When worlds collide chapter 2
"I have been sent to you by the Powers That Be. Is there somewhere we can talk?" asked Cordelia looking at the young, tanned couple who had gotten up to face her with suspicious looks. But she smiled at the love present between them as Dawn had rested her head on Connor's shoulder.
"Well, we can talk in the hotel room although I am still shocked to see you," offered Connor, looking rather confused at seeing someone he had thought was dead. He and Cordelia had a very messed up and oedipal relationship.
"Are you sure that it is really Cordelia, baby?" asked Dawn looking at the older brunette in some suspicion.
"Well, I can detect that she smells like Cordy, hon. So that rules out the First Evil thing that you once told me about. Also, people do come back from the dead in our world, like your sister was resurrected by Willow which you've mentioned. Also, Spike turned up in my dad's old office as a ghost," explained Connor. "And there was that one-time Dad told me that he escaped hell.","
"My big sister sent him there to save the world," reminded Dawn, "ok you've made your point that this is actually Cordelia, so will you carry the beach towel, babe?" Dawn moved to put on her red t-shirt over her bikini and they walked to their hotel room.
Dawn had gone inside to shower and change while Connor, in his t-shirt and swimming shorts, and a white gowned Cordelia sat facing each other on a sofa. They were trying to work out what to say to each other.
"It looks like you've all grown up since the last time I saw you," offered Cordelia, trying to make small talk with the man whose life she had destroyed while Jasmine was possessing her. She had pleaded with her bosses to send someone else to warn Connor and Dawn about what was coming but they had sent her anyway. "Since we are going to be in this together, I thought that we should talk about what happened when we last saw each other."
"It's okay Cordy," replied Connor, "I understand that Jasmine used us both. You were one of her many victims like how Dad was."
"You've changed from the violent and irrational boy that I remembered," answered a relieved Cordelia, "I never wanted to hurt you or your father," she whispered, still feeling deep remorse over what she had done to the young man sitting in front of her.
"Thanks to a certain memory wipe," added Connor, "While it was very unethical for Dad to violate the memories of those who trusted him, you can't deny that it healed my mind. Being part of the Reilly family had its benefits because there were things that Angel and especially Holtz could not have prepared me for. Falling for and marrying a modern woman like Dawn is one of them."
"That's a very understanding look on the situation. I do love you Connor," replied Cordelia, "So how is marriage life working out for ya?" she then asked.
"It is going great! I am a happily married man," replied Connor with a genuine smile.
"And don't you forget it buster!" said a new voice. A freshly cleaned Dawn had padded in wearing a black t-shirt and Levi jeans, giving Cordelia a wary look. She then sat on Connor's lap.
"Well Dawn I was just saying to your husband that I love him like a son. Completely, totally like a son.. I mean good lord, Fred and I used to change his diapers," said Cordelia smiling at Dawn's relieved expression before they laughed together.
"So, why are you here?" asked Connor.
"The Powers want you to return to Los Angeles immediately," replied Cordelia.
"What's happened to Dad?" asked a worried Connor looking pale while Dawn held his hand to comfort him.
"It is what is going to happen that worries them, my bosses have seen that the Senior Partners have locked your world with another dimension in the multiverse, where Angel never regained his soul after Wesley got in the shaman to take it out," explained Cordelia.
"Jesus Christ! This sounds like a plot of a science fiction film," swore Connor not wanting to think about a world where an Angelus was still on the rampage and was about to arrive.
"Calm down babe. Angelus is only one monster. Also, our family has dealt with a parallel universe before when Willow's vampire counterpart popped up during Buffy's senior year," reassured Dawn.
"Willow had a vampire counterpart?" mumbled Connor, "Boy, your sister's time in her high school could have been a horror film or a tv show."
"Oh yeah! I found her locked in the cage at our school's library and thought that she was human Willow. So, I was going to lecture her on the ethics of boyfriend stealing, before I let her out and then she showed her vampire face and pursued me, before Wes intervened and forced her to leave," explained Cordelia, "But we're getting off topic- Angelus isn't alone. He has brought a soulless Fred with him and he turned your counterpart. Not to mention, the First has returned."
"Excuse me! The First is gone. It was destroyed after Spike closed the Hellmouth," snapped Dawn.
"You guys only destroyed its army of Turok Hans, but considering it is the source of evil, it was never actually gone," replied Cordelia.
"Oh god, is there anything else coming through?" asked Dawn, looking worried.
"Well Jasmine cannot have been born in that world if Angel never regained his soul and had turned me, so possessed you must be still around, that's if the multiverse has dimensions with an infinite number of possibilities," pointed out Connor. Not wanting to think about the vampire version of himself running around with Angelus.
"You're right. Nobody wants the rogue power to be born again," replied Cordelia, "So how is your dad doing?" she whispered.
"Well, he is coping with the deaths of his friends although Nina is helping him with that," answered Connor.
"Nina? The werewolf," replied Cordelia.
"Yes, she works for him as his secretary," responded Connor, "I think that they are involved or something."
"Let me guess she's another one of his blondes," retorted Cordelia.
"Well, she seemed nice when I spoke to her at the reception," said Dawn.
"So uh, do you want to come to Los Angeles to help Dad in this mission for the Powers or enjoy the resort?" asked Connor to his new wife, "It's up to you sweetie."
"I'm going! I am not losing you when we just got married," hissed Dawn angrily.
"Well, you're not like your old man these days," said Cordelia looking amused, "Willing to give Dawn a choice."
"Dad was from a different time, so that probably explains why he is so old fashioned," replied Connor.
"That explains why he tried to make decisions for my sister I suppose," mumbled Dawn. She much preferred Spike to Angel or the Immortal. Besides the idea of Buffy being her husband's stepmother in law sounded too Jerry Springer to her.
Connor showered, before he and Dawn packed their belongings and followed Cordelia outside. The older brunette had opened a portal to their destination with an incantation in a strange language. They followed Cordelia, hand in hand.
Back in Los Angeles about 7pm at the Hyperion
"I am going out to make my rounds in helping the helpless," said Angel.
"Ok and by the way, Mrs. Grossman thanks you for helping her out last week," replied Nina from behind her desk, "Be careful honey," she whispered before blowing him a kiss.
"I always am," answered Angel with a smile before walking out and getting into his Plymouth convertible. It was good to see his son so happy at the wedding. He hoped that he and Dawn could make it work.
He drove from the hotel. Usually, night-time was the time when the vampires, demons, and other things came out to play. He used his vampire hearing to listen to any screams once he reached the area of downtown Los Angeles. He soon heard a fight going on in an alley with the sounds of blows and kicks. Angel pulled over to investigate and got out of his car before he heard people shouting at each other.
"You're dead Angelus! For what you did to Holtz's family!" snapped a bitter redhead in her biker jacket.
"What could Holtz teach you? He loved his wife Caroline and his children far less than he hated me," taunted a voice out of Angel's nightmares. He saw himself, but his counterpart had a psychotic grin on his face and was clad in black leather pants and a dark trench coat.
"That's a downright lie vampire!" growled Justine, ducking a punch before kicking a brunette vampire, "He loved his family so much that he wanted you to get the punishment that you deserve."
"Really? More than he hated me? He spent a decade hunting Darla and I throughout Europe. I'm sure that he wasn't concerned with the innocents that we killed. Did he tell you how many years we waited before we went after his family just to remind him that he was a lousy father for not protecting them? We're right about that when he did an inept job in shaping my son that made him the man he is today!" sneered Angelus before he nodded to someone over his shoulder.
"Well Justine, I killed you once in my world and I can do it again," said a voice and Angel saw a younger Connor. He had a cold and menacing look in his eyes that reminded him of his former self and his demonic counterpart. Were they from a parallel universe or a hallucination? The younger man then used his vampire speed to grab Justine by the throat.
"That was a good time son," praised Angelus before he sensed someone watching them, "Soul Boy! How unpleasant that you are here, but you are outnumbered now," he then scoffed at his souled counterpart.
"Angelus, but how are you here?" asked Angel.
"Well Angel I was wondering the same question, but I could settle for destroying you for making us eat rats and listening to your whining of 'oh I was so bad, I need to atone to Shanshu to become a pathetic human," replied Angelus smiling cruelly at his counterpart.
Justine was choking from being throttled by Connor, but he then dropped her to face the souled counterpart of his sire in this dimension.
"What kind of a champion are you dad? You couldn't prevent Holtz from taking me to hell, it ruined my life to be raised by a madman. But that's ok, Angelus showed me a path to have fun without the pain and guilt that is drowning you," sneered Connor. He then put on his game face making Justine scream from the floor. They were definitely from a parallel universe but still dangerous.
"Didn't you care about us Angel? Or were we just pawns in your quest to gain redemption and become human?" wondered Fred, standing next to Angelus before kissing him as Angel closed his eyes in disgust.
"We have to pay for your sins Angel," grumbled Vamp Connor who had morphed back into his human face.
"Baby brother is part of the family! Ms. Edith says that Grandmum is really pleased with her child," sang Drusilla, moving out of the shadows and purred in delight as Angelus stroked her hair.
All of a sudden there was the sound of a crossbow bolt from behind them. Angelus just managed to dodge the bolt.
"The next one is in your heart! If you hurt anyone Angelus," snapped a familiar voice.
Everyone turned to see Faith and a dark-haired man pointing weapons at the vampires.
"Faithy and Wes! How unpleasant to see you morons again," sneered Angelus, "Did you know that your 'former school boy crush' Fred keeps repeating on me Wes? Of course, I repeated on her a few times myself," he added with an evil laugh.
Wesley glared back at him, hating this monster who wore his former friend's face.
"You tried to hurt Daddy! Shame on you wicked Slayer," snapped Drusilla at Faith.
"You and your stamina showed me what I was missing Angelus. Charles just saw me as sweet Fred, until he died of course," piped up Fred, "But you should join us, Wesley. I have always wanted you since the time that you helped me to get justice on Seidel," she then cooed. But Wesley looked disgusted at his former crush.
"Must you talk about his stamina, you crazy woman? I can't imagine Dad wanting to share immortality with Wes over there," grumbled Vamp Connor shuddering in disgust.
"Are you being jealous brat?" snapped Fred.
"Enough. Looks like this isn't the time or place. We will be seeing you soon, Slayer. Watcher. Me," Angelus smirked, before he ran off into the night. His followers are right behind him.
Justine stared in confusion and got up massaging her throat before she took off as well to Angel's relief. The bitter redhead had caused more than her fair share of trouble.
"Wesley, how are you and Faith here? What is going on?" questioned Angel, bewildered by the turn of events that he had just seen.
Please read and review and I would like to thank Starway Man for his review of chapter 1.