AN: It's a short chapter I know, but vital. A small angst warning for the end a bit. The song is called "Too-Ra-Loo-Ra-Loo-Ral (That's an Irish Lullaby)" by composer James Royce Shannon in 1914. It was sung and hummed by Angel and Lorne on the season 3 episode "Dad" when Angel was trying to figure out how to calm Baby Connor down.
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A baby cries in the middle of the night. Crying why? No one knows. Maybe restless, maybe just to be fussy. The dutiful single father immediately attends to the baby. He give's the baby his bottle, doesn't work. Then he gives the baby his teddy bear, just ends up being thrown back into his face. He gets a bit frustrated, then tries to rock the baby.
Over In Killarney, Many years a go, Me Mither sang a song to me, In tones so sweet and low,
About half an hour later, both father and son are asleep in a cocoon of warmth, love, and cherishment. Till another hour later, the baby wakes up the father in a shrill cry. The father jumps up with the baby in his arms and seemingly ready to fight the armies of hell itself.
Just a simple little ditty, In her good ould Irish way,And I'd give the world if she could sing That song to me this day.
After an assessment that everything was okay, he sat back down with the baby crying out. He rolled his eyes and tried to hum a song to the baby, which made the baby nearly pierce the father's sensitive hearing. Next he started making a few funny faces, which made the baby still cry. So in his final move, his face transforms into that of a vampire.
Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral, Too-ra-loo-ra-li,
Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral, Hush now don't you cry!
The vampire smiles as his child, now quiet and gurgling happily at the visage his father has on. Unlike most people, the baby doesn't see the evilness or fright the face brings to other people. The baby innocently reaches out to feel the ridges on his father's forehead. The vampire lowers his head and gently nuzzles the tiny baby hand.
Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral, Too-ra-loo-ra-li,
Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral, That's an Irish lul-la-by
Suddenly, the scene changes now the vampire is with his friends in a hotel that's under siege of various humans, demons, and vampires. All after the baby. Each one has an agenda, but none work together as they all fight amongst themselves.
One of the friends then calls out to the group, "Ah, right, sun's down, vamps can come out, too. Wait, they're headed towards the bikers."
Then they start to discuss that the demons and bikers outside the hotel are fighting amongst themselves. They discuss standing their ground and fight to protect the baby from any harm. The father, though, has other ideas, "This isn't going to work."
One of this friends picks up a flamethrower and answers, "I checked it. It's primed and ready."
The father just replies, "Not the weapon, the plan."
They all then get into a heated discussion amongst each other. One says that finally someone acknowledged that the plane wont work. Another states that the father always runs in the first sign of trouble. The father just states that he will take the baby somewhere safe, away from the ongoing siege and fighting going on outdoors. Everyone else states it's not a good idea and he didn't hear anything.
He just states, "I heard you."
As he is about to leave them, a young sweet woman calls out to him, "Angel! Don't leave us."
The scene changes again to hospital. Angel and his friends are all gathered around the newly christened Connor. They are in awe at the sheer joy the baby exudes in all the people around him. One of Angel's friends brings in a stroller, "Got the best one a very small amount of money could buy."
They all let out an 'ah' and discuss the uncertain future they all have and vow to protect the baby at all costs. After making sure that the area around the hospital and hotel is safe for Angel and his child to travel, they make their way back home.
Oft, in dreams I wander to that cot a gain,I feel her arms a-hugging me as when she held me then.
The scene changes once again and this time is played in a sort of time reel. Angel is told that his son was prophesied to be born, though his son's destiny is a bit obscured. Then the scene changes as Angel is helped out by his best friend, Cordelia, to take care of baby Connor. Smitten, attracted, and feeling love, he tries to take a chance a profess to want a relationship, he is stopped by a another man vying for Cordy's attention. Angel then solemnly walks away to be with his baby. Then one of Angel's closest friends dejectedly translates the prophecy: "The Father will kill The Son."
And I hear her voice a hum-min' to me as in days of yore,When she used to rock me fast a-sleep outside the cabin door.
The time reel still plays and Angel is trying to fight off his jealousy and decides to send Cordy and her beau to a Mexican vacation. He gives her a huge amount of cash to go wild, but basically it was to get her out. He already lost one girl, he doesn't need to be reminded of the pain of losing another. Everyone except the one who translated the prophecy, Wesley, helps Angel take care of his son. No one pays any mind to Wesley's erratic behavior and just keep going about their business.
Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral, Too-ra-loo-ra-li,
Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral, Hush now don't you cry!
Then the scenes change to the worst. Fires are everywhere, earthquakes strikes the city, and the forces of evil converge to try and take Angel's son away from him. Angel's actions start to raise questions and suspicions among the entire team. Angel starts to drink more and more blood and start becoming more easily agitated going so far as to say his own son is annoying and throws a glass of blood to the wall. He finds out that his blood supply has been spiked with his own son's blood and goes out looking for answers. After threatening a few people, Angel is threatened by an unknown demon called Sahjhan. Sahjhan is a bit upset that Angel doesn't remember him and promises retribution.
The scene changes again to one of heartbreak. After finding out Wesley's betrayal, Angel goes on the warpath to get his son back. He is then cornered near a bridge with Holtz, Sahjhan, and Wolfram & Hart personnel. After a brief fight, Angel tells Holtz to protect Connor, giving Angel a chance to fight better. Then it changes, Sahjhan opens up a portal to Quor'Thor, a dark hell dimension. Holtz doesn't think twice and runs straight into the portal, and Angel tries to follow to get his son back. A bolt of energy strikes Angel head on, sending him flying back. He watches in horror as the portal closes up and takes his miracle child to an unknown land. Everyone else looks on the destroyed vampire and walk away. Angel is laid on the ground crying for the loss of his child. Unknown to everyone except Angel, the darkness he was always trying to hold back is released and Angel embraces his demonic dark side to get revenge and his son back.
Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral, Too-ra-loo-ra-li,
Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral, That's an Irish lul-la-by
Angel wakes up in a cold sweat and looks around at his dark basement apartment. He recalls his dream/nightmare and breaks down once again feeling the loss of his baby boy. After a few minutes, Angel hardens up his heart and soul and feels the anger and bloodlust rush through his veins.
He recalls the impromptu conversation the night before between him, Spike, and Buffy about Buffy and Spike's activities. Even though Angel is devastated inside, he uses that pain, anguish, and anger to fuel the raging inferno brewing deep inside of him.
Angel checks to the time and sees that it is already sundown and get's up off his bed and gets ready. His mission was already set and all he needs to do is get people to research on how to open up dimensions. And he knows which people to talk to.
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Half an hour later Angel steps out of his basement apartment and heads to the streets. This time he isn't copying his alter ego's personality. This time, he is just a broken father looking for a way to get his baby boy back.
He walks with a purpose to a certain store and people steer clear of the angry vampire. One mugger tried to rob Angel, but all Angel did was snap his neck and kept on walking. He isn't playing by any rules, and just let's his feet take him to his destination. Once he arrives at the store called the Magic Box, he hears the voices of the people inside discussing Angel's sudden and dark appearance back in Sunnydale. Some are worried that he is evil, others just question whether or not Angel is mentally stable.
Before he goes inside, Angel puts his hand in his pocket and gets out a small picture. He gazes at the picture of his son lovingly and gives it a kiss and a sad smile that he doesn't show anymore. A few tears roll down his cheek and Angel wipes them away. After a few minutes, he regains his composure. He tries to go inside and notices the door locked.
I don't have time for this shit. He thinks to himself, and does an unlikely move that startles and stuns everyone inside.
Buffy, Giles, Willow, Xander, Dawn, Anya, Spike, and Tara are all inside in a heated debate about Angel in Sunnydale and his motives when a suddenly the front door is broken down and Angel storms inside. They all stand shock at sight of pure raw pain in Angel's eyes and each one of them know that something went wrong.
"I need your help," Angel states in a calm, yet sad voice. Giles was about to speak when pure anger rushes into Angel's eyes and he vamps out in an uncontrollable rage. "Shut your mouth and listen. First, I'm not Angelus. Second, if you Xander and you Giles so much suggests that I'm evil, I will beat you till you beg me to die. And finally, all of you will help me try to find away to Quor'Thor."
Anya was about to speak up when Buffy's anger takes over and she storms up to Angel and get's in his face, "Why should we help you? Huh? What is so bad that you break down a door and demand that we help you huh?" Angel lowers his head down, but Buffy yells at him again. "Answer me damn it! Why should all of us help your ass out?!?" She yells at him.
Angel then wearily picks his head back up and the whole room's collective breath's are sucked out at the sight of the normally strong, yet broody vampire's pain. The vampire standing before them was a changed one. The pain was even more intense than what Buffy was constantly feeling ever since she was resurrected.
Spike suddenly felt his sire's immense pain, sadness, and loss greatly and humbly made his way over to Angel and spoke in a soft voice that shocked the entire Scooby Gang, "Sire, what's wrong?"
By then tears were falling down Angel's eyes and he softly spoke, "My son." Even though Angel said it softly, the entire room heard the pain in Angel's voice and were once again shocked by what the broken vampire said.
"My son. Please help me get my son back." He broke down greatly and kneeled down, crying into his hands. Buffy, even though stunned at the huge revelation, felt Angel's pain through their own special bond. She immediately kneeled down with Angel, and drew him into her shoulder. Spike cried softly at the pain Angel was feeling and the room stood still as they saw a broken father cry for the loss of his son.
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