Part Three

Holtz sat in his home, watching his daughter where she sat huddled in the shadows on the floor. He continued to sing the lullaby under his breath: 'sleep my love and peace attend thee. All through the night, guardian angels god will send you…' There was the sound of footsteps at the door and, looking up, the vampire hunter saw two of his men arrive. 'Dear God,' one of the men breathed, staring down at Caroline where she lay - the baby dead beside her - 'this looks like the work of the devil himself.'

'Not the devil,' Holtz told him, 'just a demon.'

'What will we do?'

'Whatever it takes…' The sun was properly risen by now; its tendrils of light had crept across the property, bathing it in its warm rays. Little Sarah huddled further back - and Holtz got to his feet. He went to his daughter - his precious daughter - and picked her up in his firm grasp. She began to struggle as he carried her through the house. 'No, papa, no!'

He stepped outside, onto the veranda - headed for the edge. Her little fingers curled around one of the struts, clinging on - fighting to stay in the dark. 'Papa - no, please, Papa, don't!' But he ripped her grip free from the post, and then hurled her out onto the lawn - out into the glare of the sunshine.

Her face changed, then - her lovely, cherubic, innocent face became ridged and fanged - the face of a demon from hell. The face of Angelus and Darla and all their evil ilk. And then she caught fire - and screamed as the flames consumed her. Holtz watched as his beloved child, his only daughter, turned into a pile of ash - and then blew away on the wind. Then he returned to the house once more - singing the lullaby beneath his breath.

Doyle continued to fiddle with the wires - this was beyond him, he thought. Sure, he could hotwire a car - but this was far more complicated - and involved meshing electricity with magic. He really didn't know a whole lot about magic - he didn't use it himself. This was way above his pay grade.

He looked up, as he heard the bedroom door open - and Cordelia and Wesley came back out into the club. 'We've done what we can,' Cordy said, 'now we just need him to get her here - can't deliver a baby if the momma's not here.'

'He'll get her here,' Doyle replied, frowning back down at the instruction manual, 'hey - Lorne, I really think you'd better look at this, as well. I got the electrics, but the mystical component? ...it's kickin' my ass.'

The anagogic demon crouched down to look at what the Irishman had achieved so far. 'Well no wonder - you big palooka!' he said, 'you gotta combine the essence of all species and channel them down into the circuit board.'

'Uh… I have exactly no idea what any of that means.'

'Here, let me…' and grumbling, Lorne nudged Doyle out of the way and began to fiddle. There were a few sparks. 'Ha!' the Host was triumphant, 'I'm convinced I've done it … someone check for me.'

Fred hit Gunn again, and once again she made contact with him - and delivered a stinging slap. 'Damn!'

'Sorry!'

Doyle smirked, 'it's not that easy is it? You big palooka!'

...

They all looked up, as they heard steps coming down the stairs - and a moment later, the two vampires appeared; Angel supporting Darla, practically holding her up, as they entered Caritas. 'Just a few more steps,' he was saying, 'that's it, OK. Alright.'

Cordelia pulled out a chair and helped Angel lower Darla into it. 'Thanks,' the pregnant vampire gasped.

'You're welcome… when you feel up to it, we'll get you into Lorne's bedroom - we've got everything ready for the birth,' Cordelia told her. 'How far apart are your contractions now?'

Darla gasped in pain, and Cordy gripped her hand - 'I guess they're pretty frequent, huh?' But the vampire shook her head, 'that wasn't a contraction,' she told her unqualified midwife, 'it's … something… something bad is happening.'

Cordelia twisted her head, 'Fred, get over here!' the other woman joined their little group and, between them, they held a hushed conversation about what was happening - and what they should do about it.

Meanwhile - over head - there was the distant roar of thunder. The men all glanced upwards at the noise. 'Uh… as portents ushering in bad things to the universe go … I think thunder is probably one of them,' Doyle said. 'That sounded ominous to me.'

Angel glanced over at the huddle of women. 'Something's wrong,' he told the others, 'she's in a lot of pain.'

'The contractions?' Wesley asked, but the vampire shook his head. 'She says she hasn't had one in a while - she says this pain is different. That it's something bad.'

'Something's wrong with the baby?' Gunn glanced over at Darla, as well, 'how can she be sure?'

'It's inside of her - she's connected to it - she can feel that... that…'

'It's dyin',' Doyle said softly. He looked up again, as a crash of thunder accompanied his words. And a moment later, Darla doubled over in pain and screamed out. 'Angel!' Cordelia cried, 'we need to move her - now.' In an instant, he was at his sire's side and had swept her into his arms. 'We're set up in Lorne's bedroom,' Cordy told him, and she led the way - as Angel carried Darla through the club and into Lorne's bedroom.

Fred, on her way to follow them, glanced down at the chair recently vacated by Darla. There was a puddle of blood on the seat. She looked up - and her eyes met Doyle's. He too had seen the blood, and understood its meaning. 'This baby has to be born, right away,' Fred said to him, 'otherwise…'

Doyle nodded at her words, but she couldn't help but notice that his normally expressive eyes seemed unusually blank.

'It's time to get to work,' Sahjahn told Holtz. The vampire hunter looked up at him, 'you've found them?' He was furious that he had allowed Angelus to slip through his grasp… but then he had not known what manner of creature he was facing until it was too late. If the demons were found, now - he would not make the same mistakes twice.

Sahjahn ushered in a small, dirty looking man. 'Tell him.'

'You remember what we discussed?'

'Just tell him,' the demon snapped - and the eyes of the man suddenly went blank and lit up, and when he spoke his voice was not his own. 'What do you want us to do? Tell Angel and Darla that they're not welcome here?' Cordelia's voice rang out through the underground chamber. And when the demon spoke again, it was in the voice of the man who had just fired him - without paying. 'Of course not. Caritas is and always will be a sanctuary.'

Arnie's eyes went back to normal - and Holtz smiled, grimly, to himself.

Cordelia and Fred worked around Darla, checking her over. They tucked the blankets over the top of her - and then glanced back at the doorway, where the men stood watching. 'I just need to speak to Angel, honey,' Cordelia said to the vampire, stroking her blonde hair back, 'I'll be right outside, shout if you need anything.' The two women walked away and led the men out of the room. Darla pushed herself up to watch them go.

...

'How is she?' Angel asked.

'She's strong,' Cordelia told him, 'I think she can handle anything that gets thrown at her - physically.'

'Plus she's immortal,' Fred added, 'which is in her favour - healthwise.'

'But the baby?' the vampire asked. The two women looked at each other, their eyes were sad. 'It still has a heartbeat,' Cordelia told the father, 'but it's very faint - and growing fainter. If there is any chance of this baby being born alive - it has to be born sooner rather than later… but her contractions have stopped. It doesn't want to be born.' She reached out and gently laid a hand on Angel's face, caressing his cheek. He raised his head to look at her, 'I'm sorry, sweetie,' she whispered.

'Isn't there anything you can do?' He asked.

But it was Wesley that answered. 'Darla's body is not a life giving vessel,' he told the vampire, 'I don't believe she is equipped to do what must be done in order to bring a baby to term.'

'So - what, we just let my kid die?'

Gunn looked down at his feet and shuffled them, awkwardly. Doyle inhaled sharply and looked away. The rest of the group were still - and silent. 'If we could take her to a doctor,' Cordelia said, 'I'd suggest a c-section. But we can't do that here.'

'Why not?' Angel demanded.

'Angel - I can't slice a woman open and deliver a baby! A natural birth is one thing - sure - but I can't cut her up!'

'It wouldn't kill her!' Angel protested, 'she's a vampire - a knife to the belly is nothing - a flesh wound.'

'I can't…'

'You gotta try…' he stepped closer towards her, and Cordelia shuffled back - looking alarmed.

'Look, bud, if Cordy says she can't do it then she can't do it. We're not talking about forcing her into doing something she isn't comfortable or capable of doing.'

Angel whirled round, and faced down Doyle, then. 'No, we're talking about my child dying - before it's even born. And that is not a conversation I am willing to have - if it was your baby would it be a conversation you'd take part in?' Doyle just inhaled sharply, again, and looked away, once more. 'I thought not,' Angel continued, 'no parent should have to see their child die. And we are going to do whatever it takes to prevent that. This whole thing has been a miracle - well you don't just get half a miracle… we'll bring about the rest ourselves.'

'So - what, you gonna cut her open yourself?' Doyle asked him. There was no way he was letting Angel bully Cordelia into performing major surgery - she had a first aid certificate for god's sake - not an MD.

'I'll do it,' Wesley said, 'dissection of demons played a large part in the academy curriculum... I think I should be able to get it right first time.'

'You can't harm Darla either way,' Angel told him.

'No - but I might cut the baby in half,' Wesley said, 'Lorne - do you have a sharp knife?' Cordelia looked relieved, as this burden was taken from her shoulders - and Doyle gave the watcher a grateful smile. The Host went and found the sharpest blade in his establishment and handed it to Wesley.

Lilah sat in her office, thinking very carefully. This news seemed to be a stroke of luck that she would not have believed possible. But she had to think how to proceed, carefully. She now knew something that no one else did - not Linwood, not Gavin, and not all the sects out there trying to get their hands on the vampire kid. The brat would never be born. The scrolls predicted its death.

There was another distant rumble of thunder … and she smiled to herself, as she watched the rain begin to pour. It never rained in L.A - especially not like this. This was … apocalyptic. She smiled, again. It was perfect, is what it was: For surely in that time, when the skies open and the heavens weep; there will be no birth, only death. The raindrops slid down the panes of glass, and she tracked each one of them. Angel's child would not live - it would be stillborn - tonight. And only she knew it. But she needed to think very carefully about when to tell Linwood the good news - and how to make sure that Gavin took none of the credit. All this fuss was over nothing - and Lilah Morgan would live to fight another day.

Darla looked up, as the gang came back into the room. 'What is it?' she asked. 'Darla,' Wesley said to her, keeping his voice gentle, but firm, 'I do not wish to alarm you - but you are aware your pregnancy is in danger - and that we must take drastic measures in order to attempt to save it.'

'What are you saying?' she glanced at Angel. He took her hand, 'it won't kill you,' he soothed, 'but it might save our baby - that's what you want isn't it?'

'It won't kill me?' she asked, she laughed a dry, throaty chuckle, 'what? Are you planning on cutting the baby out of me?' Then she saw their faces… 'oh.'

'Like I said - you'll be fine - you'll heal - and we'll take care of you.'

'It won't work,' she told them, 'you think if it were that simple, I wouldn't have cut it out of me as soon as I realised it was there? You think I didn't already try?' The gang all glanced at each other in disquiet. 'Something's protecting it,' she said.

'Something may have been protecting it,' Wesley countered, 'but circumstances have changed - this baby has been healthy all this time. Now it is dying…. A c-section is worth a shot.'

'Fine,' she sighed and rolled up her top, exposing her belly. The gang all glanced at each other again. 'Wouldn't you like a painkiller? Or something to bite down on?' Cordelia asked her. But the pregnant vampire shook her head. 'Just do it - just get this over with.'

They all watched, with bated breath, as Wesley sat down beside her and ran his hands across her bump. She also watched him, keeping her dark eyes fixed on him as he scrutinised her - looking for the exact right place to make his cut. 'I believe … this should do it,' he raised his knife and laid it against her skin, and then looked her in the eyes, 'ready?' She nodded. He pressed down with the blade and, as he did so, a sudden green light emanated from the place between Darla and the knife - like a force field - and Wesley was thrown backwards across the room. He crashed into the wall and slumped to the floor - unconscious. Darla sighed, 'I told you something was protecting it,' she said.

The rest of the gang were back out in the main part of the club - and only Angel was left with Darla now. The two parents left alone to grieve the loss of their child. 'The baby's stopped moving,' she said to her boy, 'it's been months - and finally they've stopped kicking.'

'Maybe they figure they've got your attention.'

She shook her head. 'I can feel the life slipping away from me.'

'Then don't let it,' he gripped her hand, 'you have to fight this - please.'

She smiled - a sad and tired smile, 'my boy,' she said, 'my darling boy… I told you I didn't have anything to offer this kid. Some mother… can't even give it life.' There were tears in her eyes, as she spoke, and they were mirrored by Angel's own.

When Cordelia had finished patching up Wesley and got him back on his feet, she went over to where Doyle was sat on one of the tables. She perched on next to him and wrapped her arms around him from behind, resting her chin on his shoulder. 'Hey,' he said to her, without turning.

'Hey you,' she replied, 'this is… poor Angel.'

'Yeah.'

'I guess it kinda puts things in perspective, huh?' she said to him. 'Sure we have our own problems … but, at least we'll never have to go through this.'

He sighed, heavily, 'yeah.'

...

Lorne was back fiddling with the wires, trying to bind the spiritual to the physical. 'OK - this time I got it. Try now.'

'Nuhuh,' Gunn said, 'hit Wes this time.'

'I just got knocked unconscious - hit Gunn!'

Fred looked apologetic, 'sorry, Charles,' and smacked him around the back of the head. But this time, instead of making contact, her arm hit a blue barrier of light - and she was knocked off balance. 'Hey! I did it!' Lorne looked delighted, everyone else just stared back at him, 'yay me?' he said, and then tutted when they failed to respond. 'Well - OK then - everyone's drinking - and I'm buying.' He got to his feet.

Fred glanced back at the bedroom door, 'I wonder what they're talking about in there?'

'What can you say in a situation like this?' Wesley asked. Fred shrugged. 'I don't get it. The Powers have got her this far - they've looked after the baby for nine months. Why are they letting this happen now?'

'Maybe this is The Powers finally stepping in,' Gunn suggested, everyone turned to look at him. 'I mean… I hope everything's OK - and I don't want Angel's kid to be the destroyer … but what if it is? And this is The Powers stepping in to make everything alright?'

'Charles!'

'I'm sorry - OK? I am - but, if The Powers wanted this kid to be born - we wouldn't be going through this… and wouldn't they have sent Irish a message telling us what to do?'

Doyle frowned, 'I guess they did send me a message,' he said. Everyone's head turned to look at him, 'beyond the one about Darla goin' to the arcade, I mean. That night - the night after my trial. The night of Angel's epiphany. I had a vision - of Angel and Darla - y'know...' He twisted his mouth up, conveying what he had seen through his expression.

'Making hellspawn?' Gunn finished. Doyle nodded. 'See - I told you,' the street fighter said. 'The Powers sent Doyle a vision so he could prevent it from happening. When he didn't get there in time… they had to bide their time until they could put things right.'

'I guess that's a theory,' the Irishman agreed, looking thoughtful.

'I don't know,' Cordelia said, 'Angel doesn't deserve this. He's on The Powers' team … I can't see why they would hurt him this way.'

'Some things are just bigger than that, though, Darlin'.' Doyle glanced over his shoulder so he could look at her, 'I guess maybe… hurtin' Angel is the better option; that - whatever else might happen - it might hurt him less in the long run to hurt him now.'

'It's about doing what is right,' Wesley agreed, 'not what is easy - the two are rarely compatible. Hurting Angel to prevent something worse from happening in the long run is an act of mercy. The Powers may be doing him a kindness … it doesn't mean they get any joy from their actions.'

The whole team looked glum. 'Well, gee,' Lorne said, 'I guess I can't pour these drinks fast enough!' He walked behind the bar, and then looked up - as a short man in a long coat walked through the door. 'Hello,' he said pleasantly. The man looked the green demon up and down, 'hello.'

'We're not open at the moment,' the Host said, still smiling. He handed the man a flyer. 'Why don't you come back tomorrow for our grand reopening?' The man looked down at the flyer, 'thanks,' he said - and turned to walk out of the bar. As he gained the stairs, he began to sing his lullaby. 'Sleep my love and peace attend thee. All through the night, guardian angels god will send you.'

Lorne looked up, his eyes widened in terrified, horrified realisation. The bottle and glass dropped from his hand. The others looked up at him. 'Run!' he gasped.

'What's going on?' Cordelia frowned.

'Run - just run!' and he ducked out from behind the bar and began to race his way to the back of the club. The others scrambled to their feet and followed him - infected by his sense of panic.

...

Outside of the club, Holtz dropped his barrel down the stairs. He watched it roll down and then clear the metal detectors. The electronic frame beeped as the canister passed through it. And then he threw in a grenade. It too bounced down the steps and then came to a rest next to the barrel. A beat later, the grenade exploded - and a fireball tore through Caritas, destroying everything in its wake.