Disclaimer: Only Frankie is mine, the rest belongs to Mr. Whedon and the WB.

Chapter One

Connor's eyes snapped open at the noise; he turned over in his bed just in time to catch sight of Cordelia closing the door behind her. He groaned and buried his face in the pillow, still warm and smelling of her hair. He was getting tired of her little game but the thought of losing her to him made him feel angry. It was the third morning in a row that she had walked out before he had woken up, anxious to get back to the hotel before anyone realised she was missing, before he realised she was gone. He wasn't stupid, he knew that she didn't love him but that didn't make it any easier to handle her games. She had told him a million times that there was no way she could fall for him, it would hurt Angel too much and he could never find out. Connor was convinced she already had fallen for him but admitting that would mean too much loss and he knew Cordelia wasn't ready to lose Angel for good, not even for him.

He kicked the covers back from his semi-naked body and stretched out across the bed, not knowing what to do now. A huge part of him wanted to get up and run after her, take her to the hotel and announce their awful secret to the group but he didn't want to hurt her, he didn't really want to hurt Angel as tough as his bravado about his father was. He wished he had the willpower to refuse her, tell her to leave when she showed up out of the blue but he knew that he couldn't. It was time for them to talk about it; if she was going to continue their nightly liaisons then he wanted her to admit to him that she had feelings for him, admit that they were having a relationship, no matter how perverted a relationship it was. He knew that she never would but he had to give her the ultimatum, enough was enough. He sat up; he felt better having made the decision but wondered if he had the courage to go through with it. He jumped out of bed and wandered into the bathroom, it was the same ritual every morning. Scrub the smell of Cordelia from his body so that his father would be none the wiser to their affair, make sure he wore clean clothes so her perfume wasn't imprinted on his shirt, it was all one big game but it was definitely a game drawing to full time.

After showering and dressing and forcing himself to eat breakfast, he started out of the building and began to run towards the hotel. He disappeared up alleyways and over fences, testing his reflexes and speed skills along the way. It was his exercise of the day, a good way to keep him on his toes. He jumped down from the roof of the building opposite the Hyperion and darted out into the traffic, dodging the cars and lorries until he reached the wrought iron gates. Deciding against the front door, he walked around the side of the building and clambered up the wall and in through the kitchen window, he didn't really need to be there and he was only there to see Cordelia anyway.

He ran swiftly and silently up the staircase to the first floor and walked slowly along the corridor, aware that at any moment his father could walk out and catch him. Connor took quick glance over his shoulder before shooting up the corridor and into Cordelia's room without knocking.

"What are you doing in here?" asked Cordelia, she had just finished changing her clothes and did not look pleased to see him in her bedroom.

"I wanted to talk to you, we need to talk," he muttered, staring at his feet and hating the way she made him feel inadequate just by looking at him.

"What about?" she sighed impatiently, adjusting the sleeves of her shirt.

"I want to talk about us. Why won't you just admit that there's something going on between us?" said Connor, his confidence growing as he walked across the room and stroked her shoulder. She seemed to respond to his touch but quickly shook him off and walked away.

"Connor, there's nothing going on. We're just having fun, right? I mean, I have feelings for you but I've told you, I can't fall in love with you,"

"That's such crap. I want you to tell him what's been going on, I'm sick of lying and sneaking around after you. I feel like I'm not good enough for you, that's why you keep me hidden away and lie to everyone,"

"That's not true. You know I don't hide you away and the only reason I haven't told anyone is to protect Angel,"

"Fine, then it's over. Don't bother coming over tonight or any other night; I'm sick of this, I'm sick of being your plaything. I never thought you could be like this but I was obviously wrong," sighed Connor, the sadness evident in his voice. He didn't want to be saying these things but his own feelings and the feelings of his father were at risk.

"Connor, baby, I'm sorry. I didn't know I was hurting you this much, I thought you were having fun too. I mean, I knew you had feelings but I never thought… I'm sorry," she sighed, walking over to him and taking him into her arms. They stood in silence, both welcoming the other's embrace but knowing that it was over. There was nothing between them anymore and as heartbroken as Connor was, there was no way he could show her that. He lifted his head and pushed her away slightly; she bent her head and kissed him softly on the lips. He knew what it was, it was goodbye.

"What's going on?"

Connor pushed Cordelia away and turned to face his father, Angel was standing in the doorway with his eyes blazing and his glare fixed on Cordelia. She couldn't say anything; she couldn't get the words out. Connor looked at her and then back to his father, Angel's eyes were burning with anger and betrayal but his face defied his eyes, it looked sad and broken.

"Angel… I'm so sorry," she blurted out, Connor looked at her and sighed.

"Dad," he started. Angel flinched at the word, whenever Connor called him that it felt as though his heart was beating again but now it just felt like a knife. "I didn't want you to find out like this, I wanted to tell you properly,"

"Tell me what?"

"It was nothing," said Cordelia. "We just… after the rain of fire and a few times after that, it was nothing. We were just having fun,"

"Cordy, shut up," whispered Connor.

"How were you gonna do it?" she hissed.

"Both of you just shut up and get out," whispered Angel. Connor looked at him defiantly but the look on Angel's face told him that he wouldn't get a fight from his father; he was too broken by the news. Connor walked past him and out into the corridor followed by an apologetic Cordelia, Angel closed the door behind them and stayed behind in Cordelia's bedroom, his head and heart reeling with the news.

Cordelia was about to walk down the staircase to join the group but Connor grabbed her by the arm and stopped her, turning her towards him. She looked up at him with tears in her eyes but she was staying strong, she had to stay strong. There was no way she was losing Angel over a mistake.

"I know what we said but now that he knows, is there any way for us to make it?" asked Connor, Cordelia smiled at his naivety.

"No, Connor. It's over, I don't want you to end up hating me for not returning your feelings and I don't want to lose Angel. I think we should just end it now before it gets too much for both of us,"

"Fine," said Connor a little too coldly. Cordelia's eyes flashed with shock. "What did you expect? Did you want me to pine after you or something? I'm not gonna embarrass myself, will you tell Dad that I'm going away for a few days, I'll be back whenever,"

"Where are you going?"

"What do you care? Just tell Dad," spat Connor and leapt through one of the open windows leaving Cordelia standing in the corridor with the world falling down around her. He headed off towards his makeshift apartment, he was packing a few things and then he was out of L.A. for as long as he needed. It would give him a welcome break from fighting the forces of darkness and a welcome break from fighting the forces of Cordelia.