"Quentin? Quentin? Quentin!" Maggie Walsh yelled as she banged feebly on the glass in her all white cell. For the past few hours, no one had said anything to her, so she figured it was the "observation of the subject" phase.

This is plain unethical! To do this to a human. no less she thought irately. Finally, she heard his voice over the intercom in her cell.

"Well, well Maggie. How did you guess it was me?" he queried in a voice covered in false cheerfulness.

"Because you are the only one with the audacity to do something so atrocious," she seethed.

"Well, now. It is my duty to do as such when one of my associates becomes unprofessional and is working against our well thought out plans. Your sole purpose was to help out the Slayer and examine demons, not to hunt her and her family and friends," he explained to her, his tone condescending as if speaking to a child.

"Who told you that?" she asked, feigning shock.

"I have my sources of course. You should have known that I would find out eventually, and when I did that I would not be pleased."

"I don't know what you're referring to Quentin. Someone else must obviously be behind this."

"Please, don't. I don't like it when people insult my intelligence."

"Fine, but it doesn't matter what you do to me or how long you keep me here." Her voice was low and sinister.

"What do you mean?" he queried— his voice devoid of any emotion whatsoever.

"He will finish my plans. At this point, it doesn't matter if I live or die. He will conquer you all," she said with an evil grin.

My god, she’s gone completely insane.

"Who are you talking about, Walsh?" he asked becoming quite irritated.

"Not to worry, old chap. You all shall see..."

*****

"Angel? Can I come in?" Spike asked, already coming over the threshold of the elder's room and shutting the door behind him.

"Spike, now isn't such a good time. I want to be alone now."

"Getting the parental jitters, eh? Not to worry. Welcome to the club."

"I just have a lot on my mind now. Now go, far away. Okay?" he said while not looking at him.

"Actually, that's why I'm here. Just finished a discussion with Buffy, Rupes and Joyce. All's well in Sunnyhell, so we're going to go back now."

"What? I mean, why now? How can you even be certain that…" Angel started as he looked at him, quite flustered by the news.

"Look, Buffy's not feeling too comfortable with the whole Darla and Dru being under the same roof as her, our daughter and her mum. Besides, she's kinda home sick to tell you the truth."

"What? Darla's harmless and... Well, it's just that I got used to having you guys here. Especially with all that's going on... It's just so hard trying to keep everything together, you know? And now by the looks of it, Darla's going to be in delivery sometime next week. It's all happening so fast."

"Yeah, know what you mean. Don't know how I would've gotten through the whole hospital thing if it hadn't been for you," he admitted somberly.

"Yeah, well, it seems that I won't be having that same luxury. You know, with you there to hold my hand this time. I mean, figuratively speaking of course," he added quickly. Spike gave a quiet chuckle at that.

"Yea, well, I'll only be like an hour and a half driving distance away. Well, about forty-five minutes considering the way I drive."

"How's my goddaughter doing?"

"Fabulous. All smiles sunshine. Kinda gassy, though." Angel nodded his head in quiet understanding.

"When are you leaving?"

"Um, in about a few hours. Buffy's taking a nap. She's been tired a lot lately. Besides, gives us all a chance to part ways properly."

"Yeah. Is Joy awake now?"

"Yeah, she's downstairs with Joyce and Giles."

"I'm gonna go see her. Gotta get used to the whole holding a baby anyway, right? It’s only a matter of fairly short time before I have to tend to my own kid."

"What do you want? A boy or a girl?" Spike asked as they headed out of the door together, with his arm clasped around Angel's back in a friendly gesture.

"Doesn't matter, as long as it's healthy and even remotely normal," he said as he closed the door.

"Come on, Peaches. You should know better than anyone that normalcy doesn't exist in this family," he replied as they headed down the stairs.

*****

“Drusilla—what are you doing?” Giles asked coldly, standing up and maneuvering himself between the vampire and a still sitting Joyce, preoccupied with trying to burp her granddaughter.

“I only wanted to see the little angel. She… she glows,” she said wistfully, one of her hands laying flat on her chest as she began to sway slowly. “She’s my granddaughter too. Can I not hold the little lamb?” she asked, stretching out both hands to Joyce. Giles looked up as he saw Angel and Spike quietly descend the stairs, observing the scene. He made eye contact with Spike, and the platinum haired vamp nodded his consent. Giles stepped aside slightly.

Joyce, on the other hand, eyed the vampiress warily as she stood, stepping closer to her. Drusilla gasped in awe as she got a better look at Joy’s face.

“Be gentle. Support her head,” Joyce cautioned, bringing her granddaughter close to Dru, but still not relinquishing her hold on the baby.

“Please?” Drusilla asked softly, staring at the baby’s clear, blue eyes.

“If it even looks like you’re going to do something wrong, I’ll stake you myself,” Joyce threatened as she placed the baby into Dru’s waiting arms.

“No, no. This beautiful, lil’ poppet here is family. My lil’ princess. Welcome,” she said, kissing the baby on the forehead.

*****

Riley didn't know it could ever be like this. The vampire had introduced him to all of her vamp friends and to this tripped out drug. It totally enhanced the high of a mere bite. He was everywhere and nowhere at the same time.

He was at peace with everyone and himself.

He had not a care in the world.

It felt good; the disillusionment of the drugs and the need that the vampire had for him. How she craved and desired him, well his blood. But it was still apart of him— a vital part she needed to survive. The drugs and the blood connected them in ways he never imagined being connected to a being.

Because of his stupor of amazement, he didn’t object when the large being combined with what appeared to be many different demon parts, came for him. He just went with the flow and laid there with a lazy grin on his face. It didn't matter where the man/thing was taking him. He was already in his very own special happy place...

*****

After conducting tests on various species and becoming more aware of the environment around him, Adam finally set his plans in motion. First, he set out to find his brother, Riley. When he found him in an abandoned building in downtown Sunnydale full of vampires, he was not pleased. It was nice of him to cavort around with other species, but surely he should know that he was above them all?

The vampires, feeling threatened by his presence, tried to attack him. He stopped their pathetic attempts and explained to them that they were better than that and that they were all on the same side. He told them of the upcoming war he was planning and how all demons would play an intricate part in it. He explained that they were all brothers and sisters, and needed to come together and unite as a family should in order to properly conquer the humans. They were inspired by his words and set out to spread his plan and wisdom in the demon world.

He flung Riley over his shoulder as if he were a mere rag doll and took him to the Initiative caves to detoxify him and help him recuperate. His brother would need to be at his full strength for what was coming soon...

*****

The spell Jonathan used with his magic bone was as easy as pie. All of the Initiative workers recognized him as an authority figure, giving him full access to every cell and room in the underground institution. Since replacing Faith's drugs, she was alert and well aware of the impending jail break. When she told him what Professor Walsh was doing to her, he felt sickened and disgusted that he once had been a proud member of the Initiative and what he thought it stood for.

Come on, Andrew. Let's get this show on the road he thought impatiently.

Thirty seconds later, the signal came. Andrew created a diversion for him and Faith by putting a spell on all of the demons, making them rowdy and creating a fuss. The Initiative workers grew uneasy as the demons banged on their cell walls and doors, taking no heed to the electrical pulses that zapped them whenever they made contact with it.

About twenty seconds after that, Warren came through on his end by shutting down the main power, shrouding the facility in darkness, though the locks were still on most of the cells. Warren purposely left several of them open, creating a problem for the soldiers. They were too busy dealing with the current disturbance to notice the escapees. Jonathan already had on his night vision goggles and gave Faith a pair as well. Five minutes later, they were outside and in the Troika's all black van.

"Hey, where we goin' ?" Faith asked.

"We're going to the reinforcements. Buffy and the gang," Jonathan said authoritatively.

"So, who's house first? Cause I mean, they don't all live in the same place, and Willow's at the dorms, which isn't the best place to go right now, and Buffy's house is further away so..." Andrew trailed off.

"Xander Harris’ place it is," Warren said, heading the van towards their new destination.

*****

"Xander, honey! You have company! Would your guests like some of those little boxes of raisins, or some fruit punch?" his mother asked in her usual drunken stupor.

"What, mom? Who is it?"

Just then Jonathan, followed by Warren, Andrew and a timid Faith filed down the stairs.

"Hey, what the hell is going on here, Jonathan? Who are those two guys and what the hell is Faith doing in my house?!" Xander yelled.

"Yeah, and you can't take us all, missy. I don't know what your plan is, but Buffy is so gonna kick your ass," Willow added.

"Look, guys, it's not what you think," Jonathan tried to explain.

"Oh, isn't it? It looks like four uninvited guests. One of which is a murderous skank," Anya said, as she stood protectively in front of Xander like some attack dog.

"Look, we're not gonna get anywhere by pointing fingers. We came here cause we need your help," Warren said.

"Okay, I think we should all have proper introductions. You know, to make everyone less hostile." Everyone stopped and looked at Andrew expectantly. He cleared his throat and began talking.

"Well, you all know Jonathan, and that's Warren. He went to Sunnydale High for awhile— excellent with computers. I'm Andrew. I brought the demon monkeys to the Romeo and Juliet play. Oh, and Tucker's my older brother. Uh, and you all know Faith, obviously. But um, there are some things that you don't know."

Faith didn't look at any of them the entire time. She was silent.

"Um, about that Xander, can I talk to you for a second?" Jonathan asked. All authority temporarily left his voice and was replaced with a pleading one. Xander nodded his consent and the two young men walked off to the side.

When Jonathan told him what happened to Faith at the Initiative, he was stunned speechless. At first he felt pity for her, and then he felt guilty for feeling anything at all. Then he felt more guilt for feeling guilty and concerned in the first place. But, she is human after all he thought, and said that she could stay.

"What?! Xander, what's wrong with you? I mean, she's batting for the other team! As in the team of evil," Willow clarified.

"She's right, Xander. And she's straight, which means she may try to jump your bones. You are not welcome!" Anya yelled, pointing her finger in accusation at the eerily quiet slayer.

"Wait, you guys don't understand," Xander said.

"And Jonathan didn't even explain it all," Andrew chimed in.

"Uh, yeah. He did this spell to fool everyone he was like general or something. He found out what's been playing mad scientist with the humans and demons lately," Warren said, attempting to add his own two cents.

"You know who's been killing these people?" Willow questioned. He nodded his head and gulped deeply in his nervousness.

"Well, wouldja tell us already, short stuff?" Anya asked impatiently.

"Well see, Maggie Walsh—who’s mysteriously missing, by the way, created this thing that's part demon, human, and computer. He was made virtually indestructible. He doesn't eat and doesn’t sleep. He makes a kill, I believe to study them. He has a power source made of Uranium 235, meaning he'll live essentially forever. Killing him means annihilating him completely.

“Maggie's been playing mad scientist all along. Not just Adam, but she had some special plans for Buffy, Faith, Riley and Spike. I don't know where she is now, but it looks like Adam is picking up where she left off," he finished solemnly. After hearing the news, they all went deathly quiet in contemplation.

Suddenly, Andrew broke the silence.

"So uh, where's Buffy?"

*****

Summer's House


"Honey, you're home," Spike said as he and Buffy crossed the threshold.

"Yup. Feels good to be back," Buffy said as she sat down on the couch with the baby.

"I missed it, you know? Being in my own element. And my friends..."

"So, you gonna call them then? A long awaited meeting of the Scoobies?" Spike asked, striding towards them.

"At this very moment? No. I just wanna like sleep for a week. And if any time during the middle of the night Joy decides she needs a bottle or a change of diaper, you are so on duty mister," she said, grinning at him.

"Sure thing, pet. Whatever my ladies need," he answered as he sat next to her, picking up his baby girl from her arms. As Buffy gazed at the two of them, she thought of how perfect—

Ring, ring. Ring, ring!

The loud ringing of the phone brought her out of her thoughts. With what seemed to be much effort for her, she rose to go answer it.

"Hello?"

"Buffy? Thank god you're home. AngelsaidGilesandJoycearewithyouandwereallyneed—"

"Whoa, calm down, Will. My mom and Giles are at his place. What's up?"

"Buffy, there is major, major trouble. And we have some guests over... Anyway, we need to have an emergency meeting with you guys like, yesterday," Willow said agitatedly.

"Okay, I'll call Giles. You guys all be here in an hour." As tired as she was, Buffy automatically went into full Slayer mode. She hung up the phone with a weary sigh.

"Problem?" her lover asked. She turned and looked at him with a troubled expression.

"What else?"