Once completely out of Buffy's house property, Willow, Giles and Wesley exiting the old Citroen. "Buffy!" Willow yelled out to catch her attention before it was too late concidering their pace.

Stopping in mid jog, Buffy and Angel turned to face their caller. "Buffy, what going on? Where are you of too in such a hurry?" Meeting each other in front of the walk way to her house, Giles asks.

"Caela's run off, we have to find her before Faith or Adam." Quickly explaining. Buffy tries to stay calm.

"Good lord, is there anything we can do? Should we split up and-" Wesley chimed.

"No, go in, get Pike and get Riley and Xander." Her mouth didn't seem to be running as fast as her mind. "Check the school, both high and college. Make your way to the park and we'll meet up." Receiving acceptance to "orders," Angel turned simultaneously with Buffy. Immediately turning around, Buffy added some last minute but just as important as any advice. 'Stay together, all of you. Even if you disagree."

Staying in a constant silence between the two of them, they held out their mission. Buffy slowed her steps as she eased her way to a line of bushes. Meeting her position in front of a small breakage between two groups of shrubbery. Listening, desperate to catch any sound what so ever, for if they called for her she were sure to run further away to keep her freedom. Finally they both detected a patterned sound of breathing. Not deep breathes but shaky.

Looking to one another they straightened their bodies and walked around the bushes and around the tree to the clearing of which they discovered Caela shaking where she sat on her rock beside a small creek.

"They told me that ya fear me." Plucking her head up with all her strength she propped her chin on her crossed arms which held her legs near her chest. "Because ya fear each other. That if it is true, that I am your responsibility, that you will be forced to be together." Allowing her information to settle in their minds. "Is it true, you fear me?" Buffy stood further behind Angel.

"Yes, I do fear you." Glancing behind him to Buffy, and then back to Caela. Buffy's head dropped knowing the obvious pain of being together and yet not completely.

"But why do you fear yourself with her? When you..." Realizing something, she looked around her, everything seemed to blow with the wind but didn't seemed to blow through Buffy's hair. Starting with her back turned, she turned back to them. "You lie to her? Why must you lie to your soul mate? What gives you reason?" Angel switched his eyes from Buffy to Caela, Buffy's eyes shot daggers to Angel's heart.

"Stop. You don't have permission to enter my mind." Angel's tone was cold and steady.

"Angel. 'The vampire with the 'Angelic face.'" Quoting all of the books and writings that were all too familiar. "What is your greatest wish, Angel?" All too curious.

"Forgiveness." Obliged to give the answer, yet hurtful to say.

"Forgiveness?" Taken back. "You were given amends months ago. Why do you punish yourself, still?" Her voice raised to his stupid reason.

"I killed my family, friends, and many others. It takes a lot to regain-"

"Rushing to his body, Caela approached him without warning. With her hands she grabbed his left forearm tightly. Almost immediately her body put her weight on his, her eyes closed. Pictures ran through her head.

"You can't come into my town and not tell me like that." Angel and Buffy stood across from each other in Angel's office in LA (pictures rapidly switch)

Angel fights with a demon, finally taking him out. Angel gasps as his body is ripped in two. "He's human." Another man, half demon, explains later that day. "I'm sorry I kissed you like that, it was..." Explaining to Buffy. 'I asked them to turn me back." Revealing the hurtful truth after all they did together over the night. "You what?" Her voice cracking during her question. "It's not enough time." Looking back from the clock with seconds only left. "Ill never forget. I'll never forget. I'll never forget..." Rambling on as she day changes, literally.

"So, I guess I'm going to go and start to...-" 'Forget." Angel put together all of the pieces from the true present and past, cutting Buffy off.

Caela's eyes flew open with signs of tears flooding her soft blue color. "She hasn't forgotten, Angel." His change of emotion expressed a hint of hope. "Break the spell that keeps it hidden!" Realizing that he would try to deny everything and turn upon it.

"Lets go." turning to leave, praying the other two would soon follow.

"What haven't I forgotten?! Angel, what is she talking about?!" growing furious as he tried to pass her. Her hands pressed on his chest, forcing his resist to decrease.

Angel looked at Caela with a curse on his face. "I'll tell her if you will not! They say she needs to know for her to help."

"No! I'll do it."

"Well, somebody had better do it before I get really pissed." Feeling left out of everything now.

"Okay." Slowly he approached Buffy. He was not sure of how she would take it. Either way he needed to be near her during the process. She waited impatiently. Following his eyes' focus, trying to keep him on topic. "When you...When you came to visit, in LA, you weren't..." Taking a deep breath trying to contain himself. "You weren't there for just five minutes." It was then that has was able to look straight into her eyes.

Buffy felt lost in her own memory. "I...I don't understand. What do you mean? How long was I there then?" Racing her sentence to gather more information.

"A night and two days." His voice was small and shaky as he drew breath that he didn't need.

"What?" She whispered.

Knowing how Buffy must feel, Caela stepped forward, pushing Angel slowly to the side. "Here." Putting her finger tips on either sides of her forehead, resting on the temples. "May you find your lost memories."

Trailing three by three they made their way through the park. Getting tired of searching and waiting for Buffy, everyone began to worry. Turning back to go the way they came, Riley held his place in the back. As everyone else continued the opposite direction, Riley's ears overheard voices. He could not make out what they were saying, but could recognize at least one of the sources. Sliding over to an open area of bushes he identified Buffy, Angel and Caela around one another.

"May you find your lost memories." Not quite sure what to make of the situation and the choice of words that came from Caela, Riley watched and soon, quickly learned more.

Buffy held still in her almost sleeping state. She was overwhelmed with all that she had just seen. Her own memory had lied to her during these past months. Instead of going to just talk with Angel she ends up losing him forever. Even more than she had already. "Angel?" Her voice was strong but soft. Slowly opening her eyes a slight sense of pain wrote over her face of not wanting to let go of the memories of which seemed only be a dream. "Why?" Noticing that her question was a little too bland. "Why did you keep it from me. You owed me that much to tell me the truth as to what happened between us." Her voice was now raised, no longer a whisper and yet not a raging yell either.

He stood still in front of her, absorbing the punishment that he thought to be well deserved. "We..." Swallowing a lump in her throat. "We made love, Angel. We were together finally and you..." Looking straight into his almond brown eyes, "You gave it back. Why?"

"I-" Angel was cut off by a sudden change of noise as another body entered the clearing.

"Buffy?" Riley seemed shaken up by what he must have over heard, hiding behind the bushes. "Whats going on? What are you two talking about?"

"Nothing of your concern." Angel glares in Riley's direction, giving him an evil look of which it seemed only a vampire could give.

"I think it is my concern. Look, I don't know who you are and why exactly you're here, but I'd bet that you're from Buffy's past breakups by the way you look at her. But shes moved on. And-"

"You're right." Snapping off Riley's long and unwanted speech. "You don't know who I am." With that he walked past all three of them and walked away. Leaving everyone to dwell in their confusion.

"Buffy, you mustn't' blame Angel for keeping this from him. He did only what he thaut to be right." Looking at the bewildered Riley. "Although, I do wonder why you don't like to share your past with others. It's who you are. Thats what makes you who you are." Feeling that she had said enough for the time being she began to follow Angel's route out of the creek's domain. Stopping in front of Riley's view of Buffy, sobering from the rush of information that she had just gained. "Riley? Will you escort me back to the house, please?" Sensing that Buffy might have wanted to keep to herself until she knew what was going on, before explaining to others.

"Buffy just needs to work some things out, thats all." Explaining to everyone once they had returned to the house. Everyone was more than curious as to why Buffy would stay by herself in the park at night with Adam and Faith on the loose. "I suggest you not worry. She is on protected ground." Everyone looked to one another with that comment said.

"So...Does anyone want to share what they got on Caela and profit?" Trying to move along without trying to explain the whole "protected" thing.

"I think it would be best if we all got some rest and waited until Buffy returned. I don't want to have us get deep into something and then have to return. Our research is over. I can assure you there is no immediate danger in the near future." Giles spoke up before everyone got comfortable in the dining room, in conference mode. Wesley stood just behind Giles, nodding his head in agreement.

"Okay. I'm going to go and take a shower." Caela stands up from her seat, facing everyone, making eye contact as she turned slowly to meet everyone's set. Her eyes suddenly closed as if a searing sharp pain ran through her back and all she could do was breath through it. But just as quickly as it had began she flew them open once more and exclaimed, "Why don't Giles, Xander and Riley make something of a meal for all of us and Willow can go ahead and study for the test she has tomorrow. And you." Pointing to Wesley. "And Cordelia can find as many sheets and blankets you think will be needed for all of us to sleep through the night." Taking a deep breath she looked at the ceiling. "I have a feeling that she will not be coming back until mid morning." Everyone stared at her, not knowing what to say, until. "Oh, and," Turning to everyone once again. "make sure Angel gets a bed this time. He may be a demon, but he still fancies being comfortable." Returning to walk up the stairs, everyone, again, watched her head back up to take her shower.

At first everyone thought that what was suggested was outrageous. Why should they obey orders from a half pint little 15 year old. Hell with Angel there they could all beat her up if they wanted to. But oddly enough everyone took in consideration of her askings and did as she said. Giles and Riley stood besides one another as they each concentrated on their own pot of something boiling. Xander was occupied shopping items on the island in the kitchen. Music was echoing from the living room. Surprisingly, Giles too, wiggled in his feet to the tunes. Although to themselves Xander, Cordy, Willow and Pike laughed at his peculiar movements.

Angel sat alone outside. He was given no job what so-ever, which he couldn't explain. Why was he left out? It seemed that she made it an effort to occupy everyone with a task. And yet there he sat, alone, to think about what had happened earlier that night. And he knew that that was not his job that night. If it was Riley would have been given the same.

Creeping down the strairs she peeked around the corner of the wall leading to the opening of the kitchen and living room. Her feet were light on the stairs. See that everyone was at that moment preoccupied to notice anything for a second she raced through both rooms stopping almost immediately at the back door. Opening it with silent grace she slipped through the small permitted opening. Upon feeling her presence Angel turned to see her.

"Caela, what do you want from me?" Angel sounded bitter to the arrival of young slayer.

"Do not put hate on my name. Just because-" Stopping herself before she mentioned anything that had to do with the memory loss and return. She remembered that no one else had truly heard the conversation, not even Riley was completely looped with it. "Ebec dacca ti ilea tue?" *Just because I helped you! "She began to speak in the language that was only understood between the two of them.

"Ti neti unnit pi twa..." *I don't know what...* Angel was not only confused in mind but also in words.

"Shhhh...." She comforted him with love. Not of affection towards a lover, but with that of a friend. One that seemed to know him. From where neither of them knew nor had a inkling.

"Buffy and I...We're not suposed to be together. Its not how it works." His Gaelic ceased with a mutual thought on Caela. Pulling himself together he was able to look into her eyes with equal respect that she showned upon him.

"What are you?" Looking in her eyes he tried to deciefer his own answer before she could.

"I'm the Kismettin, I-" Begining to explain, she knew he didn't mean what has already been explained.

"No, who are you?" More firmly.

"I"m Caela O'Haley." She stopped there, allowing it to sink in.

He was dumbstruck. He wasn't sure what to think. Everything was so confussing. The young girl that sat before him was so young, so beautiful, so talented and yet he didn't have affection for her. His feelings towards her was that of a brother.

"Haley?" His voice cracked slightly.

Part Five

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