Willow snuck the remains of the Buffybot into the electronics department of Sunnydale U later that night. Okay, so maybe what Spike had created was icky and gross. But the idea of another Buffy could be good. Willow thought that maybe she could program it to slay elsewhere and send it out.

It was dark in the lab. The janitor had already been through this area. Willow lugged in the Buffybot and set her on a table.

Willow sighed as she set out the tools she brought with her. She knew Buffy wasn't going to like this. But, she hoped that maybe she would see the logic in this. Not only could this Buffybot slay, but it could also be of valuable use when Buffy had to go away, like she did on the quest. When Buffy and the gang split up to find a danger a Buffy could be with each group.

Willow smiled a little. Of course they would have to take out the 'Spike's-a-devilishly-sexy-vampire-who-needs-to-ravish-me-every-five-minutes" programs. Willow set to her task. Her mind was filled with the possibilities of an army of slayers who could clean up the Hellmouth, and maybe the world...

*~*~*

Buffy walked away from the crypt slowly. He looked like he took quite a beating. She was still stunned by the words he said. Spike couldn't bear to see her in pain. Spike took that beating for her and Dawn. He didn't have to. He could have told Glory Dawn was the key. Especially after the way they had all been treating him.

Buffy looked down as she walked. "Death is your gift." It was still rambling through her mind. What did that mean? Death was an ending. Her gift was the end?

She sighed and shrugged it off. She had to get out of this outfit.

*~*~*

Lindsey turned up the radio and stepped a little harder on the gas, heading out of LA. He didn't care where, just out. Glancing up at the rearview mirror he noticed lights. Red white and blue. How patriotic?

"Shit," he hissed as he pulled over for the policeman. He noticed the cop lingered around his tailgate for a moment before coming to his door.

"Sir, do you know how fast you were going?"

Lindsey smiled. "Not fast enough if you caught me."

The officer didn't look amused. He pulled out his ticket book.

"License, registration, and proof of insurance."

Lindsey grimaced as he pulled out the necessary objects. The officer took them and studied them for a moment before looking at Lindsey, his eyes a little wide.

"Mr.. McDonald, I'm terribly sorry. I didn't recognize you in this vehicle."

Lindsey barely recognized him as one of the cops that worked for Wolfram and Hart. Well, if it got him out of a ticket, he'd play along. He held out his hand for his information back.

"Quite alright. Now if you don't mind, I'm a little behind schedule."

The officer handed him back his stuff. "Right. Oh, and you might want to take the sign off of your tailgate. You'll get farther that way."

The cop nodded his goodbyes and left, getting into his car and driving off.

Lindsey slowly got out of the truck and walked to his tailgate, his eyes falling on he sign.

*~*~*

Angel was whistling as he walked into the office. Cordelia and Gunn glanced over at him. "So is he dead?" Cordelia asked.

Angel shook his head. "No. But he's gone. And I don't think he's coming back."

Wesley emerged from his office holding a file. "Angel! I'm glad your back. I'm famished. Would you mind going and picking up some Chinese?"

Angel rolled his eyes. "Fine." He glanced at Cordelia. "You good? I mean, you hungry? Maybe you'd like to go with me..."

She smiled. "I'm fine. I ate earlier. But if you wanna give me a lift home then..."

He grabbed her purse and handed it to her. "Let's go then." He smiled and led the way.

*~*~*

"Agh!" Willow jumped back as the small jolt of electricity jumped out at her.

At first glance this had looked like an easy wire problem, but after replacing the extra crispy wires, the robot hadn't worked. She had tried a few other little tricks but they hadn't worked either. The programming part would be easy for her, but the putting together part was looking tough.

After nearly getting zapped again, Willow lost her patience. She hit the robot with her wrench and suddenly the robot came to life. Her eyes widened. She moved back from the robot as the robot straightened up and put her clothes to right and turned to Willow with a bright smile. Too bright.

*~*~*

Angel and Cordelia rode in silence part of the way. Finally Angel broke the silence.

"So... how does your head feel?"

"I told you, its fine." Cordelia looked at him and noticed he seemed rather nervous. "Are you ok?"

Angel looked at her quickly and gave a small half smile.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Great. Really."

Cordelia watched him.

"You don't like it when Wesley sends you to do errands, do you?"

He shrugged and kept his eyes on the road.

She smiled. "I think it's cute."

He glanced at her briefly, confused. "Cute?"

She nodded. "It makes Wes feel all big and bad while you look like you're getting up the nerve to ask the prom queen to make out."

His eyes widened. "Cordelia!"

*~*~*

The robot blinked a few times before it tilted its head slightly to the left. "Hello, Willow." It smiled.

Willow was trembling. "Uh, h-h-h-hi." She kept her hand on the wrench. "How, I mean, uh, how are you feeling?"

She nodded. "I am feeling better, thank you, Willow." She looked around. "Where is Spike?" She walked around. "Where are we?"

Willow swallowed. "We're at the University."

Buffybot smiled. "I go to school here."

Willow nodded slowly. "Yes you do."

Buffybot looked around. "Where's Spike?"

Willow thought quickly. "Spike sent you here to get some new programming and to get fixed. So, why don't you turn around and I'll plug you into my computer here and we'll get to work." She smiled a deceptively cheery smile.

"Spike asked you to reprogram me?" Buffybot looked confused. "Was he unhappy with my programming? Did he not like my sex scenarios?"

Willow's eyes widened. "No, no, nothing like that. Uh...he wanted new scenarios put in. Yep. He thought of new ideas for you...uh...and him."

Buffybot smiled her bright smile again. "Oh, ok." She turned around and sat on the table where the computer was located. "There is a cord located in the compartment in my back that will connect to your computer." Willow nodded and set up the computer, sitting down and starting the process of fixing what was wrong with the Buffybot.

*~*~*

Cordelia smiled as she walked into her apartment. Dennis flipped lights on for her as she went. She couldn't stop thinking about that smile. She hadn't seen Angel ever smile as much as he was this past two weeks. It was almost as if he'd gotten some.

She paused and looked at the door. "Oh no he did not..."

*~*~*

Lindsey pulled off the freeway at the Sunnydale exit. He needed gas and a place to stay for the night. Sunnydale. That sounded like a nice place to stay.

*~*~*

Buffy woke up the next morning and stretched. The sun was bright and the day was full of opportunities. Downstairs, she could smell breakfast cooking. "Dawn?" she yawned as she came around the corner. But Dawn wasn't in the kitchen. Giles was. There was bacon, eggs, pancakes and many other various breakfast foods spread around.

"Hey, what's all this?" She smiled as she came into the kitchen.

"Well, it's breakfast." He kept his back to her as he continued to cook. "Do you like your eggs over easy or sunny side up?"

"Ew. Over easy. I don't like when the whites are all...runny." She made a face at his back as she got the orange juice out and poured some for herself. "Where's Dawn?"

"I should think she's still asleep. It's quite early." Buffy looked over and noticed the time. 7:15 in the morning.

"Which brings me to the next vital question. Why is it only 7:15 in the morning?" She emphasized her dilemma with a yawn.

Giles was quite for a moment, he turned and let the eggs in the pan slide onto a plate. "It's been a long time since I had someone to take care of." He avoided her eyes. "I rather like it."

*~*~*

Lindsey opened his eyes at a quarter to seven. He sighed. Even when he wasn't working he couldn't help but wake up at this time. He closed his eyes and tried to sleep some more but it wouldn't happen. He opened his eyes and then grimaced as he got up and started his morning ritual. He wondered if there was a good restaurant in this town. His stomach grumbled at him, making him hurry.

*~*

Angel sat on the edge of his bed. It was late, time for him to try and get some sleep. His thoughts haunted him.

Wesley was not happy when he returned last night. It had taken him some time to get the Chinese food that Wesley had wanted. Then he had to sit through a lecture on timeliness. Angel dealt with it. Whatever it took for Wesley and Gunn to believe that he was really sorry for what happened. Whatever it took to make them glad they took a chance in letting him work for them.

But those weren't the thoughts that bothered him. He replayed the conversation he had with Cordelia before he left her door...

~~Angel fidgeted with his coat as he walked her to the door. "You know... for the record, I wasn't going to ask you out."

Cordelia looked at him and her face fell a little. "You weren't?"

She looked disappointed. Angel's hope rose. "Um. Did you want me to?"

Cordelia looked at him and shrugged. "It just felt like...well never mind." She dismissed with a wave of her hand as she turned to unlock the door.

Slowly, Angel put his hands on her shoulders and turned her around. "Because if you wanted me to. Maybe I would." He gave her one of his brilliant smiles before leaving.~~

Frustrated, he let out a loud sigh and flopped back onto his bed.

*~*~*

Finished. It had taken a while, but Willow had finally gotten all the programming fixed. She hoped. There was only one way to find out. After screwing on the panel she straightened the robot's shirt and turned it on. It twitched and opened its eyes, blinking.

"Willow! Hello!" it smiled. "I am ready to slay demons with big weapons."

Willow smiled back. "And Spike?"

Buffybot tilted her head. "Spike is not going to be killed but I will not be having sex with him." Smile.

Willow let out a breath. "Good. Very good. Oh so very good." She started packing up her tools and yawned. She'd been there all night. Tara was going to worry. Flinging her bag over her shoulder, she headed for the door then stopped. Where the hell was she going to keep the Buffybot?

*~*~*

Cordelia woke up by throwing her alarm across the room. She hadn't slept well. She dreamed a lot. Mostly about Lindsey, which she thought was weird. She couldn't get that song out of her head.

She got out of bed and trudged to her bathroom, turning on the shower. It would figure when she really needs to concentrate that her mind would do this to her. It was like her mind was someone else's and she was just along for the ride sometimes. She tried to shake her head clear and stepped into the water, already humming the song.

She needed to worry about Angelus right now.

*~*~*

"Giles, its only for a little while. Until we figure out something more, uh... permanent."

"Permanent? Willow, do you understand how upset Buffy will be if she finds out?" Giles was starting to worry. He took his glasses off, moving the phone from his ear briefly to do it. "Willow, if she's here Buffy may find her."

"We can keep Buffy from your place for a while. And, well, uh, you've been going to her place more often anyway, so, uh, it just until we tell Buffy."

Giles thought about it. His place was kind of... empty.

"Fine. But only temporarily."

"You are a lifesaver! I'll be over in a minute."

He stared at the phone after he hung it up. What was he getting himself into?

*~*~*

Buffy grumbled and stomped downstairs. "Dawn!"

Dawn muted the TV. "What?"

The older sibling glared. "What have I told you about borrowing my clothes? Like as in not do it?"

She shrugged. "Sorry, but Molly was bragging about this sweater that she got and I knew that if I just showed up in-"

"Ugh! Dawn, that is not the point!" A knock at the door stopped any further scolding. She marched up to the door and flung it open.

A man holding a huge bouquet of flowers stood there. "Buffy Summers?"

"Uh, yeah, that's me." Her face fell. Probably sympathy flowers from someone about her mom. She signed for them and brought them inside, setting them on the hallway table.

"Ooo, who are those from?" Dawn smiled behind her. She hoped they weren't for her mother, Buffy really needed a pick-me-up.

Buffy reached for the card among the dozen red roses and opened it. It read: Here is to something real. S.

She stared for a moment. Dawn nudged her. "So? Who is he? I want full details!" She smiled.

"Uh, no one. Just some cards for mom." Her mind raced.

*~*~*

"Did you at least program her to say my name right?" Giles looked at Willow. Willow giggled.

"Giles. You were my watcher." Thankfully, she said it right. "You got fired for caring about me." She smiled brightly. He looked at Willow.

"Charming. I should say this is going to be a jolly adventure." His voice dripped sarcasm. Willow pretended not to notice as she led Buffybot to the couch.

"That's a great attitude, Giles. You just...keep it up." She playfully punched his arm with a smile and bounced out of the apartment waving. "Buh-bye, have fun."

Giles closed the door behind her and turned. The robot smiled brightly at him.

"Oh yeah. Loads of fun."

The Buffybot blinked a few times. "Should I go out on patrol now?"

Giles shook his head. "No, Buffy... er... you should rest till night." He heard a small "zzz" sound.

The robot stood. "Would you like to ravish me now?"

*~*~*

Cordelia had managed to dress and get her hair just the way she wanted it. It was starting out to be a pretty good day. She smiled at herself in the mirror and picked up her bag, heading out the door.

*~*~*

Buffy opened the door to Spike's crypt slowly. He was lying curled up on his makeshift bed. He was still looking pretty beaten up, but the bruises had started to fade. She stepped up to his sleeping form and grinned a little before setting a card beside him and leaving quietly.

Spike jumped a little when the crypt door closed. He didn't sense anyone in the room, so he had guessed that someone had just gone. Curious, he struggled to sit up, rubbing his hand over the area on his chest where Glory stuck her finger inside him. Healing always itched. He looked down beside him and saw a card in a black envelope. He slowly lifted it to his nose. Buffy. He opened the envelope and saw a picture of a person in the hospital with casts on nearly every limb. His face registered confusion as he opened the card. Near the top his name was written and then in big black bold lettering read: GET WELL SOON! Down just a little more was her signature. Buffy Summers. He looked over on the other flap and saw a small personalized message that read: Thank you for everything. Hope you feel better soon. Buffy.

A slow smile spread over his lips, making him wince a little. If he had known all he had to do was get the shit beat out of him to get her attention he'd have done this long ago...

*~*~*

Cordelia grabbed her head and cried out as she fell against the door of her apartment. She held her head and inched over to the phone.

"Angel Investigations. We help..."

"Wesley!"

"Cordelia? What's the matter?"

"Buffy. She's going to kill him. She's going to kill Giles."

*~*~*

"Excuse me?" Giles looked shocked and despite knowing that this wasn't the real Buffy he began to blush a little. Buffy was like a daughter to him. Thinking of her like that was, well, enough to make him blush.

The robot stood directly in front of him. "I said, would you like to ravish me now?" She smiled brightly. "I am fully programmed for many forms of sexual satisfaction and I am programmed to learn others if they are not a part of my original programming."

He took a step back. "Uh, that's quite alright. You should rest."

Buffybot looked confused. "Am I not pretty?"

"No, it's not that you aren't pretty. You are, um, quite pretty."

She smiled. "So then you will ravish me," she told him as she slipped off her shirt.

*~*~*

Bright lights never helped her headaches and the sun was beating down on her. Gunn had came to pick her up and brought her to the Hyperian. "You gonna be okay?" he asked.

She nodded. "I'm fine. We just need to get to Sunnydale. Or call Willow..." She got quiet and put her hand to her head. "She must be under a spell or something."

Wesley was waiting for them at the front desk. "There was no answer at Willow's. Do you still have Mr. Giles' number?"

She shook her head. "No. But I have Buffy's. Maybe we could call there."

"What's going on?" All eyes turned to the vampire emerging from the shadows. Angel looked a little worn. "What's going on with Buffy?"

Cordelia looked suddenly nervous. "Uh, nothing?" She tried a bright smile to hide her nervousness.

Gunn frowned in confusion to Cordelia and then looked from her to Angel. "Well, I don't know about suburbia but in my neighborhood killin' a friend ain't nothin'."

Angel's eyes got wide. "Killing a friend? Who? Buffy? Who's going to kill Buffy?"

Wesley looked at Cordelia, not sure why she is trying to hide this from Angel. "Nobody is trying to kill Buffy, Angel, just calm yourself." Wesley walked up to stand beside Cordelia. "Cordelia had a vision that Buffy was going to try to kill Mr. Giles."

Cordelia watched Angel a moment and then nodded. "But she didn't feel like herself. Almost like she was brainwashed, or mind-controlled or something like that. Whatever it was, we need to get down there."

"I shall give Buffy a call and see if I can discern any differences in her manner." Wesley got a pen and paper to write down the number.

"So you think that if she is going to kill Giles, she's just going to come right out and tell you?" Angel gave Wesley a disbelieving look. "We have to get down there...every second counts. Lets go." He put on his coat and started for the door.

"Uh, paging Mr. Impatient. Daylight? You still have a few hours till you can go out."

Angel grabbed a blanket and didn't stop moving. Cordelia looked at the other two and they nodded and they all three followed him.

*~*~*

Giles sighed as he closed the bedroom door. He finally got her to lie down and go to sleep. Unfortunately she was programmed to sleep in the nude. He learned that he didn't know his own bedroom well enough to walk through it with his eyes closed. His shins were screaming at him to learn.

Giles walked into his kitchen and put some water to boil when there was a knock on his door. He smiled when he answered the door.

"Buffy. Come in. Is everything ok?"

Buffy nodded and came inside. "There's something I kind of wanted to talk to you about. About Spike."

He furrowed his brow. "What did he do now?"

She shook her head. "No, he didn't do anything. It's just that... Well I've been doing some thinking and he really does seem to care about Dawn and me. I mean, like not telling Glory about the Key even though he was tortured and almost killed..."

"Buffy what are you trying to say?"

*~*~*

Lindsey took in a few of the sights as he drove along slowly. Passing by the university, he stopped. Suddenly he remembered why Sunnydale had sounded familiar. Faith was from Sunnydale. And the other slayer was here. The blonde one. What was her name again?

Maybe he'd do some good after all. He pulled from the curb slowly and headed towards a cemetery, checking to see if any houses were for sale or rent around there.

*~*~*

"Can't you drive any faster?" Cordelia asked Wesley. "Angel's going to run out of air in the trunk."

"Cordelia, he doesn't breath."

She paused. "I know that. But still."

Gunn rolled his eyes and exchanged a look with Wesley and then nodded.

"Delia, why were you acting all secretive earlier when Angel asked about Buffy?"

Cordelia took a breath and lowered her voice to a whisper, leaning toward the two men so they could hear. "Haven't you noticed Angel acting a little... happy lately?"

"Like what kind of happy we talking here?" Gunn asked, worried.

Cordelia continued to whisper. "Like Angelus happy?"

"You mean we might have Angelus in our trunk?" he bellowed in surprise.

Cordelia rolled her eyes. "Way to be quiet Gunn."

*~*~*

Lindsey smiled as he walked around his new home. It was surprisingly easier than he thought to get a house by the cemetery. Occupants kept dying. He'd have to watch himself. Maybe move to a night schedule. It wasn't as if he had to wake up early for work or anything.

Lindsey looked out one of the rooms' windows. It was the room he pictured as his office. Out the window was a perfect view of one of the many cemeteries in Sunnydale. She was bound to slay here sooner or later. He hoped sooner. He wanted to get a good look at this slayer.

*~*~*

Buffy took a deep breath. "I guess I'm saying we should go easier on him. I mean, if he's seriously turning a new leaf, we don't want to discourage that."

Giles looked at her a moment and pressed his lips together. "Buffy," he sounded like he was about to explain the complexities of one plus one, "Spike is evil. He isn't souled like Angel is. Besides, I think it is painfully obvious that he still contends to having feelings about you."

Buffy rolled her eyes. "Look, I know he isn't Angel, ok? But if he was really evil he would have just told Glory everything, instead he kept it to himself and got to look like a 'Night of the Living Dead' extra." She stopped and smiled at her own joke and then shook her head and looked at Giles seriously again." He nearly died. What else could prove that maybe he's being sincere, even just a little. I'm not saying we have to invite him over or anything. Just... be nicer."

"Nicer? Buffy have you forgotten who that is?"

She sighed. "It's Spike. William the Bloody. I get it, Giles. But you gotta love the..." She trailed off that thought. "I did not just use the word 'love' in context with Spike..."

"Giles, will you ravish me now?"

They turned to look at the nude Buffybot standing smiling at them.

*~*~*

Wesley squealed the car to a halt in front of the Summers' home. Gunn held the blanket over the trunk while the opened it and Angel, keeping to the shade, rushed to the door, not even bothering to knock as he went in.

Dawn screamed and threw a vase at him.

Angel dodged the vase easily. "Dawn, whoa! It's just me. Angel."

Dawn looked unsure as she stared at the four people in front of her and then she bolted for the backdoor.

"It'll be night soon, she could get hurt." Cordelia said.

Angel took off after Dawn and caught up with her before she reached the door, but stepped into one of the last beams of light coming from the setting sun and he cried out, moving him and Dawn out of the light as Dawn struggled violently to get free.

"Dawn, please. I'm not going to hurt you. Buffy is in trouble and I am here to help her." Dawn bit his hand that was over her mouth and he grimaced. "Hey! Listen to me. Your sister may be in danger!" Finally it seemed to sink in and Dawn went slack in his arms.

*~*~*

Buffy looked from the robot to Giles. She swallowed. Giles rushed to the robot picking up a throw blanket along the way and wrapping it around the robot with a blush on his face.

"I told you to stay in the bed... uh, bedroom." He glanced at Buffy who was looking more and more disgusted and enraged by the minute. "Buffy it isn't what it looks like."

"That's a relief, Giles. Because what it looks like is you've fixed that... thing, against my wishes, brought her here and is picking up where Spike left off with her sexual education!" Her voice got louder as she spoke and her breathing was deeper and faster.

"I am fully educated in most every sexual position but I am programmed to learn new ones as well." The robot smiled brightly at her, not holding the blanket to her, forcing Giles to do so.

"Buffy, no, wait. I didn't fix her. She's just staying here temporarily. Willow ask me to keep her."

The Buffybot smiled. "Willow is recently gay."

Buffy began to feel sick. "You know, I think I'd better go and leave you two alone." She turned for the door.

The robot smiled. "Thank you!"

Giles grumbled then went after her, blocking the door. "Buffy please! Willow reprogrammed-"

"That's nice. I'm glad that you have a new little sex toy. Now move it."

The now once again nude Buffybot frowned. "Is it time to slay? I am good with big weapons."

Buffy's jaw dropped. "You made a replacement for me?"

*~*~*

Lindsey's truck came to a screeching halt when he saw it out of the corner of his eye. 'You have to be shitting me." He mumbled as he did a double take. But there it was. Angel's car.

*~*~*

Once Dawn was calmed down they all sat in the living room.

"So you haven't noticed Buffy acting like she's under some sort of spell?" Wesley asked.

Dawn shook her head. "But she went on this quest thing a little while ago."

Angel looked toward the window at the darkness and saw headlights coming to a halt in front of the house. "Everyone get down." He went to the door and threw it open, stepping into the new night. He recognized Lindsey's truck and narrowed his eyes. He took a few steps toward the truck.

Lindsey stared at Angel for a moment. He hesitated. Part of him wanted to drive off, part of him didn't. Instead he stayed where he was, choosing not to run from Angel anymore. He backed the truck up closer to the curb and put it into park.

Angel's eyebrows went up as he went to the passenger side of the truck and got in.

"What are you doing here Lindsey."

"Well, I was going to ask you the same thing. Are you following me?"

Angel smiled a little. "Don't flatter yourself."

From the door of the Summers' house Cordelia watched the two men talking. She would bet money that if Angel was Angelus, Lindsey was the reason.

*~*~*

"Buffy, no. Not a replacement. I didn't build her."

"Warren built me." She smiled brightly and walked over to them.

Giles looked at the robot and then looked away quickly. "Will you please go put some clothes on?

"Yes. I have to slay. Vampires of the world beware." And with that she flounced off into the bedroom.

Buffy crossed her arms. "So then tell me. What is this?"

Giles let out a tired breath. "Buffy, Willow reprogrammed the robot so that it could help slay. For when you need to be two places at once or if you get hurt. She was just trying to help."

"And you just had her add that 'ravish me' stuff?"

"No!" he yelped. "I would never do that! The bloody thing has its wires crossed."

Buffy sighed. "I suppose if I got hurt or something she'd be good to have around."

The Buffybot came downstairs just then, still nude. "We have forgotten to buy me some more clothing, Giles."

He quickly averted his eyes again.

Buffy grumbled under her breath and strode up to the robot. "Just put the old clothes on and you can borrow some of mine."

The robot smiled. "We are pretty."

*~*~*

Wesley stood behind Cordelia and peered out. "What do you think?"

"I'm thinking that it's connected. Darla disappears, Angel's all happy, Lindsey quits Wolfram and Hart, then boom, they come together here."

Gunn looked out with them. "Something ain't stirrin' the Kool-aid." He glanced back at Dawn. "Should we get her outa here?"

Cordelia followed his look. "Yeah. Take her out the back. Wesley and I can cover. Have her take you to Giles'."

He nodded and turned for Dawn. "Yo, D. You wanna go for a walk?"

*~*~*

Curious as to how the robot would handle most battles, Buffy decided to take her out for a spin that night. She had to admit, she was well programmed for slaying. She handled herself well against multiple vampires, making the two of them a formidable team. Not that she wanted to team with...it. Just that if she needed to send someone on patrol with the gang, this might be a good answer.

Still, it was kind of funny to see the vampires stop in confusion when they saw two slayers.

Buffy looked at her robot. "You did good."

"Thank you very much." She smiled brightly. Maybe Willow could program her to scowl a little more.

*~*~*

Angel watched Lindsey drive off. He actually hoped the guy got his 'normal life' wish. Part of him always knew that when push came to shove Lindsey was more confused than evil. Seeing the lengths that Wolfram and Hart would go to was just what Lindsey needed to remind himself of who he really was. Angel silently wished him luck and turned to go into the house. He saw Cordelia and Wesley through the window, scurrying to get into normal positions. They thought he was Angelus. If he were really Angelus he would have just killed them by now. He sighed.

Walking into the living room he frowned. "Where are Gunn and Dawn?"

Cordy looked to Wesley. "Uh, well, they..."

"You had them leave." Angel cut him off. "Look, I heard you in the car. I'm not Angelus, but I don't know how to prove that to you."

"Well then what's with the happiness and the smiling and stuff?" Cordelia looked skeptical.

Angel snorted. "A guy can't even be a little happy?"

"When a little happy means a lotta dead, as in people, then I say no." She braced her hands on her hips.

"You have been a bit more jubilant," Wesley admitted as he took a step back.

"Fine." Angel sat on the couch. "You want me to go back to brooding and all that then I will. Sorry I tried to be a good friend." He scowled and crossed his arms.

She sighed. "Look, what the hell happened? I mean, this whole 'epiphany' thing. What happened?"

Angel mumbled.

"Pardon?" Wesley steeped closer.

"I slept with Darla."

*~*~*

The Buffybot was actually skipping.

Buffy thought she was going to be sick. Is this really how Spike thought she was? Or is this how he wanted her? Either was really quite disturbing.

"Slayer?"

She turned, as did the Buffybot. "Spike." They said in unison.

His bruised jaw about hit the floor. "What's all this then?"

Buffy sighed. "Willow reprogrammed her for slaying. To help."

The Buffybot beamed that smile. "Would you like to ravish me now?"

*~*~*

Giles went to the door, opening it.

"Can I help... Dawn! What are you doing here? And who is this?"

"Name's Gunn. Look, we think we might have a full on Angelus underground thing going on. He's acting all happy and when he gets happy we get scared."

Giles eyes narrowed in confusion. He looked at Dawn. "Angel is here because he thinks Buffy is in some danger and now they are worried that he is Angelus, so they had me come get you."

Now understanding, Giles opened the door to let them in and then his eyes widened. "Buffy. She's at the cemetery."

"You got wheels?"

*~*~*

Lindsey stared from his window. Two of them. How that was possible he wasn't sure, but there they were. They seemed to be able to handle the vampires they came across pretty well. It was a little unnerving to see the vampires so close to his own house, even if they couldn't come inside.

Lindsey watched the strange man in dark clothing come near the slayers. Then his mouth slowly parted in surprise as he saw one slayer turn and attack the other.

*~*~*

Spike stared at them in disbelief. He had heard this zapping sound and suddenly the robot was all over Buffy. Their skills being evenly matched, this was a fight he would have paid money to see, back before the chip. But now... Spike sighed and jumped into the fight.

*~*~*

Headlights flashed on the three and Giles looked at Gunn. "Stay here and keep the girl safe." Dawn watched wide-eyed from the back of the car.

Giles halted at the edge of the fight. It looked like the girls were taking on Spike. He grabbed a cross from the trunk and ran over to them. "Buffy!"

Both Buffy's looked up. "Giles!" They both exclaimed before jumping up to head straight for him.

Spike stood up and dusted himself off. "Bloody watcher, ruining all the fun."

It took him a moment to decipher which one was the Buffybot. That moment consisted of it slamming into him.

*~*~*

Cordelia screamed and grabbed her head. "No!"

Angel was by her side in a moment. "Cordy?"

She looked up. "Now! She's killing him now in the cemetery!"

Wesley looked up to find Angel already out the door.

*~*~*

Buffy saw it attack Giles and instantly sprung into action. She grabbed onto its hair and yanked only to be met with a backhand that sent her crashing into Spike.

The Buffybot had lost its smile. "Why will no one ravish me?" He heard a zapping noise. "Am I not pretty?" It wrapped its hands around his neck and began to squeeze.

*~*~*

Lindsey didn't quite realize it when he'd left his house, but soon he had a sledgehammer in his hand and was heading toward the murdering slayer.

*~*~*

Angel ran faster than he ever thought he could, arriving at the cemetery just in time to see Lindsey approaching with something too familiar.

"No!" he started toward Lindsey and then saw Buffy on Giles, squeezing the life from him. Laying a bit behind was another Buffy. Angel blinked. Two of them?

Lindsey's approach made him spring into action as he headed for Buffy, hoping to reach her before Lindsey. She looked at him before he got to her and her hurt look stopped him in his tracks.

"Are you going to ravage me now?"

He blinked. Giles' made a strangled noise that brought him to his senses. "Yes."

The robot instantly let go of Giles who sputtered and sucked in much needed breath, not yet able to speak though.

"The hell you are." Spike approached. "She belongs to me." He pointed at the robot and Angel narrowed his eyes and slipped into game face.

"She will never belong to you." Angel attacked Spike.

Cordelia and Wesley drove up and couldn't believe the mayhem. Gunn was trying to keep Dawn in the car, Angel and Spike were fighting, Buffy was still perched on Giles who was sputtering for breath, another Buffy was passed out on the ground and Lindsey was taking a mighty swing with his sledgehammer. Cordelia's scream for him to stop shattered the chaos as everyone paused to hear the CRUNCH when the sledgehammer made contact with the robot.

Everyone watched in awe as it flew right into a tree, its head breaking off.

Lindsey was breathing heavily and looked at Giles. "You okay mister?" He extended his hand to help him up.

Giles took it gratefully. "Yes, thank you Mister..."

"McDonald. Lindsey McDonald." He grinned a little then looked back at Angel.

He had stopped fighting with Spike and was staring at the remains of the robot. "What is that?"

"A robot," Buffy informed him as she rubbed her head. "What are you doing here?"

Cordelia piped up. "You were going to kill Giles!" She looked at the robot. "Or she was. Oh! That makes much more sense." She smiled a little.

Wesley sighed. "Right then. We should be going I suppose." He turned back for the car.

Gunn and Dawn walked over to the group. "So it's all good?"

Buffy looked at him. "Who are you?"

He held out his hand. "Gunn. I work with Angel."

She shook his hand. "I see."

Spike turned to try and leave quietly. Angel grabbed his arm. "Not so fast."

Spike rolled his eyes. "Bloody hell, Peaches, I'm fixed. I ain't doin' no harm." He mumbled: "At least not anymore." He pulled his arm away. "Lemme 'lone."

Buffy put a hand on Angel's shoulder. "It's okay. Let him go."

Spike dug out a cigarette. "You heard the lady, bugger off." Lighting up, he turned and strode away.

Angel turned his glance to Buffy to find her watching Spike. "You okay?"

She shook herself. "Uh, yeah." She cleared her throat. "You guys better go. You'll want to make it home before Dawn." She turned to Giles. "You okay?"

He nodded.

Buffy strode up to her mechanical replica. "Let's recycle this time, shall we?"

*~*~*

Angel drove on the way home, Cordelia next to him, Gunn and Wesley in the backseat and asleep. She was glancing at him from time to time. Finally he broke the silence. "Is my hair okay?"

She smiled. "Perfect."

"Then why do you keep looking at me like that?"

"I overheard Giles talking to Buffy. Were you really going, uh, ravage that thing?" She looked at him as he drove.

"No."

"Then why did you say you were going to."

"Quickest way to get it to stop choking Giles. It obviously wanted, well, something and it was going to do what was necessary to get it."

"Oh and you just thought you'd be her kind benefactor and give her a little, huh?" She couldn't help but be a little jealous. Her feelings for him had started to grow, and if there was one person who could get in the way it was Buffy, and robot or not, he thought it was Buffy.

Angel smiled. "Cordelia, it was a robot. I was just saying that to get it to stop. I wasn't going to... ravage it. Besides, I thought you thought I was Angelus now." He glanced at her.

She looked down, guiltily. "Well, Lindsey showing up all the time and you being happy... you know you never did say why you were so happy all of the sudden, other than sleeping with DARLA! " She watched as he took an unneeded breath. "What was up with that?"

"I broke down. I freaked out. I couldn't handle it anymore and I did the only thing I understood at the moment."

"So, is that why you were so happy?" Her voice was small.

"I didn't lose my soul. She didn't bring me happiness. She brought me misery. She always has." Angel's hand slowly moved over to cover hers, which sat on her knee. She could feel his touch seeping through the fabric of her pants. She swallowed as his fingers curled around her hand and lifted it off of her knee. She glanced from her hand to his face as he brought her hand to his lips and brushed his lips across her knuckles, making her shiver involuntarily. "I am happy because I'm back with you. No more. No less." His hand lowered her hand back onto her knee, but didn't let go as they drove back to LA, each thinking of the future. Each thinking of each other.