"Well, I think we all learned the lesson that we're much more effective as a group." Wesley thought he detected a hesitation in Angel's question somewhere, but decided not to press the issue. His old friend, he knew, would say what he wanted when he felt it. Wesley nodded into the receiver. "First one seems to be a doozy. Some sort of demon cult making sacrifices around the city. Seems to be connected to something larger, so we're all chasing down leads."

He smiled. "I confess to having trouble imagining Buffy as especially maternal, but by our conversations, she certainly seems to have done her share of maturing." A pause before Wesley went on. "How is your... your family, Angel? And how are you?"