Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters of BTVS. I only play with their lives occasionally. They belong to Joss Whedon and Co.
"Mama, ma..ma. Come on Noelle, say it for me" Willow said sweetly to her 8 month old daughter.
The auburn haired, chubby cheeked baby looked at her Mama, smiled brightly and clearly said "Dada."
Angel smiled broadly. Willow gave him a look. "Sweetheart, I read that they almost always say 'Dada' first, it's easier then 'Mama'" Angel explained.
"I think it's because she spends most of her time with you, while I'm at work." said Willow with a pout. She had returned to work when Noelle was three months old. She loved her job, but hated leaving her daughter. Although Angel was a great Dad and babysitter!
"Do you have the diaper bag?" Willow asked as she put the babies sweater on.
"Yeah, it's all ready to go. Giles seems anxious to see us." said Angel as he led his wife and child to the car.
When they arrived at Giles, Cordelia and Xander were already there. Willow hugged her six month pregnant friend. Cordelia and Xander were very happy about this baby.
"Hey, Noelle." cooed Cordelia to the baby.
"Once again, I need your help. I found a distressing prophecy. It's not very clear." Giles told the group.
"Are they ever clear, Giles?" joked Xander.
"Well, it would seem that they aren't. But anyway this one states something about someone close to the slayer being her downfall. I am thinking her family, possibly. I would like for Emily to take some days off from patroling and watch her family, I want Xander to help with that. Just watch for any thing that appears odd." Giles explained.
"No problem, Giles. But this round Cordy is out of the game." said Xander with a smile.
"Well, of course." agreed Giles.
"What can I do?" asked Angel. He considered it his duty to help protect the little slayer, as he tried to protect her predecessor - Buffy.
"I would like for you to patrol. Is that okay?" asked Giles.
"Sure, I'll start tonight after I drop off Willow and Noelle." agreed Angel.
The group broke up and went their separate ways with their assignments. Angel drove Willow and Noelle home, he helped tuck in the baby, then got ready to patrol. He kissed Willow as he went to the door. "Be careful" she cautioned.
"Always." he replied as he closed the door.
Willow straightened up and sat down to watch the news. She fell asleep in the chair. She was awakened at 4am by Noelle stirring in her crib. She went to check on the baby, patting her back until she fell back to sleep.
"Where is Angel?" she said out loud. It was only a couple hours until sunrise and she was worried.
Sunrise came with still no word from Angel. Willow picked up the phone and called Giles.
"Hello" answered a tired Giles.
"Giles, Angel hasn't come home. Please tell me you know where he is, please tell me he is okay!" The words came out in one long sentence accentuated with a sob.
"Willow, calm down. Angel has been avoiding sunlight for over two hundred years. I think he can safely find cover. It probably got later then he thought and he's hid somewhere. I'll look for him, okay." Giles told her calmly.
Angel had happened by Buffys grave. He made a habit of visiting her and filling her in on Willow and Buffy Noelle. He had just told her about Noelle's new tooth, when his world went black, and he was dragged off by a large vampire.
If anyone had been in the cemetary to witness it, they would have noticed that the gravestone marked Buffy Summers shook when he was dragged off.
Angel awoke to find himself underground, shackled to a stone wall. He could hear his captors discussing Emily. "Darius" the large vampire said "Do you think this will work?"
"Oh, yes. It will work. We'll not only get the slayer, but all of her little helpers when they come to get this one." the one called Darius said as he pointed to Angel.
"It does come in so handy to have one of our own so close to the slayer." Darius added with a chuckle.
This revelation hit Angel hard, the prophecy meant him, not Emily's family.
Darius turned to Angel "Angelus, soon we will be rid of the slayer and all her friends. Ah...that includes your wife and the child you call your daughter, doesn't it?" he asked menacingly.
Angel glared at him, pulling on the shackles that secured him to the wall.
"If your good, I'll let you watch what we do to those two." he said his voice dripping malice. He then turned to the other vampire. "Julius, you can start the torture now."
The large vampire moved towards Angel with gleam in his eye. After an hour of holy water and a leather strap, Angel mercifully passed out, visions of Willow and Noelle in his mind.
Giles searched everywhere he could think of to now avail. Angel seemed to have just dissapeared with no trace. He went to Willow's door with a heavy heart.
"Giles! Did you find anything?" Willow asked, fear in her voice. She had dark circles under her eyes and was pale from lack of sleep and worry. "I called in to work today." she explained to him.
"I'm sorry, Willow. I don't know. I've looked everywhere. But don't give up hope. Angel can take care of himself." Giles tried to reaasure her as he left.
Willow sat down in the rocker with her daughter. Noelle smiled up at her and said her favorite word "Dada".
A tear spilled down Willow's cheek as she told her baby "Dada isn't here right now. But I'm sure he'll be home soon." She prayed it was true.
Angel's eyes were almost swollen closed, his face was bleeding now. Darius came in to taunt him some more. "We are going to torture you for a few more days...just for fun. Then at the end of the week, I'll call reinforcements in. And we will lead your slayer and her troupe here. And they will die." Darius and Julius left the room.
An unseen prescence entered the room "I don't think so." it said softly.
"Angel" a soft voice called to him, Angel opened his swollen eyes.
"Was that Willow? No...not Willow." But he knew that voice. "It can't be, now their playing with my mind." he thought to himself.
"Angel" the soft voice repeated his name. He focused his eyes and let out a gasp "Buffy?" Buffy was there in front of him, an ethereal glow around her. She was as beautiful as the first time he had seen her.
"Buffy?" he repeated shakily.