In the hotel kitchen, Cordelia was sat at the table wolfing down pancakes with maple syrup as fast as Angel could turn them out.

"Mmm!" she said with her mouth full "These are really good! Got anymore?"

Angel smiled, and poured more batter into the pan.

Sarah was sat with her son Francis, trying to persuade him that scrambled eggs were meant to be eaten not thrown.

Also at the table was Wesley, one eye on the paper and the other on Sarah.

Davy sat in his highchair, one fist stuffed in his mouth and the other tightly clinging onto Gunn's finger.

"This kid of yours sure has a strong grip" said Gunn.

"He's an expert hair puller too" remarked Cordelia.  

"I guess I'm safe from that one!" laughed Gunn.

Buffy walked in, still in her bathrobe.

"Morning Buffy" they all said in unison.

Buffy stood swaying slightly "I think I'm gonna barf" she groaned, and fled the room.

Everyones eyes were on Angel. "What?" he asked.

"Nothing" replied Cordelia and she carried on eating.

The rest of the gang tried not to grin.

A few minutes later, Angel knocked on their bathroom door.

"Are you ok in there Buffy?" he asked.

Buffy emerged holding on to her stomach and went over to sit on the bed.

Angel handed her a glass of water.

"I did warn you" he said "But you said it was ok, that you could handle it"

"I know" Buffy mumbled "How could I have been so stupid? I should have remembered what it was like last time" she moaned.

"Lay down for a while" he said "Gunn and I have to go out, so I'll check on you later"

He kissed her on the forehead and left the room.

Angel pushed open the doors to Willys Place, closely followed by Gunn. During daylight hours the place was relatively empty, usually frequented by half breeds. Most of the time they went through life passing as humans and it was only in places such as this that they could show their true faces without fear.

Angels good friend Doyle had been one of them, and he was still sadly missed.

"Angel" said Willy "How's it going? I heard you're a father now".

Willy looked nervously around to see if the Slayer was with them.

"And I heard you had some information for us" said Angel.

"Spill Will" said Gunn.

"It don't come cheap" mumbled Willy.

Angel pushed some notes over the bar and resisted the temptation to punch him.

"That demon you were looking for? He's holed up in a derelict guest house" said Willy.

"Where?" asked Angel.

"I dunno where, just its name. Its called Garth Lodge" Willy replied.

"I know the place" said Gunn "Its been boarded up for years."

"Let's pay it a visit" said Angel.

As the doors closed behind them, a large figure emerged from the shadows.

"Ok, I did like you asked" cried Willy "Now wheres my money?"

The hooded figure threw a pile of gold coins onto the bar.

Willy examined them suspiciously.

"Hey!" he cried angrily "These aren't legal tender"

But when he looked up the figure had vanished.

Angel and Gunn decided that they would wait until dark before making their assault on the boarding house.

They returned to the hotel to finalise their plans, and to gather the weapons they would need.

Cordelia had sent out for pizza and she, Wesley and Buffy were already tucking in to it.

Angel went over to Buffy and kissed her on the cheek. "Feeling better?" he asked.

"Great" she answered "Any luck?"

"We're gonna check it out later" Angel replied.

He and Gunn grabbed some pizza and a couple of sodas and went to the office.

Later that evening, Buffy was upstairs in their room sorting out an assortment of clothes and shoes that were strewn on the floor.

Angel walked in and started to help her.

"Did we have a good time at Caritas last night?" asked Buffy.

"Don't you remember?" asked Angel.

"Its mostly a blur" she replied "Just how many of those cocktails did I have? And please tell me that I didn't make a fool of myself"

Angel was grinning widely.

"C'mon Angel, tell me what happened!" Buffy cried.

"Do you want the pg version or the adult one?" he asked.

"Oh God" she groaned.

"Well first you had champagne to toast the $5000 dollar job that just came in. During the meal you drank three margueritas and told me how much you loved me. After the blue one with the little umbrella in it, you danced with Wesley and told him how much you loved me. That was followed by the yellow one with the sparkler that made you giggle, and after that you drank Cordelia's white wine." laughed Angel.

"And then what?" she asked.

"We came home and thats were it definitely changes to the adult version! smiled Angel.

Buffy got up and closed the door, then went back over to him.She put her arms around his neck and smiled.

"Tell me how that went" she whispered.

"Maybe I'll just show you instead" Angel murmured.

It was 3am in the morning and Buffy had fallen asleep in a chair downstairs waiting.

She was awoken by Angel and Gunn entering the hotel.

"What the hell happened?" cried Buffy when she saw them. "I knew I should have come with you"

"It was a set up Buffy" said Angel "A whole bunch of Miscal demons were waiting for us"

Angel was holding on to his side where blood was seeping through a large tear in his jacket.

"You're hurt!" she cried.

"I'll be ok" he gasped "But maybe you could get the first aid kit out and help Gunn"

"Hey man, I'll survive" said Gunn "You took the worst of it"

"That cut may need stitches" Buffy said "I'll put these steri-strips on it for now, but you should go to A and E" she told Gunn as she cleansed the wound on his forehead.

"The only place I wanna go is Willy's" rasped Gunn "I'm gonna thrash him good"

"It can wait until morning" said Buffy as she helped Angel ease out of his jacket "Then maybe I'll thrash him myself".

Over at the derelict boarding house, no human ears heard the screams of the Miscal demons as one by one they burst into flames.

This had been the punishment for their incompetence.

A tall figure raised its hood to cover its face and disappeared in to the night.

All that remained of Garth lodge the next morning was dust and rubble.

The next day Buffy and Angel pushed open the doors of the bar.

The small nervous looking owner looked up and groaned.

"Willy" said Buffy "It really was a big mistake leaving Sunnydale and setting up shop here"

"Why?" he asked "You did".

"I go where I am needed Willy, where I can provide a service, where I feel welcome" said Buffy.

"I'm needed here...I provide a service" he mumbled.

"Yeah, but unfortunately your welcome has just run out" she cried.  

Angel was sat at a table watching Buffy as she grabbed Willy by the throat and lifted him up.

It always amazed him how this small innocent looking young woman could have so much strength and power.

Angel was trying not to laugh at the look of fear and desperation on Willy's face.

He did not want the wound in his side to open up again so he sat there, determined to keep a straight face.

"I'm telling you all I know" muttered Willy "Tall guy, wore a hooded cloak. Said he'd kill me if I didn't do what he wanted.Its the one and only time I've seen him I swear"

"Well if you see him again, you let us know ok?" snarled Buffy 

"Otherwise I will beat you to a bloody pulp" she yelled as she dropped him.

Buffy and Angel left the bar with Willy shouting after them.

"Ok! Fine! Have a nice day!"

Buffy and Angel went their seperate ways after leaving the bar. Angel headed off to Gunn's and Buffy returned to the hotel. Sarah and Wesley were waiting to go out.

"Buffy" said Sarah "Are you sure you don't mind me taking the afternoon off?"

"Yeah, its fine, you deserve a break" Buffy replied "Go on, enjoy yourselves".

"The boys are just having a nap" said Sarah "So you should have an hour or so before the fun begins!"

"So where are you going on this hot date?" enquired Buffy.

Sarah blushed and looked over at Wesley.

"It's not a date as such" Wesley mumbled "Sarah and I are merely accompanying one another to the theatre, then perhaps on for a bite to eat."

"How very British of you!" laughed Cordelia "Actually its a movie and McDonalds Wes!"

"Yes...Well...Whatever" gushed Wesley "See you later"

"I'll go check on the boys" said Buffy.

She went through to the lounge where the boys lay in their strollers sleeping.

Buffy sank down on a chair nearby and closed her eyes for a moment. She was busy thinking about recent events when Cordelia came through.

"Buffy, there's someone to see you" she said quietly.

"Who is it?" asked Buffy.

"A guy" Cordelia replied "A rather cute guy"

"Did he tell you his name?" asked Buffy.  

"Well I was a bit distracted" grinned Cordelia. "Oh yeah, thats it, Finn, Riley Finn"

"Riley?" gasped Buffy "Riley's here?"

She looked across the room and there he stood smiling at her.

"Hello Buffy....Its good to see you" he said.

When Angel returned to the hotel there appeared to be nobody about. He remembered that Wesley and Sarah were taking the afternoon off. Cordelia was probably in the office he thought.

It was very quiet, which meant that the boys must be asleep. He moved silently through the lobby to the lounge hoping to find Buffy there.

He heard lowered voices, and wondered who it could be. Buffy and Riley were sat on the sofa deep in conversation when Angel appeared in the doorway.

Buffy stood up quickly when she realised Angel was there.

"Riley" said Angel.

"Angel" said Riley.

It was not a greeting as such, more of a statement.

Buffy found herself thinking it was a good job she was standing between them.

"Riley needed to discuss a few things with you" said Buffy.

"Did he?" said Angel

"I did" said Riley.

Buffy looked from one to the other.

They both stood absolutely still. Eyes locked. Fists clenched. Buffy wondered how she was going to diffuse the situation.

Davy did it for her, closely followed by Francis.

Both baby boys began yelling in unison.

Angel went to Davy, Buffy went to Francis.

Riley didn't move.

Both babies went quiet. The room fell silent.

"Which one is..?" asked Riley.

"That one's ours" said Buffy pointing at Angel.

"'Our' son" said Angel proudly.

"Cute" said Riley.

"He looks like me" snarled Angel.

"He has my mouth though" added Buffy.

"Nice" said Riley.

"Yeah we think so" said Angel.

"Yeah" murmured Buffy.

"Hmmmm" said Riley.

The room fell silent again.

Riley stood up "Maybe now's not a good time" he said.  

"Maybe not" said Buffy.

"I'll be in touch" said Riley.

"Ok" said Buffy.

"Angel" said Riley.

"Riley" said Angel.

Then Riley left.

Cordelia came back through just after Riley had gone.

"Hi guys" she called "Everything ok?"

"Fine" mumbled Angel.

"Great" muttered Buffy.

Cordelia felt the tension in the room.

"Davy needs changing" said Angel glaring at Buffy.

"So does Francis" said Buffy glaring at Angel.

Cordelia looked bewildered "Did I miss something?" she asked.  

"No!" yelled Buffy and Angel together.

Both babies started howling again.

"Well....In that case I'll just leave you to it" said Cordelia and she quietly went back to the office.

"Angel" said Buffy "He didn't come to see me"

"Is that right" said Angel.

"No, he wanted to talk to you" replied Buffy.

"What could we possibly have to say to one another?" snarled Angel.

"How should I know?" yelled Buffy "You didn't give him a chance".

Davy howled even louder.

"This yelling is upsetting my son" said Angel.

"'Our' son isn't the only one who's upset" replied Buffy.

"Lets just get the boys settled" said Angel "We can talk about this later."

"Fine" said Buffy glaring at him.

"Good" said Angel glaring back.

Cordelia sat in the office wondering when it would be safe to come out.

Later that evening Angel emerged from the shower to find Buffy sitting on the edge of the bed.

He sat down on the other side.

She got up and went into the shower.

Angel went over to the cot and gazed down at his son.

The love he felt for him was so strong, nothing else could compare to it.

Apart from one thing.

He had nearly lost both of them before.

He was not prepared to ever lose them again.

Buffy came out of the bathroom.

"Angel" she murmured "Please.....I don't want to fight".

She stood before him wrapped in a towel.

Droplets of water still glistening on her skin and her eyes filling with tears.

He went to her and took her hands in his.

He looked at her, and she at him.

A tear ran down Buffy's face and Angel gently kissed it away.

Then he said those words to her that he had once said so long ago.

"You still my girl?" he murmured.

"Always" she replied.

"Do you know how much I love you?" Angel whispered.

Buffy wrapped her arms around his neck and the towel slid to the floor. "Show me" she said.

Later that same night, Angel recieved a message on his cell phone. He was just about dressed when Buffy woke with a start "Angel?"

"Its ok, I have to go out for a while" he said " Gunn has a lead we need to follow up"

"Be careful" she whispered.

"I will" he said leaning over to kiss her.

He hated lying to her, but under the circumstances she was better off not knowing.

This thing had to be settled once and for all.

In the back room at Willy's place, Angel and Riley faced each other.

"Ok Angel, heres the deal" said Riley.

Angel stood stony faced.

"You don't like me, I don't like you" Riley added.

"Well thats one thing we agree on" snapped Angel.

"But we both share a common bond" said Riley.

"I seriously doubt it" laughed Angel.

"We both love Buffy" said Riley.

Angel's fist flew up smacking Riley cleanly on the jaw. Riley fell back against the wall.

He stood up, wiping the blood off his face.

He half expected Angel to go into vamp mode even though he knew that was no longer possible.

"Ok, maybe I could have worded that a bit better" Riley groaned.

Angel grabbed hold of him by the throat. "Buffy belongs to me" snarled Angel "If you try to come between us I will kill you"

"Nobody ever could come between you" said Riley "I soon learnt that".

Angel released his hold on him.

"You were like a ghost Angel, never seen, but always there" said Riley "I may have loved her but she never loved me"

"All she ever wanted was you. You're the only person who could ever make her truly happy" he added.

"So the point of this conversation is?" asked Angel.

"Without you Buffy will never be happy" said Riley "I care about her happiness, so I have to help prevent anything happening that might ruin it"

"And what is gonna happen?" asked Angel.

"Theres a contract out on you" replied Riley.

"What can I say, I'm a popular guy" said Angel.

"Those Miscal demons who attacked you in the boarding house were sent by a very powerful Gorval demon, he's out for blood" said Riley.

"I can handle it" said Angel.

"No I mean it literally wants your blood Angel" said Riley "It has great magical properties"

"So it can burn vampires" said Angel.

"Its also a vessel for your strength, your healing abilities" replied Riley "Those powers can be passed on."

"So its harmful to vampires, but if ingested by demons it makes them more powerful?" asked Angel.

"No" said Riley "It only works on humans with the exception of one demon race."

"The Gorvals?" questioned Angel.

"Yes" replied Riley "Their genetic make-up is very complex and unique, but centuries of interbreeding have weakened them. They are on the verge of extinction. We still don't know all the properties your blood contains, but they believe it holds the catalyst to restore them, to give them back their strength. If it works, they would once again become one of the most powerful race of demons to ever walk the earth" he said "We have to stop that happening".

Angel thought for a moment.

"You said it could be passed on to humans" said Angel "In what way?"

"Through absorption of the blood itself" said Riley "Or by exchanging bodily fluids. Oh, and it's also in your genetic make-up."

"Are you trying to tell me......?" murmured Angel.

"Yes. Your son will have inherited it directly from you" replied Riley.

"And Buffy?" he asked "Can I pass it on to her?"

"Use your imagination Angel" grinned Riley "Bodily fluids?"

"Oh" realised Angel.

"Yeah" said Riley.

They both fell quiet.

"So" Angel said "The Initiative decided this was too big a thing for me to handle on my own?".

"The risks are just too great" Riley replied "Even you have to agree on this one. Plus there are other people to consider now. You're no longer a one man band Angel. You're just gonna have to swallow your pride and accept our help" he finished.

Angel thought for a moment. "Ok" he said "Done".

"What!?" laughed Riley who could hardly believe his ears.

"And now I've got indigestion" grumbled Angel.

"So..." said Riley "I guess we need to tell Buffy whats going on".

"I guess you do" replied Angel.

"Me?" asked Riley "Why me?"

"Because by the time she's vented out her anger on you, she'll have had time to calm down before she tries to talk me out of it" Angel said as he turned to walk away.

"Hey Angel!" called Riley "Does Buffy still lead with her left? Just so I know which way to duck?....Angel?"

"I don't like the sound of this Riley" said Buffy "Angel could be walking directly into a trap"

"Its going to be in a totally controlled situation" Riley replied.

"Yeah, controlled by the Initiative" said Buffy "Oh, I wonder why that bothers me so much?" she glared at him.

"They're gonna come for him anyway Buffy, at least this way he stands  a better chance" said Riley.

"He's used to looking out for himself" said Buffy "And he's pretty good at it"

"I know that Buffy, but this time he's in a no win situation" replied Riley.

"You've never been a very big fan of Angel's " she remarked "So why all the concern?"

"You know what will happen if the Gorvals regain their powers" he said "Your'e the Slayer...We're on the same side remember? Plus I know what it would do to you if you lost him" he added.

"After your visit we had our first fight since he became human again" said Buffy "He was so angry you came."

"I know, I have the dislocated jaw to prove it" mumbled Riley.

"You had a fight?" she groaned "I might have known"

"Some things are worth fighting for" said Riley "Maybe I should have fought harder to keep you?"

"Some things you can't fight" replied Buffy "Like my love for Angel. Any happiness I had with you was always tinged with the guilt I felt over Angel. How could I move on when he never could? she added.

"Even when we were together you never stopped loving him did you?" asked Riley.

"No...And I never will" she said.

Angel entered the room just in time to hear the last exchange of words between Buffy and Riley.

He was holding Davy who had fallen asleep against his shoulder.

Angel looked across at Buffy.

"You can't hit me " he grinned "I've brought our son as back-up "

Buffy walked across to him and gently stroked her baby's cheek. She put her arms around Angel and leant against his chest.

Riley left, silently closing the door behind him.

That night, as Buffy and Angel were laid in each others arms, neither of them spoke of what lay ahead of them.

Emotions ran wild....Fear was overtaking them.

Buffy shook as Angel kissed her over and over.

They shared their love as if it was the last time they ever would.

Buffy closed her eyes and wept silent tears.

When she opened them again he was gone.

The ambush had not gone according to plan.

Angel was the bait and the Gorvals had swallowed it hook, line and sinker.

Riley had an awful feeling they just might swallow everything else as well.

Gorvals had many enemies, due to the fact that over the past few centuries they had wiped out many other demon races, thinking themselves superior.

They weren't expected to have raised many allies, but this was not the case.

The fight was not going well.

The Initiative soldiers had found out early on that the weapons they were using had little effect on this particular race of demons, though they had managed to reduce the odds by killing many of their allies. Angel was thinking that at a time like this he wished he were still a vampire. He might still have his strength and healing abilities, but that might not be enough to save him this time.

There were so many of them.

Angel's right arm was already broken. His vision was blurred from the blood running into his eyes from a large gash on his head.

"Angel!" shouted Riley "Watch your back"

Angel spun round to face yet another demon, whilst the one he had already been grappling with took hold of his shoulders in a vice like grip. It took all of Angel's strength to throw him off.

Riley went down and there was nothing Angel could to to help him. He glanced across at Graham who was desperately yelling into his radio for back-up.

The smell of blood, both human and demon filled the air around him, mixed with the stench of sweat and fear still hanging there.

Angel wondered how much longer they could keep this up.

Terrifying images swam into his head about wether or not he would still be alive when the Gorvals finally drained him.

For over a century had that not been the way he had killed countless human beings?

Perhaps then, it was a fitting end for him.

Angel went down for what he knew would be the final time, and as he felt himself sinking into blackness the last thing he thought of was Buffy.

When Angel opened his eyes, the first thing he saw was Buffy. Her top was torn and bloodstained and a fresh cut on her cheek was just starting to close.

She was holding onto his hand as he was being stretchered off into a military ambulance.

"Buffy?" he murmured "I don't understand, how did you...?"

"Even the best laid plans have to have a back-up system Angel" she smiled "I'll tell you about it later"

"Yo Angel!" cried Gunn as he clasped Angel's arm.

"Aaaagggh!" yelled Angel.

"I think thats the broken one" said Buffy.

"English here has put his back out again" said Gunn grinning and pointing over at Wesley.

"I'll be fine....Really...It's nothing" moaned Wesley holding his back.

"Oh God I hate stinky demons" said Cordelia coming up behind Gunn "The smell just seems to get in your hair and stay there for weeks"

Angel looked up at Buffy "What about Riley?" he mumbled.  

"He's in a bad way" Buffy replied "He's already gone to hospital".

"We have to go now Miss" said the driver.

"I'm coming with him" said Buffy and climbed in.

Later That Week.

In the ICU, Buffy sat at Riley's bedside with Angel standing next to her.

"Its not looking good Angel is it?" she asked "I wish there was something we could do"

Angel's mind was in a turmoil.

He never liked this guy, but there was only ever one reason behind it. When Angel had been a vampire, he could never give Buffy all the things a real girl could want.

He could never love her as a real man loves a woman,his curse put paid to that.

He could never have given her anything that even resembled a normal life.

They had tried, and Buffy had been prepared to accept all the limitations, but Angel knew she deserved much more and so he had left her. Riley could give Buffy all the things Angel couldn't and he had hated him for it.

But there was one thing Angel always had that Riley didn't. Buffy's love.

Nothing and nobody would ever change that.

Angel put his hand on Buffy's arm and whispered in her ear. She looked at him wide eyed as he pressed something into her hand. He kissed her on the forehead and left the room.

Buffy took a deep breath and looked at Riley.

She took the small blade that Angel had given her and made a cut in Riley's hand.

In his sleep he flinched slightly.

Then Buffy made a similar cut in her hand and pressed their two palms together.

She held on tightly for a few moments, letting their blood mix together, praying it would be enough.

"This is a gift from me and Angel" Buffy whispered "To thankyou for helping to save his life".

Buffy gently wiped the blood away, then stood up to watch Riley's monitors.

After a few minutes, BP and heart rate were making a slow but steady rise.

"Goodbye Riley" said Buffy and she left.

One Week Later.

The gang were in the kitchen having shared a meal together for once. Angel, Gunn and Wesley were sat around the table watching Cordelia bouncing Davy up and down on her knee.

Buffy and Sarah were washing the dishes whilst Francis slept through it all nearby.

"I don't know if thats such a good idea Cordelia" said Wesley "Not straight after he's been fed".

"Yeah" said Gunn "Unless you want that white top your wearing turned into a multi coloured one" he laughed.

"Ouch! " yelled Cordelia "He bit me! "

"I didn't mean to" said Angel.

"What?" cried Buffy spinning round to face him.

Angel was laughing so much he nearly fell off his chair.

"Sorry" he grinned "I couldn't resist it!"

"Resist what? yelled Buffy "You couldn't resist biting Cordy?"

"No silly, Angel didn't bite me" laughed Cordelia "Davy did."

"Hey Angel, you sure you aint passed on any bad habits to your son?" grinned Gunn.

"He drew blood" said Wesley peering at Cordelias finger.

"Just suck it" said Buffy.

"I'll do it" offered Angel.  

"If I turn all 'grrrr' I promise I will kill the lot of you!" laughed Cordelia.

She put her finger in her mouth and then withdrew it.

"Hey...Look at that" she said "There's not a mark to be seen"

Buffy and Angel smiled at one another.

Gunn looked at Wesley.

Wesley looked at Gunn.

"Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" said Wesley.

They both put their fingers near Davy's mouth.

Bite me! Bite me!

On to Silver Circle