Part: 4/?
Author: Chrissy
Rating: PG
Couples: C/A
Spoilers: up to Birthday
Feedback: Please don't make me beg!!!!!!
Distribution: You know who you are. If you want just
ask!
Disclaimer: Not mine, please don't sue
~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~
Cordelia held her breath as she nervously watched Dr. Seliva place her stethoscope up against Connor's chest. She had nightmares about these well-baby check-ups. That one day the doctor was going to find something to attest to Connor's unnatural creation.
"Well the little guy seems to be in perfect health." Slightly relaxing at the doctor's announcement, Cordelia hurried over to the examining table, lifting Connor up in her arms. "Is he able to sit up on his own yet?"
Kissing the top of Connors head, Cordelia nodded with pride shining in her eyes. "He's been able to sit on his own for a week now. Haven't you Connor?"
Writing something down in Connor's chart Dr. Seliva smiled warmly. "That's amazing. Can he pass an object from hand to hand?" Smiling again Cordelia nodded, nuzzling her cheek against the top of Connor's head. "Like I've said before he seems to be well ahead of most babies his age." Closing Connors file, Dr. Seliva paused for a moment.
"What about bonding? I can clearly see the connection between the two of you. But what about Connor's father, Angel? I can't help but notice that he never comes for these check-ups." Cordelia could feel the doctors steady stare, as she scrambled to come up with an excuse other than, 'You don't have sewer access and he has this thing with daylight.'
"He works nights, but trust me Angel loves his son. The second he wakes up to the time he's called out on... until he has to go to work, Angel and Connor are joined at the hip."
"Well it sounds like he puts in a lot of hours, like most parents these days." Taking a pamphlet from the counter, Dr. Seliva handed it over to Cordelia. "This may or may not be something that interests him, but there's a four-day retreat, that works on bonding skills."
Hesitating for a brief second, Cordelia took the colored brochure from the doctor. "Is there something wrong with Connor?"
"No! Not at all. It's just that I know many of my patients have benefited from the retreat, it's only a suggestion. Not something that has to be done. Mary will be in to give Connor his third set of immunizations. See you in another month?" Cordelia nodded absently as her eyes skimmed the bright picture on the front of the leaflet.
~~~*~~~
Dr. Seliva closed the door to her private office and let out a deep sigh. All was going as planed. She hoped that the little seed of doubt she planted in Miss. Chase's mind would be enough to get the job done. Not only would it be easier this way, but also they wouldn't have to fight Angelus on what had to be done.
As head elder after her father's premature death, Stacia Seliva was thrown into his place. It wasn't as though she hadn't known that the position would someday be hers, she just thought that she'd have time before taking her father's sear in the Romany Clan. He'd know what to do now, without any hesitation. The members would do his bidding without the resistance she was now faced with.
Slowly making her way over to her desk, and picked up the phone. "It's done. If Angelus and Connor haven't signed up for the retreat by next month I'll push the issue... I know we could just go in there and take him, but it's better this way. Angelus's friends would get in the way and make our job more difficult. I'll talk to you in a few weeks." Hanging up the phone, Stacia laid her head in her hands, hoping she was doing right by her people.
~~~*~~~
"What else did Dr. Seliva say?" Angel watched as Cordelia scrubbed Connor's highchair, knowing that something at the doctor's appointment had upset her.
"I already told you everything. He's doing great Angel. Off the charts in his height and weight. Way ahead of the other six month olds. He's fine." Putting the highchair back in the corner, she looked around for something else to do.
She knew she was being silly, but it really grated on her nerves that Connor's pediatrician even suggested that Angel needed some retreat to bond with Connor. As far as she was concerned Angel was the best father known to mankind.
"Cordy, what is it?" He wished, just for once, he didn't have to play twenty questions to pull the truth out of her.
"I'm fine, Connor's fine. We're all fine." Walking over to her desk she started to rearrange the messy desktop. She could feel Angel's eyes follow her and knew he wasn't going to give up. "It's stupid really. It's just that Dr. Seliva never sees you at the appointments-which we both know is impossible-but she's asking about how you and Connor are bonding."
There it was, the look on Angel's face she had desperately wanted to avoid at all costs. That dejected, I'm-not-a-good-father look. "I told you it was stupid. If she saw the way you're with Connor she'd see that you're perfect."
He didn't know what to say. It was like one of his worst fears, not being a good parent to Connor, was being slapped in his face. "Is there something wrong with Connor that she'd say that?"
"NO! Angel! This is why I didn't want to say anything. Connor is a health, well-adjusted baby. He has more love and devotion than any other child does." Walking over to where Angel was sitting stiffly, she took his hands into hers.
"Listen to me. Dr. Seliva is a crackpot. I mean did we even check her credentials?"
"Did she have any suggestions?" Angel was hardly listening to her. All he could think about was the relationship he had with his own father.
Dropping his hands with a deep sigh, Cordelia walked over to Connor's diaper bag and pulled out the pamphlet. "Just some new age frou-frou retreat."
Taking the pamphlet, he quickly read through it. "Maybe we should go."
"Have you lost your mind?"
"I think it's a good idea. Face it I work weird hours." Angel stood up and started to pace.
"Saving the world." Cordelia pointed out.
"His father is a vampire."
"With a huge heart."
"He's constantly in danger."
"But protected by a family who would die for him."
"I want something normal for him." Angel stopped feet from her, his eyes showing his pain. "Four days, where he has normal, is surrounded by normal."
Cordelia felt his pain, and also wished the same for Connor. "What about Holtz? He's still out there you know. And let's not forget Wolfram and Hart."
"They're out there either way." He pointed out in irritation.
"What happens if I have a vision? How do I get in touch with you?" Cordelia could see that she was going to lose this battle. She knew without any doubt that Angel and Connor didn't need to bond, but they did deserve a time that was danger free. Where Angel could drop his guard and just enjoy fatherhood. But that meant four days without either one of them. Four empty days.
"I kinda thought you'd come." Shifting uncomfortably in front of her, he couldn't seem to look her straight in the eye. He hadn't thought that she wouldn't come, in fact he just expected it.
No other words could've made her happier.
Angel's eyes lifted when Cordelia didn't respond right away, and saw her resolve cracking. "The resort is right outside of LA, we could always come back if we need to. Plus Wes, Gunn and Fred will be here." He saw the uncertainty starting to come back. "Four days, that's all I'm asking."
He gave her his best puppy dog look, knowing that whatever hesitation Cordy may have would evaporate. He waited until he saw the slight tug on her lips. "Thank you." Hugging her tightly to him, he smiled when she replied.
"No, thank *you*."
Author: Chrissy
Rating: PG
Couples: C/A
Spoilers: up to Birthday
Feedback: Please don't make me beg!!!!!!
Distribution: You know who you are. If you want just
ask!
Disclaimer: Not mine, please don't sue
~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~
Cordelia held her breath as she nervously watched Dr. Seliva place her stethoscope up against Connor's chest. She had nightmares about these well-baby check-ups. That one day the doctor was going to find something to attest to Connor's unnatural creation.
"Well the little guy seems to be in perfect health." Slightly relaxing at the doctor's announcement, Cordelia hurried over to the examining table, lifting Connor up in her arms. "Is he able to sit up on his own yet?"
Kissing the top of Connors head, Cordelia nodded with pride shining in her eyes. "He's been able to sit on his own for a week now. Haven't you Connor?"
Writing something down in Connor's chart Dr. Seliva smiled warmly. "That's amazing. Can he pass an object from hand to hand?" Smiling again Cordelia nodded, nuzzling her cheek against the top of Connor's head. "Like I've said before he seems to be well ahead of most babies his age." Closing Connors file, Dr. Seliva paused for a moment.
"What about bonding? I can clearly see the connection between the two of you. But what about Connor's father, Angel? I can't help but notice that he never comes for these check-ups." Cordelia could feel the doctors steady stare, as she scrambled to come up with an excuse other than, 'You don't have sewer access and he has this thing with daylight.'
"He works nights, but trust me Angel loves his son. The second he wakes up to the time he's called out on... until he has to go to work, Angel and Connor are joined at the hip."
"Well it sounds like he puts in a lot of hours, like most parents these days." Taking a pamphlet from the counter, Dr. Seliva handed it over to Cordelia. "This may or may not be something that interests him, but there's a four-day retreat, that works on bonding skills."
Hesitating for a brief second, Cordelia took the colored brochure from the doctor. "Is there something wrong with Connor?"
"No! Not at all. It's just that I know many of my patients have benefited from the retreat, it's only a suggestion. Not something that has to be done. Mary will be in to give Connor his third set of immunizations. See you in another month?" Cordelia nodded absently as her eyes skimmed the bright picture on the front of the leaflet.
~~~*~~~
Dr. Seliva closed the door to her private office and let out a deep sigh. All was going as planed. She hoped that the little seed of doubt she planted in Miss. Chase's mind would be enough to get the job done. Not only would it be easier this way, but also they wouldn't have to fight Angelus on what had to be done.
As head elder after her father's premature death, Stacia Seliva was thrown into his place. It wasn't as though she hadn't known that the position would someday be hers, she just thought that she'd have time before taking her father's sear in the Romany Clan. He'd know what to do now, without any hesitation. The members would do his bidding without the resistance she was now faced with.
Slowly making her way over to her desk, and picked up the phone. "It's done. If Angelus and Connor haven't signed up for the retreat by next month I'll push the issue... I know we could just go in there and take him, but it's better this way. Angelus's friends would get in the way and make our job more difficult. I'll talk to you in a few weeks." Hanging up the phone, Stacia laid her head in her hands, hoping she was doing right by her people.
~~~*~~~
"What else did Dr. Seliva say?" Angel watched as Cordelia scrubbed Connor's highchair, knowing that something at the doctor's appointment had upset her.
"I already told you everything. He's doing great Angel. Off the charts in his height and weight. Way ahead of the other six month olds. He's fine." Putting the highchair back in the corner, she looked around for something else to do.
She knew she was being silly, but it really grated on her nerves that Connor's pediatrician even suggested that Angel needed some retreat to bond with Connor. As far as she was concerned Angel was the best father known to mankind.
"Cordy, what is it?" He wished, just for once, he didn't have to play twenty questions to pull the truth out of her.
"I'm fine, Connor's fine. We're all fine." Walking over to her desk she started to rearrange the messy desktop. She could feel Angel's eyes follow her and knew he wasn't going to give up. "It's stupid really. It's just that Dr. Seliva never sees you at the appointments-which we both know is impossible-but she's asking about how you and Connor are bonding."
There it was, the look on Angel's face she had desperately wanted to avoid at all costs. That dejected, I'm-not-a-good-father look. "I told you it was stupid. If she saw the way you're with Connor she'd see that you're perfect."
He didn't know what to say. It was like one of his worst fears, not being a good parent to Connor, was being slapped in his face. "Is there something wrong with Connor that she'd say that?"
"NO! Angel! This is why I didn't want to say anything. Connor is a health, well-adjusted baby. He has more love and devotion than any other child does." Walking over to where Angel was sitting stiffly, she took his hands into hers.
"Listen to me. Dr. Seliva is a crackpot. I mean did we even check her credentials?"
"Did she have any suggestions?" Angel was hardly listening to her. All he could think about was the relationship he had with his own father.
Dropping his hands with a deep sigh, Cordelia walked over to Connor's diaper bag and pulled out the pamphlet. "Just some new age frou-frou retreat."
Taking the pamphlet, he quickly read through it. "Maybe we should go."
"Have you lost your mind?"
"I think it's a good idea. Face it I work weird hours." Angel stood up and started to pace.
"Saving the world." Cordelia pointed out.
"His father is a vampire."
"With a huge heart."
"He's constantly in danger."
"But protected by a family who would die for him."
"I want something normal for him." Angel stopped feet from her, his eyes showing his pain. "Four days, where he has normal, is surrounded by normal."
Cordelia felt his pain, and also wished the same for Connor. "What about Holtz? He's still out there you know. And let's not forget Wolfram and Hart."
"They're out there either way." He pointed out in irritation.
"What happens if I have a vision? How do I get in touch with you?" Cordelia could see that she was going to lose this battle. She knew without any doubt that Angel and Connor didn't need to bond, but they did deserve a time that was danger free. Where Angel could drop his guard and just enjoy fatherhood. But that meant four days without either one of them. Four empty days.
"I kinda thought you'd come." Shifting uncomfortably in front of her, he couldn't seem to look her straight in the eye. He hadn't thought that she wouldn't come, in fact he just expected it.
No other words could've made her happier.
Angel's eyes lifted when Cordelia didn't respond right away, and saw her resolve cracking. "The resort is right outside of LA, we could always come back if we need to. Plus Wes, Gunn and Fred will be here." He saw the uncertainty starting to come back. "Four days, that's all I'm asking."
He gave her his best puppy dog look, knowing that whatever hesitation Cordy may have would evaporate. He waited until he saw the slight tug on her lips. "Thank you." Hugging her tightly to him, he smiled when she replied.
"No, thank *you*."