“A portal has opened in Los Angeles.” The slightly frightened watcher told Giles.

“Where in Los Angeles?” He took the report being handed t him.

“The Hyperion Hotel.” The man shuffled his feet. “It was purchased within the last year. Renovations have been completed…but there is a problem.”

“What.” Giles hissed at the thought of a new issue.

“The furies placed a protection spell on and around the hotel.” He frowned. “They did it as a favor to Angel.”

Giles paced the room thinking on what the man had said.

“The furies are powerful and we have no record of them having contact with Angel or Angels. Why would they protect him and his spawn?”

“We do have an insider, Mr. Giles.”

“Who?”

“Buffy Summers.”

Hyperion Hotel

The building vibrated when the rift opened. Angel walked through first looking for any threat. He didn’t need to worry, the team of Criptos demons Frank hired as their every day security force was on the job. With the ability the turn themselves invisible they could be everywhere and not be seen.

After nodding his satisfaction Angel walked back through the rift returning with Kendra behind him. She smiled at his over protectiveness. Even without the guards she was capable of defending herself. She arched an eyebrow as John, the head of their security detail emerged from his cloak.

He crossed his right hand over his heart and bowed to the couple.

“I am your servant.” He stood again, straightened so he was at eye level with Angel. “The Council has tried to smuggle several spies into the Hotel. They were sent away unharmed as per your orders. All the wiring has been updated. The work was double checked and we swept for bugs after each shift and conduct random scans throughout the day. Your rooms have been swept and there is a list of mystical nannies for you to look over.”

“There won’t be any nannies.” Angel said as he squeezed Kendra’s hand. “One of us will always be with the baby.”

“As you wish.”  He handed Angel a folder. “These are my top men. If you will choose the guards you wish for the lady and child I will be with you.”

“You will cover Kendra. We wouldn’t even be having this discussion without her. She is your top priority.”

“Yes, my Lord.” John pulled out an amulet made of rubies and gold. He handed it to her.

“Oh, no,” She gently pushed his hand away. “I’ve had my fill of power draining mystical objects.”

“Lady,” He placed the object in her hand and wrapped her fingers around it. Angel gasped when she disappeared. “It gives you similar abilities that we Criptos have. It will give you the opportunity to escape if there is an attack.”

“No power draining?”

“No, my lady.”

“Alright.” She turned to Angel and slapped him on the back. “I’m hungry.”

“My lady, if you will release your hold on the amulet.” Kendra laughed as she let it go and became visible again. “With a little practice you will be able to activate the amulet with your thoughts.”

“Well, this could be fun.” Angel said as he fingered the shining gem.

“Not if you don’t feed me soon.” She took his hand.

“Update Frank. There are several men traveling with us. Make them look as normal as possible. Oh, send some men through to help pack the rest of the gifts the elders left. Frank is inventorying everything. I want that portal closed and sealed within the hour.” John nodded before he disappeared.

“What do you think of our new clients?” His second, Antis, in command asked.

“I think we need to protect the woman and her child.” Frank said signaling several demons to follow Angel’s orders.

“Did you feel the power that flowed from her? Is it the mother or the child?” Antis’ eyes followed the couple.

“We will know soon enough.”

Angel and Kendra

“Wow look at this place. It’s a chef’s paradise.” Angel looked at the rust and gold Italian influenced kitchen. “Two stoves, two refrigerators, and two microwaves who needs all this?”

“We do. Do you realize how many people will be living in this hotel?” She shook her head when he rolled his eyes.

“What can I get for you, my lady?” He bowed.

“Can you cook?”

“There’s frozen stuff, I can heat up” He smiled sheepishly.

“Ha, let’s see what we have here.” She looked through the refrigerator and cabinets. “If we can get some shrimp I can make Jambalaya.”

“I can send someone out to get some.” Frank said.

“Thanks Frank.” She took Angels hand and led him around the counter. “Let’s cook hubby.”

“There are other things I would rather be doing.” She slapped his hand.
            “Your son is hungry.” She rubbed her stomach for emphasis. “There are things we need to discuss.”

“Like what?” He asked as he looked around the kitchen.

“Like Buffy.”

Angel stopped his search and looked up at her. “Is she giving you problems?”

“She is conflicted.” Kendra crossed her arms over her chest. “She will need to be watched.”

“She won’t betray us.” He said flatly more because he thought he was supposed to, not because he believed it.

“The Council is prepared to manipulate her. She still wants Giles to be good. She needs him to rescue her. If he presents a convincing argument she may switch sides.” She handed him a knife.

“What can I do?”

“Chop the celery, I can handle everything else.” She bumped his hip.

“How are you doing? I mean after Angelus?” He blushed as he thought how his alter ego had abused her. Angelus’ brand of affection left his victims scarred. Kendra was strong but she was still human. The trauma would need to be handled.

“I am trying to focus on our future. I never thought I would be the woman who killed and tortured innocents. I had to survive.” She shivered. “Thank you, for claiming me.”

“He wanted to turn you. He hoped you’d be like Darla. I couldn’t let that happen.” He said matter of factly.

She nodded. They fell into a companionable silence as they cooked. Kendra looked at her husband on occasion. He was not the same person she had locked in that cage waiting for the sun to end him of course she knew he would escape. His destiny was clearly written. Angelus was extremely angry. He followed her to Trinidad looking for revenge. During the night long fight Kendra nearly forgot the prophecy and killed the vampire.

She looked over at Angel. He had stopped chopping and watched her curiously.

“What?” She blushed under his heated stare.

“I was just wondering when we could go to bed?” She laughed. “I want to keep you healthy.”

“Please, Angel not again.” Wesley pleaded as he came into the kitchen. Kendra began tossing the vegetables into the heated pot. “How can I help?”

“The chicken is done, the rice is cooking, hmm, can you peel and devein the shrimp.” She did not question how a large bag of fresh shrimp appeared on the counter. This was her life now.

“What else?” Angel asked as he wrapped his arm around her waist.

“Nothing, I can handle it. I just needed you to be aware.”

“No one will hurt our son.” He said with conviction.

The small group was quiet as they prepared enough food to feed their army.

~*~*~*~*~*~

Buffy watched quietly from the shadows aware that Frank had joined her.

“When did it happen? When did he fall in love with her?” She brushed a stray tear from her cheek.

“He’s had more than a year of sitting in his body seeing everything Angelus saw. She is really a remarkable girl. How many people could know that they were going to be raped and tortured and still follow the path fate has chosen? She loves you Buffy and she believes in you. Do not fail her.” He turned and left her to her thoughts.

She nodded and stepped into the kitchen.

“Tell me everything the Council has been doing.” Kendra smiled at her. At last.

“Gather the team I only want to explain it once.” Angel stood with his arm around Kendra’s waist. “We can do it over dinner.”

Buffy nodded and left.

“Think she can take it?” He asked snuggling into her hair.

“I think she will do what she needs to do.” She stirred the soup.

“The table has been set. Is there anything else I can do?” Wesley asked.

“Get John and pull up a chair.” Grabbing a pair of oven mitts Angel lifted the pot. Kendra took the rice into the dining room.

Everyone stood around the room as Frank began serving the food.

“Alright, everyone knows about the prophecy. The Council is the reason it came to pass.” Kendra began.

“What…how?” Wesley asked settling into his chair.

Angel offered what he knew. “When the Master first rose they thought they could satisfy his blood lust by offering him a powerful Sorceress with the hopes that she would quench his blood lust. It back fired. They had not done their research. Kendra is the child of the First and the descendant of the most powerful slayer every born.”

“No, wait, the First fed off of her mother. She was already pregnant.” Jenny protested.

“My mother had never lain with a man nor beast before my father. She was his captive. He was prepared to slaughter her when he discovered she was pregnant.”

“The pregnancy was a miracle. As he fed off of the slayer, he raped her. Unfortunately it is common among my kind. Once he knew about Kendra he wouldn’t kill his own child but he couldn’t let it be known that she existed or she wouldn’t live very long.” Angel said.

“The Council.”

“What happened to your mother?” Buffy asked quietly.

“He killed her in a fit of rage. She refused to give me to the Watcher. He snapped her neck.”

“She was still pregnant with you?” Wesley asked disgusted.

“Yes.”

“How did you survive?” Faith shook.

Kendra lifted her shirt sleeve and showed them a scar that spanned from her shoulder to elbow.

“He cut her out.” Angel whispered. “The first will return. He will want to claim his child and the world. Our son is the only person who will be able to stop him.”

“He will decimate this plant. Humans will be bred as cattle for blood.” Kendra repeated what she knew to be true.

“But that must be years off.” Wesley said.

“The Council will try to kill him before he is born. It will be their only chance. The pregnancy will weaken me. This is the only chance they have.” Kendra sat back in her chair.

Buffy looked at her friend. “Before. You said Giles will die.”

“You will kill him.” Buffy sighed and closed her eyes. “I won’t lie to you.”

“I can’t.” She whispered.

“When the time comes you will.”

“He is the only one who knows where my mother is.” Tears filled her eyes again.

“Buffy…” Kendra touched her hand. “Buffy?” She waited until the slayer’s gaze met hers. “I can show you what happened to your mother.”

Kendra stood and gestured for Buffy to follow her to the lobby. With Angels help, they settled on the round sofa. In the center was a fire pit. Angel loaded it with coals and lit it. Kendra opened a small pouch and emptied several colored crystals into it.

“I was still home when I had this dream. Once I came back to Sunnydale, I realized it was a vision. I am sorry Buffy.” She chanted a few words. Buffy’s living room appeared. Joyce was arguing with the watchers assistant who had recently joined Giles.

“You can’t have her!” Joyce screamed. “She’s just a child.”

“The slayer is a part of the prophecy. She must join with the vampire. The demon must emerge.” His voice was eerily calm.

“I won’t let you?” She turned her back to him.

“Yes you will. You are part of the prophecy also.” He pulled her to him and slipped the ceremonial dagger into her chest. “You have no choice.”

Buffy screamed as Kendra held her. They watched as the body was taken away and the blood was cleaned from the floor.

Kendra took her friends hand. “They are not your allies. You can be strong Buffy. You must be strong or they will destroy you.”

The young slayer wept with her friends surrounding her offering what comfort they could. Kendra held her friend. The slayer, the sister, and the mother wanted revenge for all of the pain the arrogant Council group had caused. The warrior demanded patience. The end would come soon enough.