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Thanks a lot to Brainstorm Sorcerer for the help once more.

Chapter 15- Breaking the news

Gunn and Fred were sorting through stacks of files on the reception counter of the Hyperion's lobby as Gunn said. "It's hopeless. Half these files I can't even read the client's names! What's this? Fizzana? Fizz - Fizzacar? What does this say to you?"

Fred suggested. "I think it's Frysylka? - Oh, right. They were that couple that called last week with the squatter in their layer. Wesley was supposed to ... - It was supposed to be taken care of."

Gunn commented. "Well, I guess he was too busy stealing the baby."

"Don't. - Okay?"

Lorne walked in, still in black. "So, how's it coming? Making any headway on those pending file piles?"

Gunn responded. "Some. Sorta."

Fred added. "There's just so much to keep track of."

Lorne looked at the stairs leading up. "Still. At times like these it's good to keep busy. Throw yourself into work. Stay active."

Fred pointed out. "Lorne, he lost the only child he'll ever have."

Lorne sighed: "Ah, sugar, I know. I know. I just wish he'd talk to us. Right now, he is only talking to Cordelia, no one else."

Groo arrived, having heard some of it as he said. "Besides, he might still be angry at Wesley for the betrayal."

"There's stuff on Mephisto and Hell-Mark here too", Fred noted as she looked at the files. "Wesley was looking for a way to help Matt."

"Have you told his loved ones in New York?" Lorne asked, and they shook their heads. "They need to know."

Angel, in his scorched apartment, stared at the crib, the picture still in his hand with Cordelia sitting next to him, both of them looking devastated.

In a casino, a variety of demons and humans were playing different games of chance. The owner called Jenoff turned to one of his demonic goons. "Table six, the one in blue? Palmed a king in his left hand. And Benny? Just take the left hand. We can still make money off his right."

He called over another demon, wearing dark sunglasses. "You! Good." He handed him one of AI's business cards. "Bring him in. His marker is up. Time to collect his soul."

The guy was nervous though. "I heard Daredevil works with these guys."

"The Devil is in New York, no way he can cause trouble for us from across the country", Jenoff responded calmly.

Later, after Fred and Gunn had met the Demon couple, Fred arrived at the hospital with Wesley's stuff.

"Hi, Wesley. - How are you feeling?" She asked with a smile.

Wesley made a motion towards his throat as Fred set the box down on a chair.

"Oh", she cringed. "It's not permanent though", she gestured to the box, "brought you some of your stuff from the office. Things there... – Well, things."

After a beat she said. "Gunn and I found your notes about - the baby, the prophecy. You took him away because you thought Angel was gonna kill him. You were trying to protect 'em - both of them. I just wanted you to know I understand that."

Wesley had an almost-smile as Fred continued after a beat. "And I also wanted to say, I thought what Angel tried to do to you was wrong - and I'm sorry." Wesley raised a hand as Fred's expression got darker. "But he was right to blame you, Wesley. You should have come to us. You should have trusted us instead of going to Holtz behind our back. You're supposed to be our friend and you didn't even... ", she trailed off and made to go away before stopping and saying. "Cordelia can't even talk about you, and Lorne is inconsolable about Matt. I wasn't that close to Matt, but he was important to the team, so he was important to me."

Fred then added. If Angel sees you again, he'll kill you, Wesley. This time for real. Don't come back to the hotel - ever." Fred turned to go, but stopped with her back to Wesley. "The prophecy was false. Angel was never gonna hurt Connor. - It was all for nothing."

Wesley watched with a broken expression as Fred walked out of the room, now wallowing in grief as he realized his stupidity had cost both Connor and Matt, and they were in a Hell-Dimension.

Gunn walked along a dark sewer tunnel and came across a tile in the floor reading "Gurforg bless our home." "Gotta be it."

Gunn pushed against the wall above the tile and it swung open with a grating sound to reveal a furnished cave. "Smells like old people in here."

Gunn jumped as a glob of mucus hits the wall beside him. "Gross!"

A big, ugly looking demon stood up in the middle of the living room. "Okay. Definitely not a Leprechaun."

Gunn attacked but was disarmed and pushed away. As the Demon attacked, Gunn hit him and weaved to avoid a blow. He was punched back before dodging a blow and striking back. He was pushed back again but kicked the Demon back before taking out his machete and stabbed it in the chest, twisting it as a fountain of mucus shot up, just missing Gunn.

"Uh! Must be my lucky day!"

"Wanna bet?"

Gunn straightened up to see the goon from the Casino standing just inside the apartment.

"Oh, you!" Gunn realized with eyes wide.

"Remember that night?" The goon asked.

"Of course I remember!" Gunn said.

"You made a deal. Signed a blood oath, trading your soul. You think that's an arrangement you can get out of?" The goon asked.

Gunn asked back. "Who said I'm trying to get out of anything?"

The goon told him. "You're planning on giving your soul to another, aren't you?"

Gunn was confused. "What are you talking about?"

"Some broad. You're falling for her - hard."

"Fred", Gunn realized.

"I don't know. We don't get a name, just an image. We keep an eye on the Akashic records. You think we wouldn't know when one of our souls is about to be transferred?" The goon pointed out. "Isn't Fred a guy's name?"

Gunn turned and the goon held up his hands. "Hey, none of mine. I'm just here to tell ya: you broke the contract. Your soul ain't yours to give. It's Mr. Jenoff's to take."

Gunn said. "I gotta see him."

"What you gotta do is pay up."

"I'm not the same person I was back then", Gunn begged.

The goon wasn't sympathetic. "We all get older, and we all pay ours debts to Mr. Jenoff."

Gunn begged again. "No, there's gotta be something else. Something else he can take!"

The goon shrugged. "Gee, I have never heard that one before. Now look. You've got twenty-four hours to get your house in order and get your ass down to that casino. And if you're thinking about running or cheating - don't. Because then we take your soul and the girl's, too."

Gunn was shocked now. "She's got nothing to do with this."

The goon said. "Well, you can keep it that way - or you can get her killed. It's up to you now, slick. - See you tomorrow."

Gunn watched the goon leave the demon couple's lair.

Later, at Hyperion, Gunn walked in to see Fred sorting through some files in Wes' office. Cordy arrived, mouth full. "Are you okay?"

"What?"

Cordelia swallowed. "I said, are you okay?"

"Yeah, I-I'm fine."

"Seemed kinda rude to chow down in front of Angel, but I was starving so I took a little break and... You are not okay, pal", Cordelia noted.

Gunn sighed. "I'm just kinda tired."

Cordelia told him. "Cordelia here. I can see the misery all over your face." Cordy indicated the stairs and after a last look at Fred, Gunn sat down beside her. "I know what's going on."

"You do?"

Cordelia nodded. "It's pretty obvious. Angel's lost his son, we've all lost Matt, Wesley's - gone and here you are: happy as a kid in a candy store."

"Uhm - happy?"

"And wracked with guilt because of it", Cordelia added. "Well, don't be. You and Fred are meant to be. I get that now. She's a doll. I admit, I was a little slow on the uptake. I thought she and Wes, but... - the way you two look at each other... Well, this place could use a little happiness right now. And you and Fred, you two remind me of myself and Matt from last year, you have your whole, big, bright futures ahead of you, and I'm here to tell you it's alright for you to enjoy it. Life goes on."

Gunn realized. "I should enjoy my future."

Cordelia told him. "I'm just saying. If there's one thing I learned living on a Hellmouth: every day is precious. You never know when it may be your last."

Gunn looked across the lobby to Fred. "I never figured I'd be around this long - or have this much."

Cordelia assured. "Some people never know one day of joy. You're lucky."

"Maybe I am."

"So - live a little. We don't have any pressing cases right now and I haven't had a vision in like... Oh, wait. I'm having one right now. It's of you and Fred - taking tomorrow off. And see, my visions? Never wrong", Cordelia patted Gunn's leg. "Have some fun."

Cordy got up and walked up the stairs.

Angel was sitting, staring at Connor's crib. Cordelia was curled up in a chair with her eyes closed. "I think he was gonna be left-handed." Cordelia opened her eyes. "The way he would hold on to your fingers? His left hand always squeezed just a little bit tighter. - Kid had a grip. He was gonna be a south paw for sure. And his uncle Matt would have taught him."

Cordelia listened sadly while Angel continued. "When you live as long as I do, you eventually lose everyone. - I'm not saying you get used to it but - you expect it. You deal. - But he was just... - - He was just a little..." Angel sighed. "You think you know something about living because you have this really long life. - And that's really all we have, I mean, in my case anyway. And one day you wake up - and you have something else."

Cordelia said. "A future."

Angel finally said after a long beat as he looked at the empty crib. "I had a son. And a friend."

Angel told her. "I've known many great people in my life, but Matt, even in my dark phase, he never gave up on me." Cordelia remembered exactly what Angel was talking about as he continued. "He was ready to welcome me back even when you all weren't, and you had every right not to take me back. Even during that time, Matt helped make me feel human."

Angel took out a picture of himself and Matt that had been taken shortly after he had apologized to the team but hadn't been accepted back yet, and Matt had been treating him well even then. They were standing together in the picture, arms slung over each other, both smiling.

Cordelia looked at the picture sadly and came next to Angel, wrapping her arms around him as both sat in silence.

Later, the two were sitting in silence again as Cordelia said. "I'm not going to sit here and pretend that I know what you're going through or that I could begin to understand what it is you're feeling. The last thing you need right now is someone saying that given time things will get better or the hurt's gonna go away. Because - things won't get better. The hurt's never gonna go away. - The truth is, if you lived another two hundred years, you'd never forget how Connor was taken from you, or Matt. And you shouldn't. - You loved your son, Angel - and you'll go on loving him, and missing him and Matt. - You'll go on living, too. You'll do that."

Angel honestly said. "I don't know how."

Cordelia told him. "You don't need to. The 'how' works itself out. Life will just keep happening. We need to tell the others about Matt- Faith, Karen, Foggy, Maggie. There'll be people who need us and so - we'll help them. - 'cause that's what we do."

They could hear someone crying and Cordelia got up. She opened the door to the suite to reveal Fred standing in the hall, crying.

"Fred."

Fred told her. "I'm sorry. I was gonna knock, but it wasn't a good time, so I didn't. And I don't know what else to do!"

Angel inquired. "Fred, what is it? What's wrong?"

Fred told them. "It's Charles. I think he's in terrible danger."

Few minutes later

"Wow." Cordelia said as she, Angel and Groo finished listening to Fred.

Fred asked. "I know, huh?"

Groo gave his condolences. "I'm sorry this has come to pass."

Angel said. "I'm a little confused."

Fred asked. "About what? What was unclear?"

Cordelia pointed out. "Well, upstairs you said you thought Gunn was in danger."

"He is!"

"And you think that because...?"

"He broke up with me!"

"Oh."

"But not really."

"Oh. No?"

"No!"

Groo assured. "That is good. I am relieved."

Fred then said. "No this is worse. Much worse. I wish he had broken up with me."

Cordelia was confused now. "Fred, are you sure he didn't? I mean, those things you said he said to you..."

"I know I said he said those things to me, but he would never say those things to me", Fred then insisted.

"Those things he said?"

"Exactly!" Fred pointed out. "That's why I know he's in trouble."

Angel then asked. "Let me get this straight. You and Gunn are dating."

Fred threw up her hands. "Not any more, I guess!"

Cordelia got up to give Fred a hug. "Fred, honey."

"Don't you see? He hurt me", Fred said, then added. "And the only reason he'd do something like that is to protect me from something. And whatever it is, it's gotta be bad, because this hurts like hell."

"Then I guess we better help him." Cordelia turned to stare at him. "We are not losing another member of this family."

Wesley entered his dark apartment, carrying all the things Fred had brought him to the hospital. He kicked the door close and just stood there.

At Hyperion, Cordelia turned off the speaker phone when she heard Gunn's answering machine. "Still no answer at his place or on his cell phone."

"That does not bode well", Groo realized.

"We're gonna have to split up", Angel suggested.

Groo agreed. "To cover more ground. That's a good plan. I agree."

Angel then made plans. "Fred and I can go check out Gunn's old gang haunts, see if they've heard from him."

"Or if they know of any old enemies he might have", Cordelia added.

"Exactly."

"Hmm."

Angel told them. "You two go by Gunn's place, just to make sure."

"Maybe we should report his truck as stolen", Cordelia then suggested.

Angel agreed to the idea. "That's not a terrible idea. Get the police involved in case none of this pans out."

Fred added. "We should leave Lorne a note, let him know what's going on."

"If none of us come up with anything, we regroup back here at midnight", Angel finally said.

"And perhaps as we search we can leave these small rectangles behind", Groo held a business card, "as did that creature that came by yesterday inquiring about Gunn."

"Right. Good", Angel then noticed the card. "What? Let me see that."

"Small rectangles with telephonic digits on it. So people can get in touch with us should they learn anything", Groo explained.

Fred asked. "Someone came by here looking for Charles?"

"Yesterday", Groo turned to Angel. "Please remind me to give that rectangle to Gunn once we find him." He turned to Fred. "I am confident we shall."

"That guy worked for Jenoff", Angel realized.

"Jenoff?" Cordelia asked.

Angel was grim. "The soul sucker."

At the casino, Gunn watched as the body of Jenoff's latest victim was dragged past him.

Jenoff then told him. "Charles Gunn - I'm impressed. Not a lot of guys walk through that door of their own free will. Not the second time anyway. She must be pretty special, this girl you're getting ready to give my merchandise to."

Gunn responded. "I'm here to make good on my debt. You don't even talk about her. Once we're squared, you don't even think about her."

"She was never part of the deal", Jenoff turned to his goon. "Hold him."

Gunn said to the goon. "I'm not gonna run. But touch me and you better." He turned to Jenoff with a sigh. "Let's just get this over with."

Jenoff lifted his hand, preparing to stick his fingers into Gunn's eyes, when the door to the casino floor burst open.

"Gunn!"

Angel came in with Cordelia, Fred and Groo.

Gunn spun around as Jenoff lowered his hand.

Jenoff's guards tried to intercept Team Angel as Angel took one down with his ax while Groo did the same with his sword. Angel punched another guy and fought him as Cordelia fought another one with her own sword. Groo took a guy down as Fred called out. "Charles!"

"Fred!" Gunn tried to go to her but the goon stopped him.

Angel kicked another goon before tossing him across the room onto a table. They moved further but got surrounded.

Cordelia called out. "Angel."

"I know", he said.

"We're surrounded", Groo told him.

"I know", he repeated.

"We have to help Charles", Fred said.

"I know", Angel said a third time, annoyed.

Angel grabbed a hold of yet another demon guard and put his ax against its throat. "Who does a guy gotta kill to get to talk to the boss around here, huh?"

"I'm the boss." Jenoff walked to them. "Mind telling me why you're disrupting my business?"

Angel responded. "Actually it's you who's disrupting my business. You're about to deprive me of a very valuable employee. Charles Gunn there, he works for me."

Jenoff shrugged. "A good business man always looks into the background of potential employees. Had you done that you might have learned that he is strictly short-term material."

Angel acted like a businessman. "I'll make a deal with you. You release him, forget what he owes you - I'll let you live."

"Thank you", Jenoff turned away. "Kill him."

The crowd turned ugly.

"Double or nothing."

Jenoff turned back as the crowd fell quiet. "You're offering me your soul?"

"Chance to win it, anyway", Angel shrugged.

Jenoff asked. "How stupid do I look to you? You're a Vampire. I can smell it from here."

Angel replied. "Take a bigger whiff. I'm a Vampire with a soul."

"Oh. You're that vampire", Jenoff realized.

Angel made his deal. "I chose the game. I win, we walk out of here, Gunn's debt disappears. You win, you get us both."

Jenoff nodded, beginning to chuckle.

A while later, Angel was sitting at a card table at the casino. Cordelia told him. "Brilliant stall tactic. You bought us some time. Now, what's the plan?"

Angel held up a deck of cards. "This is the plan."

"Really?"

"Really", Angel assured. "We're gonna win Gunn's soul back."

Fred told him. "This is so wrong in so many ways. I mean, it's not money or a stuffed bunny Angel's playing for. It's my boyfriend."

Angel assured. "Fred, I understand you're nervous, but don't be. I've been around a long time, played a lot of cards, won a lot of bets."

Fred told him. "See, that's where we're different. I tend to get lost and lose things. And I can't lose Charles."

Angel, never taking his eyes off Jenoff, assured. "I'm not gonna lose."

Groo said to Angel. "Angel, if we must rely on luck, I prefer the odds of my sword. We should fight our way out."

Angel vetoed the idea. "I got to disagree, Groo. Fighting puts all of us at risk. My way's safer."

Fred pointed out. "If you win! But if you lose your soul, won't you go evil and start killing everybody, including us? - Am I wrong?"

Cordelia couldn't disagree. "Uh, not wrong in theory, but I gotta go with Ace on this one, sorry."

Angel got up. "I'm gonna win. And if I lose..." He handed Cordy a stake. "You know what to do. Make it quick."

Cordy nodded. "You know I will."

All around the room people were placing bets.

Gunn watched as Angel and the others walked towards them and Angel sat down next to Jenoff.

"One hand of cards. You win - this man walks free. I win, I keep his soul, and I get yours. Name your game. Omaha? Texas hold 'em? Seven card stud?"

Angel shrugged. "How about a simple cut of the deck? High card wins."

Jenoff declared. "Vampire not only got soul - he got guts."

The dealer at the table set down a deck of cards and shuffled it. "Feeling lucky?"

"After you."

Jenoff looked at Angel for a moment then cut the deck and turned the top card over.

A nine of clubs.

Angel cut the deck, blew on his fingers and looked up at Gunn, who gave him a slight nod. Angel flipped the top card over.

"A three?"

"A three?!"

Jenoff smacked his palm down on the table. "A three. You lose."

Angel glanced at Cordelia and she lifted the stake and slammed it down on Jenoff's hand, pinning it to the table. Jenoff let out a scream of pain.

"That quick enough?"

"Works for me."

Angel swung his ax around and beheaded Jenoff. The Casino owner's head bounced across the crap table as the crowd gasped in shock.

Gunn rammed his elbow in the goon's face then knocked him back into the slot machines.

Fred ran to him and he caught her in a hug.

"Angel..."

"It's over. No need to say thanks", Angel assured.

Gunn agreed for a different reason. "You're right. If killing him was that easy, I would have done it myself."

Angel looked down as Jenoff's headless body sat up and a new head started to emerge from the remains of his neck, while letting out some high shrieks.

Angel looked around the casino and the demons and people staring at the screaming head on top of Jenoff's body.

Groo said. "Now we fight."

Angel had a bright idea. "Anybody else in here owe this guy?"

One of the guards hurried over and begins to pound on Jenoff. He was quickly joined by others in the crowd and Team Angel used the confusion to hurry out.

Later

Angel stood in front of the empty crib as Cordelia came up behind him, and he looked up. "I feel we will see them again."

"Why?" Cordelia asked.

"Because Murdocks never quit", Angel said firmly before covering the crib and placing the picture next to the bed.

He then turned to her. "But before that, they must know."

2 days later, New York City

Faith was sitting in the apartment, looking out the window that had now been fixed by Foggy. She was concerned about Matt but still trusted him to come back. In her hands she clutched his glasses and folded cane that he'd dropped on flying off, and now she waited for him to return.

Besides eat and patrol, she hadn't done a thing. It was daytime but clouds were gathered.

There was a knock on the door and Faith bolted for it, hoping to see Matt, and opened the door excitedly, only to see Angel instead.

Before she could ask him a thing, she looked at his face, and that was all she needed to know.

Faith now started shaking her head in disbelief. "No. No, no, no, NO!" She clutched her head and started crying, feeling her legs give out.

Angel entered the threshold and caught her, both kneeling as Faith cried into his chest, and now Angel started crying too as he realized he was able to enter without an invitation, and that meant the owner was gone.

Both of them sobbed together.

Few minutes later

Faith sat on the couch as Angel finished explaining the whole thing to her.

Faith just sat silently, as Angel reached out to grasp her hand for comfort.

"I hate him, for doing the right thing", Faith muttered in some anger but a lot of grief. "Even till the end."

She was struggling to not break down again as Angel gave her Matt's message. "He asked me to tell you that he loves you."

Faith looked at Angel, her eyes showing emotion as he hugged her again.

Later, Nelson, Murdock and Page

Angel knocked as Karen and Foggy let him in and the latter said. "Hey Angel, how you doing?"

"Been a while", Karen commented, but then they saw his face, and realized it wasn't a social visit at all.

Angel took a deep breath (even if he didn't need to) and told them everything.

Karen covered her mouth and fell into her seat while Foggy shook his head in disbelief. "This is impossible! It can't be!"

The two started crying as Angel stood there, not knowing what to do. Then he finally said. "Matt said he'd come back with Connor."

They looked up at him with tear-stained faces as Angel continued. "Foggy, he wanted you to get the cake ready. Chocolate with icing, Matt said he knew where to…" he trailed off, grief in his voice as he let some tears fall, and the two started sobbing again, holding each other for comfort.

On the desk was a picture Matt had put of himself, baby Connor and Team Angel.

Later, Clinton Church

Angel walked into the church, staring up at the crucifix with Jesus Christ. Any fear he would feel on entering a church due to being a Vampire was forgotten now.

"Can I help you?" Maggie asked as she arrived from the side and he turned to face her.

"My name is Angel, I'm a friend of your son, Matt", Angel said carefully as Maggie realized he must be a really important friend if Matt told him about her. "I, uhhhhh, need to tell you something."

Angel then told her everything, and by the time he finished, Maggie lost her balance but grabbed a pew. Angel walked to help her but she raised her hand so he stopped.

She then sat down on the pew and made some space, as Angel sat down on it.

"You know everything about Matt?" Maggie asked him.

"I do", Angel confirmed with a nod. "Everything."

She sighed heavily as her tears started falling. "I always feared this day would come."

Angel was confused. "What….what do you mean always?"

"After I had given birth to Matt, a stranger came to me, and showed me something", Maggie revealed as Angel listened with a shocked face. "He showed me the curse of the Murdock men. So not only had I abandoned God, but also given birth to the Devil's spawn."

"That's why you got post-partum depression", Angel realized, putting the pieces together and she nodded.

"And in my fear, I abandoned my little boy who had done no wrong", Maggie cried.

"Mephisto", Angel snarled, realizing he was the one who had shown Maggie the truth about the Murdock men, bastard had been ruining Matt's life even before he was born.

"But then I realized I was wrong about my son, that man's words were meaningless, Matt did and said a lot of good, in spite of all he endured, he still fought for good no matter the cost", Maggie said, pride in her voice.

"I, I have hope Matt will come back, with my son", Angel said as Maggie looked at him. "Because hope is all I have."

And then the two sat silently in their grief.

Faith stood on a rooftop, looking down at the city Matt loved. With Daredevil gone, people would begin to notice, and all of his hard work would be ruined.

The city didn't need the Slayer right now. It needed Daredevil.

Picking up her phone, she called. "Stark."

"Yes, Faith. What's up? Sorry about Matt, we all heard from Strange a while ago."

"Thanks", Faith said before giving her request. "I want you and Fitz to make another Daredevil suit."

"Sure, what kind?"

"The kind that fits me."

Two days later

Faith now stood on the same rooftop, wearing a Daredevil suit herself. This one was sleeker and less armored, since it was made to fit a woman like her. Even if she was physically stronger than Matt, her body proportions were different.

She heard a woman scream, and taking out the Billy club, divided it into sticks, and leapt down, ready to fight for the city and Matt's legacy.

Finally, done with this. Episode was the same but hope you liked the additions later.

Thanks a lot to Brainstorm Sorcerer for his help with all of this.

Next up is 3x19, where the changes begin, mostly from the end.

Hope all enjoyed and see you all next time with another chapter.