Disclaimer: I don't own Angel or any of the characters from the show. I am just taking them off the shelf, dusting them off, and letting them play with some of the people from my shelf. I promise to put everything back where I found it when I am done.

Author's Note: As stated before the baby's name is now going to be changed from Garren to the name they have given him on the show, which is Connor. Major thanks to MeriBeth, my wonderful Beta Reader!

Pairings: Yes this will lead to a Wes/Fred and C/A pairing, you are just going to have to wait and see how it happens.

Yellow - Chapter 2: Subjective Present
by Annabelle

Panting from lack of oxygen Winifred looked at the creature that stood before her. It was obviously female and had cat like features, which included a fine layer of black fur with thin sliver strips streaking across in a chaotic pattern. The strangest feature of all though was the yellow eyes that Fred was now staring into. They were the same hue as the two glimmers she saw back at the hotel. The glints of yellow light that seemed so familiar. She stood these with all this different thoughts racing through her mind and then images started to hit her in waves.

Ten years ago, she was running in her back yard. She had been laughing at something and was out of breath. She was running from someone. "I am gonna find you Winnie," a lighthearted voice called out to her. But she kept hiding in the bushes. Giggling silently to herself. She was watching for something. Everything was so warm, happy and just lovely, then there was a flash of bright light.

Now she was inside her house. It was a few years later. She looked around for a moment and heard noises in the living room. Slowly she started to walk toward the room without making a sound. She pushed the door to the entrance and saw that everything was dark. Just as she was about to turn to leave the lights came on and people sprung up from everywhere around the room. They were shouting at her and laughing. She was not scared though. Happiness was washing over her and she felt loved. The faces of the people around her were all blurry, everyone but her mother and father. She could make them out clearly. Turning towards her left she saw the yellow glimmers again and tried to focus on them. She willed her past self to move closer but just as things were starting to come into focus the scene changed.

It was months later. She felt sad and scared. She was sitting alone in her room and there were a few tears coming down her check. Then she heard a soft muffled noise coming from across the room. There was someone coming toward her and they were moving slowly. Fred could make out long strands of hair but she could not figure out the color. The body was shaking all over and seemed weak. Carefully she reached out her hand and felt another press against it. A smile crept across her face but there was still worry in her veins. But it was not worry for her self; it was worry for this other person. "I am scared Winnie," the same voice from her early vision spoke but this time it was meek and trembling. "I know this is the way it has to be but I am just so scared." She was about to say something when the white light from before blinded her and she found herself back in the alley.

She was still staring into the yellow eyes of the creature. Then it hit her. This creature was something from her past. That was what she was so afraid of. Sure some of her past she could face. Little bits and pieces of it. But this creature represented a lot of it, the good memories and the bad. This is what she was running from and trying to hide from. Her past was not something she wanted to face. Clutching her fists she gave the female creature a determined look.

"No," she told the she beast. "I don't want to do this. I don't want to remember! Leave me alone. I don't want to!"

"You have to," it spoke in a gruff but familiar voice.

Fred was about to protest when more images started to hit her. Faster this time and more recent. The end of high school and she was standing with a girl whose face was just out of focus. Fred could tell that this was the same girl from her other memories. They were talking about something and crying a little. The girl seemed worried for her, afraid of where she was going. But Fred told her that she would be perfectly safe in Los Angeles.

"I am going to go with you," the girl's voice sounded so similar to the creatures, but why? "Just for the first few months. Until I have to go to England. Then I will only be gone for a little while and I will come back."

"You really shouldn't," Fred told her. "It's getting too close. Besides it's safer for you there. I'll be fine."

"I am not going to take no for an answer," her accent was slightly different then other Texans. Almost like she had lived in England for a little while. "Besides it is my job."

"You don't owe me anything," Fred reassured her. "I helped because I wanted to and because you're my friend. My best friend. You have always been there for me. Even when you aren't really there I feel like a small part of you is. Even if it's your job," she smiled again the girl's face started to come into focus a little. The two of them laughed and then they were not at the high school any more.

Now she was in her old apartment in LA. Things were decorated in a style that was not quite her own but they blended with things that were clearly hers. The rooms were painted with vibrant colors and the furniture matched. The only thing that wasn't colored wood or plastic was her old writing desk, which sat in the corner of the living room near the big bay window that over looked the city. Hanging above the window were five spider plants all in a row. Pushed up against another wall was a large fish tank and there were pictures done by modern artists hanging on almost every wall space. The whole apartment was very loud in a way and was definitely not something she would have chosen on her own.

"Now Winnie," it was the girl from before calling to her from another room. "Don't forget to water the plants every three days and feed the fish every other evening, but not too much. And clean their tank when the water starts to get murky. I left the phone number of the place that I will be staying and even if I am not there someone will be there to send help if you need it."

"You're only going to be gone for a month. I think I can handle myself for that long," Fred called back to her a little upset that she was not being trusted. "I have been training with you for years now. I might not be as strong, but I am quick." Fred looked at the girl as she entered the room. Her face was now in full focus. She had average length dark hair, dark eyes to match, and she was average build and height. The girl looked perfectly average.

"You are brilliant, quick, smart, and," the girl let out a groan as she pushed the heavy trunk into the living, "right now you are probably just as strong as I am. Here Winnie will you help me with this."

Fred sighed, "Yes Evie." That was the girl's name. Fred and finally been able to remember her name. "You know the only reason you can't do this on your own is because you are taking those organic compounds of muscle relaxants and adrenal suppressants. It is really quite fascinating to see their affect on you. It is very drastic."

"Well as fascinating as it is to you Winifred it is a pain in the butt for me," Evie complained. "I can't even lift this bloody trunk!"

"You have been speaking with your father haven't you," Fred asked Evie because she noticed that her accent was more pronounced.

"Might have," Evie grumbled. Fred gave her a look. "Well he did book the flight."

"It is good that you are talking to him Evelyn," that was her full name. Her full name was Evelyn Rose, oh what was her last name. "He does want to help. Besides you will get to spend time with him now."

"Piffle!" Evelyn was angry. "He isn't going to be there."

"But he said-" Fred started.

"Well his isn't now. Even though he is out of a job he still can't make it," Evie was starting to turn slight red in the face. "The most important time of my life and he can't be there just like he couldn't be there for me like all the other times I asked for him. You know I had to beg him to come see me this holiday. You know what he said. He said he would try but most likely he wouldn't be able to come."

"But he will at least call you won't he," Fred tried to make her friend feel better. "I know that when you were younger he would always come until he couldn't anymore cause of his job. But he always called."

"Not the same," Evie sighed and they heard the doorbell buzz. "Well that will be the limo service. Come downstairs with me and say goodbye." The vision ended and Fred was again standing looking the beast in the eyes.

"Evie," Fred ventured.

A scary smile came over the feline face, "Yes it's-" Evie's voice, which was hoarser than in the visions because of her monster form, was cut off. Wesley had burst into the alley and tackled her thinking that she was attacking Fred.

"Wesley," Fred called out to him.

"It's alright Fred. I have her," Wesley pinned Evelyn down and punched her stomach.

Evelyn let out a roar and swiped one of her clawed hands over his chest giving his shirt five neat rip marks and slightly cutting his chest. She struggled against him but she felt weak. "Help me," she begged of Fred.

Wesley was stunned for a moment but did not let go of her, "Fred?"

"Wesley it's alright. Let her go," Fred walked closer to them. "She's really weak now. She didn't mean to hurt you but she had to defend herself. You did hit her." Fred touched Evie's feline face, "Are you okay Evie?"

"Cold, tired," was all Evie managed to say.

"Fred, you know her?" Wesley still did not understand what was going on.

Fred nodded, "She doesn't always look like this but yes, she is my friend. Wesley this is Evelyn. Evelyn this is Wesley."

"Pleasure," Evie coughed out. "Change."

"I beg your pardon," Wesley was slightly offended thinking that she was telling him to change.

"She means she is going to change now. She is too weak to keep this form for long. Turn your eyes for a moment," Fred explained. "And give me your coat."

Wesley understood now and shrugged off his coat. "I hope it is long enough," he spoke softly as he handed it her and turned around.

Fred watched as the feline in front of her shrink a back into the form of Evelyn, "Here."

Evelyn sat up to take the coat and wrapped it around her. It thankfully covered everything it needed to, "Bad thing about being in demon form, no cloths." Her voice was still a little raspy but it seemed to be that way for another reason.

"It's okay now Wesley," Fred told him as she helped Evelyn to her feet.

"Thanks, Wesley right," Evelyn held out her very human hand to him.

"Yes," Wesley shook it. "Not to sound rude or anything but would someone mind explaining going on to me."

"I'm an old friend of Fred's and I came for a visit," Evie stated simply. Then she realized what he meant. "Oh, you mean the Bastlian bit back there?"

"Bastlian?" Wesley was slightly confused. "I have never heard of that type of demon before."

"Well I should hope not!" Evelyn was now sounded offended.

Fred smiled awkwardly and tried to explain. "Bastlians were named after the Goddess Bast because they are her demon warriors and guardians. They are very rare"

"See, rare demon warrior guardian. Not just demon, demon warrior guardian," Evelyn gave Wes a snubbed look.

"Well I can see the huge difference now but while you were trying to rip my lungs out demon and demon warrior guardian seemed very similar," Wesley rolled his eyes.

"I don't care for him that much," Evelyn looked at Fred. She had been leaning her weight against her friend because she knew that she could not stand on her own. "Besides, I wasn't trying to rip his lungs out. I just wanted him off me. I am fairly weak right now. Hitting a girl while she's down, where did you meet such an awful fellow Fred?"

"He is my friend and he helped save me from the demon world that I was in," Fred sighed. "Now shut up before he decides not to help you back to the hotel."

"Help her back to the hotel, I don't think that is such a- did you just tell her to shut up?" Wesley was shocked.

Fred ignored his question, "We have to help her. She is really a good person. Besides she can't go anywhere else. She doesn't have the strength."

"Why doesn't she," Wesley asked as he stood on Evelyn's other side and let her lean some of her weight on him. "She looks very ill, what happened?"

"Always so mean to me that one. Anyway it's all the bloody drugs and viruses that they keep pumping me with," Evelyn mumbled. "Oh I feel dizzy."

"Come on Evie," Fred encouraged her. "Just hang on and we will get you some help." But Fred was not heard because Evie had just passed out.

"Fred not to press the issue but what is wrong with her," Wesley picked up Evelyn in his arms.

"A controlled virus and some muscle represents to help keep her body temperature down," Fred explained. "The virus won't affect us or the baby. Just demons."

"But why?" Wesley continued to question her.

Fred looked around the alley for a moment. "Let's just get her to the hotel so she will be safe," Fred begged. "I'll explain everything once we are all safe, okay?"

Wesley sighed and saw that he had no choice to but fulfill her request. They started to walk out the alley and head back to the hotel. "Fred," Wesley had one more question that was bothering him. "Why did you run from me?" He was a little scared to hear the answer and if it was what he thought then he did not want to her speak it. "Is it because you are afraid of me?"

"Wesley of course not," Fred shook her head. "How could you think that? I was just scared of, well my past. Evelyn was near by the whole time I was running and she was making me remember by sending me these images and thoughts. I was frightened by all of it. So I ran. It wasn't you Wesley. I will never be afraid of you, well unless you were possessed by some type of evil force, but other than that."

Despite the situation Wesley let out a small chuckle, "Well that is good to know. Let's hurry than, everyone is waiting for us." Fred nodded and they headed quickly for the hotel.

 

Cordelia was totally lost in thought. Everything that had happened over the last few months just started to hit her all at once. For now they were safe. Angel had seen to that when he went to have his little talk with Wolfram & Hart. But Holtz was still a huge factor in destroying they momentary peace. Cordy frowned.

It just was not fair that something that Angel could never have and now did have could be taken away from him so easily. Sure he had killed Holtz's family but that was way back when he did not have a soul. "Can't he see that he is totally a different person, vampire now," Cordy called out angrily to no one. "He has a soul for crying out loud."

It was no secret. She hated Holtz and if she could she would kill him. No one should try to take a baby away from his family, not even as payback. It just was not right. Angel had been through so much in his life and now, well now it just seemed like enough to Cordelia. The whole torched soul thing was starting to seem pretty old to her and she just wished that there was something that she could do to make it okay for him, even for just a moment. One moment where he did not have to worry about the rest of the world trying to attack him or the people he cared about. If she someone told her that giving up her right arm would let him live with that kind of peace than she would do it in a heart beat. But no mystical being was going to pop and give her the chance to give up her arm or any other part of her body.

Cordelia was just about to continue her great rant when her head started to feel like it was going to spilt open. A vision started to flash in her mind and it caused pain to sweep across her whole body. Then she saw the images a bit more clearly and she let out a terrifying scream.

"Cordy," Angel came running into the lobby and the baby's cries could be heard in the background. "Cordy, speak to me."

"Wesley," Cordelia managed to gasp out. "Monster attacked him. Claws. Fred was screaming."

"Where were they," Angel pressed on.

Cordelia shook her head. The pain was starting to subside and she was able to comprehend everything more clearly. "Wait you can't go," she said. "Hello, sunlight?"

"We'll call Gunn and you can meet up with him," Angel thought quickly. "Besides I have to stay here and take care of Connor."

"Connor? What happened to Garren?" asked Cordy

Angel smiled, "I like Connor better. Now go get some weapons, I'll call Gunn."

"I wouldn't recommend that," a man's voice spoke to them from the entrance of the hotel. "It would be a waste of time. Your friends are fine."

Angel and Cordelia looked toward the doors of the hotel and refused to believe what they saw. The person standing before them, well he could not be there. It was impossible. But there he was, standing there and telling them not to worry.

"What are you doing here," the both called out at the same time. Totally confusion could not being to describe the state that their minds were in because there standing in front of them was Rupert Giles.


get this gear!