you see, Buffy asked.

- The oracles. They wanna talk to you.

- Do you know what they want?

- Just talk, but you better bring a gift anyway... ow, why can't they phone or something..?

- We welcome you, lower being, the male oracle. - What have you brought us?

- Technically, we don't owe you a gift, since it was you that wanted to meet us, but since Angel is so giving, he stopped to get this, Buffy said, handing them the crystal vase.

- You bring a great, but fragile gift, much like your relationship.

- What did you wanna talk to us about, Buffy asked.

- Patience is a gift, I'm afraid you don't hold, the female oracle smiled. - We summoned you to give you a gift that was requested to you some time ago.

- What do you mean, Buffy asked.

- A girl was here to ask for your soul to be permanent, but then we couldn't provide it, but you've proved your worthiness, and now we're forfilling the request.

- A girl..?

- She who carries our messages to you.

- Cordelia?

- Asked for you to be able to be happy together, and now you can be, your soul is no longer a problem.

Before the two of them could answer, they were standing outside the portal.

Meanwhile the two oracles were talking.

- I felt bad about not telling them about the little one, the female oracle said.

- It's not the time for them to know, but one day they will.

- I want to do something, the little girl is their daughter, but they don't know it. I think it's sad.

- You've been here too long, as you've developed sympathy for the lower beings.

- At least I got you to agree on giving them the gift.

- It just was time. They proved themselves worthy.

Cordelia were sitting together with Alana in the office, when Buffy and Angel came back, with his arm around her waist.

- With this I take it, it's best I watch Alana tonight.

- Thank you Cordy, Buffy said, giving her friend a hug.

- No problem, if it's anything I want to happen it is for you to be happy.

- How did you get them to grant your wish?

- I threatened them.

- With what, second hand clothes?

- No, to make them sit through one of my plays. And I thought the comment from Angelus never would come in hand, but I was wrong.

Before they said anything more, Cordelia grabbed Alanas hand and a bag with some of her clothes and toys, which she'd packed, while Buffy and Angel were talking to the oracles. She had known what would be said.

- I guess I'll see you in about a week or two.

- Again, thank you, Buffy said, before both Cordelia and Alana was long gone.

Angel now did what he'd been longing to do for over a year. He walked over towards Buffy, lifted her up and carried her downstairs. He didn't put her down for a second. He looked into her eyes and kissed her so tender and deep. Their lips didn't leave each other, while he carried her into his bed room.

And there they made love again, after waiting for so long. It was so perfect. Nothing would ever go wrong again.

After that everything changed. They weren't just a family in law, but also in heart. Buffy and Angel finally got what they deserved, each other. Now fall came, they guessed that Alana was about nine years old now. They had agreed to send her to school. They told her that she would start in first grade and move up the grades after how much she learned. They couldn't exactly put her in fourth grade, since she hadn't attended school before, but they couldn't let her go foreward so slowly. Alana understood what they meant, when they explained. She was very bright, she just didn't know how to read. Her mind had on the other hand a lot of knowledge, any other nine-year-olds had.

So then she attended first grade, but with a little more advanced tutoring aside. Buffy took her there on her very first day. Buffy had chose to put her in the same school she went to when she was a kid. Some of her old teachers even recognized her, and started asking her about what was up with her life. She sat with Alana the very first day, like every other parent. She saw the little glow on Alanas face, when she looked at all the other kids. At the end of the day, she had made several friends. Buffy had to her own surprise met a girl from her old crew at Hemery high. Chrissy, had been her best friend then. Now the two girls had kids in the same grades. Only Chrissys daughter Roselyn was 6. But it didn't matter for Alana, as Roselyn was one of her new friends.

That evening, Buffy & Angel took Alana out to McDonalds to celebrate that she was in school. And afterwards they walked along the side walks. Then, when they took a short cut back to Angels investigations, they were attacked. Buffy and Angel both grabbed their weapons. Which were only stakes. Alana hid behind her parents. She knew those demons. They attacked them. Buffy and Angel both tried to hold the demons back. Two went down, but they were so many. Demons went towards Alana.

- Alana, RUN!!!

Alana heard Angel shout it out, and turned around to run. Her feet took her a few steps foreward, before she felt something grab her. She screamed. Buffy tried running towards her, but was held back by two demons and had to focus on the fight, so she wouldn't be killed. Some demons went away with Alana kicking and screaming. Some were left and intended to kill Buffy and Angel, but by luck Buffy grabbed a huge rock and smashed the jewel in one of the demons head. This distracted Angels demon for him to do the same and together they finished the third. But by the time they had done that, Alana was nowhere to be seen. Buffy fell to the ground crying. Angel hurried, lifting her up and getting her inside.

The whole gang were gathered for the first time since Buffy had been found nine years ago. They were in Sunnydale again, sitting in Giles apartment. Giles were looking through a book, raising an eye brow, then looking in an other book. Xander and Anya sat in one chair. They had been the ones surprising everybody, when they had stayed together for almost 10 years. Only a few weeks left for the anniversary. Willow were as usual looking through files at the computer. She were at the moment single. She hadn't heard from Oz for years. It killed her that she didn't know what had happened to him, but it wasn't her who needed the support and sympathy. The ones who needed it were Buffy and Angel, besides, she wasn't really that miserable. She had really gone deep into the craft, she was close to be a fully grown witch.

Buffy sat in Angels lap and was squeezing his hand. She was scared about what could have happened. Angel squeezed it back. She leaned towards him and he put his hand over her head and pulled her closer.

- Angel, did you say it was Mohra demons?

- Yeah. They are like...

- I know what they are. They aren't regular demons, they have a mission to destroy the world.

- Don't all demons, asked Xander, and Anya pulled his hair. - OW... I didn't say ex-demons.

- Good, and keep it that way.

- What do they want, Buffy asked, keeping them on track.

- They want to destroy the world.

- How?

- By using a key.

- What key?

- I don't know, it doesn't say more here. They are here for the end of days, that's all I know. They need a key.

- Alana, Buffy whispered. - It has to be her, why else would they take her?

- What do they want to do to the key?

- I don't know. I need to research more, but whatever I find you must prepare for a battle. They won't just let her go. They've tried to find her for two years now and they didn't give up. They obviously needed her.

- Is there anything we can do, Angel asked.

- Well, yes, you can look in the chronicles here and I'll check these.

They sat like that for hours and hours, they checked one book, then two. Then later they were looking through book number 20. Buffy had fallen asleep on top of one book. Willow carefully removed it and replaced it with a pillow. She continued where Buffy had fallen asleep from.

- Oh my god!

- What did you find, Angel asked looking up.

- I found out the key part of the ritual.

- And...

- They're sacrificing it.

Everybody were silent. Buffy turned her head and she suddenly woke up.

- They're killing her, she screamed.

- Yes, I'm afraid they will, Giles mumbled.

Buffy couldn't speak. Angel held around her. They were all silent as Giles read, what Willow had found.

- To achieve full power to open the gate, they need the key. A chosen child, with great powers. Her blood shall taste of great strength. The blood from a pure soul, will bring foreward, the end of days...

They all shivered as he continued to read.

- The ceremony will take place on the night of the red moon, in between the day and night. After this night there will be no more life.

They were all silent.

- When is it?

- Tonight.

- Where?

- The hellmouth. They've already begun.

- Between night and day, that means midnight, tonight, Angel said. - We don't have a lot of time.

- They're going to take her blood. We have to go there. We need something to smash the jewel in their heads.

- I've got axes. I think they'll do.

- We have to go. The only thing to destroy them is smashing the jewel. Everything else is just delaying them and making them angry.

With that the gang went towards the old high school.

Alana was strapped to the wall near the hole. There were demons all around her. She had a black eye. Her whole body was aching. They hadn't been exactly gentle with her. The demons started moving. They stood up in a circle. Alana could see the knife, the big knife. She heard some chanting and she could see them approaching.

The gang sneaked through the old high school corridors. There were demons watching, but they managed to take them down. It took them some time before they arrived at the library. Buffy and Angel both spotted Alana at once. She was tied up near the hole. They started counting the demons and placing a rescue route. It came closer to midnight, they had no other choice than to attack and fight.

The fight was hard, the hardest one they had ever had. Buffy managed to take two down, but then one twisted her arm, making it feel like it was broken. Buffy didn't care, all she had in mind was to save Alana. Angel got a deep cut from the ax, but neither he did care. The demons were now a minion to them, but in the last try, the last one ran towards Alana and plunged the knife into her stomach.

- NO!!!

Buffy ran towards the demon and smashed it's jewel with her broken arm. Angel and the rest of the gang followed. Alana was crying, but she was week. Angel picked her up and they all hurried to the hospital.

In the corridor, the whole gang was waiting. Then the doctor came out and walked straight towards Buffy and Angel.

- She's in bad shape, she's lost a lot of blood, we need to make a transfusing, but we need blood from one of you. She has a rare blood type and one of you must be a match.

- She's not our biological daughter, Buffy said. - We adopted her a few months ago.

- Well, we have little time, we need to check for a match.

- Of course, Buffy said. - I'll do anything.

- Me too, Angel agreed.

- Then come with me.

The tests were done and they went back. Hours passed by. Nurses walked in and out. Buffy had been in to ex-ray and they confirmed that her arm really was broken. Angel got a compress over his wound. Then later on the nurse came back.

- You are both a match, which one can do the transfusing?

- I'll do it, Angel said.

- Come with me.

Buffy walked up and down the floor. She felt that something was wrong. She was scared and then she didn't see anything more.

Buffy sat in the church, crying. In front of her were the coffin. It couldn't be true.

- It's your fault, a voice said, but she didn't know where it came from.

- How, she asked.

- You should have protected her more.

She cried even louder. She didn't see anyone. Maybe it was the powers telling her how she'd failed in protecting the girl.

- We thought you loved her...

No, it couldn't be the powers, they were too cruel.

- We gave you a gift, we shouldn't have done it. You let down your guard and let them take her.

- NO, she cried.

- Shame on you. You just cost a little girl her life.

- It wasn't me, she cried.

- Yes it was, you are not worthy lower being.

- Buffy, wake up.

Angel saw her tossing and turning in the hospital bed. He shook her gentle.

- Buffy, it's just a dream. What ever it is, it's just a dream.

- I killed her, she sobbed.

- Shh, it's just a dream, he repeated.

- But I did. I could have done more. I'm the slayer, it was my responsibility...

- Shh, Buffy. You mustn't wake Alana up.

Buffy opened her eyes and looked across the room. In the bed next to hers lied the little figure of the little girl. She had some bandages over her stomach. Angel left Buffys bed side, just to tuck Alana in, then he came back to Buffy.

- You were dreaming, he said, stroking her face.

He was warm, warm as in human warm.

- Angel, you're warm.

- I know, he answered.

- You're alive, she sobbed, only this time of joy.

- That's not all, he whispered happily.

- There are two more things. Alana isn't who we think she is.

- What do you mean?

- She's not our adopted daughter.

- Yes she is, the papers are legal documents...

- she's our biological daughter, he said, cutting her off. - We adopted our own daughter...

- No, but that's impossible.

- No it isn't. You were missing for six months Buffy. The demons kidnapped you while you were pregnant and they took her away from you, and they let you go for some reasons, only without letting you remember her.

- But I wasn't...

- you were, he said. - And this is the long story.

Buffy lied there listening to him telling her about thanksgiving almost ten years ago, when she came to him and he became human. She listened to the good parts and bad and started remembering. Then she listened to him telling her about the prophecy that he would shanshu, meaning, become human again. By the time he was done telling her, she started to cry, part of sadness and part of joy.

- There is just one more thing, he whispered.

- What, she whispered back.

- The doctor found out, by the blood test that you also are pregnant.

- You're not kidding, are you, because this is so not a theme to joke about.

- I promise you. I'm not kidding.

- Oh my God, she whispered.

In the bed across the room Alana had been lying there listening to the whole thing.

- Mommy, she asked.

- Yeah, Buffy answered. - It's mommy.

Now Buffys dreams were really coming true. She finally knew what had happened those six months she didn't have memories from. Alana really were her daughter and she was also carrying a second child. She finally got what she deserved.